Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
An arrangement for producing heat, comprising two closed vessels each of which contains a quantity of electrolyte in liquid phase and a quantity of electrolyte in vapor phase; at least one heat exchanger in one of Said vessels arranged to have admitted therein a medium to be heated, at least part of said one heat exchanger being located in the electrolyte vapor of said one vessel; electrodes in the other of said vessels and being at least in part located in the liquid electrolyte of said other vessel, said electrodes being adapted to be connected with a source of electrical energy for vaporizing the liquid electrolyte in said other vessel; a first flow connection between said vessels for vaporized electrolyte to flow from said other vessel to said one vessel; a second flow connection between said vessels for liquid electrolyte to flow between said vessels; and valve means interposed in at least said first flow connection for regulating the flow of electrolyte in either phase between said vessels, said valve means having an open position for permitting vaporized electrolyte to flow from said other vessel to said one vessel and a closed position for preventing the flow of vaporized electrolyte from said other vessel to said one vessel, and means for actuating said valve means to said open position so as to permit the vaporized electrolyte to flow into said one vessel and contact said part of said one heat exchanger to thereby heat the medium in said one heat exchanger.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
An arrangement for producing heat, comprising two closed vessels each of which contains a quantity of electrolyte in liquid phase and a quantity of electrolyte in vapor phase; at least one heat exchanger in one of Said vessels arranged to have admitted therein a medium to be heated, at least part of said one heat exchanger being located in the electrolyte vapor of said one vessel; electrodes in the other of said vessels and being at least in part located in the liquid electrolyte of said other vessel, said electrodes being adapted to be connected with a source of electrical energy for vaporizing the liquid electrolyte in said other vessel; a first flow connection between said vessels for vaporized electrolyte to flow from said other vessel to said one vessel; a second flow connection between said vessels for liquid electrolyte to flow between said vessels; and valve means interposed in at least said first flow connection for regulating the flow of electrolyte in either phase between said vessels, said valve means having an open position for permitting vaporized electrolyte to flow from said other vessel to said one vessel and a closed position for preventing the flow of vaporized electrolyte from said other vessel to said one vessel, and means for actuating said valve means to said open position so as to permit the vaporized electrolyte to flow into said one vessel and contact said part of said one heat exchanger to thereby heat the medium in said one heat exchanger.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said vessels are two connected chambers of a container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said vessels are two discrete containers and said flow connections are conduits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, said one heat exchanger defining a flow path for the medium to be heated; and said actuating means comprising a pressostat responsive to the vapor pressure of the electrolyte in said other vessel, said pressostat being coupled with said valve means for opening and closing said valve means in dependence upon said vapor pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrodes have lower edges which are located on a level at least equal with that of an upper edge of said second flow connection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein the vaporized electrolyte from said other vessel condenses in said one vessel upon contacting said part of said one heat exchanger; and further comprising another heat exchanger in said one vessel and defining with said one heat exchanger a flow path for the medium to be heated, said other heat exchanger being located upstream of said one heat exchanger, and said other heat exchanger being arranged so as to be at least partially submerged in the condensed electrolyte to thereby preheat the medium to be heated and cool the condensed electrolyte.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said vessels are two chambers of a single container; and wherein said container is of cylindrical configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 7, wherein said electrodes are arranged upright and concentrically in said container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 7, wherein said chambers are of substantially cup-shaped configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 7, wherein one of said chambers is located interiorly of the other of said chambers, said chambers being substantially concentrically arranged.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 10, wherein said one heat exchanger is of substantially U-shaped configuration and said chambers are of substantially cup-shaped configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
309 words
An arrangement for producing heat, comprising two closed vessels each of which contains a quantity of electrolyte in liquid phase and a quantity of electrolyte in vapor phase; a heat exchanger in one of said vessels defining a flow path for a fluid to be heated, at least part of said heat exchanger being located in the electrolyte vapor of said one vessel; electrodes in the other of said vessels and being at least in part located in the liquid electrolyte of said other vessel, said electrodes being adapted to be connected with a source of electrical energy foR vaporizing the liquid electrolyte in said other vessel; a first flow connection between said vessels for vaporized electrolyte to flow from said other vessel to said one vessel; a second flow connection between said vessels for liquid electrolyte to flow between said vessels; valve means interposed in at least said first flow connection for regulating the flow of electrolyte in either phase between said vessels, said valve means having an open position for permitting vaporized electrolyte to flow from said other vessel to said one vessel and a closed position for preventing the flow of vaporized electrolyte from said other vessel to said one vessel; and thermostat means coupled with said valve means for operating said valve means between said open and closed positions in dependence upon the temperature of the fluid flowing through said heat exchanger, said thermostat means being effective for operating said valve means to said open position when the fluid flowing through said heat exchanger is to be heated and when said electrodes have vaporized a quantity of the liquid electrolyte in said other vessel so as to permit the vaporized electrolyte to flow into said one vessel and contact said part of said heat exchanger to thereby heat the fluid flowing through said heat exchanger.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
309 words
An arrangement for producing heat, comprising two closed vessels each of which contains a quantity of electrolyte in liquid phase and a quantity of electrolyte in vapor phase; a heat exchanger in one of said vessels defining a flow path for a fluid to be heated, at least part of said heat exchanger being located in the electrolyte vapor of said one vessel; electrodes in the other of said vessels and being at least in part located in the liquid electrolyte of said other vessel, said electrodes being adapted to be connected with a source of electrical energy foR vaporizing the liquid electrolyte in said other vessel; a first flow connection between said vessels for vaporized electrolyte to flow from said other vessel to said one vessel; a second flow connection between said vessels for liquid electrolyte to flow between said vessels; valve means interposed in at least said first flow connection for regulating the flow of electrolyte in either phase between said vessels, said valve means having an open position for permitting vaporized electrolyte to flow from said other vessel to said one vessel and a closed position for preventing the flow of vaporized electrolyte from said other vessel to said one vessel; and thermostat means coupled with said valve means for operating said valve means between said open and closed positions in dependence upon the temperature of the fluid flowing through said heat exchanger, said thermostat means being effective for operating said valve means to said open position when the fluid flowing through said heat exchanger is to be heated and when said electrodes have vaporized a quantity of the liquid electrolyte in said other vessel so as to permit the vaporized electrolyte to flow into said one vessel and contact said part of said heat exchanger to thereby heat the fluid flowing through said heat exchanger.