The present invention concerns a high flow collector and exchanger device for the distribution of the flow of the fluid (s) vector (s) in systems fed by one or more heat generators, and that distributes the heat to one or more utilities but at the same time allows the heat exchange in one or more different circuits, separate and distinct from the first one.

It is the aim of the present invention to allow the connection of a plurality of heat exchangers to the same collector, where an integrated working might be required and, furthermore, to combine the integration of generators of different origin and working with fluids different from the first one, or even to serve distribution circuits having different fluidity or pressure features, as in the distance heating systems, where the pressure of the primary circuit usually is higher that the one of the user's system from which it must be divided for safety reasons. Sometimes, infact, the latter proves to be inadequate and requires to be integrated with one or more self-contained boilers.

A further application of the device according to the present invention is in alternative energy systems that must make use of a plurality of boilers and in which, in one and the same system, circuits are connected that must have different pressures, like those working with solid fuel, and for which it is compulsory to be in open circuit and therefore with low pressure, and gas boilers, usually working with different pressures, and in closed circuit, not below 2 atmospheres. In these cases, up to today, electrically controlled three-way switch valves are used, with open or closed working, i. e. without an

integrated working but simply with an alternate working. Shall the circuits work together so as to exploit the different generators, interception valves of the one or the other circuit must be manually closed under great uncertainty and a sometimes dangerous confusion in the users.

Furthermore, it is impossible to obtain a correct working of a plurality of circuits pushed by different propulsors and joining contemporarily, as this might imply a variation of the delivery and of the speed of the fluid ; this requires in each circuit an independent circulator that moves the fluid from the collector to the respective user, whereby in this case user means the heat adduction circuit as well as the distribution circuit.

Above described requirements and negativities may be completely passed by means of the device according to the present invention, that has the function of collector and of exchanger and that allows a high variety of applications due to the possibility of modular application in series as well as in parallel.

Furthermore, in the modular application in series it is possible to intercept the exchange circuit in many points of the series, thus allowing a withdrawing of fluid having different, useful temperatures wherever different temperatures are required.

The present invention will be explained more in detail hereinbelow relating to the enclosed drawings in which an embodiment is shown.

Figures 1 and 2 show the structure and the scheme of the high flow collector and exchanger device according to the present invention.

Figure 3 shows an axonometric view of the internal shape of the primary and secondary collector.

The enclosed figures show a high flow collector and exchanger device according to the present invention, consisting of a main cylinder 4 closed at its two ends by taps 1; in an intermediate position and equidistant from the bases, two screen discs 2 which divide the space of the cylinder into three rooms: one large intermediate room A is the primary collector, and the two smaller terminal rooms B are the terminal parts of the secondary collector.

For allowing a hermetic but not rigid division that permits the elongation of the metals in case of temperature increase, each of the two discs has, in its circumference, a groove for housing an elastic gasket, like an 0-ring, that hermetically divides the intermediate room from the rooms external to the cylinder. Said 0-rings 9 are hold in their seats by two cylindric spacers 8 which contemporarily push onto the 0-rings of the external taps 1 and onto the 0-rings of the intermediate screen discs 2.

Each of the two screen discs-equal and symmetric-have a series of passing-through holes into which are inserted and welded cylindric pipes 3, having the function of heat exchangers as well as of connection between the two external rooms in the cylinder. The whole is kept together by two simple elastic rings 10 of the seger kind, placed at the two ends of the cylinder.

In an intermediate position, and in correspondence with the two ends of the intermediate room-or primary collector-, and on the circumference of the main cylinder 4, on the outer side, the joints 6 are placed for the connection of

going and return for the transfer or withdrawing of heat of a first series of hydraulic circuits.

On the circumference of the main cylinder, on the external side and in terminal position corresponding to the rooms of the secondary collector, further joints 5 are provided for the connection of going and return for the transfer or withdrawing of a second series of hydraulic circuits, so as to form two passing-through interpenetrated collectors; in this case, the central part comprised between the discs, has the function of collector A, also called primary collector, while the terminal parts B of the cylinder, communicating through the exchanger pipes, have the function of secondary collector. This all allows the connection of a series of hydraulic circuits, having the same pressure and the same fluid, joining for releasing or for taking heat from the primary collector and for exchanging this heat with the secondary collector which, in turn, may connect a plurality of hydraulic circuits with equal pressure and fluid vector, but different from the primary circuit. This allows an integration of energy between heat generators having similar circuits, and a further integration of further heat generators having circuits different in fluid and pressure from the first ones: in this operation, the motion impressed in one circuit will not determine an undesired circulation in any other circuit, be it equal or different from the first one.

In the intermediate room of the main cylinder, outside the exchange pipes, a third exchanger 7 is inserted consisting of a tube wound like a spiral around the bundle of pipes that has the function of taking the heat passing through the primary collector A and passing it to a further circuit C independent from the other two.

This device, which essentially is an exchanger, has the novelty that it exploits the same body of the exchanger as a joint collector for a plurality of circuits.

Furthermore, its structure is planned for easy mounting and maintenance and provides an elongation on the tubular part of the exchanger, natural in all metals : without said elongation, all components would be stressed to compression and to stretching with negative consequences onto the life of the exchangers.

It is obvious that the movement of the flows, which will always be against the stream, will allow-as known-a better exchange.

Furthermore, the fact that the exchanger is inserted by means of elastic 0- ring joints also allows an easy assembling and disassembling for cleaning and maintenance.

The fact that it consists of a bundle of pipes with a circular section makes an exchanger of it with a low resistance to flow, and this allows a high delivery and therefore a high heat exchange; this in turn means that it can be used as a collector having a resistance to the passage of the flow between one side and the other of the cylinder that is much lower to any other portion of connected circuits.