Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
328 words
In a direct fired water heater, a thermal compensating dip tube comprising a paiR of tubes secured together in concentric relation with one tube having a greater coefficient of expansion than the other and free to expand and contract longitudinally with respect to the other tube, at least one of said tubes being connected to the top of the heater for receiving the incoming water and the dip tube extending downwardly through the water stored in said heater to dispose the discharge end of the dip tube in the lower portion of the heater for normal discharge of incoming cold water into the lower portion of the heater, the tube having the greater coefficient of expansion acting as a sensing element of the temperature of substantially the total volume of water confined in the heater as well as of the incoming water in the dip tube, apertures provided in longitudinally spaced relation in the upper portion of each tube with the apertures in one tube offset longitudinally with respect to the apertures of the other tube under predetermined low temperature conditions and the corresponding apertures of the respective tubes being placed in registry with each other upon the greater expansion of the tube with the highest coefficient of expansion with respect to the other tube when the tubes are exposed to higher temperature water to adapt the dip tube to discharge incoming cold water into the tank through said apertures into the upper portion of the tank, and an annular longitudinal space provided between the tubes and exposed to the water in the heater to receive the same and thereby control the rate of the heat transfer between the tubes and delay the response of the relative expansion and contraction of the tubes for a predetermined time to the overall temperature difference between the water in the heater and the incoming water flowing in the dip tube so that the apertures will not open and close too rapidly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
328 words
In a direct fired water heater, a thermal compensating dip tube comprising a paiR of tubes secured together in concentric relation with one tube having a greater coefficient of expansion than the other and free to expand and contract longitudinally with respect to the other tube, at least one of said tubes being connected to the top of the heater for receiving the incoming water and the dip tube extending downwardly through the water stored in said heater to dispose the discharge end of the dip tube in the lower portion of the heater for normal discharge of incoming cold water into the lower portion of the heater, the tube having the greater coefficient of expansion acting as a sensing element of the temperature of substantially the total volume of water confined in the heater as well as of the incoming water in the dip tube, apertures provided in longitudinally spaced relation in the upper portion of each tube with the apertures in one tube offset longitudinally with respect to the apertures of the other tube under predetermined low temperature conditions and the corresponding apertures of the respective tubes being placed in registry with each other upon the greater expansion of the tube with the highest coefficient of expansion with respect to the other tube when the tubes are exposed to higher temperature water to adapt the dip tube to discharge incoming cold water into the tank through said apertures into the upper portion of the tank, and an annular longitudinal space provided between the tubes and exposed to the water in the heater to receive the same and thereby control the rate of the heat transfer between the tubes and delay the response of the relative expansion and contraction of the tubes for a predetermined time to the overall temperature difference between the water in the heater and the incoming water flowing in the dip tube so that the apertures will not open and close too rapidly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The structure of claim 1 and longitudinally spaced openings in the outer tube to said annular space to expose the space to the water disposed inside the heater, and the space being of a size to receive water stored in the tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure of claim 1, in which the inner tube is of stainless steel and the outer tube is of polypropylene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
The structure of claim 1, wherein means are provided to secure the tubes together at the lower portions with one tube extending beyond the other tube for discharge of incoming water into the bottom of the heater with which the dip tube is assembled, and the inner tube extends above the outer tube and is disposed to be connected to the upper head of said heater, and the outer tube is disposed to be spaced from the upper head of the heater and free to expand upwardly on the inner concentric tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The structure of claim 1, and a fitting provided as a part of the dip tube adapted to secure the dip tube within a tank for storing water, and means securing one of the concentric tubes to the fitting with the other tube being free of the fitting but secured to the tube connected to the fitting adjacent the bottom portion of the latter tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure of claim 1 wherein the annular space provides a clearance between said tubes of from 0.030 to 0.060 inches.