AU739228B3 - Enviro insulator - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 "WATER HEATER ENHANCER" Technical field This invention relates to a water heater enhancer.

The invention has particular but not exclusive application to a water heater enhancer in the form of an insulated enclosure for an external domestic hot water system.

Summary of Invention The present invention aims to provide an alternative to known enclosures for hot water systems.

This invention in one aspect resides broadly in a prefabricated housing for an external hot water system located adjacent a house wall or the like, the housing including:walling means; a roof; insulating means for insulating the walling means and the roof, and fastening means for releasably fastening the assembled housing relative to the house wall or the like.

In a preferred embodiment the walling means includes two side walls and a front wall.

It is preferred that the fastening means includes wedge shaped fins or the like for mounting to the house wall or the like and slot-like recesses along the rear sides of the side walls for receiving the fins.

It is further preferred that the prefabricated housing includes an insulating surround adapted to substantially abut the hot water system.

It is also preferred that the walling members include respective frame members and wall cladding affixed thereto.

It is also preferred that the prefabricated housing includes connecting means for connecting the walling members and the roof.

It is also preferred that a door is included in, or constitutes, one of the Swalling members.

It is also preferred that the dimension of the side walls is such a space is provided between the top of the hot water system and the roof.

Description of Drawings In order that this invention may be more easily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:- FIGS 1, 2 and 3 respectively show an end elevation, front elevation and a roof plan of a hot water tank housing in accordance with the invention; FIGS 4 and 5 are sectional elevations of the housing along AA and BB as indicated on the roof plan view of FIG 3; FIG 6 is a detailed drawing of DETAIL 1 illustrated in FIG 4 providing a detailed sectional elevation of the top joining rail of the wall panel of the housing; FIG 7 is a detailed drawing of DETAIL 2 illustrated in FIG 4 providing a detailed sectional elevation of the lower joining rail of the wall panel of the housing; FIG 8 is a detailed drawing of DETAIL 3 illustrated in FIG 4 providing a detailed sectional elevation of the fastening means preferred for fastening the housing to a wall or the like, and FIGS 9A and 9B are side and plan views respectively of an insulating surround for positioning about a cylindrical hot water heater.

Description of Preferred Embodiment of Invention As can be seen in FIGS 1-5, a prefabricated housing 10 for an external hot water system (not shown) located adjacent a house wall 11 or the like has walling means in the form of two side walls 12,13 and a front wall 14, a roof insulating means in the form of polystyrene foam bats 16,17 and 18 for insulating the walling means 12, 13 and 14 and bat 19 for insulating the roof and fastening means (seen in more detail in FIG 8 and explained subsequently by reference thereto) for releasably fastening the assembled housing 10 relative to the house wall 11 or the like.

As best seen in FIGS 4-7, the walling means ie the side walls and front wall have side, top and bottom channel shaped frame members 21 which form respective frames about the insulating means (bats 16-19) which are each supported by a frame and in turn brace the frame. External cladding 22 is supported on the frame. A similar frame arrangement is used for roof As seen in FIG 8 the fastening means for fastening the housing relative to wall 11 includes wedge shaped fins 23 for mounting to the house wall 11 in the grouting between bricks 24 by a U-shaped bracket 25. Fins 23 are received in slot-like recesses 26 along the rear sides of the side walls 12 and 13.

FIGS 9A and 9B illustrate an insulating surround 27 made of three interlocking part cylindrical shields 28-30 adapted to substantially abut the hot water system 31 and held in place by bands 32 and 33.

As seen best in FIGS 4-7, front wall 14 has a door 34 framed in a similar way to side walls 12 and 13 and to roof 15. Slabs of foam 35 and 36 are respectively sandwiched between channel frame members 37,38 and 39,40 to form top and bottom front wall panels respectively. Door 34 being formed by a sheet of foam 41 being mounted in a frame of which top rail 42 and bottom rail 43 are seen in FIGS 6 and 7 respectively.

The depth of the front wall top panel seen in FIG 6 can be decreased to thereby provide a venting gap (not shown) between the top of at least one of the walling means and the roof.

As can be seen in the drawings, the invention resides broadly in a pre-fab housing assembly for covering and insulating an external hot water system. The assembly may include an insulating surround subsequently abutting the hot water system.

A preferred form of the invention provides total coverage to the external water heater, with the assembly consisting of two sides, one roof, one door, and a top and bottom-joining rail. All panels are fully insulated with suitable material such as polystyrene, polyurethane, batts or any other energy rated materials.

Panels can be framed using any suitable materials such as metal, wood, or moulded plastic. The external side of the panels (except the roof) is covered using weather resistant and energy rated material such as plastic, wood, or metal.

The roof is covered with any suitable roofing materials such as metal, plastic, and wood. The door provides access to the water heater and is attached to one of the sides with the use of hinges with removable pins. The door can be attached using other suitable methods. The door is kept shut with the use of magnetic catches or any other product suitable for example, door lock.

In between the top joining rail and roof is a gap to allow air travel and prevent mould. The housing is attached to the wall using one or more hidden fin brackets or the like, which clamp and/or fixes the housing to the brick or other wall material.

These brackets hook into a vertical slot on the back of the side panels and operate by simply lifting the side panels up off the ground and holding them against the wall. Pushing down the panel then locks or wedges the unit in place.

The top and bottom joining rails have right-angled brackets at either side, which fit to the two sides. The roof has right-angled brackets, which also fix to the side panels, so keeping the unit square.

The housing is preferably constructed of materials suited to making it airtight and insulated so as to capture heat. The materials preferably used include timber, galvanized metal, weatherproof stain, rubber seals, insulation, a barrel bolt and hinges, rubber drainage hose, silicon, mounting brackets and fittings (screws, dyno bolts).

The design is such that it enables easy access to the hotel water heater for repairs and the entire unit can be totally dismantled by the removal of eight screws.

The unit can be constructed of different material such as plastic or fibreglass mouldings, a variety of timbers or other materials suitable for constructing an airtight fixture, which protects the water heater from the elements.

The present invention offers a number of advantages including:- It minimises problems regarding external water heater exposure to the weather extremes causing an inefficient and maintenance prone water heater for consumers.

6 It does this by capturing and recycling the heat otherwise lost from an unprotected outdoor hot water system so as to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses produced and reduce the use and cost of electricity.

It will of course be realised that whilst the above has been given by way of an illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations hereto, as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

RICHARD GALJAARDT

Claims (3)

1. A prefabricated housing for an external hot water system located adjacent a house wall or the like, the housing including:- walling means; a roof; insulating means for insulating the walling means and the roof, and fastening means for releasably fastening the assembled housing relative to the house wall or the like.

2. A prefabricated housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening means includes wedge shaped fins or the like for mounting to the house wall or the like and slot-like recesses along the rear sides of the side walls for receiving the fins, and the walling means includes two side walls and a front wall.

3. A prefabricated housing as claimed in claim 1, and including an insulating surround adapted to substantially abut the hot water system.