EP1546615B1 - Connection adapter for heating elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection adapter for connecting a valve, especially a thermostat valve, and/or a pipe and/or a pump to a heating element. The connection adapter (5) comprises a housing (8) provided with two connection flanges (9) which are provided for connection to corresponding supports (10) of the heating element (1). The connection flanges (9) comprise frontal sealing surfaces (11) which can be sealingly placed on supports (10) of the heating element (1) by means of a respective seal (13). A securing means (14) engages with the side (4) of the housing (8) facing away from the connection flanges (9) and a force which acts in an axial manner in relation to the connection flanges (9) can be produced by engagement with the retaining means provided on the heating element (16)

Description

The invention relates, on the one hand, to a method for the sealing attachment of a housing with two lines having a connection adapter to a radiator, wherein the one line is connected with its connection flange to a nozzle of the radiator flow and the other line to a nozzle of the radiator return. The invention also relates to the connection adapter itself, which is suitable for connecting a valve, in particular a thermostatic valve, or a pump to a radiator. In addition, the invention relates to a suitable for the connection of the adapter radiator and the system of adapter and radiator.

Such two-pipe connections are mainly used in radiators, the nozzles of flow and return flow in the lower area. This type of connection is known for example from so-called towel radiators, which are equipped as a large area and with a large number of individual heating pipes. Radiators are installed in bathrooms. The two-pipe connections of these radiators usually obey a certain standard. Thus, the nozzles have female threads of ½ inch and are spaced 50 mm apart. In the thread spacers are screwed to which in turn an adapter is screwed by means of union nuts. The disadvantage of this known type of connections is that they are already relatively expensive to install because of the large number of components required and that they require a large volume of construction. Hemp, Teflon or special sealing bushings are used to seal the pipe connections. Also over metal sealing compression fittings are known. The known seals seal over the thread or the outer wall of the nested tubes. These seals are expensive to assemble and prone to leaks.

A disadvantage of the large volume of construction is the disturbing aesthetic impression. So it is just in the towel radiators on it that they fit aesthetically into the ambience of the bath, with striking Connection components or protruding thermostatic valves adversely affect the sometimes complex design of this radiator negative.

From DE 10009137 C a radiator connection with a pipe connection for the flow and a pipe connection for the return of the heating medium is known However, this radiator connection is not attached to the radiator, but on the pipes that emerge from the wall. In order to continue to the radiator lines, the radiator connection is fastened in contrast in a conventional manner by means of two compression fittings. However, this type of attachment of a radiator connection to a radiator via compression fittings leads to the aforementioned disadvantages.

Thus, in the embodiment known from DE 10009137 C, in contrast to the present invention, additional separate parts and special formations of the pipes to be connected are particularly required for fastening the radiator connection. First, each case a thickening or widening of each of the pipes to be connected are required. Alternatively or additionally, a separate clamping ring can also be used. Femer a separate cap part is required, which overlaps the expansion and / or the clamping ring from the rear, which means not only an increased number of parts, but above all, a significantly increased effort in the installation of the radiator connection; since the expansion and / or the clamping ring can be molded or applied only after the previous attachment of the cap part.

In contrast, the present invention allows a particularly simple and fast to carry out installation, in which no additional aufzusteckenden cap parts and no separate clamping rings are required. Above all, the connecting piece of the radiator must not be deformed or expanded even when mounting the connection adapter, which is a considerable simplification of the assembly.

Furthermore, from DE 2211046 A a fluid system with valve devices is known, wherein the valve device automatically opens when the connection device is connected to the system and automatically closes when the connection device is disconnected from the system. For this purpose, a valve device is detachably connectable to a provided on a radiator conventional manual control valve. The one inlet and one outlet forming connecting pipes of the control valve are each provided with a connecting device which can be brought into engagement with the removable valve means.

In the device known from DE 2211046 A, however, the radiator is connected in a conventional manner to the valve or to the assembly containing the valve by means of compression fittings, which means the disadvantages mentioned above, in contrast to the present invention is independent of Radiator separability of two different from the radiator valve assemblies are made possible, namely the removable manual valve from the stationary attached to the pipeline network valve device. In addition, the connection realized here of the two separably interconnected valve assemblies is a relatively complex construction, which means a plurality of separate components and a correspondingly high assembly costs. In contrast, the present invention aims straight at a simplified way of direct attachment of a radiator to a connection adapter.

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a first method for easy and safe installation of a connection adapter. In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide a compact and easy-to-use adapter with two lines, in particular for the connection of a thermostatic valve, which fits harmoniously into the design of a radiator. Another object is to provide a radiator which is particularly suitable for the use of such a connection adapter.

These objects are achieved by a method having the characterizing features of claim 1, an adapter having the characterizing features of claim 4 and a radiator having the characterizing features of claim 13.

The essential basic idea of the invention is to design an adapter in such a way that it has two frontal connecting flanges lying in particular in one plane, which are then pressed by means of a respective seal against the end faces of the connecting pieces of the radiator serving as counterparts. The necessary contact pressure is exerted via a fastening means which, on the one hand, is easily accessible on the housing and on the other hand acts on the radiator. Contrary to the previously known compound in which the hold of the Adapters on the two screw connections of the connections came about, now the massive housing of the adapter is connected directly to the heater, the terminals are sealingly clamped between the adapter and heater. The seal takes place via the front-side sealing surfaces, which can be configured as desired and are placed against each other by means of the seal. According to the invention, the force flow generated by the fastening means passes through the entire housing and not only through the flanges of the adapter. So there is a much more stable connection of adapters with connected valve or pump.

According to the invention thus the end faces of the connecting flanges are applied by means of a respective seal on end faces of the nozzle and the housing with a fastener releasably attached to the radiator attacking the fastener to a permanently attached to the radiator part such that through the housing, a power flow goes generates a contact pressure between the connection adapter and radiator, which acts in particular as a bias symmetrical to the seals. The symmetrical power flow is particularly advantageous, as a uniform load and sealing of the nozzle is achieved.

The type of assembly according to the invention has several advantages, which essentially result from the fact that the hitherto required union nuts can be dispensed with: first, the assembly of the adapter is particularly simple and comfortable, the only the operation of one, in particular a single fastener, the in a particularly simple case, an externally accessible screw is required. For a fast and safe installation is possible. At the same time, the type of attachment offers the possibility to save components, such as previously required intermediate pieces, and thus to reduce costs and space on the one hand. The invention makes it possible to reduce the distance between the adapter and the radiator by more than one centimeter.

The advantages mentioned result in particular from the fact that the housing is fastened with only a single fastener on the radiator, which acts on the side facing away from the connecting flanges of the housing, which is easily accessible to the fitter with a tool attacks. In a particularly simple and therefore preferable embodiment, the fastening means is a screw which extends through a bore in the housing and the one on This shows that the flow of force passes through the body of the housing and distributes itself to the radiator via the connections.

In order to implement the method, a connection adapter is advantageous, the at least two connecting flanges facing the heating body having end-side sealing surfaces, which are sealingly applied by means of a respective seal to the connecting piece of the radiator. In this case, a fastening means is provided, which engages on the side facing away from the connecting flanges of the housing and which engages in engagement with a non-releasably attached to the radiator holding means axially acting on the connecting flanges force. The attachment means acting on the side remote from the connection flanges, in turn, generates the force flow passing through the housing. Such an adapter can be used for the connection of any fittings, and it is particularly advantageous to connect it to a valve, such as a thermostatic valve or a pump. The adapter can also serve as a simple connector to the piping of supply and return. It could also be designed as a blind closure or bypass line. To connect the said elements and to connect the heating pipes, the adapter of course has corresponding connection options of the known type. The adapter is advantageously made of metal or plastic

The adapter can be designed to be particularly compact if the sealing surfaces of the connecting flanges are introduced into the housing, in particular screwed in. The lying within the housing sealing surfaces surround the mouths of the lines extending in the housing and are particularly well protected by their recessed position against possible damage during assembly. In addition, seals can be provided with a correspondingly large sealing ring which can be inserted into the recesses formed as flanges. These can be pre-assembled by simply plugging into the adapter and protect the sealing surfaces by their presence. The sealing surfaces of the flanges thus form receptacles for inserting the seals. It when the sealing surfaces lie in a single common plane, so that a simple seal on the usually lying in a common plane end faces of the connecting piece of a radiator is possible is particularly advantageous.

In order to prevent the seals from being pulled and pressed by uncontrollably strong contact pressure, it is advantageous to provide a stop between the radiator and the housing, via which the housing bears directly against the radiator at a defined distance. By the predetermined distance of the stop ensures that even only a certain pressure on the seals comes, which are thus biased after setting of the fastener only to the intended extent. With the stop is also an increased tolerance to a certain asymmetry achieved, an asymmetry thus balanced. Such a tolerance is not given by a dynamic seal without a firm stop.

A particularly simple assembly is ensured if a simple screw is provided as a fastening means, in particular designed as a hexagon head from the connecting flanges side facing away from the housing is accessible and which extends through an introduced into the housing bore. This allows the adapter to be assembled and disassembled in a single operation. The counterpart fitting to the screw, in particular the internal thread, is advantageously mounted directly on the radiator. In simple cases, a retaining plate with internal thread is provided, which is welded as a connecting piece between the nozzle of the radiator. With such fixed by spot welding plate can also be retrofitted existing radiator. The geometry of the nozzle is usually standardized, so that only one type of mounting plate must be provided for all types of radiators. A radiator equipped with such a permanently fastened holding means is particularly suitable for the connection of the connection adapter according to the invention. Holding means and fasteners are designed so that they can be easily and conveniently brought into mutual engagement.

In order to distribute the power flow uniformly on the connections and thus to ensure optimum tightness, it is advantageous to arrange the hole provided for the fastening means, in particular for the screw, parallel to the axes of the connecting flanges and in the plane formed by the axes. The hole runs centrally between the axles.

Furthermore, it is important for optimum sealing that the fastening means, in particular the screw, at least as far engageable with the holding means in engagement that the sealing surfaces of the connection adapter can be securely pressed against the nozzle of the radiator. In the case of a screw as a fastening means, in particular a through hole is therefore proposed for the internal thread of the holding means. In the case of an internal thread in a blind hole, it is important to ensure that the screw can be screwed sufficiently deep into the internal thread.

Figur 1

einen Handtuchheizkörper mit Adapter und Thermostatventil,

Figur 2

einen Anschlussadapter aus Vorderansicht,

Figur 3

einen Anschlussadapter aus rückwärtiger Ansicht und

Figur 4

sechs Möglichkeiten der Abdichtung mit einem Dichtring.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 4. Show it:

FIG. 1

a towel radiator with adapter and thermostatic valve,

FIG. 2

a connection adapter from front view,

FIG. 3

a connection adapter from the rear view and

FIG. 4

Six ways of sealing with a sealing ring.

Figure 1 shows a known towel radiator 1 from the rear wall facing the wall, with its two vertical distribution pipes 2 and its horizontally arranged heating pipes 3. At the bottom heating pipe 4, which has an internal separation, a connection adapter 5 is attached. About the connection adapter 5 emerging from the wall (not shown) flow and the return line of the heating system via port 6 are connected. In the return, a thermostatic valve 7 is connected by means of the housing of the adapter 5. The detailed drawing in Figure 1 shows the adapter 5 in an enlarged view. The nozzle 6 in this case have a standardized distance of 50 mm and lie in a plane perpendicular to the wall. In the illustrated adapter 5, the lines are bent knee-shaped by 90 ° from the plane of the radiator to the wall. The thermostatic valve 7 is mounted laterally via a separate connection and incorporated in the return line forming the adapter.

In the rear view of the connection adapter of Figure 2, the individual parts are shown in exploded view. Evident is the compact housing 8 with two connecting flanges 9, which are provided for connection to corresponding nozzle 10 of the radiator 1. The connecting flanges 9 have screwed into the housing sealing surfaces 11 which surround the mouths 12 extending in the housing lines. Flow and return line of the heating system, as described, connected via the nozzle 6. In this case, a thermostatic valve 7 is introduced in the return. The sealing surfaces 11 form recordings that are suitable for insertion of seals 13. The seals 13 are made of rubber or a soft plastic and have a sealing surface 11 covering the sealing disc. On the other hand, the sealing disks rest on the end face of the connecting piece 10 and reach into it with a cylindrical approach. For better support in the neck 10, the cylindrical projections are surrounded by Haltewülsten.

In this case, a screw 14 is provided as a fastening means, which extends through an introduced into the housing 8 bore 15 and the head of which the connection flanges 9 facing away from the housing 8 is accessible. The bore 15 is parallel to the axes of the connecting flanges 9 and lies in the plane formed by the axes. In this case, the bore 15 extends centrally between the axes in order to distribute the force evenly on both connecting flanges 9. The screw 14 is screwed into a befindlicher on the radiator 1 internal thread 16, which is introduced into a connecting piece 17 connecting the neck 10 a of the flow with the neck 10 b of the return line. The connector 17 is centrally inserted between the nozzle by spot welding.

In Figure 3, the connection adapter is shown again from the rear view. In this figure, a cover 18 is still shown, which is clamped after the installation of the adapter to the nozzle 10 and which contributes to a harmonious design of the system radiator and connection adapter.

In Figure 4, three methods of sealing are shown in each of which an O-ring 19 is provided between the nozzle 10 and the housing 8. In Figure 4a, a groove 20 is screwed into the sealing surface 11, in which the O-ring 19 rests. The mouth 12 is surrounded by a cone on which abuts the internal thread of the nozzle. Since the nozzles 10 are usually painted, it is advantageous to provide the seal as in Example 4b where no paint is present, namely, for example, in the inner diameter of the nozzle 10, Thus, it is avoided that the O-ring with a painted area is in contact and it can lead to leaks when the paint expands when heated. In the attached state, the foremost edge 21 of the nozzle 10 abuts the housing 8 and the O-ring 19 is clamped defined between the cone and the inner diameter with a defined force. Figure 4c shows an embodiment in which a groove is screwed radially into the surrounding the sealing surface 11 inner wall of the housing. The inserted O-ring 19 seals against the outer wall of the abutting against the housing 8 nozzle 10 from. Figures 4d to 4f show further methods of sealing.

For the attachment, it would also be conceivable a further part, which is screwed into the socket 10, for example by means of a Teflon seal, this part then correspondingly seals against the housing 8. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the fastening screw 14 is screwed directly into the radiator 1, in which case between the nozzle 10 a and 10 b of the radiator 1 in the pipe 4, a threaded plug is welded, in which the fastening screw 14 is screwed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

radiator

2

vertical distribution pipes

3

horizontal heating pipes

4

lowest heating pipe

5

connection adapter

6

Support

7

thermostatic valve

8th

casing

9

flanges

10

radiator neck

10a

Neck of the forerunner

10b

Neck of the return

11

sealing surfaces

12

mouths

13

seals

14

Fastener (screw)

15

drilling

16

inner thread

17

joint

18

cover

19

O-ring

20

Seal groove

21

Edge of the neck

Claims (18)

1. A method for sealingly securing a connection adapter (5) comprising a housing (8) with two lines to a heating element (1), whereby the one line is connected with its connection flange (9) to a support (10a) of the heating element inflow and the other line is connected to a support (10b) of the heating element return,
   characterized in that the frontal surfaces of the connection flanges (9) are placed on frontal surfaces of the supports (10a, 10b) by means of a respective seal (13),
   in that the housing (8) is secured on the heating element (1) by means of a securing means (14) so as to be capable of being removed, whereby the securing means (14) engages with a part (16) connected to the heating element (1) in such a manner that a flux of forces generating a contact pressure between the connection adapter (5) and the heating element (1), flows through the housing (8),
   whereby the part (16) is secured on the heating element (1) so as to be incapable of being removed.
2. The method according to claim 1,
   characterized in that the housing (8) is secured to the heating element (1) by means of a single securing means (14), which engages with the side of the housing (8) facing away from the connection flanges (9).
3. The method according to claim 2,
   characterized in that the securing means (14) is a screw, which reaches through a hole (15) in the housing (8) and which acts upon an inner thread (16) located at the heating element (1).
4. A connection adapter, in particular for converting the method according to one of claims 1 to 3, for connecting a valve, in particular a thermostatic valve and/or of pipes and/or a pump at a heating element (1), whereby the connection adapter (5) comprises a housing (8) with two connection flanges (9), which are provided for the connection to corresponding supports (10) of the heating element (1),
   characterized in
   that the connection flanges (9) comprise frontal sealing surfaces (11), which can be sealingly placed on supports (10) of the heating element (1),
   and in that provision is made for a securing means (14), which engages with the side of the housing (8) facing away from the connection flanges (9), and with which a force which acts axially in relation to the connection flanges (9) can be produced by engagement with a retaining means (16) being secured to the heating element (1) so as to be incapable of being removed.
5. The connection adapter according to claim 4,
   characterized in that the connection flanges (9) comprise sealing surfaces (11) inserted into the housing (8), in particular by means of rotation, which surround the openings (12) of the lines extending in the housing (8).
6. The connection adapter according to claim 5,
   characterized in that the sealing surfaces (11) form receptacles for insertion of the seals (13).
7. The connection adapter according to one of claims 4 to 6,
   characterized in that a radial and/or axial groove, into which the seal (13) or an O-ring (19) can be placed, is inserted in the area of the connection flange (9) or of the sealing surface (11).
8. The connection adapter according to one of claims 4 to 7,
   characterized in that the opening (12) is surrounded by a preferably conical protrusion, against which the seal (13) or the o-ring (19) can be placed.
9. The connection adapter according to one of claims 4 to 8,
   characterized in that the sealing surfaces (11) lie in a common plane.
10. The connection adapter according to one of claims 4 to 9,
    characterized in that the securing means (14) is a screw, which reaches through a hole (15) inserted in the housing (8) and the head of which is accessible from the side of the housing (8) facing away from the connection flanges (9).
11. The connection adapter according to claim 10,
    characterized in that the hole (15) is parallel to the axes of the connection flanges (9) and lies in the plane formed by the axes, whereby the hole (15) extends centrally between the axes so as to evenly distribute the force to both connection flanges (9).
12. The connection adapter according to claims 10 or 11,
    characterized in that the screw (14) can be screwed into an inner thread (16) located at the heating element (1).
13. A heating element, in particular for connecting a connection adapter according to one of claims 4 to 12,
    characterized in that a retaining means (16) is secured at the heating element so as to be incapable of being removed, whereby the retaining means (16) has an inner thread, which is centrally arranged between the support (10a) of the heating element inflow and the support (10b) of the heating element return.
14. The heating element according to claim 13,
    characterized in that the inner thread (16) is inserted into a connecting piece (17), which connects the support (10a) of the heating element inflow with the support (10b) of the heating element return.
15. The heating element according to claim 14,
    characterized in that the connecting piece (17) is secured to the supports (10a, 10b) by means of welding.
16. A system comprising a connection adapter (5) according to one of claims 4 to 12, and a heating element (1) according to one of claims 13 to 15.
17. The system according to claim 16,
    characterized in that a stop, which ensures a defined distance between the two components, is provided between the heating element (1) and the housing (9).
18. The system according to claim 16 or 17 with a connection adapter according to claim 8,
    characterized in that the seal (13) or the o-ring (19) abuts on the inner wall or the inner thread of the support (10a, 10b) of the heating element (1).

Images