Pump module for use in a manifold for a floor heating system

Abstract

 A pump module (2) for use in a manifold for a floor heating system comprises an internal space, a valve seat which is located in the internal space, and a number of connection openings (22, 23, 25) which provide access to the internal space from outside of the pump module (2). The pump module (2) can be used in combination with a valve element for opening/closing a passage through the valve seat. Furthermore, various components of the manifold, including a pump, a duct for supplying water to pipes of the floor heating system, and a duct for receiving water from said pipes can be connected to the pump module (2) at suitable positions on the pump module (2) through the connection openings (22, 23, 25). The pump module (2) is widely applicable, and offers advantages over specifically designed connections in a manifold, including the advantage of reduced costs.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a pump module for use in a manifold for a floor heating system, which manifold has a pump, a duct for supplying fluid to at least one pipe of the floor heating system, and a duct for receiving fluid from the at least one pipe of the floor heating system.

[0002] Floor heating systems and manifolds for use therein are well-known. In general, a floor heating system comprises at least one pipe which is positioned under a floor. The floor heating system is operated by transporting hot fluid through the pipe, as a result of which the floor is made to radiate heat. A practical example of a fluid which can be used in the floor heating system is water.

[0003] In the floor heating system, the manifold has various functions, including connecting the pipe to a heat source and an associated supply of fluid, and to a discharge of fluid. In many practical cases, the discharge of fluid connects to the heat source, so that there can be a continuous cycle of discharged fluid being heated by the heat source, being supplied to the pipe and being used for supplying heat, and being discharged towards the heat source again. Furthermore, in cases in which the supply of fluid has a temperature that is actually too high for a desired operation of the floor heating system, the manifold is adapted to allow for communication of the supply of fluid with the discharge of fluid, so that the fluid which is discharged can be used for cooling down the fluid which is about to be used for performing the heating function of the floor heating system. To that end, the manifold comprises a valve or the like, which can be opened to a suitable extent, or closed, on the basis of an outcome of a measurement of a temperature of the fluid which has passed the heat source. By controlling the valve or the like, it is possible to achieve a situation in which there are practically no variations in the heating performance of the floor heating system, or to achieve a decrease or increase of the heating performance in case a user of the floor heating system changes temperature settings.

[0004] In case the floor heating system comprises more than one pipe, the manifold also has a function in distributing the incoming fluid over the various pipes. In that case, a controllable valve or similar means for opening or closing a pipe in accordance with a desired operation of the floor heating system is arranged at the entrance of each pipe.

[0005] In many practical examples of a floor heating system, a circulation pump is used for realizing flows of fluid through the manifold and the at least one pipe of the floor heating system as desired. Generally speaking, the pump is arranged at a position between the heat source and the supply of fluid to the manifold on one side, and the entrance of the at least one pipe on another side. For the purpose of connecting an inlet of the pump and an outlet of the pump to the relevant components of the manifold, suitable connecting means are applied, such as duct segments and connecting blocks. A connecting block is a component which comprises an internal space and at least two connection openings allowing for access to the internal space from outside of the connecting block, and which is used for interconnecting at least two components in such a way that fluid is allowed to flow from one component to another. To that end, each of the components is connected to the connecting block, at the positions of the connection openings. Due to the use of the connecting block, the various components can be arranged at suitable positions without a need of alignment or direct connection.

[0006] A problem associated with manifolds according to the state of the art is that for each type of manifold and each type of pump applied with the manifold, a specific design of the connection of the pump to the other components of the manifold is required. Conventionally, the various components are made in steel, and this means that specific moulds need to be made, which involves relatively high costs. A disadvantage of the use of steel is that the components need to be subjected to finishing processes before they are ready for application.

[0007] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a new approach of designing components for connecting a pump to other components of a manifold, which involves a reduction of costs in respect to the conventional situation, while avoiding a compromise of the functionality of the components. The objective is achieved by means of a pump module, comprising an internal space, a valve seat which is located in the internal space, and a number of connection openings which provide access to the internal space from outside of the pump module, wherein at least two connection openings are located at one side of the valve seat, one of which is destined to be connected to the pump of the manifold, and wherein at least three connection openings are located at another side of the valve seat, one of which is destined to receive a temperature gauge, and another of which is destined to be connected to a duct of the manifold.

[0008] The present invention provides for a pump module which is suitable to be used in various manifolds, and which offers many possibilities. On the basis of the fact that the pump module has a valve seat, it is possible to apply a valve element in the pump module if so desired. Furthermore, the pump module has various connection openings, which allows for many different applications of the pump module. Each of the connection openings may be connected to a component of a manifold, in such a way that fluid is allowed to flow from the component to the internal space of the pump module, or the other way around. If a connection opening is not used, it can be closed by any suitable sealing means.

[0009] The pump module according to the present invention can be made in mass production, which is very advantageous, as relatively low production costs are involved with such way of producing. In a manifold, the pump module can be arranged at an inflow side of the pump and at an outflow side of the pump. Hence, a manifold may be equipped with more than one pump module.

[0010] When the pump module is arranged at an inflow side of the pump, the following connections can be made:

• at the side of the valve seat where at least two connection openings are present, and which will hereinafter be referred to as pump side, a connection to the pump and a connection to a supply of fluid to the manifold; and
• at the side of the valve seat where at least three connection openings are present, and which will hereinafter be referred to as duct side, a connection to a duct of the manifold which is used for receiving fluid from the at least one pipe of the floor heating system, a connection to a discharge of fluid from the manifold, and a connection to a temperature gauge.

[0011] When the pump module is arranged at an outflow side of the pump, the following connections can be made:

• at the pump side, a connection to the pump and a connection to a drain of fluid from the manifold; and
• at the duct side, a connection to a duct of the manifold which is used for supplying fluid to the at least one pipe of the floor heating system, and a connection to a temperature gauge.

[0012] The pump module may be used as an end component which is arranged at one end of a duct of the manifold. In a practical embodiment of the pump module, the orientation of the connection to the duct is perpendicular to the orientations of the other connections, i.e. the direction of a flow of fluid through the connection opening where the duct is connected to the pump module is perpendicular to the directions of flows of fluid through the other connection openings.

[0013] In view of the fact that two pump modules may be used in a manifold, wherein each of the pump modules is arranged at another side of the pump, in a mirrored configuration, it is advantageous to have two connection openings which are destined to receive a temperature gauge, and which are located at opposite positions in the pump module. In that way, it is possible to have a temperature gauge in each of the pump modules, wherein the two temperature gauges are arranged at the same side of the manifold, so that they can be seen from one side of the manifold. If the pump module has the two opposite connection openings as mentioned, one connection opening is used for receiving a temperature gauge, and another connection opening is closed.

[0014] Preferably, the pump module is made of a composite material instead of the conventional steel. In general, the composite material may comprise a polymer matrix and a reinforcement material. An example of a suitable material is polyamide containing glass to an extent of 30%. This is an extremely hard material, which can withstand temperatures ranging from -40°C to 140°C, and pressures up to 30 bar (30 * 10⁵ Pa). Hence, the material is very well capable of functioning under all possible conditions prevailing in a floor heating system. An advantage of using a composite material as mentioned is that finishing processes are not needed during the manufacturing process of the pump module. As a result, the manufacturing process can be faster and cheaper.

[0015] For the purpose of attaching the pump module to other components of the manifold, such as a duct on the one side and a closing plate on the other side, it is advantageous for the pump module to be provided with openings for receiving studs, which openings are extending along an entire length of the pump module. At the ends of the pump module where the pump module is to be positioned against another component, sealing means such as O-rings may be provided in order to guarantee a fluid-tight connection.

[0016] When the present invention is put to practice, a pump module is provided, which is applicable in many types of floor heating systems and manifolds. Depending on the specific requirements, the pump module may be used in combination with a valve construction, or not. Furthermore, various connections can be made, such as a connection to a pump, a connection to a duct of a manifold, a connection to a supply of fluid to a manifold, a connection to a discharge of fluid from a manifold, and a connection to a temperature gauge. On the basis of an application of the pump module according to the present invention, costs can be saved with respect to conventional situations in which custom-made connections between the various components of a manifold are present.

[0017] The present invention relates to a pump module as described in the foregoing. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an assembly of the pump module and a valve element which is located in the pump module at the position of the valve seat. Also, the present invention relates to a manifold for a floor heating system, comprising a pump, a duct for supplying fluid to the floor heating system, a duct for receiving fluid from the floor heating system, and at least one pump module, wherein one connection opening of the pump module is connected to the pump, wherein a temperature gauge is received in another connection opening, and wherein yet another connection opening is connected to a duct of the manifold. In the manifold, yet another connection opening may be connected to a supply of fluid to the manifold or a discharge of fluid from the manifold. Another device which is covered by the present invention is a floor heating system comprising at least one pump module, particularly a manifold which is equipped with at least one pump module.

[0018] The present invention will be further explained on the basis of the following description of a manifold for a floor heating system and a pump module used therein, with reference to the drawing, in which equal reference signs indicate equal or similar components, and in which:

figure 1 shows a front view of a manifold for a floor heating system, which manifold is depicted in a normal, operational orientation;

figure 2 shows a perspective view of a pump module which is part of the manifold as shown in figure 1;

figure 3 shows a side view of the pump module;

figure 4 shows another side view of the pump module;

figure 5 shows a side view of a longitudinal section through the pump module; and figure 6 shows a perspective view of an assembly of the pump module and a valve element, wherein the pump module is depicted in a transparent fashion.

[0019] Figure 1 shows a manifold 1 for use in a floor heating system. A floor heating system is not shown as a whole in the figures, but it is well-known that besides a manifold 1, such a system comprises at least one pipe which is positioned under a flour, and which is suitable for transporting fluid. The at least one pipe, which will hereinafter be referred to as heating pipe, can have any desired shape and length, wherein it is advantageous if as much as possible of a given floor is covered by the heating pipe, and if lengths of the heating pipe closest to the entrance of the heating pipe are alternated with lengths of the heating pipe closest to the exit of the heating pipe, in order to realize an even distribution of heat over the floor. In the shown example, the manifold 1 is suitable to be used in a floor heating system having seven heating pipes (not shown). In the following, a general description of the construction and the functioning of the manifold 1 will be given, wherein it is assumed that the fluid which is used in the floor heating system is water.

[0020] The manifold 1 comprises a number of components, including

• a supply pipe 10 for supplying water to the manifold 1, in particular water that has passed a heat source (not shown) and is at a relatively high temperature;
• a pump 11 for realizing an actual displacement of the water through the manifold 1 and the heating pipes;
• a drain 12 for draining water from the manifold 1 if so desired;
• a duct 13 for supplying water to the heating pipes, which duct 13 will hereinafter be referred to as supply duct 13, and which duct 13 comprises connection openings 14 for connecting the duct 13 to the heating pipes, and controllable valves 15 for opening and closing the connection openings 14 according to actual heating requirements;
• a controlling unit 16 for controlling the operation of the valves 15 of the supply duct 13;
• a duct 17 for receiving water from the heating pipes, which duct 17 will hereinafter be referred to as return duct 17, and which duct 17 comprises connection openings 18 for connecting the duct 17 to the heating pipes, and cock valves 19 for manually opening and closing the connection openings 18;
• a discharge pipe 20 for discharging water from the manifold 1, which may lead to the heat source in order to have the water heated again after it has been used in the floor heating system;
• two temperature gauges 21, wherein one temperature gauge 21 is arranged at a position for detecting the temperature of the water in the supply duct 13, and wherein another temperature gauge 21 is arranged at a position for detecting the temperature of the water in the return duct 17;
• two pump modules 2, wherein one pump module 2 is arranged at a position for connecting the supply duct 13 to an outlet of the pump 11, and wherein another pump module 2 is arranged at a position for connecting the return duct 17 to an inlet of the pump 11.

[0021] In the following, for sake of clarity, the pump module 2 which is arranged at the outlet side of the pump 11 will be referred to as supply pump module 2a, and the pump module 2 which is arranged at the inlet side of the pump 11 will be referred to as return pump module 2b.

[0022] The pump modules 2 are identical, and are preferably manufactured in mass production in order to be as cheap as possible. A suitable material of the pump modules 2 is a composite material.

[0023] Figures 2-4 show a pump module 2 in more detail. A notable feature of the pump module 2 is that it has several connection openings 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27. On the basis of that fact, the pump module 2 can be used in many ways. In particular, in the shown example, one connection opening 22 of the pump module 2 is used for connection to the pump 11. Two other connection openings 23, 24 of the pump module 2, which are arranged at opposite positions in the pump module 2, are used for receiving a temperature gauge 21. In each of the pump modules 2a, 2b used in the manifold, one of the connection openings 23, 24 is actually provided with a temperate gauge 21, whereas another of the connection openings 23, 24 is closed. A relatively large connection opening 25 of the pump module 2 is used for connection to a duct 13, 17. Two other connection openings 26, 27 of the pump module 2 are used for connection to a supply or a discharge of water. In the supply pump module 2a, one of these connection openings 26, 27 is used for connection to the drain 12, whereas another of these connection openings 26, 27 is closed. In the return pump module 2b, one of these connection openings 26, 27 is used for connection to the supply pipe 10, whereas another of these connection openings 26, 27 is used for connection to the discharge pipe 20.

[0024] Advantageously, the connection openings 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, with the exception of the connection opening 25 for the connection to a duct 13, 17 of the manifold 1, are provided with suitable means such as internal screw thread to allow for easy connection to other components of the manifold 1.

[0025] An advantage of using the identical pump modules 2 in the manifold 1 is that there is no need for custom-made connecting means. Furthermore, when the design of the manifold 1 is changed in order to meet new requirements, the pump modules 2 may still be used, on the basis of the fact that the pump modules 2 have various connection openings 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 at well-chosen positions. Besides the connection openings 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, a pump module 2 has another feature which enhances its capacity of being used for establishing various connections in various types of manifolds 1. This feature is a valve seat 28 which is arranged in an internal space 29 of the pump module 2, as shown in figure 5.

[0026] In the pump module 2, the position of the valve seat 28 is chosen such that two portions of the internal space 29 can be discerned, wherein a first portion 29a of the internal space 29 is a portion where the connection opening 22 for connection to the pump 11, and the connection opening 26 for connection to a supply or a discharge of water are present, and wherein a second portion 29b of the internal space 29 is a portion where the connection openings 23, 24 for receiving a temperature gauge 21, the connection opening 25 for connection to a duct 13, 17, and another connection opening 27 for connection to a supply or a discharge of water are present.

[0027] Figure 6 illustrates how a valve element 30 can be arranged in the pump module 2. For sake of completeness, it is noted that the valve element 30 is adapted to block a passage 31 through the valve seat 28 in one position, and to leave the passage 31 as mentioned open in another position. To that end, in the shown example, the valve element 30 has supporting components 32 for supporting the valve element 30 against the valve seat 28, and a closing component 33 for closing the passage 31, wherein flexible connections are present between the supporting components 32 and the closing component 33, and wherein an actuation rod 34 is provided for putting the closing component 33 at a desired position.

[0028] The actuation rod 34 of the valve element 30 can be operated in any suitable manner. In the return pump module 2b, the valve element 30 is present for controlling the extent to which return water is mixed with supply water. In that case, the actuation rod 34 can be manipulated on the basis of an output of the temperature gauges 21. Depending on the extent to which a new supply of water needs to be cooled down, the passage 31 inside the return pump module 2b, which is located between the side of the pump module 2 where water is received from the supply pipe 10 and transported to the inlet of the pump 11, and the side of the pump module 2 where water is received from the return duct 17 and transported to the discharge pipe 20, is opened/closed to a more or lesser extent.

[0029] For sake of completeness, it is noted that the pump module 2 does not necessarily need to be used with a valve element 30. However, due to the presence of the valve seat 28 inside the pump module 2, the possibility of doing so exists, which enhances the functionality and applicability of the pump module 2.

[0030] In the shown example of a manifold 1, the end of each pump module 2 which is opposite to the end where the pump module 2 is connected to a duct 13, 17 is closed by means of a suitable closing plate 35. In order to avoid leakage of water, sealing means such as an O-ring are placed between the end of the pump module 2 and the closing plate 35. For the purpose of fixing the pump module 2 at a position between the closing plate 35 and the relevant duct 13, 17, use can be made of studs or the like (not shown), as the pump module 2 is provided with through-holes 36 for receiving such connection means.

[0031] When the manifold 1 having the pump modules 2 as described in the foregoing is used, the water follows the path as will now be described. The water enters the manifold 1 through the return pump module 2b, in particular the side of the pump module 2b which is connected to the pump 11. The water flows through the pump 11, and flows through the supply pump module 2a to the supply duct 13. From the supply duct 13, the water flows through one or more heating pipes, and returns in the manifold 1 at the return duct 17. Finally, the water flows from the return duct 17 to the return pump module 2b. Depending on the position of the valve element 30, the water exits the manifold 1 through the connection opening 27 of the return pump module 2b which is connected to the discharge pipe 20 and/or flows to the side of the return pump module 2b where the incoming water is received.

[0032] Like conventional manifolds, the manifold 1 having the two pump modules 2 as described in the foregoing and shown in figure 1 is generally U-shaped, wherein the ducts 13, 17 are regarded as the legs of the U, and the pump 11 is arranged in the base of the U. In a normal orientation as shown in figure 1, the ducts 13, 17 have a substantially horizontal orientation. In the shown example of the pump module 2, the connection opening 25 for connection to a duct 13, 17 allows for a flow of water in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to a direction in which other connection openings 22, 23, 24, 26, 27 allow for flows of water. This is not essential, yet practical in the given embodiment, in which the orientation of the ducts 13, 17 of the manifold is substantially horizontal as mentioned, and wherein the orientation of the supply pipe 10, the drain 12, the discharge pipe 20 and a passage between the inlet and the outlet of the pump 11 is substantially vertical.

[0033] It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the examples discussed in the foregoing, but that several amendments and modifications thereof are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims.

[0034] It is noted that a floor heating system as described may not only be used for heating purposes, but also for cooling purposes if so desired. In such a case, the supply water is relatively cool, and the return water is at a higher temperature. The present invention is suitable to be applied in any floor heating system, and with any application of the floor heating system, also if the cooling function of the floor heating system is used.

[0035] Depending on the requirements, if a valve element 30 is used with the pump module 2, the valve element 30 may be of any suitable type, including a check valve required in district heating systems.

[0036] It is not necessary for the pump module 2 to comprise through-holes 36 for its connection to other components of a manifold 1. In case the pump module 2 is equipped with connection means, other possibilities may be used, including threaded holes which are not extending all the way through the pump module 2, i.e. blind threaded holes.

[0037] The present invention can be summarized as follows. A pump module 2 for use in a manifold 1 for a floor heating system comprises an internal space 29, a valve seat 28 which is located in the internal space 29, and a number of connection openings 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 which provide access to the internal space 29 from outside of the pump module 2. The pump module 2 can be used in combination with a valve element 30 for opening/closing a passage 31 through the valve seat 28. Furthermore, various components of the manifold 1, including a pump 11, a duct 13 for supplying water to pipes of the floor heating system, and a duct 17 for receiving water from said pipes can be connected to the pump module 2 at suitable positions on the pump module 2 through the connection openings 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27. The pump module 2 is widely applicable, and offers advantages over specifically designed connections in a manifold 1, including the advantage of reduced costs.

[0038] The functionality of the pump module 2 according to the present invention can be described as follows:

• transporting water or another suitable medium, which may be hot or cold, and which may be provided with an additive such as glycol;
• establishing a connection between heat source, pump 11, supply duct 13, and return duct 17;
• realizing thermal control and mixture of the medium;
• realizing flow control and mixture of the medium; and
• controlling flow direction of the medium.

Claims

1. Pump module (2) for use in a manifold (1) for a floor heating system, which manifold (1) has a pump (11), a duct (13) for supplying fluid to at least one pipe of the floor heating system, and a duct (17) for receiving fluid from the at least one pipe of the floor heating system, and which pump module (2) comprises an internal space (29), a valve seat (28) which is located in the internal space (29), and a number of connection openings (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) which provide access to the internal space (29) from outside of the pump module (2), wherein at least two connection openings (22, 26) are located at one side of the valve seat (28), one of which is destined to be connected to the pump (11) of the manifold (1), and wherein at least three connection openings (23, 24, 25, 27) are located at another side of the valve seat (28), one of which is destined to receive a temperature gauge (21), and another of which is destined to be connected to a duct (13, 17) of the manifold (1).

2. Pump module (2) according to claim 1, wherein the other connection openings (26, 27) are suitable to be connected to a supply or discharge of fluid to or from the manifold (1).

3. Pump module (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pump module (2) is made of a composite material.

4. Pump module (2) according to any of claims 1-3, comprising openings (36) for receiving studs, which openings (36) are extending along an entire length of the pump module (2).

5. Pump module (2) according to any of claims 1-4, wherein at least a number of the connection openings (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27) is provided with internal screw thread.

6. Assembly of a pump module (2) according to any of claims 1-5 and a valve element (30) which is located in the pump module (2) at the position of the valve seat (28).

7. Manifold (1) for a floor heating system, comprising a pump (11), a duct (13) for supplying fluid to the floor heating system, a duct (17) for receiving fluid from the floor heating system, and at least one pump module (2) according to any of claims 1-5, wherein a connection opening (22) of the pump module (2) is connected to the pump (11), wherein a temperature gauge (21) is received in another connection opening (23, 24), and wherein yet another connection opening (25) is connected to a duct (13, 17) of the manifold (1).

8. Manifold (1) according to claim 7, wherein at least yet another connection opening (26, 27) is connected to a supply (10) of fluid to the manifold (1).

9. Manifold (1) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein at least yet another connection opening (26, 27) is connected to a discharge (20) of fluid from the manifold (1).

10. Floor heating system, comprising a manifold (1) according to any of claims 7-9.

Drawing