Hinged Radiator Fastening for Easier Wall-Mounted Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wall-mounted radiators are difficult to install and remove due to the effort required to unfasten them from support brackets and disconnect fluid manifolds, leading to dust accumulation on the rear surfaces, which affects air quality and reduces radiator performance.

Innovation Solution

A radiator fastening system featuring a hinge support with a pivot mechanism that allows the radiator to tilt, providing access to the rear surfaces for cleaning and maintenance, while blocking means ensure the radiator remains in a predetermined position, simplifying installation and enhancing heat exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional bolted support brackets are used to wall-mount radiators, then the radiator is securely fixed to the wall, but the radiator becomes difficult to remove and maintain, leading to dust accumulation on rear surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure fixationVSAvoidremoval and maintenance accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing static bolted connections with a dynamic tilting mechanism. The radiator is mounted on a hinge support that allows it to tilt between a horizontal operating position (secured against the wall) and a vertical maintenance position (away from the wall). This dynamic transformation enables the radiator to transition between fixed and movable states, solving the contradiction between secure fixation and ease of maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the radiator is firmly mounted against the wall, then heat exchange performance is optimized, but dust and mites accumulate on the rear surfaces facing the wall

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat exchange performanceVSAvoiddust and mite accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The tilting mechanism enables periodic repositioning of the radiator from its horizontal heat-exchange position to a vertical maintenance position. This dynamic repositioning allows access to the rear surfaces for cleaning without permanently altering the mounting configuration, thus maintaining heat exchange performance while eliminating dust accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If two operators are used for traditional radiator installation to ensure precision and security, then proper alignment with support brackets is achieved, but installation cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge support is pre-installed on the wall with built-in alignment features that guide the radiator into proper position. The radiator's pivot connection and blocking means are designed to automatically align with the hinge support, eliminating the need for manual alignment adjustments by multiple operators. This preliminary preparation of the mounting system simplifies installation to a single-operator task while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The tilting mechanism facilitates easy installation and maintenance, improves air quality by reducing dust accumulation, and enhances radiator performance by maintaining the finnings required for heat exchange.

Implementation Method 1

at least a hinge support (1) adapted to hinge a radiator (3) by a lower area thereof to a support wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHinge mechanism: Hinge

Implementation Method 2

upper support (2) comprising blocking means (2) adapted to block the radiator (3) in a proximal position with respect to the support wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical blocking: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP2406549B1Radiator fastening system for hinge support
Publication Date: 2014.01.15 I R C A S P A IND RESISTENZE CORAZZATE E AFFINI
  • EP2406549B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2406549B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2406549B1 patent drawingFigure 2c

AI summary

A wall-mounted radiator comprising a support (1 ) adapted to make it tilting with respect to a support wall and possibly comprising blocking means (2) of the radiator to maintain it in a proximal or distal position with respect to said support wall. The support may be adapted to be associated with the radiator (3) so as to allow to adjust the fastening point so as to facilitate the installation thereof. Moreover, the support (1 ) may comprise a removable part (11 c) in order to further simplify the installation of the radiator.