[0001] The present invention relates to a radiator with radiating plate having high efficiency.
[0002] In particular hereafter reference shall be made to radiators manufactured by means
of a thick plate of thermally conducting material, e.g. aluminium, in which is obtained
a groove (typically by milling) and, into said groove, is inserted a tube for conveying
heat-carrying fluid.
[0003] Currently, radiators of the aforesaid type present a structure provided with two
manifolds; a first manifold is positioned at the lower area of the radiator (when
the radiator is installed) whilst a second manifold is positioned at the upper area
of the radiator.
[0004] The plate is provided with vertical grooves positioned between the two manifolds
and with tubes (typically made of copper) that are inserted in the grooves and that
have the ends that project from the grooves and are connected by welding to each of
the manifolds.
[0005] Alternatively, the radiator is provided with a single manifold (presenting both the
inlet and the outlet of water as heat-carrying fluid) and, therefore, it is provided
with one or more tubes and grooves (or also multiple tubes and grooves) that fold
in "U" shape in order to present both ends connected to the single manifold.
[0006] The structures of the traditional radiators described above, however, present some
drawbacks.
[0007] The structure with two manifolds requires the manufacture of numerous welded joints
to connect each tube to each manifold; this requires long production times and the
use of a lot of specialised labour, with consequent costs that are very high.
[0008] Moreover, both the structure with one manifold, and the one with two manifolds present
a limited contact surface between tube and plate; this severely limits the heat exchange
capacity between the tube (which contains the hot water that constitutes the heat-carrying
fluid) and the plate (which heats the space in which the radiator is positioned);
in practice, the ability of the radiator to heat the spaces is limited.
[0009] An additional drawback of the traditional radiators described above is constituted
by the fact that, in particular for plates whose shape is not squared, the tube and
the groove cannot cover the entire surface; therefore, the edges, in particular the
most irregular ones, are not adequately heated by the heat-carrying fluid with a consequent
limitation of the heating power of the radiator.
[0010] Lastly, in particular the radiators with single manifold present considerable problems
with venting the air that is introduced in the tube, because it can remain trapped
at the curves of the "U" shaped tubes.
[0011] The technical task of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a radiator
with radiating plate having high efficiency that makes it possible to eliminate the
aforesaid technical drawbacks of the prior art.
[0012] Within this technical task, an object of the invention is to provide a radiator with
radiating plate that has a limited number of welded joints, in order to reduce production
times and use of specialised labour, with the purpose of limiting production costs.
[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a radiator with radiating plate that
presents a contact surface between tube and plate (through the walls of the groove)
that is very high, in order to increase the heat exchanges between the tube and the
plate relative to traditional radiators.
[0014] An object of the invention is also to provide a radiator with radiating plate in
which the tubes and the grooves are able to cover the entire surface of the plate,
even at lateral edges of non squared and/or irregular plates, in order to optimise
the heat exchange between the heat-carrying fluid and the plate.
[0015] An additional object of the invention is to provide a plate radiator in which it
is very simple and fast to vent the air that remained trapped within the tube, also
for radiators with single manifold.
[0016] The technical task, as well as these and other purposes, according to the present
invention are achieved by providing a radiator with radiating plate having high efficiency
as claimed in claim 1.
[0017] Other characteristics of the present invention, moreover, are defined in the subsequent
claims.
[0018] Additional characteristics and advantages of the invention shall become more readily
apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the radiator
with radiating plate according to the invention, illustrated purely by way of non
limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:
figures 1 and 2 show a view of a radiator according to the invention with rectangular
radiating plate respectively with one and with two manifolds;
figures 3 and 4 show a view of a radiator according to the invention with oval radiating
plate respectively with one and with two manifolds;
figure 5 shows a manifold according to the invention; and
figure 6 shows a sectioned detail of a plate at the tube and the groove.
[0019] With reference to the aforementioned figures, a radiator with radiating plate having
high efficiency indicated in its entirety with the reference number 1 is shown.
[0020] The radiator 1 (figure 1 or 3) comprises a plate 2 (typically made of aluminium)
which bears, at its rear side (when the radiator is installed) a manifold 3, (typically
made of aluminium or copper or stainless steel or carbon steel) whereto is fastened
(in the example shown) a tube 4 (made of copper, aluminium or stainless steel or carbon
steel) for conveying a heat-carrying fluid.
[0021] The plate 2 has a groove 6 (obtained in the plate 2 e.g. by milling) into which is
inserted the tube 4.
[0022] The tube 4 presents (figure 6) its (outer) surfaces positioned in direct contact
with the surfaces of the groove 6 in which it is inserted, without the interposition
of glues; this makes it possible to make very efficient the heat exchange between
the heat-carrying fluid contained in the tube 4 and the plate 2.
[0023] Alternatively the tube 4 is connected within the groove with the interposition of
a glue.
[0024] The edges of the groove 6 are converging at its own portion open outwards.
[0025] The tube 4 is inserted in the groove 6 by pressure and, preferably, by rolling.
[0026] This allows to insert each tube 4 into the groove 6 without the tube being able to
exit from the same groove 6 and, in addition, it allows to deform the surface of the
tube 4, making it adhere to the surfaces of the groove 6.
[0027] In this way the retaining of the tube 4 in the groove 6 and the heat exchange between
the heat-carrying fluid contained in the tube 4 and the plate 2 in which are obtained
the grooves 6 are further improved; moreover, the surface 4a that faces the exterior
of the tube 4 has its profile aligned with the profile 2a of the plate 2.
[0028] The tube 4 and the groove 6 have at least one coil portion 11 defined by a plurality
of first segments 12 substantially parallel to each other and able to assume substantially
horizontal position when the radiator 1 is installed, and second segments 13 interposed
between said first segments 12.
[0029] The coil portion 11 allows densely to cover the plate 2.
[0030] Advantageously, the coil portion 11 of the tube 4 and of the groove 6 is at the delivery
of heat-carrying fluid of the manifold 3 and the first segments 12 of the tube 4 and
of the groove 6 are rectilinear.
[0031] In the example shown in figures 1 and 2, the first segments 12 of the coil portion
11 of the tube 4 and of the groove 6 all have the same length, however other configurations
are also possible and so figures 3 and 4 show an embodiment of the radiator according
to the invention in which the first segments 12 of the coil portion 11 of the tube
4 and of the groove 6 have mutually different length.
[0032] In different embodiments, the radiator may have one or two manifolds.
[0033] In the case of a radiator with a single manifold (figures 1 and 3) the manifold 3
is positioned at the lower portion of the radiator 1 when the radiator 1 is installed
and the coil portion 11 of the tube 4 and of the groove 6 develops upwards.
[0034] Moreover, at the upper end (when the radiator is installed) of the coil portion 11,
opposite the one where the manifold 3 is fastened, is fastened an air venting valve
15 (typically made of aluminium or copper or stainless steel or carbon steel).
[0035] Hence, the radiator presents a tube 16 and a corresponding return groove, which are
interposed between the vent valve 15 and the manifold 3.
[0036] Said tube 16 and corresponding return groove are substantially rectilinear or present
two or more substantially rectilinear portions or, alternatively, they can be curved
or coil shaped.
[0037] Figures 2 and 4 show two examples of radiators with two manifolds (an upper one and
a lower one).
[0038] In this case the tube 4 and the groove 6 defining the coil portion 11 extend from
the lower area of the plate 2 and the tube 4 is fastened both to the lower manifold
3 and to an upper manifold 18, which also bears the vent valve 15.
[0039] Conveniently, the manifold 3 (in the case of single manifold) or both manifolds 3,
18 (in the case of two-manifold radiator) has parallelepiped shape and it is made
of aluminium, copper or stainless steel or carbon steel, such as to favour the connection,
mechanical or welded, to the plate 2 without using hooks, punches or other devices;
hereafter reference shall be made only to the manifold 3 but the manifold 18 (when
present) has the same structure.
[0040] The manifold 3 has two through holes delimited by cylindrical elements 20 projecting
longitudinally, to which is fastened the tube 4 (or, when necessary, the vent valve
15).
[0041] This connection is typically achieved by welding, fitting the tube 4 over or under
the element 20 and, then, performing the welding operation; thus, the presence of
the cylindrical elements 20 is favourable to the welding, in particular when the tube
4 is made of copper whilst the manifold 3 is made of aluminium.
[0042] Naturally, other connection systems are also possible, e.g. the threaded connection
which can be accomplished threading the elements 20 and/or the ends of the tube 4
(threads meshing together or self-threading).
[0043] Moreover, the manifold 3 is provided with threaded union fittings 21 for the connection
to the heating system of the building in which the radiator is to be installed or
to receive appropriate plugs.
[0044] The operation of the radiator with radiating plate according to the invention is
readily apparent from what is described and illustrated above and, in particular,
it is substantially as follows.
[0045] In the embodiment with single manifold, the heat-carrying fluid (hot water coming
from the heating system of a building) enters the manifold 3 through a union fitting
21 and, passing through a cylindrical element 20, it passes into the tube 4.
[0046] Then, circulating in the tube 4, it heats the plate 2, it flows through the vent
valve 15 and, through the tube 16, it returns into the manifold 3 and it is expelled
therefrom through the other union fitting 21 into the pipeline of the heating system
of the building.
[0047] The discharge of air that remained trapped in the tube 4 or in the tube 16 takes
place opening the vent valve 15, so the air escapes.
[0048] In this regard it is preferable for the coil portion to be connected to the delivery
of the manifold 3 because in this case any air which may be contained in the tube
4 is favoured in its upward motion.
[0049] For the same reason, the substantially rectilinear and horizontal portions 12 of
the tubes and of the groove 16 can be oriented in slightly oblique manner, in order
to promote the rising motion of the air.
[0050] In the embodiment with two manifolds, instead, the heat-carrying fluid (hot water)
enters the manifold 3 through a union fitting 21, through a cylindrical element 20
it passes into the tube 4, it flows through the whole tube 4 heating the radiating
plate 2, and it enters the upper manifold 18 through a cylindrical element 20 thereof.
[0051] Then, through a union fitting 21 of the manifold 18, the water is returned to the
pipeline of the heating system of the building.
[0052] In this case, too, the discharge of air that remained trapped in the tube 4 takes
place opening the vent valve 15 in such a way that the air escapes and, naturally,
the substantially rectilinear and horizontal portions 12 of the tubes and of the groove
16 can be oriented in slightly oblique manner, in order to promote the rising motion
of the air.
[0053] Naturally the union fittings 21 and the cylindrical elements 20 that are not used
to connect tubes or vent valves are closed by means of plugs.
[0054] Moreover, it is clear that although only one coil tube (and one corresponding groove)
has been described, in different embodiments there may also be more than one.
[0055] In practice, it has been noted that the radiator with radiating plate according to
the invention is particularly advantageous because it can be manufactured in a simpler,
more economic manner than traditional radiators and, at the same time, it enables
to enhance the heat exchange performance of the radiator.
[0056] Advantageously, the horizontal coil shape enables to maintain the water in turbulent
motion within the coil, to promote heat exchanges with the plate.
[0057] The radiator with radiating plate thus conceived can be subject to numerous modifications
and variants, without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept; moreover,
all details are replaceable by technically equivalent elements.
[0058] In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any depending
on requirements and on the state of the art.
1. Radiator with radiating plate having high efficiency comprising a plate that bears
at least one manifold whereto is fastened at least one tube for conveying a thermal
carrier fluid, said plate presenting at least one groove in which is inserted the
tube, characterised in that said tube and said groove present at least one coil portion defined by a plurality
of first segments substantially parallel to each other and able to assume substantially
horizontal position when the radiator is installed, and second segments interposed
between said first segments.
2. Radiator as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said coil portion of said tube and of said groove are placed at the delivery of heat-carrying
fluid of said manifold.
3. Radiator as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said first segments of said tube and of said groove are rectilinear.
4. Radiator as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said first segments of said coil portion of said tube and of said groove all have
the same length.
5. Radiator as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said first segments of said coil portion of said tube and of said groove have mutually
different length.
6. Radiator as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said manifold is positioned at a lower portion of said radiator when said radiator
is installed and said coil portion of said tube and of said groove develops upwards.
7. Radiator as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that at the end of said coil portion of said tube and of said groove opposite the one
where the manifold is fastened, a valve for venting air is fastened.
8. Radiator as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises a tube and a return groove interposed between said vent valve and said
manifold.
9. Radiator as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said tube and said return groove are substantially rectilinear or have substantially
rectilinear portions or are curved or coil shaped.
10. Radiator as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises two manifolds positioned where said coil portion is interposed between
said two manifolds.
11. Radiator as claimed in any of the previous claims, characterised in that said manifold has parallelepiped shape.
12. Radiator as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said manifold has two cylindrical elements each delimiting a through hole, preferably
longitudinal, whereto said tube is fastened.
13. Radiator as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said tube is inserted by pressure in said groove, preferably by rolling.
14. Radiator as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said groove is obtained in said plate.
15. Radiator as claimed in one or more of the previous claims, characterised in that said tube is connected within said groove with the interposition of a glue.