US3645327A - Hot water tank heater - Google Patents

Abstract

A radiator, a tank, a cylindrical passageway running through the tank, a pump for pumping heated radiator water through the cylindrical passageway, and a pump for pumping the heated water in the tank about the cylindrical passageway out of the tank for use.

Description

United States Patent Henley [54] HOT WATER TANK HEATER [72] Inventor: George S. Henley, 7421 Lindale Drive,

Sacramento, Calif. 95828 [22] Filed: May 1, 1970 211 App]. No.: 33,595

[52] US. Cl ..165/5l, 237/123 B [51] Int. Cl. B60h 1/06, B60h 1/08 [58] Field oi'Search ..165/5l; 237/1233 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 ,52 l ,704

7/1970 Bridegum ..237/12.3B

[ Feb. 29, 1972 1/1955 Haugen ..237/l9 X 8/1942 Donnelly et al ..l26/362 X Primary Examiner.|ohn J. Camby Attorney--Alexander B. Blair [57] ABSTRACT A radiator, a tank, a cylindrical passageway running through the tank, a pump for pumping heated radiator water through the cylindrical passageway, and a pump for pumping the heated water in the tank about the cylindrical passageway out of the tank for use.

1 Ch me 4 D aw g F sw nor WATER TANK HEATER This invention is related to mobile hot water heaters. More specifically, this device consists of a small tank placed under the hood of a vehicle enabling the small trailer, boat operator, etc., to have a supply of hot water for washing, showering, etc., whenever desired. The device is particularly useful for small camping units that are used on pickup trucks. It is also a much safer method of heating hot water in small boats because the danger of explosion with heaters heated with the conventional propane is not present with the elimination of propane.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient mobile hot water tank. 4

Another object of this invention is to provide a safe means of delivering hot water in a mobile vehicle.

The above and other objects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention taken together with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a cutaway elevational view of the tank;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of water flow through the hot water system. Referring in detail to the drawing, there is illustrated a fresh water tank having a fill cap 12, pressure gauge 14, relief valve 13, and air stem at the top of tank 10. Mounted at the center of tank 10 along the longitudinal axis thereof is a cylindrical passageway 16 having both ends thereof connected to water line 18 at the opposite ends of tank 10.

FIG. 4 shows water flowing out of a conventional radiator 20 and being pumped through the engine along line 18 into passageway 16 by an engine water pump (not shown). The flow of radiator water is controlled by the heater control inside the vehicle, the vehicle heater and defroster 22 being positioned in line 18 on the exit side of passageway 16. Tank 10 is stored with fresh water which is heated as the heated water from the engine passes through passageway 16. A pump 24, which may be actuated manually, by air pressure, or by electrical mechanical means draws the heated fresh water from tank 10 for use. It should be noted that as the radiator water circulates through tank 10, it takes approximately a mere 10 minutes to heat the entire body of fresh water in tank 10.

While the preferred embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that modifications and changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A mobile fresh water heater, comprising a generally horizontal fresh water storage tank, a generally horizontal cylindrical passageway mounted at the center of the tank along the longitudinal axis of the tank between opposite ends of the tank in a manner so that water in the tank is sealed off from the inside of the passageway, the passageway being part of an internal combustion engine cooling system water line, the flow of engine heated water through the passageway causing the fresh water in the tank to heat up, a fill cap at the top of the tank for pouring in fresh water, a pressure gauge and release valve with an air stem extending from the top of the tank, a water pipe extending downward from the bottom of the tank, and a pump connected to the pipe for pumping the heated fresh water to the area where the water is to be used for washing and consumption, said passageway having a diameter larger than that of the water line located outside the tank for increasing the area of heat exchange with said passageway positioned to receive the flow of water directly after the water leaves the engine of the mobile vehicle.

Claims (1)

1. A mobile fresh water heater, comprising a generally horizontal fresh water storage tank, a generally horizontal cylindrical passageway mounted at the center of the tank along the longitudinal axis of the tank between opposite ends of the tank in a manner so that water in the tank is sealed off from the inside of the passageway, the passageway being part of an internal combustion engine cooling system water line, the flow of engine heated water through the passageway causing the fresh water in the tank to heat up, a fill cap at the top of the tank for pouring in fresh water, a presSure gauge and release valve with an air stem extending from the top of the tank, a water pipe extending downward from the bottom of the tank, and a pump connected to the pipe for pumping the heated fresh water to the area where the water is to be used for washing and consumption, said passageway having a diameter larger than that of the water line located outside the tank for increasing the area of heat exchange with said passageway positioned to receive the flow of water directly after the water leaves the engine of the mobile vehicle.

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