US2078514A - Water heater for fireplaces - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. STENZEL WATER HEATER FOR FIREPLACES Filed Dec. 25,

April 27, 1937.

FRANK STLNzr- L April 27, 1937. F, STENZEL 2,078,514v

v WATER HEATER FOR FIREPLACES Filed DSC. 25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 (Iftomeg April 27, 1937. F. sTENzEL WATER HEATER FOR FIREPLACES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 23, 1935 Srwentor PRANK STaNzLL Gttorne-g April 27, 1937. STENZEL 2,078,514

WATER HEATER FOR FIREPLACES Filed Dec. 25, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 vnventor Funk STeNzEL.

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attorney l Patented Apr. 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE My invention relates to devices for heating Water for either domestic of heating purposes, which devices are installed in an open fireplace in a manner that they do not obstruct the er1-- joyment of such fireplace while at the same time utilizing much of the heat which is normally wasted.

An object of the invention is to provide asectional, tubular water heater which maybe conveniently installed in fireplaces thereby utilizing heat from such fireplaces which is ordinarily lost for a useful purpose.

`Anobject of the invention is to construct the heater in sections in order that its capacity may be increased or decreased by merely adding or subtracting sections.-

An object of the invention is to provide a means insertablev within such heater which will cause iiuid to follow a circuitous path therethrough.

In the accompanying drawings I lillustrate what I consider to be a preferred embodimentof my invention, wherein Figure `lis a front elevation of a fireplace showing in front elevation my invention installed therein. Figure 2 is` an end elevation of the invention taken from the'y line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on section lines 3-3 and 4 4 respectively, in Figure 1. Figure 5 is a plan of the basal section of the upper heater. Figure 6 is a front elevation of the basal section of theupper heater. Figure 7 is a plan view of a superposed section of the upper heater.` Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan of a superposed section illustrating the means for connecting the units of the upper one to another, and the baffle member employed for inducing a circulation of water in the several sections. Figure 9 is a perspective of the lower or tank heater. This view also illustrates the sliding grate associated therewith. Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner the two heaters are connected in order to serve the purposes for which they are intended.

Definitions heated to heat transfer units and back again to the heater for reheating. 4

'Ihe term tank heater refers to a secondary heater employed for heating water whichmay be drawn off for use, such for instance, as at taps, hydrants, wash basins, bathtubs, sinks, etc., for a hot Water distribution system.

Specification- In the drawings, I indicates a recessed fireplace which is open at the front. 'I'he bed of the fire. place is below the level of the iioor providing a pit 2 which is coextensive with the length and depth of such fireplace with the exception of side ledges 3. Seating upon the ledges 3 is a tank heater 4, Figure 9, which is a hollow generally U-shape member consisting of a center portion 4m and two parallel legs 4b'. The hollow construction of the tank heater provides an interior chamber 4c within the-U-member. Running lengthwise of each leg 4h is a ledge 40E forming a track to receive the slides 5 of the slidable partition 6; Slides 5 are projecting flanges on the ends 'I of such partition.,A Partition 6, the purpose and'operation of Which will be described later, is an inclined flat body between its upright ends 1. The lower end thereof terminates in spaced downwardly directed bars 8. In each leg of the U-shaped member is a threaded apertured boss 9 to receive pipe connections such as diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 10 wherein a hot water distribution system is connected to the tank heater. This system consists of the hot Water storage tank IU, the hot Water supply pipe I I and the return pipe I2. The hot water in tank I5 may be drawn off as desired through suitable' connections (not shown).

Mounted upon the tank heater 4 adjacent th rear wall of the fireplace and spaced from the front opening thereof is the heater I3 which supplies hot water to a heating system. Heater I3 is of rsectional construction, consisting of a basal section I3a and a number of superposed sections I3b. The number of sections employed as well as their capacity depends upon the area to be heated, the larger the area the greater the capacity and the larger the number of sections. The basal section I3a consists of a hollow body `em.- bodying transverse end tubes I4, one longitudinal tube I5 connecting an end of. each transverse tube I4, and two longitudinal tubes I6 elevated somewhat above tubes I4 and I5. A flange connection I1 having a passage I3 is situated midway the length of tubes I6. Passage I8 communicates with the interior space or ,passage I9 of each tube, and the passage of each tube communicates with the passage of the others. The under sides of the tubes are flat as shown at 2li and the upper sides are rounding as shown at 2|, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Section I3a rests with the attened undersides 20 of tubes I4 and I5 upon the tank heater. The tubes I4 project forwardly somewhat from the tubes I6. Each tube I4 is provided with a boss 22 apertured and threaded to receive pipe connection. In preferred practice connection is made to one boss the other being plugged, this connection being the return of a heating system.

Sections I3b, in each instance, compriser four longitudinal tubes 23 joined by two transverse end tubes 24 and a transverse central tube 3.5, Y

cating passage or chamber 25 is provided in al1-v the tubes.V At the bottom of each sectionv is a boss 26 having a passage 21 communicating with passages 25. This passage and boss'is located" at the center of the underside portion ofthe section. Projecting upwardly from one of the central tubes and the cross tube 35 is a boss l28 having a passage 29 communicating with passage 25. Ex-l amination of the section shows that boss 28 and passage 29 are located one side of the longitudinal center line of the section and are staggered relative to the boss 26 and passage 21 so that one longitudinal tube is beneath the boss and passage, two tubes are to one side thereof, and one tube to the opposite side thereof. By reversing the upper sections with regard to the immediate lower sections a staggered assembly is obtained wherein the iirst section I3b projects rearwardly, the next forwardly, the next rearwardly,v and so on. This arrangement places the spacing between the longitudinal tubes of the immediate lower section beneath the longitudinal tubes of the immediate upper section. This provides a circuitous passage for the travel of heat and flames. It also provides for flames and heat` to come into contact with the longitudinal tubes of each of the superposed sections. In the drawings, Figure 4, five superposed sections I3b are employed. These are mounted one above another spaced apart by means of the bosses 26V and 28 and held together by the rods 45 which have their lower ends threaded into flanged connection I'I. To the topmost fitting is attached an elbow 3l to receive a pipe connection. Prior to securing the e1- bow in place a baille bar is passed down through the several passages 21 and 29. This bar designated by the numeral 32 is a flat bar one side of which abuts one wall of passage 2l and the opposite side abuts the opposite wall of passage 29. The purpose of this bar will be touched upon later. The undersides of the tubes are attened asv at 33 to provide a baflie face for the heat and `iiames, while the upper sides are rounded as at 34 in order to reduce impedance to the travel of heat and ames.

In operation heater I3 is connected to a heating system as shown in Figure 10. The system consistsof a feed line 36 and a return line 3l connected respectively to. elbow 3I and boss 22. The system includes radiators 38. Observing Figure 4, the return connects with the basal section I3a, circulates therethrough and thence passes upward through outlet I8 to inlet 21 of superposed section |31). The flow is deflected to the left, observing this gure, by the baflie 32 to the tubes 23 to the left of outlet 29, thence through cross tubes 24 to the tubes 23 connecting with the outlet.

From thence the water passes through outlet 29 and through inlet 2'I to the next section in this instance being deflected to the right, circulating through such section to the Outlet and thence to the next section whence the flow is deflected to the left. The purpose of the baffle bar is to deect the water ow to the right or left in accordance with the position of the section, to compel the iiow to pass through the tubes remote fromV the outlet of such section, and thence to the tubes proximate the outlet. This deflection of the water ow is maintained until it reaches the nal outlet and elbow 3I. This control of the circulation of water passing through the heater brings it into contact with all heated surfaces of such heater and ensures a thorough transfer of A. exterior heat to the water. The staggered mounting of the superposed sections places the longitudinal tubes of a lower section beneath the spacing. between like tubes of a superposed section, thus when the hot gases and flames pass through the spacings they come into close contact with the tube beneath such spacing, thereby Autilizing much of the heat ordinarily lost in a fireplace; The sectional construction permits the capacity of the heater to be increased or decreased, by adding or subtracting superposed sections'.` In conclusion it may be stated that Where a fireplace has sufcient capacity to heat a room, the employment of the heater willy utilize sufficient wasted heat to heat three additional rooms equally as well, and each room sor heated having an area not less than the room heatedl by the fireplace.

Returning to Figures 3 and 9, the slidable partiton is designed to control the burning fuel area in the replace. It may be desirable to have a fire in the fireplace without heating the heater I3, in which event the partition is positioned as shown in Figure 3. A re is built between the partition and thefront of the fireplace. The partition holds such flre well out of reach of the heater I3. For this purpose the partition is reversed upon the tank heater 4 with regard to its present position. However, when the fireplace is employed both for radiant heating and heating the heater I3, theY partition is moved forwardly to allow suiicient space between it and the rear wall. of the fireplace to build a re which will provide radiant heat and also heat heater I3. When it is desired to concentrate the heat upon the heater a deflector 5I) may be employed. This is shaped to deflect. the flames and hot gases againstthe heater, and is provided with an opening 5I for the insertion o-f fuel.

In order to aid combustion of the fuel burning in the fireplace, I have provided a draft means consisting of a draft ue 4I] leading to the bottom of. the pit. Air passes through this iiue to the flames. In order to control the draft there is provided aV damper 4I operated by a handle 42 placed convenient to the replace.

While a specific form of the improvement has Vbeen described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing. from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:-

1. A heater of the class specified including a basal section and a plurality of superposed sections, the basal section comprising longitudinal tubes and cross tubes having connecting passages, an outlet leading therefrom and connected to the inlet of a superposed section, the superposed sections each having an inlet and an outlet the inlet of the one connected to the outlet of the other, each superposed section consisting of longitudinal tubes and cross tubes forming passages which communicates with the inlet and outlet, and a baille member insertable in the inlets and outlets to direct a water flow from the inlet through certain longitudinal tubes first, and thence through the remaining longitudinal tubes to the outlet.

2. A heater of the class specied, a basal section and a plurality of superposed sections, each section being of spaced longitudinal tubes and cross tubes all having communicating passages, said sections having inlets and outlets communicating with one another, the outlets of the superposed sections being staggered relative to the inlets and each superposed section being in reversed position relative to the section above and below so that such sections alternately project rearwardly and forwardly, means in the uppermost section and in the basal section for making connection to a heating system, and a baille bar insertable in the inlets and outlets of the superposed sections for directing the flow of water through all the tubes of each superposed section.

3. A heater of the class specied, a basal section and a plurality of superposed sections; each section comprising spaced longitudinal tubes and cross tubes forming intercommunicating passages, each section having an inlet and outlet providing communication between sections, the outlets of the superposed sections being in staggered relation to the inlets and each superposed section being in reversed position relative to the section above and below so that such sections alternately project rearwardly and forwardly, and means in the uppermost and basal sections for making connection to a heating system.

4. A heater of the class specified, comprising a plurality of sections disposed one above the other, said sections having communicating passages including inlets and outlets leading from one section to the other and being staggered relative to one another with alternate sections projecting in one direction and the remainder in the opposite direction, an inlet to the lowermost section and an outlet from the uppermost section for connection with a heating system, and means insertable in the sections for directing Water to ilow through all pasages in each section.

FRANK STENZEL.

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