[0001] When in a building, because of breakdown or an accident or because of the requirement
to do repair or restructuring work on the premises of the central heating plant, said
plant has to interrupt its operation for a more or less extended period, serious logistic
problems occur for all the persons that live in said building. The extended absence
of heating of the premises, especially during a cold season, creates notable discomfort,
now without real risk to the health of small children, the elderly or feeble, and
also the lack of hot water for sanitary use, to whose presence and use modern society
in practice is now accustomed, comprises serious discomfort and triggers potential
health problems. So far, in the case of nonoperation of the central heating plant,
there has not been any alternative solution: it was necessary to wait patiently until
the cause was removed, even if this meant long and exasperating waits.
[0002] The aim proposed by the author of the invention which will be dealt with better below
was to eliminate the above-mentioned risks and discomforts by substitution of the
central heating plant temporarily out of service, by another substitute, which is
transported on site by a common transportation vehicle equipped with its own engine
or towed on a flat bed on which it is permanently installed, and it is connected to
the plumbing networks for distribution of hot water for heating and/or for sanitary
use of the building for which the intervention is necessary.
[0003] The object of this invention is actually a transportation autovehicle characterized
in that it transports, installed on it, a central heating plant, complete with all
the component parts necessary to produce and deliver the desired volumes of water
at desired temperatures, and equipped with means necessary for connecting it to the
plumbing distribution networks used for heating and/or supplying hot water of dwelling
units to make up for the nonoperation of the central heating plant of the dwelling
units themselves.
[0004] A preferred embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings.
-- In figure 1 is represented the left lateral view of an autovehicle sectioned along
the longitudinal median axis.
-- In figure 2 is represented the right lateral view.
[0005] In the embodiment represented, the heat is produced by two diesel burners 3 fig.
1 -- 4 fig. 2 connected to two boilers 1 fig.1 -- 2 fig. 2 to be able better to feed
the amount of heat provided as a function of the requirements and dimensions of each
building.
[0006] A system of double two-way hoses 15 fig 1, which are connected respectively to the
incoming and outgoing pipes of the building network, and a system of circulation pumps
13 fig 1 and mixing valves 14 fig. 1 conduct the hot water for sanitary use and for
heating necessary for the building itself.
[0007] The heat produced in the boiler is transferred to the water in circulation by two
heat exchangers 16 fig. 2.
[0008] For the hot water for sanitary use the adoption is provided of an accumulator 10
fig. 2 of suitable capacity installed in the transported central heating plant.
[0009] On the autovehicle itself that transports the central heating plant is installed
a diesel fuel tank 5 for supplying burners 3 fig. 1 -- 4 fig. 2, but connecting means
3˝ fig.1 -- 4˝ fig. 2 exist able to allow suction from the diesel fuel tank of the
building or also directly from a supply tank truck that is parked close to the central
heating plant.
[0010] The autovehicle is equipped with four telescopic legs 11 fig. 1 -- 12 fig. 2 for
its anchoring and leveling, with electric power trapdoors 12 on the roof of the central
heating plant, and stacks 6 fig. 1 -- 7 fig. 2 for evacuation of the flue gases of
the boilers, stacks adjustable in position and connected to the discharge pipes of
the boilers.
[0011] Inside the central heating plant is installed a monitor 8 fig. 1 connected to a television
camera (not shown in the figure), which, if connected inside the central Is heating
plant of the building for which the intervention is performed, transmits the image
of the various elements for measuring temperatures and pressures of the plumbing network
of the building, to be able to perform a continuous and effective checking of the
values of said magnitudes.
[0012] Various safety systems are provided to avoid risks connected with the operation of
the central heating plant under improper conditions, among which certainly to be cited
in particular is that which prevents the operation of the central heating plant if
the stacks for evacuation of the fumes are not positioned exactly and connected correctly
to boiler discharge pipes 6′ fig. 1 -- 7′ fig. 2. Electric power supply to the burners
and the central heating plant in general takes place through a plug which conducts
current only if precisely the stacks are exactly and properly positioned.
[0013] Also the values of pressure and temperature both close to the boilers and inside
the plumbing networks are continuously checked with a display on an electronic synoptic
control panel, and, if they should reach preset limiting values, suitable safety switches
9 fig. 1 cut off the current, stopping the operation of the central heating plant.
[0014] The potential applications of the invention are numerous: the self-transported central
heating plant actually has complete mobility and versatility of use. Besides temporarily
replacing in operation the central heating plant out of service of a building, it
can, for example, be used to make units operative in which, because of delay in supplies
or construction, the central heating plant does not yet exist, and for demonstration
and teaching purposes in schools, exhibitions, etc.
[0015] The embodiment design represented in the figures and discussed in the description
is purely by way of example, and therefore is not binding or limiting in regard to
equipping or dimensioning of the unit of the central heating plant, or in regard to
the type of vehicle selected for its installation or the arrangement of the various
elements.
1. Vehicle and in particular transportation autovehicle to make up for the nonoperation
of central heating plants of dwelling units characterized in that it transports, installed
on it, a central heating plant, complete with all the component parts necessary to
produce and deliver desired volumes of water at desired temperatures, and equipped
with means necessary for connecting it to plumbing distribution networks used for
heating and/or supplying hot water to dwelling units.
2. Vehicle and in particular transportation autovehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the central heating plant transported by it is permanently fixed on its flat bed and
comprises at least two boilers (1 fig.1, 2 fig. 2) to be able better to supply the
production of heat as a function of the needs of the plumbing networks to which the
central heating plant itself is temporarily connected.
3. Vehicle and in particular transportation autovehicle as claimed in claims 1 and
2, wherein the burners (3 fig. 1, 4 fig. 2) connected to the boilers of the central
heating plant transported by it are equipped with connecting means (3′, 3˝ fig. 1
-- 4′, 4˝ fig. 2) by which they can be fed liquid fuel coming from a tank (5) installed
on the autovehicle itself, or from tanks outside the vehicle.
4. Vehicle and in particular transportation autovehicle as claimed in claims 1, 2
and 3, wherein the boilers of the central heating plant transported by it are equipped
with stacks (6 fig. 1 -- 7 fig. 2) for evacuation of the flue gases with insertion
of a safety system (6′ fig. 1 -- 7′ fig. 2) that prevents the operation of the central
heating plant in case said stacks are not positioned exactly and connected correctly
to the boiler discharge pipes.
5. Vehicle and in particular transportation autovehicle as claimed in claims 1, 2,
3 and 4, wherein the central heating plant transported by it has a monitor (8 fig.
1) and a television camera connected to it, which can be placed in the central heating
plant of the building for which the intervention is performed to transmit the image
of the various elements for measuring pressures and temperatures.
6. Vehicle and in particular transportation autovehicle as claimed in the preceding
claims, wherein in the central heating plant transported by it there is a safety device
(9 fig. 1) that interrupts the operation of the central heating plant itself when
the temperature and pressure values in the plumbing network of the building, to which
the central heating plant is temporarily connected, reach preset limiting values.