GB2449241A

GB2449241A - Drainage and additive kit for radiators

Info

Publication number: GB2449241A
Application number: GB0709190A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward David Richards; Paul Andrew Adlam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-05-12
Filing date: 2007-05-12
Publication date: 2008-11-19
Also published as: GB0709190D0

Abstract

The kit includes a vessel for draining liquids from central heating radiators. The vessel includes flexi hoses and fittings to connect a hose to a bottom union nut of the radiator. The vessel may also be used for adding liquid additives to central heating systems via a radiator.

Description

TITLE

brainage and additive kit for radiators.

Background

This invention relates to draining radiators in heating systems and adding liquid additives to the heating system using air pressure.

There are two main types of heating systems: * sealed, pressurised systems * open vented systems.

With both systems, the process of draining radiators is time consuming and potentially quite messy. Open trays that are commonly used to catch water draining from a radiator are not effective at catching all of the liquid and may result in spillages.

Both heating systems require that radiators are drained to remove them from the system for replacement, maintenance or decoration. / It is also essential to insert liquid additives into heating systems. These are additives such as leak sealers, noise reducers, sludge removers and cleaners.

The most common additive is an inhibitor to prevent corrosion. Corrosion may result in inefficiency of the system and possible damage to the boiler and other parts. bifferent volumes of additives would be needed depending on the number and size of radiators in the system.

In sealed, pressurised heating systems the current practice for inserting additives uses an injection process through the vent of a radiator. This process of adding essential chemicals to the heating system can be slow.

With open vented heating systems, the current practice is to drain water from the header tank in the loft, often via a radiator, before pouring any additives into the header tank. The water/additive mixture in the header tank is then drawn into the system by further drainage from a radiator.

Again, this is slow and may involve access problems in the loft.

Statement of Invention

To overcome these problems, the present invention proposes using a vessel that can be attached to a bottom union nut on a radiator to catch the liquid as it drains off. The same vessel can then be used to feed any liquid additives into the radiator. A simple measuring gauge on the vessel would show how much liquid has been drained from the radiator and how much additive is being added to the radiator.

Total drainage of the radiator can be achieved if it is to be removed. A stop-cock enables the vessel to be detached and emptied when it is full. The vessel can then be reattached to continue draining the radiator and the process repeated until the radiator is empty.

If additives are to be inserted into the system the same vessel can be used to feed measured amounts of any liquid additives through the bottom union nut of the radiator using air pressure to push the additives into the radiator.

Advantages * Water and liquid additives are locked into the radiator by air pressure during the process of attaching the vessel * The vessel catches the liquid from the radiator minimising drips * The process of emptying the radiator is quick * It is easy to carry the drained water for disposal without spillages * Measured volumes of water can be removed from the radiator * Measured volumes of additives can be added to the system * The insertion of liquid additives is straightforward and quick * There is no need to access the loft space * Additives inserted directly into the water system * No wastage of additives * The process is suitable for all makes of radiators and heating systems * Individual radiators can be completely drained quickly for removal, maintenance, decoration or exchange with the minimum fuss or mess * The process is simple enough for blY * Professional plumbers will save time * Consumer will save money

Introduction to brawings

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings. None of the drawings are to scale and are for illustration purposes only.

In the traditional method of draining a radiator, (Fig 1), the bottom water inlet and outlet valves are closed. In pressurised systems, the air vent (1) must be opened to release pressure in the radiator before one of the bottom union nuts (2 or 3) is loosened and detached from the radiator. By opening the air vent, water drains into the open tray. Turning off the air vent virtually stops the flow of liquid arid allows the tray to be emptied.

Open trays cannot be filled to the brim and therefore usually hold no more than a small percentage of the radiator contents. To empty them can easily result in spillages and water in heating systems is often black with corrosion products.

Figure 2 shows the radiator to be drained with the main components. Both inlet and outlet valves need to be closed before proceeding and in pressurised systems the air vent (1) is used to release any pressure in the radiator as before.

Figure 3 shows how the water in the radiator is trapped by air pressure following the disconnection of either of the bottom union nuts.

Figure 4 illustrates the connection of the vessel to receive the radiator contents once the air vent is opened.

Figure 5 shows how the vessel can be removed to empty the drained water.

Figure 6 show the way that additives can be fed into the radiator through the bottom union nut.

betailed bescription (Fig 2 to Fig 6) The radiator is shut off by closing the inlet valve (2) and the outlet valve (3). Release any pressure in the system if necessary by opening the air vent (1) until no more liquid emerges. Either bottom valve can be disconnected from the union nut and replaced with the drainage flexible hose (5) and stop cock. (4).

To start drainage, open both the air vent valve (1) and the stop-cock (4).

The water from the radiator starts to drain into the vessel. When full or when enough water has been drained, the stop-cock (4) is closed and the vessel disconnected and emptied. If necessary the vessel can be re-attached to the stop-cock to continue with the drainage until the radiator is empty. If required, the other bottom valve can them be disconnected from the union nut and the radiator taken off its brackets.

If additives are to be added to the system, it is not necessary to fully drain the radiator. The same vessel is used to add the additives.

Fig 6 illustrates the way that this can be achieved. For feeding through the bottom union nut, pour the additive into the vessel in the required quantity and lift the vessel above the level of water in the radiator (if not completely drained). This will allow air pressure to push the additives into the radiator.

The air vent (4) needs to be open at this point to allow air to escape as the additive is pushed in. The stop cock on the flexible hose can control the flow of additive into the radiator. If more additive is required, the stop cock can be closed, and the vessel refilled and the process repeated. When sufficient additive has been added, simply close the air vent to lock the liquid in the radiator.

The vessel can now be disconnected from the radiator and the bottom valve reconnected to the union nut before opening the inlet and outlet valves.

As there may still be additive in i-he flexible hose it is important to allow it to drain back into the vessel to prevent spillage.

Claims

Claims 1. A vessel for draining liquids from central heating radiators

comprising a vessel with flexi hoses and fittings to connect the hose to one of the bottom union nuts of a radiator.
2. A vessel for adding liquid additives to central heating systems via a radiator, comprising a vessel with flexi hoses and fittings to connect the hose to one of the bottom union nuts of a radiator.