Abstract: An outdoor, self-contained wood fueled furnace. The furnace includes a non-warping, laminated sheet metal door; a rear exiting flue with water discharge means; and a baffled, heat exchanger which surrounds the firebox. The door, particularly, includes an external panel which is secured with a single pin to a crossbroken first panel. An insulator is secured between the first panel and a second interior panel, and the first and second panels are riveted to each other.

Abstract: The inner surface of a hot water storage vessel is lined with a removable rigid plastic liner layer with injected foam insulation located between the liner and storage vessel. A heat exchanger is mounted through an integral first flange to a second flange integral with the liner. In turn, the second flange is mounted to a third flange integral with the storage vessel. Fittings on the first flange permit entry into the water containing chamber for inlet and outlet piping as well as for thermostats and pressure relief valves. No piping passes through the liner or storage vessel.

Abstract: An electric water heater tank defines a water chamber having an electrical component extending outwardly of the outer surface of the tank. A spaced outer jacket surrounds the tank and has a opening affording access to the component. A protective dam in the opening bridges the gap between the tank and jacket in surrounding relationship to the component and is covered by a cap extending over the component and engaging the dam. Electrical wires connected to the component extend outwardly of the jacket between the cap and dam. A door covers the cap and dam and is secured to the jacket such that the door engages the cap to force the dam into sealing engagement with the jacket and tank. Foam thermal insulation material fills the space between the jacket and the outer surface of the tank.

Abstract: A water heater comprising a tank for holding water, a jacket surrounding the tank, foam insulation between the tank and the jacket, a heating element for heating water in the tank, and a thermostat mounted on the tank for controlling the heating element in response to the temperature of water in the tank. The thermostat includes electrically active terminals, leadwires connected to the terminals, an electric circuit reset, and a temperature adjustment dial. The water heater also comprises a protective shield for covering the terminal and preventing foam contact with the terminal. The shield includes a face portion covering the thermostat in spaced relation to the tank. The face portion comprises a first access port for providing operator access to the circuit reset cutoff, and a second access port spaced from the first access port for providing operator access to the temperature adjustment dial. The shield also includes sidewall portions extending between the face portion and the tank.

Abstract: The external jacket structure of an electric water heater defines with the water storage tank portion thereof a hollow insulation space that horizontally circumscribes and extends across the top end of the tank. A fiberglass foam stop block member is pressed between the tank and jacket and has a cutout area through which an immersion heating element end connector is exposed to a first jacket sidewall opening normally covered by a removable access panel. A control panel mounted externally on the jacket above the first jacket sidewall opening has a bottom interior portion that downwardly overlaps a top portion of the cutout area and communicates therewith through a second jacket opening.

Abstract: A hot water heater is arranged and configured for mounting within a wall structure having a removable front panel, with the front panel having upper and lower openings for access to controls of the hot water heater tank assembly.

Abstract: A gas boiler having a boiler unit constructed by interconnected boiler sections each having an internal waterway bounded by one or more heat transfer surfaces. Baffles on the boiler sections define serpentine flue passages, and the baffles include bypass openings formed by notches and/or slits to suppress standing waves and associated noise. A burner includes a conical burner element having burner ports arranged in clusters to enhance the flame distribution and stability. A distributor cone nested within the burner element provides a pressure drop for noise suppression. The blower shaft is equipped with a magnetic plastic washer which effects a seal against air infiltration while allowing the blower shaft to shift from side to side.

Abstract: The present invention provides a water heater capable of exhausting flue gases from an interior space of a building to an exterior space and is adapted for installation through an upstanding wall. The water heater has an insulated tank with a water inlet and a water outlet together with a flue pipe opening at one end thereof beneath the tank upon a combustion chamber containing a fuel burner. The other end of the flue pipe opens at the top of the tank upon a flue gas collector and has a flue gas restricter for restricting the outward flow of flue gases from the flue pipe. The collector includes a collector box connected to the top of the water heater above and in alignment with the flue pipe, a blower and a low temperature flue gas exhaust line. The collector box has at least one air inlet for mixing air from the interior space of the building with flue gases exiting the flue pipe to inhibit condensation and reduce the temperature of the flue gases flowing through the exhaust line.

Abstract: A fuel-fired, forced draft water heater is provided with a specially designed burner structure and combustion product flow path that permit the heater to operate with improved fuel efficiency, lowered CO and NOx emissions, and an improved water heat input distribution along the vertical length of the heater. The water heater includes a vertically oriented tank with a vent plenum structure formed at the top end of the tank interior and having an outlet passage connectable to an external combustion product vent pipe. A submerged vertical burner tube extends downwardly from the vent plenum and has an open lower end extending into a submerged turn bowl disposed at the bottom end of the tank interior. Extending upwardly from the turn bowl within the tank interior are a plurality of vertical flue tubes that communicate the interiors of the turn bowl and the vent plenum.

Abstract: A fuel fired, high capacity, high efficiency water heater uses a cylindrical plastic tank. The strength of the plastic tank is maintained by keeping the side wall imperforate and providing all access to the interior through metallic top and bottom plates.

Abstract: A water heater (10) has a pressure-transfer module (20) interposed between an external pressurized-water circuit and the water inside the water-heater vessel (12) so that the water is at atmospheric pressure and can thus have a free upper surface. A shut-off valve in the inlet (14) to the pressure-transfer module (20) is controlled in accordance with the water level as detected by a float (74). If the water level falls below a predetermined minimum or exceeds a predetermined maximum, the shut-off valve closes so as to prevent further flow into the water heater (10) from the upstream side of the exterior circuit.

Abstract: A water heater comprising a tank including an outer surface, and including an inner surface defining a water chamber, an electrical component extending outwardly of the outer surface of the tank, an outer jacket surrounding the tank and having therein an opening affording access to the electrical component, a door which is mounted on the outer jacket and which covers the opening, a dam which is located within the opening and surrounds the electrical component, which extends between the tank and the outer jacket, and which includes a portion extending between the door and the outer jacket, and insulating material located between the tank and the outer jacket and outside of the dam.

Abstract: A fuel-fired, forced draft heating appliance includes a draft inducer fan having an inlet connected to a vent hood, an outlet connectable to a vent pipe, and an interior housing region in which a negative pressure is generated during normal appliance operation. The vent hood receives hot combustion gases generated by the appliance, and has an inlet for receiving ambient dilution air that mixes with and cools the combustion gases entering the hood and subsequently discharged into the vent pipe by the fan. A combination pressure and temperature limit control is used to sense the presence of an obstruction in either the vent pipe or the vent hood inlet and responsively shut down the appliance. The control includes a vacuum switch external to the fan, a bimetallic disc-type temperature sensor disposed within the negative pressure fan region, and a conduit interconnecting the switch and the temperature sensor.

Abstract: In a hot water heater (10), a bottom base pad (34) of relatively rigid insulating material has an outer tapered side (38) allowing clearance of the bottom edge (30) of the outer jacket (14) past the top (40) of the peripheral annular portion (36) of the base pad (34) without snagging, to facilitate assembly, and providing decreasing clearance between the tapered side (38) and the jacket (14) as the jacket is slid downwardly.

Abstract: A liquid evaporator includes an air-tight outer container containing liquid therein, the liquid container having support legs adjacent the bottom surface thereof; an inner container mounted on the legs for partitioning the interior space of the outer container, the inner container having a wall made of insulating material; and a heater fixed to an upper portion of the outer container and positioned inside the inner container. The liquid evaporator may be combined with a deodorizing device for forming a urine treating device, wherein the urine treating device includes a deodorizing housing having an upper portion provided with a secondary heater therein, a catalyst surrounding the secondary heater, a blower provided outside the housing, and a diffusion pipe provided at the upper portion of the housing.

Abstract: A high-efficiency insulated water heater including a base pan having a bottom portion with cut-out holes. Feet are positioned in the cut-outs having an upper portion extending above the bottom of the pan. The upper portions of the feet have inclined centering surfaces arranged for contacting and centering the water tank substantially equidistant from the outer edge of the base pan. The water tank has a lower edge engaging the centering surfaces of the feet. A method of producing a high-efficiency insulated water heater including the steps of forming a plurality of cut-outs in the bottom of the base pan having an outer edge, inserting feet into the cut-outs in such a way that the feet have upper portions extending above the bottom of the pan and lower portions extending below the bottom of the pan and wherein the upper portions of the feet have inclined centering surfaces located substantially equidistant from the base pan outer edge.

Abstract: A gas boiler having a boiler unit constructed by interconnected boiler sections each having an internal waterway bounded by one or more heat transfer surfaces. Baffles on the boiler sections define serpentine flue passages, and the baffles include bypass openings formed by notches and/or slits to suppress standing waves and associated noise. A burner includes a conical burner element having burner ports arranged in clusters to enhance the flame distribution and stability. A distributor cone nested within the burner element provides a pressure drop for noise suppression. The blower shaft is equipped with a magnetic plastic washer which effects a seal against air infiltration while allowing the blower shaft to shift from side to side.

Abstract: The purpose of the Easy-Ply Boiler is to warm tar, roofing or other building materials in a boiler. The boiler holds water that is heated by gas burners. The water boils and warms the tar, roofing or other building materials.

Abstract: A hot water tank for heating water which includes means for transforming a high velocity jet of incoming cold water at the inlet of the tank to a piston for forcing hot water accumulated in the upper portion of the tank through the outlet, whereby turbulent mixing between the incoming cold water and the accumulated hot water is minimized.

Abstract: A water distiller for vaporizing and condensing water. The distiller is provided with a container for holding the water to be distilled and a water level regulator for maintaining the water in the container at a desired level. A heating element is provided that is positioned just below the desired water level and spaced from the sides of the container. A cover is positioned atop the container for sealing the container and for suspending the heating element into the water. A condenser on top of the cover condenses vapor produced by the heating element. The distiller may be equipped with a sensor for sensing the temperature of the air above water level in the container and a shut off switch for removing power from the heating element responsive to a high temperature reading in the sensor.

Abstract: A storage tank having a vertical, cylindrical tank, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet, includes a collector outlet dip tube for collecting hot fluid evenly across a horizontal cross section of the tank and thereby foil convection currents that cause mixing of hot and cold fluid so that more hot fluid is recovered at the outlet over time. A dispersing inlet dip tube may be also employed to introduce cold fluid evenly. The tank may comprise a hot water heater where the water stored in the tank is heated within the tank by means disposed internally or externally of the internal storage chamber. Alternately, the water may be heated externally of the tank and stored within the tank.

Abstract: A water heater construction and method includes arranging the inner water tank and the surrounding outer shell in an inverted orientation and positioning the outer shell into a cover which is arranged with clearance openings for the plumbing connections extending from the top of the tank to extend therethrough. With the tank, shell and cover in an inverted and assembled condition, the annular clearance space defined between the tank and shell is filled, at least the majority, with liquid, foam-in-place insulation. By inverting the water heater and injecting liquid foam insulation material, the clearance space above the inner water tank is foamed first thereby assuring that the foam material at this location will have greater uniformity in foam density and cell structure than at the lower portion of the annular space so as to provide enhanced thermal efficiency at the most critical location.

Abstract: A water heater is made by shielding the space between a tank and a jacket, which space is intended to include a control apparatus accessible from outside the jacket, by making and installing an insulating dam provided of flexible, deformable insulating material, removing corner position from the dam, slitting the block lengthwise with a slit which is surrounded by the block, thereby forming connected body portions, moving the body portions apart from each other, thereby forming an open frame, turning the resulting open frame inside out to form a foam dam, inserting the resulting foam dam around the control apparatus, placing the jacket over the dam and introducing liquid foam forming material into the space between the tank and the jacket.

Abstract: Improvements in a fuel burner for a boiler comprising a first assembly (S.sub.1) for delivering into the boiler (3) a fuel stream, a second assembly (S.sub.2) for delivering into the boiler a stream of secondary air, a precombustion chamber (6) extended with a certain length (L.sub.2) into the combustion chamber (2) in the boiler (3) and a nozzle flameholder (14), opposite the outlet of the fuel stream, which flameholder supplies fluid jets (F) directed against said fluid stream in order to provide a circulation zone in said precombustion chamber (6); a third assembly (S.sub.3) is provided for delivering into the boiler a tertiary air stream which laps the inner walls of the precombustion chamber (6) and optionally there is provided a fourth assembly (S.sub.5) for delivering a quaternary air stream from outlets (23) of the precombustion chamber (6).

Abstract: A thermal insulating jacket for use around pipes, conduits, tanks and related members according to the present invention includes a flexible outer covering such as a sheet of plastic or polyvinylchloride which has bonded to its surface an alternating series of insulation material strips. The insulation material strips which are bonded to the flexible outer covering include a first plurality of flexible insulation material strips and a second plurality of rigid insulation material strips. These different material strips are arranged in alternating sequence and the combination of outer covering and insulation strips is sufficiently flexible and formable so as to be wrapped into a generally cylindrical shape which may then be disposed around a pipe, conduit, tank or related member, for thermally insulating that member. The outer covering may be a one-piece member or a hinged member.

Abstract: The method of combining two furnaces into one, each furnace having a lower radiant section that includes upright walls and horizontal heat exchanger tubes, and an upper convection section, the lower section having associated fuel burners, including removing the horizontal heat exchanger tubes from the lower section; extending the lower section upright walls vertically upwardly, and providing space between the vertically extended lower sections; providing top walls over the vertically extended lower sections, and providing vertically extending heat exchanger tubing and suspending the tubing vertically within the vertically extended lower radiant sections, to be heated by hot gases produced by combustion of fuel supplied via the burners; and providing and locating an upright convection section of the furnace in flow receiving communication with the lower sections via lateral passages therefrom.

Abstract: A thermal insulating jacket for use around pipes, conduits, tanks and related members according to the present invention includes a flexible outer covering such as a sheet of plastic or polyvinylchloride which has bonded to its surface an alternating series of insulation material strips. The insulation material strips which are bonded to the flexible outer covering include a first plurality of flexible insulation material strips and a second plurality of rigid insulation material strips. These different material strips are arranged in alternating sequence and the combination of outer covering and insulation strips is sufficiently flexible and formable so as to be wrapped into a generally cylindrical shape which may then be disposed around a pipe, conduit, tank or related member, for thermally insulating that member. The outer covering may be a one-piece member or a hinged member.

Abstract: A fuel reactor particularly adopted for the efficient combustion of wood and wood-product fuels includes a core comprised of an inner fuel tube and an outer gas tube. Fuel is introduced into one end of the fuel tube and the combustion process is initiated. Perforations in the gas tube allow the combustion gas to progress down the fuel tube and combine with air in the gas tube. A high temperature is maintained on the gas tube to enhance the combustion process. In addition, high temperature-high pressure steam and air are introduced into the core to increase the reactivity rate of char products. The high temperature-high pressure steam is produced by a novel steam pump. The combustion gases are further processed through a gas dispersion chamber, including dispersion plates, and a gas expansion chamber. Heat is extracted from the combustion gases via a novel heat exchanger which includes a gas dispersion shelf, a radiating heat exchanger plate, a primary heat exchanger, and a condensing heat exchanger.

Abstract: A thermal insulating jacket for use around pipes, conduits, tanks and related members according to the present invention includes a flexible outer covering such as a sheet of plastic or polyvinylchloride which has bonded to its surface an alternating series of insulation material strips. The insulation material strips which are bonded to the flexible outer covering include a first plurality of flexible insulation material strips and a second plurality of rigid insulation material strips. These different material strips are arranged in alternating sequence and the combination of outer covering and insulation strips is sufficiently flexible and formable so as to be wrapped into a generally cylindrical shape which may then be disposed around a pipe, conduit, tank or related member, for thermally insulating that member. The outer covering may be a one-piece member or a hinged member.

Abstract: A hot water heater having a vertical, cylindrical tank with a curved top wall, means for heating water within the tank, a cold water inlet and a hot water outlet at the top includes an inlet dip tube disposed along the central vertical axis of the tank for foiling internal thermal convection currents rising along the center of the tank and minimizing the mixing of hot and cold water so that the temperature of hot water delivered at the outlet remains relatively constant over time.

Abstract: A distillation apparatus includes a heating device, an inlet for medium to be distilled, a vapor outlet, a distillation space between the distillation medium inlet and the vapor outlet and a drain for the separate components of the solvent, arranged in the bottom part of the distilling space and extending from same. In a heating vessel, which is able to be filled with a heating medium to be heated by the heating device, there is a downwardly extending down tube joined with the inlet and an up tube extending upwards to the vapor inlet. During operation the two tubes are surrounded by heating medium and form the distillation space. The drain is arranged under the junction between the up and down tubes and is provided with a U-trap.

Abstract: A water heater having an insulated water tank with a cold water inlet line, a hot water outlet line and a baffled flue pipe extending vertically through the tank is provided. The flue pipe extends from a combustion chamber housing a burner located beneath the tank, to a flue gas collection chamber positioned above the tank. The collection chamber is in fluid communication with a blower and a flue gas exhaust line for conveying the flue gases through the exhaust line to a direct through-the-wall vent. Control apparatus is provided for sensing the temperature of the water in the tank and controlling the amount of fuel supplied to the burner in response thereto. The control apparatus turns on the blower when fuel is being supplied to the burner and turns off the blower when no fuel is being supplied to the burner.