GB1603103A - Hot water heaters - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO HOT WATER HEATERS (71) I, DOUGLAS ALLISON MITCH ELL, a British subject of 7, Clifton Gardens, Eaglesclitte, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to water heaters in combination with gas fires.

Gas fires, particularly those having an artificial log or coal effect, have become very popular as domestic heating and/or decorative appliances. In addition to the heat given out by radiation and convection by the fire, a significant quantity of heat can be collected if a water heater is fitted to the appliance.

According to the present invention, there is provided a combination of a gas fire having a plurality of refractory bodies shaped and coloured to represent solid fuel and arranged such that, in use, flames of combustion pass between the bodies, and a water heater, said water heater comprising a casing defining a chamber and upper and lower ports in the casing constituting water outlet and inlet ports to the chamber respectively, a plurality of tubes projecting outwardly from the casing and arranged to be heated by the gas fire, the bore of each tube being in communication with the chamber and the outer end of each tube being closed, and each tube having an L-shaped pipe associated with it, one end of the pipe being within the tube and the other being within the chamber and directed downwardly to direct liquid into the tube.

The pipes conveniently extend from a position close to the inlet port into their respective tube. In this way, some of the liquid entering the chamber through the inlet port is passed along a pipe and into its associated tube. In the tube the liquid is heated and flows from the tube back into the chamber. Because the liquid is now hotter than that entering the chamber, the heated liquid flows to the top of the chamber and out through the outlet port.

The ends of the tubes may be heated by flames produced by burning the gas in the fire, or the ends of the tubes may project into a duct through which air or gas heated by the gas fire is flowing.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood it will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional front elevation of a water heater, Figure 2 is a sectional plan, Figure 3 is a sectional end elevation of a water heater, Figure 4 is a sectional end elevation of a water heater in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, Figure 5 is a sectional front elevation of the water heater shown in Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a casing 1 defines a generally elongate chamber 3. At the lower end of the chamber at one end there is an inlet port 5 and at the upper end of the chamber at the opposite end there is an outlet port 7. A plurality of parallel tubes 9 project outwardly from the casing 1 and the outer end 11 of each tube is closed. The outer end 11 of each tube is nipped together before it is sealed in order to provide a spatula-type end. Each tube has an Lshaped pipe 13 associated with it. One end of the pipe is directed downwardly towards the lower end of the chamber and the other end of the pipe is positioned in the tube 9.

Figure 3 shows the position of the water heater when it is used in combination with a coal effect gas fire. The chamber is substantially horizontal with the tubes spaced apart horizontally. In such a fire, gas is burnt in the presence of an adequate air supply and the flames pass upwardly between imitation coals 15. The ends of the tubes 9 project into spaces between the coals 15 so as to be heated by the flames. The spatula ends provide extended surface area normal to the flames in order to enhance the overall heat transfer from the flames to the liquid being heated.

In use, much of the liquid entering the chamber passes into the tubes 13. Water heated in the tubes is forced out of the tube by the incoming cooler water and it rises to the top of the chamber and flows out through the outlet port 7.

The construction of the water heater is simple in that it consists solely of a casing having a plurality of tubes projecting therefrom with each tube having a pipe associated with it to direct liquid into the tube.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 4 to 6, the casing 11 is arranged with an inlet port 15 at its lower end and an outlet port 17 at its upper end. A plurality of tubes 19 project from the casing in a vertically arranged column and the tubes are mounted in a flue duct 21 of the fire. Each tube has a pipe 23 associated with it, one end of each pipe being in a tube 23 and the other end close to the inlet port 15.

In use, hot air and other gases produced by the gas fire pass along the flue duct 21 heating the tubes 19 and water introduced into the tubes along the pipes 23 is heated and flows back into the chamber and out of upper end thereof.

In both embodiments of the invention the tubes may be not be arranged exactly as shown, for example in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3, groups of tubes may be arranged in staggered or multilayer arrangement. Where the tubes are closed with spatula ends, the flattened portions of these ends need not be horizontal, although this is preferred. The tubes can be closed in any convenient manner, for example a plug may be sealed into the end of the tube.

In both embodiments of the invention all the surfaces of the casing 1, 11, other than that from which the tubes project, would normally be insulated to minimise heat losses.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. The combination of a gas fire having a plurality of refractory bodies shaped and coloured to represent solid fuel and arranged such that, in use, flames of combustion pass between the bodies, and a water heater, said water heater comprising a casing defining a chamber and upper and lower ports in the casing constituting water outlet and inlet ports to the chamber respectively, a plurality of tubes projecting outwardly from the casing and arranged to be heated by the gas fire, the bore of each tube being in communication with the chamber and the outer end of each tube being closed, and each tube having an L-shaped pipe associated with it, one end of the pipe being within the tube and the other being within the chamber and directed downwardly to direct liquid into the tube.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which said ends of the tubes have a flattened spatula end portion.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said tubes project from the casing in parallel relation.

4. The combination as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said ends of the tube project into a duct for receiving the hot gaseous product of combustion from said gas fire.

5. The combination as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which said tubes are positioned between the plurality of refractory bodies such as to be heated by the flames of combustion.

6. The combination of a gas fire and a water heater substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the casing defines an elongate substantially horizontal chamber, the upper and lower ports are at opposite ends of the chamber and the tubes are spaced apart horizontally.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. the presence of an adequate air supply and the flames pass upwardly between imitation coals 15. The ends of the tubes 9 project into spaces between the coals 15 so as to be heated by the flames. The spatula ends provide extended surface area normal to the flames in order to enhance the overall heat transfer from the flames to the liquid being heated. In use, much of the liquid entering the chamber passes into the tubes 13. Water heated in the tubes is forced out of the tube by the incoming cooler water and it rises to the top of the chamber and flows out through the outlet port 7. The construction of the water heater is simple in that it consists solely of a casing having a plurality of tubes projecting therefrom with each tube having a pipe associated with it to direct liquid into the tube. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 4 to 6, the casing 11 is arranged with an inlet port 15 at its lower end and an outlet port 17 at its upper end. A plurality of tubes 19 project from the casing in a vertically arranged column and the tubes are mounted in a flue duct 21 of the fire. Each tube has a pipe 23 associated with it, one end of each pipe being in a tube 23 and the other end close to the inlet port 15. In use, hot air and other gases produced by the gas fire pass along the flue duct 21 heating the tubes 19 and water introduced into the tubes along the pipes 23 is heated and flows back into the chamber and out of upper end thereof. In both embodiments of the invention the tubes may be not be arranged exactly as shown, for example in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3, groups of tubes may be arranged in staggered or multilayer arrangement. Where the tubes are closed with spatula ends, the flattened portions of these ends need not be horizontal, although this is preferred. The tubes can be closed in any convenient manner, for example a plug may be sealed into the end of the tube. In both embodiments of the invention all the surfaces of the casing 1, 11, other than that from which the tubes project, would normally be insulated to minimise heat losses. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. The combination of a gas fire having a plurality of refractory bodies shaped and coloured to represent solid fuel and arranged such that, in use, flames of combustion pass between the bodies, and a water heater, said water heater comprising a casing defining a chamber and upper and lower ports in the casing constituting water outlet and inlet ports to the chamber respectively, a plurality of tubes projecting outwardly from the casing and arranged to be heated by the gas fire, the bore of each tube being in communication with the chamber and the outer end of each tube being closed, and each tube having an L-shaped pipe associated with it, one end of the pipe being within the tube and the other being within the chamber and directed downwardly to direct liquid into the tube.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which said ends of the tubes have a flattened spatula end portion.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said tubes project from the casing in parallel relation.

4. The combination as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said ends of the tube project into a duct for receiving the hot gaseous product of combustion from said gas fire.

5. The combination as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which said tubes are positioned between the plurality of refractory bodies such as to be heated by the flames of combustion.

6. The combination of a gas fire and a water heater substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the casing defines an elongate substantially horizontal chamber, the upper and lower ports are at opposite ends of the chamber and the tubes are spaced apart horizontally.