US937776A - Apparatus for heating water. - Google Patents

Description

' A. C. DUNHAM.

APPARATUS PoR HEATING WATER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.. 23, 1909. y

Patented 0013.26, 1909.

nam. A

nDerL-fol" s/l'n By /Z A f fairy/cg STIN C. DUNHAM, 0F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

APPARATUS FOR HEATING WATER.

Specification of Letterslatcnt.

'Patented oct. 2c, i909.

Application filed January 23, 1909.` Serial No.473,877.

To aZZ whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUSTIN C. D'UNHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in'Apparatus for Heating Water, .of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawings forming a part of the same, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2 2, Fig. 3, and Fig. 3 is a plan View with the top plate removed.

lSimilar reference figures refer to similar parts in the different views.

My invention relates to automatic apparatus for maintaining a tank full of heated Water, comprisino a cold water chamber in which the water 1s heated anda tank to receive the heated water, from which it may be drawn as desired, and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and pointed 4out in the annexed claims.

My invention includes means for automatically regulating the heat applied to the water, said means operated by the amount of water in the hot water tank, and means for furnishing water heated to varying temperatures by the same source of heat;

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

1 is an inclosing case mounted on a base 2 and provided ,with a top plate or cover 3. The case 1` is divided, in the present instance, by three transverse partitions into a central warm water tank 4,4 a hot water tank 5 and chambers 6, 6, for the cold water at `either end of the case. The walls and bottom of the -case and the various partitions are preferably double, having an air space or a non- -heat conducting material 7, such as asbestos chamber 6, as shown in 2. At the bot-4 tom of each chamber 6 is an inverted cup shaped shell 11 having openings 12 communicating with the lchamber 6.. Beneath each shell 11 I provide heating means 13, by which the water inclosed within the shell is heated. In the present instance the heating means consists of a resistance coil connected by wires 14 and 15 with the poles of an electric generator, not shown. Any other 'method suitable for heating the Water in the shell l11 may, however, be employed.

The ,heated water from the shells 11 is conducted by pipes 16, 16, to a Yhot water receptacle separate from the chambers 6, 6. The pipes 16, 16, are provided with elbows 17 and 18, and are preferably extended downward nearly to the bottom ofthe hot Water receptacles. In the present instance the receptacle for hot wateris divided by the partition 19 into two unequal divisions 4 and 5, forming separate tanks for the heated water, connected by an opening 20 through the partition 19 near the top of the tank 5. *TheA pipe 16 from one cold water chamber 6 is arranged to deliver the heated water into the bottom of the smaller tank 5, while heated water from the other chamber is conducted into the bottom of the-larger tank 4.

As the tank 4 is considerably larger' than,

the tank 5, the tank v'4 will not only receive the hot water through its pipe 16 from the chamber 6, but alsov the overflow from the tank 5, which will consist of relatively cooler water since the pipe 16 is arranged to deliver the hottest water at the bottom of the tank 5. Owing to the difference in size, the temperature of the water inthe tank 5 will, therefore, tend tobe somewhat higher than the temperature of the water in the tank 4. The diderencemay be accentuated, if desired, by causing the hot water from both chambers to be delivered into the tank 5, in

`which case thetank 4 would be filled vfrom the overflow of tank 5 alone.

In the p'resent instance the wateris heated by the absorption of heat units from the re-A sistance coils 13, 13, connected with'the poles of an electric generator in the usual and well known manner by the Wires 14v and 15. I provide for, shutting ofi' the heat when the water in tank 4 has reached a predetermined level by interrupting the wire 15, and providing it with contact points 21 and 22 held on an arm 23, supported in any suitable position,'in the present instance, attached to the wall 19 in the tank 4. A switch 24 is arranged to connect the cont-act points 21 and 22 and is operated by a float 25, which raises the switch from the contact points 21 and22 when the water in the tank reaches the predetermined level, as shown in Fig. 2.

When lthe water is belowthe predetermined level the float-25 falls by gravity, andthe switch 24 is lowered and the contact points 21 and 22 are connected. Faucets 26 and 27 communicate with the tanks '4 and 5 respectively, by Which the Warm or hot Water may be obtained for use.

I also provide openings in the top plate 3, as shown by dotted lines' in Fig. 3, With removable covers by which access may be gained to the ball valves 9, to the inverted shells 11 and to the electrical switch 24. Y

I have shovvn my improved Water heating apparatus comprising two cold Water chambers G, .connected With single hot and Warm Water tanks 5 and 4, but it is obvious that any desired number and arrangement of tanks and chambers might be provided.

In operation the cold Water is admitted through the pipes 8 into the chamber 6, from Whichit enters the shell 11 Where it is heated by the heating means 13. The hot -Water rises through the pipe 16 and is delivered to the hot Water tank 5. The overflow from the tank 5, of slightly lower temperature, fills the tank 4, and, when the predetermined level is reached in the tank 4, the float 25 lifts the switch 24, breaking' the circuit and shutting off the coil 13 from the source.. of heat. Entrance of cpld Water into the chamber 6 is prevented by the closing of the ball valves 9 when the balls l0 have reached the predetermined level. As the Water is removed from the tanks 4 and 5 the float 25 drops, making the connection between the contact points 21 and 22, the coil 13 is again heated and heated Water is transferred to the tanks 4 and 5.- Thus the hot Water tanks are automatically maintained full of hot Water, and the heat is retained in the Water for a considerable period vby the non-conducting lining 7 of the tanks.

Although I do not Wish to confine myself to the employment of electricity as a heating medium, the above described method and 'apparatus are especially adapted to the use of electricity for heating Water for household uses, such as lavatory and culinary purposes and the like. The heat is applied to a relatively small quantity of Water by the resistance coils 13, and, as soon as heated, it is transferred to a separate receptacle. By the use of two receptacles for heated Water of unequal size, With an overflow communication, I enable users to secure from the larger receptacle Water suficiently heated for-ordinary purposes, and from the smaller receptacle Water maintained at a considerable higher temperature.

I claim,

1. In an apparatus for heating Water, the combination With 'a cold Water chamber and a hot Water tank, of means for heating alimited portion of the Water in said chamber,

Water to said hot Water tank.

inclosed portion of Water at the bottom of said chamber, and a pipe arranged to conduct the heated Water from said heating means into said hot water tank.

4. In an apparatus for heating Water, the combination with a cold Water chamber, means for heating the Water in said chamber, of a hot Water tank arranged to receive the heated Water from said chamber, and a second tank arranged to receive the overflow from said hot Water tank.

5. In an apparatus for heating Water, the

vcombination With a cold Water chamber,A

heating means at the bottom of said chamber arranged to heat the Water in said chamber and a source of supply for said heating means, of a hot Water tank arranged to re-,

ceive the heated Water from said chamber, and means operated by the amount of Water in said tank for connecting and disconnecting said heating means With its source of electrical supply.

- 6. In an .apparatus for heating Water, the combination With a cold Water chamber and a hot Water tank, of an inclosing shell at the bottom of said chamber, said shell provided With openings communicating With said chamber, heating means for heating the Water in said shell, means for transferring the heated Water from said shell to said tank, and means operatedby the amount of Water in sald tank for connecting and disconnecting said heating means from its source of electrical supply.

7 In an apparatus for heating Water, the combination With a cold Water chamber, an electrical resistance coil at the bottom of said chamber arranged to heat the Water in said chamber, of a hot Water tank arranged to receive the heated Water from said charnb'er, means for transferring the heated Water 4from said chamber to said tank, a switch arranged to connect and disconnect said'resistance coil from a source of electrical supply, and a float in said tank arranged to operate said switch as the Water in said tank rises and falls.

8. In an apparatus for heatin Water, the combination with a cold Water c amber and a hot water tank, of means for heating a portion of the Water'in said chamber, means for transferring said heated Water to said n tank, and automatic means operated by thel amount of Water in said tank for controlling the operation of said heating means.

9. ln an apparatus for heating Water, the combi/nation with a cold Water chamber and a hotwater tank, of an inclosing shell at the bottom of said chamber, said shell provided with openings Communicating With said chamber, and heating means inclosed Within said shell.

l0. ln an apparatus for heating Water, the combination With a cold Water tank and a hot Water tank, of means for supplying water to said cold Water tank, means for maintaining a predetermined Water line in said eold Water tank, means for heating a limited portion of the Water in said cold Water tank, and means for transferring the water as heated to said hot water tank.

11. In an apparatus for heating water, the

combination with a cold Water tank, of

means for v.supplying Water to said tank,

-means for controlling the Water line therein,

means for heating a limited portion of the water in said tank, and means for Conducting the water as heated out of said tank.

l2. In an apparatus for heating Water, the combination With a cold Water tank, of means for maintaining a predetermined amount of Water in said tank, means for heating a limited' portion of the Water in said tank, a separate hot Water tank, and means for transferring the water as heated to said hot Water tank, 'comprising a pipe having its discharge below the Water level in said hot Water tank.

AUSTIN e; DUNHAM.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM F. HENNEY, A. M. BAKER.

Images