Patent Description:
A radiator of this type generally comprises two vertical radiant plates each presenting a heating fluid circuit comprising an upper horizontal manifold, a lower horizontal manifold and vertical channels connecting the upper horizontal manifold and the lower horizontal manifold.

One or more sets of fans can be placed in the gap between the two facing radiant plates, which clearly improves the thermal yield of the radiator.

Fan assemblies can be supported in various ways, e.g. bonded with belts or welded to radiator plates by means of special metal sheets.

The first solution may give rise to unwanted noise, while the second solution makes it impossible to remove the fan assembly for inspection, repair or replacement.

<CIT> <NUM> illustrates a fan assembly support system with brackets that pass through the gap between the radiant plates and rest on the upper horizontal manifold of the two radiant plates.

This solution, although very practical in that it allows the fan unit to be installed later, has the undoubted drawback that the support brackets obstruct the forced convective flow of air vertically through the gap between the radiant plates, with the logical consequence that the radiator's thermal yield is in any case penalised.

The technical task of the present invention is, therefore, to realise a radiant plate radiator that can eliminate the complained of technical drawbacks of the known technique.

Within this technical task, one aim of the invention is to improve the thermal yield of a radiant plate radiator equipped with one or more fan assemblies.

Another purpose of the invention is to simplify the assembly of a radiant plate radiator equipped with one or more fan assemblies.

Not the least purpose of the invention is to decrease the noise level of a radiant plate radiator equipped with one or more fan assemblies.

The technical task, as well as these and other purposes, according to the present invention are achieved by realising a ventilating radiator with two or more radiating plates for heating an environment, comprising a longitudinal blockformed by a succession of modular fans which extends along an upper end of a gap between two of said radiating plates, characterised in that at least two adjacent modular fans of said block are rigidly connected to one another by a corresponding pair of opposite primary connectors structurally separated and independent each coupled to a corresponding radiating plate, said primary connectors having a body which extends longitudinally downwards until engaging below said two adjacent modular fans.

In a preferred embodiment, the radiator comprises at least one upper connector and at least one lower connector positioned between said two radiating plates and suitable for connecting said two radiating plates to an external source of a heating fluid, wherein each radiating plate has an upper horizontal manifold, a lower horizontal manifold and vertical channels connecting the upper horizontal manifold and the lower horizontal manifold, each primary connector having at least one coupling fin extending from said body upwards for coupling to the upper horizontal manifold of the radiating plate.

In a preferred embodiment the radiator comprises a power supply and control unit and a support frame for the power supply and control unit, positioned in said gap and presenting first means of attachment to said upper and/or lower connection and second means of attachment of said at least one fan assembly.

In a preferred way of realising the radiator, said support frame extends along one side of said two radiating plates.

In a preferred way of realising the radiator said longitudinal block of modular fans protrudes from an upper base of said support frame.

In a preferred way of realising the radiator, said power supply and control unit includes a user interface housed on said upper base.

In a preferred way of realising the radiator, said frame includes a tubular upright that extends below said upper base.

In a preferred way of realising the radiator, said power supply and control unit includes an electrical transformer housed within said tubular upright.

In a preferred way of realising the radiator, said second means of attachment include a pair of opposing secondary connectors that rigidly connect a modular end fan of said block to said frame. In a preferred way of realising the radiator, said first means of attachment comprise at least one quick-coupling element.

In a preferred way of realising the radiator, at least one quick coupling element is formed by an elastic fork.

Advantageously, the opposing primary connectors, being structurally separate and independent, can be entirely confined adjacent to the corresponding radiating plate.

The special design of the opposing primary connectors, which embrace the adjacent modular fans by extending below them, allows for a stable and secure attachment without the need to create a connecting bridge between the opposing primary connectors, which, if provided, would considerably restrict the passage of air flow triggered by the fan assembly(s).

The special design of the opposing primary connectors, which avoids the provision of the aforementioned connection bridge, improves the thermal yield even more due to the fact that no thermal energy is wasted, which by conduction and convection would necessarily but useslessly heat said connection bridge.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but non-exclusive form of execution of the radiating plate radiator according to the invention, illustrated by way of illustration and not limitation in the accompanying drawings, in which:.

With reference to the above-mentioned figures, a radiator for heating an environment is shown with the overall reference number <NUM>.

The radiator <NUM> is of the type known to comprise a power supply and control unit <NUM>, at least two vertical radiant plates <NUM> facing each other separated by a gap <NUM> where one or more fan units <NUM> are positioned.

In the solution shown as an example only, there are only two radiator plates <NUM> and two fan assemblies <NUM>.

If necessary, as shown, a corrugated sheet <NUM> can be attached to the side of each radiating plate <NUM> facing the gap <NUM> to increase convective exchange.

Each radiating plate <NUM> is formed of two half-shells joined together along appropriate perimeter and internal junction lines to form a shell that delimits a heating fluid circuit comprising an upper horizontal manifold <NUM>, a lower horizontal manifold <NUM> and vertical channels <NUM> connecting upper horizontal manifold <NUM> and lower horizontal manifold <NUM>.

The radiator <NUM> has at its corners at least one upper hydraulic fitting <NUM> and at least one lower hydraulic fitting <NUM> positioned in the gap <NUM> between the two radiating plates <NUM>.

Fittings <NUM>, <NUM> are for connecting the two radiant plates <NUM> to an external heating fluid source, not shown, e.g. the domestic water supply.

The fittings <NUM> and respectively <NUM> are of the 'T' type and have a central tubular section 9a and respectively 10a oriented horizontally in the longitudinal direction parallel to the two radiating plates <NUM> and two coaxial lateral tubular sections 9b and respectively 10b oriented horizontally in the orthogonal direction to the two radiating plates <NUM>.

Each section 9b of upper fitting <NUM> is connected to the upper manifold <NUM> of a corresponding radiating plate <NUM>, and each section 10b of lower fitting <NUM> is connected to the lower manifold <NUM> of a corresponding radiating plate <NUM>.

Radiator <NUM> has an outer casing that includes a front panel <NUM> and side panels <NUM> covering the two radiant plates <NUM>, an upper grille <NUM> and a lower grille <NUM>.

The radiator also has a thermostatic actuator <NUM> connected via a power cable <NUM> to the power and control unit <NUM>.

Each fan group <NUM> is formed of modular fans 5a joined side by side in succession.

The modular fans 5a of all planned fan assemblies <NUM> form a longitudinal <NUM>' block of modular fans 5a running along one upper end of the gap <NUM> between the radiator plates <NUM>.

The number of fan groups <NUM> and the number of modular fans 5a in each fan group <NUM> is chosen in such a way that the block <NUM>' covers a more or less extensive section of the upper end of the gap <NUM> between radiant plates <NUM>, at the limit the entire upper end of the gap <NUM> between radiant plates <NUM>.

It should be noted that in the case of more than one fan assembly <NUM> connected in succession, the adjacent fan assemblies <NUM> can be rigidly connected to each other by means of suitable spacers <NUM>, as shown.

The adjacent modular fans 5a are rigidly connected via a corresponding pair of opposite primary connectors <NUM>, more precisely a front primary connector <NUM> that connects the adjacent modular fans 5a at the front, and a rear primary connector <NUM> that connects the adjacent modular fans 5a at the rear.

The opposite primary connectors <NUM> are advantageously structurally separated and independent. The opposing primary connectors <NUM> are located on the inner sides of the radiant plates <NUM> and, as they occupy the gap <NUM> for only a marginal portion of the distance between the two radiant plates <NUM>, they do not interfere in substance with the forced air flow generated by the fans 5a.

Advantageously, the primary connectors <NUM> have a body that extends longitudinally downwards and engages below the adjacent modular fans 5a.

Each primary connector <NUM> is coupled by means of at least one coupling fin <NUM> to a corresponding radiating plate <NUM>.

The at least one coupling fin <NUM>, typically a single one, extends upwards from the primary connector body <NUM> for attachment to the upper horizontal manifold <NUM> of the radiating plate <NUM>.

In practice, in each pair of primary connectors <NUM>, the upper fin <NUM> of the front primary connector <NUM> rests against the front radiating plate <NUM> on the side of the upper horizontal manifold <NUM> projecting within the gap <NUM>, and similarly the upper fin <NUM> of the rear primary connector <NUM> rests against the rear radiating plate <NUM> on the side of the upper horizontal manifold <NUM> projecting within the gap <NUM>.

The rest of the fin <NUM> of each pair of primary connectors <NUM> on the inner projection of the upper horizontal manifolds <NUM> results in adequate support of the block <NUM>' of modular fans 5a.

We refer to the solution illustrated in <FIG>. Each primary connector <NUM> has means of quick coupling to adjacent modular fans 5a, e.g. elastically yielding teeth <NUM> engaged in snap-in seats <NUM> provided on adjacent modular fans 5a.

The body of the primary connector <NUM> has a main portion <NUM> of a conjugate shape to the fans 5a, in the specific case a "C" shape so as to engage with the adjacent modular fans 5a until engagement of the teeth <NUM> in the seats <NUM> is achieved.

The body of the primary connector <NUM> also has a secondary portion <NUM>, in this case of an "L" shape, which extends inferiorly from the main portion <NUM> and serves as a support shelf for the power cable <NUM>.

Let us now refer to the solution illustrated in <FIG>. Each primary connector <NUM> has means of quick coupling to adjacent fans 5a, e.g. special pins <NUM>.

Pins <NUM> engage in appropriate seats <NUM> of primary connector <NUM> and in seats <NUM> that are formed at the corners of adjacent modular fans 5a and are aligned with seats <NUM> of primary connector <NUM>. The body of the primary connector <NUM> has a main portion <NUM> of a conjugate shape to the fans 5a, in this case a "C" shape , so that it can engage on them until alignment between the seats <NUM>, <NUM>. The body of the primary connector <NUM> also has a secondary portion <NUM>, in this case shaped like an inverted 'F', which extends inferiorly from the main portion <NUM> and serves as a support for the power cable <NUM>.

The seats <NUM> are formed on both the main portion <NUM> and the secondary portion <NUM> of the primary connector body <NUM>.

Seats <NUM> comprise a closed upper slot, a closed lower slot and two intermediate slots open on opposite sides.

Special pins <NUM> have a flanged head <NUM> and a deformable central protrusion <NUM>, e.g. made of rubber.

The flanged head <NUM> of the pin <NUM> clamps against the upper side of the fan 5a while the central protrusion <NUM> of the pin <NUM> clamps against the lower side of the main portion <NUM> of the primary connector body <NUM>.

Let us now refer to the solution illustrated in <FIG>. Each primary connector <NUM> has means of attachment with screws <NUM> to adjacent fans 5a.

The body of the primary connector <NUM> has an inverted 'V' shape and is arranged between the sides of the adjacent 5a fans, which in this case are slightly spaced apart.

Each leg <NUM> of the inverted 'V' body terminates at the bottom with a shelf <NUM> supporting a corner of a fan 5a.

The shelf <NUM> has a hole <NUM> aligned with a hole <NUM> in the fan 5a for the introduction of the fastening screw <NUM>.

Finally, shelf <NUM> has hooks <NUM> on the underside for supporting the power cable <NUM>.

The radiator <NUM> comprises a frame <NUM> supporting the supply and control unit <NUM>, positioned in the gap <NUM> between the radiating plates <NUM>.

The frame <NUM> has first attachment means to the upper and/or lower fitting <NUM>, <NUM> and second attachment means of the fan assembly(s) <NUM>.

The second attachment means advantageously allow precise, stable and repeatable positioning of the modular fan block <NUM>' in the gap <NUM> between the radiator plates <NUM>.

The second means of attachment comprise a pair of opposing secondary connectors <NUM> that rigidly connect the modular end fan of block <NUM>' to frame <NUM>.

The structure of the secondary connectors <NUM> can retrace that of the primary connectors <NUM>. With reference to the solution illustrated in <FIG>, the structure of the secondary connector <NUM> is identical to that of the primary connector <NUM>, while from a functional point of view one of the teeth <NUM> is fixed by bolt <NUM> to the frame <NUM>.

With reference to the solution illustrated in <FIG>, the structure of the secondary connector <NUM> is identical to that of the primary connector <NUM>, while from a functional point of view, one of the special pins <NUM> is replaced by a bolt <NUM> for fastening the secondary connector <NUM> to the frame <NUM>.

With reference to the solution illustrated in <FIG>, the structure of the secondary connector <NUM> comprises a 'Z'-shaped body defining an upper horizontal arm bolted to the frame <NUM> and a lower horizontal arm on which rests a corner of the fan 5a fixed by means of a screw.

The support frame <NUM> extends along one side of the two radiator plates <NUM>.

The support frame <NUM> includes an upper base <NUM> from which the <NUM>' block of modular fans 5a protrudes.

The power supply and control unit <NUM> includes a user interface <NUM> housed on the upper base <NUM> of the frame <NUM>.

Frame <NUM> also includes a tubular upright <NUM> that extends below the upper base <NUM>.

The power supply and control unit <NUM> includes an electrical transformer (not shown) housed inside the tubular upright <NUM> of frame <NUM>.

The first fasteners include at least one quick-coupling element.

The quick coupling element is formed in particular by an elastic fork <NUM>.

In the case shown, there are two upper elastic forks <NUM> which are engaged on the side tubular sections 9b of the upper fitting <NUM> and two lower elastic forks <NUM> which are engaged on the side tubular sections 10b of the lower fitting <NUM>.

For the safe locking of the frame <NUM>, the two upper elastic forks <NUM> have a different engagement and disengagement direction, e.g. substantially vertical, than the two lower elastic forks <NUM>, e.g. substantially horizontal.

To install the frame <NUM>, it is necessary to first proceed with the engagement of the two upper elastic forks <NUM> while keeping the frame <NUM> slightly inclined, and only then to straighten the frame <NUM>, taking advantage of the possibility of the two upper elastic forks <NUM> to rotate on the side tubular sections 9b of the upper fitting <NUM>, until the engagement of the two lower elastic forks <NUM> is completed.

In the illustrated case, there is a grooved coupling connection of the two upper elastic forks <NUM> to the upper base <NUM> of frame <NUM> and a grooved coupling connection of the two lower elastic forks <NUM> to the tubular upright <NUM> of frame <NUM>.

Due to the special construction of the radiator, the block <NUM>' of modular fans 5a can be preassembled and then easily installed in radiator <NUM>.

The ventilating radiant with radiating plates thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all within the scope of the inventive concept; furthermore, all details are replaceable by technically equivalent elements.

Claim 1:
A ventilating radiator (<NUM>) having two or more radiating plates (<NUM>) for heating an environment, comprising a longitudinal block (<NUM>') formed by a succession of modular fans (5a) extending along an upper end of a gap (<NUM>) between two of said radiating plates (<NUM>), characterised in that at least two adjacent modular fans (5a) of said block (<NUM>') are rigidly connected to one another by a corresponding pair of opposite primary connectors (<NUM>) structurally separated and independent each coupled to a corresponding radiating plate (<NUM>), said primary connectors (<NUM>) having a body extending longitudinally downward until engaging below said two adjacent modular fans (5a).