Radial Loop Patents (Class 122/132)
  • Patent number: 6148146
    Abstract: A hot water heater of a low profile, box-shaped design, with the height and width remaining generally constant, and the length being dependent on the volumetric capacity desired for the water heater. The water heater is configured for horizontal configuration or vertical mounting and includes a cold water inlet for allowing input of cold water into a lower compartment. A baffle plate divides the lower compartment from an upper compartment, and water from the cold water inlet flows through a baffle opening, or delivery outlet, into the upper compartment. While in the lower compartment, the water is subjected to heating by at least one heating element, which serves to pre-heat the water. As the water flows to the upper compartment, it is heated further by at least one additional heating element located in the upper compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventors: Bobby L. Poore, James B. Loftis
  • Patent number: 5923819
    Abstract: The body structure of a fluid storage apparatus, which may be used for both liquids and gases, is formed from a coaxially and sealingly joined series of one-piece molded polymeric body sections including opposite end sections having closed outer ends. Each one piece molded polymeric body section has tubular inner and outer shell portions that are coaxial with one another and radially separated by a circumferentially spaced series of radially extending ribs molded integrally therewith and defining therebetween a circumferentially extending series of arcuate insulation spaces. In the assembled body structure the inner shell portions entirely define in the apparatus an internal fluid storage vessel portion that is useful in storing both liquids and gases. The interior fluid storage vessel is outwardly enveloped by the insulation spaces and structurally reinforced, via the integral ribs, by the outer shell sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: David O. Ross, Timothy D. Gantt, David C. Poole
  • Patent number: 5921207
    Abstract: A system for periodically flushing accumulated sediment from hot water tanks including a drain valve controlled by an electric actuating means capable of rapid actuation of the valve from its normally closed position to a fully open position. The electric actuating means is electrically connected to a timing means, such as a time clock, for actuating periodic flush cycles. A flush cycle begins when the appropriate signal commands the actuating means to open the valve and ends upon closure of the valve. The invention contemplates that the duration of each flush cycle will depend on the water tank size, and that a series of flush cycles will provide optimized flushing of sediment from the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Inventors: Joseph DiSalvo, Merrick A. Endres
  • Patent number: 5893341
    Abstract: A mobile water heating apparatus for rapidly heating large volumes of water, such as swimming pools, hot tubs, etc., at multiple sites includes a water heater, a water pump, and a water circuit comprising flexible conduit for direct coupling between the pool of water to be heated and the mobile water heating apparatus. The mobile water heating apparatus is independent of on-site dedicated facilities, provides rapid remote site service for cold weather or emergency situations, and is fully self contained, including energy source for heat generation and power generation for operating the water heating system equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Inventor: Emery E. Cox
  • Patent number: 5809941
    Abstract: An economical high efficiency convenience hot water heater is provided for use in boats and recreational vehicles and the like. The hot water heater is designed to be powered by 12 V.D.C. with a low power consumption. The tank assembly incorporates 2 horizontally installed insulated baffles which greatly improves thermal efficiency. The lower chamber is isolated and insulated to provide a quick water temperature rise in this chamber. The water after heating is drawn out for use in bathing, cooking, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Inventor: Ernest Lee Allaire
  • Patent number: 5775267
    Abstract: The boiler has on the top thereof, a smoke discharging cover with a water receiving tank, the interior thereof includes an upper combustion chamber and a lower water storage chamber, a water storage tank is provided between the boiler wall and the combustion chamber in which there are a burner and a heat exchanger constructed by welding bundles of pipes on the bottom of a water collecting tray, many water chambers are formed by the partitions in the water collecting tray, the pipes communicate with the water chambers, further heat absorbing passageways are formed within the boiler wall and the smoke discharging cover, these can lengthen flowing time of water and enlarge area for heat exchange, rate of heat exchange and life of use of the heat exchanger are improved, dismounting of the heat exchanger for cleansing is also feasible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Inventors: Liang-Yu Hou, Kun-Huang Chuang
  • Patent number: 5668922
    Abstract: An electric water heater has a body structure formed in a manner eliminating the need for a separate metal water storage tank therein. The body structure is formed from a coaxially and sealingly joined series of one-piece molded plastic body sections including opposite end sections having closed outer ends. Each one piece molded plastic body section has tubular inner and outer shell portions that are coaxial with one another and radially separated by a circumferentially spaced series of radially extending ribs molded integrally therewith and defining therebetween a circumferentially extending series of arcuate insulation spaces. In the assembled body structure the inner shell portions entirely define in the water heater an internal water storage vessel portion that is outwardly enveloped by the insulation spaces and structurally reinforced, via the integral ribs, by the outer shell sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: David O. Ross, Timothy D. Gantt, David C. Poole
  • Patent number: 5549078
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heating device for submersion within a tank of water to boil the water to produce steam, and for superheating the steam, comprising an outer sleeve; an inner sleeve partially disposed through the outer sleeve and having a proximal end, and a distal end in the form of an outlet port, the inner sleeve further defining a vapor chamber; a heating element disposed within the vapor chamber and in electrical communication with an external electrical power supply, the heating element adapted to produce heat in response to electrical energy from the power supply; a steam inlet tube extending outwardly from the inner tube and in fluid communication with the vapor chamber; and a one way valve disposed within the vapor chamber adjacent the outlet port, the valve adapted to selectively gate the flow of vapor from within the vapor chamber through the outlet port; wherein the heating device is configured to heat the water within the tank to a boil to produce steam, the steam inlet tube ada
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Inventors: Robert L. Annecharico, Norman Campbell
  • Patent number: 5438642
    Abstract: A heater for the rapid heating of water includes a main body having plural vertical upwardly opening chambers, combined with a molded cover plate that can be removably installed over the upper part of the main body. A plurality of combination heating and chamber partition assemblies extend downwardly from the bottom surface of the installed cover plate and one each of the assemblies resides in a main body chamber, each assembly including a generally flat and vertically elongated partition member and a pair of heating coils mounted to each partition member, one each coil on opposite sides of the partition member, and each partition member cooperates with a chamber to form a first channel for conducting water downwardly and a second channel for conducting water upwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Instantaneous Thermal Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Posen
  • Patent number: 5422976
    Abstract: A boiling water control system for use with a boiling water dispensing apparatus. The boiling water dispensing apparatus includes a water reservoir having a water heating element retained therein for heating water. A top portion of the reservoir is divided into a first and second section. The reservoir includes an inlet for emitting water and an outlet for dispensing water. The boiling water control system includes a steam sensor which produces a control signal in the presence of steam. A control module is associated with the boiling water apparatus and coupled to the steam sensor and the heating element for activating and deactivating the heating element in response to the control signal produced by the steam sensor. A primary steam vent communicates with the first section of the reservoir for allowing steam and air to escape from the first section. An air vent is provided on the primary steam vent for removing heated air from the primary steam vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Knepler
  • Patent number: 5370085
    Abstract: Steam generator comprising a supply of water to be evaporated, a steam outlet and a heat source, which steam generator is characterised in that it is formed by a casing subdivided into two chambers (2, 3) by a waterpermeable porous partition (4),one (3) of the two chambers accommodating the heat source (6),the other chamber (2) receiving the supply water (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignees: Trouvay & Cauvin, Armstrong International, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernard Dangreau
  • Patent number: 5355840
    Abstract: The steam generator according to the invention consists of a main vessel 1 equipped with heating devices 12 controlled by control devices 13. The water level in the steam generator is kept at an average level 5 by control devices 13 which control a water inlet solenoid valve 10. Measurement of the average water level 5 is achieved by a pressure switch 20 that is exposed to the pressure inside a measuring vessel 18 that communicates with the main vessel 1 via a lower measuring opening 22. Balancing pipework 34 links the pressure switch 20 to the pressure of the steam produced in the steam generator. Pressure switch 20 generates measuring signals that are sent via conductors 17 to control devices 13 in order to actuate solenoid valve 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Societe Cooperative DeProduction Bourgeois
    Inventor: Raymond Violi
  • Patent number: 5351337
    Abstract: An improved self-contained pressurized water system for use in remote areas, vehicles, or whenever conventional sources of potable water are not readily available including at least one pressure detection switch for rendering system inoperative and incorporating a flow path for recirculation and aeration of stored water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Inventor: Joseph J. Deutsch
  • Patent number: 5325822
    Abstract: A tankless, flow-through electric water heater whose housing is designed for modular application, where serially connected modules define the path of the fluid being heated, in this case water, through the heater from inlet to final outlet. Each module contains two separate chambers and each chamber is provided with an electric immersion type heating element. The first and last chambers will also have a temperature sensor which will signal an electronic temperature control system. The temperature sensor in the first and last chambers provides signal inputs to energize each heating element of each chamber for a period of time proportional to the temperature difference between first chamber and the desired set leaving temperature of the water, which is set by an adjustable temperature controller (potentiometer), included in this control system. This control system also has a minimum setting point for a "no flow" condition or for the prevention of water freezing, where extreme weather conditions exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Inventor: Guillermo N. Fernandez
  • Patent number: 5293446
    Abstract: A two-stage electric water heater which utilizes a centrally located, vertically-oriented flue pipe and multiple heating elements extending through selected lengths of copper tubing positioned in the flue pipe to heat the water surrounding the flue pipe. In a preferred embodiment a two-stage thermostat operates to selectively energize less than the total number of heating elements at a high energy level in order to raise the water temperature quickly from room temperature to a desired level. A single-stage thermostat may then be used to maintain the water at this temperature during normal operation. In another preferred embodiment the copper tubes through which the heating elements extend are dimpled or crimped into contact with the heating elements to increase heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Inventors: George G. Owens, Ernest D. Brinson
  • Patent number: 5277152
    Abstract: A water heater includes a base formed in a board, a control device disposed on the base, a vessel fixed to the board and connected to the base, and a heater disposed in the vessel for heating the water contained in the vessel. The water heater occupies a small volume and includes a simplified structure such that the manufacturing cost of water heater can be greatly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Inventor: Hsin-Yen Liao
  • Patent number: 5247908
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Inventor: Thomas M. Williamson
  • Patent number: 5228413
    Abstract: A multiple boiler has at least two separate heating systems incorporated therein. Whereas boilers with two heating supplies have been known, they have been complicated systems that require heating to occur outside a water tank. The multiple boiler has an insulated water tank with a heater to heat the water in the tank without circulating water outside the tank. At least one circulating coil is located in the tank in heat exchange relationship with water in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Inventor: Raymond T. Tam
  • Patent number: 5168546
    Abstract: A domestic electric water heater comprises a cylindrical tank having a vertical wall and an inwardly curved bottom, the latter defining with the vertical wall an annular stagnant water zone susceptible of bacterial contamination by, for example, legionella bacteria. The tank is provided with an upper immersion heating element and a lower immersion heating element, the latter being located above to the annular zone of contamination. The tank further comprises an outer electric heating element mounted on the outer surface of the vertical wall at the level of the contamination zone and below the lower immersion element. This outer heating element is capable of bringing water in the contamination zone to a temperature sufficient to eliminate the danger of such bacterial contamination, the temperature being in the order of 46.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Andre Laperriere, Raynald Brassard, Alain Moreau
  • Patent number: 5154140
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: AOS Holding Company
    Inventor: Bradley N. Windon
  • Patent number: 5092279
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Barmore
  • Patent number: 5093897
    Abstract: An apparatus which dispenses small quantities of water of variable temperatures, and improved quality and taste, comprising a reservoir connected to the mains for heating and storing water at a temperature above its atmospheric boiling point, and an outlet for boiling water. The apparatus is fully filled with water under normal operating conditions. According to the invention, the apparatus has at least one outlet connected to a source of water having a temperature lower than the atmospheric boiling point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Inventors: Henri B. Peteri, Niels T. Peteri
  • Patent number: 4949680
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Inventor: Hemant D. Kale