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(11) | EP 2 538 151 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Electric column radiator, with heat supplied by two or more vertical resistors |
| (57) The present invention relates to a novel type of electric column radiator, which
can afford optimal results in terms of quick and uniform heat distribution over the
entire height of the radiating body. The main feature of the present invention consists in providing an electric column radiator (1) that has two or more resistors (R' - R" - etc.), preferably PTC resistors having a variable and self-regulating power, the individual resistors (R) being vertically fitted from the bottom header (10) of the radiator (1), on as many heating elements or bodies (A - B - C - D - etc.) thereof, preferably the external or lateral ones (R' - R" - etc.), to be immersed in the thermodynamic fluid that will be introduced into such elements, said heating bodies being naturally in mutual communication along their two vertical ends or transverse headers (10 and 20). |
[0001] The present invention relates to a novel type of electric column radiator, which can afford optimal results in terms of quick and uniform heat distribution over the entire height of the radiating body.
[0002] The main feature of the present invention consists in providing an electric column radiator that has two or more resistors, preferably PTC resistors having a variable and self-regulating power, the individual resistors being vertically fitted from the bottom header of the radiator, on as many heating elements or bodies thereof, preferably the external or lateral ones, to be immersed in the thermodynamic fluid that will be introduced into such elements, the heating bodies being naturally in mutual communication along their two vertical ends or transverse headers.
[0003] In houses or premises that have no heating system, or in individual rooms where a higher ambient temperature is desired, which higher temperature could not be achieved using normal radiators or heating bodies of an existing system, electric radiators or other additional and independent appliances are often used, that can make the frequently used areas or individual rooms more comfortable and warmer.
[0004] Additional and independent electric radiators are known, which are designed to be fixed to walls at frequently used areas of a room, as an alternative to the use of displaceable electric radiators, which are known to have a large size and to involve hazards in the use of the appliance and its power cable.
[0005] These independent radiators are generally obtained by changing and adapting the normal aluminum or steel radiators that are used in any heating system at a maximum height not much above one meter, after introducing a cartridge resistor along the base or header of the radiator and before filling the radiator with a thermodynamic fluid that will be gradually heated by said resistor. The heat of the resistor is absorbed by the fluid along the base or header of the individual elements. Heat will gradually propagate from the base along the fluid carrier all along the column, thereby heating the surface of the radiator, which will in turn radiate it to the surrounding area.
[0006] This technique has shown to be poorly effective in heating of column radiators that have a small number of radiating elements, although of greater height, and hence have a smaller width and can only accommodate a short resistor at their base, i.e. a resistor that cannot have enough power to quickly heat the whole thermodynamic fluid distributed over the greater height of the radiator, which is known to range from 1200 mm to 2200 mm for each column. As a result, prior art electric column radiators have a non-uniform surface radiation temperature, which gradually decreases in the upward direction, although partial heat recovery is obtained due to the convective motion of the warmer air rising from below.
[0007] This drawback acts as a further restriction in said electric column radiators, as safety calibration of resistors prevents continuity of heating as soon as the fluid proximate to a resistor comes close to the threshold temperature, while the overlying fluid has not reached such temperature yet.
[0008] This drawback of thermal difference over the height of the radiator causes different thermal expansions of the elements that compose the radiator, causing creaking in the column radiator both during heating and during cooling.
[0009] The main purpose of the present invention is to provide an electric column radiator that can substantially ensure quick and even heating of the entire surface of the radiator and hence the environment around it.
[0010] As a part of this purpose, a further important object of the invention is to provide an electric column radiator that is particularly adapted to accommodate resistors of the same length and power, particularly for optimized use of PTC resistors, which resistors always ensure the best thermal efficiency and electrical safety conditions.
[0011] A further object of the present invention is to provide a radiator that can simultaneously use one or more resistors, e.g. during startup and during heat retention for optimized power consumption.
[0012] Another important object of the present invention is to provide an electric column radiator that causes no noise due to thermal expansion of its elements during the heating and cooling steps. These and other objects are fully achieved by the present invention which provides an electric column radiator with two or more resistors, preferably but without limitation PTC resistors having a variable and self-regulating power, the individual resistors being vertically fitted from the bottom header of the radiator, on as many elements of the heating bodies thereof, preferably the external or lateral ones, and being immersed in the thermodynamic fluid that will be introduced into such elements, which are in interconnecting relation.
[0013] An improved understanding of the present radiator and a better explanation of how the above objects are fulfilled are described and shown in greater detail below, by reference to a merely illustrative and non-limiting embodiment, and with the help of 5 diagrammatic figures of as many drawings annexed herewith, in which:
- Fig. 1 of drawing 1 shows an external front view of an electric column radiator, having four vertical elements, at least two of them, by way of example the external ones, vertically receiving as many electric resistors for heating the thermodynamic fluid contained in the radiator, according to the present invention;
- Fig. 2 of drawing 1 shows a vertical and lateral view of the radiator of Fig. 1;
- Fig. 3 of drawing 1 shows a vertical view of the radiator of Fig. 2, as taken along the plane III-III;
- Fig. 4 of drawing 2 shows an enlarged detail view of one of the known resistors that may be introduced into the lateral elements of the radiator of Fig. 3;
- Fig. 5 of drawing 2 shows a partial enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 3, which highlights a resistor fitted to one of the heating elements of the radiator of Fig. 1.
[0014] In all the above figures, like parts are represented, or intended to be represented, by like reference numerals.
[0015] In the prior art, an electric column heater (1), as shown in Fig. 1, is composed, by way of example, of a series of four vertical or column radiating elements (A - B - C and D), which are in joined intercommunicating relation by means of a bottom header (10) and a top header (20), said headers (10 - 20) having appropriate caps (10a - 10b) and (20a - 20b) for feeding and sealing the thermodynamic fluid to be introduced into said radiator (1).
[0016] In the prior art, prior to introduction of the thermodynamic fluid, an electric resistor is fitted along the header (10), after being fixed and sealed, e.g. on the cap (10a), which also has the power connection to said resistor extending therefrom.
[0017] An electric resistor (R) is known to have a base terminal (T) comprising the connection and power supply body (F) and also having two base threads (T1 - T2) with a hexagon wrench (T3), as exemplified in Fig. 4. Still in the prior art, the resistor (R) is longitudinally accommodated in the header (10), whereas its thread (T1) is sealably screwed into a bottom cap (10a) or (10b), using the wrench (T3) A connection and power supply body (F) of the resistor (R) is sealably integral with the thread (T2) of the base (T).
[0018] As mentioned above, due to the small width of the radiator (1), the resistor (R) that can be fitted along the header (10), according to the prior art, must be short and hence have a smaller power, and can only be placed as a single piece within said header (10), with the above mentioned drawbacks.
[0019] According to the present invention, the same column radiator (1) may be equipped with two or more resistors (R' - R" - etc.), and even have as many resistors (R) as there are vertical elements, said resistors (R) being fitted from the bottom of such elements (A - B - C - D - etc.), thereby doubling or anyway multiplying the heating power, as well as providing the possibility of using resistors having maximized length and power, to achieve the desired quick and uniform heating of its radiating surface.
[0020] Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, a pair of electric resistors (R' and R") are fitted at the bottom of the elements (A and D) of the radiator (1) respectively, thereby fixing the connecting terminal base (T) to its bottom header (10), as better explained below.
[0021] More in detail and referring to the example of Fig. 5, the connector (11), that forms the part of the header (10) providing connection of the element (A), is sealably fitted in the axial conduit (A') of such element (A), whereas the opposed bottom surface of the header (10) has an outwardly flared (13) threaded through hole (12).
[0022] Such threaded hole (12) is designed to be screwed to the internal thread (T1) of a resistor (R), which may be hence accommodated along the axial conduit (A') of the radiating element (A).
[0023] Such resistor (R) is concentric with the through hole of the connector (11) of the header (10), thereby allowing free circulation of the thermodynamic liquid, as soon as it is introduced into the radiator (1), particularly from said through hole of the connector (11) to the bottom header (10), once it has been sealed by the caps (10a - 10b).
[0024] With the interposition of an appropriate sealing ring (14), the resistor (R) is integrally joined to the outer or bottom surface of the header (10), thereby acting upon the tightening hexagon wrench (T3), which wrench presses the sealing ring (14) against the flare (13) of the header (10), thereby preventing any thermodynamic fluid leakage, when such fluid is introduced into the radiator (1).
[0025] Still referring to Fig. 5, the body (F) of the resistor (R) is associated with an electric outlet (P), which connects its connections to as many power cables (N1 - N2), according to a conventional technique for actuation of such resistor (R), said body (F) and said cables (N1 - N2) being preferably held in the compartment (S3) of a box-like element (S).
[0026] More in detail, this box-like element (S) has a top surface (S1) which has appropriate through holes for allowing the body (F) and the cables (C1 - C2) to be stably held within the box (S). The box (S) is associated with the base of the header (10) by means of a bush (M), which is screwed to the thread (T2) of the base terminal (T) of the resistor (R), thereby pressing the top surface (S1) of the box (S) against the wrench (T3) of the resistor (R), thereby locking and supporting the box (S).
[0027] The box (S) also advantageously has an inspection door, not shown, which allows fixation and maintenance of the resistors (R), as described above.
[0028] A general switch, not shown, may be also placed on the box (S), or anyway proximate to the radiator (1), for supplying power to the cables (N1 - N2) and the body (F) of each resistor (R), a series of pushbuttons or devices being also possibly provided for actuating one or more resistors (R) of those fitted to the radiator (1), at the same or different times.
[0029] As mentioned above, once the resistors (R) have been fitted in a novel fashion along the heating bodies, e.g. (A and D) of the radiator (1), the thermodynamic fluid is introduced and sealed using the caps (10a - 10b - 20a - 20b), with any conventional technique, for convenient use of the novel type of the electric column radiator.
[0030] In view of what has been described and shown above, it will be appreciated that, assuming the provision of a resistor (R) for each of the four elements (A - B - C and D), the whole fluid is quickly heated to the maximum extent, including in the lower portion of the radiator (1), the remaining thermodynamic fluid being also quickly heated, for prompt distribution of heat to the environment around the radiator (1), as envisaged in the above mentioned main object. Also, the possibility of actuating part of the resistors (R), or turning some of them off after startup, as well as the use of PTC resistors (R) allows quick and uniform heating of the radiator (1) to be combined with maximized power saving potential, as envisaged in another one of the above mentioned objects.
[0031] Quick and uniform heating of the individual elements (A - B - C and D), over their entire height, also affords uniform expansion times of their radiating surfaces, thereby avoiding the drawback of undesired noise of similar prior art column radiators, as envisaged by another one of the above mentioned drawbacks.
[0032] Of course, the electric column radiator as described and shown herein shall be intended by way of example and without limitation, and may be also provided in different construction forms.
[0033] For example, there may be radiators (1) having a different number of radiating elements (A - B - C - D - etc.), and their height may also change, according to the typical available heights in the market. The vertical resistors (R1 - R2 - etc.) may be also fitted both to aluminum heating elements and to similar steel elements, and corresponding sets of resistors (R1 - R2 - etc.) may be also provided on the top header (20), which operate in adjustable coordination with the resistors (R1 - R2 - etc.) on the header (10).
1. An electric column radiator, with heat supplied by two or more vertical resistors,
for ensuring optimal results in terms of quick and uniform heat distribution over
the entire length of the radiating body, characterized in that a column radiator (1) may be equipped with two or more resistors (R), and even have
as many resistors (R' - R" - etc.) as there are vertical elements, with the resistors
being vertically fitted from the bottom header (10) of said elements (A - B - C -
D - etc.);
2. An electric column radiator, with heat supplied by two or more vertical resistors,
as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the connector (11), that forms the part of the header (10) providing connection of
the element (A), is sealably fitted in the axial conduit (A') of said element (A),
whereas the opposed bottom surface of the header (10) has an outwardly flared (13)
threaded through hole (12);
3. An electric column radiator as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the connector (11), that forms the part of the header (10) related to any other radiating
element (B - C - D - etc.) is sealably fitted in the axial conduit (B' - C' - D' -
etc.) of its respective element (B - C - D - etc.), whereas the opposed bottom surface
of the same header (10) has an outwardly flared (13) threaded through hole (12);
4. An electric column radiator, with heat supplied by two or more vertical resistors,
as claimed in claims 1 - 2 and 3, characterized in that the threaded hole (12) of the header (10) is designed to be screwed to the internal
thread (T1) of a resistor (R), which may be hence accommodated along the axial conduit
(A') of the radiating element (A) or any other radiating element (B - C - D - etc.);
5. An electric column radiator, with heat supplied by two or more vertical resistors,
as claimed in claims 1 - 2 and 3, characterized in that with the interposition of an appropriate sealing ring (14), the resistor (R) is integrally
joined to the outer or bottom surface of the header (10), thereby acting upon the
tightening hexagon wrench (T3), which wrench presses the sealing ring (14) against
the flare (13) of the header (10);
6. An electric column radiator as claimed in claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the body (F) of the resistor (R) is associated with an electric outlet (P), which
connects its connections to as many power cables (N1 - N2), according to a conventional
technique for actuation of such resistor (R), said body (F) and said cables (N1 -
N2) being preferably held in the compartment (S3) of a box-like element (S).
7. An electric column radiator as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that a box-like element (S) has a top surface (S1) which has appropriate through holes
for allowing the body (F) and the cables (C1 - C2) to be stably held within the box
(S), said box (S) being associated with the base of the header (10) by means of a
bush (M), which is screwed to the thread (T2) of the base terminal (T) of the resistor
(R), thereby pressing said top surface (S1) of the box (S) against the wrench (T3)
of said resistor (R);
8. An electric column radiator, with heat supplied by two or more vertical resistors,
as claimed in claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a general switch may be placed on the box (S), or anyway proximate to the radiator
(1), for supplying power to the cables (N1 - N2) and the body (F) of each resistor
(R), a series of pushbuttons or devices being also possibly provided for actuating
one or more resistors (R) of those fitted to the radiator (1), at the same or different
times;
9. An electric column radiator, with heat supplied by two or more vertical resistors,
as claimed in claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a variable number of radiating elements (A - B - C - D - etc.) as well as a possible
resistor (R) for each of said radiating elements;
10. An electric column radiator, with heat supplied by two or more vertical resistors,
as claimed in claims 1 to 8, characterized in that corresponding sets of resistors (R1 - R2 - etc.) may be also provided on the top
header (20), which operate in adjustable coordination with the resistors (R1 - R2
- etc.) on the header (10).