US1747982A - Gas water heater - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 18, 1930. v, MAUCK 1,747,982

GAS WATER HEATER Filed Feb. 1, 1925 2 sheets-Sh t, 1

- I C70/ MAL/CK Feb. 18, 1930. v. MAUCK GAS WATER HEATER Filed Feb. 1, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. I.

Vil1illlilllllllllillfli Patented Feb. 18, 1930 PATENT OFFICE FACTURING COMPANY, PENNSYLVANIA 015 CONSHOHOGKEN, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF GAS WATER HEATER I Application filed February 1, 1923. SerialNo. 616,242.

invention relates to gas water heaters ofthe type known to the trade as automatic combination range boilers and includinga cylindrical casing forthe gas burner, which the water heated by the burner.

I However, as hereinafter described, my inventlon relates more particularly to the construction and arrangement of said casing, which is termed the boiler shell, and the flue and water pipes therein.

Letters Patent of the United States 1,416,487 were grantedto me May 16, 1922, for a gas water heater of the general type aforesaid, but having the flue for the prod- I nets of combustion from the burner extendmg in coaxial relation with the water tank through the latter, and having a hot water pipe extendingthrough said flue, to the top of the tank, fromthe water spreader which is interposed betweenthe bottom of the tank and the'top of said burner. Although that construction and arrangement operates very efficiently, it is not only costly to manufac- V ture, but was found to'be liable to the development of leaks when subjected to the stresses of t-ransportation from my factory in Pennsylvania to my distributing agency in California. Such leaks are most apt to develop at the junction between the bottom of the partition above the burner and the water spreader'which is suspended from said partition between the latter and the burnerand are "caused by vibration of the pipe leading from said spreader upwardly into the Water space, as indicated at 39 in said Letters Patent. Therefore, the purpose and effect of the present invention is to make a simpler construction and arrangement which is not only less costly to manufacture, but less liable to be damaged by the stresses of transportation, and particularly to directly rigidly connect said water 'spreader with said partition in the casing, which forms the bottom of said water tank.

As hereinafter described, my invention includes a water tank in which the flue for the productsof combustion from the burner extendsthrough the water tank in eccentric relation to the axis of the latl er, and the hot water pipe, leading from the spreader aforesaid, is rigidly connected with the water tank at the bottom thereof and extends through the water in the tank nearly to the top of the latter. Y-Iowever, in the construction shown in said Letters Patent, said hot water pipe from the spreader is heated by the products of combustion passing upward through the flue, whereas, in the present construction, said hot water pipe is remote from the flue and surrounded by the water in the tank. Therefore, although in the present construction the heatfrom said flue is absorbed by the water in the tank, the initial appearance of hot Water at the top of the tank, from which it is withdrawn to the dispensing faucets, would be delayed if means were not provided to prevent loss of heat from said hot water pipe, in its extent upward through the initially cold water in the tank. Therefore, an essential feature of my present invention is means to limit the conduction of heat from the central hot water pipe to the water surrounding it inth-e tank; so as to immediately deliver hot water from the spreader to the top of the water tank.

My inventionv includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified. However, certain specific features of the form of container herein disclosed are claimed im my copending application Serial No. 512,7 63 filed November 4, 1921, for Letters Patent of the United States.

I In said drawings: Fig. I is a diagrammatic perspective view of an automatic combination range'boiler and gas Water heater embodying my invention.

Fig. II is a plan view of the boiler shell indicated in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a partial vertical central sectional viewof the structure shown in Fig. I, taken on the line III, III in Fig. II.

spreader, taken on the line VI, VI in Fig. III.

In said figures; the cylindrical tubular casing shell 1 has the door 2 in its circumference,

affording access to the burner 3 which is mounted within the burner compartment 5 1n Said burner compartment is said shell. formed by the skirt portion 7 of said shell extending below the partition 8 and including the opening for said door... Said partition 8 forms the bottom closure of the waterpcompartment 9 in said shell, which has the top closure 10. r The flue pipe 12. for the escape of products of combustion from said burner 3 extends through said water compartment 9, parallel with the axis of said casing, but in eccentric relation thereto as shown in Figs. [I and III, and is conveniently rigidly connected with said closures 8 and 10, by welded joints. Said partition 8 has the axial downwardly extending tubular flange, in unitary relation therewith, with the externally screw threaded opening 1 1, conveniently of the standard two inch pipe size. The water spreader 15, which is interposed between said burner 3 and said partition 8, has the axial upwardly extending tubular flange 16 in unitary relation therewith provided with an external screw thread fitted to said opening 14, V

and the external annular shoulder, adapted to rigidly bear against the lower end of said axial flange on said partition 8 to rigidly seal the joint between said partition and said spreader, and thus prevent the formation of leaks as aforesaid by the stresses of transportation of such heaters; which, during transportation, are laid in horizontal position in a freight car. The pipe 17 which is rigidly connected with the top closure 10 of said water compartment- 9 extends nearly to the bottom closure 8 of said compartment so as to supply the latter with cold water 18, from a municipalor other source.

Of course, any water heated in the structure above described is correspondingly expanded and tends to rise to the top of said compartment 9. The relatively cold water 18 in said compartment 9 gravitatesinto said spreader 15 through the complete annular tubular axial opening within said flange-16 uniformly and symmetrically throughout the entire circumference of said flange, and is deflected'radially outward by the diaphragm 19 in symmetrical relation with the entire circumference of said spreader so that it reaches the bottom convex wall 20 of said spreader at its outer circumference and gravitates thence downwardly uniformly toward the center of said'spreader and symmetrically with reference to the entire circumference thereof.

' The construction and arrangement of said spreader 15 shown inFig. III are such that the cold water thus flowing into the spreader atthe perimeter thereof, is heated so as to rise through the axial hot water pipe 21, which is in screw threaded engagement with thecentral portion. of said diaphragm 19,1

and said pipe 21 extends axially with respect to said casing shell 1 to near the-top of said Water compartment 9, so that hot water rising through said pipe 21 may be almost directly drawn off through the pipe 23 which leads to the dispensing faucets.

It is to be particularly noted struction and arrangement above described insure a uniform and symmetrical flow of water to and from the spreader and withref erence to the entire circumference thereof; so that a maximum heating efficiency is attained,

, as distinguished from devices of the prior art wherein the water is directed through the spreader in unsymmetrical relation to the lat ter, with the result that the water flow is upon one side only of the axis of the spreader, with consequent loss of efficiency of heating action of the latter.

vAs before mentioned; the small stream of hot water which is thus caused to rise that the'conthrough said hot water pipe 21, but surrounded by the colder water in the compartment 9', would be deprived of most of its heat before it reached the top of said compartment 9, unless the conduction of heat therefrom be limited by some insulating medium. Of course, such heat would not be wasted, because it would be absorbed by the water in the compartment 9, but the ultimate consumer requires a supply of at least a small quantity of substantially hot water immediately upon starting the operation of said burner 3.

Therefore, I find it convenient to surround said axial hot water pipe 21' with a heat insulating jacket 25. For instance, said pipe 21 is ofnominal half inch size and said jacket is conveniently formed of a piece of nominal one inch pipe, which is welded to said pipe 21 at each of its opposite ends so as'to form a hermetically sealed insulating chamber 26- which may have nothing in it but air, in the form shown in Fig. III, or may be packed with any suitable heat insulating material 27 as indicated inFig. V. For instance, such material 27 may be flocculent asbestos, granulated cork, or wool or magnesium carbonate. However, the cheapest insulating element is, of course, air. The only objection tothat is that it is apt to circulate within the insulating chamber 26, by reason of convection currents incident to different temperatures in different parts of the bodyof air, whereas,

' As above contemplated; the effect of such insulation" of the central hot water pipe 21 is to retain the heat in the small body of water flowing upwardly 'therethrough, so that it is delivered'immediately adjacent to the dispensing pipe 23. 1

Of course, the expansion of the water 18 within said spreader 15 causes precipitation of any solid. matter which is normally suspended and carried in the water and to prevent lodgment thereof upon said partition 8; I incline the latter downwardly from its circumference to its'center; whereby all sediment in said compartment 9 is directed downward-1y to and through the annular passageway leading from said compartment to the hollow of said spreader 15. Moreover, to enable the operator to eliminate any sediment deposited in the spreader which would detract from its efliciency of heating operation I provide the bottom of the spreader with the drain pipe 28' which is conveniently provided with the stop cook 29 exterior to said casing 1 so that, by opening said stop cock, any sediment in the spreader may be rinsed out with the water thus drawn directly downward therethrough.

; It-may be observed that the construction and arrangement of my invention shown, and above described, are advantageous in that said pipes 21 and'25 are carried by said spreader 15 independently ofsaid partition 8-of the casing 1; so that they may not only be assembled and mountedin said spreader I 15 before the latter is connected with said casingl, but may be'readily. removed from said casing, together with said spreader, for inspection and repairs.

In the form of my invention indicated in Fig. I; the burner 3 is supplied with gas through the pipe 30, under control of the stop cock 31. Under ordinary conditions, the auxiliary burner 33 furnishes ample heat for said water spreader 15; getting its supplyof gas through the bypass 35. However, when -cold water is caused to enter said compartment 9, by drawing off hot water through said pipe 23, the thermostatic valve 36 opens automatically, and gas is delivered through said pipe 30 to the burner 3 and ignited by said auxiliary burner 33. When the water is restored to the temperature for which said automatic valve 36 is set, for instance, one hundred and thirty degrees Fahrenheit, said valve 36 automatically closes, extinguishing said main burner 3, and remains closed until the next influx of cold water is caused by withdrawing hot water through said pipe 23.

, 1 Such automatic control of the supply of fuel to the burner 3 is conveniently effected by the thermostatic element 38 of said valve 36 which extends transversely to the axis of said temperature.

with said axis and larger than said insulating jacket 25 so that said thermostatic element does not come in contact with said jacket. I

Tests of a large number of heaters in accordance with my Letters Patent aforesaid manifested that the efficiency, i. e., the quantity of water heated in a given interval of time by a given consumption of gas, varied in accordance with the rapidity of the circulation of the water to and from the spreader and the water compartment above it. The present invention is the outgrowth of that experience, and such circulation in the form of my invention above described is very much more rapid than in the form shown in said Letters Patent, and with a much greater efiiciency. Such increase in efliciency is due to the coordination of three features of my invention above described, to wit, first, the improved construction and arrangement of the spreader itself, including the annular passageway for the downward flow of relatively cold water within the spreader neck flange 16 with the branch passageways leading radially outward over the diaphragm 19 which facilitate the uniform flow of the water downward and upward in the spreader. Second, the interposition between the clownwardly flowing stream of relatively cold water and the upwardly flowing stream of heated water in the pipe 21; of heat insulating means, in said annular passageway and above the latter, which permit the maximum relative downward and upward move- 1 borne in mind that the speed of such relative movement is dependent upon the maintenance of the maximum possible dilference in Third, the extension of the flue 12 through the main water compartment 9 independently of the hot water pipe 21, not only permits the more direct delivery of the water from such pipe and permits the use of a flue pipe of smaller diameter and thus affords a larger water capacity in a given size of water compartment 9 but the location of said flue in eccentric relation to the body of water in said compartment 9 facilitates the circulation of the water in said compartment to and from said annular passageway in the spreader neck 16; because the water immediately surrounding'the flue 12 in the compartment 9 is heated anditsupwardmovement consequently facilitated, wholly upon one side of said compartment, which, of course, facilitates the downward movement of the relatively cooler water upon the opposite side of said compartment9. That is to say; the circulation of water in the compartment 9 is predetermined and facilitated in a certain path by such coordination of the three features aforesaid, viz, theflow is upward upon the left hand side-of said compartment and downward upon the right hand side of said compartment, as seen in Fig. III, and at a much more rapid rate than if, as in my patented heater aforesaid, the downward flow was distributed entirely around the circumference of the outer shell.

However, it is tobe understood that my improvements, embodied in the container shown in the drawings, may be included in gas water heaters of other types than that shown in Fig. I, or in containers differing from that shown, and that other forms of hollow fittings may be substituted for the specific form of spreader I have chosen for illustration. Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention, as'defined in the appended claims.

I claim: I r t 1. In a gas water heater, the combination with means for forming a main water compartment having a bottom wall provided with an axial downwardly extending tubular flange, in unitary relation therewith, and having an axial internally screw threaded opening in the bottom thereof; of a Water spreader comprising a hollow unitary cast metal body having an axial upwardly extending-tubular flange in unitary relation therewith, externally screw threaded and directly fitted to said screw threaded opening in said bottom wall; said water spreader having an annular shoulder exterior to its tubular flange, fitted to rigidly bear against the lower end of the tubular flange onsa id bottom wall, to rigidly seal the joint between said partition and spreader; said water spreader having a diaphragm extending therein transversely to the axis of said flange, and intermediate of the .height of said spreader; and a hot water outlet pipe extending through and rigidly connected with said diaphragm and extending upwardly thru said tubular flange in spaced relation to the wall thereof into said compartment; where- V by'relatively cold water is directed downwardly through said tubular flanges in a uniform completely annular stream and distributed uniformly to the entire circumfer enceof the spreader, in whichit is heated and from which it is discharged axially through said outlet pipe,-and the latter maintained in rigid relation with said bottom wall; heat insulating means surrounding said outlet pipe and extending in both said water compartment and spreader, whereby to insulate said annular stream of downwardly flowing, relatively cold water, entering said spreader, and the axial stream of upwardly flowing heated water; whereby the heat and consequent speed of upward movement, of the water discharged from said spreader are maintained at the maximum. I

V 2. In a gas water heater, the combination with means for forming a main water compartment having a bottom fwalil provided with an axial opening; of a water spreader rected downwardly from said Water compartment into the hollow of said spreader in a uniform completely annular stream, distrib; uted to the circumference of the spreader, in which it is heated, and discharged axially upward through said outlet pipe in a stream in coaxial relation with the downwardly flowing cold water entering said spreader; and heat insulating means, surrounding said outlet pipe and extending in both said Water compartment and spreader, whereby to insulate said annular stream of downwardly flowing, relatively cold water, entering said spreader and the passageway for the axial stream'of upwardly flowing heated water; whereby the heat and consequent speed of upward movement of the water discharged from said spreader are maintained at the maximum.. n

In testimony whereof, I .h signed my name at Conshohocken, Pennsyl- Vania, this eighth day of December, 1922.

V VICTOR MAUGK.

ave hereunto CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,747,982. Granted February 18, 1930, to

VICTOR MAUCK.

It is hereby certified above numbered patent req 1, for the word "partitio Patent should be read the record of the case Signed and pecification of the Page 4, line 42, claim and that the said Letters ein that the same may conform to M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Images