Heater
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiators face challenges with reduced performance due to low flow temperatures from renewable heating technologies, leading to insufficient room heating, and existing fan units are difficult to install and affect the visual appearance and noise levels.
Innovation Solution
The radiator design features fastening elements with hooking elements that engage with recesses between heating plates, allowing for secure and easy installation of the fan unit inside the radiator, decoupling vibrations, and maintaining a clean visual appearance by concealing the fan unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fan units are fastened to the underside of the radiator using permanent magnets, then the fan unit can be securely held, but precise positioning becomes difficult and assembly is complicated due to high magnetic forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate element (retaining clip or mounting bracket) between the fan unit and the radiator heating plates. This intermediary component provides mechanical attachment points that are easier to position and assemble than direct magnetic fastening, while still achieving secure holding of the fan unit on the radiator.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the magnetic fastening system with a mechanical attachment system using retaining clips or mounting brackets with fasteners. This substitution eliminates the positioning difficulties and assembly complications caused by strong magnetic forces while maintaining secure holding capability.
2Productivity
If fan units are arranged on the underside of the radiator, then natural convection is supported, but the fan unit remains visible and influences the visual appearance of the radiator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the fan unit within the radiator structure itself, nesting the fans between the heating plates or within recesses of the radiator body. This allows the fan unit to be hidden from external view, preserving the visual appearance of the radiator, while still being positioned to effectively support natural convection and improve heating performance.
3Ease of repair
If connecting pipes are designed to be flexible to enable accessibility to the fan unit, then maintenance becomes possible, but the construction cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the radiator assembly into modular components, with the fan unit designed as a separate, independently accessible module. This segmentation allows the fan unit to be removed and serviced without requiring flexible connecting pipes or disassembly of the entire radiator, thereby reducing construction costs while maintaining ease of repair.
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
This solution enables easy and secure fan unit installation, enhances natural convection for improved heating, reduces noise and vibrations, and maintains the radiator's visual aesthetics by positioning the fan unit internally.
Implementation Method 1
decoupling vibrations, and maintaining a clean visual appearance by concealing the fan unit
Implementation Method 2
Fans arranged on the fan unit support the natural convection by accelerating the air flowing out of the radiator
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a heating element (1) with at least two heating plates (2) aligned parallel to each other, a plurality of connecting pieces which define a distance (9) between two heating plates (2) and at least one fan unit (4), wherein the heating plates (2) are each accessible to a heat transfer fluid via at least one supply and return connection and wherein the heating plates (2) each have a horizontally extending distribution channel, a horizontally extending collecting channel (6) and a plurality of heating channels (8) extending perpendicular to the distribution channel and the collecting channel (6), which are fluidically connected on the one hand to the collecting channel (6) and on the other hand to the distribution channel, wherein a recess (7) is located between adjacent heating channels (8),which is located lower than the distribution channel and the collection channel (6) – viewed in a direction perpendicular to a tangential plane to the heating channels (8) – wherein the fan unit (4) has a support (10) and a plurality of fans attached to the support (10) in a force-transmitting manner, wherein the support (10) is elongated, the fans are arranged on it in at least one row one behind the other, and the fan unit (4) is detachably attached to at least one heating plate (2) by means of its fastening elements (14), wherein the fastening elements (14) engage with hook elements (21) in each of the recesses (7),This allows holding forces to be introduced via the hook elements (21) into wall sections of the opposing collecting channels (6). In order to position the fan unit as far as possible within the interior of the radiator (1) located between the heating plates (2) and at the same time ensure quiet and vibration-free operation of the fans, it is proposed that the support (10) be separated at each of its two longitudinal edges from a contact area of the respective heating plate (2) by means of a non-metallic intermediate element (28), in particular made of a plastic material, and that the support (10) be located at least partially between the heating plates (2).