EP0513608A2

EP0513608A2 - Sectional radiator for heating and relevant manufacturing method

Info

Publication number: EP0513608A2
Application number: EP92107497A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sauro Caldera
Original assignee: Spring Sa Srl
Current assignee: Spring Sa Srl
Priority date: 1991-05-03
Filing date: 1992-05-04
Publication date: 1992-11-19
Also published as: EP0513608A3; ITMI911216A0; ITMI911216A1; IT1248375B

Abstract

A sectional radiator for heating and a relevant manufacturing method are described. The radiator is made up of elements (2) formed by the extrusion of a primary aluminium alloy and joined between themselves by separate collector pipes (8) which are also formed by the extrusion of primary aluminium; the jointing between the elements (2) and the collectors (8) is done by means of tubular inserts (15) provided with packings (17) being fixed into holes (13) in the collectors (8) and in the central tubes (3) of the elements (2), in applying a certain pressure and carrying out spot welding between the different parts. The collector pipes (8) can be fitted with protective covers (12), applied by sliding into slots and snapping shut.

Description

The present invention relates to a sectional radiator for heating and a relevant manufacturing method.
Existing radiators for heating are either made in cast iron or in die cast aluminium, each element has a collecting pipe either at the top or at the bottom which is joined to the collecting pipes of adjacent elements in the composition of the radiator.
These known radiators have rather high production costs and are almost entirely lacking in flexibility in the sense that they are normally made in standard heights, with any variation in this dimension requiring substantial changes to the manufacturing equipment.
Furthermore, the known radiator element sections, as a result of their manufacturing method, cannot be moulded in forms which would particularly favour heat exchange and therefore better performance.
The scope of the invention is to eliminate the above mentioned disadvantages, in supplying a sectional radiator which can be made to any dimension and which has better heat exchange properties as compared with conventional radiators, thanks both to the moulding of its elements and to the material of which they are made.
The sectional radiator according to the invention, is made of elements obtained by the extrusion of more than 99% pure primary aluminium. These elements can be obtained in any form and in particular, with a high number of fins, increasing in this way the heat exchange properties which are already good because of the material employed; aluminium being well known as an efficient conductor of heat. The radiator elements can furthermore be cut to any length thus making it possible to construct the radiator to any required height without any changes to the manufacturing equipment.
Each radiator element comprises essentially a central tube for the passage of the heating fluid, around which are formed longitudinal chambers with external fins. The various elements are joined together by two collector pipes, one at the top and one at the bottom, provided with holes for joining the pipes to the elements by tubular inserts.
To complete the radiator, top and bottom covers with openings can be provided and lateral covers as well.
Further features of the invention will be clarified by the detailed description which follows and which refers to one purely exemplary form which is therefore not limiting and which is illustrated in the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a radiator for heating, in accordance with the invention and made of 3 elements;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the radiator in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic frontal view of a radiator, in accordance with the invention and of four elements;
Figure 4 is a lateral view of the radiator in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a partial lateral view in more detail;
Figure 6 is a frontal view showing schematically different possible compositions of elements, in accordance with the invention, to make up radiators of different heights;
Figure 7 is an exploded view of a median section, showing the fixing of a radiator element to a collector pipe;
Figure 8 shows the outline of a cover element of the radiator, in accordance with the invention;
Figure 9 shows the outline of a collector pipe;
Figure 10 shows the outline of a radiator element, in accordance with the invention;
Figure 11 shows a radiator in accordance with the invention, having two water passage tubes.

With reference to these drawings, a radiator in accordance with the invention, illustrated as a whole, as for example in Figures 1 and 3, is indicated globally with reference number (1), and is constituted of several elements (2), which can have practically any height, as shown for example in Figure 6.
Each element (2) is obtained by extrusion of a primary aluminium alloy and has a shape as shown in Figures 10 and 11, it comprises one or more central tubes (3) and a couple of parallel panels (5) composing the front and back parts of the element, joined between themselves by curved elements (6), joined to the central tubes (3) and fitted with many fins (7) parallel to the panels (5). Like this one has a unit substantially as (1) with two chambers (4) spreading parallel to the central tube (3) and open both at the top and bottom.
The elements (2), cut to the required length, are joined to the respective top and bottom collector pipes (8) their outline is shown in Figure 9 and from which one sees the many radial fins (9) to increase heat exchange with the surroundings and two end tongues facing each other (10) and making a internal slot (11) for the insertion of the cover elements (12) shown in Figure 8 and as will be better explained later.
A schematic is shown in Figure 7 of the fixing of an element (2) to the top collector (8). As will be seen from the sketch, circular holes (13) with flat seated rims are provided in the thickened bottom (12) of the collector and with which the central tubes (3) of the elements (2) are aligned. The connection is made with a tubular insert (15) provided with a shoulder (16) for a cylindrical shaped packing (17). One end the tubular insert (15) is placed in the hole (13) of the collector (8) and the other end in the tube (3) of the element (2), with the packing (17) partially inserted in the flat seated rim (14) of the hole (13). The joining of the elements is achieved by pressure followed by spot welding between elements 2 and 8.
The collector pipe (8) is made at a length equal to the width of the radiator and is internally threaded (18) at both ends for connection to the fluid supply and for the fitting of a plug or for connection to another collector, whichever is required.
Once the radiator (1) is assembled, the top and sometimes the bottom is covered by an element (12) shown in Figure 8 and which has a U shape and a central arrow headed support (19) to slide into the slot (11) provided on the collectors (8). Internal tongues (21) are provided at the bottom edges of the element (12) to fix onto the inside of the panels (5) of the elements (1) and as is shown in
Figure 5. Sliding of the tongues (21) during the application by insertion of the element (12) is provided for by grooves (22) (Figure 10) made in the curved joining elements (6) of the panels (5) near to the contact area.
The cover element (12) which for safety reasons is relatively resilient with rounded edges, can be made either in several sections or in one continual piece to cover the whole radiator. Openings (23) are provided in the top of the element (12) (see Figures 1 and 2) and which are placed to correspond with the chambers (4) of the elements (2) such as to facilitate an upward air current towards the top of the chambers.
Lateral cover elements (not shown) can also be provided to be snapped onto respective clips (24) provided in opposite positions on the panels (5) of each element (2) (see Figure 10).
The manufacturing process for radiators in accordance with the invention, is now described.
Bar of sufficient length, for example of about 6 metres, is extruded, to form the component parts of the radiator and in particular the elements (2), the collector pipes (8) and the protective covers (12).

The bar is cut to the required length;
The collector pipe (8) ends are threaded internally (18);
the holes (13 and 14) in the collectors (8) are made with an automatic drill;
the elements (2) are positioned in correspondence with the holes in the collectors (8) in engaging the guide inserts (15) and the packing (17);
the elements (2) and the collector pipes (8) are joined together by pressure followed by spot welding;
the top cover (12) is applied together with any bottom cover;
the above operations are followed by the chromium plating of the assembled radiator by immersion in an appropriate bath;
finally there is stove varnishing at 180°C by the application of powdered polymers.

The finished product, made in pure 99.7% aluminium and moulded as described, has a higher thermal efficiency than a corresponding conventional radiator, can be produced at lower cost and can be composed into any type or size.

Claims

A sectional radiator for heating, made up of several side by side elements (2) and characterized by the fact that each element (2) has one or more central tubes (3) open at the top and bottom and fixed to separate collector pipes (18), one at the top and one at the bottom. The elements (2) and the collectors (8) are made by the extrusion of primary aluminium.
Radiator according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that each element (2) has two parallel panels (5), set opposite each other and joined together by symmetrical straight or curved sections (6) fixed to the central tube (3) such as to form two chambers (4) extending parallel to the tube (3) the sections (6) being provided with several fins (7) parallel to the panels (5).
Radiator according to claims 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the joining of each element (2) to a collector pipe is done by pressure followed by spot welding between the sections, after having fixed a tubular guide insert (15) provided with a packing (17) with one end of the insert being fixed into the central tube (3) of the element (2) and the other end into a hole (13) in the collector (8).
Radiator according to any one of the above defined claims and characterized by the fact that the said collector pipes (8) have several radial fins (9) and end slots (11) in which a arrow headed support (19) can engage, carrying a protective cover (12) provided with openings (23) set in line with the chambers (4) of the elements (2).
Radiator according to claim 4 characterized by the fact that the said protective cover (12) has two internal tongues (21) at the ends facing each other and intended to engage with the inside or the outside of the panels (5) of the elements (2).
Radiator according to any one of the above defined claims and characterized by the fact that each of the elements (2) is provided with opposite facing clips (24) for the snapping on any required lateral protective covers.
Manufacturing method for a radiator for heating, according to any one of the above defined claims and including the following steps:
- bar extrusion of a primary aluminium alloy to produce the elements (2), the collector pipes (8) and the protective covers (12);

- cutting of the bar into the desired lengths;

- internal threading (18) of the ends of each collector pipe (8);

- drilling of holes (13) in the collectors (8);

- fitting of the tubular inserts (15) with the packing (17) into the holes (13) of the collectors (8) and the central tubes (3) of the elements (2);

- fixing by pressure followed by spot welding of the elements (2) to the collectors (8);

- fitting of the protective covers (12);

- chromium plating of the assembled radiator by immersion in an appropriate bath;

- varnishing by stoving at 180°C with the application of powdered polymers.