US3603101A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Indirect heater
Assignee: Sivalls Tanks Inc
•
Filing: 1969-06-24
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1989-06-24
Abstract
Abstract The heater includes a vessel containing a heat transfer fluid and a fire tube located adjacent the bottom to heat the heat transfer fluid. The fluid to be heated flows through a coil located in the vessel above the fire tube but submerged in the heat transfer fluid. The coil encircles two void boxes that occupy a substantial portion of the space in the vessel and reduce the volume of heat transfer fluid required to fill the vessel to a level above the boxes and the coil. The void boxes are spaced apart and positioned relative to the fire tube to cause the heat transfer fluid to flow upwardly between the boxes and downwardly past the coil between the boxes and the walls of the vessel due to the heat convection currents produced by the thermosyphonic effect. When the fluid being heated is a gas and the pressure of the gas is to be reduced, a choke is located in the coil adjacent its outlet to reduce the pressure after the gas has been heated. This reduces the condensation of liquids and the possibility of their freezing due to the reduction in temperature resulting from the pressure drop across the choke.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence J Sullivan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:35
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17C; F17C7/00; F17C2201/00; F17C2201/01; F17C2201/0138; F17C2227/00; F17C2227/03; F17C2227/0302; F17C2227/0337
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
283 words
A heater for transferring heat indirectly from a heat source to a fluid flowing through the heater comprising a vessel for containing a volume of heat transfer fluid, means positioned adjacent the bottom of the vessel for heating the heat transfer fluid, two generally vertical space occupying members positioned in the vessel above the heating means for submergence in the heat transfer fluid to reduce the volume of such fluid required to submerge the heating means and the space occupying members, said members being in spaced parallel relationship above the heating means with their outer edges spaced apart sufficiently to cause the heat transfer fluid to flow upwardly between the members when heated by the heating means and to flow downwardly between the members and the side of the vessel back to the vicinity of the heating means, and conduit means positioned in the vessel for submergence in the heat transfer fluid for conducting the fluid to be heated through the vessel to absorb heat from the heat transfer fluid, said conduit means comprising an elongated tube coiled around the two space occupying members between the members and the sides and ends of the vessel to absorb heat from and to cool the heat transfer fluid as it flows downwardly between the members and the sides and ends of the vessel to thereby encourage a downward flow of said fluid between the members and the sides of the vessel and said upward flow of the fluid between the members the bottom of each space occupying member is inclined upwardly toward the other to help direct the heat transfer fluid rising from the vicinity of the heating means into the space between the members
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
283 words
A heater for transferring heat indirectly from a heat source to a fluid flowing through the heater comprising a vessel for containing a volume of heat transfer fluid, means positioned adjacent the bottom of the vessel for heating the heat transfer fluid, two generally vertical space occupying members positioned in the vessel above the heating means for submergence in the heat transfer fluid to reduce the volume of such fluid required to submerge the heating means and the space occupying members, said members being in spaced parallel relationship above the heating means with their outer edges spaced apart sufficiently to cause the heat transfer fluid to flow upwardly between the members when heated by the heating means and to flow downwardly between the members and the side of the vessel back to the vicinity of the heating means, and conduit means positioned in the vessel for submergence in the heat transfer fluid for conducting the fluid to be heated through the vessel to absorb heat from the heat transfer fluid, said conduit means comprising an elongated tube coiled around the two space occupying members between the members and the sides and ends of the vessel to absorb heat from and to cool the heat transfer fluid as it flows downwardly between the members and the sides and ends of the vessel to thereby encourage a downward flow of said fluid between the members and the sides of the vessel and said upward flow of the fluid between the members the bottom of each space occupying member is inclined upwardly toward the other to help direct the heat transfer fluid rising from the vicinity of the heating means into the space between the members
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The indirect heater of claim 1 in which the space-occupying members are generally rectangular in transverse cross section having tops, bottoms, and sides that are generally flat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
352 words
A heater for transferring heat indirectly from a heat source to a fluid flowing through the heater comprising a vessel for containing a volume of heat transfer fluid, means positioned adjacent the bottom of the vessel for heating the heat transfer fluid, two generally vertical space occupying members positioned in the vessel above the heating means for submergence in the heat transfer fluid to reduce the volume of such fluid required to submerge the heating means and the space occupying members, said members being in spaced parallel relationship above the heating means with their outer edges spaced apart sufficiently to cause the heat transfer fluid to flow upwardly between the members when heated by the heating means and to flow downwardly between the members and the side of the vessel back to the vicinity of the heating means, and conduit means positioned in the vessel for submergence in the transfer fluid for conducting the fluid to be heated through the vessel to absorb heat from the heat transfer fluid, said conduit means comprising an elongated tube coiled around the two space occupying members between the members and the sides And ends of the vessel to absorb heat from and to cool the heat transfer fluid as it flows downwardly between the members and the sides and ends of the vessel to thereby encourage a downward flow of said fluid between the members and the sides of the vessel and said upward flow of the fluid between the members, a flow-restricting means in said elongated tube to reduce the pressure of the fluid flowing through the tube, said flow-restricting means being located adjacent the outlet of the tube to cause the reduction of pressure after the fluid has been heated by the heat transfer fluid to reduce the amount of freezing and condensing occurring because of said pressure drop and resulting temperature drop, the portion of the elongated tube between the flow-restricting means and the outlet is positioned to be submerged in the heat transfer fluid in the vessel to heat the fluid downstream of the flow restriction before it leaves the vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
352 words
A heater for transferring heat indirectly from a heat source to a fluid flowing through the heater comprising a vessel for containing a volume of heat transfer fluid, means positioned adjacent the bottom of the vessel for heating the heat transfer fluid, two generally vertical space occupying members positioned in the vessel above the heating means for submergence in the heat transfer fluid to reduce the volume of such fluid required to submerge the heating means and the space occupying members, said members being in spaced parallel relationship above the heating means with their outer edges spaced apart sufficiently to cause the heat transfer fluid to flow upwardly between the members when heated by the heating means and to flow downwardly between the members and the side of the vessel back to the vicinity of the heating means, and conduit means positioned in the vessel for submergence in the transfer fluid for conducting the fluid to be heated through the vessel to absorb heat from the heat transfer fluid, said conduit means comprising an elongated tube coiled around the two space occupying members between the members and the sides And ends of the vessel to absorb heat from and to cool the heat transfer fluid as it flows downwardly between the members and the sides and ends of the vessel to thereby encourage a downward flow of said fluid between the members and the sides of the vessel and said upward flow of the fluid between the members, a flow-restricting means in said elongated tube to reduce the pressure of the fluid flowing through the tube, said flow-restricting means being located adjacent the outlet of the tube to cause the reduction of pressure after the fluid has been heated by the heat transfer fluid to reduce the amount of freezing and condensing occurring because of said pressure drop and resulting temperature drop, the portion of the elongated tube between the flow-restricting means and the outlet is positioned to be submerged in the heat transfer fluid in the vessel to heat the fluid downstream of the flow restriction before it leaves the vessel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |