US4078602A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat exchanger for recovering waste heat
Assignee: OLLA ENTERPRISES Inc
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Filing: 1976-12-17
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Granted: 1978-03-14
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Expires: 1996-12-17
Abstract
Abstract A heat exchanger for receiving heat from hot exhaust gases flowing through the flue of a furnace or boiler. The exhaust gases are directed through a heat box which contains a plurality of tubes. A blower blows room air through the tubes whenever hot gases are flowing through the flue and the heat in these gases flows about the tubes to warm the air flowing through the tubes and the warm air is directed to a room to be heated. The exterior of the tubes are exposed to the exhaust gases and these become dirty and must be cleaned. To facilitate this operation the present invention provides for constructing the tubes into an assembly which is removable as a unit from the heat box and is secured to the box by snap moldings which snap over the open edges of the heat box and the tube assembly to not only secure the tube assembly to the heat box but to seal the heat box to prevent the escape of any gases.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Richer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:22
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D21/00; F28D21/0001; F28D21/0003; F28D21/0005; F28D21/0008; F28G; F28G13/00; F28F; F28F2280/00; F28F2280/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
In a heat exchanger for extracting heat from the exhaust gases of a heating device before such exhaust gases flow out of a chimney; a heat box connected so that the exhaust gases from the heating device flow through said heat box before they are exhausted through the chimney; a tube assembly formed of a plurality of tubes supported together to form a unitary assembly that may be slid into and out of said heat box, said tubes being sealed from the interior of the heat box so that the exhaust gases in the heat box cannot enter said tubes, a fan driven by an electric motor and dispersed to force air through said tubes so that the air flowing through said tubes will be heated by the heat in the exhaust gases flowing through said heat box to provide warm air for heating purposes; and sealing means in engagement with said tube assembly and said heat box for securely sealing said heat box to prevent the escape of exhaust gases therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
In a heat exchanger for extracting heat from the exhaust gases of a heating device before such exhaust gases flow out of a chimney; a heat box connected so that the exhaust gases from the heating device flow through said heat box before they are exhausted through the chimney; a tube assembly formed of a plurality of tubes supported together to form a unitary assembly that may be slid into and out of said heat box, said tubes being sealed from the interior of the heat box so that the exhaust gases in the heat box cannot enter said tubes, a fan driven by an electric motor and dispersed to force air through said tubes so that the air flowing through said tubes will be heated by the heat in the exhaust gases flowing through said heat box to provide warm air for heating purposes; and sealing means in engagement with said tube assembly and said heat box for securely sealing said heat box to prevent the escape of exhaust gases therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
111 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said tube assembly includes a pair of plates with each plate having a plurality of holes corresponding in number to the number of tubes in said tube assembly, and each of said tubes has its first end in alignment with one of the holes in the first of said plates and is secured to said first plate, and each of said tubes has its opposite end in alignment with a complementary hole in the second of said plates and is secured to said second plate so that the air is free to flow through said tubes, said plates fitting inside said heat box.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 1, including a thermostat in said heat box connected to control the flow of electricity to the motor of said fan to energize said motor when the interior of said heat box is heated to a predetermined temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein said thermostat includes a bimetallic element located in one of said tubes so that the temperature in said tubes will regulate the operation of the fan motor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 2, including a thermostat in said heat box connected to control the flow of electricity to the motor of said fan to energize said motor when the interior of said heat box is heated to a predetermined temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 2, including sealing strips extending laterally from each edge of both of said plates so that said sealing strips will be flush with the walls of said heat box when said tube assembly is in said heat box, and said sealing means engages said sealing strips and the walls of said heat box for sealing the heat box and securing said tube assembly in position in said heat box.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 6 wherein said sealing means comprises snap moldings that slide over said sealing strips and the walls of the heat box to effect the seal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 1, including sealing strips extending from both ends of said tube assembly so that said sealing strips will be flush with the walls of said heat box when said tube assembly is in said heat box, and said sealing means engages said sealing strips and the walls of said heat box for sealing the heat box and securing said tube assembly in position in said heat box.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein said sealing means comprises snap moldings that slide over said sealing strips and the walls of the heat box to effect the seal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 9, including a lock on each of said snap moldings for cooperation with complementary locks on the walls of said heat box for removably locking said snap moldings in position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a heat exchanger for extracting heat from the exhaust gases of a heating device before such exhaust gases flow out of a chimney; a heat box connected so that the exhaust gases from the heating device flow through said heat box before they are exhausted through the chimney; a tube assembly formed of a plurality of tubes supported together to form a unitary assembly that may be slid into and out of said heat box, said tubes being sealed from the interior of the heat box so that the exhaust gases in the heat box cannot enter said tubes; a fan driven by an electric motor and dispersed to force air through said tubes so that the air flowing through said tubes will be heated by the heat in the exhaust gases flowing through said heat box to provide warm air for heating purposes; and a thermostat in said heat box connected to control the flow of electricity to said motor so that said motor is energized when the interior of said heat box is heated to a predetermined temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
181 words
In a heat exchanger for extracting heat from the exhaust gases of a heating device before such exhaust gases flow out of a chimney; a heat box connected so that the exhaust gases from the heating device flow through said heat box before they are exhausted through the chimney; a tube assembly formed of a plurality of tubes supported together to form a unitary assembly that may be slid into and out of said heat box, said tubes being sealed from the interior of the heat box so that the exhaust gases in the heat box cannot enter said tubes; a fan driven by an electric motor and dispersed to force air through said tubes so that the air flowing through said tubes will be heated by the heat in the exhaust gases flowing through said heat box to provide warm air for heating purposes; and a thermostat in said heat box connected to control the flow of electricity to said motor so that said motor is energized when the interior of said heat box is heated to a predetermined temperature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A heat exchanger according to claim 11 wherein said thermostat includes a bimetallic element located in one of said tubes so that the temperature in said tube will regulate the operation of said motor.
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) | 1981-03-13 | 1981-09-12 | 1982-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-03-13 | 1985-09-12 | 1986-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-03-13 | 1989-09-12 | 1990-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |