GB1578629A

GB1578629A - Radiation and convection heating unit

Info

Publication number: GB1578629A
Application number: GB908777A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Benteler Deutschland GmbH
Current assignee: Benteler Deutschland GmbH
Priority date: 1976-03-04
Filing date: 1977-03-03
Publication date: 1980-11-05
Also published as: FR2343214A1; DE2608860A1

Description

(54) A RADIATION AND CONVECTION HEATING UNIT (71) We, BENTELER-WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, of 4794 Schloss Neuhaus, Federal Republic of Germany, a firm registered under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a radiation and convection heating unit comprising a casing enclosing a substantially upright heat exchange pipe bank constituted by top and bottom horizontal headers interconnected by down pipes, a front of the casing being formed by one or more louvre plates disposed side by side.

It is known to provide thermally conductive louvred plates on heating units having vertical heating pipes and horizontal top and bottom connecting pipes or headers, so that the overall size can be adapted to the heating requirements of the room. If space conditions and the required height of the heating unit are to be taken into account, mass production of such heating units is possible only to a limited degree. A large number of such heating units adapted to heat and space requirements can be manufactured only individually.

It is also known to provide a pipe bank with a louvred plate of the same length as the pipe bank. The overall lengths corresponding to heating requirements are obtained in such cases mainly at the manufacturers by connecting together a plurality of such pipe banks provided with their respective louvred plates to form a required heating unit. This radiator manufacture admittedly enables the basic elements to be substantially mass produced, but the assembly of these elements at the works entails considerable expenditure.

An object of the present invention is to develop a unit which can be satisfactorily stored, offers adequate combination facilities, greatly reduces assembly costs, and increases the operational reliability of the heating unit.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a radiation and convection heating unit comprising a casing enclosing a substantially upright heat exchange pipe bank constituted by top and bottom horizontal headers interconnected by down pipes, a front of the casing being formed by one or more louvred plates disposed side by side and serving to induce an airflow through the unit, in which unit the or each louvred plate has a standard length 1 and the pipe bank comprises one or a plurality of interconnected pipe bank elements, the or each pipe bank element having a respective length of n x 1, where n is an integer, the pipe bank being thermally conductively connected at the front to the louvred plate or plates and at the back to the same number of perforate plates lateral edge portions of the or each louvred plate being turned over rearwardly and a spacer strip serving to suspend the unit from a wall being non-detachably connected to each such lateral edge portion.

In a unit embodying the invention, the ends of each header of the or each pipe bank element are enlarged, one end being provided with an internal left-hand thread and the other end with an internal right-hand thread. This enables two pipe bank elements to be interconnected by internal nipples, whilst enabling the internal bore of the nipples to be made sufficiently large to ensure unobstructed flow of heating medium.

In its most basic form therefore a unit embodying the invention comprises a single pipe bank element whose length is equal to the length of a louvred plate. A range of other pipe bank elements each having a length equal to an integral multiple of the length of a louvred plate enables longer units to be constructed from one or more pipe bank elements. If, for example, heat requirement calculations indicate that a heating unit should have a pipe bank of a length equal to five times that of a louvred plate, then the heating unit is formed by an appropriate pipe bank and five louvred plates form the front of the casing.

In designing a range of pipe bank elements for units embodying the invention, a limit must be set for the value n denoting the length of an individual pipe bank element.

For example, if 5 is chosen as the limit, five different lengths of basic pipe bank element are provided and the maximum length of an individual pipe bank element is five times the length of a louvred plate. With these five basic pipe bank elements of different lengths it is possible to obtain a large number of possible combinations of lengths for heating units without the need for many interconnections. In practice such a range of pipe bank elements has proved sufficient.

In a unit embodying the invention, the pipe bank elements are thermally conductively connected at the front to the louvred plates which are of standard length and which determine the overall length.

The thermally conductive plates at the rear of the pipe bank are perforate plates which have vertical and horizontal rows of stamped-out perforations and which are produced by a continuous process from strip from which the perforate plates are then cut to length. The stamped-out perforations are so selected in respect of their spatial distribution as to form vertically extending rows which leave vertical strips free of apertures for subsequent connection to the down pipes. The total aperture area of the stamped-out portions of a perforate plate should be at least equal to, and preferably greater than, that of the aperture area of the corresponding louvred plate.

Apart from the advantage of a greatly restricted number of junction points as compared with the exact element type of construction, the advantage of a unit embodying the invention is that individual components such as the louvred plates, perforate plates and spacer strips can be made as mass-produced parts and the production of the headers and pipe bank elements can also be carried out in largescale production.

The spacer strips fix the distance between the pipe bank and the wall and are provided in pairs on each louvred plate. In a top zone of the louvred plate, where they are nondetachably connected to the rearwardly turned over lateral edge portions of the louvred plate, they act as suspension strips and as supports for a cover plate of the casing. The other spacer strips provided in a bottom zone of the louvred plate act as mounts for a baseplate of the casing.

An advantage which should not be underestimated is that no straightening is required subsequently on the pipe bank as a result of the unit components being rigidly clamped by the multispot-welding. Any straightening work required after the pipe banks have been connected by nipples is minimal.

Although only the longitudinal dimensions have been discussed in explaining the unit according to the invention, it is evident that apart from an overall height of 600 mm which is preferred at the present time other overall heights are required and are made in the same way on the unit system. The overall depth can be varied similarly by providing the spacer strips with longer limbs and adapting the cover plate and baseplate accordingly.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a system embodying five basic pipe bank elements of different lengths, to which louvred plates are fixed, the louvred plates all having the same standard dimensions; Figure 2 is a diagram showing some of the possible combinations which can be obtained from the pipe bank elements shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a partial elevation and partial section of a nipple connection between two headers of two adjacent pipe bank elements, together with an annular gasket; Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 3, but with upset header ends flattened at the end faces and having a flat gasket; Figure 5 shows two adjacent pipe bank elements in the dismantled state; ; Figure 6 is an elevation in the direction of the arrow VI in Figure 5; Figure 7 shows two adjacent radiator elements in the dismantled state; Figure 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII in Figure 7; and Figure 9 is an enlarged detail of the section on the line IX-IX in Figure 7.

Figure 1 shows five basic heating units 1, 2,3,4 and 5, in which the lengths of the pipe bank elements are 1, 2 x 1, 3 x 1, 4 x I and 5 x I respectively. The basic heating units are each provided with an appropriate number of louvred plates 6, which form the front of a casing of the unit and serve to induce an airflow through the unit. The dimensions of the plates 6 are identical and the length of each plate 6 is the standard length 1. The basic heating unit 4 having a pipe bank with a length of 4 x I thus has four louvre plates 6.

The basic pipe bank lengths shown in Figure 1 offer numerous possible variations for assembly to form larger heating units and some of these are shown by way of example in Figure 2. The heating units shown diagrammatically in Figure 2 differ by the amount I in each case over the total length of the unit.

In the five heating units shown in Figure 2, the basic heating units 3 and 3, 3 and 4, 4 and 4, 4 and 5, and 5 and 5 are combined respectively.

In all the heating units illustrated in Figure 2, only two pipe banks are required to be connected together. Very little assembly work is therefore required for these unitS.

One pipe nipple connection suitable for connecting a pair of basic heating units is shown in Figures 3 and 5.

Corresponding headers 7 and 8, and 9 and 10 of two adjacent pipe bank elements 11, 12 are interconnected by a nipple 13. The nipple 13 has an externally screwthreaded part 14 with a left-hand thread and an externally screw-threaded part 15 with a right-hand thread. An annular groove to receive an annular gasket 16 is provided between the screwthreaded parts 14 and 15.

The ends 17, 18 of the headers are enlarged and are provided with an internal left-hand thread or an internal right-hand thread. In the example illustrated, the end 17 has an internal left-hand thread and the end 18 has an internal right-hand thread.

After enlargement the wall thickness in the enlarged zone is at least equal to that of the unmachined header.

The nipple 13 has an internal polygonal bore 19 so that the nipple can be manipulated by means of a tool passed through a header and having a polygonal head engaging in the polygonal bore 19 of the nipple.

Apertures 20 which are provided adjacent the nipple connection to make the transfer fluid connection to the down pipes 21 may be provided in the immediate vicinity of the enlarged pipe ends 17, 18.

Figure 4 shows another possibility for connecting the headers. The headers 7', 8' are upset in the enlarged zone 22 and flattened at the end faces so that the headers 7', 8' are sealed by means of a flat gasket 23.

After enlargement the wall thickness in the enlarged zone 22 is at least one and a half times the header wall thickness.

Figure 7 shows a heating unit comprising a basic heating unit 5 and a basic heating unit 3 before the nipple connection is made.

Figure 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII in Figure 7. Turned over lateral edge portions 24 of the louvred plate 6 and spacer strips 25, 25' are visible. Limbs of the spacer strips are connected to the lateral edge portions 24 of the louvre plates 6 in the zone 27, 27' by multispot welding. The upper spacer strip 25 acts a support for a top cover plate (not shown) of the casing of the unit and as a strip for spacing and suspending the radiator from a wall. The lower spacer strip 25' arranged the other way round serves to space the unit from the wall and as a mount for a baseplate (not shown) of the casing.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail of the section on the line IX-IX in Figure 7, in which a perforate plate 26 non-detachably connected at the rear to the down pipes 21 is visible, as is also the louvred plate 6, which is connected at the front to the downpipes 21.

It is important that the non-detachable connection of the medium-carrying down pipes to the perforate plates and louvre plates acting as heat-exchange plates should be satisfactorily thermally conductive. The connection, which can be made by multispot-welding, roller seam welding, multispotbrazing or gluing, is not shown in detail. The perforate plate configuration may be shaped to partly embrace the down pipes in order to provide a strip contact between each pipe and the plate and hence increase thermal conductivity at the connection.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A radiation and convection heating unit comprising a casing enclosing a substantially upright heat exchange pipe bank constituted by top and bottom horizontal headers interconnected by down pipes, a front of the casing being formed by one or more louvred plates disposed side by side and serving to induce an airflow through the unit, in which unit the or each louvred plate has a standard length I and the pipe bank comprises one or a plurality of interconnected pipe bank elements, the or each pipe bank element having a respective length of n x 1, where n is an integer, the pipe bank being thermally conductively connected at the front to the louvred plate or plates and at the back to the same number of perforate plates, lateral edge portions of the or each louvred plate being turned over rearwardly and a spacer strip serving to suspend the unit from a wall being non-detachably connected to each such lateral edge portion.

2. A unit according to claim 1, wherein n has a value of from 1 to 5.

3. A unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ends of each header of the or each pipe bank element are enlarged, one end being provided with an internal lefthand thread and the other end with an internal right-hand thread.

4. A unit according to claim 3, wherein the ends of the headers are upset so that after enlargement the wall thickness in the enlarged zone is at least equal to that of the unmachined header.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. four louvre plates 6. The basic pipe bank lengths shown in Figure 1 offer numerous possible variations for assembly to form larger heating units and some of these are shown by way of example in Figure 2. The heating units shown diagrammatically in Figure 2 differ by the amount I in each case over the total length of the unit. In the five heating units shown in Figure 2, the basic heating units 3 and 3, 3 and 4, 4 and 4, 4 and 5, and 5 and 5 are combined respectively. In all the heating units illustrated in Figure 2, only two pipe banks are required to be connected together. Very little assembly work is therefore required for these unitS. One pipe nipple connection suitable for connecting a pair of basic heating units is shown in Figures 3 and 5. Corresponding headers 7 and 8, and 9 and 10 of two adjacent pipe bank elements 11, 12 are interconnected by a nipple 13. The nipple 13 has an externally screwthreaded part 14 with a left-hand thread and an externally screw-threaded part 15 with a right-hand thread. An annular groove to receive an annular gasket 16 is provided between the screwthreaded parts 14 and 15. The ends 17, 18 of the headers are enlarged and are provided with an internal left-hand thread or an internal right-hand thread. In the example illustrated, the end 17 has an internal left-hand thread and the end 18 has an internal right-hand thread. After enlargement the wall thickness in the enlarged zone is at least equal to that of the unmachined header. The nipple 13 has an internal polygonal bore 19 so that the nipple can be manipulated by means of a tool passed through a header and having a polygonal head engaging in the polygonal bore 19 of the nipple. Apertures 20 which are provided adjacent the nipple connection to make the transfer fluid connection to the down pipes 21 may be provided in the immediate vicinity of the enlarged pipe ends 17, 18. Figure 4 shows another possibility for connecting the headers. The headers 7', 8' are upset in the enlarged zone 22 and flattened at the end faces so that the headers 7', 8' are sealed by means of a flat gasket 23. After enlargement the wall thickness in the enlarged zone 22 is at least one and a half times the header wall thickness. Figure 7 shows a heating unit comprising a basic heating unit 5 and a basic heating unit 3 before the nipple connection is made. Figure 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII in Figure 7. Turned over lateral edge portions 24 of the louvred plate 6 and spacer strips 25, 25' are visible. Limbs of the spacer strips are connected to the lateral edge portions 24 of the louvre plates 6 in the zone 27, 27' by multispot welding. The upper spacer strip 25 acts a support for a top cover plate (not shown) of the casing of the unit and as a strip for spacing and suspending the radiator from a wall. The lower spacer strip 25' arranged the other way round serves to space the unit from the wall and as a mount for a baseplate (not shown) of the casing. Figure 9 is an enlarged detail of the section on the line IX-IX in Figure 7, in which a perforate plate 26 non-detachably connected at the rear to the down pipes 21 is visible, as is also the louvred plate 6, which is connected at the front to the downpipes 21. It is important that the non-detachable connection of the medium-carrying down pipes to the perforate plates and louvre plates acting as heat-exchange plates should be satisfactorily thermally conductive. The connection, which can be made by multispot-welding, roller seam welding, multispotbrazing or gluing, is not shown in detail. The perforate plate configuration may be shaped to partly embrace the down pipes in order to provide a strip contact between each pipe and the plate and hence increase thermal conductivity at the connection. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A radiation and convection heating unit comprising a casing enclosing a substantially upright heat exchange pipe bank constituted by top and bottom horizontal headers interconnected by down pipes, a front of the casing being formed by one or more louvred plates disposed side by side and serving to induce an airflow through the unit, in which unit the or each louvred plate has a standard length I and the pipe bank comprises one or a plurality of interconnected pipe bank elements, the or each pipe bank element having a respective length of n x 1, where n is an integer, the pipe bank being thermally conductively connected at the front to the louvred plate or plates and at the back to the same number of perforate plates, lateral edge portions of the or each louvred plate being turned over rearwardly and a spacer strip serving to suspend the unit from a wall being non-detachably connected to each such lateral edge portion.

2. A unit according to claim 1, wherein n has a value of from 1 to 5.

5. A unit according to claim 4, wherein

the wall thickness of the enlarged zones is at least one and a half times the header wall thickness and the end faces of the headers are flat.

6. A unit according to any one of claims 3 to 5, comprising a plurality of interconnected pipe bank elements, the headers of adjacent pipe bank elements being connected by nipples each of which has a portion provided with an external righthand thread and a portion provided with an external left-hand thread, the nipple having an internal polygonal bore.

7. A unit according to claim 6, wherein an annular gasket is received in an annular groove between the externally threaded portions of the nipple.

8. A unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the total area of apertures in the or each perforate plate is larger than the total area of apertures in the corresponding louvre plate.

9. A unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the perforate plates have horizontal and vertical rows of stamped out perforations and are produced by a continuous process from strip from which the perforate plates are then cut to length.

10. A unit according to claim 9, wherein the perforations in a perforate strip are so distributed as to leave vertically extending strip of perforate plates provided for abutment against the strip free of apertures for connection to the down pipes.

11. A unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the connection between the louvre plates, the down pipes and the perforate plates is effected by roller seam or stitch welding.

12. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the connection between the louvred plates, down pipes and perforate plates is made by multispotwelding.

13. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the connection between the louvred plates, the down pipes and the perforate plates is made by gluing.

14. A unit according to any preceding claim, wherein each louvred plate is nondetachably connected to two spacer strips, one spacer strip in a top zone of the louvre plate acting as a suspension strip and as a support for a cover plate of the casing and the other strip in a bottom zone of the louvre plate acting as a mount for a baseplate of the casing.

15. A radiator or air-conditioning unit according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.