GB2241321A

GB2241321A - A coupling apparatus for a radiator

Info

Publication number: GB2241321A
Application number: GB9103152A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Brady; Eoghan Hynes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-02-14
Filing date: 1991-02-14
Publication date: 1991-08-28
Also published as: GB9103152D0; IE900524A1

Abstract

Coupling apparatus for a radiator 100 includes a connector for engaging the radiator with a heating network and a plate 20 and bracket 30 for mounting the radiator on a wall. The connector comprises hollow body portions 1, 10 for connection to a radiator and network respectively. Portions 1, 10 mate for mutual sealing and rotational engagement. A radiator is movable about the connector from a wall mounted to a wall dismounted position, in both of which positions the radiator is in fluid communication with the network. Bracket 30 engages wall mounted plate 20 and lugs on the radiator to retain the radiator on a wall. Access to the wall behind the radiator is achieved by disengaging the lugs from the bracket 30 and pivoting the radiator about the connector. <IMAGE>

Description

A COUPLING APPARATUS FOR A RADIATOR The present invention relates to a coupling apparatus for a radiator.

When an area around a domestic radiator is to be decorated either by painting or wallpapering the radiator must be removed from the wall. This removal requires the draining of the radiator fluid which may entail draining all the fluid from the whole heating system to below the level of the radiator, after which the radiator may be detached from the wall and piping system. This operation is not easily done and is very time consuming. Often after careful draining of the fluid there remains some fluid or sludge in the radiator which may seep onto floor coverings, possibly soiling them, when the radiator is disconnected. The removal operation is often complicated, usually dirty and occasionally damage occurs.

It is an object of the invention to seek to alleviate the above disadvantages.

The present invention provides apparatus for coupling a radiator to a heating network, comprising a connector for sealingly engaging the radiator with the network, the radiator being movable about the connector from a surface mounted position to a surface dismounted position, with the radiator remaining in sealed engagement with the network in both positions.

Advantageously, the apparatus includes mounting means for releasably retaining the radiator on the mounting surface.

Preferably, the connector comprises a first hollow body portion for engagement with the radiator and a second hollow body portion for engagement with the network, the first and second body portions being mutually sealingly and rotatably interengageable to allow fluid communication through the network.

Conveniently, the first and second hollow body portions are provided with male and female interengaging formations respectively.

Advantageously, locking means are provided for retaining the first and second hollow body portions in any rotated position with respect to one another.

Preferably, the locking means comprises a screw and a bore in 2 wall of the male formation for receiving the screw which in the locked position abuts the female formation.

Conveniently, the mounting means comprises a surface fixable plate and a radiator-receiving bracket for mounting cn the plate, the bracket having detent means for releasably co-operating with lugs provided on the radiator.

Advantageously, the bracket is engaged with the plate by means of a stud movable in a slot, so as to allow relative movement between the bracket and the plate.

Preferably, means are provided to bias the bracket into a lug engaging position.

The invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, one embodiment of a radiator connector and mounting apparatus according to the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first hollow body forming portion of the connector of the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the connector; and Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a radiator, a radiator mounting apparatus and a radiator connector according to the invention.

Referring initially to Figure 1, the connector includes a first elongate hollow body 1 which has, at one end, an external thread 2 which is complementary with the standard threads used in radiator heating networks and is used to engage the inlet or outlet port of a radiator. The other end of the first hollow body 1 is shaped as a male fitting and has two rubber O-rings 3,4 seated in circumferential grooves 5,6 on its outer surface. A third circumferential groove 7 is provided approximately half way along the length of the first hollow body 1 to allow a second elongate hollow body 10 to be securely affixed thereon, as described below.

At the other end of the hollow body 1 is a hexagonal formation (not shown) lying along the axis of the hollow body. The hexagonal formation enables the hollow body to be screwed into a radiator part using an allenkey.

Referring now to Figure 2, the fitting also includes a second elongate hollow body 10 which has, at one end, a hollow portion shaped as a female fitting 11 having an internal diameter closely matching the outside diameter of the unthreaded portion of the first hollow body 1, whereby the first and second bodies 1, 10 may sealingly engage while being mutually rotatable. A threaded aperture 12 is provided in the female fitting 11 to receive a threaded grub screw 15 which may, if required, be inserted to abut the male fitting of the body 1 to lock against any rotational movement of the bodies 1, 10 by engaging the third circumferential groove 7 of the first hollow body 1.

At the other end of the second hollow body 10 a circumferential lip 13 is provided to engage a standard nut of a pipe coupling 110.

Finally, with reference to Figure 3, a mounting apparatus is shown comprising a wall plate 20 and a radiator bracket 30. A leg 21 of the wall plate 20 has an aperture 22 through which a fitting of the invention may be attached to a radiator 100. The first hollow body 1 engages a port 101 of a radiator 100. The second hollow body 10 engages with the first hollow body 1 from the opposite side of the aperture 22 and with the coupling 110 which communicates with the piping. Movement of the radiator bracket 30 with respect to the wall plate 20 is restricted by means of studs 23 on plate 20 which engage slidably in slots 32 of the radiator bracket. A handle 33 on the bracket 30 rises to the upper level of a radiator 100. Detents 34 are engagable with and detachable from radiator lugs (not shown) at the rear of radiator 100 by movement of the handles 33. The springs 31 act to bias the detents 34 into engagement with the radiator lugs.

In use, when a radiator 100 is to be moved away from a wall to allow access to the wall for a decorator, the operator loosens the grub screw 15 in the second hollow body 10 and then pushes downward on handle 33 against the action of the springs 31 to disengage the detents 34 from the radiator lugs. The radiator 100 is then pivoted about the connector to swing it away from the wall. The first body 1 pivots with the radiator 100 and the second body 10 remains fixed with respect to the coupling 110 and the leg 21 of the wall plate 20. At all times, heating fluid remains sealed within the radiator and pipes and the radiator remains in communication with the heating network. The radiator can be returned to its normal position by reversal of the above steps.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus for coupling a radiator to a heating network, comprising a connector for sealingly engaging the radiator with the network, the radiator being movable about the connector from a surface mounted position to a surface dismounted position, with the radiator remaining in sealed engagement with the network in both positions.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, including mounting means for releasably retaining the radiator on the mounting surface.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the connector comprises a first hollow body portion for engagement with the radiator and a second hollow body portion for engagement with the network, the first and second body portions being mutually sealingly and rotatably interengageable to allow fluid communication through the network.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the first and second hollow body portions are provided with male and female interengaging formations respectively.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, having locking means for retaining the first and second hollow body portions in any rotated position with respect to one another.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the locking means comprises a screw and a bore in a wall of the male formation for receiving the screw which in the locked position abuts the female formation.

7. Apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 6, wherein the mounting means comprises a surface fixable plate and a radiator-receiving bracket for mounting on the plate, the bracket having detent means for releasably co-operating with lugs provided on the radiator.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, wherein the bracket is engaged with the plate by means of a stud movable in a slot, so as to allow relative movement between the bracket and the plate.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, in which means are provided to bias the bracket into a lug engaging position.

10. Apparatus for coupling a radiator to a heating network substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.