Heating system

Claim 2

Apparatus for supplying user equipment with heating liquid comprising: a. a storage vessel for storing liquid; b. a degasifier in fluid flow communication with the vessel; c. means connected to the vessel for heating liquid therein; d. first means for passing liquid from the vessel to user equipment; e. a gas-liquid separator; f. second means for passing liquid from user equipment to the gas-liquid separator; g. third means for passing liquid from the gas-liquid separator to the first means; h. fourth means for passing liquid and gas from the gas-liquid separator to the degasifier; and i. control means for proportioning the liquid flow in the third and fourth means, including temperature responsive means responsive to the temperature of liquid to be introduced into the user equipment through the first means, said control means maintaining a predetermined liquid temperature for the user equipment by increasing and decreasing the liquid flow through the third means in response to increases and decreases respectively, of the temperature of the liquid being introduced into the user equipment.

Claim 3

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the first means includes a pump for raising the pressure of liquid therein, the third means is connected to the lower pressure portion of said first means and said temperature responsive means is responsive to the temperature of liquid in the higher pressure portion of the first means.

Claim 4

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further comprising an internal storage vessel within the storage vessel, said internal storage vessel being in fluid flow communication with the degasifier; a fifth means connecting said internal storage vessel with said third means, said third means, being connected to said storage vessel, whereby liquid is passed from said gas-liquid separator to said first means through said storage vessel; and said first means including a pump to raise the pressure of liquid therein, the lower pressure portion of the first means being connected to said storage vessel, said temperature responsive means being responsive to the temperature of the combined liquid from the gas-liquid separator and said internal storage tank introduced into said storage vessel through said third means.

Claim 5

In combination with a rubber-molding press using high-temperature water, an apparatus for supplying the mold cavity of the press with high-temperature water comprising: a. a vessel for storing liquid; b. a degasifier in fluid flow communication with the vessel; c. means connected to the vessel for heating liquid therein; d. first means for passing liquid from the vessel to the mold cavity; e. a gas-liquid separator; f. second means for passing liquid from the mold cavity to the gas-liquid separator; g. third means for passing liquid from the separator to the first means; h. fourth means for passing liquid and gas from the gas-liquid separator to the degasifier; i. control means for proportioning the liquid flow in the third and fourth means, including means responsive to the temperature of liquid to be introduced into the mold cavity through the first means, said control means maintaining a predetermined liquid temperature in the first means by increasing and decreasing the liquid flow thrOugh the third means in response to increases and decreases respectively, of the temperature of the liquid being introduced into the mold cavity.

Claim 6

In combination with a rubber-molding press using high-temperature water, an apparatus for supplying the mold cavity of the press with high-temperature water comprising: a. a vessel for storing liquid; b. a degasifier in fluid flow communication with the vessel; c. means connected to the vessel for heating liquid therein; d. first means for passing liquid from the vessel to the mold cavity; e. a gas-liquid separator; f. second means for passing liquid from the mold cavity to the gas-liquid separator; g. third means for passing liquid from the separator to the first means; h. fourth means for passing liquid and gas from the gas-liquid separator to the degasifier; i. control means for proportioning the liquid flow in the third and fourth means, including means responsive to the temperature of liquid to be introduced into the mold cavity through the first means, said control means maintaining a predetermined liquid temperature in the first means by increasing and decreasing the liquid flow thrOugh the third means in response to increases and decreases respectively, of the temperature of the liquid being introduced into the mold cavity.

Claim 7

The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the first means includes a pump for raising the pressure of liquid therein, the third means is connected to the lower pressure portion of said first means and said temperature responsive means is responsive to the temperature of liquid in the higher pressure portion of the first means.

Claim 8

The apparatus as defined in claim 4 and further comprising an internal storage vessel within the storage vessel, said internal storage vessel being in fluid flow communication with the degasifier; a fifth means connecting said internal storage vessel with said third means, said third means being connected to said storage vessel, whereby liquid is passed from said gas-liquid separator to said first means through said storage vessel; and said first means including a pump to raise the pressure of liquid therein, the lower pressure portion of the first means being connected to said storage vessel, said temperature responsive means being responsive to the temperature of the combined liquid from the gas-liquid separator and said internal storage tank introduced into said storage vessel through said third means.

Claim 9

The apparatus as defined in claim 2 and further comprising sixth means for passing liquid from the vessel to the mold cavity for initially filling the cavity.

Claim 10

The apparatus as defined in claim 3 and further comprising: seventh means for returning liquid from the mold cavity to the degasifier.

Claim 11

A process for providing user equipment with a circulating hot liquid wherein the hot liquid is obtained from a liquid accumulation zone comprising: a. passing a hot liquid to the user equipment; b. passing return liquid from the user equipment to a gas-liquid separation zone; c. passing a first portion of the liquid and separated gas from the gas liquid separation zone to the accumulation zone; d. combining hot liquid from the accumulation zone with a second portion of the return liquid from the gas-liquid separation zone, said hot liquid corresponding in amount to the amount of the first portion; e. employing the combined liquor from step (c) in step (a); and f. controlling the relative amounts of the first portion and the second portion to maintain the liquid in step (a) at a predetermined temperature.

Claim 12

A process for providing user equipment with a circulating hot liquid wherein the hot liquid is obtained from a liquid accumulation zone comprising: a. passing a hot liquid to the user equipment; b. passing return liquid from the user equipment to a gas-liquid separation zone; c. passing a first portion of the liquid and separated gas from the gas liquid separation zone to the accumulation zone; d. combining hot liquid from the accumulation zone with a second portion of the return liquid from the gas-liquid separation zone, said hot liquid corresponding in amount to the amount of the first portion; e. employing the combined liquor from step (c) in step (a); and f. controlling the relative amounts of the first portion and the second portion to maintain the liquid in step (a) at a predetermined temperature.

Claim 13

A process for providing the mold cavity of a molding press with hot water to effect a curing cycle wherein the hot water is obtained from a hot water accumulation zone, comprising: a. initially filling the mold cavity of the press with hot water from the accumulation zone; b. pressurizing hot combined water, as hereinafter defined in step (e), and circulating the pressurized hot combined water to the mold cavity to maintain curing temperature conditions; c. returning water from the mold cavity to a gas-liquid separation zone during the curing; d. passing separated gas and a first portion of water from the gas-liquid separation zone to a degasifying zone and then returning the degasified water to the accumulation zone; e. continuously combining water from the accumulation zone with the second portion of the return liquid from the gas-liquid separation zone during the curing to provide combined hot water, said liquid from the accumulation zone corresponding in amount to the amount of the first portion; f. employing the combined hot water from step (e) in step (b); and g. controlling the relative amounts of the first and second portions to maintain the pressurized combined hot water circulated to the mold cavity at a predetermined temperature.

Claim 14

A process for providing the mold cavity of a molding press with hot water to effect a curing cycle wherein the hot water is obtained from a hot water accumulation zone, comprising: a. initially filling the mold cavity of the press with hot water from the accumulation zone; b. pressurizing hot combined water, as hereinafter defined in step (e), and circulating the pressurized hot combined water to the mold cavity to maintain curing temperature conditions; c. returning water from the mold cavity to a gas-liquid separation zone during the curing; d. passing separated gas and a first portion of water from the gas-liquid separation zone to a degasifying zone and then returning the degasified water to the accumulation zone; e. continuously combining water from the accumulation zone with the second portion of the return liquid from the gas-liquid separation zone during the curing to provide combined hot water, said liquid from the accumulation zone corresponding in amount to the amount of the first portion; f. employing the combined hot water from step (e) in step (b); and g. controlling the relative amounts of the first and second portions to maintain the pressurized combined hot water circulated to the mold cavity at a predetermined temperature.

Claim 15

The process as defined in claim 10 wherein the filling of step (a) is effected by the application of steam pressure to hot water in the accumulation zone.

Claim 16

The process as defined in claim 10 wherein the accumulation zone is separated into two zones, the first of said two zoneS having water at a higher temperature than the second of said two zones, the initial filling of the mold cavity being effected with water from the second of said two zones and the water from the accumulation zone which is combined with the second portion of return liquid being obtained from the first of said two zones.

Claim 17

The process as defined in claim 10 wherein steam is introduced into the accumulation zone to maintain the water therein at an elevated temperature.

Claim 18

The process as defined in claim 10 and further comprising draining the mold cavity of water after completion of the curing cycle and returning an initial portion of the drained water directly to said accumulation zone.

Claim 19

The process as defined in claim 10 and further comprising: h. after a predetermined period pressurizing another hot combined water, as hereinafter defined in step (1) and circulating the pressurized another hot combined water to the mold cavity to maintain second curing temperature conditions; i. returning water to the gas-liquid separation zone while supplying another pressurized hot combined water to the mold cavity for a predetermined time to return water accumulated while maintaining the first curing temperature; j. thereafter returning water from the mold cavity to another gas-liquid separation zone; k. passing separated gas and a first portion of water from the another gas-liquid separation zone to a degasifying zone and then returning the degasified water to the accumulation zone; l. continuously combining water from the accumulation zone with a second portion of the return liquid from the another gas-liquid separation zone to provide said another combined water, said liquid from the accumulation zone employed to provide said another combined water corresponding in amount to the amount of the first portion from the another gas-liquid separation zone; m. employing said another combined water from step (1) in step (h); and n. controlling the relative amounts of the first and second portions from the another gas-liquid separation zone to maintain the pressurized another combined hot water circulated to the mold cavity at a second predetermined temperature which maintains the second curing temperature.

Claim 20

A process for providing the mold cavity of a press with hot water to effect a curing cycle wherein the hot water is obtained from a hot water accumulation zone, comprising: a. initially filling the mold cavity of the press with hot water from the accumulation zone; b. pressurizing hot water from the accumulation zone and continuously circulating said hot pressurized water to the mold cavity to maintain first curing temperature conditions and returning water from the cavity for a first portion of the curing cycle; c. pressurizing hot combined water, as hereinafter defined in step (g), and circulating during a second portion of the curing cycle the pressurized hot combined water to the mold cavity to maintain second curing temperature conditions; d. returning water during an initial portion of the second portion of the curing cycle to the accumulation zone to remove water accumulated in the cavity during the first portion of the curing cycle; e. subsequent to said initial portion of the second portion of the curing cycle to the accumulation returning water from the mold cavity to a gas-liquid separation zone; f. passing separated gas and a first portion of water from the gas-liquid separation zone to a degasifying zone and then returning the degasified water to the accumulation zone; g. continuously combining water from the accumulation zone with a second portion of the return liquid from the gas-liquid separation zone to provide combined hot water, said liquid from the accumulation zone corresponding in amount to the amount of the first portion; h. employing the combined hot water from step (g) in step (c); and controlling the relative amounts of the first and second portions to maintain the pressurized hot water circulated to the mold cavity at a predetermined temperature which maintains the second curing temperature conditions.

Claim 21

A process for providing the mold cavity of a press with hot water to effect a curing cycle wherein the hot water is obtained from a hot water accumulation zone, comprising: a. initially filling the mold cavity of the press with hot water from the accumulation zone; b. pressurizing hot water from the accumulation zone and continuously circulating said hot pressurized water to the mold cavity to maintain first curing temperature conditions and returning water from the cavity for a first portion of the curing cycle; c. pressurizing hot combined water, as hereinafter defined in step (g), and circulating during a second portion of the curing cycle the pressurized hot combined water to the mold cavity to maintain second curing temperature conditions; d. returning water during an initial portion of the second portion of the curing cycle to the accumulation zone to remove water accumulated in the cavity during the first portion of the curing cycle; e. subsequent to said initial portion of the second portion of the curing cycle to the accumulation returning water from the mold cavity to a gas-liquid separation zone; f. passing separated gas and a first portion of water from the gas-liquid separation zone to a degasifying zone and then returning the degasified water to the accumulation zone; g. continuously combining water from the accumulation zone with a second portion of the return liquid from the gas-liquid separation zone to provide combined hot water, said liquid from the accumulation zone corresponding in amount to the amount of the first portion; h. employing the combined hot water from step (g) in step (c); and controlling the relative amounts of the first and second portions to maintain the pressurized hot water circulated to the mold cavity at a predetermined temperature which maintains the second curing temperature conditions.