Combined With Water Heater Patents (Class 237/19)
  • Patent number: 5039007
    Abstract: A heating system in which water is heated by means of a gas heater or the like in which the heated water can be used for washing and the like or for making hot drinks such as coffee and the like, and in which the heated water can also be used to heat air in a heat exchanger to provide heated air for space heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Inventor: Gerald C. Wolter
  • Patent number: 5038850
    Abstract: A cooling and heating system includes a heating chamber in which is disposed a heater element on the bottom of a cooling and heat accumulating chamber, multiple convection current suppression layers, and a cooling chamber in which is disposed a cooling coil on the top of the chamber to enable alternate circulation through the cooling and heat accumulating chamber, the cooling chamber being connected to air mixers which in turn communicate with feed and recovery ducts to thereby form a circulation circuit. By use of air flowing between the solid cooling and heat accumulating materials, cooling accumulation and cooling radiation or heat accumulation and heat radiation can be formed by downward cooling or upward heating through the cooling and heat accumulating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Inventor: Young T. Choi
  • Patent number: 5020721
    Abstract: A rapid recovery gas water heating system having a water storage tank, a gas water heater separate from the storage tank and having a compact heat exchanger for the flow of water therethrough from the storage tank, a water pump for pumping of water from lower regions of the storage tank into and through the heat exchanger and back into the storage tank, and a thermostat having water temperature sensing means positioned in the storage tank and serving for actuating the water pump and the gas water heater in response to the temperature of the water in the storage tank falling below a predetermined temperature value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Gas Fired Products
    Inventor: Frank L. Horne
  • Patent number: 4996950
    Abstract: A double pipe is disclosed for mixed boilers comprising rectilinear segments in which the two duct sections are juxtaposed laterally. Each section (A,B) is defined, on its side the furthest away from the other section, by a plate (1,7) whose two longitudinal borders (2,3,8,9) are curved and are welded against the longitudinal borders of an intermediate partition (4) and this intermediate partition has stamped bosses (5) whose tops (6) are in contact with said plates and are fixed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Chaffoteaux et Maury
    Inventor: Joseph Le Mer
  • Patent number: 4981262
    Abstract: An improved unit (10) which supplies combustion air (A) to a furnace (100) or hot water heater (200) is described. The unit includes a switch (59) which continues the operation of motor (14) and fans (12 and 15) in unit (10) until the hot flue gases (H) are vented and to cool exhaust gas pipe (22) after the furnace and/or hot water heater cease to operate to produce heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Inventor: Bert W. Jackson
  • Patent number: 4978063
    Abstract: An automatic control device for a hot water heating system, comprises a first relay being connectable to a water temperature switch such that the first relay is energized when the switch is closed and a second relay connected to the first relay such that the second relay is energized when the first relay is energized. The first relay is connectable to an electrically operated valve controlling the flow of high temperature water from a boiler to a heat exchanger operably associated with a water heater such that the electrically operated valve is opened when the first relay is energized and closed when the first relay is de-energized. The first relay is connectable to the boiler such that the boiler is turned on when the first relay is energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Inventor: Kent B. Chase
  • Patent number: 4946098
    Abstract: A central heating installation provided with a hot tap water circuit for domestic usage includes a heating apparatus having an enclosure the inner portion of which is provided with a burner, notably a gas burner, and on which is possibly wound or a heating circuit duct extending thereafter through a fin assembly situated in the upper portion of the enclosure, along the path of travel of the hot gases, the heating circuit, when extending through the fin assembly, being provided in the shape of a plurality of flattened tubes connected to one another by elbows and the hot tap water circuit being provided in the form of a tube having the shape of a hairpin or of a pipe coil and placed inside the flattened tubes where they extend through the fin assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: E. L. M. Leblanc
    Inventor: Rene Prevot
  • Patent number: 4938172
    Abstract: A supplementary hot water heating system which transfers to a hot water tank heat from exhaust gas in the furnace stack which would otherwise be wasted. When the water in the supplementary heater core is heated to a desired temperature, normally closed valves, one connecting the heater core to the cold waterline and the other connecting the bottom of the hot water tank to a drain, are simultaneously opened and remain opened until the supplementary heater core is again filled with cold water from the cold water line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Inventor: Matthew Belovarac
  • Patent number: 4925093
    Abstract: A forced draft direct vent system is provided for an indoor domestic type gas water heater having an atmospheric burner. The forced draft system permits adaptation of the water heater as a combined water heater and space heater in a compact continuous upright arrangement of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Mor-Flo Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry J. Moore, Jr., Wouter J. Wiersma
  • Patent number: 4922861
    Abstract: A multiple purpose instantaneous gas water heater comprises a combination of a larger combustion capacity type first burner with a smaller combustion capacity type second burner. Each of the burners can be controlled by a proportional combustion control method and/or an intermittent combustion control method. It is possible to combine these functions within a microcomputer system so as to use each or both burners selectively, or both together, so that it is possible to select water from a wide range of hot water temperatures or to select a target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1990
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Tsutsui, Hideki Kawaguchi, Keiji Hayashi, Masahiro Kayano, Shingo Tanaka, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Hisashi Nakamura, Atsuo Makita
  • Patent number: 4898152
    Abstract: The invention represents part of well known solar drain-back systems which store and transfer the collected solar heat to a conventional home hot water system. Heat transfer occurs only while hot water is being drawn, i.e. during water flow through heat exchangers located in a solar liquid storage tank. A thermally well insulated liquid storage tank receives heat by circulating the stored liquid over a conduit through solar energy collectors which are located such that gravitational drainage of the liquid back to the tank is assured. The unpressurized and vented liquid storage tank has external level indicator for seasonal changes of liquid storage volumes.A pipe having heat exchange turns is located in the area above the highest of the variable liquid storage levels in the tank, the pipe and conduit are sealed to form a double pipe counterflow section. A pump when active, circulates the liquid from near the bottom of the tank to the solar heater and then to the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Inventor: Karl H. Kahl
  • Patent number: 4880157
    Abstract: A method and control system are disclosed for operating an integrated heating system for space heating and tankless domestic hot water heating utilizing an infrared burner module and heat exchanger coil. When the system is below 100% capacity, the burner is pulsed using a constant pulse period and varying the on-pulse width to vary capacity, or where a minimum on-pulse width is maintained the off-pulse width is varied to vary capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Jay L. Boot, Chester D. Ripka, Ian M. Shapiro
  • Patent number: 4848655
    Abstract: A heating system providing an instantaneous source of hot water to either a water sink or to a source of heat or to both. The system includes means for receiving cold water and converting it to hot water where the cold water is converted to hot water essentially instantaneously, obviating the need for a water storage tank. The heat in the water is converted to a source of space heat utilizing a water to air heat exchanger. The system also includes means for directing the flow of hot water to the water to air heat exchanger in response to a demand for heat signal, and means for directing the flow of hot water to hot water sinks. A flow rate detector monitors the flow to the sink and provides a signal indicative thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Inventors: George B. Woodin, David B. Chilton
  • Patent number: 4848277
    Abstract: A calorific value boiler device for supplying heat to at least one user of heat contained in a heat medium via a first supply line and at least one return line. The device includes a boiler having a blower equipped burner with flue gases discharged in a specific direction and at least two heat exchangers arranged in series to receive the flue gases sequentially in that direction. Also provided is a stratified thermal storage unit for delivering medium to the user via a first supply line. A first line is for transferring heat medium from the first heat exchanger in the series to the top layer of the storage unit. A second line is for transferring heat medium from the bottom layer of the storage unit to the last heat exchanger in the series. A third line is for transferring heat medium from the middle of the storage unit to the first heat exchanger and having a flow cross section at least twice that of the second line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Inventor: Rolf Bommer
  • Patent number: 4829914
    Abstract: A solid fuel combustion chamber combusts the fuel utilizing underfire and overfire air. Both the underfire and overfire air derive from a common intake port, with a controllable vane determining the ratio between the two air sources. Gas flow from the solid fuel combustion chamber enters a gas combustion chamber designed to produce turbulence and thereby promote further combustion. The gas flow is then accelerated in a gas flow chamber and directed to the circulating fluid carrying tubes of a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a condensation chamber which extracts sufficient heat from the gas flow to produce a condensate. An injection system superheats the condensate and injects it into the solid fuel combustion chamber to thereby reduce residue accumulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Inventor: Robert J. Boucher
  • Patent number: 4828171
    Abstract: A housing for a multi-function appliance designed to house, at a minimum, a natural or bottled gas-fired water heating device, an air heating device, an air cooling device, a fan section, and control components, adaptable to provide flexibility in dealing with various venting problems, arranged to facilitate servicing access from the front thereof, and constructed of a relatively small number of different panels, struts, and other parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: EGN Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Akin, Jr., Thomas J. Baker
  • Patent number: 4821682
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Inventor: Larry G. Waters
  • Patent number: 4819587
    Abstract: A multiple purpose instantaneous gas water heater comprises a combination of a larger combustion capacity type first burner with a smaller combustion capacity type second burner. Each of the burners can be controlled by a proportional combustion control method and/or an intermittent combustion control method. It is possible to combine these functions within a microcomputer system so as to use each or both burners selectively, or both together, so that it is possible to select water from a wide range of hot water temperatures or to select a target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Tsutsui, Hideki Kawaguchi, Keiji Hayashi, Masahiro Kayano, Shingo Tanaka, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Hisashi Nakamura, Atsuo Makita
  • Patent number: 4798240
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1989
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Joseph Gerstmann, George M. Celorier, Jr., Wayne S. Hill
  • Patent number: 4792091
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for utilizing heated water from an air conditioning condenser to heat water used to control temperatures in a large building including a heat exchanger connected to an air conditioner condenser for receiving water heated by the air conditioner condenser and transmitting said water from said heat exchanger to a cooling tower, the heat exchanger also having connected thereto a liquid circuit means for circulating hot water to heating coils located in the building, the heat exchanger effecting a heat exchanger between the hot water received from the condenser and the water to be utilized for heating the building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Inventor: George Martinez, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4768495
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating a liquid by circulating combustion products comprises a housing having a liquid-containing reservoir compartment and a burner compartment thereabove containing a fuel burner for burning a mixture of air and combustible gases, liquids or particulate solids. An electric motor mounted above the burner has a shaft extending downward into the liquid in the reservoir with an impeller on the lower end submerged in the liquid. Rotation of the impeller produces suction in the liquid drawing hot combustion gases into the liquid and disperses the same as hot gas bubbles which heat the liquid efficiently. A portion of the liquid is conducted from the reservoir and discharged close to the burner to cool the burning mixture. The heated liquid may be reycled through a hot water supply piping system for industrial usage. A coil submerged in the reservoir allows a second liquid to be heated thereby for use in a hot water supply system for residential or industrial usage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Packless Metal Hose, Inc.
    Inventor: Lothar R. Zifferer
  • Patent number: 4759497
    Abstract: A system is provided for heating and storing a liquid within a tank. Disposed within the tank is a heating unit which effects stratification of the tank into upper and lower liquid storage sections whereby the liquid in the upper storage section is at a first predetermined temperature which is higher than the temperature of the liquid within the lower storage section. A first control element is operatively connected to the heating unit and controls the operation thereof so as to maintain the liquid in the upper storage section at the first predetermined temperature. The upper and lower storage sections are interconnected by a passage assembly. The passage assembly includes a pump for effecting controlled circulation of the liquid from the upper storage section to the lower storage section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Assignee: Artesian Building Systems
    Inventor: Robert E. Cook
  • Patent number: 4748968
    Abstract: A gas-fired device for generating heat for a dwelling, comprising a vessel containing a liquid with an associated burner assembly for heating the liquid, an air-heat exchanger provided on a portion of the circumferential wall of the vessel, means for passing air through the heat exchanger for heating the air and a connection with means for passing the heated air to the room(s) to be heated, and a discharge for the combustion gases extending to the outside. On the remaining portion of the circumferential wall of said vessel a combustion gases-heat exchanger being mounted, so that heat is supplied to the vessel exclusively from the outside. Preferably a cooking assembly is provided above the vessel, and a condenser is mounted in the discharge channel for the combustion gases for pre-heating the air, a discharge conduit for the combustion gases from the cooking assembly being provided which leads also to said condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Assignee: Veg-Gas Instituut N.V.
    Inventor: Willem J. Vrij
  • Patent number: 4738394
    Abstract: Domestic tankless water heating is incorporated into a space heating system. The space heating system includes a fluid flow loop with a fluid pump for circulating the fluid in the loop and a remote fan coil for transferring heat to the air in the space to be heated. The heat source is an infrared burner and the heating of the domestic water may be either directly by the burner through radiative and convective heat exchange in an open loop system or by heat exchange in a tube-in-tube heat exchanger which is in series with the fan coil in a closed loop system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Chester D. Ripka, Jay L. Boot, Ian M. Shapiro
  • Patent number: 4709854
    Abstract: System for regulating temperature of hot water in a wall-hung instantaneous mixed gas heating unit, in which the value of the temperature detected by a sensor inserted on the output of the secondary circuit of the hot water exchanger is compared with a set value, and their difference or error value is sent to the input of an amplifier of proportional-integrational-derivative type (P.I.D.), whose output is connected to one input of a selector of minimum value or power, to the other input of which is sent the difference or error value between the temperature of the heating system water and the corresponding maximum tolerable set temperature. The output of the selector then commands the gas modulating valves through a power amplifier, as well as the gas on/off operating valve through comparison with a signal proportional to the minimum thermal power that can be supplied by the heating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Nuovopignone-Industrie Meccaniche e Fonderia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giuliano Biagini, Roberto Bartolozzi
  • Patent number: 4700886
    Abstract: The control utilizes sensed gas pressure downstream of the thermostat controlled valve as an indication of heat demand. A low limit transducer is placed at 50 to 90 percent of the tank height to maintain adequate heated water for casual uses without excessive burner cycling. A flow transducer is integrated with a heat trap. The control uses output of the flow transducer (combined with the timing out of an interval timer) to enable an excursion from the low limit set point to the thermostat high limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Leslie C. Hill
    Inventors: James B. McGhee, Joseph W. Egan, Leslie C. Hill
  • Patent number: 4699091
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Inventor: Larry G. Waters
  • Patent number: 4690102
    Abstract: A water heater and distiller apparatus is provided in which condensing steam is the distilling portion of the apparatus giving up its latent heat to water which is being heated in the water heating portion of the apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, products of combustion which are used to boil water in the distiller boiler, are later passed in heat exchange relation with the water heating tank in the water heating portion of apparatus. It is believed that the present apparatus is both energy efficient and uncomplicated as compared to the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Inventor: Glen Sundquist
  • Patent number: 4682581
    Abstract: A domestic hot water system in which the remote end forms a loop connected to the hot water tank and in which a pump circulates hot water at a rate sufficient to prevent cooling of the water in the piping below a predetermined temperature, so that hot water can flow immediately out of all outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Inventors: Karsten Laing, Doerte Laing, Birger Laing
  • Patent number: 4681257
    Abstract: A hot-water-furnace supplemental heater (60) replaces a manifold (48) used with a normal hot-water-furnace (10) having multiple furnace heating tubes (22). The supplemental water heater has a housing with a false bottom (66) and a supplemental tube (67) extending between a false bottom opening and a top-wall opening of the housing. A sidewall (62) of the housing and the false bottom form a manifold cavity (72) which collects combustion materials exiting from top ends (52) of the furnace heating tubes and directs them into the supplemental heating tube for heating water in a supplemental water heater cavity (68) defined by the sidewall, the false bottom, a top wall (64) and the supplemental heating tube. In a system, the supplemental water heater is placed in series with a furnace water heater to preheat water passing into the furnace water heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Inventor: Reginald R. Turner
  • Patent number: 4671459
    Abstract: Regulating device for a central heating plant containing a hot water supply, comprising a boiler for heating a heating medium, a pipe for feeding the heating medium to space heating elements, a distribution device which is accommodated in the feed pipe and has a connection to a flow-through heat exchanger which is also connected to a return pipe from the space heating elements to the boiler. A pipe for tap water being provided in the flow-through heat exchanger and said flow-through heat exchanger being provided with a thermostat which operates the distribution device in order to change from circulation through the space heating elements to circulation through the flow-through heat exchanger and vice versa. The thermostat being adjustable to permit setting of the minimum temperature in the flow-through heat exchanger at which the distribution device switches over from space heating to circulation through the flow-through heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Fasto B.V.
    Inventor: Jan A. Stapensea
  • Patent number: 4651680
    Abstract: A reduced wreath condensation boiler. A feed duct for fresh oxygen-carrying air taken from the atmosphere and an exhaust duct for exhausting diluted combustion products to the atmosphere downstream from the extractor fan are essentially parallel, but not coaxial, minimizing heat exchange. A first heat exchanger is disposed above the heating body for providing heat exchange between the fresh air from the feed duct and the combustion products from the heating body prior to dilution. Deflectors channel a portion of the air from said first heat exchanger to sweep the free space situated between the heating body and its airtight enclosure, while the remainder of the air from the first heat exchanger is directed towards the burner. At least one calibrated orifice injects the air which has swept over the heating body into the exhaust duct for the combustion products upstream from the extractor fan. This boiler reduces the wreath of water vapor where the flue gases are exhausted to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Service National: Gaz de France
    Inventor: Francois Couprie
  • Patent number: 4638944
    Abstract: A point of use, instantaneous, high-volume water heating system includes a compact accumulator tank fed by one or more instantaneous gas-fired auxiliary water heaters operating asynchronously to provide a supply of hot water on demand heated to a predetermined temperature. The accumulator tank includes a baffle which separates water in the tank into two temperature zones. A thermostat within the accumulator controls a pump which feeds water from a conventional water heater to the auxiliary water heaters, or alternatively recycles tank water to the auxiliary heaters, when the temperature in the accumulator tank drops below a predetermined minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Inventors: Stephen M. Kujawa, Melvin H. Simon
  • Patent number: 4637347
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Inventor: Leonard Troy
  • Patent number: 4633820
    Abstract: A thermal plant comprises a clear blue flame burner and a multi-tank boiler of stainless steel. The burner has a nosepiece welded to the boiler and a rear portion removably fixed to the nosepiece. The rear portion of the burner includes a labyrinth pathway for preheating the combustion air and a thermally insulating conduit for feeding fuel to an atomizer. The boiler has its furnace delimited by two water tanks, i.e. a main peripheral tank and end tank located downstream of the furnace and delimiting with the main tank a gap through which flue gases are conveyed to give off heat to the water in the tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: C.E.M. S.p.A.
    Inventor: Renato Montini
  • Patent number: 4632180
    Abstract: This indirectly heated potable water tank makes available an appliance meeting all the requirements for safe potable water and gives the consumer a device with a high continuous output of hot water, even when demand is high. The improved device contains the following improvements:(1) vented double sided metal sheet heat exchangers which result in a significant increase in the temperature of the water,(2) vented heat exhanger tubes as a further means to heat the water,(3) a corrugated metal heat exhange sheet in the vent space to transfer heat through its surface to the water, and(4) a vented potable water temporary storage reservoir where the heated reservoir walls additionally heat the stored water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Inventor: Robert J. Lauderdale
  • Patent number: 4623093
    Abstract: Compact, easily installable apparatus is disclosed for attachment to a conventional domestic hot water heater tank using only the preexisting threaded drain valve opening normally provided, in order to convert the heater into a simple storage tank and effect water heating externally of the existing heater in an indirect heat exchanger coupled to, for example, an existing boiler forming a part of a space heating system. In this fashion energy savings can be realized inasmuch as boiler water is used for heating the domestic water supplies, as opposed to separate firing of the hot water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: The Marley-Wylain Company
    Inventor: William C. Arndt
  • Patent number: 4592504
    Abstract: A hot-water storage type hot-water supply apparatus operates under a natural circulation principle wherein hot-water is accumulated within a hot-water tank by circulating cold water or hot-water contained therein through a first circulation pipe connected to the bottom thereof, a heat exchanger, and a second circulation pipe. A thermal valve is mounted in the second circulation pipe downstream of the heat exchanger such that its opening area is varied depending upon the hot-water temperature in the second circulation pipe so as to maintain the temperature of the hot-water flowing out of the heat exchanger at a substantially constant temperature, resulting in the temperature distribution of the hot-water within the tank at the time of its boiling being kept substantially constant throughout the storage tank instantaneously at the start of the boiling of the hot-water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1986
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadashi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4587401
    Abstract: A heating appliance operable with a single heat source to heat both circulating water and water for domestic use includes an upright cylindrical reservoir containing water for household use and having an inlet at its lower end and an outlet at its upper end. A closed cylindrical tank of smaller diameter extends vertically concentrically through the reservoir and contains an electric immersion heating element for heating circulating water flowing through the tank from a lower inlet to an upper outlet. An elongated cylindrical tube in the reservoir extends concentrically about the tank in closely spaced relationship thereto and has a closed bottom end secured about a lower portion of the tank and an open upper end spaced from the upper end of the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Inventor: Heinz Ekman
  • Patent number: 4575001
    Abstract: A heat pump system for a building provides space heating or cooling, together with a supply of hot water available in both the heating and cooling seasons or when the building space is neither heated nor cooled. The system is also versatile in that it can be readily accommodated to new construction (forced air systems) or to the retrofitting of existing buildings, the majority of which are fitted with convection type hot water radiators. These results are achieved by a refrigerant circuit that includes three heat exchangers (12, 15, 16), one (12) linked to a heat source (10), one (15) to a forced air system including a blower (17) and the third (16) to a hot water circuit (40-49) that supplies heat to the radiators (47) and to a hot water tank (41). A reversing valve (13) in the refrigerant circuit and a two way valve (42) in the hot water circuit enable selection of one of several operating modes, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: Cantherm Heating Ltd.
    Inventors: Sven G. Oskarsson, Salvatore Santangelo
  • Patent number: 4572111
    Abstract: Heating apparatus, typically for providing domestic central heating and hot water supply, comprises a gas or other fuel burner (13), a flue (16) extending from the burner to an outlet, a first chamber (21) operatively carrying a first body of medium, e.g. water, heated directly from an upstream zone of the flue utilized typically as the boiler of a central heating system, and a second chamber (10) operatively carrying a second body of medium, e.g. water, heated directly from a downstream zone of the flue and preferably also by indirect transfer of heat from the first chamber with which the second chamber may be in surrounding relationship, the latter chamber typically serving as the hot water cylinder for the domestic hot water supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Assignee: Condensing Boilers Limited
    Inventor: John E. Bowen
  • Patent number: 4566628
    Abstract: A method of controlling the ratio between the water flow rates in the primary and secondary circuits of hot water heating systems, particularly of low-temperature hot water heating systems, by mixing flow water with return water passing through an adjustable bypass by means of a multi-way mixing device. To make maximum use of the rangeability of said mixing device and to optimize overall heating system control, the bypass water flow rate is controlled as a function of the mixing device position and the bypass is substantially closed when the way from the primary circuit flow piping to the secondary circuit flow piping is fully opened and/or an appropriate signal is given by the heating system controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: Tekmar Angewandte Elektronik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hans R. Latarius
  • Patent number: 4562956
    Abstract: A domestic hot water zone controlled external coil which takes heated water from the hot water outlet of a hydronic boiler and passes the hot water through a tankless coil before returning it to the hydronic boiler. Return water from the tankless coil is returned to the hydronic boiler by using the existing circulator on an existing operating heating zone, which saves electrical energy. An aquastat and a unique analysis and switching circuit is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Inventor: Robert F. Check
  • Patent number: 4557220
    Abstract: There is described here a gas water heater consisting of a blower (1), a premixing device (2), a gas burner (3), a heat exchanger (4), and a waste gas heat exchanger (5). Gas burner (3) works as super-stoichiometrically premixing burner and has a burner plate (9) which is cooled on the reverse side and which has a plurality of mixture passage openings (10). Heat exchanger (4) extends through two chambers (6, 7) which are located next to each other and through which waste gas flows in opposite directions. Condensation heat exchanger (5) works in the counter-current and consists of star-shaped section pieces through which heating water flows centrally and which are arranged vertically. Waste gas heat exchanger (5) and premixing device (2) run parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Assignee: Ruhrgas Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Theo Jannemann, Horst Brunje
  • Patent number: 4552305
    Abstract: A furnace for burning sawdust wherein combustion of the fuel is complete and recovery of heat of combustion is high, which incorporates an aspirator for controlling combustion of the fuel and for secondarily recovering heat from the products of combustion, and additionally for cleaning the exhaust gases. The invention incorporates primary and secondary heat exchange chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Inventor: Reagan Houston
  • Patent number: 4515307
    Abstract: A hot water control system, for providing unlimited domestic hot water upon demand and for conserving fuel, comprises first temperature control means responsive to temperature in the input conduit to a boiler for controlling the firing of the boiler, and diverting means responsive to changes in demand for diverting hot water from the output conduit of the boiler to the input conduit, in order to continue firing of the boiler when demand is reduced, and to delay firing of the boiler when demand is increased, so that the heat of previously heated water can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Inventor: Andrew Ribaudo, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4512288
    Abstract: A heat recovery system recovers heat from flue gases from a furnace or the like and a hot water cylinder. Flue gases are passed through series of chambers in which coils are located. Water is passed through the coils in a direction opposite to flue gas flow to maximize heat transfer and the heated water is passed to either a heat radiating system or into preheater tank for the hot water supply. The coils for the heat radiation and water heating are in separate circuits and the flue gases from the hot water is passed only over the coil used for water heating. Pumps are used for water recirculation in both the heat radiating circuit and the water heating circuit. The system has application to domestic and industrial furnaces which provide gaseous combustion products with recoverable thermal energy and permits the use of a small diameter exhaust vent without adversely affecting the ignition and combustion system of conventional furnaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Inventor: Roger Michaud
  • Patent number: 4483479
    Abstract: A rationed heat control system with aquastat and circulator remote pushbutton activation for maintaining heat losses at minimum levels during periods of non-use while providing full heat capacity upon request for a predetermined time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Inventor: Louis W. Snell
  • Patent number: 4483310
    Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising a coil assembly mounted in a broiler used in restaurants for example where the temperature of the broiler is about 500.degree. F., such coil assembly being connected to an intermediate holding tank into which cold water is fed from a public water supply through a downwardly extending pipe in the intermediate holding tank having its discharge opening near the bottom of the tank. An outlet port is located slightly above the level of the discharge opening of the downwardly extending pipe, and a conduit is connected between the outlet port of the holding tank and the coil assembly mounted in the broiler, with a pump connected in this conduit to pump cold water from the bottom portion of the intermediate holding tank to the coil assembly mounted in the broiler. A return conduit leads from the coil assembly back to an inlet port of the intermediate holding tank located in the upper part of such tank whereby water which has been heated to about 100.degree. F. from about 40.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Inventor: James Kelly
  • Patent number: 4479605
    Abstract: A system for generating, storing and releasing heat comprises a tank surrounding a reservoir for holding a heat transfer fluid, heat releasing means in fluid communication with the reservoir for controllably releasing heat from the fluid to an object or space to be heated, and means for regulating flow of the fluid between the reservoir and the heat releasing means. A heat conductive fire chamber is disposed within and substantially surrounded by the reservoir, the system also comprising an air supply means for carrying combustion air to the fire chamber, and a heat conductive exhaust means for carrying hot exhaust gases through the reservoir. Access passageways are provided for fuel insertion and ash removal. Boiler tubes supporting the fuel as well as collecting heat from the fire chamber communicate with fluid in the reservoir. Shaker bars interspersed between the boiler tubes supporting the fuel may be actuated to agitate and more completely combust the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: Patrick Shive
    Inventors: Keith Billotte, Patrick Shive