US3968346A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for electrically heating a fluid
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-06-01
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Granted: 1976-07-06
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Expires: 1993-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A compact and fast acting tankless heater has an elongated tubular casing having water inlet and outlet conduits at opposite ends. A elongated generally helically twisted inner tube is disposed coaxially within the casing to define helical channel means between the tube and casing for conducting water longitudinally from the casing inlet to the casing outlet. The inner tube has a water inlet at one end communicating with the water inlet of the casing and the other end of the tube is closed. An elongated electric heating means is disposed within the inner tube for heating the water therein. The inner tube has a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings for conducting hot water and steam from the inner tube into the helical channel means to combine with the water flowing through the helical channel means from the casing inlet to the casing outlet. An additional electric heater sleeve can be provided to surround the exterior of the casing.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph D. Cooksley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:00
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24H; F24H1/00; F24H1/10; F24H1/101; F24H1/102; F24H1/22; F24H1/225
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
304 words
A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of generally coaxial elongated tubes including a first inner tube providing a first inner tube longitudinally extending fluid passageway within the first tube and a second tube surrounding the first tube and defining therewith a second outer longitudinally extending fluid passageway around the first inner tube, first means for conducting fluid to one longitudinal end of each of the fluid passageways for providing flow of the fluid along each fluid passageway in a respective one longitudinal direction therein from its one longitudinal end towards its other longitudinal end respectively, outlet conduit means for conducting fluid from each of the fluid passageways comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings in the first inner tube for conducting fluid from one of the fluid passageways to the other fluid passageway and second means for conducting, from said other longitudinal end of said other fluid passageway, the fluid conducted to said other fluid passageway by said first means and the fluid conducted through said longitudinally spaced openings to said other fluid passageway from said one fluid passageway, third means closing said other longitudinal end of said one fluid passageway, and heater means within said one fluid passageway for heating the fluid in said one fluid passageway whereby the fluid conducted along said one fluid passageway is first heated by the heater means and is then conducted through the longitudinally spaced openings in the first inner tube to combine with the fluid conducted along said other passageway, said first inner tube having at least one generally helical corrugation extending longitudinally therealong and forming a generally helical ridge and groove providing inner and outer generally helical channel portions in the first inner and second outer fluid passageways, and the longitudinally spaced openings being spaced along at least one of the generally helical channel portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
304 words
A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of generally coaxial elongated tubes including a first inner tube providing a first inner tube longitudinally extending fluid passageway within the first tube and a second tube surrounding the first tube and defining therewith a second outer longitudinally extending fluid passageway around the first inner tube, first means for conducting fluid to one longitudinal end of each of the fluid passageways for providing flow of the fluid along each fluid passageway in a respective one longitudinal direction therein from its one longitudinal end towards its other longitudinal end respectively, outlet conduit means for conducting fluid from each of the fluid passageways comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings in the first inner tube for conducting fluid from one of the fluid passageways to the other fluid passageway and second means for conducting, from said other longitudinal end of said other fluid passageway, the fluid conducted to said other fluid passageway by said first means and the fluid conducted through said longitudinally spaced openings to said other fluid passageway from said one fluid passageway, third means closing said other longitudinal end of said one fluid passageway, and heater means within said one fluid passageway for heating the fluid in said one fluid passageway whereby the fluid conducted along said one fluid passageway is first heated by the heater means and is then conducted through the longitudinally spaced openings in the first inner tube to combine with the fluid conducted along said other passageway, said first inner tube having at least one generally helical corrugation extending longitudinally therealong and forming a generally helical ridge and groove providing inner and outer generally helical channel portions in the first inner and second outer fluid passageways, and the longitudinally spaced openings being spaced along at least one of the generally helical channel portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
276 words
A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of generally coaxial elongated tubes including a first inner tube providing a first inner longitudinally extending fluid passageway within the first tube and a second tube surrounding the first tube and defining therewith a second outer longitudinally extending fluid passageway around the first tube, first means for conducting fluid to one longitudinal end of each of the fluid passageways for providing flow of the fluid along each fluid passageway in a respective one longitudinal direction therein from its one longitudinal end toward its other longitudinal end respectively, outlet conduit means for conducting fluid from each of the fluid passageways comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings in the first inner tube for conducting fluid through said openings from the first inner to the second outer fluid passageway and second means for conducting, from the other longitudinal end of said second outer fluid passageway, the fluid conducted to said second outer fluid passageway by the first means and the fluid conducted through said longitudinally spaced openings to said second outer fluid passageway from said first inner fluid passageway, third means closing said other longitudinal end of said first inner fluid passageway, and heater means within said first inner fluid passageway for heating the fluid in said first inner fluid pasageway whereby the fluid conducted along said first inner fluid passageway is first heated by the heater means and is then conducted through the longitudinally spaced openings in the first inner tube combine with the fluid conducted along said second outer fluid passageway, the first inner tube having generally helical groove means forming a generally helical channel portion in the outer passageway.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
276 words
A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of generally coaxial elongated tubes including a first inner tube providing a first inner longitudinally extending fluid passageway within the first tube and a second tube surrounding the first tube and defining therewith a second outer longitudinally extending fluid passageway around the first tube, first means for conducting fluid to one longitudinal end of each of the fluid passageways for providing flow of the fluid along each fluid passageway in a respective one longitudinal direction therein from its one longitudinal end toward its other longitudinal end respectively, outlet conduit means for conducting fluid from each of the fluid passageways comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings in the first inner tube for conducting fluid through said openings from the first inner to the second outer fluid passageway and second means for conducting, from the other longitudinal end of said second outer fluid passageway, the fluid conducted to said second outer fluid passageway by the first means and the fluid conducted through said longitudinally spaced openings to said second outer fluid passageway from said first inner fluid passageway, third means closing said other longitudinal end of said first inner fluid passageway, and heater means within said first inner fluid passageway for heating the fluid in said first inner fluid pasageway whereby the fluid conducted along said first inner fluid passageway is first heated by the heater means and is then conducted through the longitudinally spaced openings in the first inner tube combine with the fluid conducted along said second outer fluid passageway, the first inner tube having generally helical groove means forming a generally helical channel portion in the outer passageway.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 2 wherein the outer and inner tubes are so disposed relative to each other as to require the fluid to be conducted through the helical channel portion, and wherein the longitudinally spaced openings are spaced along said generally helical groove means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
211 words
A water heater comprising an elongated generally tubular casing having water inlet and outlet conduits at opposite longitudinal ends thereof for conducting water in one longitudinal direction through the casing, an elongated inner tube disposed generally coaxially within said casing, the inner tube having generally helical ridge and groove means extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof to define a helical channel portion between the tube and cylindrical casing for conducting water in said one longitudinal direction through the casing from the water inlet conduit to the water outlet conduit, said inner tube having water inlet conduit means at one end thereof communicating with the water inlet conduit of the casing for conducting the water entering the casing through its said inlet conduit into the inner tube at its said one longitudinal end thereof for being longitudinally conducted within the inner tube toward the other longitudinal end thereof, means closing said other longitudinal end of said inner tube, and elongated heater means disposed within said inner tube for heating water in the inner tube, said inner tube having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings for conducting hot water and steam from the inner tube into the helical channel portion to combine with the water conducted through the helical channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
211 words
A water heater comprising an elongated generally tubular casing having water inlet and outlet conduits at opposite longitudinal ends thereof for conducting water in one longitudinal direction through the casing, an elongated inner tube disposed generally coaxially within said casing, the inner tube having generally helical ridge and groove means extending along a substantial portion of the length thereof to define a helical channel portion between the tube and cylindrical casing for conducting water in said one longitudinal direction through the casing from the water inlet conduit to the water outlet conduit, said inner tube having water inlet conduit means at one end thereof communicating with the water inlet conduit of the casing for conducting the water entering the casing through its said inlet conduit into the inner tube at its said one longitudinal end thereof for being longitudinally conducted within the inner tube toward the other longitudinal end thereof, means closing said other longitudinal end of said inner tube, and elongated heater means disposed within said inner tube for heating water in the inner tube, said inner tube having a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings for conducting hot water and steam from the inner tube into the helical channel portion to combine with the water conducted through the helical channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A water heater according to claim 4 wherein the helical ridge and groove means comprises a plurality of parallel generally helical ridges and grooves extending along the inner tube for a substantial portion of the length thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A water heater according to claim 4 wherein the elongated heater means comprises a plurality of elongated electrically heated rods disposed in generally parallel laterally spaced relationship within said inner tube.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A water heater according to claim 4 further comprising an elongated electrically heated sleeve surrounding said casing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
246 words
A fluid heat exchanger comprising a plurality of generally coaxial elongated tubes including a first elongated inner tube providing a first inner longitudinally extending fluid passageway and a second elongated outer tube surrounding the first tube and defining therewith a second outer longitudinally extending fluid passageway along the first inner tube, the first inner tube having generally helical groove means defining generally helical fluid channel means extending around the first inner tube and forming a portion of the outer fluid passageway, first means for conducting fluid to one longitudinal end of each of the fluid passageways for conducting fluid along each fluid passageway in a respective one longitudinal direction therein from its respective one longitudinal end toward its other longitudinal end, outlet conduit means for conducting fluid from each of the fluid passageways including a plurality of openings in the inner tube along the helical channel means for conducting fluid from the inner fluid passageway to the helical channel means of the outer fluid passageway and second means for conducting fluid from said other longitudinal end of said outer fluid passageway, third means for closing said other longitudinal end of said inner fluid passageway, and elongated heater means mounted within the inner tube for heating the fluid conducted along said inner passageway whereby the water conducted along the inner passageway is heated by the heater means and then conducted through the openings in the inner tube to combine with the fluid conducted along the channel means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
246 words
A fluid heat exchanger comprising a plurality of generally coaxial elongated tubes including a first elongated inner tube providing a first inner longitudinally extending fluid passageway and a second elongated outer tube surrounding the first tube and defining therewith a second outer longitudinally extending fluid passageway along the first inner tube, the first inner tube having generally helical groove means defining generally helical fluid channel means extending around the first inner tube and forming a portion of the outer fluid passageway, first means for conducting fluid to one longitudinal end of each of the fluid passageways for conducting fluid along each fluid passageway in a respective one longitudinal direction therein from its respective one longitudinal end toward its other longitudinal end, outlet conduit means for conducting fluid from each of the fluid passageways including a plurality of openings in the inner tube along the helical channel means for conducting fluid from the inner fluid passageway to the helical channel means of the outer fluid passageway and second means for conducting fluid from said other longitudinal end of said outer fluid passageway, third means for closing said other longitudinal end of said inner fluid passageway, and elongated heater means mounted within the inner tube for heating the fluid conducted along said inner passageway whereby the water conducted along the inner passageway is heated by the heater means and then conducted through the openings in the inner tube to combine with the fluid conducted along the channel means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of electrically heating water comprising the steps of providing a first inner elongated conduit having helical groove means defining generally helical fluid channel means extending around the first inner conduit and a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings in the first inner conduit along the helical channel means, the first inner elongated conduit defining a first inner elongated fluid passageway, providing a second outer elongated conduit surrounding the first conduit and defining therewith a second outer elongated fluid passageway which includes the generally helical fluid channel means, conducting water into one longitudinal end of, longitudinally through and then out the other longitudinal end of one of the elongated fluid passageways, conducting different water into one longitudinal end of the other fluid passageway for being conducted along the other fluid passageway toward its other end, electrically heating the water in said other fluid passageway and thereby convert at least some of the water therein into steam and conducting said steam and heated water through the longitudinally spaced openings in the inner conduit to combine with and for the steam to be condensed by and thereby heat the water being conducted through said one passageway.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of electrically heating water comprising the steps of providing a first inner elongated conduit having helical groove means defining generally helical fluid channel means extending around the first inner conduit and a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings in the first inner conduit along the helical channel means, the first inner elongated conduit defining a first inner elongated fluid passageway, providing a second outer elongated conduit surrounding the first conduit and defining therewith a second outer elongated fluid passageway which includes the generally helical fluid channel means, conducting water into one longitudinal end of, longitudinally through and then out the other longitudinal end of one of the elongated fluid passageways, conducting different water into one longitudinal end of the other fluid passageway for being conducted along the other fluid passageway toward its other end, electrically heating the water in said other fluid passageway and thereby convert at least some of the water therein into steam and conducting said steam and heated water through the longitudinally spaced openings in the inner conduit to combine with and for the steam to be condensed by and thereby heat the water being conducted through said one passageway.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of electrically heating water comprising the steps of providing first and second elongated generally parallel fluid passageways with a separator therebetween with longitudinally spaced openings therein providing fluid communication between the first and second elongated generally parallel fluid passageways, conducting water into one longitudinal end of, longitudinally through and then out the other longitudinal end of one of the elongated fluid passageways and conducting different water into one longitudinal end of said other fluid passageway for being longitudinally conducted therealong toward the other longitudinal end of said other fluid passageway, electrically heating the water in said other fluid passageway and thereby convert at least some of the water therein into steam and conducting the steam and heated water through the longitudinally spaced openings to combine with and for the steam to be condensed by and thereby heat the water as it is conducted through said one passageway.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of electrically heating water comprising the steps of providing first and second elongated generally parallel fluid passageways with a separator therebetween with longitudinally spaced openings therein providing fluid communication between the first and second elongated generally parallel fluid passageways, conducting water into one longitudinal end of, longitudinally through and then out the other longitudinal end of one of the elongated fluid passageways and conducting different water into one longitudinal end of said other fluid passageway for being longitudinally conducted therealong toward the other longitudinal end of said other fluid passageway, electrically heating the water in said other fluid passageway and thereby convert at least some of the water therein into steam and conducting the steam and heated water through the longitudinally spaced openings to combine with and for the steam to be condensed by and thereby heat the water as it is conducted through said one passageway.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-07-06 | 1980-01-05 | 1980-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-07-06 | 1984-01-05 | 1984-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-07-06 | 1988-01-05 | 1988-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |