US4048962A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water tank heated by smoke from a furnace
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1976-05-10
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Granted: 1977-09-20
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Expires: 1996-05-10
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus interposed in a smoke flue between a furnace and a chimney for recovering energy from smoke and heating water therewith. A tank contains a volume of water to be heated. A water inlet and a water outlet supply cold water to the tank and discharge heated water. A plurality of heat exchanging tubes extends through the interior of the tank such that the ends communicate with opposite exterior surfaces of the tank or extend outwardly therefrom. A plurality of sleeves, one for each tube, has an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the tubes such that each sleeve is positioned within one of the tubes in concentric manner and sealed to the ends of the tube to define an annular air space there-between. Expanding and reducing elements provide gaseous communication between the flue and the plurality of sleeves. The sum of the cross-sectional areas of the plurality of sleeves equals or exceeds the cross-sectional area of the smoke flue such that normal convection of smoke within the flue is not restricted. The sleeves have a plurality of small apertures therethrough, thereby permitting limited gaseous communication with the annular air space for greater heat exchanging efficiency. A by-pass flue, first normally-open damper in the smoke flue between the expanding element and the by-pass flue and a second normally-closed damper in the by-pass flue change positions and divert smoke through the by-pass flue when the water in the tank is heated to a predetermined temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanley Pristelski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:35
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D21/00; F28D21/0001; F28D21/0003; F28D21/0005; F28D21/0007; F22; F22B; F22B37/00; F22B37/02; F22B37/025; F22D; F22D1/00; F22D1/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
232 words
Apparatus for recovering energy from a smoke flue of a furnace and for heating water therewith, said apparatus adapted for interposition in said flue between said furnace and a chimney such that said apparatus is in gaseous communication with said flue, said apparatus comprising; a tank with an interior for containing a volume of water; a water inlet for providing water to said tank; a water outlet for removing water from said tank; heat exchanging means comprising a heat exchanging tube extending through the interior of said tank, said tube having a pair of ends and an outer surface, an inside diameter, and sufficient length that said pair of ends communicate with opposite exterior surfaces of the tank or extend outwardly beyond said surfaces; a sleeve with an outside diameter slightly smaller than said inside diameter of the tube such that said sleeve is positionable within said tube and is concentric in relation thereto, said sleeve being sealed to said tube at the ends of said tube in a manner exterior to said tank thereby defining an annular air space between said tube and said sleeve, said sleeve adapted to communicate with said smoke flue between said furnace and said chimney with said heat exchanging means transferring some of the heat in the smoke flue to said water thereby heating said water while avoiding moisture condensation and soot build-up in said sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
232 words
Apparatus for recovering energy from a smoke flue of a furnace and for heating water therewith, said apparatus adapted for interposition in said flue between said furnace and a chimney such that said apparatus is in gaseous communication with said flue, said apparatus comprising; a tank with an interior for containing a volume of water; a water inlet for providing water to said tank; a water outlet for removing water from said tank; heat exchanging means comprising a heat exchanging tube extending through the interior of said tank, said tube having a pair of ends and an outer surface, an inside diameter, and sufficient length that said pair of ends communicate with opposite exterior surfaces of the tank or extend outwardly beyond said surfaces; a sleeve with an outside diameter slightly smaller than said inside diameter of the tube such that said sleeve is positionable within said tube and is concentric in relation thereto, said sleeve being sealed to said tube at the ends of said tube in a manner exterior to said tank thereby defining an annular air space between said tube and said sleeve, said sleeve adapted to communicate with said smoke flue between said furnace and said chimney with said heat exchanging means transferring some of the heat in the smoke flue to said water thereby heating said water while avoiding moisture condensation and soot build-up in said sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein a plurality of small apertures through said sleeve provide limited gaseous communication between an inside of said sleeve and said annular air space between said sleeve and said tube for more efficient heat transfer in said heat exchanging means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
248 words
Apparatus for recovering energy from a smoke flue of a furnace for heating water therewith, said apparatus adapted for interposition in said flue between said furnace and a chimney such that said apparatus is in gaseous communication with said flue, said apparatus comprising; a tank with an interior for containing a volume of water; a water inlet for providing water to said tank; a water outlet for removing water from said tank; heat exchanging means comprising a plurality of heat exchanging tubes extending through the interior of said tank, said tubes each having a pair of ends, an outer surface, an inside diameter and sufficient length that said pair of ends communicate with opposite exterior surfaces of the tank or extend outwardly therefrom; a plurality of sleeves, one for each of said tubes, with an outside diameter slightly smaller than said inside diameter of said tubes such that each of said sleeves is positionable within one of said tubes and is concentric in relation thereto, each of said sleeves being sealed to each of said tubes at the ends of the tubes in a manner exterior to said tank thereby defining an annular air space between each of said tubes and said sleeves; an expanding element for providing gaseous communication between said smoke flue from said furnace at first ends of said plurality of sleeves; and a reducing element for providing gaseous communication between second ends of said plurality of sleeves and said smoke flue to said chimney.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
248 words
Apparatus for recovering energy from a smoke flue of a furnace for heating water therewith, said apparatus adapted for interposition in said flue between said furnace and a chimney such that said apparatus is in gaseous communication with said flue, said apparatus comprising; a tank with an interior for containing a volume of water; a water inlet for providing water to said tank; a water outlet for removing water from said tank; heat exchanging means comprising a plurality of heat exchanging tubes extending through the interior of said tank, said tubes each having a pair of ends, an outer surface, an inside diameter and sufficient length that said pair of ends communicate with opposite exterior surfaces of the tank or extend outwardly therefrom; a plurality of sleeves, one for each of said tubes, with an outside diameter slightly smaller than said inside diameter of said tubes such that each of said sleeves is positionable within one of said tubes and is concentric in relation thereto, each of said sleeves being sealed to each of said tubes at the ends of the tubes in a manner exterior to said tank thereby defining an annular air space between each of said tubes and said sleeves; an expanding element for providing gaseous communication between said smoke flue from said furnace at first ends of said plurality of sleeves; and a reducing element for providing gaseous communication between second ends of said plurality of sleeves and said smoke flue to said chimney.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the sum of the cross-sectional areas of said plurality of sleeves equals or exceeds the cross-sectional area of said smoke flue.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as in claim 4 wherein a plurality of small apertures through said sleeves provide limited gaseous communication between an inside of each of said plurality of sleeves and said annular air space between each of said plurality of sleeves and tubes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as in claim 3 wherein at least one of said expanding element or said reducing element is generally perpendicular to the length of said plurality of said sleeves, and a door in said generally perpendicular element provides access to said sleeves.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus as in claim 3 further comprising a by-pass flue communicating with said smoke flue near said expanding element at one end, and with said reducing element at another end; and control means responsive to the temperature of the water in the tank to divert smoke from said furnace through the by-pass flue when the water in the tank has been heated to a predetermined temperature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
189 words
The apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said control means comprises a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the water in the tank; a first damper located in the smoke flue between said expanding element and said by-pass flue, said first damper movable between open and closed positions, with said first damper in a normally open position thereby permitting gaseous communication through said sleeves in the tank; a second damper located in said by-pass flue, said second damper movable between open and closed positions, with said second damper in a normally closed position thereby blocking gaseous communication through said by-pass flue; linkage means connecting said first damper and said second damper, said linkage means adapted to move said first damper and said second damper between their respective positions; and actuator means for moving said linkage means, said first damper and said second damper in response to said temperature sensor to direct smoke through said heat exchanging means in said tank when the water temperature therein is below a predetermined temperature and to direct said smoke through said by-pass flue when the water temperature is above said predetermined temperature.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-09-19 | 1981-03-21 | 1981-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-19 | 1985-03-21 | 1985-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-19 | 1989-03-21 | 1989-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |