GB2120377A

GB2120377A - A panel radiator

Info

Publication number: GB2120377A
Application number: GB8312751A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Johann Theodor Nollen
Original assignee: GOUDA HOLLAND BV
Current assignee: GOUDA HOLLAND BV
Priority date: 1982-05-11
Filing date: 1983-05-10
Publication date: 1983-11-30
Also published as: FR2526931B1; FR2526931A1; NL177775B; ATA173583A; BE896690A; GB2120377B; NL8201932A; GB8312751D0; DE3316538C2; DE8313397U1; DE3316538A1; CH660518A5; AT378604B; NL177775C

Abstract

A panel radiator comprises a radiant panel 1 against the back of which a tube system 2 is secured by spring clamps 9. The tube system 2 comprises a plurality of parallel and spaced apart rectangular longitudinal tubes 3 lying flat against the panel 1, and a plurality of connection tubes 5 extending transversely between the tubes 3 and interconnecting the longitudinal tubes in such a manner that a heating medium will flow through the system 2 in a serpentine manner, flowing through successive longitudinal tubes 3 in opposite directions. The connection tubes 5 extend between holes 8 in the sides 7 of the longitudinal tubes 3 near the closed ends 4 of the tubes 3, and are narrower than the sides 7 in the direction perpendicular to the panel 1. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A panel radiator This invention relates to a panel radiator comprising a radiant panel and a tube system attached to the panel so that, in use heat is transferred to the panel from a heating medium conducted through the tube system.

In the known radiators of this type, the tube system usually comprises a serpentine tube interposed between two panels so that it either rests directly against the panels or is spaced from the panels by means of ribs provided between the panels.

In order for a tube to be readily bent into a serpentine shape, the cross-section of the tube will in general be circular. However, for an efficient transfer of heat to the radiant panel from the medium (e.g. hot water) flowing through the serpentine tube, the tube should rest against the panel over as large a contact area as possible, and it is clear that a circular cross-section of the tube is not conducive to optimum heat transfer.

A more efficient heat transfer can be obtained by using a tube of rectangular cross-section and placing the broader side in contact with the radiant panel. However, such a tube cannot be bent to a serpentine form.

To eliminate this drawback, there is known a construction in which a plurality of equally long tubes of rectangular cross-section are arranged parallel to each other, and the open ends of adjacent tubes are connected to head tubes extending transversely to the longitudinal tubes so that a medium conducted through the tube system flows serpentinely through the rectangular longitudinal tubes. In another similar known tube system, the ends of the longitudinal tubes are connected to common head tubes in which partitions are positioned for effecting the required serpentine flow through the longitudinal tubes.

However, the manufacture of these two systems is very time-consuming and expensive, since the ends of the longitudinal tubes have to be welded to the head tubes and, in the case of the common head tubes, partitions have to be welded therein. Moreover, the weld beads have to be ground off flush with at least one flat face of the tubes in order that the tube system may rest against the radiant panel as efficiently as possible.

With the aim of overcoming the above drawbacks, according to the invention the tube system of a radiator of the kind described comprises a plurality of substantially parallel spaced apart longitudinal tubes which are sealed at their ends and each of which has a substantially rectangular cross-section and has one of its flat walls resting against the radiant panel, and a plurality of connection tubes interconnecting the longitudinal tubes so that the heating medium will flow through the tubes in succession and the direction of flow in each longitudinal tube is opposite to that in the preceding or succeeding longitudinal tube, the connection tubes communicating with the longitudinal tubes in a sealed manner through holes in the side walls of the longitudinal tubes perpendicular to the radiant panel, and the height of the connection tubes in the direction perpendicular to the panel being less than the height of said side walls of the longitudinal tubes.

Since the height of the connection tubes is less than the height of the side walls of the longitudinal tubes, and since the holes in the sidewalls which receive the connection tubes are preferably spaced apart from the faces of the longitudinal tubes resting against the radiant panel, the connection tubes may also be spaced apart from the face of the radiant panel. Thus, if the connection tubes are welded to the side walls of the longitudinal tubes, the welds will not need to be ground off, thus resulting in a substantial labour saving.

A further labour saving can be obtained by seaiing the ends of each longitudinal tube by squeezing the face intended to rest against the radiant panel and the opposite top face of the tube towards each other, and, if necessary, welding the resulting seam. Due to the squeezing together of the two opposite faces, the weld seam will be spaced frorn the face of the radiant panel, so that, here too, no after-grinding of the weld is necessary.

Besides these advantages, the construction of the panel radiator in accordance with the invention has a number of other advantages. For example, in the modern building industry, particularly in the case of utility work and offices, it is often desirable to use standard structural panels for various purposes, and one use may be to form the radiant panel of a panel radiator in accordance with the invention, which may then form a part in an aesthetically justified manner of a wall built up of such standard panels.

A further advantage of the invention in this respect is that for a structural panel of a given size, the heat capacity of the radiator can be varied simply by varying the number of longitudinal tubes which are incorporated in the tube system of the radiator and accordingly adjusting the length of the transverse connection tubes. If the length of the connection tubes is short, more longitudinal tubes can be disposed on the radiant panel and, on the other hand, if said length is larger, fewer longitudinal tubes can be installed on the radiant panel. It is clear that in this manner the heat capacity can be determined in a very simple manner. Moreover, the heat can be properly distributed over the entire surface of the radiant panel. Consequently, no cold parts are produced in places farthest removed from the supply, as is the case in some conventional panel radiators.It is only a question with the construction in accordance with the invention of positioning the required number of longitudinal tubes having the required rectangular cross-sections. Also, the interspace between the tubes can be varied, e.g.

by gradually increasing the distance between the longitudinal tubes.

For manufacturing a panel radiator in accordance with the invention having longer or shorter connection tubes and/or longitudinal tubes of different cross-sections, with the longitudinal tubes being possibly spaced different distances apart, no extra operations are required, so that without additional cost a vast range of the above described possibilities is available with respect to varying the heat capacity within a restricted surface area.

One example of a radiator in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view showing the back of the radiator; and Figure 2 is a cross-section through the radiator taken on the line Il-Il in Figure 1.

The drawings show a panel radiator comprising a radiant panel 1 and a tube system 2 for conducting a heating medium, e.g. hot water, attached to the rear face of the panel 1. The tube system 2 comprises a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced apart longitudinal tubes 3 which are sealed at their ends 4, and a plurality of connection tubes 5 which extend transversely to the longitudinal tubes 3 and interconnect the tubes 3 in such a manner that the heating medium will travel in a serpentine manner through the tubes of the system from a supply connection 12 at one end and a discharge connection 13 at the other end, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1.

The longitudinal tubes 3 have substantially identical rectangular cross-sections and are -arranged so that each has one of its broad walls 6 resting against the rear face of the radiant panel 1.

The transverse connection tubes 5 have a maximum dimension in a direction perpendicular to the panel 1 which is less than the height of the narrow sidewalls 7 of the longitudinal tubes 3, and have their ends received and seated in suitable holes 8 in the side walls 7 of the longitudinal tubes 3 near their ends 4. The holes 8 and the cross-section of the transverse connection tubes 5 may be circular, but are preferably rectangular to achieve an optimal throughflow of the heating medium. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the openings 8 are located in such a manner that the transverse connection tubes 5 extending between them are spaced from the rear face of the radiant panel 1.

The connection tubes 5 are preferably welded in the openings 8, although when the openings 8 are made by fluid drilling the tubes 5 may be pressed and glued therein.

The tube system 2 is secured against the radiant panel 1 by means of spring clamping brackets 9 which are held in position by nuts 11 screwed on to studs 10 fixed to the panel 1 and projecting through the brackets 9.

Claims

1. A radiator comprising a radiant panel and a tube system attached to the radiant panel so that, in use, heat is transferred to the panel from a heating medium conducted through the tube system, characterized in that the tube system comprises a plurality of substantially parallel, spaced apart longitudinal tubes which are sealed at their ends and each of which has a substantially rectangular cross-section and has one of its flat walls resting against the radiant panel, and a plurality of connection tubes interconnecting the longitudinal tubes so that the heating medium will flow through the tubes in succession and the direction of flow in each longitudinal tube is opposite to that in the preceding or succeeding longitudinal tube, the connection tubes communicating with the longitudinal tubes in a sealed manner through holes in the side walls of the longitudinal tubes perpendicular to the radiant panel, and the height of the connection tubes in the direction perpendicular to the panel being less than the height of the said side walls of the longitudinal tubes.

2. A radiator according to claim 1, in which the cross-sections of the longitudin l tubes are identical.

3. A radiator according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the holes in the side walls of the longitudinal tubes which receive the connection tubes are spaced from the faces of the longitudinal tubes resting against the radiant panel.

4. A radiator according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the holes in the side walls of the longitudinal tubes are circular and the connection tubes are of circular cross-section.

5. A radiator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the holes in the side walls of the longitudinal tubes are rectangular and the connection tubes are of rectangular cross-section.

6. A radiator according to claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.