The present patent application relates to a die-cast aluminium modular radiant element according to the preamble of claim 1, as for example known from EP-A-0 816 791. Such an element is used in combination with identical elements to form the modular radiators that are generally used in thermosiphon heating systems.
As it is known, modular radiant elements consist in a tubular column externally provided with fins capable of favouring the thermal exchange between the hot water contained in the radiator and the air that touches the external surface of the radiator.
An opposed pair of threaded hubs is provided on the top and the bottom of each column. Connection nipples are screwed onto the hubs to join the adjacent pairs of radiant elements, as well as to provide communication between the columns of the radiator.
The purpose of the present invention is to reduce the production cost of the said die-cast aluminium modular radiant elements, by reducing the thickness of some parts of the die-cast piece in order to recover aluminium, melt it and reuse it as die-casting material.
Since the four hubs of each element need to be threaded, the same machine tool can be used to internally mill the hubs in order to remove and recover the largest quantity of aluminium possible, in compliance with mechanical resistance requirements.
During milling, the very internal section of the hub is enlarged to obtain a diameter higher than the external threaded opening. The enlargement of the internal ending section of the hub makes threading easier, since the tapping machine can penetrate the hub, ending in the enlarged section. The use of a special tool allows for milling and threading the hub in a sequence, when the tool moves backwards to exit the hub, after penetrating inside it.
Finally, another advantage of the hub enlargement is represented by the reduction of load losses.
For major clarity the description of the modular radiant element according to the present invention continues with reference to the enclosed drawings, which are intended for purposes of illustration and not in a limiting sense, whereby:
With reference to Fig. 1, the modular radiant element according to the invention traditionally comprises a tubular column (1) externally provided with fins (2) capable of favouring the thermal exchange between the hot water contained in the radiator and the air that touches the external surface of the radiator.
An opposed pair of threaded hubs (3) is provided on the top and the bottom of the tubular column (1). Connection nipples are screwed onto the hubs to join the columns of the radiator, as well as to provide communication between them.
The modular radiant element according to the invention is characterised in that the threaded opening (3a) of each hub (3) has an internal ending section (3b) with diameter higher than the threaded opening (3a).
The section (3b) with increased diameter is obtained by placing the die-cast piece in a machine tool to mill the internal section (3b) of the hub (3) and then thread the opening (3a).