US3274918A

US3274918A - Stock tank heater cover apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3274918A
Application number: US481834A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mathew H Stapleton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-07-09
Filing date: 1965-08-23
Publication date: 1966-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 1983-09-27

Description

Sept. 27, 1966 M. H. sTAPLEToN 3,274,918

STOCK TANK HEATER COVER APPARATUS Original Filed July 9, 1963 United States Patent O 3,274,918 STOCK TANK HEATER COVER APPARATUS Mathew H. Stapleton, Jefferson, Iowa Original application July `9, 1963, Ser. No. 293,744, now Patent No. 3,212,494, dated Oct. 19, 1965. Divided and this application Aug. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 481,834 1 Claim. (Cl. 98--62) This is a divisional application of my copending application, Ser. No. 293,744 tiled July 9, 1963 entitled Stock Tank Heater, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,212,494 issued October 19, 1965.

This invention relates generally to automatic gas tank heaters and more particularly to heaters of this type used in livestock tanks which are placed in the open.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved cover apparatus for the stock tank heater disclosed herein.

It is another object of this invention to provide a cover apparatus which permits air outside the heater to readily enter the upper portion thereof to be drawn downwardly for combustion purposes.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide such a cover apparatus which greatly aids the evacuation of exhaust gases from the exhaust portion of the stock tank heater, providing a slight vacuum for increasing the eti-lciency of the exhaust structure.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a cover apparatus for an automatic stock tank heater capable of attaining the above designated objectives which is economical, simple and rugged in construction, and effective in operation.

These objects, and other features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the accompanying description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the stock tank heater of this invention, shown in assembled relation with a stock tank holding a normal quantity of water;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal vertical sectional View of the heater and the tank taken substantially along the line 2 2 in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional View of of the cover unit of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the stock tank heater of this invention, hereinafter referred to as the heater is designated generally at in FIG. l. The heater 10 comprises basically van upright cylindrical control or burner box 11 having a rectangular, box-like housing `12 at the base therof for a heat chamber 13, and including a circular cover unit 14 for the admission of fresh air to the box 11 and for the exhausting of gas fumes from the heat chamber 13.

The heater 10 is adapted to be placed into a stock tank 16 of a conventional size and shape -for this type heater 10, with the top of the box 11 and the cover unit 14 always being above the level 17 of the water y118. An noted from FIG. 2, the water level 17 is maintained at approximately three-fourths the height of the box 11. The upper end of the box 1|1 and cover unit 14 are at a level above the rolled edge 28 of the tank 16.

The box 1.1 is secured to a side 19 of the tank 16, with its base 2'1 (FIG. 2) resting on the bottom 22 of the tank 16, by a fastening unit 23 which includes a circular collar 24 wrapped about the box 11 and a pair of interconnected arms 26 and 27 extending over the rolled edge 28 of the tank side I19. A pair of

brackets

29 and 31 Iare attached to the arms 26 and 27, each for threadably holding a

bolt

3,2 74,918- Patented Sept. 21, 1966 32 turnably engageable against the outer surface of the side 19. To space and maintain the heater box 11 inwardly from the side 19, an `adjustable U-bracket 33 is afiixed to the lower end of the box 11. By this arrangement of clamping the box 11 to the tank side A19, the heat chamber housing 112 extends into the interior of the tank 16 as best shown in FIG. l.

Referring particularly to FIG. 2, an automatic temperature control assembly is indicated generally at 34 and is mounted within the box 11. This control assembly 34 includes `a gas supply pipe 36 connected to an external conduit 37, which leads to a supply of natural or bottled gas (not shown). At the lower end of the supply pipe 36, a commercially available automatic temperature control unit 38 is fluidly connected. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the control unit 38 is supported at approximately midway of the height, or length, of the `heater box 111; and importantly, Vat this position of the control unit 38 it is always below the normal level 17 of the water 18 in the stock tank 16.

A gas discharge pipe 39 depends 4from a iiuid connection from the control unit 38 and has a conventional burner unit 41 extended horizontally from its lower end. The nozzle 42 of the burner is supported by a shield 40 within the lower end of the box 11. A thermo-couple line 43 also depends from the control unit 38, as does a pilot light conduit 44, both of which elements terminate adjacent the burner nozzle 42 in the convention-al arrangement.

Within the heat chamber 13, baie 46 (FIGS. 2 and 4) is secured to the sides of the housing 12 and extends upwardly at an incline toward the front of heat chamber i113. It will be noted in FIG. 2 that the entire heat chamber housing 12 is also slightly inclined upwardly. The purpose for this, as also the purpose of the baffle 46, is to trap and direct condensate to a pocket at the rear of both the baffle 46 and the base 47 of the housing l12. A condensation burner plate 45, having a very narrow width as noted in FIG. 4, and having an Lshape with a rearwardly extended portion 50, is secured to the underside .of the baille 46 and depends therefrom to where the portion 50 is closelyadjacent the housing base 47 and suspended thereabove. The burner plate 45 is placed directly in front of the burner to receive the full heat of the flame emitting therefrom when operating.

To transmit the exhaust gases vfrom the heat chamber 13, an exhaust stack 48 is formed internally the box and fluidly connects the interior of the heat chamber with the atmosphere at the top of the box 11. A stack extension 48a (FIG. 2) extends upwardly and inwardly from the stack 48 into the cover unit 14. To complete the exhausting of the gas fumes, the cover unit 14 is provided. This unit 14 includes a polygonal shaped base 52 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which has a pair of diametrically opposed, depending

lips

53 and 54. The lips are each adapted to rest upon and to be supported by, respectively, a pin 56 extended outwardly from the box 11, and the joint 57 between the supply conduit 37 and the supply pipe 36, whereby the main part of the base 52 is spaced above the top 58 lof the box 11. Secured to the underside of the base 52 is a polygonal intake battle member 60 of a width which permits the upper end of the box 11 to lit between it, the bale member 60, and the lips of' the lbase 52. Thus, as indicated by the downwardly directed arrows in FIG. 2, air from outside the tank enters the hollow box 11 through the vertical space between the main flat part of the base 52 and the top edge 58 of the box', and between the latter and the spaced portions of the baie member 60'.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the base 52 is provided `centrally with an upturned rim 59 defining an opening of a considerably smaller diameter than the diameter of the box 11. Supported by a plurality of legs 62 on the at portion or plate 63 of the base 52 is -a circular collar 3 64, the bottom edge 66 of which, except for the legs 62, is spaced above the flat portion 63. Extended upwardly from the collar 64 are a plurality of Abraces 67 which support a circular concave-convex cover 68 the peripheral edge 69 of which extends laterally beyond the periphery of the collar 64.

The heater is completed by a sensing tube 71 which is an integral part of the control unit 38. The line 72 for the tube 71 extends upwardly within the box 11, thence outwardly thereof to be placed within the water 18. As a practical matter, the tube 71 is inserted through a bracket 73 (FIG. 1) secured to the exterior of the box 11, and held thereby against unnecessary movement.

Operation of the heater 10 is as lfollows. With the control unit 38 set to maintain the water 18 in the tank at a certain temperature, operation of the control unit 38 results in a flame emitting from the burner nozzle 42, utilizing fresh air from the top of the box 11 as shown by the downwardly directed arrows in FIG. 2. The flame impinges upon the burner plate 45 which attains extremely high temperatures. The plate 45, not being in contact with the

walls

49, 47, and 51, of the heat chamber housing 12, imparts this heat to the bale 46 which in turn heats the housing 12 and thus the water externally thereof.

The exhaust gases move upwardly through the stack 48, and out through the extension 48a and the cover unit 14. To aid the evacuation of the exhaust gases, air passes between the collar bottom edge 66 and the base 52, and then upwardly and outwardly beneath the cover 68. This movement of air creates a slight vacuum suicient to aid in pulling the air outwardly from the stack 48. Putting it another way, intake air passages 66a (FIG. 5) are formed between the arcuately spaced legs 62, and with the plate 63 which permit air to enter the interior of the collar 64. Exhaust air and gas passages 67a are formed between the braces 67 of the collar 64, and with the concavo-convex cover 68, whereby as the exhaust gases leave the stack extension 48a, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5, air from exterior the collar 64 is pulled inwardly through the passages 66a, -and is exhausted with the gas through the passages 67a.

The placement of the control unit 38 below the normal water level 17, and relatively close, about half the height or length of the box 11, to the constantly burning pilot light (not shown) adjacent the burner nozzle 42, maintains the temperature at the control unit 38 sufficiently above the dew point of the air external of the control unit 38 to prevent condensation of water internally thereof, and prevents freezing of any water condensation which may accidentally form therein. The placement of the control -unit 38 also maintains the temperature of the gas well above its dew point.

Tests have shown that by maintaining the control unit 38 at this location below the normal level of the water line, and above the pilot light as indicated above, the ambient temperature at the control unit 38 has been stabilized at approximlately fteen to twenty degrees Fahrenheit above the dew points of the air surrounding the control unit 38 and the gas internally thereof.

In summation, a stock tank heater has been disclosed and described herein which is an improvement over other present day heaters of this type and for this purpose, particularly as to stabilizing the ambient temperature about the control unit even under most inclement Weather conditions.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed and described heerinbefore, it is to be remembered that various modifications and alternate constructions may be made thereto without departing from the true spirit .and scope of the invention as dened in the appended claim.

I claim:

A cover apparatus for a stock tank heater, the heater having a burner box, a heater housing secured to the base of the burner box, and gas burner means mounted within said burner box at the base thereof; said cover apparatus comprising:

a plate adapted to be detachably mounted on the upper end of the burner box and spaced above the normal level upper edge of the burner box whereby air passages are formed between the plate and said upper edge, said plate having an opening formed in a normally horizontally disposed portion thereof, said opening defined by an upturned lip;

a circular collar member having a plurality of arcuately spaced, depending leg portions mounted on said plate and surrounding said opening, said collar member having a diameter greater than that of said lip but less than the diameter of said plate, said collar member having in addition a plurality of upwardly extended portions formed in arcuately spaced relation about the -upper edge thereof;

a cover mounted above and extended over said collar member, the undersurface of said cover concave relative to said collar member, said cover having a diameter Igreater than that of said collar member; and

an exhaust stack adapted to lead from a position at said upper end of said burner box within said opening to a position downwardly within the burner box, said exhaust lstack adapted to have uid communication with the heater housing as the only fluid exhaust means therefor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 757,348 4/ 1904 Ross. 2,445,302 7/ 1948 Clarkson 126-360 X 2,696,815 12/1954 Johnson 126-360 2,763,196 9/ 1956 Singleton 98-46 2,984,237 5/ 1961 Gunion 126-360 3,062,201 11/ 1962 Kudobe 126-360 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A. DUA, Assistant Examiner.