DECORATIVE RADIATOR

Abstract: A decorative radiaator is composed of twopanels: a front panel, made of a synthetic material, with pre-formed canals, and a back panel made of a heat-conductive material, and provided with cooling ribs.

Description: DESCRIPTION Decorative radiator The market of radiators, based on the input of warm water, in domestic use, is divided in 2 main groups: a) radiators made of steel plate and mostly manufactured in a mass production; b) so called "design radiators", made basically of different kinds of tubes, whose forms and measures are targeted to the clients' wish. To produce them, the radiators as described in a) need main investments, starting from a plate of steel, cut in the desired forms, in which "canals" are being pressed, whereupon the radiator is formed by a specific welding process, to make them waterproof. In most cases, several radiators are connected as a whole unit at which thermal panels are attached between those connected radiators, to become a more efficient thermal emission. In a final phase, several pieces of water supply and drainage are attached to this unit by welding techniques . Last but not least, the radiator is tested on waterproof, after which it's painted (degrease, primer, coating) . Such a complex production line needs high-costs investments. A production line, just for one type of radiator, has been estimated for an investment of 800 million BEF. The investment of a paint installation, used for several production lines (nowadays seven ! ) is estimated up to 200 million BEF. As the producing techniques are well known and different patents are expired, the last few years there is a huge import of "plated forms", produced in low-cost countries. The involved sectors are refining their production techniques to re-establish their market position. But still the technique of reforming a steel plate and welding it, is their basic element. The so called design radiators, as specified under b) , are showing a boom to other sectors such as kitchens, showrooms, offices and villa's, after their introduction for the use in bathrooms (i.e. to warm towels) . In spite off the habit of producing them in "standard measures", to produce them in a large serial to become a lower cost and so a lower price, a main share and target are the custom-made goods. Naturally the cost of a personalized radiator is perceptively higher, compared to the standardized model. Many welding techniques are developed to connect the steel tubes in their different kinds of forms to become a desired look. In most cases, special colours are chosen to become a harmony with their spaces in which they will be used. By both groups of radiators, the supply of warm water is connected to their highest point, from which it can search its way undefined through a web of canals to a main drainage tube. Its unnatural way of free direction means several "cold zones" to the radiator and a constantly and equally changing of pressure in the radiator. Meanwhile the produce of heat, which begins at the top of the radiator, has no optimal effect: the water becomes colder in its way down, which doesn't stimulate the circulation of air and the heat. The goal of the invention is to avoid those disadvantages by the realisation of a controlled direction of the hot water through a developed system of canals. I THE DRAWINGS These drawings are based on the construction of a horizontal right-angled model of approximately 100 cm by 50 cm (height x width) . The following scales are being used: for Picture 1: scale 1/2 for Picture 2: scale 1/4 for Picture 3: scale 1/4 for Picture 4: scale 1/4 for Picture 5: scale 1/4 If they were not essential for the clarity of the drawings, the dotted lines are not shown. GENERAL REMARKS 1) The use of the coloured synthetic granules by the fabrication of "the body" of the radiator (see Picture 1 - part A) allows us to make a large range of different colours. We remark that the synthetic materials will be effectively coloured, which will not reveal a slight damage. It is clear that the fact of NO PAINTING will lead to a considerable cost saving and a less cause of environmental damage, (no painting installation is needed) . 2) The total weight of the radiator will be considerably less than a "classic radiator" of the the same measurements, a fact which the installers will not regret. 3) The decorative radiator can be realised in all kinds of colours, forms and shapes. 4) The front side (visible side) of the front panel can be flat, on which every design, modern or classical, black and white or in one or different colours, using several print techniques. 5) The front side can be fabricated with a bas-relief, expressing a classic or a modern theme and, if it's the case, after the formation of the design in the mould, entirely or partly can be re-coloured by the use of several techniques, β) All materials, used for this assumed radiator, will be recycled for 100 %, which means, from the point of view of environmental damaging, an advantage that is not to be sneezed at. The assumed radiator, for which hereafter a patent will be asked, is totally re-designed as the following facts: due to the huge problems which has to do with the processing of steel or welding we searched for the use of other materials, with the goal to reduce the use of welding techniques and, if so, ignoring these techniques. As Picture 1 (cross-section of the radiator according the direction xy - Picture 2) shows, the assumed radiator consists in: a) a synthetic panel, with several canals on the inside and a flat part on the upper side the front side, the sides and partly along the under side; b)a panel of aluminium (or a heat-conductive composite material) from which the flat side makes contact with the hot water, causing a heating effect and evacuate the hot air by making contact with the cooling ribs to the atmosphere and by "the flat part" on the left and on the right transposed to the humidifier; c)a sealing ring in stainless steel, an aluminium synthetic or rubber, to create a waterproof radiator; d) screws for attachment, to connect the aluminium panel along the back side of the front panel A with this panel. Picture 2 shows the back side of the synthetic front panel. Axis F marks the position of the sealing ring. The cavities A, left and right, distribute through the openings G the vapour into the atmosphere. The water is heated via the flat part of the heat-conductive back panel. The openings G have a removable "cap" and they are used to fill or clean the cavities A. Mark G points the place through which, via the connector in the back panel, the warm water is supplied. This position was chosen high to simplify the control of the radiator and to realise an acceptable place for the measuring of the outside temperature. We expect the utilization of a thermal tap. According to the laws of nature like of the communicating barrels, will have a positive effect on the equal filling-up of the radiator. The arrows C points out the "controlled way" that the warm water has to follow. At last, the cooled water will leave the radiator via the attachment in the back panel on position E to the drainage pipe. Following the arrow C first, the warm water will be guided to the bottom, so the radiator exchanges its warmth at the bottom of the back panel and the rising warm air helps to warm the back panel; as a result the warmth supply of the back panel can be realised in a quicker way. The system of canals guides the chilled water through the outside and the upper side to the drainage. Together with the fact that the synthetic front panel is NOT HEAT-CONDUCTIVE, this radiator reduces the danger of burns for humans as well as for pets. Picture 3 shows a top view of the radiator. Side A reveals the front side. This front side can be flat or have "a pattern of relief", as the client wishes. The front side contains a sign of the manufacturer. The mould can be made in a way that the piece of of the sign can be replaced by another sign from for example a special customer, a dealer, an architect, etc. Side B is directed to the wall on which the radiator will be placed. Point C shows the position of the opening of refilling of the humidifier. Point D shows the position of the cut-away on top of the back panel, through which the warm air will be evacuated. At the bottom of the radiator and at the position of the back panel, there is no material of the front panel. This cut-away allows to realise a circulation of air. Picture 4 shows the back of the back panel. Position A refers to the "cooling ribs". Position B shows the openings for the bolts for attachment . Position C shows the points to attach the radiator to the wall. Position D shows the connector for the drainage pipe. Position E shows the connector for the water supply. Position F shows the connector for the de-aeration tap. Picture 5 shows a top view of the back panel. Position A shows the flat side, that makes contact with the water and it will heat the water of the humidifier via the sides. Position B shows the cooling ribs, so not the r position of the cavities of the humidifiers. Position C shows the connector of the drainage of the water. Position D shows the connector of the water supply.

Claims: . CONCLUSIONS 1.- A decorative radiator is composed of 2 panels, and characterized by the front panel, that is made of a synthetic material, which has pre-formed canals to become a controlled direction of the hot water and is provided of openings to distribute a fluid. The back panel is made of a heat-conductive material and is provided of cooling ribs, water supply and drainage fittings and mounting brackets Between both panels a seal is placed in order to assemble them waterproof by bolts. 2.- The decorative radiator, according to claim 1, characterized by the front panel, consists of a synthetic material, which is not heat-conductive. 3.- The decorative radiator, according to claim 2, characterized by the front panel, made of a polyamide. 4.- The decorative radiator, according to claim 3, characterized by the front panel, that will be coloured during its production process while different colours can be used. 5.- The decorative radiator, according to claim 4, characterized by the front panel, provided with a relief pattern at the opposite side of the channelled one, means the visible side. This pattern can have different kinds of looks, 6.- The decorative radiator, according to claim 5, characterized by the front panel, provided with slots on top of it, to evacuate the hot air. 7.- The decorative radiator, according to claim 1, is characterized by the front panel, provided with hollow spaces on the side, forming cavities with the back panel and used for water containers for the humidifier. 8.- The decorative radiator, according to claim 6, is characterized by the front panel, that has some openings for dispensing the water vapour and these openings are located in a detachable cap along which the cavities, used for the humidifier, which can be refilled and cleaned. 9.- The decorative radiator, according to claim 8, characterized by the front panel, made in a mould, using injection techniques. 10.- The decorative radiator, according to claim 1, characterized by the back panel, which consists of a heat-conductive material, aluminium or a composite material, and its flat part makes contact with the water, flowing through the canals, and water located at the cavities used for the humidifier. 11.- The decorative radiator, according to claim 10, characterized by the back panel, provided with cooling ribs on its back side, used to heat the air with water supply and drainage fittings and mounting brackets . 12.- The decorative radiator, according to claim 11, characterized by the back panel, made by injection without post-treatment. 13.- The decorative radiator, according to claim 11, characterized by the back panel, made by extrusion with post-treatment (selective removing of the cooling ribs) . 14.- The decorative radiator, according to claim 11, characterized by the back panel, made by rolling with a post-treatment, (removing the cooling ribs) 15.- The decorative radiator, according to claim 1, characterized by preformed channels in which the entry of hot water is located as high as possible, causing a comfortable control of the thermal supply tap. 16.- The decorative radiator, according to claim 1 or 15, characterized by preformed channels causing a warming up effect in the ascending direction, which makes the heating more efficient. 17.- The decorative radiator, according to claim 1 or 16, characterized by the preformed channels guiding the cooled water through the "touchable" parts, which limits the danger of burns.

Inventors: STROOBANTS MARCEL, VERCAUTEREN PIERRE, STROOBANTS, MARCEL, VERCAUTEREN, PIERRE
Applicants: STROOBANTS MARCEL, VERCAUTEREN PIERRE, STROOBANTS, MARCEL, VERCAUTEREN, PIERRE
Application year: 2001
Main classification: F28D1
IPC codes: F24D19, F24F1, F24F5, F24F6, F28D1, F28F3, F28F21