US3545426A - Portable fluid heater - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Salvatore Escaldi 71 Sheffield Ave., North Babylon, New York 11704 [21 Appl. No. 853,277

[22] Filed Aug. 27, 1969 Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 680,189, Nov. 2, 1967, abandoned. [45] Patented Dec. 8, 1970 [54] PORTABLE FLUID HEATER 1,609,359 12/1926 Humphrey 126/362 2,906,258 9/1959 Parker 126/362 FOREIGN PATENTS 451,241 2/1913 France 126/362 Primary Examiner-Frederick L. Matteson Assistant Examiner-Robert A. Dua Attorney-Cushman, Darby and Cushman ABSTRACT: This invention relates to a portable fluid heater consisting of a tank reservoir unit and a heating unit. The heating unit, which contains a coil, is adapted to receive combustible material, such as charcoal. The ends of the coil are disposed so as to be connected with the ends of two conduits extending from the tank reservoir. One of the conduits extending from the tank is in direct communication with a dispensing valve connected to the side wall of the tank. When the dispensing valve is closed fluid will flow within the tank reservoir through the conduits, allowing the heated fluid to recirculate through the coil to thus maintain a constant high temperature. When the dispensing valve is opened, fluid flow in the coil is reversed and water is drawn off from a relatively hot zone in the tank reservoir, thereby increasing the efficiency of ,the heaterQ PATENTED DEE 81970 M41 INVENTOR 9 O 5 91 M47095 Emu 0/ .90 .94- 0 v ATTORNEYS J ,dawgwzizm PORTABLE FLUID HEATER This application is a continuation-impart of my copending application Ser. No. 680,189 filed Nov. 2, 1967 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND AND-BRIEF DESCRIPTION or INVENTION This invention relates generally to a portable water heater, and more'particularly to a portable water tank having an external coil, which can be readily dismounted'frorn said tank. The coil is placed in a firepot casing capable of holding combustible material, such as charcoal, for heating the coil and thus the water. l I

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a more efficient water heater which is composed of two integrated elements re'adily connected one to the other thereby creating an effective water heating unit which can be disassembled for easy portability.

It is another object of this invention to provide a portable water heater, for use with readily combustible material, in which the water isconstantly being recirculated and which can be maintained at an even temperature for long periods of time. i

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a portable water heater from which hot water may be drawn almost instantaneously after heat isjapplied to the coil, and which provides for a withdrawal of hot water from a relatively hot part of a tank reservoir.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a portable water heater which is economical to manufacture, rugged in construction, capable of being carried about and operated quite easily.

These objects, and other features and advantages, of this invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

, FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the portable water heater having a portion thereof broken away so that the interior structure of the units and their details can be better described; FIG. 2 is atop plan view of .the water heater of FIG. 1 taken along the cutaway line 2-2, but showing. an alternativeshape for the heater than that shown in FIG. 1; i a

FIG. 3 is a detail top view of the gate valve placed on the flow through conduit; and l FIG. 4 is a detailside view of the gate valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION-OF INVENTION Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals indicate like' parts throughout the several figures, the numeral, 10 designates the completely assembled fluid heater. Water is subsequently used to describe the details and operation of this invention, however, it is understood that other fluids could be heated by the apparatus. The water heater 10 is generally comprised of two separable units, the

. fluid tank reservoir 12 and the heating unit 14. The tank reservoir 12 is preferably cylindrical in shape, although it may have other shapes, as indicated in FIG. 2. The preferred embodiment is one having a, cylindrical sidewall 16, which is shown cutaway in FIG. 1 so that the details of the invention can be tank. is desirable so that liquid can be easily dispensed under atmospheric conditions within the tank. V

The bottom or lower end 26 ofthe tank reservoir 12 is enclosed by a permanently affixed element 28 which is shaped to fit the shape of the tank. This bottom element28 is located a short distance from the bottom peripheral edge 30 of the cylindrical sidewall 16 so that a drain conduit 32 can be a located below the permanently fixed bottom 28. This placement is bottom element 28 also allows the water heater 10 to attain a level position even when placed on rough terrain. The drain conduit 32 is connected to the central area 34 of the bottom surface 28 by an L-shaped adapter 36 having a slight downward slope so that proper drainage through valve 38 can be assured.

In the FIG. 1 embodiment, the circular shapedsidewall 16 in combination with the top circular surface 20 and the bottom circular element 28 definea chamber within which the water to be head heated in initially placed and which will also contain the water subsequent to the incipient heating cycle while the water is being recirculated, as will be explained hereinafter.

Externally and adjacent to the tank reservoir 12 is located the heating unit 14. This unit 14 is composed of two essential elements, one is the coil means 42, and the other is the insulated casing means 44, preferably of rectangular shape. The coil 42 for convenience is shown with only one full turn, however, it is understood thatmore turns can be used, and it has been found in practice that six turns will obtain the best results.

The casing means 44 is composed of four insulated rectangular wall plates .46, 48, S0 and 52. The insulation of these wall platesis of asbestos,but=any other insulating material will suffice. These four rectangular wall plates 46, 48, an 52 are welded together at 90 angles to form a rectangular casingmeans as shown in FIG. 2. One of these wall plates, preferably the wall plate furthest away from the tank reservoir 12, in this shown) can be admitted to the heating unit 14. This cover 62 is also. lined with insulating material to thereby enhance the heating efficiency of the unit 14, A draught hole 64 is placed in the center ofthe cover 62. This draught hole 64 does not extendthe whole length of the cover 62, it is terminated below the baffle 66, which serves also as a handle means to aid in lifting the cover 62 from its engaged position. The bottom face 68 of the cover 62 is lined with a heat deflector type of material, such as aluminum foil, so as to increase the heating efficiency of the unit 14. This aluminum lining is used throughout the combustion chamber of the unit 14, that is on all the inner wall plate sidings 46, 48, 50 and 52, to aid the heating efflciency of the unit. Below the coil 42 and above the upper end of the damper door 58 is located a grate 70' upon which the combustible material, such as charcoal (not shown), is placed prior to being ignited.

The terminal ends 72 and 74 of the coil 42 extend beyond the back wall plate of the heating unit 14. The tubing of the coil is passed through the wall plate 48 and connected thereto by suitable adapters to thereby firmly engage and affix the coil tubing 42 to the wall plate 48 Conventional pipe fittings can be used for this purpose. At the terminal ends 72 and 74 of the coil 42 are located two lock nut adapters 76 and 78, which are used to firmly connect the terminal ends 72 and 74 to their respective threaded terminal ends 80 and 82 of the conduits extending from the sidewall 16 of the tank reservoir unit 12. These lock nut adapters 76 and 78 are also used to disengage the tank reservoir unit 12 from the heating unit 14 when the assembled heater is being carried about.

The conduit 82, which is located on a lower horizontal plane as compared to the spatial relation of conduit 80, ex-

located on a higher horizontal plane, with respect to conduit .82, also extends through the cylindrical sidewall 16 and is firmly affixed thereto by conventional pipe fittings 86. As shown in FIG. 1, the conduit 80 merely communicates with the interior of the chamber 40.

To the end of conduit 82 which terminates within chamber 40 is connected a conduit 90 which extends across the chamber 40 and which includes a Ttype adapter 92. As can be best seen from FIG. 1, conduit 90 establishes a direct communication with a dispensing valve 110, which is located at a higher horizontal plane than conduit 82. The spatial relationship noted here and in the previous paragraphs use the ground line A as a reference point from which the horizontal planar relationships of the conduits employed by the apparatus are located. As shown in FIG. 2, conduit 90 is made up of two sections fitted to the opposite horizontal ends of the T-type adapter 92. To the side of the adapter 92 is connected conduit 94, which extends away from the T-type adapter 92. The free end of conduit 94 is terminated with a flow gate 96, which is best seen in H08. 3 and 4.

The flow gate 96 is freely attached to an angled open end of conduit 94, cut approximately at a 30 angle, by two dowel type tabs 98 and 100. To the tabs 98 and 100 is connected a flat plate 102 which is spaced from the end of conduit 92, establishing thereby a passageway 104 through which water can flow in one direction. The flow gate 96 is balanced so that water normally flows from the chamber 40 into the conduit 94 for circulation upwardly and out of the coil 42 when the dispensing valve 110 is closed. However, when the valve 110 is opened, the gate valve 96 automatically closes. To a vertical leg of the conduit 90 is connected an extension conduit 106, which is firmly attached to the side wall 16 of the tank by conventional pipe fittings 108. A valve 110 through which heated water may be withdrawn is engaged on the outside end of the extension conduit 106.

When it is desired to use the portable unit a location is first selected, either upon the ground or any other suitable surface. The heating unit 14 is firmly connected to the tank unit 12 by placing them side by side in the respective position as shown and by connecting conduits 72, 80, 74 and 82 through their respective lock nut adapters 76 and 78. The assembled integrated unit is now ready for operation. Water or any other fluid to be heated is placed within chamber 40 by manually lifting the lid or cover 20. Combustible material is then placed upon the grate 70 within the heating unit 14. The combustible material is ignited by suitable means and the damper door 58 is adjusted for proper combustion.

The water contained within chamber 40 flows into the coil 42 by conduits 94, 90, 82 and 74 as it is heated. As it is heated the ambient temperature of the water increases and it will thereby flow through and out of the coil 42 through conduits 72 and 80. If the valve 110 is closed, indicating that no hot water is desired at the present time, the heated fluid will continue to flow through conduits 94 and 90. The flow gate 96 will be maintained open and the heated water will therefore flow to coil 42 and back into the chamber at an upper level thereof. This heating cycle will continue until all the water within the chamber 40 is heated. If, however, hot water is desired as quickly as possible, the valve or faucet 110 can be opened and the very hot water within the coil 42 will be directly withdrawn by gravity through the conduits 90 and 106. in this instance, the flow gate valve 96 will close automatically automatically, thereby not permitting the cooler water from the lower part of the tank to enter the extension conduit 106. In this manner the portable water heater provides hot water almost instantaneously. Continued withdrawal of water from the valve 110 causes relatively hot water form the upper part of the tank to be drawn into the conduit 80. It is to be understood that the dimensions shown in FIG. 1 are not precise and the conduit is positioned at a level where a relatively large volume of heated water can be drawn from the tank. However, it is a feature of the present invention that water cannot be drawn so low that the coil would be drained,

thereby avoiding a possible explosion of the tank.

Once all the water has reached a constant temperature, it

may be withdrawn at will and it flows through conduits 80 and 72, coil 42, conduits 74, 82, 90, 106, and valve 110. This water flow is caused by gravity force, and causes a reversal of flow in the coil 42 as comparedto the heating cycle flow,

lf perchance water within the chamber 40 is cooled by additional water or by the mere transpiring of time, the water will automatically recirculate until it reaches an even and constant temperature, and the hotter water of the tank will be drawn off first. Hot water is therefore efficiently and constantly available.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed and described hereinbefore, it must be remembered that various modifications and alternate constructions can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable heater for liquids comprising:

a tank having sidewalls with bottom and top closures forming a chamber therein, said top closure being removably placed so that liquid can be introduced into said chamber;

a heating coil comprising a coiled conduit having two terminal ends, with one of said terminal ends being positioned on a higher horizontal plane than the other terminal end, said heating coil being contained within a casing means which is positioned external to said tank, said casing means being adapted to receive combustible material, and said terminal ends of the heating coil extending through a side wall portion of said casing means;

first and second tubular conduit means extending laterally from said tank and through its sidewall for communicating with the chamber therein, said first tubular conduit being on a higher horizontal plane than said second tubular conduit and the spatial relation of said first and second tubular conduits being equivalent to the spatial relation of said two terminal ends of said heating coil so that'said two terminal ends of the coil and said first and second tubular conduits can be in direct alignment;

two connecting means disposed respectively on the terminal ends of said heating coil for attaching said first and second tubular conduit means to alined terminal ends of the coil;

a third tubular conduit disposed within said chamber for interconnecting said second tubular conduit means to a dispensing valve means for the tank, thereby creating a direct communication between the heating coil and the dispensing valve means; and

a flow gate valve means communicating with said third tubular conduit for circulating liquid from the tank and into said heating coil by way of said second tubular conduit, said flow gate valve means being closed when said dispensing valve means is opened so that the direction of flow of liquid in said heating coil is reversed for dispensing.

2. The portable heater of claim 1 and further including a second dispensing valve means connected to the bottom of the tank by a tubular conduit means for draining the fluid within said chamber whenever it is desired to empty the tank to another position.

3. The portable heater of claim 1 wherein said casing means includes a grate and a flue means for aiding the combustion of material.

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