Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
  • F24H9/00—Details
  • F24H9/20—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
  • F24H9/2007—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heaters
  • F24H9/2014—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heaters using electrical energy supply
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
  • F24H—FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL
  • F24H9/00—Details
  • F24H9/12—Arrangements for connecting heaters to circulation pipes
  • F24H9/13—Arrangements for connecting heaters to circulation pipes for water heaters

Definitions

• the object of the present invention is a safety device of the type suitable for preventing dangerous electric discharges from being transmitted from a first portion of metal piping to a second consecutive portion; in particular, such electrical discharges from being transmitted from an electrical storage or instant water heater, to user-accessible parts.
• the active protection type uses electronic and electromechanical means and consists in a device interposed between the electrical plant of the water heater and the current socket, which detects any anomalies in the electrical plant; if found, the device prevents the electrical connection of the water heater to the mains.
• Devices of this type are not cumbersome and substantially do not alter the architecture of the water heater, but exhibit the drawback that a fault thereof could allow dangerous situations.
• the passive protection type ensures full electrical insulation of the water heater from any part that could come into contact with the user and this occurs through two different devices: - insulation of the accessible metal parts of the water heater: all the normally accessible metal parts of the water heater (enclosure and wall brackets, for example) are electrically insulated from the inside metal parts and from water; insulation of the water heater from all the user accessible pipes by a pair of devices hereinafter called water insulators; water insulators are static devices interposed between the hydraulic connections of a water heater and the corresponding delivery and collecting pipes, so that the incoming and outgoing water from the water heater flows therethrough, in a duct made of electrically insulating material and sufficiently long to prevent currents with dangerous or in any case undesired value from passing through the water contained therein, despite being electrically conductive.
• water path shall be used to mean the length of the path the electrical current must flow through from a first conductive element of the water heater, subject to a predetermined electrical potential, along pipes or ducts of insulating material, up to a second conductive element separate from the water heater, and directly or indirectly accessible by a user subject to a different potential (in particular to the ground potential).
• the minimum length of the water path that prevents dangerous or undesired electrical discharges is proportional to the electrical conductivity of water, a value that could greatly vary according to the zone or to the Country, depending on the quantity of substances dissolved in water.
• Water insulators have been used for a few years in emerging countries as safety device for the above reasons.
• a drawback of the arrangement inside the tank is that the length of the water path is predetermined upon production and therefore must take into account the worst cases or give up taking them into account because the space occupied by the pipes would be too much.
• the general object of the present invention is to reduce at least partly the drawbacks mentioned hereinabove.
• a specific object of the present invention is to indicate water insulators with a compact shape so that the overall volume thereof is reduced as much as possible relative to the length of the water path obtained.
• a further specific object, for some variations of the present invention, is to indicate water insulators wherein the length of the water path is easily changeable according to the electrical conductivity of water.
• a further object of the present invention is to indicate water insulators whose appearance should be pleasant. Said objects and further advantages are achieved with a water insulator as described below, in some preferred embodiments thereof, with the aid of the accompanying figures and in the annexed claims, which are an integral part of the description itself.
• Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a water insulator according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of the water insulator of fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 shows a dissected view of the water insulator of fig. 1.
• Fig. 4 shows a further view, in section, of the water insulator of fig. 1.
• Fig. 5 shows a schematic view, in section, of a water heater with two water insulators, mounted at the water inlet and outlet, according to the invention.
• Fig. 6 shows a schematic view, in section, of a water heater with a single water insulators mounted at the water inlet and outlet according to a variation of the invention.
• the water insulator according to the invention envisages a long duct that occupies a limited volume due to the fact that it consists of a bundle of duct sections rectilinear and parallel to each other (hereinafter simply called sections) side by side in a compact shape and jointed in a sequence each to the next one at the ends by suitable passages orthogonal thereto.
• a first end consisting in a first connection 201 in the example in the form of a male threading
• a second end consisting in a second connection 801 (in the example in the form of a female threading)
• the preferred variation of water device 1 envisages: a connector-distributor 2; a first flat seal 3 between the connector- distributor 2 and a subsequent casing 4; a second flat seal 5 between said casing 4 and a first head 603 of the subsequent main body 6; a third flat seal 7 between a second head 604 of said main body 6 and the subsequent connector 8.
• Said casing 4 is intended for seating and centring therein, on a first side, said connector-distributor 2 and first flat seal 3 and on the other side, said second flat seal 5 and first head 603.
• the third flat seal 7 and the second head 604 on the other hand are seated and centred within said connector 8.
• Screws 9 of a first group tighten the connector-distributor 2, the first flat seal 3, casing 4, the second flat seal 5 and the main body 6 to each other; said screws 9 are inserted in through holes 202, 302, 401, 502 and screwed in threaded seats (not shown in the figures) provided in the first head 603 of body 6.
• screws 9 of a second group tighten connector 8, the third flat seal 7 and the main body 6 to each other, inserted in through holes 802 and 702 and screwed in threaded seats 605 provided in the second head 604 of body 6.
• the water path is better seen in figs. 3 and 4.
• a plurality of sections 601 is obtained in the main body 6, rectilinear and all parallel to each other and to the main axis of the main body 6 itself.
• the water is deviated with the connecting elbow 203 towards a first end of a first section 601 arranged in misaligned position relative to the axis of the water insulator 1; the second end of said first section 601 is then connected to an end of a subsequent section 601, adjacent by a passage 602 orthogonal to said sections 601 and obtained on the second head 604 of the main body 6. All the remaining sections 601 are connected in the same manner, each to the next one at their end by passages 602 that are obtained, alternately, on the first head 603 and on the second head 604 of body 6.
• the water insulator 1 is provided with 19 sections 601, thereby it is possible to obtain a water path therewith, long substantially 19 times the length of the water insulator 1 itself.
• all the main elements of the water insulator 1, that is, the connector-distributor 2, casing 4, main body 6 and connector 8, are obtained by moulding of thermoplastic materials, for example polyamide charged at 30 - 40% with fibreglass.
• thermoplastic materials for example polyamide charged at 30 - 40% with fibreglass.
• the main body 6 can be perfectly moulded as said above, even though it requires a mould with many movements, both coaxial to the axis of the main body 6 and orthogonal thereto.
• Fig. 5 shows an electrical storage water heater 10 heated by an electrical resistance 1001, wherein the cold water enters through pipe 1002 and exits through pipe 1003. Both outer ends of said pipes 1002 and 1003 are connected to the water network 1004 by two water insulators 1.
• the water insulator 1 just described according to a preferred embodiment thereof are possible. A few of them are mentioned by way of an example.
• body 6 may consist of three pieces (reference shall be made to fig. 4): the already mentioned first head 603 and second head 604 and an intermediate body 606, separate from each other along the dashed lines S-S. While said first and second head 603 and 604 that contain passages 602 and the seats of screws 9, would continue to be obtained by moulding, the intermediate body 606, which only contains rectilinear sections 601, can be obtained by extrusion. Said three bodies (first and second head 603 and 604 and intermediate body 606) may then be welded to each other with known techniques; for example with mirror or ultrasound welding.
• the connector-distributor 2 rather than having the first connection 201 in axis with the water insulator 1, may have it in axis with the first section 601 thereby avoiding elbow 203.
• the hydraulic seal of the water insulator 1 is ensured by flat seals 3, 5 and 7, tightened to the remaining elements 2, 4, 6, 8 by two groups of screws 9.
• the seal between said elements 2, 4, 6, 8 may be ensured by sealing mastics or joints especially shaped and mirror- or ultrasound- welded according to well known techniques.
• the main body 6 could contain an even number of sections 601 so that the first connection 201 and the second connection 801 would be at the same end of the water insulator 1.
• the two water insulators 1 required for insulating an electrical water heater 10 may be combined in a single dual water insulator 11, comprising a main body 6 with a dual bundle of sections 601, separate from each other from the hydraulic standpoint and each leading to a different pair of first and second connections 201 and 801.
• Such water insulator 11 may have said first and second connections 201 and 801 orthogonal to the main axis of the water insulator 1 itself and be mounted on a water heater with said main axis in horizontal position, as shown very schematically in fig. 6, so as to reduce the vertical space occupied.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Resistance Heating (AREA)
• Insulators (AREA)
• Load-Engaging Elements For Cranes (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (1)

Citations (4)

• 2006
  • 2006-07-28 IT IT000046A patent/ITAN20060046A1/it unknown
• 2007
  • 2007-07-19 RU RU2008144463/06A patent/RU2434183C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2007-07-19 CN CNA200780020331XA patent/CN101460787A/zh active Pending
  • 2007-07-19 WO PCT/IB2007/002099 patent/WO2008012644A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

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