Counter flow tube-manifold radiant floor heating system

Claim 1

An apparatus for conveying a heat containing fluid material in counter-current pattern in the conduits an embedded floor heating system consisting essentially of: (a) a hollow fluid conducting conduit consisting essentially of three hollow cylindrical elongated resilient fluid conducting integrally formed tubes which are disposed parallel to and abut one another along the substantial portion of their length, with no webs therebetween, which tubes have first and second ends adapted for use in an embedded floor heating system; (b) a first hollow fluid conducting elongated manifold with ports and fittings therein adapted for connection with the first ends of the tubes, the manifold being positioned exterior to the heated floor; and (c) a second hollow fluid conducting elongated manifold with ports and fittings therein adapted for connection with the second ends of the tubes, the first ends of the two outer tubes being connected to the ports and fittings of the first manifold and the opposite ends of the same two tubes being connected to the ports and fittings of the second manifold, and the first end of the third middle tube abutting the first ends of the two outer tubes being connected to a port and fitting of the second manifold, while the opposite end of the third middle tube is connected to a port and fitting of the first manifold, the fitting being connected to the port of a respective manifold consisting essentially of: (d) a hollow nut which has a female thread therein, and an inwardly projecting flange at one end thereof, said nut circumscribing the tube; (e) a ferrule formed of a resilient substance and being tapered on the exterior and having a hollow cylindrical configuration in the interior circumscribing the tube, the ferrule being positioned completely inside the interior of the nut, the broader end of the exterior tapered ferrule abutting the flange of the nut; (f) a hollow cylindrical member which has a flange on one end thereof, which member is of substantially the same length as the nut and is adapted to fit inside an end of the tube with the flange located at the end of the tube; and (g) an elongated tubular member having a male thread at one end thereof adapted to receive the female thread of the nut, the end removed from the thread being adapted to penetrate through the port into the interior of the manifold, the combination of the nut and the tubular member holding the end of the tube between the tapered ferrule and the cylindrical member.

Claim 2

An apparatus for conveying a heat containing fluid material in counter-current pattern in the conduits an embedded floor heating system consisting essentially of: (a) a hollow fluid conducting conduit consisting essentially of three hollow cylindrical elongated resilient fluid conducting integrally formed tubes which are disposed parallel to and abut one another along the substantial portion of their length, with no webs therebetween, which tubes have first and second ends adapted for use in an embedded floor heating system; (b) a first hollow fluid conducting elongated manifold with ports and fittings therein adapted for connection with the first ends of the tubes, the manifold being positioned exterior to the heated floor; and (c) a second hollow fluid conducting elongated manifold with ports and fittings therein adapted for connection with the second ends of the tubes, the first ends of the two outer tubes being connected to the ports and fittings of the first manifold and the opposite ends of the same two tubes being connected to the ports and fittings of the second manifold, and the first end of the third middle tube abutting the first ends of the two outer tubes being connected to a port and fitting of the second manifold, while the opposite end of the third middle tube is connected to a port and fitting of the first manifold, the fitting being connected to the port of a respective manifold consisting essentially of: (d) a hollow nut which has a female thread therein, and an inwardly projecting flange at one end thereof, said nut circumscribing the tube; (e) a ferrule formed of a resilient substance and being tapered on the exterior and having a hollow cylindrical configuration in the interior circumscribing the tube, the ferrule being positioned completely inside the interior of the nut, the broader end of the exterior tapered ferrule abutting the flange of the nut; (f) a hollow cylindrical member which has a flange on one end thereof, which member is of substantially the same length as the nut and is adapted to fit inside an end of the tube with the flange located at the end of the tube; and (g) an elongated tubular member having a male thread at one end thereof adapted to receive the female thread of the nut, the end removed from the thread being adapted to penetrate through the port into the interior of the manifold, the combination of the nut and the tubular member holding the end of the tube between the tapered ferrule and the cylindrical member.