GB2343237A

GB2343237A - Radiator isolation valve

Info

Publication number: GB2343237A
Application number: GB9920350A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barrie Naylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-10-30
Filing date: 1999-08-31
Publication date: 2000-05-03
Also published as: GB9823677D0; GB9920350D0

Abstract

An isolation valve is adapted to be connected intermedially of a radiator port and the standard valve 3 connected to a heating system supply pipe 2. The valve has a lever having a handle portion 12 and an arm which and connects to a ball rotatingly seated between seals within the valve. When the valve is closed, no fluid can pass between the system and the radiator. When the valve is open, the handle portion 12 of the lever is disposed immediately and fractionally above a nut 10 by which the valve may be connected to the valve 3 or the radiator 1. In this position, sufficient purchase on the nut 10 cannot be gained, the nut 10 cannot be rotated as such rotation would be hindered by the handle portion 12 of the lever and the valve cannot be disconnected, thus preventing accidental fluid leakage. The valve may be integral with the radiator.

Description

Improvements Relating to Heating Devices This invention relates to heating devices and in particular to water heated devices for use especially, but not exclusively, in domestic dwellings.

Domestic dwellings are typically heated using a central heating system which circulates a suitable thermal carrier such as a heat conductor or a heat convector. A central heating device heats the thermal carrier and the carrier is then pumped sinuously, in a specified direction, around a dwelling before returning to the central heating device. When the carrier returns to the central heating device it is reheated to a specified temperature and the cycle is repeated. As the thermal carrier travels along the heating system a proportion of the heat energy of the carrier is dissipated to the cooler atmosphere. The proportion of heat lost will be directly related to the temperature of the external environment.

It is commonly known for the central heating device to heat a thermal carrier such as water which then travels in a series of pipes located throughout a dwelling. A number of radiators are attached to these pipes and they provide a more efficient means of heat exchange as they effectively increase the surface area over which heat loss from the hot water can take place. Typically one or two radiators are located in each room of a domestic dwelling. The radiators are arranged in a customised manner to suit the requirements, lifestyle and decor of the owner of the dwelling.

It is frequently required to re-locate or remove a radiator and in order to do this the radiator must be disconnected from the piping of the central heating system. This is commonly facilitated by positioning a valve adjacent the junction between the water supply pipe of the central heating system and the radiator. A second valve may similarly be positioned downstream of the radiator adjacent to the junction between the water transport pipe of the central heating system and the radiator. When a radiator is removed the two valves are adjusted such that water no longer flows through the radiator.

The radiator thus represents an isolated system and it can be disconnected from the water heating means and so removed.

The disadvantage of this arrangement is that when the radiator is disconnected from the adjacent pipes of the central heating system water remains inside the radiator and so as the radiator is removed there is a tendency for water to spill over the surrounding area. This is an obvious disadvantage in a domestic dwelling where the area surrounding a radiator may be carpeted or expensively decorated.

Hitherto, to circumvent this problem a number of people are usually employed to move a radiator. At least one person is charged with holding a waterproof container at the water entry and water exit ports of the radiator where water is likely to be spilled.

Accordingly it is the object of the present invention to provide a means for more efficiently and less hazardously re-locating radiators.

The object of the invention is met by providing an isolation valve between at least one of the radiator ports where the radiator connects with a fluid heating system and the inlet or outlet pipe of said fluid heating system, characterised in that said isolation valve is provided with valve means which can be selectively closed and with connection means on either side of said isolation valve to allow for easy disconnection of said valve from one or other of the fluid heating system pipe or radiator port while remaining sealingly connected to the other port, such that minimal fluid is released either from the fluid heating system or the radiator which disconnection is effected and the radiator is removed.

Preferably the fluid heating system is a central heating system, and the fluid is water.

Preferably, a controlling means for the selectively operable valve means is orientated such that said controlling means hinders spacial access to the connection means between the radiator port and the pipe of the central heating system until such a time when the controlling means is adjusted to close the said radiator valve.

The said isolator valve or at least one of the radiator ports will preferably form an integral part of the radiator.

In an alternative embodiment, the said valve is a separate component, and provided with connection means corresponding to existing connection means commonly provided on conventionally manufactured radiator.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, wherein : Fig. 1 represents a side elevated view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 represents a plan view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention ; and Fig. 3 represents a cross-sectional view along the line I-I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 represents a side elevated view of a preferable embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention.

Fig. 5 shows a plan view of an isolator valve according to the invention, Fig. 6 shows a side elevation of the valve of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 shows a partially cut away side elevational view of the valve of Figure 6, and Fig. 8 shows an end elevation of the valve of Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawings a radiator 1 is connected to a water supply pipe 2 of a water based central heating system. The water supply pipe 2 has a valve 3, known in the art, upstream of the junction 9. The junction 9 is connected to a radiator inlet pipe 11 by a nut 10. Typically before a radiator is removed the valve 3 is adjusted to the closed position and water flow through radiator 1 is prevented. The closure does not, however, prevent escape of water from within the radiator through the inlet pipe 11. Such escape is prevented in the apparatus described by introducing a valve block 5 actuating ball valve 6 between the inlet pipe 11 and the radiator 1.

Said valve block 5 may be either integrally provided on the radiator, or alternatively the valve block 5 may be provided as a separate component which can be purchased and simply connected to existing conventional radiators, for example by a nut 10X shown in dotted lines on figure 1. In the prior art, connection of the radiator simply involves connection of the said nut 10X to the junction 9, and it is therefore necessary that the nut 10 is identical to the radiator nut 10X where the valve block is provided as a separate component.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the valve 6 comprises a sphere 7 with a diametric through bore 8 connected to a handle 12 which rotates between two positions relatively at 90o to each other. In the first position the apertures of the sphere are in line with the axis of the pipe thus the radiator 1 is in fluid connection with the supply pipe 2. In the second position the handle 9 has been rotated through 90o and similarly the axis of the diametric through bore has been rotated through 90o such that water no longer flows through the pipe.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 it can be seen that when the radiator 1 is connected to the central heating system 2 the handle 12 is positioned directly over a nut 10. The nut 10 secures the water inlet pipe 9 of the central heating system to the water inlet pipe 11 of the radiator 5. This arrangement hinders the process of removing the radiator 1 from the water supply pipe 2 of the central heating system, regardless of whether the water supply pipe 2 has been sealed by the valve 3. When the handle 9 is rotated through 90 the valve 6 is closed and the nut 10 is exposed so that the radiator 1 can be disconnected from the water supply pipe 2.

It will be understood that the valve block 5 is an embodiment of an apparatus used for adapting existing radiators such that they can be used in accordance with the invention. Preferably newly manufactured radiators will embody the apparatus in accordance with the invention in a concealed manner such that the aesthetic design of the apparatus is improved as shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Figures 5-8, there is shown an isolation valve 100 in accordance with a further aspect of the invention provided with connection means being threads 102 and a nut 104 for connection to a central heating pipe and radiator port respectively. A lever 106 is provided which can be rotated about a vertical axis 108 shown in Figure 6. Said lever can adopt at least a first position shown in the Figures in which a handle portion 110 obstructs access to the nut 104, and preferably prevents same from being turned, and a second portion 90 rotated from the first position in which said handle portion presents no such obstruction.

In Figure 7, the inner workings of the valve are shown, and in particular the lever 106 is shown connected to a ball valve 112 provided with a bore shown dotted at 114 therethrough to allow for passage of fluid through the valve. The ball valve is mounted between a pair of o-ring seals 116, and internally of the nut 104 are provided an abutment flange 118 and a flange seal 120. The dimensions of the valve are preferably matched to those of conventional connectors on radiators and central heating systems.

At the alternate end of the valve from the flange 118 is provided a thread 122 and a seal locking ring 124 which allow for sealing connection to either a central heating pipe or radiator as desired.

Dependent on the particular desired function of the valve and the manner in which it is connected, disconnection of said valve from either the radiator or the central heating pipe can be prevented by the said handle portion 110 of said lever 106.

The advantage of the method in accordance with the invention is that it provides a more efficient means of disconnecting the radiator from the central heating system as when the valve located in the water pipes of the central heating system and the valve located in the inlet and outlet sites of the radiator are in a position which occludes water flow then it is possible to remove the radiator without spillage of the radiator contents. The apparatus in accordance with the invention therefore provides an efficient means of sealing the water connecting ports of a radiator before it is removed from a central heating means.

Claims

CLAIMS : 1. An isolation valve for connection between at least a radiator port where the radiator connects with a pipe being part of a system which provided heated fluid to said radiator, characterised in that said isolation valve is provided with valve means which can be selectively opened and closed and with connection means on either side of said isolation valve to allow for easy disconnection of said valve from one or other of the fluid heating system pipe or radiator port while remaining sealingly connected to the other port, such that minimal fluid is released either from the fluid heating system or the radiator which disconnection is effected and the radiator is removed.
2. A valve according to claim 1 characterised in that the fluid heating system is a central heating system, and the fluid is water.
3. A valve according to claims 1 or 2 characterised in that a controlling means is connected internally to the selectively operable valve means of the valve and orientated externally of the valve such that said controlling means hinders spacial access to the connection means between the radiator port and the pipe of the heating system until such a time when the controlling means is adjusted to close the said valve.
4. A valve according to any of claims 1-3 characterised in that the said isolator valve forms an integral part of the radiator.
5. A valve according to any of claims 1-3 characterised in that the said valve is a separate component and provided with connection means corresponding to the connection means provided on conventional radiators and pipes of heating systems.
6. A valve as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying description and drawings.