EP1292797B1 - Hot-water boiler including a preheater arranged in the combustion chamber - Google Patents

Hot-water boiler including a preheater arranged in the combustion chamber Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP1292797B1
EP1292797B1 EP01941362A EP01941362A EP1292797B1 EP 1292797 B1 EP1292797 B1 EP 1292797B1 EP 01941362 A EP01941362 A EP 01941362A EP 01941362 A EP01941362 A EP 01941362A EP 1292797 B1 EP1292797 B1 EP 1292797B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
combustion chamber
boiler
gap
hot water
vessel
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP01941362A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1292797A1 (en
Inventor
Tage Stanghammar
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
COMPUS AB
Original Assignee
COMPUS AB
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by COMPUS AB filed Critical COMPUS AB
Publication of EP1292797A1 publication Critical patent/EP1292797A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1292797B1 publication Critical patent/EP1292797B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • 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
    • F24H1/48—Water heaters for central heating incorporating heaters for domestic water
    • F24H1/52—Water heaters for central heating incorporating heaters for domestic water incorporating heat exchangers for domestic water
    • 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
    • F24H1/22—Water heaters other than continuous-flow or water-storage heaters, e.g. water heaters for central heating
    • F24H1/24—Water heaters other than continuous-flow or water-storage heaters, e.g. water heaters for central heating with water mantle surrounding the combustion chamber or chambers
    • F24H1/26—Water heaters other than continuous-flow or water-storage heaters, e.g. water heaters for central heating with water mantle surrounding the combustion chamber or chambers the water mantle forming an integral body

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a hot water boiler with a flow heater for tap water, comprising a combustion chamber, an outlet for heating water from a gap-shaped passage arranged around the combustion chamber, a tube coil for tap water arranged in said passage, and an inlet for return heating water.
  • Hot water boilers of the type indicated above are previously known, see for example FR 2121931.
  • Another example of a known boiler is disclosed in FR 1346421.
  • Hot water boilers of this type have been developed with a view to achieving the maximum possible efficiency, preferably in excess of 90%.
  • One main object of the present invention is to produce a hot water boiler with a flow heater for hot tap water, which, while retaining very high efficiency, produces significantly more hot tap water than comparable boilers.
  • Another object is to produce such a boiler which is compact in relation to its production capacity for hot tap water.
  • the invention is based on the knowledge that the above aim can be achieved by utilizing residual heat in the combustion gases in the combustion chamber for effective preheating of return heating water from a heating system connected to the boiler, and by then, during the main heating of the heating water, utilizing the latter for supplementary heating of the hot tap water.
  • a hot water boiler of the type indicated in the first paragraph that it comprises a preheater for return heating water arranged in the combustion chamber, that the preheater has an outlet line which conducts preheated heating water out of the combustion chamber and to the lower part of the boiler, from where the arrangement is such that it can pass upward in the gap-shaped passage surrounding the combustion chamber while being heated by the combustion chamber and transferring heat to the tap water.
  • a hot water boiler of this type has been found to be capable of working with very high efficiency and at the same time producing essentially twice as much tap water as the best boilers currently available on the market.
  • the preheater is made in the form of a double-shelled vessel, the inlet of the vessel being connected to an inner chamber in the vessel, which is connected to a gap-shaped space surrounding the chamber, and the outlet of the vessel being connected to the gap-shaped space.
  • the width of this gap-shaped space is very small to obtain effective preheating of the water.
  • the preheater is in the form of a cylindrical vessel, and the outside of the vessel is provided with a large number of essentially radially directed pins.
  • the length of these pins is only slightly shorter than the width of a gap-shaped passage for flue gases, which is formed between the vessel and the inner shell of the combustion chamber.
  • Fig. 1 shows a first longitudinal section through a hot water boiler according to the invention.
  • Fig. 2 shows a second longitudinal section through the boiler along another section line.
  • Fig. 3 shows the boiler seen from above.
  • reference number 1 designates the outer shell of the boiler, which is provided with insulation 2.
  • Reference number 3 indicates diagrammatically an oil burner which projects into a combustion chamber 4 which is delimited by an inner shell 5.
  • the bottom of the combustion chamber is covered with a layer 6 of refractory material, such as brick.
  • the upper end of the combustion chamber 4 is connected to a chimney 7.
  • Reference number 8 designates an electric heater arranged in the lower part of the boiler for alternative operation of the boiler or for increasing the power of the boiler.
  • the boiler is provided with an inlet 9 for return heating water from a heating system connected to the boiler.
  • the inlet 9 is connected via a pipe 10 to a preheater 11, arranged in the upper part of the combustion chamber, with an outlet 12 which, via a pipe 13, conducts preheated return heating water down to the bottom of the boiler.
  • Reference number 25 designates a vent duct.
  • the preheater consists of a double-shelled vessel with an inlet 14, which is connected to the pipe 10 and opens into an inner chamber 15 in the vessel, and vent openings 26.
  • This chamber communicates, in its lower part, with a gap-shaped space 16 which surrounds the chamber and through which the return heating water passes up to the outlet 12.
  • the space 16 is very narrow, and the heating water which passes up through the gap is subjected to effective heating by the flue gases in the combustion chamber 4, which sweep over the outer vessel wall. It is preferred that the space has a width of the order of 1-4 mm, preferably roughly 2 mm.
  • the outer wall of the preheater 11 is provided with a large number of pins 17 which are welded on essentially radially and will be heated by the flue gases and conduct heat to the vessel wall.
  • the pins 17 have a length which is slightly, preferably roughly 2 mm, shorter than the width of the flow duct for the combustion gases, which is formed between the preheater and the inner shell 5 of the combustion chamber.
  • the inner shell 5 of the combustion chamber is surrounded by a tube coil 18, suitably made from a finned tube made of copper. Cold water is supplied to the tube coil at the inlet 19, see Fig. 1, and is heated during passage through the tube coil to an outlet 20, see Fig. 2, for hot water.
  • the tube coil 18 is surrounded by a guide plate 21 which, together with the inner shell 5 of the combustion chamber, forms a gap-shaped passage 22 for the heating water which passes up to a riser vessel 23 which is connected to the outlet 24 of the boiler, via which heating water is intended to be supplied to a heating system connected to the boiler.
  • the guide plate is provided with vent openings 28 in its upper part.
  • the width of the gap-shaped passage 22 is slightly, preferably roughly 4 mm, greater than the outer diameter of the tube in the tube coil 18.
  • a heating boiler intended for use in the home with a power of the order of 15-20 kW can be made with a diameter of 550 mm and a height of 1100 mm.
  • the production of hot tap water has been measured at 21 liters/minute at a temperature of 42°C. This is to be compared with the best boilers of this type currently available on the market, which produce 11 liters/minute and may then require a supplementary hot water container.
  • the pins 17 projecting from the preheater 11 will remain essentially soot-free on account of the high temperature, roughly 300-400°C.
  • heat transfer to the surrounding tube coil 18 is impaired.
  • the "heat losses" in the flue gases are then reduced, as a result of which more heat energy from these will be transferred to the water in the preheater 11. This means that relatively constant efficiency is obtained between soot removal operations.
  • Soot removal can also take place at longer intervals than in known boilers.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Heat-Pump Type And Storage Water Heaters (AREA)
  • Details Of Fluid Heaters (AREA)
  • Air Supply (AREA)

Abstract

Hot water boiler with a flow heater for tap water, comprising a combustion chamber (4), an outlet for heating water from a gap-shaped passage (22) arranged around the combustion chamber (4), a tube coil (18) for tap water arranged in said passage, and an inlet (9) for return heating water. The boiler comprises a preheater (11) for return heating water arranged in the combustion chamber (4). The preheater has an outlet line (13) which conducts preheated heating water out of the combustion chamber (4) to the lower part of the boiler, from where it passes upward in the gap-shaped passage (22) surrounding the combustion chamber (4) while being heated by the combustion chamber (4) and transferring heat to the tap water. A high production of hot tap water is thus achieved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a hot water boiler with a flow heater for tap water, comprising a combustion chamber, an outlet for heating water from a gap-shaped passage arranged around the combustion chamber, a tube coil for tap water arranged in said passage, and an inlet for return heating water.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hot water boilers of the type indicated above are previously known, see for example FR 2121931. Another example of a known boiler is disclosed in FR 1346421.
Hot water boilers of this type have been developed with a view to achieving the maximum possible efficiency, preferably in excess of 90%.
One problem of known boilers is the relatively low capacity for flow-heating hot tap water. This may result in the boilers requiring a supplementary hot water container, which is expensive and also takes up a great deal of space.
THE OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
One main object of the present invention is to produce a hot water boiler with a flow heater for hot tap water, which, while retaining very high efficiency, produces significantly more hot tap water than comparable boilers.
Another object is to produce such a boiler which is compact in relation to its production capacity for hot tap water.
The invention is based on the knowledge that the above aim can be achieved by utilizing residual heat in the combustion gases in the combustion chamber for effective preheating of return heating water from a heating system connected to the boiler, and by then, during the main heating of the heating water, utilizing the latter for supplementary heating of the hot tap water.
In this connection, it is particularly characteristic of a hot water boiler of the type indicated in the first paragraph that it comprises a preheater for return heating water arranged in the combustion chamber, that the preheater has an outlet line which conducts preheated heating water out of the combustion chamber and to the lower part of the boiler, from where the arrangement is such that it can pass upward in the gap-shaped passage surrounding the combustion chamber while being heated by the combustion chamber and transferring heat to the tap water.
A hot water boiler of this type has been found to be capable of working with very high efficiency and at the same time producing essentially twice as much tap water as the best boilers currently available on the market.
It is preferred that the preheater is made in the form of a double-shelled vessel, the inlet of the vessel being connected to an inner chamber in the vessel, which is connected to a gap-shaped space surrounding the chamber, and the outlet of the vessel being connected to the gap-shaped space. The width of this gap-shaped space is very small to obtain effective preheating of the water.
In a preferred embodiment, the preheater is in the form of a cylindrical vessel, and the outside of the vessel is provided with a large number of essentially radially directed pins. The length of these pins is only slightly shorter than the width of a gap-shaped passage for flue gases, which is formed between the vessel and the inner shell of the combustion chamber.
Further features of the invention emerge from the patent claims which follow.
The invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to the embodiment shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
Fig. 1 shows a first longitudinal section through a hot water boiler according to the invention.
Fig. 2 shows a second longitudinal section through the boiler along another section line.
Fig. 3 shows the boiler seen from above.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the figures, reference number 1 designates the outer shell of the boiler, which is provided with insulation 2. Reference number 3 indicates diagrammatically an oil burner which projects into a combustion chamber 4 which is delimited by an inner shell 5. The bottom of the combustion chamber is covered with a layer 6 of refractory material, such as brick. The upper end of the combustion chamber 4 is connected to a chimney 7. Reference number 8 designates an electric heater arranged in the lower part of the boiler for alternative operation of the boiler or for increasing the power of the boiler. The boiler is provided with an inlet 9 for return heating water from a heating system connected to the boiler. The inlet 9 is connected via a pipe 10 to a preheater 11, arranged in the upper part of the combustion chamber, with an outlet 12 which, via a pipe 13, conducts preheated return heating water down to the bottom of the boiler. Reference number 25 designates a vent duct.
The preheater consists of a double-shelled vessel with an inlet 14, which is connected to the pipe 10 and opens into an inner chamber 15 in the vessel, and vent openings 26. This chamber communicates, in its lower part, with a gap-shaped space 16 which surrounds the chamber and through which the return heating water passes up to the outlet 12. The space 16 is very narrow, and the heating water which passes up through the gap is subjected to effective heating by the flue gases in the combustion chamber 4, which sweep over the outer vessel wall. It is preferred that the space has a width of the order of 1-4 mm, preferably roughly 2 mm.
In order to make the heat transfer from the flue gases to the water in the gap-shaped space 16 more effective, the outer wall of the preheater 11 is provided with a large number of pins 17 which are welded on essentially radially and will be heated by the flue gases and conduct heat to the vessel wall. The pins 17 have a length which is slightly, preferably roughly 2 mm, shorter than the width of the flow duct for the combustion gases, which is formed between the preheater and the inner shell 5 of the combustion chamber.
By virtue of the positioning and design shown of the preheater, residual heat in the combustion gases will be transferred very effectively to the return heating water for preheating the latter.
The inner shell 5 of the combustion chamber is surrounded by a tube coil 18, suitably made from a finned tube made of copper. Cold water is supplied to the tube coil at the inlet 19, see Fig. 1, and is heated during passage through the tube coil to an outlet 20, see Fig. 2, for hot water. The tube coil 18 is surrounded by a guide plate 21 which, together with the inner shell 5 of the combustion chamber, forms a gap-shaped passage 22 for the heating water which passes up to a riser vessel 23 which is connected to the outlet 24 of the boiler, via which heating water is intended to be supplied to a heating system connected to the boiler. The guide plate is provided with vent openings 28 in its upper part. The width of the gap-shaped passage 22 is slightly, preferably roughly 4 mm, greater than the outer diameter of the tube in the tube coil 18.
This provides very good heat transfer from the heating water, which passes up through the passage 22, to the tap water in the tube coil 18, which is also heated directly from the combustion chamber 4. The result is a very high production of hot tap water. This will be due to the effective preheating of the heating water combined with the effective transfer of heat from the latter and the combustion chamber to the tap water in the tube coil.
Official tests have verified that the boiler has a high efficiency, 91%, which corresponds to the best boilers available on the market. A heating boiler intended for use in the home with a power of the order of 15-20 kW can be made with a diameter of 550 mm and a height of 1100 mm. In this connection, the production of hot tap water has been measured at 21 liters/minute at a temperature of 42°C. This is to be compared with the best boilers of this type currently available on the market, which produce 11 liters/minute and may then require a supplementary hot water container.
The pins 17 projecting from the preheater 11 will remain essentially soot-free on account of the high temperature, roughly 300-400°C. When the inner surface of the combustion chamber 4 is coated with soot, heat transfer to the surrounding tube coil 18 is impaired. On the other hand, the "heat losses" in the flue gases are then reduced, as a result of which more heat energy from these will be transferred to the water in the preheater 11. This means that relatively constant efficiency is obtained between soot removal operations.
Soot removal can also take place at longer intervals than in known boilers.
The invention has been described above in conjunction with the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings. The principle according to the invention can also be used for larger boilers where higher power is required.

Claims (10)

  1. A hot water boiler with a flow heater for tap water, comprising a combustion chamber (4), an outlet (24) for heating water from a gap-shaped passage (22) arranged around the combustion chamber (4), a tube coil (18) for tap water arranged in said passage, and an inlet (9) for return heating water, characterized in that it comprises a preheater (11) for return heating water arranged in the combustion chamber (4), in that the preheater has an outlet line (13) which conducts preheated heating water out of the combustion chamber (4) and to the lower part of the boiler, from where the arrangement is such that said preheated heating water passes upward in the gap-shaped passage (22) surrounding the combustion chamber (4) while being heated by the combustion chamber (4) and transferring heat to the tap water.
  2. The hot water boiler as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the preheater (11) is made in the form of a double-shelled vessel, in that the inlet (14) of the vessel is connected to an inner chamber (15) in the vessel, in that said chamber (15) is connected to a gap-shaped space (16) surrounding it, and in that the outlet (12) of the vessel is connected to this gap-shaped space.
  3. The hot water boiler as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the width of the gap-shaped space (16) in said vessel is very small in relation to the diameter of the vessel and has a width of the order of 1-4 mm, preferably roughly 2 mm.
  4. The hot water boiler as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the preheater (11) is in the form of a cylindrical vessel, and in that the outside of the vessel is provided with a large number of essentially radially directed pins (17).
  5. The hot water boiler as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the length of said pins (17) is slightly shorter than the width of a flow duct for flue gases, which is formed between the preheater (11) and the inner shell (5) of the combustion chamber.
  6. The hot water boiler as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the gap-shaped passage (22) formed around the combustion chamber (4) is delimited by the inner shell (5) of the combustion chamber and a guide plate (21) surrounding said shell, and in that the width of the gap-shaped passage (22) is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the tube in the tube coil (18) for the tap water.
  7. The hot water boiler as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the tube coil (18) for the tap water is made from a finned tube, and in that the width of the gap-shaped passage (22) intended for accommodating said tube coil is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the fins of said tube.
  8. The hot water boiler as claimed in any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the preheater (11) is arranged in the upper part of the combustion chamber (4).
  9. The hot water boiler as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that it comprises a burner (3) for oil and/or gas arranged in the lower part of the combustion chamber (4).
  10. The hot water boiler as claimed in any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that an electric heater (8) is arranged close to the bottom of the boiler.
EP01941362A 2000-06-21 2001-06-08 Hot-water boiler including a preheater arranged in the combustion chamber Expired - Lifetime EP1292797B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE0002324A SE515311C2 (en) 2000-06-21 2000-06-21 Hot Water Boiler
SE0002324 2000-06-21
PCT/SE2001/001306 WO2001098716A1 (en) 2000-06-21 2001-06-08 Hot-water boiler including a preheater arranged in the combustion chamber

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1292797A1 EP1292797A1 (en) 2003-03-19
EP1292797B1 true EP1292797B1 (en) 2004-10-06

Family

ID=20280183

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01941362A Expired - Lifetime EP1292797B1 (en) 2000-06-21 2001-06-08 Hot-water boiler including a preheater arranged in the combustion chamber

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1292797B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE278918T1 (en)
AU (1) AU2001274721A1 (en)
DE (1) DE60106247T2 (en)
SE (1) SE515311C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2001098716A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
PL223959B1 (en) * 2012-03-23 2016-11-30 Aic Spółka Akcyjna Dual heat exchanger
PL242434B1 (en) 2020-07-20 2023-02-20 Aic Spolka Akcyjna Combination boiler

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR830052A (en) * 1936-12-14 1938-07-20 Central heating boiler
DE3315219C2 (en) * 1983-04-27 1986-08-07 Robionek, Hans-Joachim, 4660 Gelsenkirchen-Buer Domestic hot water storage heater that can be operated with district heating as the heating medium
US4993402A (en) * 1989-12-18 1991-02-19 Carrier Corporation Fuel efficient rapid response water heating module

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE60106247D1 (en) 2004-11-11
ATE278918T1 (en) 2004-10-15
DE60106247T2 (en) 2006-02-23
EP1292797A1 (en) 2003-03-19
SE0002324D0 (en) 2000-06-21
SE0002324L (en) 2001-07-09
SE515311C2 (en) 2001-07-09
AU2001274721A1 (en) 2002-01-02
WO2001098716A1 (en) 2001-12-27

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP3882024B2 (en) Heat exchanger with double tube bundle
CN101002054A (en) Once-through boiler
CA2367726A1 (en) External flue heat exchangers
US4275687A (en) Preheating unit for domestic hot water supply
EP0570201A1 (en) Heat exchanger for a gas boiler
EP1292797B1 (en) Hot-water boiler including a preheater arranged in the combustion chamber
US20040139929A1 (en) Dual function high efficiency water heater
EP0390902B1 (en) Heating apparatus with a heat exchanger
US4796569A (en) Furnace boiler and process for the operation of the boiler
US5913289A (en) Firetube heat exchanger with corrugated internal fins
NL8403236A (en) High efficiency central heating boiler - uses spirally wound heat exchanger around combustion chamber and around coaxial insulation block
GB2061476A (en) Flue Gas Water Heater
RU2327083C1 (en) Hot water boiler
EP0069471B1 (en) Heating apparatus
KR100363719B1 (en) Spiral Wound Heat Transferring Equipment on the Single Passage for the Super-heater
EP1306626B1 (en) Equipment for water heater
KR100446883B1 (en) Heat exchanger of gas boiler
KR100417209B1 (en) Heat exchanger of gas boiler
GB2551600A (en) Boiler
KR950007455Y1 (en) Boiler
US2834323A (en) Steam boiler construction
RU2137049C1 (en) Hot-water boiler
RU2198352C2 (en) Boiler
GB2028985A (en) Improvements in and relating to boilers
RU3637U1 (en) DEVICE FOR HEATING AND HOT WATER SUPPLY

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20021212

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL LT LV MK RO SI

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: AB COMPUS

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: STAANGHAMMAR, TAGE

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: STANGHAMMAR, TAGE

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 20041006

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20041006

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20041006

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20041006

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20041006

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20041006

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20041006

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20041006

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20041006

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 60106247

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20041111

Kind code of ref document: P

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050106

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050106

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050106

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050117

LTIE Lt: invalidation of european patent or patent extension

Effective date: 20041006

NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050608

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20050608

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050608

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050608

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050630

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20050707

EN Fr: translation not filed
GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20050608

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050306

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20080620

Year of fee payment: 8

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20100101