EP0156228A2 - Water heater construction and method of manufacture - Google Patents
Water heater construction and method of manufacture Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0156228A2 EP0156228A2 EP85102750A EP85102750A EP0156228A2 EP 0156228 A2 EP0156228 A2 EP 0156228A2 EP 85102750 A EP85102750 A EP 85102750A EP 85102750 A EP85102750 A EP 85102750A EP 0156228 A2 EP0156228 A2 EP 0156228A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- members
- bottom head
- shell
- water heater
- collar
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
- F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
- F28F9/00—Casings; Header boxes; Auxiliary supports for elements; Auxiliary members within casings
- F28F9/02—Header boxes; End plates
- F28F9/04—Arrangements for sealing elements into header boxes or end plates
- F28F9/16—Arrangements for sealing elements into header boxes or end plates by permanent joints, e.g. by rolling
- F28F9/18—Arrangements for sealing elements into header boxes or end plates by permanent joints, e.g. by rolling by welding
- F28F9/185—Arrangements for sealing elements into header boxes or end plates by permanent joints, e.g. by rolling by welding with additional preformed parts
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H1/00—Water heaters, e.g. boilers, continuous-flow heaters or water-storage heaters
- F24H1/18—Water-storage heaters
- F24H1/181—Construction of the tank
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
- F24H1/00—Water heaters, e.g. boilers, continuous-flow heaters or water-storage heaters
- F24H1/18—Water-storage heaters
- F24H1/20—Water-storage heaters with immersed heating elements, e.g. electric elements or furnace tubes
- F24H1/205—Water-storage heaters with immersed heating elements, e.g. electric elements or furnace tubes with furnace tubes
Definitions
- This invention relates to the construction of a gas fired water heater having a plurality of flue tubes extending between the opposite heads of the tank and to the method of manufacturing the tank.
- the flue tubes are welded directly to the bottom and top heads of the tank.
- the high temperatures produced when the glass lined flue tubes, tank heads and bottoms and tank shells are welded together can cause the corrosion-protective glass-lining surfaces to chip and crack, exposing the bare steel underneath. Such flaws in the glass-lining surface often lead to premature tank failure.
- the object of the present invention is to provide a water heater construction and method of manufacture wherein the problem of cracking of the glass lining due to weld heat and accompanying stresses in the various joint, radius and adjoining areas is substantially eliminated.
- a water heater tank assembly including a shell having top and bottom head members welded in the ends thereof.
- the top and bottom head members have aligned flue tube mounting openings therein in which metal collar members are welded prior to glass lining of the head members.
- Top and bottom head members are press-fitted into the shell and welded thereto after flue tubes are mounted in and welded to the collar members.
- the collar members serve as a heat sink to prevent damage to the glass lining by the heat generated when welding the flue tubes to the collar members.
- the top and bottom head members have elongated flanges so that when the flanges are welded to the shell, the heat produced will not damage the glass lining.
- the water heater tank construction of the present invention relates to gas or oil fired water heaters and more particularly to commercial gas or oil fired water heaters.
- the water heater tank assembly 10 is constructed of the following basic parts, namely, a shell 12, a top head member 14, a bottom head member 16 and a plurality of flue tubes 18. Top and bottom head members 14 and 16 are provided with flanges 32. A gas or oil burner assembly (not shown) of any suitable design is mounted in the combustion chamber 20 beneath the bottom head member 16. The products of combustion which pass upwardly through flue tubes 18 are carried from the heater by an appropriate venting means of any suitable design mounted on the top of the heater.
- collar members 22 for mounting flue tubes 18 in top and bottom head members 14 and 16.
- Each collar member 22 is comprised of a circular flange portion 26 having a cylindrical body portion 24 extending therefrom and formed integrally therewith.
- Collar members 22 are mounted in flue tube mounting openings 36 in the top and bottom head members 14 and 16. Details of the construction and advantages attained by collar members 22 will be set forth in detail hereinafter.
- the water heater of the present invention is constructed as follows.
- the first step is to mount collar members 22 in openings 36 in top and bottom head members 14 and 16 with the flange portions 26 positioned against the inside surface of the head members.
- the next step is to weld the flange 26 of each collar 22 to the inside surface of the top and bottom head members 14 and 16 by a weld designated by reference numeral 28. It should be noted at this point that the final assembly arrangement of collar members 22 and flue tubes 18 in top head 14 and bottom head 16 is identical, so identical reference numerals are used.
- the next step is to apply a glass lining to what will become the inside (water side) of top and bottom head members 14 and 16 with collar members 22 welded thereto.
- the glass lining will thus cover the inner surface of the head members and the surfaces of the collar flanges 26 and the weld 28 between the flanges and the inner surfaces 22A of the cylindrical body portions of the collars 22.
- the reference numeral 29 designates the glass lining on the interior surfaces of the water heater. It will be appreciated that the glass lining is not drawn to scale.
- the next step is to press fit the top member 14 and the bottom member 16 into the ends of shell member 12 with flanges 32 thereon extending upwardly and downwardly away from the interior of the shell.
- the shell member will have had a glass lining applied to its internal surface prior to this step.
- flange 32 of the top head member 14 or the bottom head member 16 is then welded to the shell by a weld 34.
- the bottom head 16 will be welded to shell 12 first.
- Flange 32 is made sufficiently long so that the glass lining on the head will not be damaged when weld 34 is made.
- the minimum length of flange 32 on top and bottom head members 14 and 16 is approximately 2-7/8 inches.
- flue tubes 18 are inserted into collars 22 with the opposite ends of the flue tubes 18 extending past the ends of the cylindrical body portions 24 of collar members 22.
- the flue tubes 18 will have been glass-lined on their external surface prior to such assembly.
- welds 30 the lower ends of flue tubes 18 are welded to the ends of cylindrical body portions 24 of collars 22 by welds 30.
- weld 30 will be made at a location remote from the glass lining on the head 16 and collar flanges 26.
- the metal of the collar body 24 and flange 26 act as a heat sink during welding to thus present damage to the glass lining.
- the minimum length of cylindrical body portions 24 is approximately 13/16 inches.
- Fig. 3 shows a typical prior art water heater tank construction.
- the flue tubes 19 are welded directly to the head 17. Because of the close proximity of the weld 31 to the bottom head glass lining 29, the heat produced, when making the weld, could, in some instances, cause the glass lining to crack, ultimately leading to premature tank failure.
- the final step is to weld the flange 32 of top head 14 to the shell 12 by a weld 34.
- welds 30 at both the top and bottom of flue tubes 18 before the final weld 34 is made between the top head 14 and the shell.
- the top head can "float" with respect to the shell when welds 30 are made. It will be appreciated that when welds 30 are made, there will be some expansion and contraction of the parts, which movement will be accommodated by the "floating" relationship between the top head and the shell.
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to the construction of a gas fired water heater having a plurality of flue tubes extending between the opposite heads of the tank and to the method of manufacturing the tank.
- In a conventional gas water heater, the flue tubes are welded directly to the bottom and top heads of the tank. The high temperatures produced when the glass lined flue tubes, tank heads and bottoms and tank shells are welded together can cause the corrosion-protective glass-lining surfaces to chip and crack, exposing the bare steel underneath. Such flaws in the glass-lining surface often lead to premature tank failure.
- The object of the present invention is to provide a water heater construction and method of manufacture wherein the problem of cracking of the glass lining due to weld heat and accompanying stresses in the various joint, radius and adjoining areas is substantially eliminated.
- A water heater tank assembly including a shell having top and bottom head members welded in the ends thereof. The top and bottom head members have aligned flue tube mounting openings therein in which metal collar members are welded prior to glass lining of the head members. Top and bottom head members are press-fitted into the shell and welded thereto after flue tubes are mounted in and welded to the collar members. The collar members serve as a heat sink to prevent damage to the glass lining by the heat generated when welding the flue tubes to the collar members. The top and bottom head members have elongated flanges so that when the flanges are welded to the shell, the heat produced will not damage the glass lining.
-
- Fig. 1 is a side elevation view (with parts broken away) of a water heater tank assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;
- Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the water heater tank shown in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a typical prior art water heater tank construction;
- Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the circled portion of the water tank shown in Fig. l; and
- Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the joint between the bottom head member and the shell.
- The water heater tank construction of the present invention relates to gas or oil fired water heaters and more particularly to commercial gas or oil fired water heaters.
- Referring to Fig. 1, the water
heater tank assembly 10 is constructed of the following basic parts, namely, ashell 12, atop head member 14, abottom head member 16 and a plurality offlue tubes 18. Top andbottom head members flanges 32. A gas or oil burner assembly (not shown) of any suitable design is mounted in thecombustion chamber 20 beneath thebottom head member 16. The products of combustion which pass upwardly throughflue tubes 18 are carried from the heater by an appropriate venting means of any suitable design mounted on the top of the heater. - As best shown in Fig. 4, an important feature of the present invention is the use of
collar members 22 for mountingflue tubes 18 in top andbottom head members collar member 22 is comprised of acircular flange portion 26 having acylindrical body portion 24 extending therefrom and formed integrally therewith.Collar members 22 are mounted in flue tube mounting openings 36 in the top andbottom head members collar members 22 will be set forth in detail hereinafter. - In the preferred embodiment, the water heater of the present invention is constructed as follows.
- The first step is to mount
collar members 22 in openings 36 in top andbottom head members flange portions 26 positioned against the inside surface of the head members. The next step is to weld theflange 26 of eachcollar 22 to the inside surface of the top andbottom head members reference numeral 28. It should be noted at this point that the final assembly arrangement ofcollar members 22 andflue tubes 18 intop head 14 andbottom head 16 is identical, so identical reference numerals are used. - The next step is to apply a glass lining to what will become the inside (water side) of top and
bottom head members collar members 22 welded thereto. The glass lining will thus cover the inner surface of the head members and the surfaces of thecollar flanges 26 and theweld 28 between the flanges and theinner surfaces 22A of the cylindrical body portions of thecollars 22. Thereference numeral 29 designates the glass lining on the interior surfaces of the water heater. It will be appreciated that the glass lining is not drawn to scale. - The next step is to press fit the
top member 14 and thebottom member 16 into the ends ofshell member 12 withflanges 32 thereon extending upwardly and downwardly away from the interior of the shell. The shell member will have had a glass lining applied to its internal surface prior to this step. - Either the
flange 32 of thetop head member 14 or thebottom head member 16 is then welded to the shell by aweld 34. For purposes of explanation, thebottom head 16 will be welded toshell 12 first.Flange 32 is made sufficiently long so that the glass lining on the head will not be damaged whenweld 34 is made. In the preferred embodiment, the minimum length offlange 32 on top andbottom head members - Next,
flue tubes 18 are inserted intocollars 22 with the opposite ends of theflue tubes 18 extending past the ends of thecylindrical body portions 24 ofcollar members 22. Theflue tubes 18 will have been glass-lined on their external surface prior to such assembly. - Next, the lower ends of
flue tubes 18 are welded to the ends ofcylindrical body portions 24 ofcollars 22 by welds 30. Here again, by the use ofcollars 22 having a configuration as described above, weld 30 will be made at a location remote from the glass lining on thehead 16 andcollar flanges 26. The metal of thecollar body 24 and flange 26 act as a heat sink during welding to thus present damage to the glass lining. In the preferred embodiment, the minimum length of cylindrical body portions 24 (from the top surface of flanges 26) is approximately 13/16 inches. - At this point, reference is made to Fig. 3, which shows a typical prior art water heater tank construction. As shown, the
flue tubes 19 are welded directly to thehead 17. Because of the close proximity of theweld 31 to the bottomhead glass lining 29, the heat produced, when making the weld, could, in some instances, cause the glass lining to crack, ultimately leading to premature tank failure. - Next, the upper ends of
flue tubes 18 are welded to the ends ofcylindrical body portions 24 ofcollars 22 by a weld 30. Here again,collars 22 serve as a heat sink during welding to prevent damage to the glass lining ontop head 14. - The final step is to weld the
flange 32 oftop head 14 to theshell 12 by aweld 34. - It should be noted at this point that it is important to make welds 30 at both the top and bottom of
flue tubes 18 before thefinal weld 34 is made between thetop head 14 and the shell. By following this procedure, the top head can "float" with respect to the shell when welds 30 are made. It will be appreciated that when welds 30 are made, there will be some expansion and contraction of the parts, which movement will be accommodated by the "floating" relationship between the top head and the shell.
Claims (11)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AT85102750T ATE43899T1 (en) | 1984-03-30 | 1985-03-11 | WATER HEATER CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE. |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US59538884A | 1984-03-30 | 1984-03-30 | |
US595388 | 1984-03-30 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0156228A2 true EP0156228A2 (en) | 1985-10-02 |
EP0156228A3 EP0156228A3 (en) | 1986-06-11 |
EP0156228B1 EP0156228B1 (en) | 1989-06-07 |
Family
ID=24383055
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP85102750A Expired EP0156228B1 (en) | 1984-03-30 | 1985-03-11 | Water heater construction and method of manufacture |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0156228B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPS616539A (en) |
AT (1) | ATE43899T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU576826B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA1264621A (en) |
DE (1) | DE3570914D1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0244946A2 (en) * | 1986-05-09 | 1987-11-11 | Airclean Engineering Products | Pressure tank construction for corrosive medium |
WO1988004392A1 (en) * | 1986-12-11 | 1988-06-16 | A.O. Smith Corporation | Cathodically protected water heater |
US4783896A (en) * | 1986-12-11 | 1988-11-15 | A. O. Smith Corporation | Method of making cathodically protected water heater |
US4838208A (en) * | 1986-12-11 | 1989-06-13 | A.O. Smith Corporation | Cathodically protected water heater |
US4879801A (en) * | 1986-12-11 | 1989-11-14 | A. O. Smith Corporation | Cathodically protected water heater |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2322488A (en) * | 1940-05-06 | 1943-06-22 | Smith Corp A O | Glass lined hot water tank |
US2363980A (en) * | 1943-04-21 | 1944-11-28 | Smith Corp A O | Head for glass-lined tanks |
FR1310484A (en) * | 1961-01-25 | 1962-11-30 | Loire Atel Forges | Process for fixing, by welding, heat exchanger tubes on their support plates |
US4157077A (en) * | 1977-11-25 | 1979-06-05 | Lindahl John R | Water heater |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4113600A (en) * | 1977-04-21 | 1978-09-12 | A. O. Smith Corporation | Flue pipe anode ring for water heater |
-
1985
- 1985-02-12 CA CA000474131A patent/CA1264621A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1985-03-01 AU AU39414/85A patent/AU576826B2/en not_active Expired
- 1985-03-11 DE DE8585102750T patent/DE3570914D1/en not_active Expired
- 1985-03-11 EP EP85102750A patent/EP0156228B1/en not_active Expired
- 1985-03-11 AT AT85102750T patent/ATE43899T1/en active
- 1985-03-30 JP JP60068363A patent/JPS616539A/en active Granted
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2322488A (en) * | 1940-05-06 | 1943-06-22 | Smith Corp A O | Glass lined hot water tank |
US2363980A (en) * | 1943-04-21 | 1944-11-28 | Smith Corp A O | Head for glass-lined tanks |
FR1310484A (en) * | 1961-01-25 | 1962-11-30 | Loire Atel Forges | Process for fixing, by welding, heat exchanger tubes on their support plates |
US4157077A (en) * | 1977-11-25 | 1979-06-05 | Lindahl John R | Water heater |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0244946A2 (en) * | 1986-05-09 | 1987-11-11 | Airclean Engineering Products | Pressure tank construction for corrosive medium |
EP0244946A3 (en) * | 1986-05-09 | 1988-04-20 | Airclean Engineering Products | Pressure tank construction for corrosive medium |
WO1988004392A1 (en) * | 1986-12-11 | 1988-06-16 | A.O. Smith Corporation | Cathodically protected water heater |
US4783896A (en) * | 1986-12-11 | 1988-11-15 | A. O. Smith Corporation | Method of making cathodically protected water heater |
US4838208A (en) * | 1986-12-11 | 1989-06-13 | A.O. Smith Corporation | Cathodically protected water heater |
US4879801A (en) * | 1986-12-11 | 1989-11-14 | A. O. Smith Corporation | Cathodically protected water heater |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0156228B1 (en) | 1989-06-07 |
JPS616539A (en) | 1986-01-13 |
CA1264621A (en) | 1990-01-23 |
EP0156228A3 (en) | 1986-06-11 |
AU576826B2 (en) | 1988-09-08 |
JPH0575934B2 (en) | 1993-10-21 |
DE3570914D1 (en) | 1989-07-13 |
AU3941485A (en) | 1985-10-03 |
ATE43899T1 (en) | 1989-06-15 |
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