WO2011077428A2

WO2011077428A2 - Accelerator for horizontal water heaters

Info

Publication number: WO2011077428A2
Application number: PCT/IL2010/001063
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roni Ginossar
Original assignee: Roni Ginossar
Priority date: 2009-12-22
Filing date: 2010-12-15
Publication date: 2011-06-30
Also published as: WO2011077428A3; ZA201204013B; IL202877A

Abstract

Water heating means to be installed into horizontal water tanks comprising of an accelerating envelope which fits over the heating element and thermostat. Said envelope is mounted on an angular flange 3 in an upward angle and comprises of a plastic sleeve 1, rubber sealer 14, rubber holder 2 and flexible rubber spout 13. When the element is switched on, cold water jn the sleeve 1 is heated and accelerates hot water to the top opening of the tank 10. In turn, cold water is drawn in from the bottom of the tank, through the bottom opening of the spout 6, to be heated in the sleeve 1.

Description

ACCELERATOR FOR HORIZONTAL WATER HEATERS

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to means for accelerating horizontal water heaters. More specifically, the invention relates to a means for accelerating water heating in a more efficient and inexpensive way.

Background Art

Means for accelerated domestic water heaters are known. Such means generally comprise of heating elements, heat sensors and plastic accelerating envelopes. Such accelerators separate the hot water that's heated by the heating element from the cold water and pilots the rising hot water directly to the hot water exit pipe. The mixing of hot and cold water is radically reduced and hot water is available within a few minutes. In a water heater without an accelerator it takes much longer for hot water to reach the hot water exit pipe, resulting in a loss of energy and time. An improvement on the existing accelerator for vertical water heaters is known as the Green Accelerator (Israeli Patent No 136799). It has a shorter sleeve for the purpose of preventing scale accumulation on the heating element.

Prior art until now, relates to vertically positioned water tanks because of the need to separate the upper volume of the heated water from the lower one. A need currently exists for an accelerator that fits and partially heats horizontal water heaters. The purpose of the present invention is, therefore, to provide such a solution which in turn promises to reduce electricity costs.

US 4,403,137 by Glazer already describes a horizontal solution, according the aim of the present invention; nevertheless this solution requires that the opening of the tank should be located at the lower circular side wall of the cylindrical tank. Therefore, this accelerator can be used in new tanks only, especially designed for this purpose. Given that in all standard existing tanks the opening is normally located at the center of the side wall of the cylinder, heating means according to Glazer would not fit. The purpose of the present invention is a retrofit solution intended to upgrade existing tanks, wherein the existing side opening is located at the center of the side wall.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention relates to a water heating means to be installed in horizontal water tanks, comprising of:

- a heating element

- a thermostat

- an accelerating envelope

Said accelerating envelope comprising of a cone-shaped plastic sleeve and a rubber unit, is normally fitted on an angular flange which enables the sleeve to fit in a horizontal water heater in an upward angle. This allows for the water to flow from the bottom of the tank, via the spout (the cold water inlet of the flexible rubber unit) to the sleeve where it's heated through the opening of the sleeve to the upper part of the tank where the hot water outlet is located. The sleeve keeps the heated water separate from the surrounding cold water, which reduces the mixing of the hot and cold water.

When in a horizontal position, the flange of a water heater is located in the center of the round side wall of a cylindrical tank; the accelerator is positioned in an upward angle with the top opening of the sleeve located at the upper part of the tank. The angular flange, which contains a standard heating element and thermostat carrier, is designed to be installed in a standard horizontal water heater. It will replace the existing flange and allows for the rubber unit and plastic sleeve to be mounted on it. When the water heater is turned on, the heating element starts heating the water in the sleeve around it. The heated water rises and escapes via the top opening of the sleeve and starts to fill the upper part of the tank with a reservoir of hot water. Due to the rising of the hot water, cold water from the bottom is drawn in from the bottom opening (inlet) of the spout, through the spout into the sleeve where it's heated again. The thermostat is located at the bottom part of the sleeve (above the upper opening of the spout) and registers the temperature of the water that flows in from the bottom part of the tank via the spout. Once the water is at the desired temperature (as set by the thermostat), the heating element will switch off.

The design of this accelerator therefore ensures an even distribution of water temperature in the tank, i.e. no overheating at the top or 'trapped' cold water at the bottom.

In another embodiment according to the invention, the flange is not angular but rather vertically juxtaposed to the opening of the tank and the heating element is slightly bended upwards. Additionally, a spout is connected to the plastic sleeve whose inlet is directed to the bottom of the tank.

The invention will now be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, with reference to the following illustrative figures so that it may be more fully understood.

With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for the purpose of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention. The description taken with the drawings is to make apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 shows a cross- sectional view of a horizontal tank (water heater) with a side view of the accelerator positioned inside.

FIG. 2 shows a cross- sectional view of a horizontal tank (water heater) and a cross-sectional view of the accelerator positioned inside.

FIG.3 shows a cross-sectional view of the angular flange.

FIG.4 shows a frontal view of the angular flange.

FIG.5 shows a 3-dimentional view of the rubber unit which compromises of the rubber sealer, holder and spout.

FIG.6 shows a cross sectional view of the rubber unit which compromises of the rubber sealer, holder and spout.

FIGS.7 shows a cross-sectional view of the plastic sleeve. FIG. 8 shows a side view of the plastic sleeve. FIG. 9 shows a frontal view of the plastic sleeve. FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a horizontal tank (water heater) with a 100 side view of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG.11 shows a cross- sectional view of a horizontal tank (water heater) and a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

105 FIGS. 1 & 2 shows the accelerator positioned in a horizontal tank 8 with the cold water inlet 9 at the bottom and hot water outlet 10 of the tank at the top. With reference to FIGS. 1 & 2, the accelerator comprises of the following components: angular flange 3, heating element 4, thermostat carrier 5 which houses the thermostat 23, rubber unit, comprising of parts 14, 2 & 13 and plastic sleeve 1.

110 The iron cast angular flange 3 is fitted in the opening on the side wall of the tank 8

with screws 21. As shown in FIG. 3 & 4, the flange comprises of a round unit with six openings for screws 17 to fasten it to the tank, and openings 15 & 16 for positioning the electric heating element 4 and thermostat carrier 5. The heating element is fastened to the flange with two screws 20 through openings 18.

115 With reference to FIGS. 5 & 6, the rubber unit comprises of three different components: the rubber sealer 14 which seals the flange and opening of the tank, the rubber holder 2 which keeps the sleeve in the desired position and the rubber spout 13 which pilots water from the bottom of the tank via its bottom inlet 6 to the bottom opening 11 of the sleeve (See FIGS. 7 & 8). The upper opening 22 of

120 the spout is connected to the bottom opening 11 of the sleeve (See FIG. 2). The rubber unit is fastened to the flange and opening of the tank with six screws via the openings 19. Inserting the rubber unit into the relatively small opening of the tank is possible due to the fact that it is flexible. FIGS. 7, 8 & 9 shows the cone-shaped, polypropylene sleeve 1 in three different 125 views. It is positioned on the angular flange 3 by the thermostat guide 12 and held in an upward angular position by the rubber holder 2 (see FIGS. 1 & 2). The upper opening 7 of the sleeve is situated close to the upper part of the tank 8 and hot water outlet 10. The bottom opening 11 is facing the upper opening 22 of the spout (see FIG.6). The heating element 4 and thermostat carrier 5 is positioned on the 130 angular flange 3 inside the sleeve 1 (see FIG 2). The thermostat carrier 5 enters the sleeve via the thermostat guide 12 (See FIGS 7, 8 & 9).

With reference to FIGS. 1 & 2, the heating element 4 starts heating the water in the sleeve 1 around it during operation thereof. The heated water is now separated from the cold water in the tank 8 due to the sleeve 1. The heated water soon rises 135 and escapes via the top opening 7 of the sleeve 1 and starts to fill the upper part of the tank 8 where the hot water outlet 10 is located. Hot water is now available for use.

Due to the rising of the hot water, cold water from the bottom that enters the tank via the cold water inlet 9 is drawn in from the bottom inlet 6 of the rubber spout

140 13, through the rubber spout 13 into the sleeve 1 where it's heated again. The thermostat 23, located inside the thermostat carrier 5 at the bottom part of the sleeve, (above the upper opening 22 of the spout) registers the temperature of the water that flows in from the bottom of the tank via the bottom inlet 6 of the rubber spout 13. Once the water is at the desired temperature (as set by the thermostat

145 23), the heating element 4 will switch off. (See FIGS. 1&2).

FIGS 10, 11 describe a second embodiment, according to the invention. FIG.10 shows a construction of the heating means, almost similar to the one described in FIG. 1, wherein a flat flange 25 is vertically juxtaposed to the side wall 29 of the hot water tank. 150 FIG.11 shows another difference between the second embodiment and the first one, namely that the (alternative) heating element 24 is divided into a horizontally sloped part 26 and a horizontal part 27 and connected to the flat flange 25. The heating element is bent upwards, so as to reach the upper space of the tank. The thermostat carrier 5 and thermostat 23 fits in an opening 28 in the flat flange 25

155 which allows it to be positioned at the same angle as the heating element 24.

Apart from this minor difference both solutions can be applied to horizontal tanks wherein the opening of the tank is located in the center of one of the side walls 29 of the tank 8.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the 160 foregoing illustrated embodiments and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit of essential attributes thereof. The present invention is therefore considered in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicative by the appended claims rather than by the forgoing description, and all changes which come within 165 the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced herein.

Claims

1. Water heating means to be installed in horizontal domestic tank, comprising of:

- An electric heating element,

- An accelerating envelope, comprising of a plastic sleeve and a rubber unit which in turn comprises of a flexible rubber holder, rubber sealer and a flexible downward extending rubber spout,

- Wherein the outlet of said accelerating envelope reaches the upper space of the tank and the inlet of said extending spout ends at the lower space of the tank, in a way that said heating means can be installed in the center of one of the side walls of horizontally positioned existing water tanks, accelerating hot water via the outlet of the tank.

2. The heating means of claim 1, wherein said plastic envelope being connected to the tank by means of an angular flange.

3. The heating means of claim 1 wherein said plastic envelope is connected to the tank by means of a flat flange, and said electric heating element is bent upwards, so as to reach the upper space of the tank.