Telescopic support for expansion tank

Abstract

The invention relates to a support for an expansion vessel (40) comprising: - a wall mounting plate (10); and - a fitting having a threaded hole configured to receive a thread for connecting the vessel to a water supply, characterized in that the fitting (20) is connected to the plate (10) by a telescopic arm (30). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Telescopic support for expansion tank Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of supports for expansion tanks used in plumbing and any system using pressurized fluids. Prior art

[0002] Various devices for fixing an expansion tank are known from the prior art.

[0003] With reference to [Fig.l] which illustrates a support of the art, an expansion vessel previous for sanitary circuit is fixed to a wall by means of a plate having protruding tabs (L) defining a gap intended to receive a clamp (C). The clamp is intended to be wedged, clipped or screwed into the tabs, and to support the expansion vessel at the level of the prominence of a weld bead of this vessel. However, this solution is difficult to handle: it is necessary to simultaneously hold the vessel (40), the clamp (C), which is flexible with a spring effect during installation, and a screwdriver or a screwdriver to tighten the clamp. This manipulation is therefore very difficult for one person alone, and may require two people to fix the vessel (40) on its support (P).

[0004] A significant amount of play must be left at the clamping collar (C) to be able to insert the vase, and subsequent tightening of the collar (C) is likely to damage the paintwork on the vase. Disassembly / reassembly, for example during a maintenance operation, will certainly leave marks on the vase, by damaging the surface coating and its visual appearance. Consequently, there is a significant risk of oxidation occurring.

[0005] Next, the distance between the vase and the wall is not adjustable. This can make it more difficult to connect the vase when using rigid piping. The installer must adapt to the support.

[0006] Finally, a clamp (C) gives the whole thing a low-quality appearance and can be described as "DIY". In addition, the installation is flimsy, fragile and not rigid.

[0007] [Fig. 2] illustrates another prior art support for a heating circuit, in the form of a rigid console welded to a wall mounting plate. The cylindrical or square console has several tappings or threads, configured to receive, for example, depending on the locations, the expansion tank (R), the connection to the network, a safety valve, a pressure gauge or even an air vent. Such a console is difficult to manufacture because the water circulates within the console: each of the welds of the console must be carried out carefully to guarantee its watertightness.

[0008] Supports are also known in the form of a rigid console having hooks or screws which are fixed to a bulge at the level of the welding or stapling bead of the vase. This type of support is only compatible with vases whose welding or stapling bead has a geometry suitable for cooperating with such hooks or screws. Statement of the invention

[0009] The object of the invention is to provide a support for an expansion vessel making it possible to overcome the defects of the prior art, and in particular making it possible to simplify the installation of the vessel. Another object of the invention is to make the support adaptable to different dimensions of different vessels, to the dimensional constraints of the installation, and to the environment in which the vessel is installed.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to simplify the manufacture of a support for an expansion tank.

[0011] For this purpose, a support for an expansion tank has been developed comprising: - a wall mounting plate; and - a fitting with a thread configured to receive a thread for connecting the vessel to a water network,

[0012] According to the invention, the connector is connected to the plate by a telescopic bracket.

[0013] In this way, once the support is fixed to the wall, it is possible to fix the vase by screwing its thread directly into the fitting. There are no other parts to handle. The elimination of the clamp also eliminates the unsightly and poor quality aesthetics of the prior art supports. The invention also improves the rigidity, stability and lifespan of the assembly.

[0014] It is possible to adjust the distance between the vase and the wall easily thanks to the telescopic boom, depending on the sizes of vases existing on the market, the other elements of the installation and the installation environment. The installer no longer needs to adapt to the support: it is the support that adapts to the installer and the installation environment.

[0015] . The welded mechanical structure of the support gives the whole a great robustness. Not attaching to the weld bead of the vase also helps to have a support compatible with a wider variety of vase models. The support is standard, and is not specific to a brand, or a product range.

[0016] Preferably, the connection is made of stainless steel to avoid any risk of contamination of the drinking water and is welded to an internal rod of the bracket. In this way, the vessel is suitable for domestic hot water networks, likely to be consumed by users.

[0017] In order to protect against oxidation a heat-affected zone generated during the weld, fitting and rod have a protective coating against oxidation, such as epoxy paint.

[0018] Advantageously, the tapping is configured to also receive a thread from a water network connection. In this way, the connection is in the form of a female-female sleeve. The length of water circulation within the support is minimized: the difficulties related to sealing are reduced. This design eliminates the welds that must be watertight. Manufacturing is therefore simplified, and the risk of leakage is reduced.

[0019] In order to ensure an anti-rotation function of the stem, it has a polygonal section. A square section facilitates the orientation of the axis of the connection both vertically and horizontally. In addition, in cases where the stem has a square or rectangular section, the geometry of the intersection between the connection and the stem is simpler: the welding between the connection and the stem is therefore simpler to carry out.

[0020] Advantageously, the support comprises means for locking the telescopic boom, such as one or more pressure screws.

[0021] In order to be compatible with the majority of expansion vessels on the market, a center distance between the connection and a support face of the plate is between 125 mm and 185 mm, or between 145 mm and 235 mm, or between 185 mm and 280 mm, or any other range defined by the combination of these values.

[0022] In order to stiffen the plate, it has ribs parallel to an axis of the thread. These ribs can also be made around the entire periphery of the plate.

[0023] So that the support has sufficient rigidity in relation to the use of material required, an internal rod of the bracket has a square section with a side length of between 24mm and 30mm, and a thickness of between 0.5mm and 2mm.

[0024] For this same purpose, the connection has a radial thickness of between 2mm and 4mm. Brief description of the drawings

[0025] [Fig-1] is a diagram illustrating a device for an expansion tank of the prior art.

[0026] [Fig.2] is a diagram illustrating another vase support device of the art prior.

[0027] [Fig.3] is a diagram of a perspective of a support according to the invention.

[0028] [Fig.4] is a diagram of a front view of this support. Detailed description of the invention

[0029] With reference to figures 1 and 2 illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, a connector (20) has a thread (21) configured to receive a thread (41) for connecting the vessel (40) to a water network, and is connected to a plate (10) wall mounting by means of a telescopic bracket (30).

[0030] The telescopic arm (30) makes it possible to easily adjust the position of the vase (40) relative to the wall, depending on the different dimensions of vases (40) available on the market, the constraints of the installation and the installation environment.

[0031] Furthermore, in the case where the piping used on the water network is rigid, it may be simpler to slightly move the vase (40), by means of the telescopic jib (30), in order to present it opposite a pre-existing rigid pipe. The support adapts to the installation environment of the vase (40) and to the constraints encountered by the installer on his site. The telescopic nature of the jib (30) also gives the installer a lot of flexibility and margin of error on the positioning of the piping.

[0032] Once the adjustment of the spacing between the vase (40) and the wall is carried out, it is possible to lock this adjustment, for example by means of pressure screws (33), advantageously arranged on an external tube (31) of the bracket (30). These pressure screws are optional, since once the vase (40) is screwed into the connector (20), it exerts a weight on the bracket (30) in an eccentric manner, tending to block the telescopic bracket (30). A rigid mounting of the assembly nevertheless contributes to the perceived quality which is expected in the technical field considered.

[0033] To produce a telescopic jib (30) in a simple but efficient manner, it comprises an internal rod (32) and an external tube (31) of complementary shape. Preferably, these are tubes of standard dimensions, purchased commercially.

[0034] In particular, the tubes are advantageously of polygonal section so that the connection between the internal rod (32) and the external tube (31) is a sliding connection, because a polygonal section exerts an anti-rotation function on the telescopic boom (30).

[0035] Preferably, the internal rod (32) has a square cross-section with a side measuring between 25mm and 30mm, for example 26mm. The thickness of the internal rod (32) and / or the external tube (31) is between 0.5mm and 2mm.

[0036] A clearance of 1 mm between the internal rod (32) and the external tube (31) guarantees the correct sliding of the telescopic boom (30).

[0037] The connection (20) is made of stainless steel such as 304L in order to be compatible with a domestic hot water network, likely to be drunk by users. For economy, the internal rod (32) is nevertheless made of standard steel, of the non-alloyed construction steel type. The rest of the support can also be made of standard steel, of the non-alloyed construction steel type.

[0038] The fitting (20) is welded to the inner rod (32). In order to protect the heat-affected zone (HAZ) of the weld from oxidation, the fitting (20) and the inner rod (32) have an anti-corrosion coating. Preferably, this is a paint, whose shade can be adapted to a color standard used in a particular field (for example red for a heating network, and blue or white for a domestic hot water network). In this case, the plate (10) as well as the external tube (31) also have the same coating.

[0039] The connector (20) is preferably in the form of a female-female sleeve, configured to receive on a first side the connector of the expansion vessel (40) and on a second side a connector of the water network. Even more preferably, it is a single thread (21) emerging, of the same diameter on each side, having no reduction in the section of the internal diameter. For example, the thread (21) is of the ¾" type.

[0040] Since the water only circulates within the connection (20), then the quantity of stainless steel used is minimal, which is an economy, and the support obtained is extremely simple, therefore very inexpensive to manufacture.

[0041] With particular reference to [Fig.2], a center distance (E) between the connector (20) and a bearing face of the plate (10) is between 125 mm and 185 mm, or between 145 mm and 235 mm, or between 185 mm and 280 mm. The center distance (E) can also be included in any range defined by the combination of these values, in order to be compatible with the majority of expansion vessels (40) available on the market.

[0042] The rod, and advantageously these holes are oblong in order to allow adjustment of the position of the plate (10) on the wall.

[0043] In order to be able to use a sufficiently thin sheet metal but nevertheless maintain the rigidity of the plate (10), the latter has stiffening ribs (12). Since the vase (40) is a priori intended to be positioned vertically, on top of the bracket (30), then the ribs (12) are parallel to the axis of the connection (20). These ribs can also be made around the entire periphery of the plate (10).

[0044] Furthermore, the support may be shaped differently from the examples given without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims.

[0045] Furthermore, the technical characteristics of the different embodiments and variants mentioned above can be, in whole or in part, combined with each other. Thus, the support can be adapted in terms of cost, functionality and performance.

Claims

Claims

1. Support for expansion vessel (40) comprising: - a wall-mounting plate (10); and - a connector (20) having a thread configured to receive a thread (41) for connecting the vessel (40) to a water network, characterized in that the plate (10) has four fixing holes (11) for connecting it to the wall, the connector (20) is connected to the plate (10) by a telescopic bracket (30), the thread of the connector (20) is configured to further receive a thread of a connector of a domestic hot water network and likely to be consumed by users, said connector (20) is made of stainless steel and is welded to an internal rod (32) of the bracket (30), and the connector (20) and the rod (32) have a protective coating against oxidation.

2. Support according to claim 1, characterized in that the bracket has a polygonal section, preferably square.

3. Support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for locking the telescopic bracket, such as one or more pressure screws.

4. Support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a center distance between the connection and a support face of the plate is between 125 mm and 185 mm, or between 145 mm and 235 mm, or between 185 mm and 280 mm.

5. Support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate has ribs parallel to an axis of the thread.

6. Support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an internal rod has a square section with a side length between 24 mm and 30 mm, and a thickness between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.

7. Support according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection has a radial thickness of between 2mm and 4mm.

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