Abstract: A direct contact water heating system employs a vertical water tower having a sidewall with a combustion inlet opening spaced above the tower lower end. A generally horizontal combustion chamber has a sidewall in communication with the tower combustion inlet and an end wall spaced from the water tower. A burner has a combustion outlet in communication with an opening in the end wall, the combustion chamber end wall having an annular area surrounding the burner combustion outlet. Products of combustion flow from the burner, through the combustion chamber into the water tower through the combustion inlet opening. A shell has an inner end attached to the water tower sidewall. A sidewall portion of the shell surrounds the combustion chamber sidewall and an annular portion is spaced exteriorly of the annular area of the combustion chamber end wall. An interior surface of the outer shell and an exterior surface of the combustion chamber form a closed envelope having a water inlet and a water outlet.

Abstract: A thermal protective barrier is provided for space heating units in the form of a relatively thin panel having an interior volume filled with a non-combustible liquid (water and/or antifreeze mix, etc.). Two of the embodiments are flat and are adapted to be placed beneath and about the sides of a stove or other heating unit, with a third embodiment having a toroidal cross section and being adapted for installation about the flue of such a stove or heater. Additional structure may be installed within the panels to provide additional support, as required. The panels may be removably installed between the stove and adjacent walls and the underlying floor, or may be permanently installed integrally with the building structure. The panels may also include decorative coverings for exposed surfaces, if desired. The panels may be independent of other water or fluid systems, or may be interconnected with a water heater or hot water heating system, if desired.

Abstract: A water heating system for a concrete batching plant comprising a closed tank (1) having low heat transfer properties for containing the liquid to be heated, a heat exchanger having liquid carrying conduit means connected by conduits (2,3) to said tank (1), a first pump (3a) for circulating liquid from the tank (1) to the heat exchanger (4) while the liquid is being heated by said heat exchanger (4), a second pump for transferring the heating liquid from said tank to the concrete batching plant, control means for controlling the operation of said heat exchanger and said pumps and including means for monitoring the ambient temperature, the temperature of the water in the tank, the temperature of the water delivered from the tank, and the amount of water delivered from the tank, and a mixing valve for mixing cold water and/or recycled water with said heated water, said control means controlling the positioning of said mixing valve based on the temperature of the water in the tank and the temperature of the wate

Abstract: Normally wasted heat from the pilot burner and flue of a fuel fired hot water heater is used to preheat the water supplied to the main tank. An auxilliary storage tank receives incoming cold water. Water from the storage tank circulates through a conduit loop which extends in a spiral pattern through the flue and also through a special heat exchanger which concentrates heat generated by the pilot burner. The water that is preheated in the conduit loop is returned to the storage tank for storage until required by the main tank, at which time the preheated water is delivered to the main tank through a transfer conduit. Alternative embodiments are arranged to effect automatic flushing of the conduit loop when hot water is withdrawn from the main tank.

Abstract: Space heating and cooling and potable water heating are provided by a single appliance. The housing appliance is divided into four sections: a lower water storage section, a middle hardware section, an upper internal air handling section and a side external air handling section which may protrude through a building wall. A heating medium from a single burner heat exchanger may be directed to either a liquid to air heat exchanger for space heating or to a hot water storage tank for heating potable water. The storage tank contains a heat exchanger for heat transfer from the heating medium to the potable water. A single thermostatic flow control maintains a constant temperature of heating medium directed to either the liquid to air heat exchanger or the storage tank to provide condensation of products of combustion during the space heating mode of operation and part of the water heating mode of operation and yet preclude overheating of the heating medium.

Abstract: A direct contact water heater comprises a cylindrical column having a plurality of heat exchange bodies disposed in the upper portion thereof, a spray nozzle disposed above the heat exchange bodies for discharging water thereon and a combustion chamber extending into the lower end of the column. A cooling jacket is mounted in surrounding relation to the combustion chamber and extends downwardly along the sides and around the bottom thereof. The cooling jacket is open at its upper end for receiving a portion of the water falling from the heat exchange bodies and has a discharge opening formed adjacent its upper periphery for discharging a portion of the collected water into a water tank below the column to effect circulation of the cooling water through the jacket.

Abstract: Normally wasted heat from the pilot burner and flue of a fuel fired hot water heater is used to preheat the water supplied to the main tank. An auxilliary storage tank receives incoming cold water. Water from the storage tank circulates through a conduit loop which extends in a spiral pattern through the flue and also through a special heat exchanger which concentrates heat generated by the pilot burner. The water that is preheated in the conduit loop is returned to the storage tank for storage until required by the main tank, at which time the preheated water is delivered to the main tank through a transfer conduit. Alternative embodiments are arranged to effect automatic flushing of the conduit loop when hot water is withdrawn from the main tank.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved hot water heater and more particularly to a hot water heater which is normally utilized in conjunction with a hydronic boiler. The hot water heater has a single opening which is closed by a removable cover plate. The tank is provided with a corrosion resistant lining which also defines the opening and is so related to the tank so as to resist fracture under normal usage. The single cover plate carries all fluid connections of the tank and by removing the cover plate, all components of the hot water heater may be removed from within the tank for repair or replacement. The components carried by the cover plate include a hot water supply pipe or tube which extends through the heat exchange coil and terminates in an opening near the top of the tank. This tube or pipe is preferably formed of an insulated material or is insulated so that hot water passing therethrough is not cooled by the colder water in the bottom of the tank.

Abstract: Apparatus for delivering hot water includes a vessel for releasably containing water and a heat generator compartment in heat transfer relation to the vessel. A conduit in the vessel circumscribes the exhaust funnel of the heat generator and has an inlet port in fluid communication with the vessel and an outlet port in fluid communication with the exterior of the vessel. An after-burner may be situated in the exhaust funnel in registry with the conduit and the conduit can be a coil arranged in spiral configuration.

Abstract: An economizer is provided for building heating systems and the like, of the type having a forced air furnace with adjacent combustion and heat exchange chambers, and a hot water reservoir or heater. The economizer comprises lower and upper heat transfer coils shaped for positioning adjacent the combustion and heat exchange chambers respectively of the furnace. An insulated standpipe interconnects the two coils, and the outlet of the upper coil is communicated with the inlet of the water heater. During use, water flowing through the economizer is heated in the lower coil and flowed to the upper coil to transfer additional heat to the air flowing through the heat exchange chamber, and simultaneously preheat water fed into the water heater.

Abstract: An exterior wall of the firebox of a wood burning stove or the like fixedly supports in close heat exchanging relation therewith a plurality of aluminum fins comprising plates arranged in close side-by-side, substantially coplanar and parallel relation. A single continuous jointless tube of relatively stiff, heat conductive material is bent in a serpentine shape with elongate substantially parallel legs each fixed to the exterior face of a respective plate. The serpentine tube is in contact with said plates except where bent to extend from the end of one plate to the next. In a preferred embodiment, a cover is fixed with respect to and overlies the fins and serpentine portion of the tube, with the ends of the tube extending outward therefrom for connection through water lines to pump and valve apparatus associated with a tank of water to be heated.

Abstract: A heat-sink type of water heater unit is disclosed wherein the unit is designed for external installation on a stove to transfer heat from the stove to water flowing through the unit, to pre-heat the water for subsequent use. The unit has a flat surface which can be bolted to the outside of the stove, an inlet which can be attached to a cold-water source, a U-shaped inner passage in which water can flow and be heated by the stove, and a discharge which can be hooked up to a hot-water tank. In addition, the unit has an adjustment feature which enables the unit to be moved laterally, closer to or farther away from the hot stove wall to which the unit is connected. By regulating the distance between the unit and the stove, the water temperature produced by the unit can be selectively controlled.

Abstract: A hot water probe for use with a wood or other solid fuel burning appliances (stoves, furnaces, fireplaces, etc.) to provide supplemental hot water heating whereby the use of natural gas or other non-renewable fuel can be conserved. The probe may comprise a pair of elongated, coaxial tubes of a predetermined length which extend outwardly from a header block which contains an inlet chamber sealingly coupled to the inner one of said pair of coaxial tubes and an outlet chamber sealingly coupled only to the outer one of said pair of coaxial tubes. The tubular portion of the probe is fitted through a hole formed in a wall of the appliance and it extends for a predetermined distance into the firebox at a desired level relative to the flame. The header block may be bolted or otherwise affixed to the outer side wall of the appliance. A connection is then made between a water outlet of the water heating tank and the inlet chamber of the header.

Abstract: A boiler construction is disclosed which eliminates the need for bolting together of internal parts thereby greatly facilitating mass production and rapid assembly procedures. Internal side protectors, in addition to establishing the size of the boiler in the front-to-back direction, serve as support rails for a removable boiler module and as a retainer for fire bricks which are further retained by a firebox grate. Front and back protectors for the boiler interior rest upon the grate support members and are maintained in properly spaced relationship through interfitment with the side protectors. A boiler scraping attachment and boiler tube cleaner are disclosed. A positive releasable retainer arrangement for the slide-in, slide-out boiler module is included.

Abstract: A compact rectangular boiler for hot water heating systems serves as a booster or helper boiler but can be used in some cases as a primary boiler. A boiler power module consisting of fire tubes and a surrounding water chamber is readily removable like a sliding drawer for cleaning and repair, when necessary. Beneath the boiler power module is a sturdy refractory lined fire box for burning wood or other solid fuel including a cast iron grate. Beneath the grate is a readily removable ash receiving drawer or pan. The boiler power module may employ an alternate heating source in the form of an electrical heating element. Forced draft and manual draft arrangements are included.

Abstract: A hot-water boiler of the direct-heating type basically comprising a combustion chamber and a heat-exchange chamber which encircles the lower half part of the combustion chamber and which has a number of reticulate plates therein. Combustion gas generated in the combustion chamber effuses into the heat-exchange chamber where water to be boiled is stored. The combustion gas goes through the water in the heat-exchange chamber and is broken up into smaller bubbles by the reticulate plates; thereby facilitating a prompt and efficient heat-exchange between the gas and water.

Abstract: An economizer device for fully exploiting the thermal output of central heating installations for heating fluids that incorporates a source of heat herein called "heating fluid" and a source of fluid circulating between a cold zone and a warm zone, herein called "heated fluid," a conduit leading the heated fluid coming from the cold zone into a transfer chamber containing the heating fluid to store there a portion of the thermal energy of this heating fluid and to transfer it to the warm zone. The device is characterized in that the maximum proportion of thermal energy of the heating fluid is removed, before the latter leaves the transfer chamber, by storing this energy by means of appropriate elements disposed in the chamber, this stored energy being restored to the heated fluid either in the chamber itself or immediately the heated fluid leaves the chamber in order to pass into the warm zone.

Abstract: A heat generator of the type condensing the combustion products of a liquid or gaseous hydrogen fuel suitable for the heating of a heat-bearing fluid, including a tank containing at the top a zone of direct contact between the heat-bearing fluid and the combustion products, a collector for the heat-bearing fluid coming from the zone of direct contact, a convection heat exchanger arranged in the path of the combustion products, a combustion zone at a pressure close to atmospheric pressure, and a conduit which connects the collector of the heat-bearing fluid to the convection heat exchanger and is provided with a pump for replacing under pressure the portion of the heat-bearing fluid coming from the collector and intended to pass through the convection heat exchanger.