Steam systems equipped with an exchange reservoir

Claim 2

In a closed fluid heating system having a heater, a heat exchange element arranged to be heated by steam from said heater, a condensate receiver and a circulating pump connected between the condensate receiver and the heater, the improvement comprising: a reservoir for supplying feed liquid to the system; conduit means connecting the reservoir with the condensate receiver; and valve means connected in said conduit means arranged to allow excess liquid to flow from said condensate receiver to said reservoir when the system is heated, and to allow flow from said reservoir to said condensate receiver as the system cools to thereby prevent the creation of a vacuum condition in the system.

Claim 3

The improvement claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid reservoir is an open tank and contains a close-fitting, freely floating lid to substantially exclude air from contacting the upper surface of the liquid in the reservoir.

Claim 4

The improvement claimed in claim 1, wherein the liquid reservoir is a closed, extensible bladder in communication with the conduit means connected with the condensate receiver, so that the liquid in the bladder is completely isolated from the atmosphere.

Claim 5

The improvement claimed in claim 1, wherein the reservoir is located at a level above the level of the condensate receiver and the valve means includes an automatic check valve arranged in the conduit means so that liquid can be returned by gravity from the reservoir to the system to replenish the system.

Claim 6

The improvement claimed in claim 1, including a liquid level responsive device mounted on the condensate receiver and actuated in accordance with changes in the liquid level therein; and wherein the valve means includes a solenoid-operated valve connected in the conduit means between the reservoir and the condensate receiver and controlled by the liquid level responsive device to effect opening of the solenoid valve to allow flow of excess liquid from the condensate receiver to the reservoir when the liquid level in the reservoir exceeds a predetermined level.

Claim 7

The improvement claimed in claim 5, wherein the conduit means includes a pipe connected in bypassing relation to the solenoid valve, and wherein the valve means includes an automatic check valve connected in said bypass pipe for controlling the return of liquid from the reservoir to the system.

Claim 8

The improvement claimed in claim 5, wherein the conduit means includes a pipe connected in bypassing relation to the solenoid valve, and wherein the valve means includes a manually operable valve connected in said bypass pipe for controlling the return of liquid from the reservoir to the system.

Claim 9

The improvement claimed in claim 1, wherein a liquid level responsive contrOl device is mounted on the receiver, and wherein the conduit means includes an excess liquid discharge pipe having a valve connected therein controlled by said liquid level responsive control device to open to allow liquid flow from the receiver to the reservoir, and wherein the conduit means also includes a pipe connected in bypassing relation to said liquid level controlled valve, and wherein an automatic check valve and a manually operable valve are connected in said bypass pipe.

Claim 10

The improvement claimed in claim 1 wherein a liquid supply conduit and a pump are connected with one end of the heat exchange element and a discharge pipe is connected with the other end of the heat exchange element.

Claim 11

The improvement claimed in claim 6, wherein the reservoir is located at a level below the level of the condensate receiver; and wherein a motor-driven pump is connected in the bypass pipe between the reservoir and said check valve for pumping liquid from the reservoir through said check valve and back into the system.

Claim 12

The improvement claimed in claim 10, wherein a low pressure responsive switch is mounted upon the receiver and is connected in an electrical circuit with the motor-driven pump for automatically energizing said pump in response to an abnormally low pressure condition in the receiver.

Claim 13

The improvement claimed in claim 11, wherein a manually operable switch is connected in the circuit to the pump motor in bypassing relation to the low pressure switch.

Claim 14

The improvement claimed in claim 9, wherein a thermostat valve is connected in the delivery pipe and a blending pipe has one end thereof connected with the thermostat valve and its other end connected with the supply pipe at a point between the pump and the one end of the heat exchange element.

Claim 15

The improvement claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger and the condensate receiver are constructed as a single unit, comprising a casing, and wherein the heat exchange element extends through the casing.

Claim 16

In a closed fluid heating system having a heater, a heat exchange element arranged to be heated by steam from said heater, a condensate receiver for condensate from steam condensed by the heat exchange element, and a circulating pump connected between the condensate receiver and the heater, the improvement comprising: a reservoir for supplying to the system feed liquid isolated from the atmosphere; conduit means connecting the reservoir with the condensate receiver, said conduit means comprising a pipe connected with the receiver; a solenoid valve mounted in said pipe; a liquid level responsive device mounted upon the receiver having a switch connected with said solenoid valve to effect opening of said solenoid valve to allow flow of excess liquid from the condensate receiver to the reservoir when the liquid level in the receiver exceeds a predetermined level, said conduit means also including a pipe connected to the receiver in bypassing relation to the solenoid valve; an automatic check valve connected in said bypass pipe for controlling the return of liquid from the reservoir to the receiver in response to a negative pressure being created in said system; a supply pipe for a liquid medium to be heated connected with one end of the heat exchange element; a pump connected with said medium supply pipe for pumping the medium through the heat exchange element; and a discharge pipe for the heated medium connected with the other end of the heat exchange element.

Claim 17

In a closed fluid heating system having a heater, a heat exchange element arranged to be heated by steam from said heater, a condensate receiver for condensate from steam condensed by the heat exchange element, and a circulating pump connected between the condensate receiver and the heater, the improvement comprising: a reservoir for supplying to the system feed liquid isolated from the atmosphere; conduit means connecting the reservoir with the condensate receiver, said conduit means comprising a pipe connected with the receiver; a solenoid valve mounted in said pipe; a liquid level responsive device mounted upon the receiver having a switch connected with said solenoid valve to effect opening of said solenoid valve to allow flow of excess liquid from the condensate receiver to the reservoir when the liquid level in the receiver exceeds a predetermined level, said conduit means also including a pipe connected to the receiver in bypassing relation to the solenoid valve; an automatic check valve connected in said bypass pipe for controlling the return of liquid from the reservoir to the receiver in response to a negative pressure being created in said system; a supply pipe for a liquid medium to be heated connected with one end of the heat exchange element; a pump connected with said medium supply pipe for pumping the medium through the heat exchange element; and a discharge pipe for the heated medium connected with the other end of the heat exchange element.