GB2256267A

GB2256267A - Radiator wall mounting

Info

Publication number: GB2256267A
Application number: GB9110167A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Trevor William Wilson; Dennis John Jeans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-03-23
Filing date: 1991-05-10
Publication date: 1992-12-02
Also published as: GB9110167D0; GB9106249D0

Abstract

A wall mounting for a wall-mounted appliance such as a radiator (1) having at least one fluid bearing pipe (5) extending into the appliance, comprises: support means (6, 7) for supporting the appliance; and at least one swivel connector (12, 13) fitted in use between the pipe (5) and the appliance (1) to enable the appliance to be tilted away from the wall whilst fluid remains in the pipe and appliance. <IMAGE>

Description

RADIATOR WALL MOUNTING Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wall mounting for a radiator or another wall mounted appliance which has at least one fluidbearing pipe extending into a side of the appliance. As used herein the term wall mounting is defined as a mounting by which an appliance is held, in use, adjacent to a wall and not necessarily on the wall. The term "pipe" is intended to be interpreted so broadly as to include a branch of the channelled body of a tap, for example.

Background to the Invention The conventional design of radiator wall mounting is a semipermanent fixture whereby brackets on the rear face of the radiator are screwed in place against the wall. The typical nongravity fed radiator has a pair of pipes one on each side extending into the base thereof. Water or an oil-based fluid enters the base of the radiator at one side and exits via the other side.

Because, in these radiators, the entry and exit pipes are substantially aligned it is conceptually possible to ensure that the radiator, the threaded couplings between the pipes of the radiator fluid circulatory system and the base of the radiator are first partially made up whilst the radiator lies substantially horizontally with its top edge resting upon the floor. The radiator may possibly then be swivelled into its vertically extending operational position, the threaded couplings then being fully tightened and the radiator screwed in place to the wall.

Although the procedure described above would perhaps not be too inconvenient for major maintenance operations involving removal and installation, access to the wall behind the radiator is nonetheless difficult to obtain. The top-mounting (must firstly be unscrewed and, in all cases, the flow of radiator fluid through the pipes entering and exiting the base of the radiator must be halted and the fluid drained away to avoid leakage when loosening the connections to the radiator and lowering the radiator to the floor.

The impracticalities of such a procedure would render it unsuitable for most purposes.

It is a fair general observation that the areas of wall concealed behind radiators are commonly forcibly neglected leading to accumulation of dust and mould and a disparity in paint or wall paper cover of those areas. A particularly galling problem is the loss of articles which become trapped against the wall behind the wall-mounted radiator.

It is a general objective of the present invention to provide a rapid and convenient means of access to the wall behind a wallmounted radiator or similar appliance.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a wall mounting for a wall-mounted appliance having at least one fluid bearing pipe extending into a side of the appliance, said mounting comprising: support means for supporting the appliance; and Á swivel connector, cuS connector being fitted in use between ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-~ thethe pipe and the appliance to enable the appliance to be tilted away from the wall whilst fluid remains in the pipe and appliance.

Preferably the wall mounting further comprises an, in use, wallmounted clip means for releaseably retaining the, in use, upper end of the appliance adjacent the wall.

Advantageously the clip means is spring-assisted.

t Cr nhwe The support means preferably comprise L ad justableadjustable brackets mounted on the wall.

Preferably each support means supports the appliance by a said pipa.

Preferably each support means is adapted to mount one of the swivel connectors.

Preferably the swivel connectors each comprise: a first tubular adaptor member for fitment as an extension to the fluid inlet or outlet of the appliance; a second tubular adaptor member for fitment as an extension to a said fluid-bearing pipe and a connector member having a channel extending axially therethrough and being adapted to be inserted into said first adaptor member with a first end of the connector seating within the first adaptor member and the second end of the connector extending therefrom into the bore of the second adaptor member, the channel of the connector allowing fluid communication between the first adaptor member and the second adaptor member, one of the first and second ends of the connector being held captive in its respective member, in use, the other end of said first and second ends of the connector being freely rotatably seated within its respective adaptor member, thereby enabling the first adaptor member to be swivelled relative to the second adaptor member.

Preferably the connector is shaped as a bolt having a rounded or substantially frusto-conical head secured, in use, to the first adaptor member by a nut, enabling the joint between the first and second adaptor members to be disengaged with minimai longitudinal separating movement.

Preferably the second adaptor member is an externally threaded sleeve which is freely relatively rotatable about the connector member and held captive thereto, in use.

The connector member preferably has annular seal means thereon to provide a fluid tight seal between the exterior thereof and the bore of the second adaptor member.

Preferably the channel through the bolt member has an acircular gross section at the head end of the bolt to facilitate threading and unthreading of the bolt.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a swivel joint for inter-ronnecting a pair of pipe means, said joint comprising: a first tubular adaptor member for fitment as an extension to a first pipe means; a second tubular adaptor member for fitment as an extension to second pipe means; and a connector member having a channel extending axially therethrough and being adapted to be inserted into said first adaptor member with a first end of the connector seating within the first adaptor member and the second end of the connector extending therefrom into the bore of the second adaptor membe:: the channel of the connector allowing fluid communication betwen the first adaptor member and the second adaptor member, one Df the first and second ends of the connector being held captive in its respective member, in use, the other end of said first and second ends of the connector being freely rotatably seated within its respective adaptor member, thereby enabling the first adaptor member to be swivelled relative to the second adaptor member.

Brief Description of the Drawin0#s The present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing's wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a radiator mounted to a wall by one preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a more detailed view of the lower portion of the wall mounting illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the radiator fluid delivery pipe and coupling to the radiator illustrated in Figure the view being taken along the line III-III in Figure 2;; Figure 4 is a view of the assembled coupling illustrated in Figure 3 when isolated from the appliance to which it is fitted in use; Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 but with the components of the coupling disassembled; Figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the upper portion of the mounting means; Figure 7 illustrates a yet further embodiment of the upper portion of the mounting means; Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 but illustrating a second embodiment of coupling of the radiator fluid delivery pipe to the radiator ( radiator inlet not shown);; Figure 9 is a further view similar to that of Figure 3 but illustrating a third embodiment of coupling of the radiator fluid delivery pipe and radiator ( radiator inlet not shown); Figure 10 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of lower supporting bracket; and Figure il illustrates an embodiment of mounting means in which the radiator is supported from above.

Descript#on of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figure 1 a radiator 1 of non-gravity fed type having a pair of pipes 5, 5' fitted thereto, one pipe 5 delivering radiator fluid to one side of the base and the other pipe Ds carrying the fluid away. The radiator 1 is supported to the wall 4 by a pair of adjustable brackets 3, each of which brackets 3 extends beneath the joint to the radiator 1 of a respective one of the pipe 5, 5'.

The upper, in use, end of the radiator 1 is constrained aaainst the wall 4 by a clip 2 comprising a wall-mounting portion 10 which releaseably interengages with a clip hook 11 on the rear o the radiator 1.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the joints between the radiator 1 and the respective pipes 5, 5' each comprise the three members which are interengaged in such a manner as to allow the joint to swivel and enable the radiator 1 to tilt about the longitudinal axis joining the two pipes D, Os on each side of the radiator 1. The swivel joint comprises a pair of tubular adaptor members 12, 13 and a bolt member 14 designed to hold the adaptor members 12, 13 in a freely relatively rotatable relationship.The phrase freely relatively rotatably does not necessarily mean that the two adaptor members 12, 13 when inter-locked by the bolt member 14 are free to rotate through 360 degrees.

The tubular adaptor members 12, 13 are each designed to fit as an extension to a respective one of each of the two pipe ends to be coupled. The first adaptor member is internally threaded to mate with the systemic pipe 5,5' while the second adaptor member 13 is externally threaded to mate with the inlet or outlet pipe 15, 15 of the radiator 1. The end of the adaptor member 12 remote from the threaded end of the member 12 is of reduced diameter and fits slideably within an enlarged diameter portion of the second adaptor member 13.

As illustrated in Figures 3 and A, the adaptor members 16, 17 are locked in engagement by insertion of the bolt 14 into the first adaptor member 12 such that the shank 22 of the bolt member 14 extends into the second adaptor member 13 to be threadedly engaged therewith by threads 18, 19 on the bolt 14 and adaptor member 13 respectively.

The head 20 of the bolt 14 is trapped within the reduced diameter portion of the first adaptor member 12 by an annular flanges at the extremity of the first adaptor member 12.

The fluid-tightness of the swivel joint is assured by the pro-sisio- n of annular elastomeric seals, or 0-rings, 21 which seal against the bore of the reduced diameter portion of the first adaptor member 12. The O-rillgs 21 maintain the integrity of the joint even as the radiator 1, or other appliance fitted to the second adaptor member 13, tilts about the stationary supply pipes a, D. Circulation of radiator fluid may thus continue uninterrupted as the radiator is tilted forwardly (in the direction indicated by the arrow T in Figure 2).

The adjustable support bracket 3 which bears the weight of the radiator 1 whilst allowing the radiator 1 to tilt comprises a wallmounted portion 6 and a bearing plate 7 adjustably held to the wail-mounted portion 6 by a bolt 8 which may be fastened at any one of a range of positions in slot 9 in the bearing plate 7.

Relative rotation between portion 6 and plate 7 is prevented by a flange. The bearing plate 7 terminates in a groove within which the reduced diameter portion of the first adaptor member 12 sits.

The support bracket 3, therefore, supports the stationary part of the joint. For structural strength and integrity it may be advantageous to form the support bracket 3 integrally with the first adaptor member 12 or otherwise bond the two together.

Referring to Figures 1, 6 and 7 three alternative clip means for releaseably retaining the upper end of the radiator against the wall are illustrated. In the Figure 1 embodiment the wall-mounted portion 10 of the clip means 2 may be pivoted laterally from engagement with a corresponding clip hook 11 on the rear of the radiator 1. In the Figure 6 embodiment, a sprin-a-assisted vertically pivoting latch 25 holds the radiator releaseably in place.

in the Figure 7 embodiment, a pin 9ig fastens a hzok on the rear of the radiator 1 to a wall mounted bracket. In all three embodiments the wail-mounted portion of the clip means is snown to be adjustable to vary the position relative to the wall t at the the radiator 1 is held. Comparable adjustabilfty of the support means 3 enables the radiator 1 to be held away from the wall 4 at a range of distances.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9, two alternative embodiments of swivel joint to that of the Figure 3-5 embodiment are shown, Both of these embodiments comprise a first adaptor member 12' formed as a nut, a second adaptor member 13' formed as a cylinder having a threaded exterior for threaded engagement with tile inlet or outlet of a radiator, and a connector tube 14' having one nd inserted in to first adaptor member 12' and the ether end thereof extending through the second adaptor member 13'.In the Figure 8 embodiment the tubular connector 14' is formed as a bolt, but unlike the Figure 3-5 embodiment, the head 20' of the bolt 1e' is short and substantially frusto-conical to seat within a corresponding frusto-conical recessed rim of a fluid delivery pipe a. The shallow inter-engagement of the head 20' of the bolt 1A' with the rim of the delivery pipe 5a enables the joint to be disengaged with minimal longitudinal separation movement between the delivery pipe 5a and radiator inlet.The swivel joint of the Figure 8 embodiment relies upon free-relative rotation between the shank of the " bolt" 1;L' and the second adaptor member 13'. The second adaptor member 13' is not threaded to the shank of the bolt 14' but merely held in longitudinal relation thereto by a cirelip 27, in use.

In the Figure 9 embodiment, the tubular connector member 1.' is continuous and, unlike the figure 3-5 and Figure 8 embodiments, is secured to the first adaptor member 12' merely by action of an olive 28 which is compressed against one end thereof by tightening of the first adaptor member 12'. This is a cheaper construction than the prior embodiments but involves a substantial amount of longitudinal movement to separate the joint. To allow space for the first adaptor member 12' to be reversed off the pipe 5b the second adaptor member 13' is held captive by a pair of circiips 2 t, one at each end thereof, mounted on the connector member 1*'.

For flexibility and cost effectiveness it is, in practice, convenient to use a swivel joint according to the Figure 8 embodiment at the loci; shield valve end of the radiator, while using a swivel joint according to the Figure 9 embodiment at the consumer control valve end of the radiator (normally the inlet end). Any combination of swivel joints is, however, possible.

P#eferring now to figures 10 and 11, further alternative embodiments of means for supporting a radiator while allowing the radiator to tilt are shown. In Figure 10 an adjustable support bracket 3' is shown to comprise a pivoted hook 29 having a strut 30 adjustable positionable by movement of a slide pin down a slot 32 in a wall-mounted portion 33 of the bracket 3'. The portion 33 is of box section and has a slot 32 on each side to provide reversible in fastening of the hook 29 and strut 30 thereto.

is of box section and has a slot 32 on each side to provide reversible in fastening of the hook 29 and strut 30 thereto.

Figure 11 illustrates an embodiment in which the radiator 1 is supported from above by a cord or chain 34 adjustable in length.

The cord 34 runs through a hook fastened to the wall 4 and through a hook on the rear of the radiator 1. The cord 34 may be utilized to control raising and lowering of the radiator 1 about its titling axis in addition to providing vertical support, avoiding the need for any lower support brackets 3, 3'. Further control over tilting of the radiator 1 may be achieved by provision of an articulated arm 35 connecting the rear of the radiator 1 to the wall 4.

Although the present invention has been described above with respect to specific embodiments, a range of further alternatives are conceivable without exercise of further inventive thought.

The wall mounting may comprise a pair of substantially serially aligned swivel connectors, one at each side of the appliance in the piping entering and exiting the appliance.

The mounting for an appliance of small size having only one pipe entering the appliance may require only one swivel connector.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A wall mounting for a wall-mounted appliance having at least one fluid bearing pipe extending into a side of the appliance, said mounting comprising: support means for supporting the appliance; and ac swivel connector , connector being fitted in use between ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ the the pipe and the appliance to enable the appliance to be tilted away from the wall whilst fluid remains in the pipe and appliance.

2. A wall mounting as claimed in Claim 1 which further comprises an, in use, wall-mounted clip means for releaseably retaining the, in use, upper end of the appliance adjacent the wall.

3. A wall mounting as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the clip means is spring-assisted.

4. A wall mounting as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the support means comprisedJustable wall-mounted brackets.

5. A wall mounting as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein each support means is adapted to mount to one of the swivel connectors.

6. A wall mounting as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the swivel connectors each comprise: a first tubular adaptor member for fitment as an extension to the fluid inlet or outlet of the appliance; a second tubular adaptor member for fitment as an extension to & fluid-bearing pipe and a connector member having a channel extending axially therethrough and being adapted to be inserted into said first adaptor member with a first end of the connector seating within the first adaptor member and the second end of the connector extending therefrom into the bore of the second adaptor member, the channel of the connector allowing fluid communication between the first adaptor member and the second adaptor member, one of the first and second ends of the connector being held captive in its respective member, in use, the other end of said first and second ends of the connector being freely rotatably seated within its respective adaptor member, thereby enabling the first ~~~~~~~~ adaptor member to be swivelled relative to the second adaptor member.

7. i wall mounting as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the connector is shaped as a bolt having a rounded or substantially frustoconical head secured, in use, to the first adaptor member by a nut, enabling the joint between the first and second adaptor members to be disengaged with minimal longitudinal separating movement.

3. A wall mounting as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the second adaptor member is an externally threaded sleeve which is freely relatively rotatable about the connector member and held captive thereto, in use.

9. A wall mounting as claimed in Claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein the ?###k tk of the bolt member has annular seal means thereon to provide a fluid tight seal between the exterior of the bolt and the bore of the second adaptor member.

10. S wall mounting as claimed in Claim 6, 7, 8 or 9 wherein the channel though the bolt member has an acircular cross section at the head end of the bolt to facilitate threading and unthreading of the bolt.

11. A swivel joint for inter-connecting a pair of pipe means, said joint comprising: a first tubular adaptor member for fitment as an extension to a first pipe means; a second tubular adaptor member for fitment as an extension to a second pipe means; and a connector member having a channel extending axially therethrough and being adapted to be inserted into said first adaptor member with a first end of the connector seating within the first adaptor member and the second end of the connector extending therefrom into the bore of the second adaptor member, the channel of the connector allowing fluid communication between the first adaptor member and the second adaptor member, one of the first and second ends of the connector being held captive in its respective member, in use, the other end of said first and second ends of the connector being freely rotatably seated within its respective adaptor member, thereby enabling the first ~~~~~~~~ adaptor member to be swivelled relative to the second adaptor member.