US2414557A - Sidearm circulating water heater - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 2l, 1947. H. c. REED sInEARM CIRCULATING WATER HEATER Filed March 2, 1944` 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 21, 1947. H. c. REED SIDEARM CIRGULATING WATER HEATER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2, 1944 Jan. 2l, 1947. H. c. REED SIDEARM CIRCULATING WATER HEATER 4 sheets-sheet 5 Filed March 2, 1944 Jan. 21, 1947. H] C, REED l2,414,557

SIDEARM CIRCULATING WATER HEATER Filed March v2, 1944 4 sheets-sheet 4 sa 2@ .will z@ Patentecl Jan. 21, 1947 SKBEARM CIRCULATING WATER HEATER Howard S. Reed, Dunkirk, Sears, Roebuck and Co.,

poration of New York Application March 2, 1944, Serial No. 524,726

16 Claims. (C1. 122-223) This invention relates to circulating water heat-4 ers, widely known as side arm water heaters.

Objects of my invention are: to provide a circulating water heater such as those for domestic use in which the casing serves as a part of the heat exchange unit; to provide a heater of this character having a casing with a lighter door which may be located selectively in dii'erent positions for convenience as different installations may require; to provide a heater of this type constructed essentially from modified conventional steam or hot water radiator sections; to provide a heater of this type having lateral extensions of the tubular formation of each section, serving as iins and as tailles and arranged to increase the heat transfer from the flames and gases of combustion and to minimize the loss of heat to the cover parts of the casing; to provide a novel burner mounting; and, among other things, to provide a lighter door biased to closed position and automatically opening in case of an explosion to thereby preclude or at least minimize damage.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as the description proceeds.

The invention will be better understood upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a side arm eirculating water heater constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a. fragmentary elevational viev/ of the lower part of the same with a casing panel renioved, taken as indicated by the lin-esZ-Z of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the water inlet and outlet side of the heater.

l is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 5 is a full height elevational view, partly in section, similar to Fig. 2 but including a portion of the lighter door panel.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 6 5 in Figs. 5 and '1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken as indicated by the line 'l--l in Figs. 3 and 5.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are plan sectional views taken as indicated by the lines 8-8, 9* and Iii-lil in Fig. 6. l

Fig. 11'is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the line il-li in Fig. 3. Y

.Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I have shown generally at 2e a side arm circulating water heater constructed in accordance with my invention. It may be made of any N. Y., assigner to t Chicago, Ill., a corsuitable materials, such, for example, as cast iron. In the development of this heater I have made use of conventional steam orhot water radiator sections and have modiiied them so that, thus modified, they serve as a side arm water heater. The modications together with certain other details will now be described.

The conventional side arm Water heater is provided with a heat exchange unit surrounded by a casing which forms no part of the heat exchange means. In accordance with my invention, the casing is incorporated in the heat exchange unit and thus I utilize heat which heretofore was lost. To this end the device comprises casing sections 22 and 23 having tubular formations 24 and 25, respectively, the spaces between the tubes being, however, closed as shown at 26. The casing also includes a flue cover top or crown 2l and vertical panels 28 and 2S.Y The tubularformation of each casing section is `preferably marginally inset from the longitudinal edges 32, top edge 34 and bottom edge 36, the longitudinal and bottom edges being preferably reinforced as shown at 38 and additional reinforcement being provided at 4B between the bottom of the section andthe lower part of the tubular formation. One of these sections has the usual water inlet and outlet openings 42 and 44 at its outer side, and the other section is completely closed at its outer side. Except for these differences, these two casing sections are identical and may be made from the same mold, the mold being provided with cores when the section having the openings 42 and 44 therein is to be cast.

Each of the casing sections 22 and 23 of the heat exchange unit has top and bottom openings 45 and 48 in line with the openings 42 and 44, respectively, and may be joined together or with one or more intervening heat exchange sections as by push nipples 52. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a single intervening heat exchange section appears. The intervening section 5i! has a tubular formation 54 like those of the casing sections and suitably spaced therefrom when assembled therewith.

The inner side of each of the casing . sections 22 and 23 is provided with plate baffles 5S extending substantially the full width thereof. The free longitudinal edges :Bil of the baliles 56 are'substantially spaced from the intervening tubular formation 54. Alternating with and disposed adjacent the end portions of the plate balles are relatively short baliles such as lugs 52.

The intervening section 50 has pairs of relatively short baliies such as lugs 66, each preferably of generally dovetail formation and coplanar with the respective plate baffles 56 on the casing sections 22 and 23. The space 61 between the Y the plate bailles 56 on the casing sections are arranged to be coplanar with the lug bailies 66 on the intermediate section 50. Itv will be noted that the plate baffles are staggered on the mutually facing portions of the sections to cause the gases adjacent the tubular formations to have sinuous flow upward to thereby promote maximum heat transfer from the gases to the tubular formations. The passage area throughout the entire rise is relatively large in view of the fact that the lug baflles of each section cooperating with the plate baiiles on the adjacent section are relatively short and the vertical portions of the tubular part 54 of the intermediate section 50 are openly spaced apart as shown at 61a. 1

The vertical spacing between the baffles is progressively reduced upward to the lug bailles 62 disposed in proximity to the upper part of the heat exchange unit, and from those ballies upward the baille spacing is relatively increased, No plate bailleis provided on the intermediate section 50 in cooperation with the uppermost lug baflies 62 on the casing sections 22 and 23. Instead, a baflle 12 similar to the plate baffles 53 referred to above is provided, extending from opposite sides of the upper water passage hub 13 on the intermediate section. Somewhat above the baille 12, coplanarplate baffles 14 extend from opposite sides of the upper water passage hubs 15on the respective casing sections.

'The respective end edges of all of the baffles are preferably substantially coplanar for disposition adjacent the respective cover panels 28 and 29 (Figs. 8 and 10) and the various baiiles in each plane are quite close together, so as to substantially block rising movement of the gases adjacent the cover panels and thus minimize scrubbing action of the gases on and consequently heat transfer therefrom to the cover panels. Moreover, because of this construction pockets are formed adjacent said panels, at the under sides of said bailles, causing the gases in such pockets to substantially stagnate and function as insulating media further reducing heat loss to the panels. Y Y

The inclination of the mutually facing edges 16 of each pair of lug baflies augments the area of rising flow yof the gases and minimizes turbulence.

The cover panels 28 and 29 may be cast or otherwise provided with means (not shown) for retaining insulating material B0, such as asbestos sheeting. The insulation may be disposed between elongated ribs 84 c ast on each cover panel, saidV ribs having a pair of eyes 86 at the upper ends thereof and another pair of eyes 88 near the bottoms thereof. The ribs 84 are adapted to lie between and engage 'the inner surfaces 89 of the casing sections and, when the cover panel is in assembly therewith, the eyes 88 are in register with openings 90 formed in the upper ends of has an opening the casing sections and also in register with eyes 94 formed on the top 21. The parts may be assembled by registering the eyes and holes referred to and slipping pins or screws therethroughl The other set of eyes 88 of each panel is adapted to register with holes formed in bosses 9E on the associated flanges 38 of the casing sections, and the parts may be secured together by means of pins or screws 98.

The cover panels differ only in that one (28) is imperforate and the other (29) has a door openlng lil which is preferably of key-hole form, with a lower narrow portion |82 and an upper wide portion |04. This opening affords access to the burner for lighting, as will appear. n

Associated with the cover panel 29 is a door |06 of generally T shape, with a narrow part |08 adapted to cover the narrow portion |02 of the opening from the outside and with a wide part ile adapted to cover the wide portion |04 of the opening from the inside. The wide portion of the door is offset transversely from the narrow portion thereof and, on the inner side, is provided with eyes |12 adapted to register with the pin-receiving eyes 8B of the associated cover panel 29 and the openings in the bosses 96 of the associated casing sections 22 and 23. One of the pins or screws 98 extending through the three parts just mentioned xedly secures the panel 29 to the casing mounts the door relative thereto. 'Ihe door may be inserted into position from the inner side of the panel by passing the narrow part of the door outward through the wide portion` of the opening until the respective screw holes are in register. The door may be provided with a suitable handle I l.

The four screws referred to above are the only fastening means necessary to completely assemble the heating unit with the remainder of the casing. The device is so compact that less shipping space is occupied if it is completely assembled than if knocked down.

When it is received by the customer, he may nnd that the particular installation available to him requires the lighter door to be located on the side opposite to that in which it is located when he'received the device. In such event it would consume but a minute or two to interchange the cover panels and thus locate the lighter door in a convenient position. f

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the general form of the device in cross section is rectangular, and accordingly I have designed a burner |23 of corresponding form. The burner |2l in the bottom thereof to receive a fuel mixing throat or tube |22 which will project below the casing. The burner ports |23 are designed to furnish flames directly under the bottoms of the tubular formations. The ports are arranged marginally in the form of a hollow rectangle, opposite sides |24 of which are disposed substantially under the inner bottom portions |25 of the tubular formations 24 and 25 and the water inlet hubs |26 of the casing sections 22 and 23. Within the hollow rectangle, the ports are in a generally cruciform -arrangement as indicated at |21 so as to underlie the similarly shaped bottom 28 of the tubular formation 54 and the water inlet passage hubs |29 on the intermediate section 50. The central area |30 of the cross is irnperforate in order to serve as a baiile for theV gas rising from the mixing tube |22 so that the same sections and also pivotally` Askilled inthe art,

:may hersnread general-ly uniformly .to the fvarions 'rp OliS.

For snpportinethehurner, there are east at the inner :side of t e 'bottom .of eachleasing sect-ion 22, f2.3, ,pairs of spaced `.upper and lower lugs 1.3i between which projections `L32 on the 4sides of lthe `burner .are :adapted :to be .disposed This .is readily aecomplishedwhenione .of-the cover panels `2li, 2.9 is .off "by simply sliding the rproietionsin place. The .ends ist of-:the purneraIZ-ll.havefproiections .i3d which ,en-ease lues 1:36 :the .inner faces of :the cover panels, AWhelelev to center the burner rela-tive to theheat exchange unit. .By :providing lues 'on the cover panels aswell as onthe burner, hreakaeesuch as would be likely to occur if relatively long lue-s `were employed n the burner alone or on the cover panels .alone is avoided.

It will be noticed -that when it is desired to :lig-ht the burner it is -anveasy-matter for the fattendant to grasp the handle H6 and raise the door` If `against the action of gravity and then insert -a match through the r.dOQrcpening IDU to .the fburner, and that :the door, when 'left alone, will `lie -by gravityin closedaposition. In the event -of an explosion, the door `will yield `readily to the increased pressure and allow the compressed gases of combustion to escape readily, thus minimizing or obviating damage to the parts of the device.

Various modications cominglwithin the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves `to those and hence I do not` wish to be limited -to .the .specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent `indicated in the appended claims, which Aare to be interpreted as broadly as the `state of the art will permit.

I claim:

1. A side arm circulating water heater com.- prising a heat exchange unit, a casing therefor .including alremovablepanel,A a burner, and inter-` engaging means on gsaidcasingand burner yena,- bling saidburner to be'supported in operative position when said panel is removed, and .to be slipped out lof and `into said positionin the ab- VsenceofsaidPaHeI, and means on `said panel operative, when Vsaid panel is restored to the remainder of the casing, to pQStively retain .said burner in `supported position.

2. A -side w.arm circulating water heater, comprising la heat exchange unit, a 'casing therefor having four vertical walls, ua flue crownlembracing the upper ends of said wallsvnarld a fastening disposed at the inner face of each of two opposite walls vof said casing and extending .widthwise thereof yand passing throughmarginal portions of said opposite walls, the other two walls and said Vcrown, whereby the fourwalls and crown are-held in assembly by two yfastenings disposed substantially out of the path ofrisinggases.

3. A side arm circulating water heater `comprising afheat exchange unit, a casing therefor, a burner, means on said casing for supporting said burner in cooperative relation to the heat exchange unit, said casing including a plurality of separable panels, one of which has a burner lighter opening, and means interchangeably securing said panels in assembly with the remainder 'of the casing, whereby said panels may be interchangeably positioned to locate said opening at the most convenient any given installation.

4. A side arm circulating water heater comprising a heat exchange unit, a casing therefor, a burner, means on said casing for supporting said burner in cooperative relation to said heat exposition for the userin battles, said bellies lhaving inlet and `outlet .els connected with ysaid and forming therewith .change :unit :said easing yincluding a removable 5. A side arm `circulating water heater com- Y .prising a casing including spacedheat exchange sections, `a .heat exchange section between said casing heat exchange sections, main Abaiiles on and extending substantially the `full. widths of the mutually facing portions of said sections, the

"baffles on `each portion alternating with those y,on

the mutually facing portions, and auxiliary baffles on each of said portions alternating with and Vdisposed only adjacent the ends of. said main being arranged to stagnate gases of combustion :entering the spaces therebe tween `at the ends` of said main baffles, whereby to minimize heat transfer -from the remaining gases to the remaining walls of said casing.

6. ,A `side arm circulating water heater comprising a'heat exchange unit including two opposite one-piece heat exchange sections, each section having a Vformation .adapted to .contain water, means `establishing communication between sa-id formations, one of said formations openings for connection with'eJ Awater tank,two `additional one-piece panheat exchange sections an Ienclosure extending below and above said formations, said enclosure being open `at the bottom to accommodate a source of heat and open at the top to provide a flue,

7. A side arm `circulating water heater comprising a heat exchange unit including two oppfosite one-piece heat exchange sections, each section ,having a formation adapted to `contain water, means establishing communication between said formations; oneof said formations having inlet and outlet openings for connection with a water tankand two additional one-piece panels connected 4with said heat exchange-seci tions .and forming with said sections an enclosure extending below and above said formations,

said enclosure -being open at the bottom to accommodate -a source of heat and open at the top t0 `provide a flue, said communication-establish- :ing means comprising a heat exchange formation adaptedto contain-water, the last-mentioned formation ,being disposed within said enclosure,

8. A side arm circulating water heater corn- `prising a heat exchange unit including two op- Vposite-'onor-piece heat exchange sections, each section having a formation adapted to contain water, means establishing communication be- .tween said'formations, one of said formations 'having rinlet and `outlet openings for `connection i -yvith a watertank, two additional one-piece pan- 4els connected with `and Aforming 4,therewith an enclosure extending said `heat exchange `sections below and above said formations, said enclosure being o-pen at the bottom to accommodate a source of heat and open at the top to provide a flue, a nuid fuel burner, and cooperating means on said burner and on said enclosure below said formations, for supporting said burner.

9. A side arm circulating water heater comn prising a heat exchange unit, a casing therefor adapted to accommodate a burner in cooperative relation to said heat exchange unit, said casing including a panel having a burner lighter opening, a door for said opening, a means for fastening said panel to the remainder of the casing, said l 7 fastening means comprising a pin serving as a pivot for said door. Y

10. A side arm circulating .water heater'comprising a -casing including spaced heat exchange sections having heat exchange tubular formations, a heat exchange tubular formation between said casing heat exchange sections, each of said formations comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced tubular elements, the spaces between said elements on said casing sections being closed, the spaces between said elements on the intermediate formation being open, main bailies on and extending substantially the full width of the mutually facing portions of said sections and intermediate formation, the baffles on each portion alternating with those o-n the mutually facing portion, and auxiliary baffles on each of said portions alternating with and disposed only adjacent the ends of said main bailies, said baflies being arranged to Ystagnate gases of combustion entering the spaces therebetween at the ends of said main baffles, whereby to minimize heat transfer from the remaining gases towalls of said casing other than said sections.

11, A sidev arm circulating 'water heater comprising a casing including spaced heat exchange sections having heat exchange tubular formations, an intermediate heat exchange formation, and meanscooperating with said casing sections for substantially enclosing said intermediate formation, each of said sections having a tubular formation, means establishing communication between all of said formations, each of said formations comprising a plurality of tubes, the spaces between said tubes of each casing sec'- tion formation being closed, the spaces between said tubes 4of the intermediate formation being open.

12. A side arm circulating water heater comprising a heat exchange unit including heat exchange sections, each having a vertically extending -formation adapted to contain water, means establishing communication between said formations, one of said formations having inlet and outlet openings for connection with a water tank, means connected with said sections and forming therewith anv enclosure open at the bottom to accommodate a source of heat and open at the top to provide a flue, means for causing rising gases to scrub said formations, and means for substantially stagnating the gases adjacent the portions of said enclosurebetween said sections.

13. A side arm circulating water heater comprising a heat exchange unit including heat exchange sections, each having a vertically extending formation adapted tov contain water, means establishing communication between said formations, one of said formations having inlet `and outlet openings for connection witha water tank, means connected -withV said sections and forming therewith an enclosure open at the bot,-

sure, said baffles in beingY formed to provide tom to accommodate a source of heat and open at the top to provide a flue, and a vertical 'series of bales'on each formation within said enclosure, said baflies in each series being progressively closer together from the bottoms to a level adjacent the tops of said formations. 14. A side arm circulating water heater comprising a heat exchange unit including heat exchange sections, each having a vertically extendingA formation adapted to contain water, means establishing communication between said formations, one of said formations having inlet and outlet openings for connection with a water tank, means connected with said sections and forming therewith an enclosure open at tliebottom to accommodate a source of heat and open at the top to provide a flue, and a vertical series of bailies on each formation within said enclosure, said baffles in each series being progressively closer together from the bottoms to a level adjacent the tops of said formations and being spaced farther apart from said level upward. 15. A side arm circulating water heater` comprising a heat exchange unit including heat exchange sections, each section having a vertically extending formation adapted to contain water, means establishing communication between said formations, one of said formations having inlet and outlet openings for connection with a water tank, means connected with said sections and forming therewith an enclosure open at the bottom'to accommodate a source of heat and open at the top to provide a nue, and a vertical series of baffles on each of the mutually facing portions of said formations within said enclosure, said baflles in each series alternating with those in the mutually facing series and being progressively closer together from the bottoms to a level 'adjacentY the tops of said formations.

' 16. A side arm circulating water heater comprising a heat'exchange unit including heat exchangevsections, each section having a vertically extending formation adapted to contain water,

`means establishing communication between said formations, one of said *formations having inlet and outlet openings for connection with a water tank, 'means connected with said sections and forming therewith an enclosure open at the bottom to accommodate a source of heat and open at the top to provide a flue, and a vertical series of bafes on each formation within said encloeach series being progressively closer together from the bottoms to a level adjacent .the tops of said formations, said'bailies a substantial pathv for they flow of the rising gases in Contact with said formations and being formed adjacent the remainder of said enclosure to provide insulating pockets in which portions of the rising gases are adapted to stagnate. v

, HOWARD C. REED.

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