Abstract: A steam generator apparatus which includes an enclosure comprising vertically extending front and back waterwalls joined by opposed spaced first and second waterwalls, The enclosure also includes a plurality of spaced vertically extending windboxes, each of the windboxes faces the interior of the enclosure. Each of the windboxes comprises a plurality of modules that are configured for installation at respective elevations, each of the modules being dimensioned and configured for shipment to the installation site. Some forms of the invention further includes a vertically extending truss assembly and the ignitor and auxiliary air compartments are supported on the truss assembly. Other forms of the invention include air ducting supplying air to air compartments and the truss assembly extends within the ducting. Still other forms of the invention may utilize the truss assembly without the modular windbox.

Abstract: An inflatable, self-standing, transparent insulating jacket for a hot water tank is disclosed. The jacket is comprised of an inflatable hood, a platform and an attachment means. The hood surrounds, but is spaced outwardly from, the hot water tank. The hood comprises transparent inner and outer members each defining a cylindrical chamber and having an open end and a peripheral edge surround the open end. The inner and outer member edges are bonded together at or near their respective peripheral edges so as to form an impermeable fluid tight inflatable pocket between the members. A valve is provided on the outer member to inflate and deflate the inflatable pocket. The platform, having an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the hood, is disposed beneath the hot water tank. The attachment means, preferably a zipper type fastener, secures the hood to the platform.

Abstract: A boiler for the production of steam and/or hot water has a principal enclosure limited by a watertight wall for containing water, a bottom water extraction outlet,a water supply inlet, an upper steam outlet and a level detector controlling the water level in the enclosure. Electric immersion heating elements are provided in the enclosure for heating the water to generate steam. At least one section of the enclosure wall adjacent the water level on which scale deposits are likely to form is deformable by flexion and is stressed by time-varying deformations of the wall produced by variations of water and/or steam pressure in the enclosure which causes the film of scale deposited on the inner surface of the at least one deformable section to break up and become detached so that they fall to the bottom of the enclosure for easy elimination by drainage of the water from the enclosure through the bottom water extraction outlet.

Abstract: A water heater comprising a tank defining a water chamber and having an outer surface, a spud mounted on the outer surface, a jacket surrounding the tank and having an inner surface spaced from the tank outer surface, an opening aligned with the spud, a margin around the opening and converging inwardly toward the tank, insulating material between the tank and the jacket, and a fitting threaded into the spud and having a tapered outer surface which engages the margin to form a seal against the insulating material.

Abstract: A modular arrangement for containing a heat exchanger module comprises a base frame and four vertical truss members slidably mounted to the base frame at one end of the members. Each vertical truss member is positioned a distance apart from another vertical truss member across the base frame to define a front, a back, and two sides. The heat exchanger unit is contained within the base frame and the vertical truss members. Intermediate tie steel is supported by the four vertical truss members. At least two different levels, each level having a junction fixed to each vertical truss member, are provided. A horizontal side truss member is rotatably attached to the junctions of adjacent vertical truss members and a diagonal truss member extends between and is removably attached to the junctions between adjacent levels. The base frame, the intermediate tie steel, the vertical truss members, and the heat exchanger unit contained therein define a module for transportation and assembly.

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: A quadrangular type multi-tube once-through boiler having an arrangement in which a feed path combuation air, combuation chamber, and an exhaust gas channel passing through a flue are alined in substantially the same plane, and provided with a burner duct (5) and a blower (4) each installed in any desired regions in lateral wall portions (s.sub.1, s.sub.2, s.sub.3 and s.sub.4) defining the width of the boiler body (1). The boiler body (1) comprises an assembly (A) of a plurality of substantially vertically disposed water tubes (10), so that combuation gas flows crosswise of the water tubes (10). A burner (3) is disposed in close adjacency to the first row (1.sub.1) of water tubes the water tube assembly (A), whereby even if fuel from the burner is ignited in a space between the first row (1.sub.1) of water tubes and the burner (3), actual combuation does not proceed to completion therebetween but the most of the unburnt gas burns completely while it flows through water tube clearances.

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: The method of the present invention is for foam insulating a water heater where the water heater has an outer shell and an inner tank with tank fittings, the outer shell having tank fitting openings and the inner tank and outer shell being separated by an insulation space. The method comprises locating foam flow barriers between the inner tank and the outer shell around the periphery of each of the tank fitting openings and then spraying foam forming material into the insulation space with the foam barriers preventing the foam from escaping outwardly through the tank fitting openings.

Abstract: A quadrangular type multi-tube once-through boiler having an arrangement in which a feed path combuation air, combuation chamber, and an exhaust gas channel passing through a flue are aligned in substantially the same plane, and provided with a burner duct (5) and a blower (4) each installed in any desired regions in lateral wall portions (S.sub.1, S.sub.2, S.sub.3 and S.sub.4) defining the width of the boiler body (1). The boiler body (1) comprises an assembly (A) of a plurality of substantially vertically disposed water tubes (10), so that combuation gas flows crosswise of the water tubes (10). A burner (3) is disposed in close adjacency to the first row (l.sub.1 of water tubes the water tube assembly (A), whereby even if fuel from the burner is ignited in a space between the first row (l.sub.1) of water tubes and the burner (3), actual combuation does not proceed to completion therebetween but the most of the unburnt gas burns completely while it flows through water tube clearances.

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 water heater comprising a tank which is adapted to contain water and which has an outer surface, a spud mounted on the outer surface of the tank, a jacket surrounding the tank, having an inner surface spaced from the outer surface of the tank, and having therein an opening aligned with the spud, a member connected to the spud, insulating material between the tank and the jacket, and an annular seal for sealing the opening from the insulating material, the seal surrounding the member, having a radially inner portion captured between the member and the spud, and having a radially outer portion engaging the inner surface of the jacket.

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: Bracing strips 7 are interposed between compressible strips 4, so-called laminate strips, of an insulating mat 1 in the form of a laminate mat with a carrier web 2, in order generally to impart compression resistance to the insulating mat 1. The compressible strips 4 normally consist of mineral fibers 6 of low compression resistance and are readily compressible parallel with the plane of the carrier web 2, while the bracing strips 7 consist of mineral fibers of higher compression strength and are substantially incompressible. Particularly good compression strength results from the fibers 8 of the bracing strips 7 also being orientated at right-angles to the carrier web 2. The resulting pressure-resistant laminate insulating mats 1 are suitable not only for the conventional fields of application of laminate mats but can also serve at the same time as a bracing since in many cases they offer superior qualities to those of supports or braces which consist of solid bodies.

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: 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 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 boiling apparatus includes a hot water storage tank. The storage tank has an inner tank storing water therein, an outer tank surrounding the inner tank, and a vacuum heat insulation layer defined between the inner and outer tanks and surrounding the inner tank. An electrically heated bubble pump unit is arranged outside the storage tank and used for drawing water from the inner tank through a water supply port formed at the bottom of the inner tank and, after heating the water, supplying it into the inner tank through a hot water supply port formed at the top of the inner tank. First and second connecting pipe respectively connect the bubble pump unit to the top and bottom water supply ports of the inner tank. The portions of the connecting pipes extending through the vacuum insulation space are oriented horizontally to minimize convection heat losses. The portion of the connecting pipe which passes through the vacuum heat insulation space is oriented horizontally.

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 water heater which may be either gas or electric and designed for use in either residential or commercial applications includes a generally cylindrical molded plastic inner water tank and a generally cylindrical molded plastic outer shell which is sized somewhat larger than the outside diameter of the tank and is disposed around the tank so as to define an annular clearance space between the shell and the tank. By means of covers and end members the clearance space between the tank and the shell are sealed closed so that a vacuum can be drawn on this closed clearance space and thereby provide thermal insulation for the inner water tank by means of the vacuum. A related construction includes a double-walled outer shell wherein the two walls are spaced apart from one another so as to define a clearance space therebetween. This clearance space is sealed closed and a vacuum drawn in order to provide the requisite insulation for the inner water tank which is disposed on the interior of the shell.

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 water heater construction and method for commercial and residential use includes a generally cylindrical inner water tank surrounded by a layer of insulation. The third component in the assembly is an outer shell which is configured as a hinged combination of two halves or flexible sheet which can be opened radially so that the outer shell may be placed around the layer of insulation and inner tank without requiring any relative axial movement between the outer shell and the inner tank. After the outer shell halves are spread apart and the outer shell is moved into position against the insulation, the hinged halves (or sheet) are then closed towards each other compressing a thickness of insulation and the free ends of the hinged halves are ultimately secured together such that the resultant outer shell is generally cylindrical and generally concentric with the inner tank. The insulation may be joined to the shell prior to assembly of the shell around the tank.

Abstract: A water heater which may be either gas or electric and designed for use in either residential or commercial applications includes a generally cylindrical molded plastic inner water tank and a generally cylindrical molded plastic outer shell which is sized somewhat larger than the outside diameter of the tank and is disposed around the tank so as to define an annular clearance space between the shell and the tank. By means of covers and end members the clearance space between the tank and the shell are sealed closed so that a vacuum can be drawn on this closed clearance space and thereby provide thermal insulation for the inner water tank by means of the vacuum. A related construction includes a double-walled outer shell wherein the two walls are spaced apart from one another so as to define a clearance space therebetween. This clearance space is sealed closed and a vacuum drawn in order to provide the requisite insulation for the inner water tank which is disposed on the interior of the shell.

Abstract: A water heater device including an inner tank for containing water surrounded in spaced-apart relationship by an outer shell. The top end of the water heater device is closed by a cap, and the bottom end of the water heater construction is closed by a floor connected to the outer shell. The inner tank has a concave bottom wall. An enclosed, flexible collar filled thermal insulation material, such as fiberglass, is arranged into two pouches wherein the outer pouch is located in the annular space between the inner tank and outer shell proximate the bottom end of the water heater device concentric with the annular space such that the collar is in contact with the interior wall surface of the outer shell and in contact with the exterior wall surface of the inner tank. The inner pouch which is disc-shaped is disposed beneath the tank.

Abstract: A water heater including a tank, a cylindrical jacket, surrounding the tank to provide an insulating space therebetween and a cover member mounted on top of the jacket to close off the top of the insulating space. An insulating wall is provided in the insulating space between the tank and the jacket. The insulating wall is comprised of a plastic envelope member and a wall of insulating material which has been foamed-in-place inside the envelope member.

Abstract: A gas-tight chamber for a heat exchanger has a shell (12) forming the gas-tight chamber made of a light flexible or semirigid material such as rubber or thin silicone-treated sheet material which, because of its low weight and relative flexibility, absorbs all the vibrations produced and maintained by the burners, which eliminates the noise. The exchangers have a layer of longitudinal water tubes arranged concentrically around a central burner.

Abstract: A vertical drum is disposed upon and connected to a combustion chamber through a heat transfer wall. A burner opens in the combustion chamber to face the heat transfer wall and an exhaust tube is connected to the combustion chamber on the lower wall adjacent its periphery and extends horizontally below the drum until it communicates with the atmosphere.

Abstract: A safety topdeck for a boiler having a cylindrical shell including a generally horizontal walkway and a frame for supporting the walkway on the cylindrical shell comprising laterally spaced apart, generally upstanding support legs and mechanism for mounting the support legs to opposite sides of the cylindrical shell.

Abstract: A water-tube boiler (1) of the "D" type is disclosed which includes a water-cooled rear wall comprising a plurality of vertically disposed riser tubes (14a, b) located at the rear end of the furnace chamber (5). Novel sealing means are disclosed for sealing the aforesaid rear wall to its adjacent vertically extending walls of the furnace chamber (5) and convection section (7). A further aspect of the invention lies in the particular feeder conduit means (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) provided for supplying water to the riser tubes of the water-cooled rear wall and also in the particular return conduit means (15a, b; 16a, b) provided for connecting the riser tubes (14a, b) to the steam drum (3). In yet another aspect of the invention, novel construction is provided associated with the convection section for discharging flue gases from the boiler.

Abstract: A furnace enclosure is provided in which one wall includes tubes of different passes which are free to move longitudinally relative to each other. A seal plate and filler means are disposed outside of the enclosure to provide for gas-tightness.

Abstract: A vapor generator is made up of a tube wall with conducting tubes which are gas-tightly welded together followed by a sheet metal flue gas duct leading to a stack. The tube wall has a temperature zone in which the temperature difference between the medium in the tubes and the flue gas is at its minimum under any operational conditions. In addition to the conducting tubes, the tube wall has a portion with non-conducting tubes which are gas-tightly welded together and through which the medium is non conducted. The non-conducting tubes are aligned with respective tubes of the conducting portion of the tube wall with the interposition of tube transition pieces or T-shape pieces. The T-shape transition pieces include a connection to the conducting tube with a right angle tube leg for the offtake of the vapor and an aligned leg which is welded to the non-conducting tubes of the non-conducting tube section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a housing suitable for containing a boiler with its associated water tank and it consists of an upper part which for storage and transport can be telescoped over the lower part and when required for use can be raised to form an upper extension of the lower part and fixed in position. The lower part preferably carries pivoted flaps adapted to form an extension of the plan size of the lower part greater than the plan size of the upper part but which can be folded to enable the upper part to be telescoped down over the lower part.

Abstract: A stem generator with its sections arranged for the limited space available in a marine installation. The heated surfaces are exposed to both the products of combustion of original fuels and the discharge from the prime movers of marine propulsion. The water being vaporized is positively pumped up through the heated surfaces to the short length upper steam separator drum. The superheat surfaces are arranged in modular form so they may be readily replaced and can also be drained of collected liquid when maintenance is required.

Abstract: An arrangement for protecting the wall of a vapor generator from stresses due to thermal expansion of duct end sections and plenums associated therewith, and including support plate means which abut the plenum ends and transmit the stresses to rigid support members to be balanced by similar stresses from the opposite end of the plenum.

Abstract: In order to improve the efficiency of a heater for heating a fluid using hot products of combustion, a second heat exchanger is connected to a first heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger absorbing primarily radiant heat from the hot products of combustion and the second heat exchanger absorbing primarily convected heat from the hot products of combustion. The hot products of combustion either pass through an array of parallel tubes in the second heat exchanger, or the second heat exchanger is inserted into the end of the first heat exchanger.

Abstract: A bottom supported vapor generator having tubular platens communicating with upper and lower headers and including rigid members fixedly connecting the lower headers to a grid slidably supported on concrete pedestals.

Abstract: A coal fired water tube boiler having a radiant heating section and a convection heating section, the two sections being independently fabricated and shop assembled into units small enough in size to be shipped by conventional carriers to the installation site where they are erected and tied together by connecting mating pipe and duct sections.

Abstract: A reformer furnace having a convection section, means for preventing radiant heat from the burners to the convection section, a centrally disposed effluent tube suspended from the top of the furnace, a tube sheet surrounding and suspended from the centrally disposed effluent tube and reformer tubes suspended from the tube sheet which reformer tubes are in communication with the interior of the effluent tube. The related equipment disclosed include a honeycomb sandwich tube sheet, a perforated semi-spherical combustion shield and vessel wall insulation structure including a purge gas annular space.