GB2075171A

GB2075171A - Space heating radiators

Info

Publication number: GB2075171A
Application number: GB8014203A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: British Aluminum Co Ltd
Current assignee: British Aluminum Co Ltd
Priority date: 1980-04-30
Filing date: 1980-04-30
Publication date: 1981-11-11

Abstract

A panel (1) having a heat reflective surface (19) for disposition between a radiator and an adjoining wall surface and mounting clips (7) for the panel which rest on the support brackets of the radiator. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Radiator reflector This invention relates to a heat insulating apparatus and method for reducing heat losses through a wall from an adjacent radiator.

It is well known, in for example, domestic premises heated by water circulated through radiators, to reduce heat losses through adjoining walls by locating a panel of reflective material on the wall surface behind the radiator. It is usual to stick aluminium foil to the wall surface and it is generally necessary to remove or displace the radiator for this purpose.

The radiators employed in a water circulatory heating system are essentially convectors and rely for their effectiveness on the upward passage of air passing over their surfaces and a substantial proportion of this air flows within the space between the radiator and its associated wall surface. In order to maximise a reduction in heat loss through the wall without employing, for example, thick layers of heat insulating material it is desirable to have a region of substantially static air immediately in contact with the wall surface.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved heat insulation method and apparatus for use with radiators located adjacent a wall surface.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a rectangular heat insulator panel having a good heat reflecting surface and formed along a line parallel with one axial direction with a plurality of equally spaced formations and a plurality of clips having their one ends engageable with said formations and their other ends engageable with support means to permit the panel to be disposed between a radiator and an adjoining wall surface with said surface facing the radiator and with at least the major part of the panel spaced from the wall.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of reducing heat losses through a wall adjacent a heated radiator comprising disposing a panel of material having a heat reflective surface between the radiator and the wall with the surface facing the radiator and with at least the major part of the panel spaced from the wall.

Preferably the panel is formed with a groove extending in said axial direction and pressed out from one surface therof and said formations are disposed along the groove and comprise parts pressed out from the other surface of the panel so that the groove and the parts form a generally tubular configuration to receive said one ends of the clips. The panels may be formed with ridges extending both in said axial direction and at right angles thereto.

The above and other aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows, in perspective, a panel according to the invention.

Figure 2 is view of part of Fig. 1 to an enlarged scale showing a clip fixing.

Figure 3 is a side view of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is similar to Fig. 2 showing an alternative fixing.

Figure 5 is a top view of an installation and Figure 6 is a modification of part of Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 a rectangular panel 1 of aluminium alloy is formed with horizontally extending stiffening ribs 2 along its upper and lower edges. At least the face 1 a of the panel is bright finished to provide a good heat reflective surface. The panel may be of thin sheet or thick foil material and if of particularly thin material further ribs 3, at right angles to the ribs 2 may be pressed out at intervals along its length.

A pair of grooves 4 of semicircular section are pressed out from the same face of the panel near its upper and lower edges. At equispaced intervals along these grooves the panel is pressed out from the other face to provide semi-circular formations 5 which, together with the grooves constitute circular section 'tubes' to receive the ends of 'Z' shaped clips 7. The ends 6 may be long enough to engage in two of the formations 5.

As shown in Fig. 2 the other ends 8 of the clips 7 may rest on conventional radiator brackets 9 so that the panel 'hangs' against the wall surface 10 behind the radiator (not shown).

Fig. 3 shows an arrangement in which the end 8 of the clip 6 is supported in a bracket 11 secured to the wall surface 10.

Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of Fig. 2 in side elevation and illustrates how the panel 1 may 'hang' against the wall surface 10 behind an adjacent radiator 1 2. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the arrangement of Figs. 2 and 4.

Although the panel is shown spaced from the wall surface 10 it will touch the latter at the positions of the grooves 4 and ribs 3 (if provided) but the major part of the panel will be spaced from the wall surface so trapping a quantity of substantially static air 1 3 between the panel and the wall.

As shown in Fig. 6 conventional radiator brackets such as 9 are spaced inwardly of the end edges such as 14 of a radiator 12. If desired a further small panel 1 5 of similar form to the panel 1 may be disposed outwardly of the brackets and in this case the clips 7 are shaped as shown with their opposite ends 6 respectively engaging the panels 1 and 1 5 and with their central portion 1 6 resting on the bracket 9.

By altering the shape of the ends 8 of the clips 7 it will be appreciated that in the arrangements of Figs. 2, 4 5 and 6 the panels could be "hung" in spaced relationship to the wall surface 10. A similar effect could be achieved with the construction of Fig. 3 by ensuring that the end 8 of the clips 7 are clamped tightly in their associated brackets 11.

It will be understood that the panels 1 may be roll formed in continuous lengths from a small number of selected widths and cut to a selected number ot lengths to be suitable for the majority of domestic radiator installations.

In all cases the distance between the upper and lower edges of the panels and the formations 5 will be the same.

Claims

1. A rectangular heat insulator panel having a good heat reflecting surface and formed along a line parallel with one axial direction with a plurality of equally spaced formations and a plurality of clips having their one ends engageable with said formations and their other ends engageable with support means to permit the panel to be disposed between a radiator and an adjoining wall surface with said surface facing the radiator and with at least the major part of the panel spaced from the wall.

2. A method of reducing heat losses through a wall adjacent a heated radiator comprising disposing a panel of material having a heat reflective surface between the radiator and the wall with the surface facing the radiator and with at least the major part of the panel spaced from the wall.

3. A panel according to claim 1 which is formed with a groove extending in said axial direction and is pressed out from one surface thereof and said formations are disposed along the groove and comprise parts pressed out from the other surface of the panel so that the groove and the parts form a generally tubular configuration to receive said one ends of the clips.

4. A panel according to claim 3 which is formed with ridges extending both in said axial direction and at right angles thereto.

5. A rectangular heat insulator panel substantially as described with reference to Figs.

1,2,4 and 5 or Fig. 3 or Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.

6. A method of reducing heat loss through a wall adjacent a heated radiator substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 2, 4 and 5 or Fig. 3 or Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.