GB2456413A

GB2456413A - Hot water cylinder

Info

Publication number: GB2456413A
Application number: GB0900538A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Trevor Kenneth Crabtree
Original assignee: Trevor Kenneth Crabtree
Priority date: 2008-01-14
Filing date: 2009-01-14
Publication date: 2009-07-22
Also published as: GB0801263D0; GB0800565D0; GB0900538D0

Abstract

A hot water cylinder which is formed from a non-ferrous metal or alloy or from a plastics material. A cylinder made from non-ferrous metal or alloy may be internally and'or externally anodised.

Description

2456413

1

HOT WATER CYLINDER

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to hot water cylinders which form part of water supply systems within buildings such as domestic dwellings.

5

Background to the Invention

Hot water cylinders have usually been made from materials such as copper which, while having the advantage of being compatible with the copper pipework elsewhere in the water system, are nevertheless costly items of equipment.

10

Statements of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a hot water cylinder formed from a non-ferrous metal or alloy or from a plastics material.

15 The cylinder may be of a single piece of material formed into the appropriate shape or may be formed from a number of sections, for instance, a top, middle and base sections which are connected together.

Where the cylinder is formed from sections, the middle section may be formed from a 20 single piece of material which is seam welded into a tube. Alternatively, the longitudinal ends of the material may be joined other methods such as glueing. The ends of the tube may be shaped to accommodate the top and base sections.

The top and base sections may each include dome shaped ends and short cylindrical 25 sections having a diameter substantially that of the middle section.

The ends of the middle section may be stepped inwardly to accommodate the respective ends of the top and base sections. Alternatively, joining of the middle section to the top and base sections may be realised by having on each section a flanged lip which is 30 turned on each part and brought together with a seal in between the two faces. The seal can be an O-ring or a gasket/washer and the joint secured by bolting or clamping to provide a uniform and evenly applied fixing all the way round the circumference of the flange.

35 The top and base sections may be attached to the respective ends of the middle section by mechanical fixings, for instance, clips or bolted fixtures.

2

The middle section may also be attached to the top and base sections by, for instance, utilising a plastics or non-ferrous metal ring which is recessed or grooved on each side to accept both a seal, an O-ring or gasket or the like and also to accept the circumference of the wall thickness of the cylinder and top/base section. This 5 arrangement is then held in position by a mechanical fastener or fixing which may extend around the circumference of the wall of three sections.

Seals may provide a liquid and tight sealing between the middle section and the top and base sections. The seals may be, for instance, in the form of O-rings.

10

The cylinder may be made from a non-ferrous metal or alloy which is internally and/or externally anodised. For instance, an anodised aluminium surface is not subject to problems caused by having an unanodised aluminium surface in the same water system as copper items such as copper piping. The anodising may be by any hard anodising 15 process including coloured, in particular, the black version.

Hard anodising the interior of the surface also serves to prevent the aluminium from leaching into the water.

20 The internal aluminium surface may be further or alternatively protected by application of a coating such as an epoxy organic coating which, in particular, provides a barrier against the aluminium walls leaching aluminium into the water within the storage cylinder.

25 The material of the cylinder may be anodised before shaping and welding, in the case of a one-piece cylinder or a cylinder formed from more than one section. Particularly in the case of a multi-sectioned cylinder, the sections may alternatively be anodised after shaping and welding.

30 A hot water cylinder in accordance with the present invention may be either a direct cylinder or an indirect one. A direct cylinder will have no inner heating coil. An indirect one will have a coil that can be retro-fitted either at a date following the installation or during manufacture, to suit requirements. The coil may be anodised, again by any hard anodising process, for protection against the corrosive effects of copper within the 35 system.

3

A cylinder in accordance with the present invention, when formed of different sections, can be separated and joined together at any time when it is empty, in order to clean it, or to add a coil or make it easier for transportation.

5

A cylinder of the present invention may be provided with a secondary wrap-around metal jacket. Such a jacket may be painted to improve its appearance and may be provided with an insulation material inserted in the gap between the jacket in order to reduce heat loss.

10

The base of a cylinder of the present invention may be provided with a plinth in the form of a circular collar attached by welding. In this way a level and sturdy platform is provided on the cylinder. Angle brackets may be attached by welding to the collar to allow the collar to be secured to a floor, and also to allow a fixture to be achieved which 15 can be pulled against if removal of the three sections of the cylinder is required.

A circular metal channel in two halves may be presented to the brackets to form a fixed position at floor level to accept the outer wraps around which it will slot into.

20 Brief description of the drawing

The accompanying drawing is a diagramatic view of a hot water cylinder of the invention.

Detailed description of the Invention

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to 25 the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, a hot water cylinder 1 of the invention is formed from a middle section 3, a top section 5 and a base section 7. The middle section 3 is a cylindrical rolled shape which is seam welded and shaped at both ends to assist in the 30 connection to the top and base sections, as described below.

The middle section is anodised internally and/or externally to seal the surface from copper contamination and attack from within the pipework within the system.

35 The bottom section 7 and top section 5 are formed by spinning or pressing into the required shape. These sections are anodised before or after shaping.

LV

Claims

1. A hot water cylinder formed from a non-ferrous metal or alloy or from a plastics material.

5 2. A hot water cylinder according to Claim 1, wherein the cylinder includes top, middle and base sections.

3. A hot water cylinder according to Claim 2, wherein the middle section is formed from a single piece of material which is seam welded into a tube.

10

4. A hot water cylinder according to Claim 3, wherein the ends of the tube are shaped to accommodate the top and base sections.

5. A hot water cylinder according to Claim 4, wherein the top and base sections 15 each include dome-shaped ends and short cylindrical sections having a diameter substantially that of the middle section.

6. A hot water cylinder according to Claim 5, wherein the ends of the middle section are stepped inwardly to accommodate respective ends of the top and base sections.

20

7. A hot water cylinder according to Claim 6, wherein the top and base sections are attached to respective ends of the middle section by a mechanical, fixing.

8. A hot water cylinder according to Claim 7, wherein the mechanical fixing is a clip; 25 or a bolted fixture.

9. A hot water cylinder according to any of the preceding claims, wherein seals are provided to form a liquid-type seal between the sections.

30 10. A hot water cylinder according to Claim 9, wherein the seals are in the form of O-rings.

35

11. A hot water cylinder according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cylinder is made from a non-ferrous metal or alloy which is internally and/or externally anodised.

5"

12. A hot water cylinder according to Claim 1 and substantially as herein described.

13. A hot water cylinder substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

5