Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RADIATOR OF HIGHLY FLEXIBLE USE
The present invention relates to a radiator of
highly flexible use.
Buildings are usually heated by radiators which
typically comprise radiant elements provided with one
or more heating conduits.
The conduits receive hot water from the heating
plant of a building; the hot water circulates through
the conduits to heat the radiant elements, which then
heat the environment in which they are installed.
However, radiators are known structures which
because of their complexity and the presence of
roughness, represent a dust accumulation point.
It is known to be extremely difficult to clean
radiators (in particular their rear) and those wall
regions behind the radiators, and is in some cases
impossible (particularly for very large radiators).
A further drawback is caused by the difficulties
encountered by the usual installation, checking and
maintenance operations, as these have to be carried out
with the radiators mounted, usually in very small and
difficulty accessible spaces.
The technical aim of the present invention is
therefore to provide a radiator of highly flexible use
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by which the stated drawbacks of the known art are
eliminated.
Within the scope of this technical aim, an object
of the invention is to provide a radiator which can be
cleaned easily and thoroughly, including its rear
region, in the case of both small-dimension and large-
dimension radiators.
Another object of the invention is to provide a
radiator which also enables the wall behind the
radiator to be cleaned easily and thoroughly, in the
case of both small-dimension and large-dimension
radiators.
A further object of the invention is to provide a
radiator by which the installation, checking and
maintenance operations are simplified and accelerated.
The technical aim, together with these and further
objects, are attained according to the present
invention by a radiator of highly flexible use in
accordance with claim 1.
Other characteristics of the present invention are
defined in the subsequent claims.
Further characteristics and advantages will be
more apparent from the description of a preferred but
non-exclusive embodiment of the radiator according to
the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting
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example in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a radiator
according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a detail of a hinge of Figure 1;
Figures 3 and 4 show two different embodiments of
locking elements of Figure 1;
Figure 5 shows a different embodiment of the
radiator of the invention;
Figures 6, 7 are two different examples of the
connection of fins to the constituent plate of the
radiant element of a plate radiator, shown at the tube;
Figure 8 is an example of the connection of fins
to the constituent plate of the radiant element of a
plate radiator, shown in a plate region where the tube
is not present; and
Figure 9 shows a further embodiment of the
radiator of the invention.
With reference to the figures, these show a
radiator of highly flexible use indicated overall by
the reference number 1.
The radiator 1 comprises one or more radiant
elements 2 (if these are more than one in number, they
are all connected together to define a single body, in
which case they will be considered hereinafter as a
single radiant element, see Figure 9) provided with
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supports for connection to a wall 3.
For example, Figure 1 shows a plate radiator
provided with one radiant element, while Figure 9 shows
a different radiator example presenting a plurality of
elements connected together to define one radiant
element; for brevity, reference will be made
hereinafter to plate radiators, however the same
considerations are valid for radiators of the type
shown in Figure 9.
The supports comprise hinges 5 arranged to support
the radiant element 2 and to enable it to rotate
between a working position (in which the radiant
element 2 is in a position parallel to a wall 3) and a
maintenance position (in which the radiant element has
one end spaced from the wall 3).
The supports also comprise an element 7 for
locking the radiant element 2 in its working position.
As shown in the figures, the hinge 5 and the
locking element 7 are fixed to opposing side regions of
the radiant element 2; typically the hinges 5 are
connected in proximity to a side edge of the radiant
element 2, while the locking element 7 is fixed to the
opposite edge.
The number of hinges 5, the number of locking
elements 7 and their position on the radiant element 2
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can be different in relation to the radiator
characteristics.
The hinge 5 presents a first portion 11 fixed (by
welding or mechanically) to the radiant element 2, and
a second portion 13 fixable to the wall 3 by suitable
screws 14 provided with fixing plugs (not shown).
The first and second portion 11, 13 are joined
together rotatably by a removable pin 15 (consisting
for example of a bolt threaded either only at its end,
or throughout its length).
Preferably (as shown in the figures) the radiator
1 of the invention presents two hinges 5 positioned at
one end of the radiator 1 and having their pins 15
aligned along a vertical axis 16.
The locking element 7 presents a hook 18
projecting from the radiant element 2 and a seat 19 for
receiving the hook 18.
The seat 19 can be fixed to the wall 3 by screws
20 and fixing plugs, and carries a lock 21 for the hook
18.
In a first embodiment, the lock 21 comprises a
threaded element or socket head screw screwable into a
threaded hole of the seat 19 such as to cause
interference and lock the hook 19.
In a second embodiment, the lock 21 comprises a
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magnet mounted on the base of the seat 19 to retain the
hook 18.
The radiator 1 advantageously presents conduits 25
for feeding and discharging thermovector fluid (water
of the heating plant), these consisting of flexible
hoses.
The flexible hoses 25 have that end 26 connected
to the radiator 1 and/or that end 27 connectable to the
residential heating plant articulated or rotatable
preferably through 360 .
This enables the ends of the flexible hoses to
rotate and enables the flexible hoses themselves to
move when the radiator is brought from the working
position to the maintenance position and vice versa (in
practice by opening or closing the radiator in the
manner of a book).
In the embodiment shown in Figure 1 the radiator
is of the radiant plate type and comprises a plate
forming the radiant element 2 and provided with at
least one groove, into the interior of which a tube 28
is inserted containing a thermovector fluid.
The tube 28 is provided with a bleed valve 28a and
a manifold 28b to which the flexible hoses 25 are
connected.
Advantageously this radiator 1 presents a
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plurality of heat transfer fins 29 fixed to that side
of the plate 2 in which the grooves are formed to
contain the tube 28.
In a first embodiment (Figure 6), the tube 28 is
pressed by rollers such that that surface 28c facing
the outside of the grooves is aligned with the plate
surface 2a.
In this case the fins 29 are fixed (usually by
welding) both to the plate 2 and to the tube 28.
Alternatively (Figure 7), the tube 28 is made to
project partially from the groove; in this case the
fins 29 present a plurality of recesses 30.
The fins 29 are fixed to the plate 2, the tube 28
being inserted into the recesses 30 in those regions in
which the fins are superposed on the tube; this region
is preferably fixed by welding.
Finally (Figure 8) the base 33 of the fins 29 can
be inserted into rounded longitudinal grooved seats, to
increase the contact surface between the plate 2 and
the base 33 of the fins 29.
Figure 9 shows an example of a radiator in which
the radiant element is composed of a plurality of
components joined together, it being provided with
hinges 5 and the locking element 7 (only the pin 18 is
shown while the seat 19, although present, is not
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represented).
The operation of the radiator of highly flexible
use according to the invention is apparent from that
described and illustrated, and is substantially as
follows.
When the radiator is to be installed, the second
portions 13 of the hinges 5 are fixed to the wall 3 (by
screws and fixing plugs); the first portions 11 of the
hinges are then fixed to the radiators by welding.
The seat 19 is fixed to the wall (also by a screw
and fixing plug) and the hook 18 is fixed to the
radiator (by welding).
The first and second portion 11, 13 of the hinge 5
can then be associated with each other and the pins 15
inserted.
The flexible hoses 25 for water feed and discharge
can then be applied from the residential heating plant.
When the radiator 1 has been installed, the
maintenance and cleaning operations, particularly on
the radiator rear and on the wall behind the radiator
(these thus being hidden and inaccessible) are very
simple and quick as the socket head screw 21 has merely
to be unscrewed or force be applied to overcome the
force of the magnet 21, to be able to open the radiator
in the manner of a book in order to move it from its
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working to its maintenance position.
The radiator can be returned to its working
position in the same manner.
During rotation the hoses 25 are not an obstacle
as they are flexible with articulated ends,
consequently they can be rotated to accompany the
rotation of the radiator.
In another embodiment, the hinges are in the form
of valves feeding/discharging water to/from the
radiator.
In other embodiments, the hinges can be all
applied along the upper or lower edge of the radiator,
to enable the radiator to be rotated about a horizontal
axis.
It has been found in practice that the radiator of
highly flexible use according to the invention is
particularly advantageous because it renders the
installation, cleaning and maintenance operations
simple and quick.
The radiator of highly flexible use conceived in
this manner is susceptible to numerous modifications
and variants, all falling within the scope of the
inventive concept; moreover all details can be replaced
by technically equivalent elements.
In practice the materials used and the dimensions
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can be chosen at will according to requirements and to
the state of the art.
