GB2121144A

GB2121144A - Radiator valve

Info

Publication number: GB2121144A
Application number: GB08312536A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Muhammad Iqbal
Original assignee: Pegler Ltd
Current assignee: Pegler Ltd
Priority date: 1982-05-25
Filing date: 1983-05-06
Publication date: 1983-12-14
Also published as: GB8312536D0

Abstract

A radiator valve (14) having a screw down handle (16) for regulating or closing the valve member (26). So that the radiator can be drained after the valve has been closed to enable it to be disconnected from the hot water heating system and removed from the wall, the valve is provided with a drain plug or cap (28). The drain plug or cap may be provided in the connection between the valve and the radiator. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Radiator valve The invention relates to a domestic radiator valve, that is to say a valve of the kind for connecting a domestic central heating radiator into a hot water system and having a screw down handle for regulating or closing the valve.

It is usual to mount a domestic central heating radiator on a wall by means of hanger brackets from which the radiator can readily be detached when it is desired to decorate the wall behind the radiator (or that part of the wall which is visible when the radiator is in its normal position). When detached, the radiator can be moved away from the wall only to the extent allowed by the water pipes to which it is of course still connected, this movement in most cases being only a pivotal downward movement allowed by pipe connections leading into and from the lower part of the radiator at its opposite sides, the pipe connections being slackened to permit such pivotal movement away from the wall.This is not altogether satisfactory because access to the lower part of the wall immediately behind the radiator is still obstructed and the radiator itself, lying flat on the floor or temporarily supported at an angle to the wall by some other person, is a nuisance to the person carrying out the decorating work. The object of the invention is to provide a radiator valve or valve connection by means of which such difficulties can be at least alleviated.

According to the invention, there is provided a radiator valve of the kind referred to, or a valve connection thereto, the valve or valve connection having a removable drain plug or cap, the arrangement being such that when the valve has been closed (together with the other closable valve usually connected to a radiator) the drain plug or cap can be opened to drain the radiator of water and the radiator can then be disconnected from the hot water system. A spigot portion of the valve body or of the connection to the valve to which the drain plug or cap is connected, may be provided with a peripherally extending tapered ridge portion onto which a length of flexible hose can be push fitted.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried intro effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a view of a domestic central heating radiator mounted on a wall, Fig. 2 is a front view, partly in section, of a radiator valve embodying the invention, Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional scrap views which will be referred to when describing possible modifications of the Fig. 1 arrangement, Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and illustrating an alternative method of carrying out the invention, and Figs. 6 and 7 are scrap views which will be referred to when describing possible modifications of the Fig. 5 arrangement.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the domestic central heating radiator 10 there illustrated is mounted on the wall 12 in a conventional manner, that is to say by means of hanger brackets (not shown) from which the radiator can readily be detached when it is desired to decorate the wall behind the radiator. Also in conventional manner the radiator is provided at one side with a valve 14 of the kind referred to (having a screw down handle 1 6 for regulating or closing the valve) and at its other side with a simple closure valve 1 8.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the valve 14 is provided with a valve body 20 having a spigot portion 22 opening from a space above the valve seat 24 (on which the valve closure member 26 is shown in Fig. 2 to be seated). The spigot portion is provided with a removable drain cap 28 within which is disposed a resilient sealing washer 30 for preventing the leakage of water from the valve during its normal operation.

The arrangement is such that when the valve has been closed (together with the closure valve 18) the drain cap 28 can be removed to drain the radiator of water via a flexible hose which can be pushed onto the screwthreaded portion of the spigot. It will of course also be necessary to open the usual air valve in the upper part of the radiator to allow the water to drain freely from the radiator. The radiator can then be disconnected from the hot water heating system and removed completely from the wall. The floor and wall will therefore be completely free of obstruction and the required decoration work will be able to be carried out with relative ease.

Referring now to Fig. 3, this illustrates a possible modification in which the spigot portion 22 is shown to be closed by means of a removable drain plug 32 provided with an O-ring seal 34 for preventing the leakage of water from the valve during its normal operation. In addition, the spigot portion is provided with a peripherally extending tapered ridge portion 36. The purpose of this is to facilitate the push fit connection of a length of flexible hose (not shown) on said spigot portion so that the water to be drained from the radiator concerned can be led away to a drainage point.

Referring now to Fig. 4, this illustrates a further possible modification in which the spigot portion 22 is shown to be closed by means of a removable plug 38 which makes a metal to metal seal at the seat 40, this being a specially machined portion of the spigot. The squared portion 42 of the drain plug is in this case such that it will fit the extraneous key generally available for bleeding the radiator of air. Thus, no additional special tools are required.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated an alternative arrangement whereby a radiator valve 1 4 of the kind referred to can be connected to a radiator 10 by a connection such that the radiator can be drained when the radiator valve has been closed together with the closure valve 1 8. The connection comprises a pipe 46 connecting the valve 14 to the radiator by means of a compression fitting 15, the pipe being provided with a plurality of holes 48 and a "Banjo" fitting 50 having O-ring seals 52 which seal the pipe on the opposite sides of the holes 48. The "Banjo" fitting is provided with a removable plug 38 as in the arrangement of Fig. 4, a spigot portion of the "Banjo" being formed with a tapered ridge portion 36.

The arrangement is such that, as in the first described embodiment, when the radiator valve has been closed (together with the closure valve 18) the plug 38 can be removed to drain the radiator of water via a flexible hose (not shown) which will have been pushed on the spigot portion of the "Banjo". The radiator can then be disconnected from the hot water system and removed completely from the wall to which it is attached.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate modifications which may be made to the arrangement just described. In Fig: 6 the spigot portion of the "Banjo" is shown to be provided with an external screwthread on which a drain cap 28 is fitted. A resilient sealing washer 30 is shown to be disposed within the drain cap for preventing the leakage of water from the fitting during normal operation of the radiator. In Fig. 7, the plug 38 which made a metal to metal seal within the spigot portion of the "Banjo" fitting is shown to have been replaced by the drain plug 32 provided with an O-ring seal 34, and in this arrangement the tapered ridge portion 36 of the "Banjo" spigot is retained.

Claims

1. A radiator valve of the kind referred to, or a valve connection thereto, the valve or valve connection having a removable drain plug or cap, the arrangement being such that when the valve has been closed (together with the other closable valve usually connected to a radiator) the drain plug or cap can be opened to drain the radiator of water and the radiator can then be disconnected from the hot water system.

2. A radiator valve according to claim 1, in which a spigot portion of the valve body or of the connection to the valve to which the drain plug or cap is connected, is provided with a peripherally extending tapered ridge portion onto which a length of flexible hose can be push fitted.

3. A radiator valve constructed, arranged and adapted to be used substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.