Abstract An attachment or accessory water heater for mounting on the exhaust gas flue of a gas-fired water heater such as those sold for domestic use. There is usually a considerable space above domestic water heaters as ordinarily installed and the exhaust gas flue of such heaters ordinarily traverses this space. It is proposed by this invention to use much of the heat otherwise dissipated through the exhaust flue to preheat, or superheat, the water. The accessory heater is essentially a heat exchanger conduit of considerable capacity capable of encircling the exhaust flue and having means for connection in series in the piping of the main heater, the conduit having thermal insulation to inhibit loss of heat to the atmosphere.
An accessory water heater for use with a gas fired water heater having an exhaust gas flue and water inlet and outlet piping; said accessory water heater being capable of being operatively mounted on and supported by said gas flue independently of and separate from said gas fired water heater; said accessory water heater comprising an elongated tube structure, wherein the tube diameter is less than that of said gas flue, for connection in series with said piping and having a major portion thereof encircling and in thermal conductive relation with said gas flue, and thermal insulation material encasing said tube structure on said gas flue to inhibit loss of heat to the atmosphere.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
An accessory water heater for use with a gas fired water heater having an exhaust gas flue and water inlet and outlet piping; said accessory water heater being capable of being operatively mounted on and supported by said gas flue independently of and separate from said gas fired water heater; said accessory water heater comprising an elongated tube structure, wherein the tube diameter is less than that of said gas flue, for connection in series with said piping and having a major portion thereof encircling and in thermal conductive relation with said gas flue, and thermal insulation material encasing said tube structure on said gas flue to inhibit loss of heat to the atmosphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Structure according to claim 1 wherein said elongated tube structure is a single tube wound spirally around said exhaust gas flue; and thermal insulation material embedding and encasing said spirally wound tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Structure according to claim 1 wherein said elongated tube structure comprises a plurality of parallel tubes of equal length and headers supporting and communicating with the ends of the tubes, the headers being connected to said piping.