US1809059A - Adjustable collar - Google Patents

Description

June 9, 1931. H, M R 1,809,059

ADJUSTABLE COLLAR Filed Nov. 26, 1928 INVENTOR BY CLA RENCE [i Monwo w Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE H. MORROW, E CLEVELAND, oHIQ, ASsIGNQB To THE Ho'rSTREAM HEATEE COMPANY, or CLEVELAND, 01110,, A CORPORATION or 01110 ADJUSTABLE COLLAR Application filed November 2c, 1923. Serial 322,074.

This invention relates to domestic hot water storage systems, and more particularly to systems where the storage tank is jacketed with sheet metal.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple collar to close and conceal the otherwise unsightly opening where the pipe or fittings connected to the storage tank pass through the metal jacket.

In the drawings, which represent one embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of the tank and heater; Fig. 2 is a detailed section, on a larger scale, illustrating the application of my adjustable collar thereto; Fig. 3 1s a front view of one of the collar members; and Fig. t is an edge View of the companion collar members.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 represents a heater .3? of any suitable construction, including the necessary coil or water circulating member (not shown) heated by gas or liquid fuel, with the products of combustion passing off to the stack by way of the pipe 2. The water circulating member is connected by the pipes 3, 4 to the storage tank, which is a hollow cylindrical metal receptacle 5 with its cylindrical wall jacketed to conserve heat. A common form of jacket is a cylindrical sheet metal shell 6 of larger diameter than the tank 5, the space between the tank and shell being filled or packed with heat insulating material. 7, such as asbestos or the like. Obviously, the water communications from the heater 1 to the tank 5 pass through openings in the shell 6 and through the insulating material.

These tanks and the pipe fittings are, of course, more or less rough and the workmanship in threading the bosses 8 in the tank is not accurate either as to position or alignment, so that necessarily, to properly fit up the system, there must be some go and come for the pipes and fittings. As the result it is necessary to make the openings through the shell 6 larger than the pipe fittings which pass through them and it is customary to make the shell openings possibly an inch or so greater in diameter than the pipe or fitting. so The present invention supplies a collar which neatly closes and conceals this otherwise unsightly opening.

In practice the heater 1 is usually located as close to the storage tank as possible, both to conserve space in packing and shipping, and whenthe set is installed, and also to increase rigidity, because in modern practice these storage heating systems or sets are built up and erected at the shop in the complete form shown in Fig. 1 and are so shipped. As a result, and especially at the lower opening, the fittings connecting the water circulating member and the storage tank are very short and compact. For example, and as shown in Fig. 2 there is screwed into the threaded boss 8 a special union spud 10, threaded at one end and at its other end provided with union parts, including the nut 11, as well as with a non-circular wrench-hold portion 12. This union spud has its nut 11 lying just outside of the jacket wall with only enough of the wrench-hold portion exposed to receive a thin wrench. No space is available for the boss or base of a casting large enough to cover the opening in the shaft and sleeved upon the fitting, as shown at A, Fig. 1.

According to my invention I close the opening in the shell with a collar formed of two like-members 13, 1365, both made of thin metal, such as iron or steel sheets, and readily bendable by the fingers. Both members are of washer form having a central opening 14 adapted to closely fit the pipe or fitting where it passes through the shell. Each member is provided along the edges of its opening with two like ears or lugs 15 located oppositely to each other, and between them with shallow recesses 16.

V In assembling the storage system, the collar described is secured in place at the opening through the shell before it is applied to the tank or the installation is laid in place.

The two collar membersare applied, one to other member, so that they are firmly interthen passed through the opening in the collar 7 and is screwed into the tank,- andthe insulation is laid in place at any time and in any manner, as desired. Therefore, within limits of size, the collar enables the spud to be properly screwed into the tank with a sufficient amount of go and come, and, regardless of its position at the opening in the shell, the collar closes the same and prevents the usual unsightly appearance.

This adjustable collar can be used for all openings where a pipe or fittings pass from the shell to the inner tank but it is particularly adapted for those special places where, becauseof shortness or special form of fittings, the parts are cramped and there is insufficient room for a cast collar or the like.

What I claim is:

1. In a hot water heater, the combination of a water tank, a jacket surrounding the same and spaced therefrom and provided with an opening, a conduit member threaded into the tank and extending out through the jacket opening, said opening being larger than the conduit, and a closure for the gap between said conduit and the edges of said opening, comprising a washer-like member closely fitting and slidable upon the conduit and extending outwardly over the edges of the opening, and means for permanently securing the same to the acket wall, whereby the conduit may be removed from or inserted into the tank without detaching the closure from the jacket.

2. In a hot water heater, the combination of a water tank, a jacket surrounding the same and spaced therefrom and provided with an opening, a conduit member threaded into the tank and extending out through the jacket opening, said opening being larger than the conduit, and a closure for the gap between said conduit and the edges of said opening, comprising two duplicate washerlike members closely fitting and slidable upon the conduit and extending outwardly over the edges of the opening, one within and the other outside of the jacket, said washer-like members being each provided with means arranged to interlock with the other and thereby secure both of them to the jacket.

3. A combination of the form described in claim 2, in which said washer-like members are formed of thin sheet metal bendable to conform to the jacket contour, and the interlocking means comprises ears on the inner In testimony whereof I hereby afl ix my signature.

CLARENCE H. MORROW.

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