EP2681494B1

EP2681494B1 - An adapter device for connecting a radiator element to a plumbing system

Info

Publication number: EP2681494B1
Application number: EP12718353.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fabio Sassi
Original assignee: Fondital SpA
Current assignee: Fondital SpA
Priority date: 2011-03-04
Filing date: 2012-03-05
Publication date: 2015-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2032-03-05
Also published as: EP2681494A1; HUE027147T2; CN103582783B; PL2681494T3; EA024061B1; CN103582783A; EA201391279A1; WO2012120440A1; UA110818C2; ITMI20110345A1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an adapter device for connecting a radiator element to a plumbing system.

BACKGROUND ART

As known, the heating radiators employed for the heating of buildings, consisting usually of a battery of side-by-side radiator elements, are supplied with a hot fluid (typically water) circulating in a plumbing system formed by a network of pipes.
Each radiator has an inlet opening and an outlet opening, typically arranged on a lateral side of an end radiator element.
At each position in which the installation of a radiator is provided, the plumbing system comprises a delivery pipe and a return pipe, to which the radiator is connected through suitable connectors.
Typically, the pipes of the plumbing system protrude from a wall of the room wherein the radiator must be installed and the radiator is designed with side inlet and outlet openings, so as to easily connect to said pipes.
In some cases, however, the pipes intended to be connected to the radiator protrude from the floor.
In these situations,' or in similar situations where the delivery and return pipes are below the radiator, the radiator to be used must be especially designed, or at least be modified, in order to be connected to the pipes from below; therefore radiators equipped with downwardly facing attachments are needed; however, additional components and pipelines are commonly required for connecting the pipes of the plumbing system to the inlet and outlet openings of the radiator. Such an adapter device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from DE2408078 .
Adapting devices are also known (e.g. from CH 502 642 ) that allow using a radiator with side attachments even in the presence of delivery and return pipes protruding from the floor; known adaptation devices do not seem, however, fully satisfactory, especially in terms of construction simplicity, effectiveness, dimensions and ease of assembly.
In particular, some known devices, in addition of being relatively complicated and bulky, extend laterally on one side of the radiator, thus constituting an unsatisfactory solution not only from the functional and dimensional point of view, but also from the aesthetic point of view.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adapter device for connecting a radiator element to a plumbing system which allows to solve the problems highlighted here of the prior art.
The present invention therefore relates to an adapter device for connecting a radiator element to a plumbing system as defined in essential terms in the appended claim 1 and, in its additional features, in the dependent claims.
The device of the invention allows adapting a radiator element, designed and made to form a side connecting radiator enabling it to form a radiator to be connected from below.
In particular, the device of the invention allows to adapt the radiator, especially in the case of an aluminum radiator, to plumbing systems with delivery and return pipes with predetermined fixed pitch, which in the most common applications is typically 50 mm, without requiring an increase of the pitch and allowing to cross delivery and return flow (in the standard common application, the delivery pipe is the inner one with respect to the radiator, while the aluminum radiator necessarily requires a delivery flow from the outer pipe).
The device of the invention is also simple to make and mount on the radiator element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of one of its non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial schematic exploded perspective view of a radiator element provided with an adapter device according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the radiator element of figure 1;
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a plan view from below and a side elevation view on an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity of the adapter device of the invention;
Figures 5-8 are sectional views respectively along the traced planes V-V, VI-VI, VII-VII, VIII-VIII of Figures 3, 4;
Figures 9A, 9B show the way in which the device of the invention can be mounted alternatively on a radiator element arranged at a left side end (Figure 9A) or to a right side end (Figure 9B) of a radiator.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, a heating radiator element 1, in particular a pipe radiator, comprises: a tubular body 2, for example made of die-cast aluminum, extending substantially along an axis X (in use, substantially vertical) and provided with an internal chamber 3 for the passage of water; two pairs of transverse coupling sleeves 4 (only one of which shown in Figure 1) arranged at respective axially opposite ends of the body 2; and a plurality of fins and/or heat exchange plates 5 variously connected together and/or to the body 2.
The body 2 comprises a substantially tubular end part 6 arranged at a lower end 7 of the body 2; the end part 6 is provided with a bottom opening 8 arranged substantially around the axis X and bounded by an outer radial collar 9.
The two pairs of sleeves 4 are arranged respectively, at the lower end 7 and at an upper end (not shown) of the body 2; the sleeves 4 of each pair protrude from opposite sides of the body 2, substantially perpendicular to the axis X, and extend along respective axes substantially parallel to one another and perpendicular to the axis X.
In particular, the lower sleeves 4 (arranged at the lower end 7 of the body 2) protrude from opposite sides of the end portion 6 and are aligned along an axis Y substantially perpendicular to the axis X (and thus, in use, substantially horizontal).
The sleeves 4 are intended to connect the element 1 to other similar elements, for example by way of special nipples (not shown), to form a radiator of a predetermined size, and/or to an external plumbing system (not shown) and precisely to two pipes 11, 12 which act as a delivery pipe and return pipe respectively or vice versa (possibly by means of suitable connectors, not shown).
Depending on the position of the pipes 11, 12, the element 1 can be alternatively prepared as a radiator element to be connected from below and as a radiator element with lateral connection; also, the radiator element 1 can be arranged at a left side end (as shown in Figures 1 and 9A) or at a right side end (as shown in Figure 9B) of the radiator.
In a common situation (not shown), the delivery pipe and the return pipe of the plumbing system protrude from a wall and are arranged at predetermined heights from the floor (therefore overlapping each other); in this case, the element 1 of the radiator is laterally connected to the plumbing system, by way of a pair of couplings (not shown) which engage an upper sleeve and a lower sleeve of the element 1, while the opposite sleeves are used to connect the element 1 to an adjacent element; the bottom opening 8 is closed by a plug.
If instead, as in another typical situation (shown in Figure 1), the pipes 11, 12 of the plumbing system are set side-by-side to one another and the element 1 is supplied from below, according to the invention the element 1 is provided with an adapter device 10 that connects the element 1 to the plumbing system, while the sleeves that are not used to connect the element 1 to other elements are closed by plugs.
The device 10 extends substantially along an axis which, in case of device 10 mounted on the element 1 coincides substantially with the axis X; in the following the axis X thus indicates both the axis of the element 1 and the axis of the device 10.
The device 10 comprises a connection body 13 and an insert 14 joined to the connection body 13.
The connection body 13 extends along a longitudinal axis A that is substantially perpendicular to the axis X (i.e., horizontal) and, in case of device 10 mounted on the element 1, substantially parallel to axis Y.
With reference also to Figures 3-7, the connection body 13 has a lower face 15 and an upper face 16, opposite to one another.
The lower face 15 is provided with two lower openings 21, 22, set side-by-side to each other and aligned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis A, which can be used alternately as inlet and outlet of the device 10 and can be connected (in a known manner and not shown for simplicity) to respective pipes 11, 12; for example, the openings 21, 22 are provided with respective fittings (known) for connectors and/or pipes.
In the example shown in Figure 1 and 9A, it is assumed that the pipe 11 is the delivery pipe and the pipe 12 the return pipe; the opening 21 defines an outlet of the device 10 and is connected to the delivery pipe 11 and the opening 22 defines an outlet of the device 10 and is connected to the return pipe 12.
The upper face 16 is provided with two upper openings 25, 26, set side-by-side to each other and aligned along an axis B transverse and substantially perpendicular to the axis A and to the axis X.
The lower openings 21, 22 and the upper openings 25, 26 are therefore aligned according to respective axes A, B substantially perpendicular to each other (and in use horizontal) and lie on respective vertically (along the axis X) staggered planes.
The connection body 13 is internally provided with two ducts 27, 28 which connect the opening 21 with the opening 25 and, respectively, the opening 22 with the opening 26.
The ducts 27, 28 are provided, preferably, with respective control valves 29, arranged for example at respective opposite ends of the connection body 13; each valve 29 comprises a movable shutter 30 for varying the flow section of the duct 27, 28 to which the valve 29 is associated; in the illustrated example, the shutter 30 is carried by a screw 31 movable along an axis parallel to the axis A within a nut screw seat 32 communicating with the respective duct 27, 28. Each valve 29 is manually operable by acting on a head 33 of screw 31, opposite to the shutter 30.
The insert 14 protrudes from the upper face 16 of the connection body 13 substantially along the axis X and extends between one end of the root 35 and a free end 36, axially opposite to the end of the root 35.
The insert 14 is internally provided with a delivery conduit 37 and a return conduit 38, having respective mounting end openings 41, 42, connected to the openings 21, 22 of the connection body 13, and respective free end openings 43, 44, communicating in use with the chamber 3 in the end part 6 of the element 1.
In the configuration shown in Figures 1-2, the mounting end openings 41, 42 are respectively joined to the upper openings 25, 26 of the connection body 13 and communicate with the openings 21, 22 by way of ducts 27, 28.
The delivery conduit 37 and the return conduit 38 are substantially parallel to each other and to the axis X and have a length (measured along the axis X) different from one another: in particular, the delivery conduit 37 is longer than the conduit 38.
In more detail, the insert 14 comprises a main portion 45, insertable in a water-tight manner in the end part 6 of the element 1, and a connecting portion 46, positioned at the end of a root 35 and joined to the connection body 13. The insert 14 therefore acts as a plug for closing the opening 8, but at the same time allows the connection of the element 1 to the external plumbing system.
Preferably (but not necessarily), the insert 14 is joined to the connection body 13 in a detachable way, by means of releasable fastening members 47, for example one or more screws that engage respective seats formed in the connection body 13 and in the insert 14.
In the example shown, the upper face 16 of the connection body 13 has a coupling seat 48 which houses, at least partially, the end of the root 35 of the insert 14 and inside which are also formed the openings 25, 26; the end of the root 35 is coupled in a water-tight manner to the seat 48 (possibly with the use of one or more gaskets).
The main portion 45 is substantially C-shaped and has two transverse end arms 51, 52 (substantially perpendicular to the axis X) and a longitudinal upright 53 (substantially parallel to the axis X) positioned between the arms 51, 52 and eccentric with respect to the axis X.
The free end openings 43, 44 of the conduits 37, 38 are positioned on respective arms 51, 52; precisely, the delivery conduit 37 is formed inside the upright 53, passing through both arms 51, 52 and has the free end opening 43 on the upper arm 51; the return conduit 38 is formed through the lower arm 52 and has the free end opening 44 on the same arm 52. The two conduits 37, 38 are set side-by-side and substantially parallel to the axis X.
The insert 14 has a through transverse hollow 54, which extends substantially along the axis A (and thus transversely to the axis X) between two opposite lateral sides (substantially parallel to the axis X, i.e. vertical in use) of the insert 14; in this case, but not necessarily, the hollow 54 is defined by the C shape of the insert 14 and is delimited by the arms 51, 52 and by the upright 53.
The hollow 54 defines an inlet zone 55 which connects the lower sleeves 4 to one another and with the return conduit 38; the free end opening 44 connected to the return conduit 38 faces in fact the hollow 54.
The hollow 54 has also the function of allowing the introduction, in case of device 10 mounted on the element 1, of a tool through a sleeve 4 to reach the opposite sleeve 4 and tighten the nipple connecting the element 1 with the adjacent radiator element.
The device 10 is coupled in a water-tight manner with the end portion 6 of the element 1 by means of sealing members 56 of any known type.
In particular, the insert 14 is provided with two sealing zones 57, 58 axially spaced from each other along the axis X and cooperating with the end portion 6 of the element 1. For example, the end of the root 35 and the free end 36 are provided with respective sealing members 56 cooperating with an inner surface of the end portion 6. The sealing members 56 may be defined by the sealing rings and/or mechanical coupling zones between the insert 14 (specifically, between its arms 51, 52) and the end part 6 of the element 1. In the example shown, the arms 51, 52 are provided with respective radial sealing rings 56, positioned in grooves formed on respective outer lateral surfaces of the arms 51, 52.
As already mentioned, additional sealing members 59, for example comprising a pair of sealing rings arranged in the openings 25, 26, are optionally arranged between the insert 14 and the connection body 13.
The device 10 further comprises, optionally but not necessarily, a by-pass system 62.
The by-pass system 62 comprises a by-pass duct 63, which connects the return conduit 38 with the delivery conduit 37, and an adjusting valve 64 acting on the by-pass duct 63.
In particular, the by-pass duct 63 is positioned inside the connection body 13 and extends substantially parallel to axis A and has openings respectively communicating with the ducts 27, 28.
The adjusting valve 64 comprises a movable shutter 65 for varying (and possibly totally closing) the passage section of the by-pass duct 63; for example, the shutter 65 is carried by a screw 66 movable along an axis parallel to the axis A within a nut screw seat 67 housed in the by-pass duct 63. The adjusting valve 64 is manually operable by acting on a head 68 of the screw 66, opposite to the shutter 65.
According to a variation not shown, the device 10 does not comprise the by-pass system 62.
The device 10 also comprises a fastening system 70 for mechanically fastening the device 10 to the element 1 (shown in Figures 1 and 2).
In particular, the fastening system 70 comprises a fastening member 71 which axially (parallel to the axis X) abuts against a radially outer flange 72 of the insert 14 and is mechanically coupled to the collar 9 of the end portion 6 by way of its own fastening portion 73 plastically deformed and folded around the collar 9.
In the non-limiting example shown, the fastening member 71 comprises a substantially annular plate 74, having a central through opening 75 that extends along and around the axis X, and a perimeter band 76 which is folded around the collar to define the fastening portion 73 which, in this case, consists in a pair of projections arranged in respective diametrically opposite ends of the plate 74.
The fastening member 71 is positioned around the insert 14 and precisely around the portion 46 thereof, which is arranged passing through the opening 75 (the fastening member is not represented, for simplicity, in Figures 3-8).
Advantageously, the connection body 13, the insert 14 and the fastening member 71 consist of respective distinct and separate pieces.
It is however understood that the device 10 can be fixed to the element 1 in another way, and that the connection body 13 and the insert 14 can in turn be joined to one another in a different way from what is described here by way of example.
The device 10 is mounted on the element 1 in case it is necessary to install a radiator with the connection from the bottom.
Depending on which of the pipes 11, 12 is the delivery pipe and which one the return pipe of the plumbing system, and on the position of the element 1 to be connected to the plumbing system (that is to say whether the element 1 is arranged at the left side end or at the right side end of the radiator), the device 1 is mounted in the configurations shown in Figures 9A, 9B.
The connection body 13 is always oriented in the same way relative to the element 1, while the insert 14 is mounted on the connection body 13 in two alternative positions, rotated by 180° around the axis X with respect to one another, so that the delivery conduit 37 and the outlet conduit 38 are connected with the openings 25, 26 respectively (as in Figure 9A), or vice versa (Figure 9B).
In both cases, the insert 14 is introduced into the end part 6 along the axis X, until it stops (for example, when the flange 72 abuts against the collar 9); the insert 14 is then fixed to the element 1 through the fastening member 71, deforming the fastening portion 73 around the collar 9; then the connection body 13 is joined to the insert 14, by way of the fastening members 47.
At this point, the device 10 is connected in a known manner, by way of connectors, to the pipes 11, 12 of the plumbing system.
In the configuration shown in Figure 9A (and also in Figure 1), water (or other fluid) circulating in the plumbing system (coming in particular from the pipe 11) enters the device 10 through the opening 21 (defining the inlet of the device 10), runs through the duct 27 and the delivery conduit 37 and enters the chamber 3 of the element 1 above the insert 14 (specifically, above the upper arm 51), feeding the radiator. The water returns to the plumbing system (specifically, to the pipe 12) through the inlet zone 55, along the return conduit 38, the duct 28 and the opening 22 (defining the outlet of the device 10).
In the configuration shown in Figure 9B, the water (coming in particular from the pipe 12) enters the device 10 through the opening 22 (now defining the inlet of the device 10), runs through the duct 28 and the opening 26, from which rises to the delivery conduit 37 and enters the chamber 3 of the element 1 above the insert 14 (specifically, above the upper arm 51), feeding the radiator. The water returns to the plumbing system (specifically, to the pipe 11) through the inlet zone 55, along the return conduit 38, the duct 27 and the opening 21 (defining the outlet of the device 10).

Claims

An adapter device (10) for connecting a radiator element (1) to a plumbing system, comprising a connection body (13), provided with a first and a second ducts (27, 28) having respective openings (21, 22) alternately usable as an inlet and an outlet of the device (10) and connectable to respective pipes (11, 12) of the plumbing system, and an insert (14), joined to the connection body (13) and projecting from an upper face (16) of the connection body (13) substantially along an axis (X); the insert (14) comprising a main portion (45) insertable in a water-tight manner in a substantially tubular end part (6) of the radiator element (1) and being internally provided with a delivery conduit (37) and a return conduit (38), respectively connected to the first and to the second duct (27, 28) of the connection body (13) or vice versa; characterized in that the insert (14) has a through transverse hollow (54) between two opposite lateral sides of the insert (14) and positioned crosswise to the axis (X) and eccentric with respect to the axis (X).
The device according to claim 1, wherein the delivery conduit (37) and the return conduit (38) have respective free end openings (43, 44) that are set axially spaced apart from one another along the axis (X).
The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the delivery conduit (37) and the return conduit (38) are substantially parallel to one another and to the axis (X) and have a different length one from the other.
The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the openings (21, 22) are set side-by-side on a lower face (15) of the connection body (13) and are substantially aligned parallel to a longitudinal axis (A) of the connection body (13); and the delivery conduit (37) and the return conduit (38) are set side-by-side along a cross axis (B) of the connection body (13) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A).
The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert (14) is mechanically joined with the connection body (13) in a removable manner by means of releasable fastening members (47).
The device according to claim 5, wherein the insert (14) is mountable onto the connection body (13) in two alternative positions, in which the delivery conduit (37) and the return conduit (38) are connected respectively to the first duct (27) and to the second duct (28), and vice versa.
The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the main portion (45) of the insert (14) is substantially C-shaped and has two end cross arms (51, 52), substantially perpendicular to the axis (X), and a longitudinal upright (53), substantially parallel to the axis (X) and positioned between the arms (51, 52) and eccentric with respect to the axis (X).
The device according to claim 7, wherein the delivery conduit (37) and the return conduit (38) end with respective free end openings (43, 44) that are positioned on respective arms (51, 52).
The device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising first sealing members (56) for coupling in a water-tight manner the device (10) with the end part (6) of the radiator element (1).
The device according to claim 9, wherein the first sealing members (56) comprise two sealing zones (57, 58) axially spaced apart from one another along the axis (X).
The device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising second sealing members (59) arranged between the insert (14) and the connection body (13).
The device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and the second duct (27, 28) are provided with respective control valves (29) for varying the open flow section of the ducts (27, 28).
The device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a fastening system (70) for mechanically fastening the device (10) to the radiator element (1).
The device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a by-pass system (62) in which a by-pass duct (63) connects the return conduit (38) and the delivery conduit (37).
The device according to claim 14, wherein the by-pass system (62) comprises an adjusting valve (64) acting on the by-pass duct (63).
A radiator element (1), having a body (2) comprising a substantially tubular end part (6) that extends substantially along an axis (X) and is provided with a bottom opening (8) and with a pair of transversal coupling sleeves (4); the element being characterized by comprising an adapter device (10) according to one of the preceding claims that connects the radiator element (1) with a plumbing system.