Radiator fin

Abstract

A radiator fin ( 10 ) has front ( 11 ) and rear ( 12 ) faces, and is defined by upper ( 15 ) and lower ( 16 ) edges and opposed side edges ( 17, 18 ). The fin ( 10 ) has first and second apertures ( 13, 14 ), each passing through the front ( 11 ) and rear ( 12 ) faces and adapted to receive and contact a conductive element ( 24, 25 ) for the transfer of heat to the fin ( 10 ). The centre of the first aperture ( 13 ) is offset relative to the centre of the second aperture ( 14 ), such that said first ( 13 ) and second aperture ( 14 ) centres are not vertically aligned when the fin ( 10 ) is installed. The fin ( 10 ) is adapted for mounting adjacent a plurality of like fins ( 10 ) to form a heat exchange coil ( 30 ) for use in a radiator ( 40 ).

1 . A radiator fin having front and rear faces, and defined by upper and lower edges and opposed side edges, said fin having first and second apertures, each passing through the front and rear faces and adapted to receive and contact a conductive element for the transfer of heat to the fin, wherein the centre of the first aperture is offset relative to the centre of the second aperture, such that said first and second aperture centres are not vertically aligned when the fin is installed. 
     
     
         2 . The radiator fin of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of flutes on at least one of the front and rear faces, said flutes being arranged so as to be vertically oriented when the fin is installed. 
     
     
         3 . The radiator fin of  claim 2 , wherein said fin is generally rectangular, and wherein the upper and lower edges are substantially parallel to one another, and the opposed side edges are substantially parallel to one another and substantially perpendicular to the upper and lower edges. 
     
     
         4 . The radiator fin of  claim 3 , wherein the flutes are arranged substantially parallel to the opposed side edges. 
     
     
         5 . The radiator fin of  claim 1 , wherein the lower edge is formed with a raised central section so as to present an oblique mounting surface adjacent the junction of the lower edge with each side edge, each said mounting surface being adapted to receive a mounting element of a radiator casing. 
     
     
         6 . The radiator fin of  claim 1 , wherein each said conductive element for transfer of heat to the fin is a pipe connector adapted for the delivery of heated water. 
     
     
         7 . A heat exchange coil comprising a plurality of like radiator fins mounted adjacent one another, each said radiator fin having:
 front and rear faces, being defined by upper and lower edges and opposed side edges, and having first and second apertures, each passing through the front and rear faces and adapted to receive and contact a conductive element for the transfer of heat to the fin, wherein the centre of the first aperture is offset relative to the centre of the second aperture, such that said first and second aperture centres are not vertically aligned when the fin is installed,   and wherein the first aperture of each fin is aligned with the first aperture of each adjacent fin, and the second aperture of each fin is aligned with the second aperture of each adjacent fin, thereby to form first and second conduits extending through the heat exchange coil, each adapted to receive and contact a said conductive element for the transfer of heat to the fins.   
     
     
         8 . The heat exchange coil of  claim 7 , wherein each said conductive element for transfer of heat to the fins is a pipe connector adapted for the delivery heated water, and wherein the heat exchange coil further comprises a first said pipe connector mounted in the first conduit, and a second said pipe connector mounted in the second conduit, each said pipe connector being adapted for the delivery of heated water to the heat exchange coil. 
     
     
         9 . The heat exchange coil of  claim 8 , wherein one of said first and second pipe connectors is adapted for connection to a flow pipe for delivery of heated water from the water heating system to the heat exchange coil, and the other of said first and second pipe connectors is adapted for connection to a return pipe to return water from the heat exchange coil to the water heating system. 
     
     
         10 . The heat exchange coil of  claim 8 , wherein each of said first and second pipe connectors is adapted for connection to a flow pipe for delivery of heated water directly from the water heating system to the heat exchange coil. 
     
     
         11 . The heat exchange coil of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said first and second pipe connectors is provided with internal rifling. 
     
     
         12 . The heat exchange coil of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said first and second pipe connectors is provided with at least one internal swirler. 
     
     
         13 . The heat exchange coil of  claim 7 , comprising a plurality of like radiator fins each having a lower edge formed with a raised central section so as to present an oblique mounting surface adjacent the junction of the lower edge with each side edge, wherein the oblique mounting surfaces of each fin are aligned with the oblique mounting surfaces of each adjacent fin, thereby to form elongated oblique mounting surfaces extending along the underside of the heat exchange coil. 
     
     
         14 . A radiator comprising:
 a heat exchange coil formed from a plurality of like radiator fins mounted adjacent one another, each said radiator fin having:
 front and rear faces, being defined by upper and lower edges and opposed side edges, and having first and second apertures, each passing through the front and rear faces and adapted to receive and contact a conductive element for the transfer of heat to the fin, wherein the centre of the first aperture is offset relative to the centre of the second aperture, such that said first and second aperture centres are not vertically aligned when the fin is installed, 
 and wherein the first aperture of each fin is aligned with the first aperture of each adjacent fin, and the second aperture of each fin is aligned with the second aperture of each adjacent fin, thereby to form first and second conduits extending through the heat exchange coil, each adapted to receive and contact a said conductive element for the transfer of heat to the fins; and 
   a radiator casing adapted to be mounted on said heat exchange coil.   
     
     
         15 . The radiator of  claim 14 , wherein the radiator casing comprises a back plate adapted to be secured to wall, and further adapted to engage with the heat exchange coil, and a front panel adapted to engage with the back plate and with the heat exchange coil. 
     
     
         16 . The radiator of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the heat exchange coil comprises a plurality of like radiator fins each having a lower edge formed with a raised central section so as to present an oblique mounting surface adjacent the junction of the lower edge with each side edge;   the oblique mounting surfaces of each fin are aligned with the oblique mounting surfaces of each adjacent fin, thereby to form elongated oblique mounting surfaces extending along the underside of the heat exchange coil; and,   each of the back plate and the front panel further comprises a mounting element adapted to engage with a respective oblique mounting surface.   
     
     
         17 . The radiator of  claim 15 , wherein each of the front panel and the back plate comprises an upper portion extending beyond the upper edge of the heat exchange coil, defined by the upper edges of the plurality of fins, thereby to define an air space above the heat exchange coil, and wherein the upper portion of the front panel is adapted to engage with the upper portion of the back plate. 
     
     
         18 . The radiator of  claim 17 , wherein said upper portion of the front panel comprises a grille section located adjacent said air space, thereby to enable heated air to flow from said air space into a room in which the radiator is mounted. 
     
     
         19 . The radiator of  claim 17 , wherein the upper portion of the front panel is angled relative to the upper edge of the heat exchange coil. 
     
     
         20 . The radiator of  claim 17 , wherein the upper portion of the back plate is angled relative to the upper edge of the heat exchange coil.