TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The radiator element and the block for a radiator are intended for application in the field of designing heating appliances.

PRIOR ART

Solutions are known for a radiator block [DE1801886A1, PCT/EP2007/061219] consisting of multiple radiator elements RE. Each radiator element RE has two welded shells and standard connection openings. In addition, each radiator element is embraced by a T-shaped protection lamella fixed wholly or partially by a clamping connection to its U-periphery (the periphery of the radiator element, excluding the lower portion of said periphery). In PCT/EP2007/061219 the T-shaped lamella is made of plastic and has a retaining tooth against pulling out, which after clamping is retained in a folding of the periphery of the radiator element. When the block is assembled in a finished heating appliance - a radiator - there is a heat- transferring fluid inside the radiator elements.

A disadvantage of said known radiator element RE and known block for a radiator consists in the fact that the manufactured block for a radiator features diminished heat emission due to the diminished conductive heat transfer through the clamping connection.

Another disadvantage of said devices consists in the fact that the clamping connection is of low reliability as it can be easily dismantled by pulling out the T-shaped lamella, even in the presence of mechanical retention.

Another disadvantage of said devices consists in the fact that the mechanical stability of the clamping connection diminishes with time due to the different expansion of the materials of the radiator element and lamella.

The mechanical stability of the clamping connection also decreases during operation as a result of the material's fatigue caused by the periodical heating and cooling of radiator elements and their lamellas.

An important disadvantage consists in the fact that the clamping connection does not allow creating new forms of the radiator elements and/or of the block for a radiator, which could contribute to the convective heat emission.

An important disadvantage of all known radiator elements and blocks for a radiator, made of them, consists in the fact that the heat on the block surface in the area at the height of the upper connection opening is much greater because the fluid's highest temperature is measured there. This leads to considerable overheating of the periphery of the radiator elements in the area around said connection opening, reaching a temperature value which exceeds the admissible temperature according to the safety requirements, or to structural diminishment of the radiator's power rating with the aim of providing an admissible temperature value in said surface area.

The objective of the invention consists in creating a radiator element and block for a radiator featuring increased conductive and convective heat emission, improved reliability, and increased mechanical stability.

TECHNICAL ESSENCE OF THE INVENTION

Said objective is attained by creating a radiator element with two welding-connected shells and two standard connection openings. It is embraced by a U-shaped lamella fixed in a T-shaped manner wholly or partially to the peripheral edge of its U-periphery (the periphery of the radiator element, excluding the lower portion of said periphery). The U-shaped lamella is made of metal. The T-shaped fixing of the U-shaped lamella represents a welding to the peripheral edge of the radiator element. The welding is a continuous or partial one, including a spot welding as well.

It is possible that in the radiator element its peripheral edge is divided into two peripheral parts with their respective peripheral edges formed by the peripheral parts of the shells, and that the U-shaped lamella is welded to the peripheral edges by respective welds. The peripheral parts of the shells and the U-shaped lamella form a closed heat-transferring channel. It is possible that in the radiator element its peripheral parts are divided into two separate vertical parts, to the edges of which the U-shaped lamella is welded in an analogous manner. The heat-transferring channels formed at the two vertical ends of the radiator element are vertical chimneys.

It is possible that in the radiator element the U-shaped lamella and/or the peripheral parts are provided with openings.

A block for a radiator is created as well, said block consisting of n radiator elements (n = 1 to N) which are of a design in accordance with any of the variants listed above.

A block for a radiator is created as well, said block consisting of 2n radiator elements (n = 1 to N), each of said elements having two welded shells and two standard connection openings, and each of n respective U-shaped lamellas being welded in a T-shaped manner wholly or partially to the peripheral edges of two adjacent radiator elements and along their U-periphery (the periphery of the radiator element, excluding the lower portion of said periphery). The welds are continuous or partial ones, including spot welds as well. The U-shaped lamellas have openings only in their horizontal upper part and/or along their entire perimeter.

It is possible that in said block for a radiator its radiator elements have peripheral edges, each of which is divided into two peripheral parts with respective peripheral edges formed by the peripheral parts of the shells, and that each of the U-shaped lamellas is welded to the adjacent peripheral edges of two adjacent radiator elements by means of respective welds. The neighbor peripheral parts of two neighbor radiator elements and the U-shaped lamellas form closed heat-transferring channels, and the peripheral parts of one radiator element and the U-shaped lamellas form open heat-transferring channels.

An advantage of the radiator element and the blocks for a radiator consists in the fact that they feature increased conductive heat transfer and convective heat emission, improved reliability, and increased mechanical stability.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ENCLOSED FIGURES

The present invention is described in more detail through an exemplary embodiment shown in the accompanying figures, wherein: - Fig. 1.1 is an axonometric view of the radiator element;

- Fig. 1.2 is a partial section of the radiator element along AA;

- Fig. 2.1 is a partial section of a radiator element with peripheral edge, which is divided into two peripheral parts, said peripheral parts together with the U-shaped lamella forming a heat-transferring channel; - Fig. 2.2 is a partial section of the radiator element of Fig. 2.1 with openings in the U-shaped lamella and/or in the peripheral parts;

- Figs. 2.3, 2.4, and 2.5 show different sections of the heat-transferring channel;

- Fig. 3 is an axonometric view of the radiator element with vertical lateral chimneys;

- Fig. 4 is an axonometric view of the radiator element of Fig. 3 with openings in the U-shaped lamella and/or in the peripheral parts;

- Fig. 5 is an axonometric view of a block for a radiator with radiator elements of Fig. 1.1 ; - Fig. 6 is an axonometric view of a block for a radiator with radiator elements of Fig. 2.1 ;

- Fig. 7 is a partial section of a block for a radiator, in which each of n respective U-shaped lamellas is welded in a T-shaped manner wholly or partially to the peripheral edges of two adjacent radiator elements; - Fig. 8 is a partial section of a block for a radiator, in which each of n respective U-shaped lamellas is welded in a T-shaped manner wholly or partially to the peripheral edges of two adjacent radiator elements along their U-periphery; - Fig. 9 is an axonometric view illustrating the manufacture of the block for a radiator of Fig. 5;

- Fig. 10 is an axonometric view illustrating the manufacture of the block for a radiator of Fig. 6.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT AND OPERATION OF THE INVENTION

The radiator element RE (Figs. 1.1 and 1.2) has two shells 1.1 and 1.2, connected by welding 11, and two standard connection openings 2. It is embraced by a U-shaped metal lamella 3, fixed in a T-shaped manner wholly or partially to the peripheral edge 4 of its U-periphery (the periphery of the radiator element, excluding the lower portion of said periphery). The T-shaped fixing of the U-shaped lamella 3 represents a welding 3 to the peripheral edge 4 of the radiator element RE. The weld 5 is a continuous or partial one, including a spot weld as well. The two shells 1.1 and 1.2 are welded by a roll- welding seam 11. Said roll-welding seam is not shown in the figures further on.

It is possible that in the radiator element RE its peripheral edge 4 is divided into two peripheral parts 6.1 and 6.2 (Figs. 2.1 to 2.5) with their respective peripheral edges 4.1 and 4.2 formed by the peripheral parts of the shells 1.1 and 1.2. The U-shaped lamella 3 is welded to the peripheral edges

4.1 and 4.2 by respective welds 5.1 and 5.2. The peripheral parts 6.1 and 6.2 and the U-shaped lamella 3 form a closed heat-transferring channel 7.

It is possible that in the radiator element RE its peripheral parts 6.1 and

6.2 are divided into two separate vertical parts 6.1 _V and 6.2 _V , to the edges 4.1 _V and 4.2 _V of which the U-shaped lamella 3 is welded in an analogous manner. The heat-transferring channels 7 formed in the two vertical ends of the radiator element RE are vertical chimneys.

It is possible that in the radiator element RE the U-shaped lamella 3 and/or the peripheral parts 6.1, 6. l _v and 6.2 _V have openings 8 (Fig. 4).

The block for a radiator consists of N radiator elements RE _n (n = 1 to N) which are of a design in accordance with each of the variants listed above. Such a block for a radiator is depicted in Fig. 5, the radiator elements of said block being the same as those shown in Figs. 1.1 and 1.2. Such a block for a radiator is depicted in Fig. 6, the radiator elements of said block being the same as those shown in Figs. 2.1, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, and 3. The remaining variants, not shown in separate figures, are created in an analogous manner.

Another block for a radiator consists of 2n radiator elements RE _n (n = 1 to 2N), each of said elements having two welded shells L l _n and 1.2 _n and two standard connection openings 2, and each of n respective U-shaped metal lamellas 3 _n being welded in a T-shaped manner wholly or partially to the peripheral edges 4 of two adjacent radiator elements (RE _n and RE _n+ i) and along their U-periphery (the periphery of the radiator element, excluding the lower portion of said periphery). The welds are continuous or partial ones, including spot welds as well. The U-shaped lamellas 3 have openings 8 only in their horizontal upper part and/or along their entire perimeter (Fig. 7).

It is possible that in the block for a radiator its radiator elements RE have peripheral edges 4, each of which is divided into two peripheral parts 6. I _n and 6.2 _n with respective peripheral edges 4. I _n and 4.2 _n (n = 1 to N) formed by the peripheral parts of the shells L l _n and 1.2 _n , and that each of the U-shaped metal lamellas 3 _n is welded to the adjacent peripheral edges 4.2 _n and 4.1 _n+ i of two adjacent radiator elements RE _n and RE _n+I by means of respective welds 5. I _n and 5.2 _n+1 . The neighbor peripheral parts 6.2 _n and 6.1 _n+ i of two neighbor radiator elements RE _n and RE _n+I and the U-shaped lamellas 3 _n+ i forming closed heat-transferring channels 9 _n , and the peripheral parts 6. I _n and 6.2 _n of one radiator element RE _n and the U-shaped lamellas 3 _n and 3 _n+ i forming open heat-transferring channels 1O _n (Fig. 8).

The protection lids 12 which are fixed in the known ways to the end radiator elements RE in the blocks for a radiator are shown schematically in Figs. 7 and 8.

The connection of the U-shaped metal lamellas 3 to each radiator element RE in the respective block for a radiator is shown schematically in Figs. 9 and 10. Radiator elements RE are created in a known manner. Shells 1.1 and 1.2 are produced of metal sheet material by performing consecutive operations of cold drawing until the required shape is obtained and consequent operations of cutting out the openings as well as the external contour until obtaining the final finished appearance as shown in the figures. The two shells 1.1 and 1.2 are welded by a roll-welding seam 11. In such a way the internal space, in which the heat-transferring fluid is located, is formed in the final product: a radiator assembled with a block for a radiator consisting of such radiator elements RE.

Any of the variants of a radiator element RE according to the present invention is manufactured in the same way. However, at the final stage a U- shaped lamella 3 must be "put on" it in accordance with the invention. Said lamella is preliminarily formed of a suitable band-shaped metal material by means of consecutive forming through rolls of suitable geometry until the required U-shaped profile is obtained. Then a blank is cut out from the profile obtained, and in said blank the openings 8 are preliminarily cut out if such openings must be provided in the respective variant. The blank is bent according to a profile copying the external contour of the U-shaped periphery of the radiator element RE, while in the same time the outward curving of the lateral walls of the U-shaped lamella 3 is avoided by pressing at the locations of chamfers. Then the lamella 3 is positioned on the peripheral edge 4 and fixed durably to it by weld 5. Said weld 5 can be realized, for instance, by resistance welding at the location of contact between the lamella 3 and peripheral edge 4. Radiator elements RE with welded lamella 3, where continuous welds 5 are used, are shown in the figures. According to the invention, said welds can be partial, including spot welds (not shown in the figures).

Also the variant of a radiator element RE, in which its peripheral edge 4 is divided into two peripheral edges 4.1 and 4.2 (Figs. 2.1 to 2.5), is manufactured in the same way, the lamella 3 being simultaneously welded to these two edges.

All variants of a radiator element RE according to the invention are suitable for creating a block for a radiator.

The variant of such a block with radiator elements RE as those depicted in Figs. 1.1 and 1.2 is shown in Fig. 5. The variant of such a block with radiator elements RE as those depicted in Fig. 2.1 and in Figs. 2.3 to 3 is shown in Fig. 6. The rest of the possible variants are not depicted in the figures.

Assembling the block is performed by welding radiator elements RE consecutively to one another in the area of standard openings 2, which allows achieving a unitary volume closed hermetically, in which the heat-transferring fluid (not shown in the figures) is placed later on.

It is possible to weld preliminarily the radiator elements RE consecutively to one another in the area of standard openings 2, before welding their respective U-shaped lamellas 3 to them. After that these lamellas 3 are slipped on consecutively from above onto their respective radiator elements RE and welded to their respective outer edges in the manner described. In such a way, a lateral and top flat surface of the radiator block is obtained, which is formed by the already welded lamellas 3 with distances between them (Figs. 9 and 10). This approach is also convenient when to existing radiators the blocks of which are suitable it is possible to weld additionally U-shaped metal lamellas 3 corresponding to each radiator element RE.

The inventive step in the present invention ensures the possibility of assembling also a block for a radiator, in which the U-shaped metal lamellas 3 are welded to the edges 4 of two adjacent radiator elements (Fig. 7) to the parts or edges divided into two 4.2 _n and 4.1 _n+ i of two adjacent radiator elements

(Fig. 8).

All variants of the invention increase the convective heat emission because each radiator block is built of some variant of the radiator element RE or with a combination of various compatible radiator elements RE, for instance those from Figs. 1.2 -1.2 and Figs. 2.1 to 3. This is due to the fact that radiator elements RE (respectively blocks consisting of them) are of increased heat- emitting surface as a result of the presence of metal lamellas 3.

The presence of openings 8 and chimney 7 or 8 and 10 in some of the variants increases additionally the convective heat emission.

As a result of the proposed variants of a block for a radiator combined with suitable lids 12, the grouped high temperatures are located in the interior of the block. This is due to the fact that radiator elements RE with welded lamellas 3, respectively blocks for radiators consisting of them, are of increased periphery. Correspondingly, the hot heat-transferring fluid circulates through the interior of the radiator elements, transferring the heat to the walls of the new periphery of the radiator elements. Due to the facts presented above, this heat is conducted to the periphery of the block and emitted in the surrounding space through increased heat-emitting surface. As a result, the external elements, especially the lamellas 3, are of diminished temperature, which is in conformity with the safety requirements.

The high temperature of the external peripheral surface of the radiator elements represents a danger if it is touched by users. However, according to the invention this surface temperature is controlled by interruption of the welds 5 at appropriate locations, which decreases the conductive heat transfer in the individual areas of welds 5 if necessary.

For example, the upper horizontal part of the weld 5 can be an interrupted one, even a spot weld, as a result the heat transfer conducted almost entirely through the interrupted weld 5 experiences difficulties, and that horizontal part of lamellas 3 is heated to a lesser extent, i. e. to a temperature that meets the safety requirements.

In addition, in all proposed variants of the invention, interrupting the welds 5 (wholly or partially) in the area of lamellas 3 opposite to the upper connection opening 2 eliminates the abrupt overheating in that area of the lamellas 3. This, too, provides conformity with the safety requirements.

Welding the lamellas 3 to the radiator elements RE makes the structure a monolithic one and increases its mechanical stability: not only that of the radiator elements RE, but also that of all blocks for a radiator consisting of said elements according to the invention.