US1459729A - Electric heater - Google Patents

Description

June 26, E923.

W. S. HADAWAY, JR

' ELECTRIC HEATER v 7 Original Filed Dec. 30 1915 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 26, 1923.

- W. S. l-iADAWAY, JR

ELECTRIC HEATER Original Filed Dec. 30, 1915 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 26, 1923.

W. S. HADAWAY. JR

ELECTRIC HEATER Original Filed Dc.

3O 1915 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IWI sWMI A I;

Patented June 26, 1923.

iiuiro STATES PATENT ELECTRIC HEATER.

Application filed December 30, 1915, Serial No. 69,334. Renewed October 27, 1921. Serial No. 510,947.;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM S. HADA- WAY, J12, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of New Rochelle, lVestchester County, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Electric Heaters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof. I

My invention relates to novel means and method of producing heat for general pur poses, such as the heating of a room or chamber in an office or dwelling house. It has special reference to the use of electricity in conjunction with other means for producing heat.

It is a well known fact that by' the combustion of suitable fuel, under proper conditions which are easily attainable, heat can be produced at a cost far below that gener ated electrically under the most favorable conditions available up to the present time. Nevertheless, electricity has been extensively used because of many advantagestoo well known to need repetition. The foremostof these is probably ease of regulation and control.

One object of my invention is to provide a heat generator that shall utilize electricity for starting, stopping and regulating the generation of heat by other means such as the combustion of fuel, the heat generated electrically being added to that otherwise produced but forming a relatively small percentage of the total heat generated;

Another object is to provide a heater that shall be adapted to burn solid fuel and that shall utilize electricity for starting and maintaining combustion when, and to the extent necessary to produce the heat desired, 7

whereby the standby losses usually incident to the keeping of the fire are largely avoided.

Another object of my invention is to make the electrically produced heat, the high temperature component which is a recognized essential of the combustion of coal and like fuels. In other words, the electricity produces a relatively small quantity of heat at a temperature much in excess of that required as a final product for useful consumption,

- the high temperature heat being used for the purpose of instigating, maintaining and controlling the combustion of the fuel which produces heat in larger quantities at rela tively small cost.

The embodiment ofmy invention which I now consider preferableiand which will be shown and described in detail herein, comprises a high temperature heater of the general character set forth inimy copending application, Serial No. 42,933 filed July 81,

i 1915, which is adapted by the consumption of electric energy to transform low temperature steam into intensely hot gases. It'further comprises a fuel container inwhich the fuel is subjected to the hot gases from the high temperature heater, the rate of combustion as well as its initiation being controlled in response to the regulation of the high temperature heater.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fuel combustion heater in which hot gases are utilized for starting, maintaining and regulating combustion. i

Another object is to provide a compact and economical combustion heater embodying means for preheating the supporter of combustion, regulating the quantity and velocity thereof and separating the ash from the fuel.

Another object is to. provide heater which shall be particularly adapted to burn carbonaceous fuels such as coke from which the hydro-carbon gases and other distillates have been removed.

. Another object is to provide a combustion of convenience and economy.

Another object is to provide. an automatic means for burning carbonaceous materials.

which have previously been pressed or ground in masses of definite dimensions and covered with. paper for example, to secure refinement as well as convenience in the handling of the fuel.

Anotherobject is to develop an electric furnace which may be broadly used in the arts and in domestic service and which derives a considerable part of 1ts heat from combustion in addition to that obtained from the electrical service.

Another object is to secure ignition of fuel by preheating the oxygen carrier to so high a temperature that it combineswith carbonaceous material upon which it may impinge control of an electrically heated combustion tric'al translating appliances.

apparatus, by providing the combustion chamber of its electric furnace with firebricks made chiefly of magnesia or of other materials which are electrical insulators at ordinary temperatures and electrical conductors at the preferable operating tempera ture of the furnace.

Another object is to secure regulation and control of an electric furnace by using a part of its fireproof lining as an electricalswitch, that is, a conductor of electricity at high and an insulator at low temperatures.

Another objectis to utilize electricity in furnace work at high temperatures without recourseto the customary low voltageelec- Other objects and advantages of my. invention will be set forth hereinafter, and in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, I will now proceed todescribe the same in the following specification, and then point out the novel features thereof in appended claims.

Referring to the v drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of an electric fuel heater arranged and constructed in accordance with my invention. a

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 22 of Figure 5 showing a portion of the structure of Figure 1.

A modified structure consisting of a single unit is shown in elevation in Figure 8, which corresponcs to Figure 1, and in sectional plan view in Figure 4 which corresponds to Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation, taken on the line 55 of Figure 1 and drawn'to a larger scale.

Figures 6 and 7 are sectional plan views showing the structure of one of the units and are taken respectively on the lines 6-6 and 77 of Figure 5; I

A diagram of the circuit connections which may be conveniently utilized for ener gizing and controlling the heater of my invention, is shown in Figure 8.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in allthe figures.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7, the structure here shown comprises a supporting bracket 10 which may convenientlv be mounted on a wall, such as 11, in which is a flue or chimney opening 12. Mounted on the bracket are electric heater and dissociater units 13 which are preferably similar in construction to that which forms the subject matter of my copending application Se'ial No. 12,983 filed July 31, 1915. I

Mounted upon these heaters and receiving their energy therefrom, as hereinafter explained. are a plurality of fuel combustion units 1 1. The number of units is of no consequence to my invention and in fact, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 1, my invention may be embodied in a heating device'consisting of a single unit. he units 1% are mounted, together with the electric heater and dissoeiater units 13, in a box or casing 15 which has a front opening 16 through which heat generated in the apparatus may be radiated, and a perforated cover 17. The

body of the box may be integral with the bracket 10 as indicated in Figure 5, or the two parts may be separate and attached as desired.

The wall 11 is provided with a recess lS' the heater. It is, of course, well known that outlet )ic-e or line 20 throu h which burnt" l L r;

gases from the combustion heater escape to the flue 12 may be bent into a coil 21 within the water or other cooling fluid within the receptacle. he water therefore constitutes a means for cooling the line and preventing loss of heat which would occur if hot gases were discharged into the chimney. Furthermore, the temperature of the water is increased sui'liciently so that it is evaporated rapidly and since the receptacle is open at the top and communicates with the chamber in which the heater is located, the air in the room or chamber is maintained at the proper degree of humidity for comfort and economy. Q

The heater and dissociater units13 comprise blocks 22 or masses of heat insulating material each having a. recess 28 in its upper surface, heating coils or resistors 2a embedded in the insulation, a heating coil or resistor 25 which is disposed in the recess 23, and a discharge member 26 which may be disposed within the heating coil 25. The blocks 22 may be, formed integral if desired.

The fuel or eon'ibustion chamber 1 1 conprises a base ring 30 which is mounted on the insulating block 22 and has lugs or projections'gl which extend radially into the recess and serve as a means for centering thering and holding it in position on the electricheater .13. Miounted on the projections 31 of the ring 30 1321, notched ring or annular grating 32 which is preferably formed of lire. clay orsome similar substance which is not injured by intense heat. The grating 32 constitutes a support not only for a tubular cylinder of magnesia which con stitutes part of each. heater unit but also for a cylindrical block or briquette 34 of fuel which is mounted within the tube A plurality'ot anglerods or bars 35 are secured to the ring 30 and extend upwardly therefrom. At their upper ends they support a ring 86, the parts 30, 35, 36 together constituting a frame adapted to receive panels 3101 mica or some other suitable adjustedso as to cover a greater or less number oi the perforations: 39. i i

The air supplied to the unit through these openings is not relied upon as the sole oxidize ing agent with which combustion is supported, but is intended rather to constitute a supplementary sourceot oxygen which may be readily regulated the adjustment of the position of the damper.

The fuel block or briquette may preferably be provided with a central longitudinal hole 42 through which aportion ot the burnt gases may escape, the remainder passing upwardly around the enterioroif the fuel block and within the magnesia tube 33.

The operation of the device is as follows: Relatively low temperature steam or water vapor is supplied to the electric dissociater .13 through asupply pipe 50., the steam flowing as clearly indicated inthe diagram Figure 8, through the heating Cells 24 and 25 in succession and finally beingbrohen into its constituent elements to a greater or less degree asitpasses through the dissociater coil 5]. and is discharged through the openings of the member 26. The temperature of the discharged gases issuch as to immediately start the combustion of the briquette.

The same coils which constitutesteam wires, Figure 8, since they are insulated from each other like those of my ccpending application serial No. 42,933, to which reference has already been made. The electric energy, which may be drawnfrom any suitable source indicated at 52, is su "ilied through one blade of a double pole. ivitch 53, conductor 54, automatic control. switch 55, and coils 51 25 and 2%, to conductor throu h the opposite which is connected blade of the s vitch fig-to one-cit the supply circuit conductors. The automatic switch 55 has a magnet winding 5? which is circuit in series relation with a resistance L and the magnesia tube g lwhich terms part or the coniibustion heater. v

TV hen the electric circuit is fir t closed, the

steam becomes superheated to an increas inglygreater extent as it passes through the coils 2% and 25 until finally, it .is partially dissociated and is discharged at a high ve locity from the small holes in the discharge member 26, in theiorm of a mixture of very highly superheated steam and hydrogen and oxygen. The hot gasesthus discharged impinge directly upon the bottom of the fuel block or briquette which a carbonaceous mate heated steam. The bottom and side siurtaces of the briquette near the bottom are thus which gradually heats the magnesia tube 32; to a glowing temperature w1th the resrt that a large quantity of useful heat is railrated from the device.

The circuit'aboye described thus comprises two branches of whichone may be called the regulating branch including theresist once 58, the magnesia tube 33 and switch coil 57, and the other may be called the heat ing branch including the tubular vapor Ct rrying heating coils 2d, 25 and 51 and the switch 55. y y y Before the magnesia tube 33 is hot the current traversingthe regulating branch is not sufficient to open the switch and the heating branch is therefore energised. When the magnesia tube 33 is heated to relatively high temperature its resistance is materially reduced and the current flowing therethrough and through the coil 57 is i creased. sufiiciently to cpennthe switch [53. Thus the heating branch is interrupted anu the heating coils 241-, and 5lfl6n12l7gl28rfl l Thetemperature of the device may be maintained for an indefinite time by the contlnued combustion or the briquette. but it thei'ormation of ash or the like cause v l temperature oi: the magnesla tube 53 to t sutliciently itsresistance will belargely increased and the switch 55 will he closed on account of the corresponding reduction in electric vapor heatingcoils 24,

connected across the o5 burned, producing a large quantity of heat Then the electric vapor heaters are active,

steam or hot gases at high temperatures will be forcibly discharged against the bottom of the briquette and will fiow upwardly around and through the central opening in the same. By this means the temperature of the briquette willnot only be increased to make the combustion again very active but also the flow of hot gases will create a powerful draft sul'licient to carry away anyaccumu lation of ash.

lVhen themagnesia tube is at a radiant temperature and the combustion is progressing without the cooperation of the electric heaters, the switch 55 being open, the steam or relatively low temperature vapor at 212 l for example, may.be continuously delivered from the nozzle 26. The steam or water vapor coming in contact with the hot carbon will produce gas which mixes with the warm air drawn inwardly through the openings 39 and is burnt and gives up heat to the radiant body 33.

While my invention is not limited to-any specific.temperatures, attention is' iiiirected to the fact that I prefer todischarge the hot gases and vapor, for starting thecombustion of the briquette and maintaining it under fluctuating conditions, at a high temperature, the steam being highly superheated by the electrically generated heat in the cells 24. and 25. i I

Furthermore, the appearance of the device, particularly the multi-unit device,

shown in Figurel, is very attractive and.

the space which it occupies is comparatively insignificant. It is non-the-less capable of economically consuming a relatively large quantity of carbonaceous fueland efficiently producing heat in large quantities.

The heat is of course entirelydisproportionate to the amount of electric energy utilized in the device since the electricity is only utilized to energize the furnace or burner in asense which is comparable to the energization of the field magnets of a dynamo electric machine. In each case the average totalenergy output is much greater than the exciting or electricalinput. In the dynamo el ctric machine the electricity conjunctively with the mechanical power supplied, yields an energy in which the excitation factor is but a small percentage of the total. In the case of my present invention the electricity is used conjunctively with carbonaceous or similar fuel and yields a total heat energy in which the electrical ignition and control factor is relatively small.

So far as I am aware, this introduces a comparatively new field in the electrical industry and enables the electricity at an ordinary commercial cost to be used with economy and profit both to the consumer and to the central station. My invention is furthermore, not restricted to embodiment either in small or large units, and size, design and arrangement will dependupon the service conditions.

Attention is particularly directed to the humidifier which at the same time constitutes a means for saving the heat which would otherwise escape through the flue and for controlling the humidity of the air in the room or chamber towhich the heat is supplied. i I

The single unit heater of Figures 3 and l, is substantiallylike-one of the units of the structures shown'in the other figures, except that it has a single curved water receptacle 60, the outer surface of which constitutes a reflector for the unit.

"Various structural modifications may be employed'within the spirit and scope of my invention, and I intend that only such limitations be imposed as are indicated in'the appended claims.

What I claim is: y 1. Heating apparatus comprising a fuel combustion heater, and a supplemental.

heater comprising electrical tubular resistors adapted to be supplied with vapor and to supply high temperature vapor to fuel in the combustion heater.

2. Heating apparatus comprising a radiant heating member adapted to be heated to a glowing temperature,imeans forsupporting combustible matter adjacent to'the radiant heating'member and a supplemental heater comprising electrical tubular resistors adapted to supply high temperature vapor to the combustible matter.

Heating apparatus comprising a member constructed to form a combustion chamber and a supplementalheater comprising vapor electric heating elements arranged to receive vapor at a relatively low'te'mperature and to discharge gases upon fuel in said chamber at such temperature as to initiate its combustion.

a. Heating apparatus comprising a member constructed to form a combustion chamer and asupplemental-heater comprising vapor electric heating elements arranged to receive vapor at a relatively low temperature and to discharge gases upon fuel in said chamber at high velocity and at such temperature as to lnltlate lts combustion.

5. Heating apparatus comprlsmg a member constructed to form a fuel combustion chamber and electro-responsive means for heating a carrier of oxygen prior to its ignition to a temperature required to initiate combustion of the fuel in said chamber and for discharging said heated carrier against said fuel to initiate combustion thereof.

6. Heating apparatus comprising a member constructed to form a fuel combustion chamber and electro-responsive means for heating a carrierof oxygen prior to its ignition to a temperature required to initiate i niting combustion of the fuel in said chamber and for discharging said heated carrier against said fuel to initiate combustion thereof and to regulate said combustion.

7. Heating apparatus comprising a member constructed to form a fuel combustion chamber and electro-responsive means for heating a carrier of oxygen prior to its ignition to a temperature required to initiate combustion of the fuel in said chamber and for discharging said heated carrier against said fuel to initiate combustion thereof and to regulate said combustion, and an air inlet for the combustion chamber.

8. Heating apparatus comprising a member constructed to form a fuel combustion chamber, electro-responsive means for heating a carrier of oxygen prior to its ignition to a temperature required to initiate combustion of the fuel in said chamber and for discharging said heated carrier against said fuel to initiate combustion thereof and to regulate said combustion, an air inlet for the combustion chamber and means for adjusting the air inlet,

9. Heating apparatus comprising a member constructed to form a combustion chamber and a steam superheater arranged and adapted to initiate combustion of fuel in said'chamber and to maintain the fuel at desired temperature.

10. Heating apparatus comprising a member constructed to form a combustion chamberand means for supplying either superheated gases or low temperature steam to the combustion chamber.

11. Heating apparatus comprising a member constructed to form a combustion chamber, an electro-responsive supplemental heater and means for controlling same to. H

' rounding but spaced -from said member. a

supply heat to initiate combustion of fuel in said chamber tomaintain the fuel at desired temperature and to combine with the heat of combustion to regulate the heat generated.

12. Heating apparatus comprising a radiant heating member constructed to form a combustion chamber, means for introducing a vapor into said chamber, and external means for pre-heating said vapor Without g it to a temperature above the ignition point of the fuel. a

18. Heating apparatus comprising a radiant heating member constructed to form a combustion chamber, means for introducing a vapor into said chamber, and external electrical means for pre-heating said vapor Without igniting it to a temperature above the ignition point of the fuel.

14:. Heating apparatus comprising a radiant heating member constructed to form a combustion chamber and a supplemental heater for fuel in said chamber, said supplemental heater comprising electric heating mg the when hot a conductor of electricity, means for support ng fuel in positicnto heat said member, an electric supplemental heater for the fuel. ant. means u temperature ofsaid member for erruptsupply of energy the supplemental beaten 16. Heating apparatus comprising a member constructed to form a combustion chamber, an outer casing surrounding but spaced from said memberhaving inlet perforations near the top and open to the combustion chamber near the bottom thereof, and a supplemental heater. near the bottom of the member adapted to initiate and maintain combustion of fuel in said chamber, and maintain the fuel at desired temperature.

17. Heating apparatus comprising a member constructed to form a combustion chamber, an outer casing surrounding but spaced from said member having inlet perforations near the top and open to the combustion chamber near the bottom thereof, a damper for adjusting theinlet openings, and a supplemental heater near the bottom of. the member adapted to initiate combustion of fuel in said chamber, and maintain the fuel cap therefor, inlet perforations: near the top of the outer casing and said casing being); open to thecombustion chamber near the bottom thereof, a damper for adjusting the inlet openings, and a cap having aucntlet flue. said excitation heater being adapted to initiate combustion of fuel in said chamber, and mainta n the fuel at desired len'xpeia ture. I v

19. Heating apparatus comprising an citation heater forming a base and comprise ing tubular resistors adapted to be supplied. with vapor and to be electrically ener a heating member constructed to fo combustion chamber, an. outer casing surrounding but spaced from said member hav ing inlet perforations near the top and being open to the combustion chamber near the bottom thereof, a damper for adjusting the inlet openings said excitation heater being adapted to initiate combustion of fuel in said chamber, and maintain the fuel at desired temperature.

iendent upon the 20. Heating apparatus comprising an eX-- citation heater forming a base and comprising tubular resistors adapted to be supplied with vapor and to be electrically energized, a heating member constructed to form a combustion chamber, an outer casing surrounding but spaced from said member having inlet perforations near the top and being open to the combustion chamber near the bottom thereof, a damper for adjusting the inlet openings, and a cap having an outlet i'iue saidfexcitation heater being adapted to.

initiate combustion of fuel in said chamber, and maintain the fuel at desired temperature.

21. Heating apparatus comprising a member constructed to form a combustion cham her, an outer casing spaced from said member and formingtherewith a preheating air passage, air inlet ports for the passage, means for regulating the opening of the inlet ports, and electro-responsive means for causing a carrier of oxygen to impinge against fuel in said chamber at high temperature.

22. Heating apparatus comprising a radiant heatingmember constructed to form a combustion chamber and arranged to be heated to a glowing temperature by the combustion of fuel therein, a supplemental heater for the fuel, and a translucent outer casing surrounding but spaced from said member.

23. Heating apparatus comprising a radiant heating member constructedto form a combustion chamber and arranged to be heated to a glowing temperature by the combustion of fuel therein, a supplemental heater for the fuel, a. translucent outer casing surrounding but spaced from said mem-- her, and a cap on said caslng'havmg an outlet fiue for the fuel chamber.

24. Heating apparatus comprising an excitation heaterforming a base and comprising tubular resistors adapted to be supplied with vapor and to be electrically energized, a supporting ring mounted thereon, a radiant member on the supporting ring constructed to form a combustion chamber, an outer casing surrounding but spaced from said member having translucent portions, said casing having inlet perforations near the top and being open tothe combustion chamber near the bottom thereof, a damper for adjusting the inlet openings, and a cap having an outlettlue said excitation heater being adapted to initiate combustion of fuel in said chamber, and maintain the fuel at desired temperature.

25. The herein described method of heating which comprises heating a vapor by other means than by ignition thereof to a temperature'above the ignition temperature of a fuel and applying a current of the heated vapor to the fuel.

26. The herein described method of heating which comprises heating a vapor by other means than by ignition thereof to a temperature above the ignition temperature of a fuel, applying a current of the heated vapor to the fuel, and admitting air to the point of combustion.

27. The herein described method of heating which comprises heating a vapor to a temperature above the ignition temperature of a fuel confining a body of the fuel, directing the heated vapor to the fuel, and regulating the heat generated by automatically reducing the temperature of the vapor.

28. Heating apparatus comprising a mem ber constructed to form a fuel combustion chamber and means for heating a carrier of oxygen prior to its ignition to a temperature required to initiate combustion of the fuel in said chamber and for discharging said heated carrier against fuel in said chamber to initiate combustion thereof.

29. Heating apparatus comprising a member constructed to form a fuel combustion chamb r, means for heating gases or low temperature steam. prior to their'ignition to a temperature required to initiate combustion in said chamber, and for discharging said heated gases orsteam against fuel in said chamber to initiate combustion thereof.

30. Heating apparatus comprising a member constructed to form a combustion cham- WILLIAM s. HADAWAY, JR.

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