IE20040565A1 - Supplementary radiant heating slab/s for radiators - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention consists of a supplementary radiant heating slab or slabs for radiators which are attached to an existing radiator. There are no mechanical parts. The slab or slabs by virtue of their substantial vertical contact with the existing radiator surface, act to convert heating via conduction, to radiant heat. This effectively converts heating from the radiator from substantially convection heating (which mostly heats the air), to substantial radiant heating (which is more active in heating the objects in the room itself). The slabs are modular and conform to two sets of interrelated restraints.

Description

“Supplementary radiant heating slab/s for radiators” The present invention provides a solution for converting the way that most existing radiators act to heat up a room or space. With the majority of conventional heaters the warm air accumulates near the ceiling and travels downwards. This results in energy losses. It also causes the air to be continually moved and circulated thereby moving particles, viruses, bacteria, mites’ droppings and dust. Radiant heating by contrast helps to minimise these disadvantages. By the addition of a supplementary heating slab or slab attached to a radiator, heating is converted to radiant heat. The supplementary radiant heating slab also adds to the heating capacity of the radiator without having to install an additional separate radiator.

The present invention consists of a supplementary radiant heating slab or slabs for radiators which are attached to an existing radiator. There are no mechanical parts. The slab or slabs by virtue of their substantial vertical contact with the existing radiator surface, act to convert heating via conduction, to radiant heat. This effectively converts heating from the radiator from substantially convection heating (which mostly heats the air), to substantially radiant heating (which is more active in heating the objects in the room itself). The slabs are modular and conform to two sets of interrelated restraints.

The first constraint is the module that conforms to the corresponding sizes of different radiators. In this case there is a single slab for each radiator. This module is designed to be delivered and installed by the supplier. For example; a small radiator for a bathroom could be 750mm long by 600mm high, whereas the module for a larger space heating requirement could be 1200mm long by 600mm high, or 1500mm long by 600mm high.

The second constraint is a module that is determined by the weight limitations for safe individual handling of the product, together with the dimensional 35 requirements of the existing radiator to which the slabs are to be attached. This module is designed to be suitable for retail or mail order where each module can be carried and installed by the end user. For example; the supplementary radiant heating slabs for a small bathroom radiator could consist of two slabs each the same size, say 400mm wide by 600mm high. These are attached side 40 by side to the existing radiator to make a combined width of of 800mm wide by 600mm high. The module for a larger radiator would then be any multiple of the basic 400mm wide by 600 high module; 400, 800, 1200,1600 - or longer to suit. This second modular constraint is designed to be paired to facilitate pact^irino tranqnnrt and deliverv IE 0 4 056 5 The invention will be more clearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an elevation from the front ofa supplementary radiant heating slab according to the first modular constraint as described above that conforms to the corresponding sizes of different radiators. The dotted lines indicate the position of the radiator behind the slab as indicated by the reference numeral 17.

Fig. 2 is a typical section through the radiator and supplementary radiant heating slab in substantial vertical contact with the radiator - on the line A-A of Fig. 1.

Fig 3 is diagrammatic representation of a plan through the supplementary radiant heating slab for the module that conforms to the corresponding sizes of different radiators - on the line B-B of Fig. 1.

Fig 4 is a diagrammatic representation of an elevation from the front of a supplementary radiant heating slab according to the second modular constraint as described above that that is determined by the weight limitations for safe individual handling of the product. The dotted lines indicate the position of the radiator behind the slab 17.

Fig. 5 is a typical section through the radiator and supplementary radiant heating slab in substantial vertical contact with the radiator - on the line C-C of Fig. 4.

Fig 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a plan through the supplementary radiant heating slab for the second modular constraint described above that is determined by the weight limitations for safe individual handling of the product - on the line D-D of Fig. 4.

Fig 7 is a diagrammatic three dimensional view from the back of the radiator showing the single supplementary radiant heating slab attached and in contact with the radiator.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic three dimensional view from the back of the radiator showing the supplementary radiant heating slabs for the second modular constraint attached and in contact with the radiator. One pair - or two individual supplementary radiant heating slabs are shown in this drawing.

The description of reference numerals referring to the Figures 1 - 8 above are indicated in the text where relevant and also listed in the table below as follows: jg Ο 4 Ο 5 θ 5 Reference numeral Description 1 Radiator 2 Radiating heating slab for the 1sl modular constraint 3 Radiating heating slab for the 2nd modular constraint 5 Slab shown extending above the fixing detail 6 Slab showing fixing acting as top cover as well 7 Slabs shown spaced slightly apart (2nd constraint only) 10 Slab with no side or horizontal top cover 11 Extended square edge detail 12 Fixing detail 13 Square Edge detail 14 Line of wall 15 Line of floor 16 Dotted lines showing fixing/s 17 Dotted lines showing radiator behind slab/s 18 Slab shown resting on the floor. 19 Slab shown suspended off the floor In all cases the exact module sizes and fixing details are determined by the specific radiator/s 1 to which the slab/s are to be attached. The drawings and details as indicated are therefore indicative and not definitive.

Various differerit slab materials are used according to the application or advantage provided by the material acting as the radiant heating slab 2 or 3. In one embodiment marble is used. The particular type of marble chosen can have differing properties. For example; Statuario marble can be used in areas where a lower contact heat is required where children may come into contact with the radiator. The lower contact heat does not necessarily mean that the overall radiant heat is reduced; it simply means that when the slab is touched its heating effect on the skin or body part is acceptably lower rather than too hot or burning to the touch.

In another embodiment Bianco Carrara marble is used where the contact surface temperature of the slab is higher than Statuario marble, but generally still less than the surface temperature of the radiator to which it is coupled. So for example, in the case of a bathroom radiator where the slab is extended vertically to act in addition as a towel drying apparatus, the Bianco Carrara slab will be more effective in wanning and/or drying the towel that is draped over it.

In other embodiments of the invention various different materials are used. All slab materials that effectively convert heat to radiant heat form part of and are 4 0 5 6 5 included in the present invention. Some examples of these include all marbles, granite, limestone, basalt, all composite and reconstituted stone as well as resin based materials suitable to be used as radiant slab material for the present invention.

Not all of the above materials are necessarily suitable to be used for structural, radiant property as well as other reasons, therefore, depending on the material selected, the thickness of the slab or slabs may vary from as little as 4mm thick to 40mm thick. This thickness will depend at times on the particular attachment and / or edge details chosen 12 and 13.

The edge and fixing details are numerous. In one embodiment of the invention the edge detail is a square edged finish as indicated by the reference numeral 13.

In another embodiment of the invention the edge detail is a half bull-nose finish.

In another embodiment of the invention the edge detail is a full bull-nose finish.

In another embodiment of the invention the edge and fixing detail are combined in an extended full bull-nose finish.

In another embodiment of the invention the edge and fixing detail are combined in an extended square edge detail 11.

In another embodiment of the invention the edge 11 and fixing details 12 are separate with the top of the slab extending above the fixing. In some cases the extension can be as little as 150mm above the level of the radiator. In some cases the extension can be 300 - 400 mm above the level of the radiator. The ‘towel-rail’ radiator slab as described above is an example of a 300 - 400mm extension above the fixing detail.

In another embodiment of the invention the top and side shapes of the slab can vary and be angular, curved and circular, depending on the particular design requirements for the specific radiator.

In one embodiment of the invention the slab/s rest on the floor 18.

In another embodiment of the invention the slab/s are suspended on the radiator free of the floor and the floor provides no support 19.

In one embodiment of the invention the slab has no sides or horizontal top cover 10. £ 04 056 5 In another embodiment of the invention the slab material encloses the sides and top of the radiator. In this embodiment of the invention the sides and top enclosures can be the structural method of attachment of the radiator 6.

In one embodiment of the invention for the second modular constraint the vertical sides of the modules are in direct contact with one another when placed on the radiator; in another embodiment they are spaced apart 7 depending on the aesthetic, economic or heating effect required.

In another embodiment of the invention applicable to both modular constraints, holes, shapes and patterns are drilled or shapes formed in the slab/s for corporate or private logos and for different heating effects.

The advantages of the invention are many. One of the advantages as referred to is the ability of the slab/s to reduce the contact heat levels of the radiator. This is useful for health and safety reasons in many environments including public buildings, hospitals, nurseries and play areas, and in the home.

Other advantages are the health advantages, especially for those suffering from ailments such as rheumatism, asthma and various air bom allergic reactions. Radiant heating promotes a healthy atmosphere and avoids the ‘cold feet - hot head’ effect common with convection heating. It avoids dry dusty air common with under floor heating and assists to minimise or eliminate dampness, condensation, fungi and the development of mould.

Other advantages are the economic advantages. It requires a relatively low energy content to heat up the supplementary radiant heating slab/s compared to the benefit. The heat in the room being substantially radiant is held for a much longer period in the furniture, objects and structure in the room. The combined radiator/slab unit holds and releases the heat much slower after being thermostatically or manually switched off; so the combined heater needs to be operating for an overall reduced period of time to produce the same heating benefit, thereby adding to the economy of the combined overall unit.

Another advantage of the present invention is that once fitted there are no further aesthetic, painting or other maintenance required for the existing radiator thereby eliminating this maintenance cost for the full lifetime of the combined unit.

Another advantage is the mobility of all modules: Supplementary radiant heating slab/s of the first modular constraint Fig. 7 can be removed and installed to new premises or another residence by authorised installers. Supplementary radiant heating slab/s of second modular constraint Fig 8 can be removed and self installed by the end user themselves.

Claims (5)

Claims

1. A Supplementary radiant heating slab or slabs for radiators which is/are 5 attached to another radiator so as to be in substantial vertical contact with the radiator.

2. Radiant heating slab or slabs consisting of one or more modular slabs 10 according to claim 1, the modular constraints being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

3. The effective conversion and/or transfer of convection heat (via conduction), 15 to radiant heat by means of a modular radiant heating slab or slabs according to claim 2, the process of conversion being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

4. 20 A method of converting heat to radiant heat by the use of supplementary slab/s being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

5. 25 An apparatus facilitating the method of claim 4 of converting heat to radiant heat By the use of supplementary slab/s being substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings