Flat Panel Radiator Venting With Separated Channel Openings
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Series panel radiators face issues during filling and venting, where the heating medium flows from faster-filled panels to slower-filled ones, disrupting complete ventilation, and the vent plug's incomplete removal can prevent proper ventilation due to radial and conical seat seals.
Innovation Solution
The fluid channels are opened directly to the environment by loosening the vent plug, preventing medium flow between channels and ensuring both openings are fully opened, avoiding air and medium conflicts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vent plug is loosened to vent the heating panels, then air can be expelled from the fluid channels, but heating medium flows from faster-filled panels to slower-filled panels through the functional connection, disrupting complete ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The functional connection is segmented into separate venting paths for each heating panel. Each heating panel has its own dedicated venting route through the vent plug, preventing cross-flow between panels. The radial seal divides the functional connection into separate sealed zones, ensuring that venting operations on one panel do not interfere with others.
Solution Approach 2:
The venting function is extracted from the common functional connection by providing individual venting paths for each heating panel. The vent plug controls separate openings for each panel's fluid channel, isolating the venting process of each panel from the others and preventing medium flow interference.
2Reliability
If the vent plug is not completely removed from the functional connection, then sealing is maintained, but the radial seal remains in the mouth unnoticed and prevents proper ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing mechanism transitions from a radial seal that can remain partially in place to an O-ring seal that is clearly visible when removed. The O-ring's circular cross-section provides a distinct visual indicator of its presence or removal state, making it easy for users to verify proper venting setup without confusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The O-ring seal provides visual feedback through its distinct circular appearance when viewed in cross-section. Users can easily determine whether the seal is properly installed or removed by observing this visual characteristic, eliminating the ambiguity present with radial seals.
3Device complexity
If fluid channels open into each other through the functional connection, then a common venting structure is used, but medium flows between channels causing conflicts and preventing complete ventilation
Solution Approach 1:
The functional connection is segmented into separate venting paths for each heating panel. Each heating panel has its own dedicated venting route through the vent plug, preventing cross-flow between panels. The radial seal divides the functional connection into separate sealed zones, ensuring that venting operations on one panel do not interfere with others.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
The method involves opening out the fluid channels in separated openings in a functional connection. The openings are sealed with detachable venting plugs. The fluid channels open into the surrounding area of the plate radiator (1) by releasing the venting plugs, and the heating plates are aerated. The openings are opened directly into the surrounding area by releasing the venting plugs. An independent claim is also included for a plate radiator with a sealing surface.