Patent US4401100A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4401100A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water heating system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1981-05-04
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Granted: 1983-08-30
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Expires: 2001-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A water heating system comprises a lower energy storage tank connected with a source of energy and an upper tank mounted on top of the lower. The upper tank may be a conventional water heater or a water storage tank connected at an outlet therefrom with an instantaneous type water heater, and the tanks are interconnected through a valve. The valve operates to direct incoming cold water through a heat exchanger in the lower tank for being preheated prior to introduction into the upper tank and accommodates a thermal syphon effect between the tanks when fresh water is not being supplied, whereby heat energy is automatically transferred from the lower to the upper tank. The lower tank may advantageously and economically comprise a conventional drum, for example a 55 gallon drum, and all system components are mounted in a cover assembly for the lower tank, so that the upper tank need not be specially fabricated, with the cover assembly also serving to support the upper tank.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold E. Slater
- 👤 Thomas R. Alspaugh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 04:06
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24D; F24D17/00; F24D17/0015; F24D17/0021; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/20; Y02B10/70; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2496; Y10T137/2559; Y10T137/2564; Y10T137/2567; Y10T137/2569
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
276 words
Apparatus for heating water, comprising a first tank having an inlet, an outlet and a drain; a second tank for containing a supply of heat transfer fluid, said second tank being disposed below said first tank; means for connecting the heat transfer fluid in said second tank with a source of energy to heat the fluid; a heat exchanger disposed in said second tank, said heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet and said outlet being connected to said first tank inlet; and valve means having a first inlet for connection with a supply of fresh water, a second inlet connected with said first tank drain and an outlet connected with said heat exchanger inlet, said valve means being responsive to withdrawal of water from said first tank outlet to interrupt a path between its second inlet and its outlet and to establish a path between its first inlet and its outlet for a flow of water from the supply thereof through said valve means and heat exchanger to said first tank inlet, said heat exchanger heating the water prior to its introduction into said first tank, and said valve means being responsive, in the absence of withdrawal of water from said first tank outlet and to a sufficient temperature of the heat transfer fluid in said second tank, to interrupt a path between its first inlet and its outlet and to establish a path between its second inlet and its outlet for recirculation of water by thermal syphon effect from said first tank drain through said valve means and heat exchanger to said first tank inlet to heat the water in said first tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
276 words
Apparatus for heating water, comprising a first tank having an inlet, an outlet and a drain; a second tank for containing a supply of heat transfer fluid, said second tank being disposed below said first tank; means for connecting the heat transfer fluid in said second tank with a source of energy to heat the fluid; a heat exchanger disposed in said second tank, said heat exchanger having an inlet and an outlet and said outlet being connected to said first tank inlet; and valve means having a first inlet for connection with a supply of fresh water, a second inlet connected with said first tank drain and an outlet connected with said heat exchanger inlet, said valve means being responsive to withdrawal of water from said first tank outlet to interrupt a path between its second inlet and its outlet and to establish a path between its first inlet and its outlet for a flow of water from the supply thereof through said valve means and heat exchanger to said first tank inlet, said heat exchanger heating the water prior to its introduction into said first tank, and said valve means being responsive, in the absence of withdrawal of water from said first tank outlet and to a sufficient temperature of the heat transfer fluid in said second tank, to interrupt a path between its first inlet and its outlet and to establish a path between its second inlet and its outlet for recirculation of water by thermal syphon effect from said first tank drain through said valve means and heat exchanger to said first tank inlet to heat the water in said first tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said first tank is a water heater tank having means for maintaining water therein at at least a selected temperature, said means for connecting the heat transfer fluid in said second tank with a source of energy comprises means for connecting the fluid with a solar energy collector, and said second tank comprises a solar energy storage tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said water heater tank is mounted on top of said energy storage tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said water heater tank drain is toward the bottom thereof, whereby in the absence of withdrawal of water from said water heater tank, water recirculates by thermal syphon effect between said tanks whenever the temperature of water toward the bottom of said water heater tank is less than the temperature of the heat transfer fluid in said energy storage tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said valve means comprises a housing having a chamber therein, said valve means first and second inlets and outlet communicating with said chamber and said inlets having respective first and second valve seats toward said chamber, and a ball valve in said chamber, said ball valve, upon withdrawal of water from said water heater tank outlet, being moved by a flow of water through said first inlet away from said first valve seat and against said second valve seat to interrupt a path between said second inlet and said outlet and to establish a path between said first inlet and said outlet and, in the absence of withdrawal of water and upon a sufficient temperature of the solar fluid, being moved by a flow of water into said second inlet, by thermal syphon effect, away from said second valve seat and against said first valve seat to interrupt a path between said first inlet and said outlet and to establish a path between said second inlet and said outlet, thereby providing a thermal barrier between said apparatus and the water supply and preventing loss of water from said apparatus in the event of failure of the water supply.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said valve means housing is T-shaped and has a first horizontal leg defining said first inlet and first valve seat, a second horizontal leg defining said second inlet and said second valve seat and a vertical leg, intermediate said horizontal legs, defining said outlet, and including means for precluding entry of said ball valve into said vertical leg.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 or 6, wherein said ball valve is lighter than water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 or 6, wherein said ball valve is neutrally buoyant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
236 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said valve means comprises a T-shaped body having a first leg defining said first inlet and a first valve seat at an inner end thereof, a second leg, opposite from said first leg, defining said second inlet and a second valve seat at an inner end thereof and a third leg, intermediate said first and second legs, defining said valve means outlet, and a valve member slidable in said body between said first and second valve seats, said valve member being heavier than water and said body being mounted to position said first leg lower than said second leg so that said valve member is gravity urged toward said first valve seat, whereby upon withdrawal of water from said water heater tank outlet said valve member is moved by a flow of water through said first inlet away from said first valve seat and against said second valve seat to establish a path between said first inlet and said valve means outlet and to interrupt a path between said second inlet and said outlet, and in the absence of withdrawal of water from said water heater tank outlet said valve member is moved by gravity away from said second valve seat and against said first valve seat to interrupt a path between said first inlet and said outlet and to establish a path between said second inlet and said outlet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
220 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said valve means comprises a T-shaped body having a first leg defining said first inlet and a first valve seat at an inner end thereof, a second leg, opposite from said first leg, defining said second inlet and a second valve seat at an inner end thereof and a third leg, intermediate said first and second legs, defining said valve means outlet, a valve member slidable in said body between said first and second valve seats, and means for normally urging said valve member against said first valve seat, whereby upon withdrawal of water from said water heater tank outlet said valve member is moved by a flow of water through said first inlet against said urging means and away from said first valve seat to against said second valve seat to establish a path between said first inlet and said valve means outlet and to interrupt a path between said second inlet and said outlet, and in the absence of withdrawal of water from said water heater tank outlet said valve member is moved by said urging means away from said second valve seat and against said first valve seat to interrupt a path between said first inlet and said outlet and to establish a path between said second inlet and said outlet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
218 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said valve means comprises a T-shaped body having a first leg defining said first inlet and a first valve seat at an inner end thereof, a second leg defining said second inlet and a second valve seat at an inner end thereof and a third leg, intermediate said first and second legs, defining said valve means outlet, a valve plate pivotally mounted in said body for movement between said first and second valve seats, and means for normally urging said valve plate against said first valve seat, whereby upon withdrawal of water from said water heater tank outlet said valve plate is pivoted by a flow of water through said first inlet against said urging means and away from said first valve seat to against said second valve seat to establish a path between said first inlet and said valve means outlet and to interrupt a path between said second inlet and said outlet, and in the absence of withdrawal of water from said water heater tank outlet said valve plate is pivoted by said urging means away from said second valve seat and against said first valve seat to interrupt a path between said first inlet and said outlet and to establish a path between said second inlet and said outlet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said means for urging comprises a spring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said valve body is mounted so that said second valve seat is elevated with respect to said first valve seat and said valve plate is heavier than water, whereby gravity normally urges said valve plate toward and against said first valve seat.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said energy storage tank comprises a drum and a removable cover for said drum, said heat exchanger and said valve means being mounted on said cover for removal therewith.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as in claim 14, including connectors on said cover for removal therewith and for connecting said valve means first inlet with the water supply, said valve means second inlet with said water heater tank drain and said heat exchanger outlet with said water heater tank inlet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said cover includes a lid for said drum, and including connectors supported by said lid for connecting said heat exchanger inlet with said valve means outlet and said heat exchanger outlet with said water heater tank inlet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
178 words
Apparatus as in claim 16, wherein each said connector comprises a union for coupling together a line to said heat exchanger and a line to said water heater inlet or to said valve means outlet, and a generally cup-shaped resilient material seal, said union being received in said seal and said seal having an upper, annular and radially extending flange, an annular recess beneath said flange and a lower longitudinally extending flange around and sealed with said line to said heat exchanger, said seal extending through a circular opening in said lid with said radial flange extending over said lid outwardly of said opening and the edge of said lid around said opening being received in said recess, whereby said seals of said connectors mount said heat exchanger on said lid and, upon any leakage of heat transfer fluid between said seals and said lid, said radial flange of said seals block the fluid from entering to interior of said seals and about said unions, so that there cannot be any intermixing of heat transfer fluid and water.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 or 2, wherein said heat exchanger is a helically wound tube, said heat exchanger being tapered such that the convolutions thereof progressively increase in size from bottom to top, whereby heat transfer fluid cooled upon contact with the upper convolutions does not descend directly onto the lower convolutions and the efficiency of said heat exchanger is increased.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus as in claim 14, wherein said drum has a bung hole toward a lower end thereof for connection with a solar fluid return line to the solar energy collector and said cover has a pipe for connection with a solar fluid supply line from the solar energy collector, said pipe extending below the level of the heat transfer fluid in said drum when said cover is on said drum, and wherein said water heater tank is mounted on top of said cover.
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) | 1986-08-29 | 1987-02-28 | 1987-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-29 | 1991-02-28 | 1991-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-29 | 1995-02-28 | 1995-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |