Hydronic heating system, hanger for tubing and method of using same to install the hydronic heating system

Abstract

A hydronic heating system that is rapidly installed using a hanger for suspending a tubing that conducts heated fluid beneath a floor to be heated. The hanger includes a stem having an upper loop for securing the hanger to the underside of a floor and a helical hook at a bottom end of the stem for supporting the tubing. The hanger can be made of a single piece of metal wire.

1 . A hydronic heating system for radiant floor heating, comprising: 
 a length of tubing defining a conduit within which a heated fluid can be circulated; and    a plurality of hangers that suspend the tubing a predetermined distance beneath an underside of the floor, each hanger comprising:    a stem having a top end that can be secured to the underside of the floor; and    a helical hook at a bottom end of the stem for supporting the tubing.    
   
   
       2 . The hydronic heating system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the helical hook has a free end that is spaced away from the stem a distance that is about equal to an outer diameter of the tubing, the helical hook forming an arc with respect to the stem that does not exceed 270° to permit the tubing to be slid through the gap, and thereafter the hanger is rotated about 90° to lock the tubing within the hook when the hanger is secured to the underside of the floor.  
   
   
       3 . The hydronic heating system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the top end of the stem comprises a loop formed integrally with the stem, the loop forming a passage through which a fastener can be inserted for securing the hanger to the underside of the floor.  
   
   
       4 . The hydronic heating system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a threaded fastener having a narrow neck region that is rotatably restrained within a loop at a top end of the stem.  
   
   
       5 . The hydronic heating system as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the stem, hook and loop are formed from a single length of metal wire.  
   
   
       6 . The hydronic heating system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of hangers are secured to the underside of the floor between floor joists.  
   
   
       7 . The hydronic heating system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the plurality of hangers are secured to the underside of the floor midway between floor joists.  
   
   
       8 . The hydronic heating system as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising heat radiating fins connected to the tubing at predetermined intervals.  
   
   
       9 . A method of installing a hydronic heating system, the method comprising steps of: 
 extending a tubing beneath a floor to be heated;    sliding a helical hook at a bottom end of a hanger over the tubing, the helical hook having a free end that is spaced away from a stem of the hanger by a distance that is about equal to an outer diameter of the tubing, the helical hook forming an arc with respect to the stem that does not exceed 270° to permit the tubing to be slid through the gap, after which the hanger is rotated about 90° to lock the tubing within the hook when the hanger is secured to the underside of the floor; and    sliding the hangers over the tubing at predetermined intervals and securing the respective hangers to an underside of the floor to suspend the tubing a predetermined distance below the underside of the floor.    
   
   
       10 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the securing comprises inserting a threaded fastener through a loop at an upper end of the hanger and driving the fastener into the underside of the floor to secure the hanger to the floor.  
   
   
       11 . The method as claimed in  claim 9  wherein suspending the tubing comprises suspending the tubing from the underside of the floor between adjacent floor joists.  
   
   
       12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein suspending the tubing comprises suspending the tubing midway between adjacent joists.  
   
   
       13 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 drilling holes in opposite ends of alternate joists; and    threading the tubing through the holes before sliding the hangers over the tubing and suspending the tubing from the underside of the floor.    
   
   
       14 . The method as claimed in  claim 13  further comprising: 
 attaching heat radiating fins to the tubing at predetermined intervals.    
   
   
       15 . The method as claimed in  claim 10  further comprising preassembling the hanger and the fastener, wherein the fastener has a narrow neck region that is rotatably restrained within the loop of the hanger.  
   
   
       16 . A hanger for suspending a tubing for circulating a heated fluid in a hydronic heating system, the hanger comprising: 
 a stem having a top end securable to an underside of a floor; and    a helical hook at a bottom end of the stem, the hook having a free end that is spaced from the stem by a distance that is about equal to an outer diameter of the tubing, the helical hook forming an arc with respect to the stem that does not exceed 270° to permit the hook to be slid over the tubing by passing the tubing through the gap, and thereafter rotating the hanger about 90° to lock the tubing within the hook when the hanger is secured to the underside of the floor.    
   
   
       17 . The hanger as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the top end comprises a loop formed integrally with the stem through which a fastener can be inserted for securing the hanger to the underside of the floor.  
   
   
       18 . The hanger as claimed in  claim 16  further comprising a fastener having a narrow neck region for being rotatably restrained within the loop formed at the top end of the hanger.  
   
   
       19 . The hanger as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the hanger is formed from a single length of metal wire.  
   
   
       20 . The hanger as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the stem is about 3″ long.