US1602061A - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

iaoaei nonnovra, catrronma, Assreno'a re a. c. nnoneunsr, or

QAKLAND, EGALIFORNIA burner, corresponding with the demands on the water heater.

' An important object of the present invention is to provide tor more effective control or" the heating burner by so positioning the thermostatic controlling device in relation to the water supply means for the water heater that said thermostatic controlling device will be more quickly responsive to a condition requiring a control of the burner.

* tank 1 and the annular Another object of the invention is to provide' improved means for transmitting the heat irom. the burner to the water in the heater tank.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The accompanyin' embodiment of my invention thereto: 7

Fig. l is a vertical section of the heater.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 22 in Fig, 1, with the insulating material removed.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 in Fig 1.

As shown in the drawings my improved heater comprises a water receiving tank 1 which rests at the bottom on a base member 2 mounted on legs 3. Said water receiving tank 1 is provided at one side preferably near its lower end with a water inlet pipe 4 communicating with any suitable source of water supply and communicating with tank 1 through a nipples). Water tank 1 1s further provided at its upper end with a hot water outlet pipe 6. A drain pipe 7 maybe connected to the lower part of tank 1,sa1d drain pipe being normally closed by valve 8.

Surrounding drawings illustrate an and referringthe water tank 1 18 a vertical cylindrical shell 10 which is secured at its lower end-to an annular flange 13 on the base member. 2 and is spaced from the cylindrical tank 1 so as to form a space 11 around said tank 1 for'recei'ving hot combustion gases. The base member 2 is provided with lugs 15 projecting inwardly fromthe annular flange 13, and the tank 1 rests on said lugs, the construction being such as to leave openings 16. between the bottom edge of flange 13 through through 1, i924. Serial no. roaeea which hot'combustion gases may pass from the combustion chamber upwardly into the space 11. Base member 2 is provided with a groove 14 for receiving anywater condensed in the inner shell and dripping therefrom, such drip being eventually evaporated by the heat from the burner. A cover member 17 extends over the water tank 1 and is pro vided with an annular flange 18 extending within the upper end of cylindrical shell 10 to aid in supporting the same, said/cover member being-spaced from the top 19 of tank 1 so as to form a passage 20 through which the gases may pass from the space 11 to'an outlet pipe 21 in saidcover member 17. The water outlet pipe 6 extends said cover member and serves to center the same. I prefer also'to provide an outside sheathing of insulating material the same consisting for example of finely divided insulation of any suitable kind,indicated at 22, packed between the cylindrical shell 10 and an outer shell 23 which is mounted at its lower end on a horizontally flanged ring 24 engaging in notches 26 in the supporting legs 8. The cover member 17 may be provided with a peripheral flange 27 engaging the upper end of the outer shell 23 to hold the same in place. A. baflie plate 28 may be mounted on the cylindrical shell. 10 at or near the upper end of the water tank 1 and may be provided with a plurality of openings 29 at its inner edge so as to allow sufficient space around and close to said water tank to permit restricted outflow of the hot. combustion gases from the space 11 to the outlet passage 20. In order to accomplish effective restriction of flow at this point without interfering withthe draft, I prefer to make the total area of the openings 29 substantially equal to the area of outlet 21,.

Base member 2 may be provided with ahorizontal flange 30 resting on inturned horizontal lugs 31 on the respective legs 3 and secured thereto by screws 32. Said base member is further provided with an inwardly and downwardly tapering or conical flange 38 having an opening 3d at its lower end, the space between said flanges 33 and 13 and the bottom 35 of tank 1 forming a combustion chamber 36. Positioned below said combustion chamber and adjacent to the opening 34 is a burner 37 of any suitable construction having inlet pipe 38, and

a mixing valvew39 for admitting air to the gas supplied through a pipe 40.

The thermostatic control means comprises a valve-41 connected-between the pipe 40 and a gas supply pipe 42 said valve being operated by a connection to a thermostatic control device indicated at 43 into the water tank 1. An important feature of my invention isthat this thermostatic device 43 extends into the water tank 1 through the nipple 5, connected to water inlet pipe 4 so that the water which passes into the water tank 1 passes around, and in contact with the thermostatic device 43 with the result that the operation of the thermostatic device in control of the fuel supply to the burner is rendered more rapid and effective as hereinafter described.

I prefer to provide a heating element 45 in the bottom 35 of the water tank 1 so as to provide for more rapid and effective heating of water in said tank. Said heating element may consist of a hollow member of brass or other heat conducting material having. a substantially tubular body and closed at its upper end but open at its lower end to receive the hot combustion gases arising from the burner 37, said member having a screw portion 46 adapted to screw in an opening 47 in the bottom 35, the said member 45 being preferably provided at its lower .end with projections or arms 48 which extend downwardly and outwardly into the combustion chamber so as to take up heat from the hot combustion gases and from the flame, the heat so taken up being conducted through the body of member 45 into the water tank.

The operation is as follows:

The pipe 4 being in communication with a water service pipe, water flows into the tank 1 until said tank and the service connections therefrom are filled. Gas is admitted to burner 37 and is ignited, the gas burning .within the combustion chamber 86, and the hot products of combustion flow from the combustion chamber through the openings .6 into the space 11 between the shell of tank 1 and the cylindrical casing member 10 and finally passes through openings 29 into the upper chamber 20 and thence to the outlet .21. The contents of tank 1 are heated by the conduction of heat through the walls of the tank and this heating operation is accelerated by the heating element 45 by means of its arms 48 projecting into the combustion chamber rapidly takes up the heat and conducts it to the body of water in the tank.' The transfer of heat from the hot gases to the water is also rendered more effective by the restrictive openings 29, which cause all the hot gases to pass in close contact with the wall of the tank at this point. When the contents of the tank have been sufiiciently heated the thermo static device 43 operates to cut ofi or. re

and extending aeoaoai .the cold water supplied in this manner acts immediately to lower the,temperature of the thermostatic device, resulting in immediate opening or increase in opening of the thermostatic valve 41 and correspondingly rapid increase of the supply of gas to the burner. The response of the thermostatic'device to the condition requiring increase of gas supply is therefore much more rapid-- and effective than i's-the-case with a thermostatic device which is subjet only to the general temperature of the water in. the tank, It will be seen however, that since the thermostatic element 43 extends into the interior of the tank it will be responsive in part to the temperature of the water in the tank as well as to that of the water entering the tank. The operation of the thermostatic device will therefore be dependent on the combined result of cold'water inflow and temperature within the tank, which is quite advantageous. i

What I claim is: H 1. In a water heater, the combination of .a water receiving tank, a combustion chamber below said tank, burner means below said combustion chamber to produce hot products of combustion for heating said tank, and a heating element mounted in the bottom of said tank and provided with arms projecting into said combustion cham her for taking up heat from the hot products of combustion in said chamber, said heating element being also provided with a portion projecting into the tank for conducting heat to the water in said tank, and

said

hollow to permit access of hot gases from llO portion projecting into the tank being the combustion-chamber to the interior of a said heating element and also permit radiation ofheat from said burner means to the interior of said heating element.

2. A water heater comprising ,a base formed with an annular flange and with a downwardly converging conical flange, legs upon which said base is mounted, a tank resting on said its bottom extending over said base to form therewith a combustion chamber, a cylindrical shell surrounding the said vertical cylindrical tank and mounted at its lower end on said annular flange, an'outer shell surrounding said first named shell and mounted on its lower end on said legs,'a cover member extending over the said tank and over said shells and provided with an outlet for gases,

the said tank being spaced from said inner shell and from said cover member to form a pass gases and said annular being provided with lugs e on the base or supporting the said tank and adapted to form openings between said lugs for passage of hot gaseous products from the combustion chamber to the space between the tank and the inner shell I 3. A water heater comprising a base mem- -ber, legs' on which said base member is mounted, a water tank mounted on said base member, said base member having lugs supporting said tank and forming passages between said lugs, and said base member having a downwardly tapering flange forming in conjunction with the bottom of said tank,

the opening at the lower age for combustion a combustion chamber, a burner located at end of said flange, an inner shell surrounding said tank and mounted on said base member, leaving a space between the said shell and tank, communicating with the aforesaid passages, and a cover means extendin over said shell and tank provided with ouet means communicating with said space.

L. A heater as set forth-in claim 3 and comprising in addition, an outershell surrounding said inner shell and mounted on said legs, and insulation between said outer and inner shells.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this th day of March,

GEORGE D. WILCOX.

Images