A radiator and a radiator arrangement FIELD

The invention relates to a radiator and a radiator arrangement with improved emittance profile and energy efficiency.

BACKGROUND

Radiators serve generally for heating parts of buildings or respectively rooms and typically have a heating water duct system, within which heating water can circulate. The required heating water is made available through a building-side heating pipe system. More precisely, the heating water enters into the radiator through a heating water inlet, heats the radiator and subsequently exits from the radiator again through a heating water outlet.

As the density of the heating water typically decreases with increasing temperature, conventional radiators, viewed in the direction of gravitation, are warmer at the top than at the bottom. However, this is sometimes undesirable for structural-physical reasons and/or for reasons of well-being (in particular if the radiator is situated beneath a window, but also if the radiator is situated in the wall or laterally in the frame, e.g. in the frame of a window recess) .

EP1243870A2 discloses a heater (1) having a forward flow (7) pipe connected to the inflow opening (4) of a first radiator (2), and has a return flow (8) pipe connected to the outflow opening (5) of a second radiator. The at least two radiators are vertically superimposed. The entire hot water flows through the at least two radiators. In the case of more than two radiators, the inflow opening of one radiator is connected to the outflow opening of the previous radiator, and the outflow opening is connected to the inflow opening of the next radiator, so that all the hot water flows through all the radiators. The heat emitted by radiators is emitted in all spatial directions, so that a wall or respectively wall recess arranged on the rear side of the radiator is also heated. Such a heating of wall regions is generally undesirable, however, because the amount of energy expended for heating walls is no longer available for the actually desired heating of the room. The energy efficiency of the radiator is correspondingly lowered. But it also poses a problem for the uniformity of the heat emission, due to the proportionality of the heat loss to the area of the emitting surface and the quadrate of the temperature. Hence, walls facing hot spots on the radiator are heated disadvantageously much.

Accordingly, it would be preferable to present a radiator presenting a substantially uniform temperature profile over its entire surface with minimized heat loss to the building envelope and maximized heat emittance to the interior of the building space. The solution suggested by the present invention is based on presenting a radiator or respectively a radiator arrangement which enables a more intensive heating of portions situated further at the bottom of the radiator, viewed in the direction of gravitation than portions situated further at the top with high energy efficiency and low noise levels during operation due to efficiently designed heat insulation. This problem according to the present invention has been solved by suitably connecting a sequence of heating segments as specified in the claims in combination with selectively used segments of insulation. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment there is disclosed a radiator (1,11) defining a front side (la) and a rear side (lb) comprising a heating water duct system, within which heating water can flow from a heating water inlet (3,15) to a heating water outlet (4,16), the heating water duct system comprising: heating segments (5,6,12,13,14) with respectively an internal cavity for receiving heating water, which in a ready-to-operate state of the radiator (1,11) are arranged over one another, viewed in the direction of gravitation, and which respectively have an inlet opening for the supply of heating water and an outlet opening for the removal of heating water; at least one connecting pipe (7,17,18), which connects the outlet opening of a first heating segment (5,12) with the inlet opening of a second heating segment (6,13); wherein the heating water inlet (3,15) is connected to the inlet opening of the first heating segment (5,12), and wherein the second heating segment (6,13) in the ready-to-operate state of the radiator (1,11), viewed in in the direction of gravitation, is arranged above the first heating segment (5,12); the radiator (1,11) further comprising a heat insulating plate (24), mounted on the rear side (lb) of the radiator (1,11), comprising an elongated cavity (29) for receiving the at least one connecting pipe (7,17,18) and facing the rear side of the radiator .

In a second embodiment, the radiator (1,11) according to the first embodiment, wherein the inlet opening of the first heating segment (5,12) is arranged at an upper end of the first heating segment (5,12), viewed in the direction of gravitation. In a third embodiment, the radiator (1,11) according the first or second embodiments, wherein the outlet opening of the first heating segment (5,12) is arranged at a lower end of the first heating segment (5,12), viewed in the direction of gravitation.

In a fourth embodiment, the radiator (1,11) according to anyone of the preceding embodiments, wherein the outlet opening of the heating segment (6,13) arranged furthest at the top, viewed in the direction of gravitation, is connected to the heating water outlet (4,16) .

In a fifth embodiment, the radiator (1,11) according to anyone of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first heating segment (5,12) is the lowermost heating segment, viewed in the direction of gravitation.

In a sixth embodiment, the radiator (1,11) according to anyone of the preceding embodiments, wherein the heating segments (5,6,12,13,14) respectively have the shape of a flat cuboid.

In a seventh embodiment, the radiator (1,11) according to anyone of the preceding embodiments, with precisely two heating segments (5,6) . In an eight embodiment, the radiator (1,11) according to the seventh embodiment, wherein the inlet opening of the second heating segment (6) is arranged at a lower end of the second heating segment (6), viewed in the direction of gravitation; and the outlet opening of the second heating segment (6) is arranged at an upper end of the second heating segment (6), viewed in the direction of gravitation and is connected to the heating water outlet (4) .

In a ninth embodiment, the radiator (1,11) according to anyone of first to sixth embodiments, with precisely three heating segments (12,13,14) . In a tenth embodiment, the radiator (1,11) according to the ninth embodiment, wherein: the inlet opening of the second heating segment (13) is arranged at an upper end of the second heating segment (13), viewed in the direction of gravitation; the outlet opening of the second heating segment (13) is arranged at a lower end of the second heating segment (13), viewed in the direction of gravitation; the inlet opening of the third heating segment (14) is arranged at a lower end of the third heating segment (14), viewed in the direction of gravitation; the outlet opening of the third heating segment (14) is arranged at an upper end of the third heating segment (14), viewed in the direction of gravitation and is connected to the heating water outlet (16); and a further connecting pipe (18) connects the outlet opening of the second heating segment (13) with the inlet opening of the third heating segment ( 14 ) .

In an eleventh embodiment, the radiator (1,11) according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the cavity (29) extends in the direction of the longitudinal side of the heat insulating plate (24) .

In a twelfth embodiment, the radiator (1,11) according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least one of the connection pipes (7,17) is received in the heat insulating plate (24) in a separate recess (28) .

In a thirteenth embodiment, the radiator (1,11) according to anyone of the preceding embodiments, further comprising at least one mounting element (27) arranged for mounting the radiator (1,11) onto a wall (31), and the heat insulating plate (24) has a mounting recess (26) in the region of the mounting element (27) .

In a fourteenth embodiment, the radiator (1,11) according to anyone of the preceding embodiments, wherein the heat insulating plate (24) is arranged as a vacuum insulation panel or as a plate of polyisocyanurate (PIR) .

In a fifteenth embodiment, the radiator (1,11) according to anyone of the preceding embodiments, further comprising a front plate (2), which at least partially covers the heating segments (5,6,12,13,14) of the radiator (1,11) on the front side (la) .

In a sixteenth embodiment, the radiator (1,11) according to the fifteenth embodiment, wherein the front plate (2) has angled lateral edges (20) .

In a second aspect and first embodiment, a radiator arrangement, comprising a radiator (1,11) according to anyone of the preceding embodiments, which is arranged in a wall niche (30), wherein the heat insulating plate (24) is arranged between a niche rear wall (32) and a rear side (lb) of the radiator (1,11) . In a second embodiment of the second aspect, a radiator arrangement according to the second aspect and first embodiment, wherein a sealing element is arranged between the lateral edges of the front plate (2) of the radiator (1,11) and the lateral walls (33, 34) of the wall niche (30) .

In a third embodiment of the second aspect, a radiator arrangement according to one of first and second embodiments of the second embodiment, further having a removable hatch (35) partially closing the wall niche (30) .

In a fourth embodiment of the second aspect, a radiator arrangement according to the third embodiment of the second aspect, wherein the hatch (35) is detachably fixed by weld studs (36) in clamping bushes (38) of a frame (37) .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 a perspective front view of a first embodiment of a radiator;

Fig. 2 a perspective rear view of the radiator of Fig.

1;

Fig. 3 an enlarged detail view of the region A of Fig.

2;

Fig. 4 an enlarged detail view of the region B of Fig.

2; Fig. 5 an enlarged detail view of the region C of Fig.

2;

and

Fig. 6 a diagrammatic rear view of a second embodiment of a radiator.

Fig. 7 a perspective exploded illustration of a radiator;

Fig. 8 a perspective view of the rear side of the radiator of Fig. 7 ; Fig. 9 a detail view of the region D of Fig. 8 ;

Fig. 10 a front view of the radiator of Fig. 7 ;

Fig. 11 a sectional view of the plane B-B of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 a sectional view of the plane B-B of Fig. 10 with a wall niche; and

Fig. 13 a perspective view of the radiator of Fig. 7 with a hatch, installed into a wall niche.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The radiator according to the invention has a heating water duct system, within which heating water can flow from a heating water inlet to a heating water outlet. The heating water duct system of the radiator comprises heating segments with respectively an internal cavity for receiving heating water, which are arranged over one another, viewed in the direction of gravitation, in a ready-to-operate state of the radiator, and which have respectively an inlet opening for the supply of heating water and an outlet opening for the removal of heating water. In addition, the heating water duct system has a connecting pipe, which connects the outlet opening of a first heating segment with the inlet opening of a second heating segment. The heating water inlet is connected to the inlet opening of the first heating segment. In the ready-to-operate state of the radiator, the second heating segment is arranged above the first heating segment, viewed in the direction of gravitation .

"Ready-to-operate state" of the radiator is understood here to mean the state in which the radiator is connected to the on-site heating pipe system, i.e. the heating water inlet is connected with a feed line of the heating pipe system and the heating water outlet is connected with a return of the heating pipe system.

The terms "top", "above", "upper" etc. and "bottom", "below", "upper" etc. - in so far as not mentioned otherwise - are to be regarded in reference to the direction of gravitation .

According to the invention, heating water thereby enters into the radiator through the heating water inlet. As the heating water inlet is connected to the inlet opening of the first heating segment, the first heating segment is heated firstly and the heating water is only subsequently fed through the connecting pipe to the second heating segment, which is situated above the first heating segment, viewed in the direction of gravitation. In this way, it is therefore possible to heat the first heating segment to a higher temperature than the second heating segment.

In an advantageous embodiment, the inlet opening of the first heating segment is arranged at an upper end of the first heating segment, viewed in the direction of gravitation. The supply of the heating water therefore takes place in an upper region of the first heating segment. In a further advantageous embodiment, the outlet opening of the first heating segment is arranged at a lower end of the first heating segment, viewed in the direction of gravitation . In an advantageous embodiment, the outlet opening of the heating segment arranged furthest at the top, viewed in the direction of gravitation, is connected to the heating water outlet. In this way, the uppermost heating segment has the lowest temperature of all the heating segments.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the first heating segment is the lowest heating segment, viewed in the direction of gravitation. Thereby, the lowermost heating segment has the highest temperature of all the heating segments.

In an advantageous embodiment, the heating segments have respectively the shape of a flat cuboid. In this way, a particularly good radiation of heat is possible.

In an advantageous embodiment, the radiator has in addition a front plate, which extends, at least partially, over all the heating segments. Thereby, a visually uniform impression is produced. Radiators with precisely two and precisely three heating segments have proved to be particularly advantageous. Radiators with two heating segments are configured in a structurally simple manner. Radiators with three heating segments permit a more exact setting of the temperature profile .

When the radiator has precisely two heating segments, then the inlet opening of the second heating segment is arranged, preferably, at a lower end, viewed in the direction of gravitation, of the second heating segment and the outlet opening of the second heating segment is arranged at an upper end, viewed in the direction of gravitation, of the second heating segment and connected to the heating water outlet.

When the radiator has precisely three heating segments, then the inlet opening of the second heating segment is arranged, preferably, at an upper end, viewed in the direction of gravitation, of the second heating segment, the outlet opening of the second heating segment is arranged at a lower end, viewed in the direction of gravitation, of the second heating segment, the inlet opening of the third heating segment is arranged at a lower end, viewed in the direction of gravitation, of the third heating segment, the outlet opening of the third heating segment is arranged at an upper end of the third heating segment, viewed in the direction of gravitation, and connected to the heating water outlet, and a further connecting pipe connects the outlet opening of the second heating segment with the inlet opening of the third heating segment . Fig. 1 to Fig. 5 show a radiator 1. The front and the lateral faces of the radiator 1 are fronted by a front plate 2. Heating water can flow through a heating water inlet 3 into a heating water duct system of the radiator 1 and can flow off again through a heating water outlet 4. Within the heating water duct system, heating water is therefore able to be transported from the heating water inlet 3 to the heating water outlet 4. Two heating segments 5 and 6 are concealed by the front plate 2. Each of the heating segments 5, 6 has the shape of a flat cuboid and has an internal cavity for receiving heating water. Each heating segment 5, 6 has an inlet opening for the supply of heating water and an outlet opening for the removal of heating water. In the ready-to- operate state of the radiator 1 and in the figures of the drawings, the heating segments 5, 6 are arranged over one another . The heating segment 5 is arranged beneath the heating segment 6. The heating segment 5 therefore constitutes a "first heating segment", whilst the heating segment 6 constitutes a "second heating segment". The inlet opening of the first heating segment 5 is arranged at the upper end of the first heating segment 5 and is connected with the heating water inlet 3. The outlet opening of the first heating segment 5 is arranged at the lower end of the first heating segment 5 and is connected via a connecting pipe 7 with the inlet opening of the second heating segment 6. The inlet opening of the second heating segment 6 is arranged at the lower end of the second heating segment 6. The outlet opening of the second heating segment 6, in turn, is arranged at the upper end of the second heating segment 6 and is connected with the heating water outlet 4.

Heating water with a high temperature, which is supplied via the heating water inlet 3, therefore flows firstly through the inlet opening of the first heating segment 5 into the internal cavity of the first heating segment 5 and heats the heating segment 5 accordingly. Subsequently, the heating water flows via the outlet opening of the first heating segment 5 into the connecting pipe 7 and from the connecting pipe 7 via the inlet opening of the second heating segment 6 into the internal cavity of the second heating segment 6 and heats the heating segment 6 accordingly. During the passage through the radiator 1, the temperature of the heating water gradually reduces through heat transmission. Finally, the (now correspondingly cooled) heating water flows off again via the outlet opening of the second heating segment 6 and the heating water outlet 4.

The first heating segment 5 is situated, viewed in the direction of gravitation, further below than the second heating segment 6 and is heated more than the second heating segment 6 situated further above. The radiator 1 therefore has a lower portion (first heating segment 5), which is warmer than an upper portion (second heating segment 6) .

Fig. 6 shows a diagrammatic rear view of a second embodiment. The radiator 11 illustrated diagrammatically has a total of three heating segments 12, 13 and 14.

Each of the heating segments 12, 13, 14 may have the shape of a flat cuboid (as illustrated) , although the shapes naturally may be adapted to any intended purpose. The heating segments may individually and/or all comprise an internal cavity for receiving heating water. Each heating segment 12, 13, 14 has an inlet opening for the supply of heating water and an outlet opening for the removal of heating water. In the ready-to-operate state of the radiator 11 and in the figures of the drawings, the heating segments 12, 13, 14 are arranged over one another. The heating segment 12 here is the lowermost heating segment. The heating segment 13 adjoins the heating segment 12. The heating segment 14 is the uppermost heating segment.

Heating water can flow in through a heating water inlet 15 and flow off again through a heating water outlet 16. The inlet opening of the heating segment 12 is arranged at the upper end of the heating segment 12 and is connected with the heating water inlet 15. The outlet opening of the heating segment 12 is arranged at the lower end of the heating segment 12 and is connected with the inlet opening of the heating segment 13 via a connecting pipe 17. The inlet opening of the heating segment 13 is arranged at the upper end of the heating segment 13. The outlet opening of the heating segment 13 is arranged, in turn, at the lower end of the heating segment 13 and is connected with the inlet opening of the heating segment 14 via a further connecting pipe 18. The inlet opening of the heating segment 14 is arranged at the lower end of the heating segment 14. The outlet opening of the heating segment 14, in turn, is arranged at the upper end of the heating segment 14 and is connected with the heating water outlet 16. The heating segment 14 therefore constitutes a "first heating segment", the heating segment 13 a "second heating segment" and the heating segment 14 a "third heating segment". Heating water with high temperature, which is supplied via the heating water inlet 15, therefore flows firstly through the inlet opening of the first heating segment 12 into the internal cavity of the first heating segment 12 and heats the heating segment 12 accordingly. The heating water subsequently flows via the outlet opening of the first heating segment 12 into the connecting pipe 17 and from the connecting pipe 17 via the inlet opening of the second heating segment 13 into the internal cavity of the second heating segment 13, and heats the heating segment 13 accordingly. Thereupon, the heating water flows via the outlet opening of the second heating segment 13 into the further connecting pipe 18 and from the connecting pipe 18 via the inlet opening of the third heating segment 14 into the internal cavity of the third heating segment 14 and heats the third heating segment 14 accordingly. During the passage through the radiator 11, the temperature of the heating water gradually reduces through heat transmission. Finally, the (now correspondingly cooled) heating water flows off again via the outlet opening of the third heating segment 14 and the heating water outlet 16.

The first heating segment 12 is situated, viewed in the direction of gravitation, further below than the second heating segment 13 and is heated more than the second heating segment 13, which is situated further above. The second heating segment 13, in turn, is situated, viewed in the direction of gravitation, further below than the third heating segment 14 and is heated more than the third heating segment 14.

The radiator 1,11 according to the invention (cf. Fig. 7) further comprises a heat insulating plate 24, preferably having substantially the shape of an elongated rectangle, arranged on the rear side lb on the heating segment 5,6. The heat insulating plate has a cavity facing the heating segment 29. Through the arrangement of a heat insulating plate on the rear side of the heating segment, the radiation of heat in the direction of the wall is reduced. The energy efficiency of the radiator increases accordingly. The cavity 29 in the heat insulating plate 24, facing the heating segment, leads to an air shaft occurring between heating segment 5, 6 and heat insulation, in which the air heated by the heating segment can circulate. Convection is therefore made possible. In this way, therefore, on the one hand the radiator 1,11 is shielded with respect to the wall 31 on which is it mounted by the heat insulating plate 24; on the other hand, advantageously, convection heating is also made possible on the rear side of the heating segment. In a preferred embodiment, the cavity 29 extends in the direction of the longitudinal side of the heating insulating plate. The cavity 29 consequently may have an elongated shape. This makes possible a particularly good convection within the cavity. The energy efficiency of the radiator is therefore increased to a particular extent.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the heating insulating plate 24 has in addition a recess 28 for receiving the aforementioned connection pipes 7,17,18. In this way, the heating water connection can be integrated into the heating insulating plate or respectively the heating insulating plate can also thermally insulate the heating water connection. The energy efficiency of the radiator thereby increases once again. In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one mounting segment 27 is arranged on the heating segment 5, 6 for mounting the radiator 1,11 onto a wall 31, and the heating insulating plate 24 has a mounting recess 26 in the region of the mounting segment 27. In this way, a secure connection between wall 31 and radiator 1,11 is possible. At the same time, the mounting recess 26 makes it possible that the heating insulating plate 24 in other regions covers the rear side lb of the heating segment 5, 6 and in this way increases the energy efficiency.

Heat insulating plates 24, which are arranged as a vacuum insulation panel or as a plate of polyisocyanurate (PIR) have proved to be particularly advantageous.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the radiator 1,11 has in addition a front plate 2, which is arranged on the front side la on the heating segment 5,6. This front plate 2 advantageously has angled lateral edges 20.

With the present invention there is also disclosed a radiator arrangement comprising a radiator 1,11 which is arranged in a wall niche 30, wherein the heat insulating plate 24 is arranged between the niche rear wall 32 and the rear side lb of the heating segment 5,6.

Through such an arrangement of the heat insulating plate on the rear side of the heating segment, the radiation of heat in the direction of the niche rear wall is reduced. The energy efficiency of the radiator increases accordingly . In an advantageous embodiment, a sealing element is arranged between the lateral edges of the front plate of the radiator and the lateral walls of the niche. A receiving space 19 for a sealing element can form between the angled lateral edges and the lateral faces of the niche. Through such a sealing element, a reliable closure of the wall niche 30 is possible.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the radiator arrangement has in addition a removable hatch 35, partially closing the wall niche 30. The hatch can be easily removed, in order to enable maintenance, cleaning and/or mounting work on the heating segment 5, 6 and/or on the heating water connections in an uncomplicated manner.

The detachable fixing of the hatch 35 by weld studs 36, which are introduced into clamping bushes 38 of a frame 37, has proven to be a particularly advantageous possibility for fixing the hatch 35.

The invention is further explained by means of an example embodiment in the figures of the drawings. There are shown:

The radiator 1,11 illustrated in the figures has a heating segment, a front plate and a heat insulating plate. The heating segment may have the shape of an elongated rectangle. On the rear side of the heating segment, a first heating water connection and a second heating water connection are arranged. Depending on the installation situation of the radiator 1,11, either the first heating water connection or the second heating water connection is arranged as heating water inlet and the respectively other heating water connection is arranged as heating water return . Furthermore, a total of two mounting elements are arranged on the rear side of the heating segment, which serve for fastening the radiator 1,11 to a wall situated rearward from the radiator 1,11.

The heat insulating plate is arranged between the rearward wall and the rear side of the heating segment. The heat insulating plate likewise has the shape of an elongated rectangle and is adapted in its dimensions to the size of the heating segment, so that the heat insulating plate substantially front plates the rear side of the heating segment . The heat insulating plate has a recess for receiving the first heating water connection. In addition, the heat insulating plate has a cavity facing the heating segment - more precisely the rear side of the heating segment. This cavity extends in the direction of the longitudinal side of the heat insulating plate and enables the circulation of heated air. Finally, the heat insulating plate has respectively a mounting recess in the region of the mounting elements. The front plate is arranged on the front side of the heating segment and forms the room-side closure of the radiator 1,11. On the edge side, the front plate extends beyond the heating segment. The lateral edges of the front plate are angled .

Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 show the arrangement of the radiator 1,11 in a wall niche of a wall. The wall niche has a niche rear wall and niche lateral walls. The radiator 1,11 is introduced into the spatial volume spanned by the niche rear wall and the niche lateral walls. The heating water connections are connected with a heating pipe system present on site. The dimensions of the wall niche and of the radiator 1 are coordinated with one another such that if necessary a small gap remains between the lateral edges 20 of the front plate and the niche lateral walls. Through the angled shape of the lateral edges 20, a receiving space 19 additionally forms between niche lateral wall and the radiator 1. This receiving space 19 serves to receive a sealing element (not illustrated in the figures) .

A hatch (front plate, opening) is received in a frame. This hatch is removable and partially closes the wall niche. The hatch is detachably connected with the frame by weld studs, which are introduced in clamping bushes of the frame.

CLOSING COMMENTS

The term "comprising" as used in the claims does not exclude other elements or steps. The term "a" or "an" as used in the claims does not exclude a plurality. Although the present invention has been described in detail for purpose of illustration, it is understood that such detail is solely for that purpose, and variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.