CA2072543A1 - Water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT
A water heater comprising a body for containing water, a spout for pouring water from the water heater, a chamber within the body which, in use, will be in communication with water in the water heater; the chamber comprising a wall which, in use, extends through and below the surface of water in the water heater, wherein the chamber has an orifice for egress of steam therefrom and wherein the chamber is, in use, adapted to trap a proportion os steam evolved in consequence of the water heater boiling for escape of steam via the orifice.

920625cmsspe.067.baffle.Kam.12

Description

~ JJN-l~9C 11:~7 Sh~ ERC:OI_KS P~IT RTT rJ~lD~ ~l 3 7913160 P,1~4 2 ~ 7 ,~ -3 ~ ~

E: "~ATT3R ~5P~TE1R' L~ OF TH~ VEN~xON:

5 T~is ~ nv~nt~on relate~ to a water heater and ~n a partic~ r aspe~:t it r~late~ ~o an electrlc ke~ctle.

BA~OUP~D ~0 ~HE INVI~NTIOP~:
~0 Whi~ling ket~l~s ar~ known which have a ~od~, a SpO~It or ~11in~ the l~et~l~ and a ~mo~a~le cap ~or loc~ti~g ove~
the spout ~nd wh~ ch ~ap con~ains a whi~tle to be op~rated b~ ~team.
Howevel~, the caps fo~ ~u~h kettles a~e o~ten lost.

~n ~ mproved whistl~ ng kettle has a bo~, a ~pou~ ~or f~lling th~ ke~tl~, a handl~, a clo~ur~ ~or 'che spout whl~h 20 is pivotally mot~ ed to the ~o~y and a me~han~m ha~lng ~n opera~or lo<~ed in th~ han~le ~o~ ~u~in~ the closu~e 'co pivot ~om a ~i~st, spou~ ~ove~inSI~ pos~t:ion to a s8~0nd position in which the ~pout ls r~ot cc)vered and whe~ein a whis~le ~s mounted in lthe closu~e~
While ~hat improved wh~stllng ke~tle does not sue~ ~om the disadv~n~age o~ losing the cap, m3n~ p~3opl~, partloularly the ~ldarly and in1~ nd dif1culty in slmu~neouæly llt~ng t~ 1cett~e by ~he handl~, operatl~g 30 t~3 mechanism ~o br~ng the closure to the ~e~ond posl'cton and ~ipp~ng the kettl& to ~our ou~ wa~er~

sin~ilar problem occurs ln kettle~ pro~rided wlth a thermos~at to ~ltch the kettle o~ wh~3n it b~ ;ln that 35 to aot~2ate th2 th~mostat it io usual t~ prov~de a clo~ure for s~ spout which can b~ mov~3~ from a 1~ pout cove~ln~, po~i~ion to a se~onsl po~i~io~ ~n wh~c:h the spout ~25,~"~e.067,~am~.~,1 26-JIJI`~-19~2 11 27 r~ IDI~ $ 1~ h r-r I~ )G 61 ~ 7'~131~,0 P. 05 2 ~ ~ 2 ~ 3 15 not cov~e~.

T~E S~A~Y OF THE INVE;NT~ON:

rhe p~en'c ln~en~ion provld~ ~ water hea~-er ~omp:~s~ng a ~o~y for ~onta~ning wate~, a spout fo~ ps~l~lng w~er ~rom ~he wate~ heater, a cham~er within the }:ody which, ln use, will l~e in co~ununi~ lo~ with water ~n the w~er heate~, 10 the cham4e~ ~omp~ Ln~ ~ wall ~hlch, $n use, exte1n~s t~ough and below ~he ~u~a~e o~ wat~sr ln ~he w~ter ~eater, wh~re~n 'che cham~e~ has an o~ific~e ~or eg~ess o~ s~eam ~here~rc7m and wherein the cAambe:r ~s, in use, adap~e~ to tra~ a p~opo~tion of ~team eYol~ed ~n consequenoe of the 15 water hea~e~ ~oSling ~o~ ap~ o ~team vi~ the ~ri~ce.

~R~FP~ aspEc~ OF q!E~S INvE~rIo~:
~0 Preferal~l~ ther~ wh~ stle means or the~mo-~t~ me~n~
loc~d ~d~ac~n'c sald o~ ~ to, in use, indic:a~ r detect boillng o~ the water l~te~.

25 P~e~erably th~ ~pout ~ s perm~nently open ~o malntal~A
co~Tunu~icat~on between ~he interior and exterior o~ the wa'c~ heat~r.

Prefera~ly the~e ~ ~ s'ceam ¢ham~es into wllich ~ald ori~ce 30 open~ arld wh~ch has an opening ~o ~'cmosphere.

Pref~ra~ly thera ls whi~tle means loa~ted a~ sald op~ning to, ln use, ~rldlcat~ bc~ling o~ the water heate~.

35 Pre~e~abl~ ~her~ the~mostat means in co~Tunun~c:at~or~ wlt~
~ald s~eam ch~er to, ~n use, ~taot ~i~inçt of the wat~r h~Qr.

26-JLt`~- '.. 9g2 11: 28 5~ r)ERCOCKS P~ r h l T ~ 1 3 79131~0 P, 06 2 ~ 3 ~ 3 --Preferably the ther~ost~t mean~ doe not clos~ sai~
openln~, uv~alSl;;~tlo~A, the o~1:1~S~ l!~om ~ c7homl3c~cr~f~,~ thi:r a ~Vu ~ 3 ~v~ l v ~.. l,C.~ or~ ,~c~
whloh comes 0~2t of the outlet durln~ pouriT~g wlll go in~o ~che spout~

The ~h~ex~ ls prefer~ly ope~ at i~ ~ottom.
Th~ chan~er prefe~bly has a volum~ oJ les~ ~han h~l that of the body as ~ whole. In ~ preferred ~n~stance, the o~mbe~ has a volume o~ about one-quar~er ~at o~ the ~ody.

lS P~efe~b~y the chambe~ ha~ a plan cross-sectionaî a2~a o~
les~ ~hsn h~l, ~refe~ably less ~han o~e th~d, and more preferably a~ut ~ne quaz~ter o~ the plan c:~0~3-Se~::t~ onal area of th~ body.

2Q Pre~erably th~ orl~lce has a ~ross-~ec:t~onal are~ of les~
th~n 1.0~, more prefe~a~ly 1~ than 0. 5g6 an~ mo~t prefe~a~ly ~. 3~6 of the plan cros~-~ectional ~ea o~ ~he ~hambQr.

~S Pre~e~ably the or~ fic2 has a c~o~s-s~ct~onal a~ea of less ~han 5~, mor~ pree~ably loss th~n 2~ and mo~t preferably less ~ o~ ~e c:ro~-se~ion~ ea o~ tA~ spout.

The water l e~cer may have an el~ctric element for heating ~0 wat~r or tl~e water h~at~r m~y }:~R Of a type ~hat Is heated ex~ernally.

The ~ha~ may be ~n~e~rally fo~me~ wl~h a pa~ of ~h~
2:ody or ~ay be a separately ~ormed in'ce~et~.
Pre~Qra~)~y th~ wat~3r hsator comprls~ 8 4~e and ~ ~over 3nd ~he c::h~er 1~3 ln ~a~t ~efln~a by ~ ~k~rt attaGhe~d to -J~-14~2 11:2~' 5R`I~E~COCKS PI~T hTT ~I,[JG ~1 3 79131~0 P.07 . ;. ~
2~72'3'~1~

and d~p~n~in~ ~rom ~he unde~ide of the cover.

p~Q4erably the sk~ rt has a w~ll which, with the cover, ~ n pa~t de~lne~ the s~eam ohamber.

Pr~ferably the c~ove~ Aa~ an aperture ln whlc:h the thermo~tat mean~ is rec~lved.

Pre~erab~y ~n add;l~lon to said orlfi~3 ~here 1~ ~n aper~ure ~0 to S~id c:hamber which apert-lre ~s o~lented to dl~ect ~
subs~antlal part o~ stear~ in the cha~er out of the opening~

Pre~erat~ly 'cher~ i~ re~e~ means adapted 'co be m~nu~lly 15 ope~a~ed to re~e~ ~he ~he!rmost~t means a te~ ng.

DEgClUPq~ION OF g~ VIEW~ O~ ~E DRAW~NGS:

20 Spec~ flc const~lCtions o~ kettleg in ac:cordance with th~
~ nv~ntlon wlll now ~e d~sc:~bed by way o~ ~xam~le wlth ref~renc:e to the ac:~ompan~lng ~Irawing~ ln whi~h:-FIt~. 1 is a top pl~n v~w of ~ st Xet~le;
25FIG. 2 ~ ross-sectional view ~ the first ke~le.

FIG. 3 ls an enla~ged oross-sec~tlonal view ~f pa~t of ~he ~5t kettle a~d FIG ~ v~ ew corre~pond ~o FIG . 3 but of ~ ~econd k~ttlR

rE~ER LIS~

1. Flr8t k~t~1~

~25,~m~0~7,b~1eJ~m ,4 :~6-JUN-,1.. 93~ 9 ~ lr)E~C~KS PRT flTT L~ G 61 3 ~l~lf.0 .P~

2 ~

2. ~o~y 3. Upp~r pa~t 4. I,o~c~
6. ~landle 5 7. Sp~u~
8~ Cover ~ End 11 . End 12. ~arlS7 ~0 14. Slo~
lli. ~dicator wlndow t7. Sp~ing arm 18. Re~e~ axm 1~. Fi~st open~ng lS :21. She;~mo~t~ G 0~'~ ~h 2~. Second opening 2~. 5klrt 27. Flange ~8. Flng~s 20 31. ~af~ em~:r 32. ~op portion 33. ~101}3 34. ~o~
-~6. Skl~t 25 37. ~reatest a~ea 38. Wat~r level indic~ator 39, Chambex~
4~. Ste~n oham~7~3r 51. Sec:ond kettle 30 81. ~landle lgl. Whlstle open~ny lDE;TAILES) S~ESCRIPTI3N ~ RESPEC'r 'ro ~E D~AWIN~S:
~he flr~t k~ttle 1 ~hown ln the dralwing~ com~iseq a body 2 ~ormQd o~ an Ul?l?~ ~rt 3 ~n~ a lower par~ 4 which a~e i , , .

.

'32 11: 29 5fi~`,D~R~OCI<C. P~T ~TT ~ G ~1 3 '~cJl 31~0 P. 0'-:1 sealln~ly ~oined togethe~.

The lower pa~t cont~lns an electrical heat~r element t nvt shown ) an~ electric~l ~onneo~clon mear~ ~ not show~ ) to S enabl~ elec~rl~:al powe~ to be c:onveye~ to ~che h~ater sl~ment .

~he upper par~ 3 ha~ a handle 6 for lit~ng and t~l~ins~ ~h~
ke~ a and ~ spout 7 ~or fill~n~ and eTpt~lng the ~ce'ctle.
1~ It is ~o ~e noted that the ~:-potlt 7 h~3 no cove~ s:; ~ny sor~
hus ~ha~ no~h~n~ need~ to l~e open~ ~or ~llllng or emptying pu~pose~

~he handl2 6 has ~ oover ~ wh~ch at one end 9 loc:~es with 15 the lower part 4 and a~ ~h2 o~her end 11 has a ~c~n~ 1 wh~ch fit$ into a ~lot 14 4 ~ he uppz~ part 3 .

Va~ous wiring, not shown, ~ s lo~a~ed undqr th~ ~o~rer 8~

20 The ~oYer 8 has an ln~i~a~or w~ndow 16 beh;~n~ wh~h ~ neon lamp ~ot shown) ~i:Ll 2~ locate~

The window 16 is ~ntegrally fo:nnPd wlth a spring arm 17 a~d a reset am~ 18 and wh~r~ the wlndow 16 ~s depressed 4t; wll~.
25 move the arm 1~ down aga~nst ~}~e ~ias of th~ arm 17.

~ f~rs~ openlng 19 i~ provl~ed in 'che upper pa~t 3 an~ a manuall~ ~esett~ble tho~mos~ Switc;h 21 13 ~o~ e~ ~n ~n~l <;loses ~hat opening.
A second opening 22 ls pro~lded in the upper part 3 for a pu~pose to be expl~ned,.

A sX~rt ~5, a ~lan~ 27 and ~ingers 28 dep~nd from the ~S unders4de o~ ~h~ u~ pa~t ~

A ~a~fle m~mber 31 t o¢~e~ wlth~ th~3 sk~c 26 a~d is 26-JLI~'-;1.l~3;~ 29 ~f~ EF~COCKS PhT hTT r)l`lrJG ~1 3 7'~131~0 P. 10 2 ~ ~2 ~ ~ 3 ~dl cxc~ ~ho~oto w~h t~u fl~ns~4 ~7 ~n~l f~ r~ 2f~ asE~i~t ~he loca~lon ~f the b~f~l~ member.

I'he ~a~fle mem~er 31 has an inclin~d tc~p portion 3~ havlng S two holes 33 and 34. The hole 33 is d~rected towards th~3 thermost~io swltc:h 21 ~nd the hole 34 ~s directed towards the open~ n~ 22 .

q'he ~a~le mem~er 31 ~lso has a depend~ng ski~t 36 s~ct~onal a~ea a~ ~7 locatQd ~em~e f~om the spout 7 and ~t may ~ that the heate~ element ~ s ~u ::h ~r is ~rrar~ed sc:
th~t mor~ hea~ ~ generated remote ~om the ~pout 7 th~n lS ad~acent the ~out 7.

~he shap~ of the skir~ 36 ~s shown in dash line Fi~ 1.

~he sklrt 36 h~s a lug 38 which ~ndi~a'ces the level to ~0 whi~h 'che ~ceS~le should ~e f~lle~l.

The sk~r~ ds~lnos a ~ham~er 3g wgth~n the ket~le and that chambe~ O~en5 'chrou5~h holes 33 and 34 lnto steam cham~e~ 41 de~ined by top ~ortion 32, fl~nge 27 and pa~t of the upper 25 part 3 ~nd then 'chrough open4 ng 22 to the o~t~de o~ th~
Ice~tt~ ~y.

Il~ use, when water bo~lg some steam will exit v4a the spou~
7 but a p~c~por~ion wil~ ~ollec:~ ~n the chambe~ 39, pa~
~0 ln~o the steam chambe~ 41 and he~t 1;he thermostatlc swl~ch 21 so tha~ it opens to stop heatin~ o 'che w~ter.

In prac~ , mo~e steam wlll bQ collected ~r~ the chamber 39 than is needed to heat th~ s~t~h 21 an~ to dl~slpate ~te~am 35 the hole 34 is provldod and i~ directed ~owards ~he op~3nlng 22 and will ln I~;~r~ be dl~ected b~ the ~an~ 12.

920626~ns~pe 067~ame.~mJ

.

c~-JLlN~ 2 11: 30 ',R~ ERC~CK.j Ph r ~IT r r~ G ~1 3 7~ 3 ~. 11 2 ~

~he openlng 22 al~o ha~ ~ urth;~:c functlon i~ ~ch~t it 1~
open at ~ll times and allow~ steam so ~r~ s~ap~ ~om the ~team chamber. Thus, the swit~h 21 w~ 11 cool more~
rap~dly and C~ be ~eset mo~ cau~kly ~ch~n i~ th~3 openlng 22 w~e no'c presen~.

I~leall~, tne swltch ~1 ~hould be ~set~abl.e in ~ se::onds, o~ les~, pr~era~ly 15 ~econds o:r less and mos~ pr~e:r~bly 12 ~e~:onds ~r les~
The second Icettle 51 shown ~n Flg 4 ~; simlla~ to the 1~
kettle 1 e~cepting it has no sw~tch 21 and inconseqllence certal~ ~n~eg@rs are omi~ted, th~ han~le 81 is ~i~er~ntl~
shaped, the opening 22 ls omlt~e~, tAe hole 34 i~ om$'ctea 15 and th~a open4ng lg has k~een r~plac:~d by a whls~le openlng 19~ .

In u~e ~he sec~ond kettle wlll whist wh~ it bolls.

~0 ~he open~ng 2~ and hc~l* 34 we3~e om~te~ as b2~ ng unnecassary and to ~llow fo~ a louCI ~h~st~e.

Ftnally, lt ls to ~ unde~;too<~ that the ln~n~ive ~oncept in an~ o~ aspec:ts o~n b~ incorporF~teCl ln many di~ r~nt constructlons so that ~he gener~ y o~ ~he prec:edln~
~escr~ptlon is no~ to b~ supe~seaed by ~he particula~y o~
t~e attaohed dra~lngs. Va~ous al'cera~40ns, modi~ioa~lons and Q;C ~ddition~ may be inco~p~r~e~ ~nto th~ va~iot~
c:onst~ruc:t~ on~ and ~rrangemel~s o parts w~ thout depa~ng 30 ~om the spir~t ~nd ~mbit o~ tha lnvention.

Th~ cl~ims and drawing~ ~orm par~ o~ thQ dl~closu3re o~ th~s ~p~oi ~lo~t$c)r~ .

s~067,ba

Claims (17)

1. A water heater comprising a body for containing water, a spout for pouring water from the water heater, a chamber within the body which, in use, will be in communication with water in the water heater; the chamber comprising a wall which, in use, extends through and below the surface of water in the water heater wherein the chamber has an orifice for egress of steam therefrom and wherein the chamber is, in use, adapted to trap a proportion of steam evolved in consequence of the water heater boiling for escape of steam via the orifice.

2. A water heater as claimed in Claim 1, wherein there is whistle means or thermostat means located adjacent said orifice to, in use, indicate or deteot boiling of the water heater.

3. A water heater as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the spout is permanently open to maintain communication between the interior and exterior of the water heater.

4. A water heater as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 3, and further including a steam chamber into which said orifice opens and which has an opening to atmosphere.

5. A water heater as claimed in Claim 4, wherein there is whistle means located at said opening to, in use, 920625.cmsspe.067,baffle.Kam.9 indicate boiling of the water heater.

6. A water heater as claimed in Claim 4, wherein there is thermostat means in communication with said steam chamber to, in use, deteot boiling of the water heater.

7. A water heater as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the thermostat means does not close said opening.

8. A water heater as cliamed in Claim 1, wherein the chamber has a plan cross-sectional area of less than half, preferably less than one third, and more preferably about one quarter of the plan cross-sectional area of the body.

9. A water heater as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the orifice has a cross-sectional area of less than 1.0%
more preferably less than 0.5% and most preferably 0.3% of the plan cross-sectional area of the chamber.

10. A water heater as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the orifice has a cross-sectional area of less than 5%, more preferably less than 2% and most preferably less than 1% of the cross-sectional area of the spout.

11. A water heater as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the water heater comprises a base and a cover and the chamber is in part defined by a skirt attached to and depending from the underside of the cover.

920625.cmsspe.067,baffle.Kam.10

12. A water heater as claimed in Claim 4 and Claim 11, wherein the skirt has a wall which, with the cover, in part defines the steam chamber.

13. A water heater as claimed in Claim 7 and Claim 12, wherein the cover has an aperture in which the thermostat means is received.

14. A water heater as claimed in Claim 7, wherein in addition to said orifice there is an aperture to said chamber which aperture is oriented to direct a substantial part of steam in the chamber out of the opening.

15. A water heater as claimed in Claim 7, and including reset means adapted to be manually operated to reset the thermostat means after cooling.

16. A whistling kettle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

17. The steps, features , compositions and compounds referred to or indicated in the specification and/or claims of this application, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations or any two or more of said steps or features.
920626.cmsspe.067.baffle.Kam11