MXPA98008914A - Water heater without pressure, continuously cleaned, with copper serpentin for fluid, submers - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electric water heater, characterized in that it comprises: a) a water tank having a wall, a bottom and an upper part of the tank, the upper part of the tank is adapted to be separated from the wall, the Water tank is adapted to retain a quantity of heat transfer fluid, non-pressurized and non-circulating, up to a higher liquid level that is below the top of the tank, to define a region of air space inside the tank the level upper part of the liquid and the upper part, b) a thermally conductive coil mounted inside the tank and having a water inlet and a water outlet, each extending outwardly through the tank wall, thereby The tank top can be separated from the tank wall independently of the water inlet and the water outlet, c) an electric heating element coupled to the part top of the tank, and extending downward through the region of air space in the tank, and below the upper liquid level, and d) whereby the electric heating element contacts and heats the liquid of heat transfer inside the tank, and with this the heat transfer liquid makes contact with the coil to heat the water coming from a domestic supply of water, which enters through the water inlet and circulates through the coil, such that the hot water comes out of the water outlet and returns to the domestic water supply

Description

WATER HEATER WITHOUT PRESSURE, CONTINUOUSLY CLEANED, WITH COPPER SERPENTÍN FOR FLUID, SUBMERGED BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to. electric water heaters for domestic use. More particularly, this invention relates to a compact, electric domestic water heater which is pressureless and self-cleaning continuous.

Background of the Invention The domestic, electric, typical water heater consists of a steel tank, insulated by fiberglass wrapped in a metal lining. Cold water flows into the steel tank, is heated by the upper and lower heating elements, and exits through a pipe. As the hot water is drained, the cold water mixes with the remaining hot water, reducing the temperature REF: 28652 of the remaining water and with this_ reducing the efficiency of the heater. Also, in a conventional electric water heater, minerals typically settle out of the water to form sediments, reducing the efficiency of the heater sooner or later and causing corrosion and leakage. In addition, the pressure is generated in the tank hermetically sealed by the heat and by the excessive, occasional water pressure that enters the system from the source of cold water. This pressure occasionally results in property damage and personal injury from the steam and water that comes out of the pressure relief valve or from the explosion of a valve that fails. The heating elements in conventional electric water heaters often fail before the tank, and must be replaced. Due to the design of the electric, domestic water heaters of the prior art, the replacement of the elements is a difficult task, which usually requires that the water supply be turned off and the tank drained before the replacement of the element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An objective of the electric water heater of this invention is to eliminate the pressure inside the tank. This is achieved by running the pressurized cold water that has to be heated through a copper coil. The copper coil carrying the cold water is submerged in a tank without pressure filled with non-recirculating water. The water in the tangue is heated, for example, by an electric heating element. The hot water in the tank heats the copper coils which are thermally conductive. Pressurized cold water, for example, tap water from a water supply, is heated as it circulates through the coils, using thermal conductivity. In this way, the cold water enters the coils, indirectly absorbs the heat coming from the hot water of the tank, and leaves the coils as hot water. In a pressure tank, the new sediment is brought to the tank by the water that is going to be heated. In the non-pressurized tank of this invention, the new sediment is rarely added because the tank water is rarely replaced. This constitution of sediment is reduced. The coil is continuously cleaned by the pressurized water that runs through it. Because the tank of the water heater of this invention is not pressurized, the interior of the tank can be accessed without shutting off or stopping the water supply and without draining the tank. Such access is required to replace a decomposed element. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the water heater comprises a double-walled cylindrical tank formed of plastic. The space between the inner and outer walls of the tank is insulated with foam. The water is heated in the tank by means of an electric heating element. The continuous copper coils are placed in the tank through which the cold water enters and the hot water comes out. A spill tube, the cold water inlet and the hot water outlet are located above the water level of the tank, in an air space below the top of the tank, so that there are no holes in the tank to develop leaks. The heating element is mounted to an insulated plastic upper part, which extends and projects down into the water located in the tank. The heating element is controlled by a thermostat in contact with the tank filled with water. Preferably, the upper part of the water heater is hinged, so that the heating element is easily reached for maintenance. The continuously cleaned water heater of this invention will also provide hotter water more efficiently in a smaller and lighter tank. This will reduce energy use, material costs, shipping and storage costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of the water heater of this invention, showing the top part hinged in the closed position.

Figure 2A is an exploded side view of the normally nested and interconnected nested coils used in the water heater of Figure 1.

Figure 2B is a top view of the coils shown in Figure 2A, but in their nested and interconnected positions, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the water heater of Figure 1, showing the top part hinged in the open position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged, perspective view of a section of the side wall of the tank and the upper part of the water heater of Figure 1, showing the connection hinge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY The applicant's invention will be better understood when considered in the light of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts. Figure 1 shows the design of the water heater without pressure, continuously cleaned, generally indicated by reference number 1, and having a cylindrical tank 2 vertically oriented, filled with water 3. Tank 2 is preferably formed with a wall internal 4 and an outer wall 5, separated approximately five centimeters (two inches) from one another. The space between the walls 4 and 5 is filled with a foam thermal insulation 6. Placed inside the tank 2 is a coil 7 of copper pipe continuously connected. As best seen in Figures 2A and 2B, the coil 7 is formed of multiple coil sections 7a, 7b, and 7c with each coil section 7a-c having an internal and external diameter that increases progressively, so that these can be nested or nested and interconnected as shown in Figure 1. In a preferred embodiment, the coil 7 will be formed of copper tubing of approximately 91.5 m. (300 feet) linear and an outer diameter of 12.7 mm (one-half inch). The cold water to be heated inside the tank 2 enters the coil 7 at the inlet 8 of cold water, circulates through each coil section 7a-c, successively, and exits the coil through the water outlet 9 hot. The direction of the water flow is indicated by the directional arrows within the water inlet 8, along the outer surface of the coil 7, and out of the water outlet 17. Looking again at Figure 1, a thick double-walled top 10, preferably made of foam-insulated plastic, supports a conventional electric heating element 11, which is secured to the upper part 10 and extends downwardly into the interior. of tank 2 and below the water surface 3 of the tank. The heating element 11 is coupled to a conical plastic assembly 12, which extends through the upper part 10, and is attached to the upper part 10 by a screwed plate 13. A thermostat 14, also of conventional design, it is electrically connected by a control wire 16 which runs upwardly between the inner and outer walls 4 and 5 of tank 2 and through the internal part of the walls of the upper part 10. The thermostat controls the electric power for the heating element 11 for regulating the temperature of the water 3 of the tank. According to another novel feature of the invention, the upper part 10 is coupled to the tank 2 on one side by a hinge 15, so that the upper part 10 can be separated from the external wall 5 of the tank by moving it from a closed position as shown in Figure 1, to an open position as shown in Figure 3. When the upper part 10 is in the open position, the heating element 11 can be easily reached and replaced without having to turn off the water supply or drain of the tank 2. Almost any conventional hinge can be used, with an example shown in Figure 4 in which the hinge 15 allows the vertical and pivoting separation of the upper part 10 of the external wall 5 of the tank. As seen in Figures 1 and 3, the spill tube 17 is located in the air space between the upper surface of the water 3 of the tank and the upper part 10. The spill tube 17 runs into a spill container 18 in which sits the water heater 1. In a test performed, using materials less efficient than those described,75. 7 liters (twenty gallons) of cold water from the tap (unmeasured temperature) were placed in tank 2. Coil 7 consisted of 91.5 m (300 feet) of copper pipe with outer diameter of 12.7 mm (one half inch). The thermostat 14 was adjusted to 150 degrees. The water 3 of the tank was heated with a heating element 11 to 4500 watts. The water was preheated for forty-five minutes. Then, 151.4 liters (forty gallons) of water were extracted from heater 1 with. The following results: 1. First 18.9 liters (five gallons) 140 degrees 2. Seconds 18.9 liters (five gallons) 125 degrees 3. Third parties 18.9 liters (five gallons) 120 degrees 4. Rooms 18.9 liters (five gallons) 115 degrees . Fifteen 18.9 liters (five gallons) 110 degrees 6. Sixteen 18.9 liters (five gallons) 105 degrees 7. Seventh 18.9 liters (five gallons) 102 degrees 8. Eighth 18.9 liters (five gallons) 98 degrees (3-1 / 4 kilowatts used) Thus, although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described, of a new and useful "WATER HEATER WITHOUT PRESSURE, CONTINUOUSLY CLEANED, WITH SUBMERSIBLE FLUID OF COPPER," such references are not intended as limitations. on the scope of this invention, except as described in the following claims: It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (8)

1. An electric water heater, characterized in that it comprises: a. a water tank that has a wall, a bottom and an upper part of the tank, the upper part of the tank is adapted to be separated from the wall, the water tank is adapted to retain a quantity of heat transfer, pressurized and non-circulating, up to a higher liquid level that is below the top of the tank, to define a region of air space within the tank between the upper level of the liquid and the upper part; b. a thermally conductive coil mounted inside the tank and having a water inlet and a water outlet, each extending outwardly through the tank wall, whereby the upper part of the tank can be separated from the wall of the tank independently of the water inlet and the water outlet; c. an electric heating element coupled to the top of the tank, and extending in a downward direction through the region of air space in the tank, and below the upper liquid level; and d. whereby the electric heating element makes contact and heats the heat transfer liquid inside the tank, and with this the heat transfer liquid makes contact with the coil to heat the water coming from a domestic supply of water, which it enters through the water inlet and circulates through the coil, such that the hot water leaves the water outlet and returns to the domestic water supply.

2. The water heating according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper part of the tank is coupled to the wall of the tank by means of a hinge, such that the upper part can be separated from the wall of the tank by moving the upper part of a position closed to an open position, whereby the heating element can be reached without turning off or stopping domestic water supply or draining the heat transfer liquid.

3. The water heater according to claim 2, characterized in that the wall of the tank comprises an internal wall of the tank and an external wall of the tank, separated by a first free space filled with thermal insulation.

4. The water heater according to claim 3, characterized in that the internal and external walls of the tank are made of a plastic material.

5. The water heater according to claim 4, characterized in that the upper part of the tank has double walls separated by a second free space filled with thermal insulation.

6. The water heater according to claim 5, characterized in that the double walls of the upper part of the tank are made of a plastic material.

7. The water heater according to claim 6, characterized in that the heat transfer fluid is water.

8. The water heater according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises a thermostat electrically connected to the heating element by a control wire, the thermostat and a portion of the control wire are placed within the first free space and the second free space .