IE87227B1

IE87227B1 - Improvements to hot water cylinders

Info

Publication number: IE87227B1
Application number: IE20190180A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Harvey Gearoid; Barrett Ian; Ginnell Ronan; Woollas Steve; O'beirne Martin; Carty Darren
Original assignee: Joule Group Ltd
Priority date: 2019-10-21
Filing date: 2019-10-21
Publication date: 2021-05-12
Also published as: GB2590170A8; GB2590170B; GB2590170A; IE20190180A1; GB202016695D0

Abstract

A hot water cylinder (10) includes an inner tank (12), an outer casing (14), a top cover (16), a base (18) and a plurality of connections (20) which extend from the inner tank (12) through a layer of insulation (22) and protrude from the outer casing (14) for connection to the plumbing system. The top cover (16) includes a curved upper surface (30) providing for a more effective insulation fill and ensuring that the insulation goes right to the top of the inner tank (12). A preformed central orifice (32) is suitable for connection bosses. Located at the side of the top cover (16) on a depending skirt (17) are a plurality of preformed air purging holes (34). The base (12) includes a plurality of centre guides (40) which act as handles for assisting in lifting the cylinder (10) and secondly to centre the inner tank (12) within the outer casing (14). The base includes an inner wall (42) and an outer wall (44) spaced from the inner wall (42). It is dimensioned so as to provide an interference fit with the casing (14). The outer wall (44) is higher than the inner wall (42) and therefore allows for greater surface area between the base (18) and the casing (14), increasing the overall strength of the structure as well as improving its aesthetics. <Figure 1>

Description

The present invention relates to hot water cylinders which are used to store water heated by a heating source such as gas boiler, oil boiler, electrical heating system, heat pump and 5 the like. Additionally, such cylinders can be fitted with electric heating devices, such as immersion heaters, which can heat water in the cylinder.

Previously, such cylinders were predominantly manufactured from copper and provided with insulating layers over the copper skins to maintain the water at a heated temperature 10 for a longer period than without the layers. Most hot water cylinders produced today are made from stainless steel which are surrounded by outer casings with insulation being provided between the casing and the stainless steel tanks. The insulation is applied in a molten or liquid state into the space between a casing and a stainless steel tank and then solidifies or hardens after a period of time to provide a solid insulating layer.

The object of the invention is to improve the design and manufacture of hot water cylinders to facilitate their more efficient production.

The present invention provides a hot water cylinder including an inner tank, an outer casing, 20 a top cover, a base and a plurality of connections which extend from the inner tank through a layer of insulation and protrude from the outer casing for connection to the plumbing system, wherein the top cover includes a curved upper surface providing for a more effective insulation fill and ensuring that the insulation goes right to the top of the inner tank, a preformed central orifice which is suitable for connection bosses and located at the side 25 of the top cover on a depending skirt are a plurality of preformed air purging holes, the base including a plurality of centre guides which act firstly as handles for assisting in lifting the cylinder and secondly to centre the inner tank within the outer casing; an inner wall and an outer wall spaced from the inner wall, the inner wall being dimensioned so as to provide an interference fit with the casing, the outer wall being higher than the inner wall and therefore 30 allowing for greater surface area between the base and the casing, increasing the overall strength of the structure as well as improving its aesthetics.

Ideally, each connection is positioned in place by means of a collar which comprises a first face and a tubular member having a slightly tapered diameter so that it tightens on the 02/06/2020 connection boss when fitted over it to provide a clamp to the casing, thus preventing any insulation chemical seepage when it is applied in the cavity for the insulation.

Conveniently, the collar is manufactured from a plastics material, from a choice of different 5 colours with appropriate text being provided on the front face of the collar.

Preferably, the hot water cylinder includes at least one preformed foamed polyurethane sleeve with a shoulder for engaging a boss contained in the casing, so as to help to centre the inner tank within the casing.

The invention will hereinafter be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, a typical hot water cylinder and features of an embodiment according to the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a cut away perspective view of a typical hot water cylinder including an inner tank, an outer casing, a top cover, a base and a number of connections extending from the inner tank, through a layer of insulation and protruding from the outer casing; Figure 2 is a perspective view from the top of a modified top cover of the embodiment of 20 the invention; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a cross-sectional view of a modified base member of the embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a side view of the modified cylinder of the embodiment with a number of connections protruding from the outer casing; Figure 5 is a cross section view of a collar used for the connections from the outer casing; Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the bosses used to provide the connections; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of a preformed spacing sponge for location about a boss in the space between the inner cylinder and the outer casing.

Referring to the drawings, and initially to Figure 1, a typical hot water cylinder 10 includes an inner tank 12, an outer casing 14, a top cover 16, a base 18 and a number of connections 20 which extend from the inner tank 12 through a layer of insulation 22 and protrude from the outer casing 14 for connection to the plumbing system 25.

The modified top cover 16, shown in Figure 2, includes a curved upper surface 30 instead of being flat, thus providing for a more effective insulation fill and ensuring that the insulation goes right to the top of the inner tank 12. The top cover 16 includes a preformed central orifice 32 which is suitable for all connection bosses in the range of 18mm (W) to 25mm (1”) female and male. Located at the side of top cover 16 on a depending skirt 17 are a series of preformed air purging holes 34, typically a total six holes 34, three diametrically opposite each other. This number of air purging holes is suitable for all cylinder heights and sizes due to the chemical flowrate of the insulating material and the insulation depth required. The provision of the preformed orifice 32 and holes 34 assist in the assembly and manufacture of hot water cylinders as the orifice 32 does not have to be punched or the holes 34 drilled by operators assembling the hot water cylinders.

The modified base 18 is shown in Figure 3 and includes two centre guides 40. These guides 40 provide two functions and benefits; firstly they act as handles for assisting in lifting the cylinder and secondly they serve to centre the inner tank within the outer casing 14. The modified base 18 includes an inner wall 42 and an outer wall 44. The inner wall 42 allows a tight fit to the casing 14 removing the need for adhesive tape to secure the fit. The outer wall 44 is higher than the inner wall 42 and therefor allows for greater surface area between the base 18 and the casing 14, increasing the overall strength of the structure as well as improving its aesthetics, as it is not necessary to seal off the base with sealing tape.

A portion of the outer wall of the outer casing 14 is shown in Figure 4 showing a plurality of connections 20. Each connection is positioned in place by means of a collar 45, shown in detail in Figure 5. The collar 45 comprises a front face 46 and a tubular member 47 which has a slightly tapered diameter so that it tightens on the connection bosses when fitted over them and will provide a clamp to the casing, thus preventing any insulation chemical seepage when it is applied in the cavity for the insulation 22. The collar is manufactured from a plastics material, such as polypropylene. Also the collar can be made in different colours with appropriate text being provided on the front face of the collar.

In order to ensure that no insulation chemical seeps out of the cylinder, a preformed foamed polyurethane sleeve 50 with shoulder 52 for engaging with the bosses 20 contained in the casing 14. The sleeve 50 and other such sleeves help to centre the inner tank 12 within the casing 14.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A hot water cylinder including an inner tank, an outer casing, a top cover, a base and a plurality of connections which extend from the inner tank through a layer of insulation and protrude from the outer casing for connection to the plumbing system, wherein the top cover includes a curved upper surface providing for a more effective insulation fill and ensuring that the insulation goes right to the top of the inner tank, a preformed central orifice which is suitable for connection bosses and located at the side of the top cover on a depending skirt are a plurality of preformed air purging holes, in which the base includes a plurality of centre guides which act as handles for assisting in lifting the cylinder and secondly to centre the inner tank within the outer casing,the base includes an inner wall and an outer wall spaced from the inner wall, the inner wall being dimensioned so as to provide an interference fit with thecasing; the outer wall being higher than the inner wall and therefor allowing for greater surface area between the base and the casing, increasing the overall strength of the structure as well as improving its aesthetics.

2. A hot water cylinder as claimed in Claim 1, in which each connection is positioned in place by means of a collar which comprises a first face and a tubular member having a slightly tapered diameter so that it tightens on the connection boss when fitted over it to provide a clamp to the casing, thus preventing any insulation chemical seepage when it is applied in the cavity for the insulation.

3. A hot water cylinder as claimed in Claim 2, in which the collar is manufactured from a plastics material, the collar can be made in different colours with appropriate text being provided on the front face of the collar.

4. A hot water cylinder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including at least one preformed foamed polyurethane sleeve with a shoulder for engaging a boss contained in the casing, so as to help to centre the inner tank within the casing.