A PIPE CONNECTOR FOR A CONVECTOR

Technical field

The present invention relates to a pipe connector for convectors, and more particularly to a pipe connector for assembling of inlet and/or outlet of a convector and supply and/or return fittings of a heating or cooling installation.

Background of the invention

Traditionally convectors are connected to the house installation by pipe unions with nuts which are tightened by use of an open ring spanner. Due to limited space, it may sometimes be difficult and time consuming to tighten such traditional joints. As an example, under-floor convectors are located in an oblong and relatively narrow duct in the floor. In this case, the pipe union nut is normally rotated in a plane essentially perpendicular to the oblong direction of the duct and due to the limited space, use of traditional spanners and similar tools on the pipe union is awkward. Due to lack of space, it is thus difficult to tighten the joint sufficiently to ensure a fluid-tight connection of the convectors to the house installation and the installation becomes time consuming and thus expensive.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved pipe connector for use with convectors.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a pipe connector for assembling a convector and an installation, the pipe connector comprising:

- a pair of connector elements, each connector element forming a pipe

section allowing for passage of a fluid, the pipe section being arranged for fluid-tight connection with a corresponding pipe section of the other connector element by pressing the two connector element towards each other, each connector element further forming a connection surface; and - a fixation structure adapted to press the two connection surfaces towards each other; wherein the connection surfaces are at an oblique angle to the pipe sections.

By an oblique angle is meant neither parallel nor perpendicular. As an example, the surfaces and the longitudinal direction of the pipe sections may form an angle between 10 and 80 degrees to each other.

The connector may be used to cool or heat one or more rooms of a building, thus hot water or chilled water may be circulated in the house via the house installation from the boiler or cooler through one or more convectors and back again. A pipe connector is used in order to connect the convector and the installation.

The pipe connector comprises a pair of connector elements each forming a pipe section allowing for passage of a fluid, such as hot or chilled water. By pressing the two connector elements towards each other, the pipe section of one of the connector elements is arranged in fluid-tight connection with the other connector element.

Each pipe section may form a single conduit allowing for passage of a fluid or may be internally separated into a number of conduits. The corresponding pipe sections may form an equal number of conduits, or alternatively an unequal number of conduits, e.g. the one pipe section may form a single conduit, whereas the corresponding pipe section may form a plurality of conduits.

A fixation structure is adapted to press a connection surface of each of the connection elements towards each other so as to arrange them in fluid- tight connection. In preferred embodiments, a substantial part of each of the connection surfaces is plane, and the plane part forms the oblique angle to the longitudinal direction of the pipe sections. In preferred embodiments, the fixation structure comprises a bolt, rivet or similar elongated fastener which extends through the connector elements. The fastener may preferably be adapted to be arranged on the connector elements at an oblique angle to the longitudinal direction of the pipe sections, e.g. perpendicular to the connection surfaces.

In particular, the pipe connector may form part of a heating or cooling installation with a convector which is located in a duct, the convector being attached to the heating or cooling installation pipes by use of the connector. In this respect, the fixation structure may preferably be operable from outside the duct. This may e.g. be achieved by use of a bolt connection arranged so that the bolt is tightened by rotation around an axis which extends from the pipe connector and out of the opening into the duct.

To facilitate connection of the two connector elements, one of the two corresponding pipe sections may form a protrusion in the connection surface of the connector element in which it is formed and the other corresponding pipe section may form an indentation in the connection surface of the connector element in which it is formed, the two corresponding pipe sections being connected by pressing the two connection surfaces towards each other. When pressing the connector elements towards each other the protrusion may be positioned in the indentation, thus positioning the two connector element correctly in relation to each other.

In one embodiment, each of the connector elements forms two pipe sections each allowing for passage of a fluid, each pipe section being arranged for fluid-tight connection with a corresponding pipe section of the other connector element by pressing the two connection surfaces towards each other, the pipe connector being adapted for combined assembling of inlet and outlet of the convector and supply and return fittings of the installation. Thus, a single pipe connector may be used to connect a convector to the installation.

In embodiments adapted for combined assembling of inlet and outlet with supply and return fittings, both pipe sections of the one connector element may form protrusions in the connection surface of the one connector element and both pipe section of the other connector element may form indentations in the connection surface of the other connection element, thus facilitating connection of the connector elements by positioning the protrusions of the one connector element in the indentations of the other connector element.

The pipe sections may be substantially of the same size, i.e. may be formed with the same inner diameter.

In order to improve the fluid-tight connection between the two connector elements, the pipe connector may comprise a sealing member between the two connector elements. A common sealing member may be provided. Alternatively, a sealing member may be provided for each of the pipe sections.

The sealing member may comprise an O-ring positioned in a groove in one of the connector elements. Some embodiments comprise an O-ring for each of the pipe sections, thus being provided so as to seal the pipe sections separately.

The fixation structure may comprise a bolt which extends through one of the connector elements and which engages directly in the other one of the connector elements. As an example, the bolt may have external threading and one of the connector elements may have a bore with a corresponding internal threading. In order to facilitate tightening of the bolt, the bore may preferably extend at an oblique angle to the longitudinal pipe direction, e.g. at a direction which is perpendicular to the connection surfaces. In this way, the bolt extends at an oblique angle away from the pipes when the pipe connection is assembled.

To allow for a more flexible connection of the convector to the installation of the house, the pipe connector may further comprise one or more flex pipe sections. Furthermore, the flex pipe sections may be used to compensate for inaccuracy of the installation.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a convector for climate control in a building, the convector comprising:

- a convective element comprising an inlet for receiving a fluid from a supply pipe and an outlet for returning the fluid to a return pipe; and

- a pipe connector for assembling the convective element and an installation.

It should be understood, that the above mentioned features of the first aspect of the invention may also be applicable to the convector and the pipe connector of the second aspect of the invention.

In order to facilitate installation of the convector in an installation duct, the convector may further comprise a chassis forming a chamber with an upward opening. The opening may provide access not only to the inlet and outlet of the convective element, but also to the convective element itself. Furthermore, the chassis may protect the convective element during transportation and during installation.

The chassis may form a pipe opening adapted for connection of the convective element to the supply and return pipes. An opening may be formed at both ends of the chassis allowing for serial connection of a plurality of convective elements.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrate a prior art pipe connector,

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate an embodiment of a pipe connector for a convector,

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a pair of connector elements according to an embodiment of the invention, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views of a pair of connector elements being pressed towards each other.

Detailed description of the drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates a prior art method of connecting a convector 1 to the installation of a house. The convector 1 has an inlet 2 and an outlet 3 which are assembled with a supply fitting 4 and a return fitting 5 of the installation. A set of flex pipe sections 6 is first attached to the inlet 2 and outlet 3 and subsequently attached to the installation fittings 4, 5. When attaching the flex pipe sections 6 to the installation fittings 4, 5, the joints 7 are tightened with a moderate torque by an open ring spanner 8. Due to lack of space, it is difficult to tighten the joints 7 sufficiently to ensure a fluid-tight connection.

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate an embodiment of a pipe connector 10 according to the invention. The pipe connector 10 is for combined assembling of inlet 2 and outlet 3 of a convector (not shown) and supply 4 and return 5 fittings of an installation. The pipe connector 10 comprises a pair of connector elements 11 , 12 and a fixation structure 13 adapted to press the two connector elements 11 , 12 towards each other. Furthermore, the pipe connector 10 comprises a set of flex pipe sections 6 allowing for a more flexible connection of the convector to the installation of the house. The flex pipe sections 6 may also be used to compensate for inaccuracy of the installation.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the installation may comprise a plug 14 enabling connection of the convector 1 to the Building Management System (BMS). The corresponding convector cable is not shown in Fig. 2. The plug 14 may also/alternatively supply a temperature sensor of the convector 1 with electricity. Alternatively or additionally, the plug 14 may be used to supply a ventilator in the installation duct in order to ensure forced ventilation of the duct. The ventilator may be a separate unit installed in the duct or may be a built-in unit in the convector 1.

The illustrated embodiment of the pipe connector 10 comprises two pipe sections 15, 16 allowing for combined assembling of inlet 2 and outlet 3 of the convector 1 and supply 4 and return fittings 5 of the installation. Thus, each of the connector elements 11 , 12 forms two pipe sections 15, 16. Each pipe section 15, 16 allows for passage of a fluid. As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, each pipe section 15a, 16a is furthermore arranged for fluid- tight connection with a corresponding pipe section 15b, 16b of the other connector element by pressing the two connector elements 11 , 12 towards each other (for illustration purposes the two connector elements 11 , 12 are shown in a non-connected state).

When connecting a convector 1 to the installation of a house, one connector element 11 is attached to the supply 4 and return fittings 5 of the installation as illustrated in Fig. 2. Subsequently, the other connector element 12 is connected to the inlet 2 and the outlet 3 of the convector, in this case via a set of flex pipe sections 6. Finally, the two connector elements 11 , 12 are pressed towards each other by the fixation structure 13.

In order to secure fluid-tight connection, the pipe sections 15b, 16b of one of the connector elements 12 form protrusions 17 in the connection surface 18 of the connector element 12, whereas the pipe sections 15a, 16a of the other connector element 11 form indentations (not shown) in the connection surface 19 of the other connector element 11 , as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. Furthermore, a sealing member in the form of a set of O- rings 20 is attached to one of the connector elements 12. Each of the O- rings 20 is positioned in a groove at the protrusions 17.

In the illustrated embodiment, the connector surfaces 18, 19 and the longitudinal direction of the pipe sections form an angle of 45 degrees in relation to each other, best illustrated by the sectional views of Figs. 6 and 7. Thus, one of the connector elements 11 can be positioned with the indentations facing upwards at an angle of 45 degrees, allowing easy positioning of the other connector element 12 having protrusions 17 facing downwards towards the indentations. In particular when assembling the convector inlet 2 and outlet 3 with supply 4 and return fittings 5 in an installation duct, this design of the pipe connector 10 is an advantage due to the upward facing indentations of one of the connector elements 11.

Furthermore, access to the fixation structure 13 is facilitated due to the angle of the connector surfaces 18, 19. The fixation structure 13 of this embodiment comprises an internal threading 21 of one of the connector

element 11 and a bolt 22, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The bolt 22 having an external threading is located in a hole 23 in the other connector element 12 and is adapted to press this connector element 12 towards the one connector element 11 by engaging the interna! threading 21. The hole 23 for the bolt 22 is also facing upwards at an angle of 45 degrees facilitating positioning of the bolt 22 in the hole 23 and facilitating fastening of the bolt 22 by the use of a suitable tool, such as a screwdriver.

In prior art methods of connecting convectors to the house installation, the joints 7 (see Fig. 1) are tightened by applying a torque by a movement perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pipe sections, thus the movement of the ring spanner is limited by the size of the installation duct. In the illustrated embodiment, the screwdriver can be positioned perpendicular to the connection surfaces which are facing out of the duct, whereby the limited size of the installation duct does not impede fastening of the bolt 22.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the connector elements 11 , 12 through one of the pipe sections 15a, 15b. The protrusion 17 is located in the corresponding indentation. Together with the O-ring 20, the protrusion 17 secures a fluid-tight connection when the connector elements 11 , 12 are pressed towards each other by the fixation structure (not shown in this sectional view).

Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views of two specific embodiments of a pipe connector 10 according to the invention.

Fig. 8 illustrates a pipe connector 10 in which the connector surfaces 18, 19 and the longitudinal direction of the pipe sections 15, 16 form an angle of 45 degrees in relation to each other facilitating positioning of the connector element 12 in relation to the connector element 11 and facilitating a fluid-tight connection due to easy access to the fixation

structure 13. The distance (not shown) between the centre of the two pipe sections 15, 16 is in this specific embodiment 50 mm. The angle indicated at Fig. 8 is the angle between the connection surfaces and a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pipe sections, this angle also being 45 degrees.

Fig. 9 illustrates a pipe connector 10 in which the connector surfaces 18, 19 and the longitudinal direction of the pipe sections 15, 16 form an angle of 60 degrees in relation to each other facilitating positioning of the connector element 12 in relation to the connector element 11 and facilitating a fluid-tight connection due to easy access to the fixation structure 13. The distance (not shown) between the centre of the two pipe sections 15, 16 is in this specific embodiment 32 mm. The angle indicated at Fig. 9 is the angle between the connection surfaces and a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pipe sections, this angle being 30 degrees.