MODULAR, PREFABRICATED RADIANT PANEL WITH INTEGRATED HEADERS

• US 20120103580A1
• Filed: 03/24/2010
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roberto Messana
• Original Assignee: Roberto Messana
• Inventors: Buttignol, Guido
• Granted Patent: US 9,285,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/169
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 3/125 Hydraulic pipe connections
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 3/142 integrated in prefab construction elements
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 2210/10 Particular layout, e.g. for uniform temperature distribution
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 9/262 for radiators F28D1/0408 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/00 Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]

Abstract

Modular, prefabricated radiant panel, of the type having a sandwich-like structure including a thermally insulating rear layer (1), a front layer acting as mechanical support and outer surface finish, and two radiant pipes (4) integrated in the panel for the flow of a heat-carrying fluid. The radiant pipes (4) are housed in preformed grooves (2) in the thermally insulating rear layer. In the same layer there are further provided two parallel, longitudinal grooves (3) for the housing of a pair of headers (5) which supply the radiant pipes (4). The headers (5) housed in the grooves (3) cross the entire panel and end in correspondence of the opposite short sides thereof, where they are connected to the radiant pipes (4) via T-junctions (6), a free mouth of which faces outwards for connection via sleeves (7) to T-junctions (6) of other panels, both directly and through connection pipes.

Claims

1. Modular, prefabricated radiant panel, of the type having a sandwich-like structure comprising a thermally insulating rear layer (1), a front layer with mechanical strength and outer surface finish features and one or more radiant pipes (4) integrated in the panel for the flow of a heat-carrying fluid, characterised in that said radiant pipe (4) is housed in grooves (2) formed in said thermally insulating rear layer (1), in that in said layer there are further provided housing grooves (3) for a pair of headers (5) which supply said radiant pipe (4), which grooves (3) are substantially parallel to a median line of the panel and are arranged at the two side thereof, and in that said headers (5) cross the entire panel and end within its perimeter, with connections opening outward of the panel, in correspondence of opposite sides thereof.

2. Radiant panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said radiant pipe (4) forms two independent circuits, each of which affects one half of the panel, in a division according to the other median line thereof perpendicular to said headers, the free ends of each radiant pipe (4) being arranged in the proximity of the end portion of said headers (5) from the panel, whereto they are hydraulically connected through T-junctions (6).

4. Radiant panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said median line of the panel parallel to the headers is the major median line of the panel.

5. Radiant panel as in claim 4, wherein said grooves (3) housing the pair of headers (5) are positioned adjacent to said median line of the panel.

6. Radiant panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rear layer (1) consists of two/four separate, equal-size elements divided, respectively, along one/two median lines of said panel.

7. Radiant panel as claimed in claim 6, wherein said elements are formed by moulding a foamed plastic material, such as polystyrene or polyurethane.

8. Radiant panel as claimed in claim 6, wherein said elements are made of a natural-origin material, such as cork.

9. Radiant panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front layer is made of composite, preferably fibre-reinforced materials, such as plasterboard, fibreboard, asbestos cement, waterproof materials, sound-absorbing materials, materials of a natural origin (wood) or other similar materials.

10. Radiant panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein said front layer of the panel has access windows (8) which open into the rear layer (1) in correspondence of the end portions of said headers (5), through which it is possible to access also to the hydraulic connections between said radiant pipes (4) and said headers (5) of the panel.

11. Radiant panel as in claim 10, wherein said rear layer (1) comprises a further groove, substantially parallel to the grooves (3), which ends in said opposed windows (8) and is apt to house electrical cables.

3. Radiant panel as claimed in claim 3, wherein the free opening of said T-junctions (6) faces outward of the panel and has a quick-release connecting system to a connection sleeve (7).