US1954638A - Method of making enameled radiators - Google Patents

Description

A ril 10, 1934. R. w. LOEFFLER METHOD OF MAKING ENAMELED .RADIATORS Filed Feb. 18, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet. l

April 1934- R. w. LO EFFLER METHOD OF'MAKING ENAMELED RADIATQRS s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 18, 1932 J April 10, 1934. R w LQEFFLER 1,954,638

METHOD OF MAKING ENAMELED HADIATORS Filed Feb. 18, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 10, 1934' UNITED STATES PATIENT oFFics METHOD OF MAKING ENAMELED BADIATORS Rudolph W; Loeflier, Baltimore, Md. Application February 18, 1932, Serial No, 593,716 Claims. (Cl. its-457.3)

In accordance with the present practice the great majority of heating radiators for steam and hot water systems are made of cast iron. Theseradiators are defective in their operation and undesirable for-several reasons. The production of thehollowcastings which are necessary for their construction is expensive, the radiators are heavy to ship and handle and they are also. brittle and subject to failure on account of freezing, and by cracking due to blows orshocks.

On account of the thickness which is necessary to suflicient strength, they are very slow to heat resulting in a considerable loss of efliciency and are correspondingly slow in responding to control, automatic or manuaL. Further, it is difiicult to so finish the external surface as to avoid accumulation of dirt so that they are apt to be unsanitary and unsightly, and the rough surface ordinarily presented externally of the radiator is not favorable to radiation.

The substitution of sheet steel or so called sheet iron for. the cast metal has been attempted, but with little success on account of the slight resistance presented by this material to, the corrosive action of water and the various chemicals contained in the water which is available for use in domestic and other heating plants. Further, such radiators can not be made of one piece of metal and it has been found diflicult to so join'the metal sheets as to avoid leakage at the joints dueto corrosion or to deflection and straining on account of contraction and expan sion because of variation of internal pressure and crushing or deflection of the radiator units when they are drawn together in assembling.

- The object of the present invention is to produce a radiator of sheet steel or other sheet metal which is adapted to resist corrosion for an indefinite period, at least equal to the life of a cast iron radiator, and which consists .of plates so joined and so protected internally and externally as to the joints that'there is no tendency to leak: age either from-straining, deflection, crushing or corrosion.

The invention relates to a method of making radiators preferably of sheetiron or sheet steel,

- for which any other available sheet metal may be substituted, and to the radiatorproduced in the practice of the method, and to the details of construction of this radiator whereby it is adapted to be so produced. The method of the invention of the invention in the preferred form being so devised as to provide for the covering of the sheet metal with a plurality of coats o; vitreous enamel which covers completely not only the exposed internal and external surfaces of the radiator, but the edge portions of the sheet metal where they are clinched or otherwise joined in combining the concave metal sheets to produce thehollow, units or sections of which the radiator isconstructed. 'The enamel which covers these edge portions being in accordance with one form of the invention utilized'as a flux whereby it is caused to contribute to the effectiveness of the welding operation assisting in the fusion of the metal so. as to produce a permanent joint which is proof against corrosion for an indefinite period at least equal .to and probably exceeding the life of the average cast iron radiator.

It is of .interest that while the enamel serves in a satisfactory manner as a flux in joining the edges of the sheet metal plates to form the units or sections that it may also be utilized in a different capacity, i. e., as a. cementitious material which intervenes between the clinched edges of the sheet metal plates serving to hold the plates together and-seal the seams or joints, the metal not' being actually fusedin accordance with the. general acceptance of the term, the clinched edges of the metal being on the'other hand sealed by the fusion and setting of the enamel.

features of construction whereby the units are to be supported from within as to limit the deflec tion resulting'from the pressure applied thereto The invention also relates to the details and i in joining the units to assemble the radiator and the deflection due to internal pressure and to other features and details which contribute to the production on a commercial basis of a satisfactory radiator of this type, i. e., one which is coated with vitreous enamel over the entire internal and 9 preferably the entire external surface, the joints being sealed and protected by the enamel and the edge portions ofthe sheet which are interengaged to form the seams or joints, being preferably coated with enamel as .to the portions within the joint 1 orseam. I In the accompanying drawingsl have illustrated a radiator constructed in accordance with the method of the invention illustrating construction details of the invention and, the practice of the 1 method of the invention, the construction shown embody the preferred details contributing to the production of a satisfactory enameled radiator of the type which is coated internally and preferably externally with vitreous. enamel.

away to show a portion in section.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3, 3 of Figure 1 broken away intermediately for convenience of illustration and showing the condition of the enamel internally and externally after baking.

Figure4 is a fragmentary section on the same line showing one of the joints or seams immediately after clinching the edges of the concave metal sheets and prior to application of the ex! ternal coating, the edges not having been welded.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5, 5 in Figure 1 of an assembled radiator of three br more sections, showing the manner of connecting the units or sections at the top and bottom.

Figure 6 is a section through one of the seams by which the edges of the sheet metal plates are joined showingthe type of seam in which the enamel is utilized both as a sealing means and as a means for securing the clinched edges 'of the sheet metal plates to form the unit, the plates being not necessarily otherwise connected by welding. The figure also shows the sheet metal the plates being welded, the seam being sealed from within by means of the enamel, the radiator being coated internally with the enamel which has been baked and fusedin position thereon.

Figure .8 is a fragmentary section corresponding to Figure 5, showing a modification.

. Referring to the drawings by numerals, each of which is used to indicate the same or similar parts in the different figures, the construction shown is in its general outline very much like the cast iron radiators in general use consisting of a number of units or hbllow sections having registering openings in the lateral faces at the top and bottom, the'units being assembled by drawing them together with these openings in registration.

The radiator indicated in a general way by reference character 1 consists of any desired number of hollow members or units 2, 2, 2", which are preferably like or similar to the cast iron radiator units of the present existing practice as to their external outline and somewhat similar to them in the manner of connection except as to the variation of details provided in accordance with the invention to adapt the enameled sheet metal construction of the invention to use in the production of heating radiators.

In'accordance with this practice, the hollow units or sections 2 are provided with opposite aligned openings 3 and 4 at the top-and 5 and 6 at the bottom. In'assembling the radiator a suitable number of units 2 are placed with their openings 3, 4, 12, 13 in registration and drawn together by suitable tension members 7 and 8, the tension members 7 and 8 being preferably threaded at their ends at 9 and 9' to engage frusto conical fittings or plugs 10 at the top and 11 at the bottom, which are seated in the flanged openings 3, 12, respectively, at the top and bottom of the radiator. These openings 3, 12 are shown' as in ternally flanged at 14, 15, the flanges being turned inwardly and of frusto conical shape to fit the plugs 10 and 11, and each plug is apertured and threaded at its inner end to engage the threads 9, 9' on the ends of the tension members 7, 8. In

the form of the invention shown the plug 10 at the top is solid and-the plug 11 at the bottom is apertured in the direction of the axis and threaded to engage a steam or water pipe 16, the plug or fitting 11 being apertured laterally at 17 to connect the pipe with the inside of the radiator, the end of the pipe being closed by the tension rod 8. It will be understood that the solid and apertured plugs may be interchanged to give any desired method of connecting the radiators to the system.

In accordance with the preferred form of the invention shown, the units or sections 2 are made with the openings at the top and bottom internally flanged as to the openings at one side, opening 3 being internally flanged at 14, opening 12 at 15, and the openings at the'other side, i.-e. the right hand opening at the top of unit 2 indicated by reference character 4, having an externally disposed flange 18 which is frusto conical as in the previous instance. This flange is surrounded by an annular cavity 19 which provides for the reception of a gasket or fibre ring 20. The opening on the right hand side of this section or unit 2 at the bottom being exactly like the opening 4 at the top is indicated by reference character 4 and need not be further described. The second unit or section 2' and the remaining units or section 2" need not be further described except that they are assembled in alternating relation so that the internal flanges face the external flanges.

The frusto conical fitting or plug 10, at the top, duplicated at the opposite end of the series of units or sections 2 composing the assembled ra-.

diator, the duplicate plug being indicated by 10", and the tension member 7 is passed through the registering openings 3, 4, etc. from one end to the other of the complete radiator, being engaged at its-opposite ends by the frusto conical plugs 10,

,10' which are turned up by means of a wrench totighten the units or sections in their assembled relation. It is also of interest that the openings 3, 3' are surrounded by an annular seat or aperture 21 in which is seated a fibre ring or gasket 22, which is covered by brass or other sheet metal washer 23 which may be coated with enamel and ,the plugs or fittings 10; 10", 11, etc. are made of non corrosive metal and ground, the openings 3,

3' being similar openings, if desired, ground as to the enamel therein in frusto conical form to fit and receive the plugs.

It will be noted that the joints between the radiator sections at the top and bottom are each formed by and with an externally flanged and an internally flanged opening 3, 3', 4, 12, 13, so

that the adjacent openings are of opposite taper, it being understood that all of these openings are of increasing diameter from the inside outwardly, and each section is connected to the adjacent one wiy means of a double frusto conical fitting 24 hav- 7 ing a longitudinal axial aperture at 25 and a central peripheral flange 26, the fiange being of such diameter as to fit into the annular space 19 and bear'against the gasket or ring 20 so that when the sections are drawn together by taking up onv apertured laterally at 28, the apertures being radiators, the manner of producing and the details .of construction of the hollow enameled sheet metal units to which the important features of the invention relate will now be described. Each unit or section in the form of the invention shown consists of two concave metal plates 30, 31, the curvature being so arranged and selected as to cause the plates when joined at their edges in any suitable manner, to enclose a cavity corresponding to a radiator unit orsection of the desired.

size and shape. Each of these plates 30, 31 has its edges 'flanged at 32, 33 in a single flat place in a manner suitable to provide for connecting the plates by clinching as shown at 34 in Figures 3, 4, 6 and 7. The first step in the performance of the method which is the subject of the invention is the formation of these sheet metal sheets into the sections 30, 31 as described, the flanges being preferably of different widths and in any suitable form either straight or partially turned. The

. 'platesithus formed are first coated on the inside with a vitreous enamel paste 35 of the kind which is adapted to be baked o the metal whereby it is Y fused and subsequently permitted to harden as an integral sheet or coating of vitreous enamel. For

the purposes in hand the most flexible elastic compounds of enamel which can be obtained or produced are most satisfactory, a considerable content of borax being desirable when the enamel is employed as a flux.

The manner of initial coating is best illustrated in Figure4. This is preferably applied before any bending or clinching of the edges. The metal sheets are then baked to set the enamel 35 on the inside, which mayconsist of any desired number of coats. The metal sheets are then joined by clinching the edges 32, 33, as particularly illustrated in Figure 4, after which the units or'sections are joined by welding at 43 as shown'in Figure 7, i. e., by running an electric welding tool along the clinched edges 32, 33, or along exposed edge 32 in any suitable mariner. The section is then coated externally with enamel paste, it being understood that several coats of this enamel are applied, and that all necessary precautious are taken to completely cover the joints and to fill in 'the angles and depressions as best illustrated at 37-.and 39. Extra coatings of the enamel paste are applied at these points, if .necessary,it being understood that each coat of enamel is preferably allowed to dry before. the next is applied. This portion of the method may be performed in any manner which may be found most suitable to the desired result and to the material used., When the coating operation has been completed, the various angles and depressions being covered as aforesaid, theunit is finished by placing it in an oven,

-; heatingthe enamel to a sufficient temperature to fuse it, after which it is permitted to cool and harden, forming an integral vitreous coating, covering the inside and the outside of the unit completely. It is of particular interest that the enamel when thus fused completely closes and preferred method.

seals the joints or seams on the inside: at 38 and on the outside it seals the crevices and depressions aroundthe joint as at 3'7 and 39 giving a smooth external contour. The foregoing is the Referring now to Figure 6, it is of interest that the joint may if desired be sealed and completed, the welding step being omitted the unit or section in detail in Figure 6 being merely placed in the oven and heated to a temperature at which the enamel is completely fused, after which it is permitted to cool and harden. By

this method the enamel is hardened between and around the.clinched edges of the sheet metal 32, 33, 34, as indicated at 40. The joint is sealed on' the inside as indicated at 41 and on the outside the 'crevices and depressions are completely filled and reduced to a pleasingand satisfactory curvilinear contour as indicated at 42,.

Figure 8 shows an alternative form of interlocking .means whereby the fittings 10, 11, 24, etc., i.'e., the frusto conical plugs and the double frusto conical plugs may be omitted, the adjacent radiators being provided with male and female guiding sleeves, 45, 46 as to their adjacent contacting portions, the respective male and female members being surrounded by annular cavities 47, 48 which when placed in registration by engagement of the male and female members 45, 46, form a single annular cavity 49 which is adapted to contain a packing ring or gasket 50,

which serves as a yielding means between the radiator sections to close contact between the seams, andtake up the pressure applied to the radiator sections or units in holding them in assembled relation. The crushing pressure thus applied to the units in assembling them is taken up by hollow struts 51, corresponding to the struts. 27 in Figure 5, any suitable tension means as therod 52, the nuts 53 being available for this purpose.

The method of the invention whereby radiators coated with enamel internally and externally composed of sheet steel plates joined at their' edges which are concealed by means of the enamel which may assist as acementitious material in the permanent fastening of the plates composed of concave sheet metal plates welded or otherwise 'permanently'joined at their edges and sealed externally and internally by means of the vitreousenamel. The invention also includes, as already pointed out, the details of structure whereby a sheet metal radiator coated internally andexternally with vitreous enamel composed of units as described is adapted for assembly in series of such units in proper registration and suitably connected to form complete radiators for use in connection with domestic heating plants and for heating plants for heating rooms, apartments or buildings for human occupation.

It is of interest that all of the metal portions including'hollow studs or struts 27, the washers 23, and even the fittings 10, 11 and 24 and the tension rods '7 and 8 may be coated with vitreous enamel to prevent anyand all possibility of corrosion. This also adds to the pleasing effect as the external view shows nothing but the enamel surface unless it is preferred to finish the plugs '10, 11 which are exposed externally with nickel or chromium or similar bright non corrosive metal.

Various advantages of the invention as the lightness, cheapness, efficiency, quick response to control, etc., due to quick heating and improved radiation, improved appearance, increased sanitation and the like have been fully pointed out;

discussed and emphasized in the preamble.

I have thus described a method of making heating radiators of sheet metal, coated with enamel internally and externally, and sealed as to the seams'or joints, and an article made in accordance with the method of the invention, the description being specific and in detail in order that the method of practicing the invention and operating, applying and using the same may be fully understood, however, the specific terms herein are used descriptively rather than in a limiting sense,

Lthe scope of the invention being defined in the claims;' What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: w

1. The method of making radiator-sections or units which consists in providing concave metal sheets, coating them internally with vitreous enamel paste, placing the sheets with the concavities in registration and the edges in contact,

sheets, coating them internally with vitreous enamel paste, placing the sheets with t e concavities in registration and the edges in contact,

welding the edges to form seams joining the metal sheets, coating the sheets externally with enamel paste and baking, to fuse the enamel and form an integral vitreous external and internal coating for the radiator unit whereby the seams are sealed externally and internally by and with the enamel. e

3. The method of making a sheet metal radiator which consists in forming concave metal sheets, coating the 'inner surface with; enamel paste, and placing the concavesheets in registration to form a hollow unit clinching and welding the edges and coating theexternal surface with enamel paste baking -to fuse the enamel forming a continuous vitreous coating and sealing and protecting the joints.

4. The method of making radiators which consists in forming concaved sheet metal sections adapted to be joined at the edges to form hollow units to be assembled in the production of a complete radiator coating the sections and edges internally with vitreous enamel paste, placing the sections in registrationhaving their pasty edge portions in contact, joining the edges by crimping and welding the overlapping edges, whereby the enamel paste on said overlapping edge is utilized 1 as a welding flux, coating the radiator externally with enamel paste and heating to fuse the enamel whereby it is caused to forman integral. vitreous coating, sealing the joints or seams at the edge of the plates.

5. The method of making radiatorunits or sections which consists in providing concaved metal sheets adapted to be assembled by'joining them at the edges to form hollow units, coating the sheet metal plates and edge portions internally with vitreous enamel paste, placing the sections in registration with their coated edges in contact to form ahollow radiator unit, crimping the edges together forming a seam whereby the metal sheets are joined, coating the external surface with RUDOLPH W. LOEFFLER.

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