GB1584251A

GB1584251A - Radiator having a valve

Info

Publication number: GB1584251A
Application number: GB1034576A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-06-15
Filing date: 1977-06-15
Publication date: 1981-02-11

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO A RADIATOR HAVING A VALVE (71), I, GRAHAM DENNIS WATKINS, a British Subject of 18 Baslow Road, Bloxwich, Walsall, Staffordshire, and formerly of 11 Wolverhampton Road, Pelsall, Staffordshire, do hereby declare this invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me 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 radiator having a valve for controlling flow of a liquid between a pipe therefor and the radiator. The invention has been developed for use in radiator systems, in which a liquid, usually water, is circulated around a system of pipes and through radiators, the system also including means for heating the liquid.

It is desirable in a radiator system that individual radiators should be capable of being removed therefrom without necessitating drainage of liquid from the entire system. Such removal of a radiator may be required for the purpose of maintenance of the radiator, or, commonly, for the purpose of cleaning or applying a decorative finish to a wall adjacent or behind the radiator. If one radiator can be removed without the entire system being drained, remaining radiators can function normally.

It has been proposed hitherto to provide for such removal of individual radiators by connecting each radiator to the circulating pipe or pipes by way of valves (one for flow of liquid to the radiator and one for flow of liquid from the radiator) which can be closed to isolate the radiator before the radiator is removed by being disconnected from the valves. Such valves may be either of the type incorporating a manually operable handle, or of the "lockshield" type in which a valve operating member is covered in normal service and intended to be used only for initial adjustment of liquid flow through the radiator or for removal thereof.When the radiator is removed, the liquid therein drains from it and, if not collected, will spill to cause potential damage to carpets or floor finishes in the room in which the radiator is installed, and also may be wasted which is disadvantageous if the liquid is of a special type. However, collection of liquid draining from the radiator has been difficult with valves as proposed hitherto since the liquid drains from a disconnectable union between the valve and radiator as soon as such union is loosened or released, adding materially to the difficulty involved in removing a radiator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve whereby this disadvantage is overcome or reduced.

According to a first aspect of the invention, we provide a radiator having a valve comprising a body affording an internal cavity and first and second passages extending therefrom, a valve member engageable with a valve seat to prevent communication between said first passage and said cavity, a third passage extending from said cavity at right angles to the first passage to a drainage point of the valve and a blocking member manually operable selectively to block or open said third passage in line with said third passage, and a valve operating member to bring the valve member into and out of engagement with the valve seat, said valve operating member being in line with the first passage and extending through the body to the exterior at a location spaced from each of said passages.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a radiator system comprising a plurality of radiators at least one of which has a valve comprising a body affording an internal cavity and first and second passages extending therefrom, a valve member engageable with a valve seat to prevent communication between said first passage and said cavity, a third passage extending from said cavity at right angles to the first passage to a drainage point of the valve and a blocking member manually operable selectively to block or open said third passage in line with said third passage, and a valve operating member to bring the valve member into and out of engagement with the valve seat, said valve operating member being in line with the first passage and extending through the body to the exterior at a location spaced from each of said passages.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a valve according to the invention Figure 2 is a view of part of a modified form of valve.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, the illustrated valve comprises a hollow body 10 which affords an internal cavity 11 with first and second passages 12, 13 extending therefrom. In use, the first passage 12 communicates with a flow or return pipe, not shown, for a circulated liquid, and the second passage 13 communicates with a radiator by way of a pipe 14, the valve being connected to these components by way of unions or joints of conventional type incorporating nuts, 15, 16 respectively screw-threadedly engaged with the body 10.

The valve body affords an internal frustoconical valve seat 17 with which is engageable a frusto-conical surface 18 of a movable member 19, to prevent communication between the first passage 12 and the internal cavity 11. The valve member 19 is movable into or out of engagement with the valve seat 17 in generally conventional manner, by a mechanism which includes a valve operating member comprising a spindle 20 having a squared end 21 on which is fitted a hand-wheel 22, the spindle entering the valve body by way of a screwed in member 23 with which it engages by way of a gland incorporating O rings 24.

Opposite the passage 13, the valve body affords a third, smaller passage 25 which communicates with the internal cavity 11 and leads into a generally T-shaped member 26 which is screw-threadedly engaged with the body 10. The member 26 affords a frusto-conical seat 27 with which a conical nose portion of a blocking member 28 is engageable to block the passage 25. The blocking member 28 is screw-threadedly engaged with the member 26, and has a squared end portion 29 with which is engageable a removable key 30 for screwing the blocking member 28 into or out of the member 26 to block or open the passage 25 as desired. The passage 25 leads into a hollow downwardly extending spigot 31 of member 26, spigot 31 terminating in an outwardly directed lip 32, at a drainage point of the valve.

In normal use of the valve in a heating system, the blocking member 28 would be engaged with the seat 27 to close passage 25 while communication between passages 12 and 13 would be determined by the position of valve member 19 as required. If it is desired to remove the radiator, the valve member 19 would be engaged with the seat 17 to prevent communication between the first passage 12 (connected to a liquid-carrying circulation pipe of the heating system) and the internal cavity 11 of the valve, and a length of flexible hose or the like would be engaged with spigot 31 of member 26 and fed into a vessel to collect liquid draining from the radiator.

Key 30 would then be used to unscrew blocking member 28 and open passage 25, thus permitting liquid to drain from the radiator into the collection vessel. When the radiator is thus drained, nut 16 can be removed to permit bodily disconnection of the radiator from the valve. A similar procedure would be employed with a similar valve used at the opposite end of the radiator (flow or return as the case may be), although the other such valve would typically be of a type in which movement of the valve member 19 is controlled by means which is accessible only by removal of a cover from the valve.

The valve of which part is shown in Figure 2 is basically the same as the valve of Figure 1, with the exception that the generally T-shaped member 26 is replaced by a spigot member 40 screw-threadedly engaged with the valve body 10. The spigot 40 incorporates a blocking member in the form of a screw-threaded plug 41 having a head 42 with screw-driver slot 43 for moving the plug. A slot 44 extends along the screw-thread of plug 41 for permitting flow of liquid when the plug is loosened, and the head 42 engages a seating 45 for blocking the third passage afforded by the spigot 40. The manner of use of this form of valve is generally similar to that of the valve of Figure 1, with the exception that a screw-driver must be used when it is desired to drain the radiator instead of the key 30.

It will be appreciated that to suit differing installations the third passageway of the valve need not extend from the body thereof at a position opposite the passageway which leads to the radiator. A spigot as 40 or T-member as 26 could be fitted to the valve body at any desired angular position about the axis of spindle 20. If desired, the valve body could be provided with a plurality of drilled and tapped apertures to enable a T-piece or spigot to be fitted thereto at any desired position, blanking plugs being fitted in the apertures not being used. Further, a suitable spigot or T-piece could be formed integrally with the valve body instead of being a separate component engaged therewith.

Further, although the illustrated embodiment of valve has the first and second passages extending at right angles to one another, the invention could also be applied to a valve in which such passages are in alignment. In this case, the passage could extend at right angles to the first and second passages, and in a typical installation would be downwardly directed.

It will also be appreciated that the form of valve described is applicable to the bleeding of air from a radiator if installed at an appropriate position on the radiator.

No modification to the structure of the valve will be required to enable it to perform the function of draining air in this manner, the valve thus being of dual purpose type.

Such a valve is claimed in my copending application No. 7931353 (Serial No.

1584252).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A radiator having a valve comprising a body affording an internal cavity and first and second passages extending therefrom, a valve member engageable with a valve seat to prevent communication between said first passage and said cavity, a third passage extending from said cavity at right angles to the first passage to a drainage point of the valve and a blocking member manually operable selectively to block or open said third passage in line with said third passage, and a valve operating member to bring the valve member into and out of engagement with the valve seat, said valve operating member being in line with the first passage and extending through the body to the exterior at a location spaced from each of said passages.

2. A radiator system comprising a plurality of radiators at least one of which has a valve comprising a body affording an internal cavity and first and second passages extending therefrom, a valve member engageable with a valve seat to prevent communication between said first passage and said cavity, a third passage extending from said cavity at right angles to the first passage to a drainage point of the valve and a blocking member manually operable selectively to block or open said third passage in line with said third passage, and a valve operating member to bring the valve member into and out of engagement with the valve seat, said valve operating member being in line with the first passage and extending through the body to the exterior at a location spaced from each of said passages.

3. The invention according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein there is provided a further valve seat in said third passage, the blocking member being movable selectively in said third passage towards or away from said further valve seat.

4. The invention according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the blocking member is arranged to be operable by a removable key.

5. The invention according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the blocking member comprises a plug occupying said third passage.

6. The invention according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said drainage point is constituted by a formation adapted to have a flexible hose fitted thereon.

7. The invention according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said third passage is defined at least in part by an initially separate component secured to the body of the valve.

8. A radiator having a valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 or as modified in accordance with Figure 2, of the accompanying drawings.

10. A radiator system comprising a plurality of radiators, at least one of which has a valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

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Claims

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or T-piece could be formed integrally with the valve body instead of being a separate component engaged therewith.

Further, although the illustrated embodiment of valve has the first and second passages extending at right angles to one another, the invention could also be applied to a valve in which such passages are in alignment. In this case, the passage could extend at right angles to the first and second passages, and in a typical installation would be downwardly directed.

It will also be appreciated that the form of valve described is applicable to the bleeding of air from a radiator if installed at an appropriate position on the radiator.

No modification to the structure of the valve will be required to enable it to perform the function of draining air in this manner, the valve thus being of dual purpose type.

Such a valve is claimed in my copending application No. 7931353 (Serial No.

1584252).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A radiator having a valve comprising a body affording an internal cavity and first and second passages extending therefrom, a valve member engageable with a valve seat to prevent communication between said first passage and said cavity, a third passage extending from said cavity at right angles to the first passage to a drainage point of the valve and a blocking member manually operable selectively to block or open said third passage in line with said third passage, and a valve operating member to bring the valve member into and out of engagement with the valve seat, said valve operating member being in line with the first passage and extending through the body to the exterior at a location spaced from each of said passages.

2. A radiator system comprising a plurality of radiators at least one of which has a valve comprising a body affording an internal cavity and first and second passages extending therefrom, a valve member engageable with a valve seat to prevent communication between said first passage and said cavity, a third passage extending from said cavity at right angles to the first passage to a drainage point of the valve and a blocking member manually operable selectively to block or open said third passage in line with said third passage, and a valve operating member to bring the valve member into and out of engagement with the valve seat, said valve operating member being in line with the first passage and extending through the body to the exterior at a location spaced from each of said passages.

3. The invention according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein there is provided a further valve seat in said third passage, the blocking member being movable selectively in said third passage towards or away from said further valve seat.

4. The invention according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the blocking member is arranged to be operable by a removable key.

5. The invention according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the blocking member comprises a plug occupying said third passage.

6. The invention according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said drainage point is constituted by a formation adapted to have a flexible hose fitted thereon.

7. The invention according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said third passage is defined at least in part by an initially separate component secured to the body of the valve.

8. A radiator having a valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 or as modified in accordance with Figure 2, of the accompanying drawings.

10. A radiator system comprising a plurality of radiators, at least one of which has a valve substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.