Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
An integrated heating system capable of supplying service hot water, heated heat transfer fluid for space heating or both comprising: flow loop means; means for circulating a heat transfer fluid through said flow loop means; heating module means through which passes a portion of said flow loop and by which said heat transfer fluid is heated, said heating module means comprising (a) water preheating means above and in series water flow communication upstream of water heating tank means, (b) a burner cavity extending into said water heating tank means and in heat exchange relationship with water in said water heating tank means, (c) a burner disposed within said burner cavity, (d) flue means for conducting gases of combustion from said burner cavity through and in heat exchange relationship with both said water heating tank means and said water preheating means and out of said heating module means, and (e) means for causing a flow of gases of combustion in said flue means; when said integrated heating system is used to supply heated heat transfer fluid, heat transfer fluid-to-air heat exchanger means in said flow loop means for transferring heat from said heat transfer fluid to air in heat exchange relationship with said heat transfer fluid-to-air heat exchanger means; and when said integrated heating system is used to supply service hot water, means for connecting a heating module hot water outlet to a service hot water line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
An integrated heating system capable of supplying service hot water, heated heat transfer fluid for space heating or both comprising: flow loop means; means for circulating a heat transfer fluid through said flow loop means; heating module means through which passes a portion of said flow loop and by which said heat transfer fluid is heated, said heating module means comprising (a) water preheating means above and in series water flow communication upstream of water heating tank means, (b) a burner cavity extending into said water heating tank means and in heat exchange relationship with water in said water heating tank means, (c) a burner disposed within said burner cavity, (d) flue means for conducting gases of combustion from said burner cavity through and in heat exchange relationship with both said water heating tank means and said water preheating means and out of said heating module means, and (e) means for causing a flow of gases of combustion in said flue means; when said integrated heating system is used to supply heated heat transfer fluid, heat transfer fluid-to-air heat exchanger means in said flow loop means for transferring heat from said heat transfer fluid to air in heat exchange relationship with said heat transfer fluid-to-air heat exchanger means; and when said integrated heating system is used to supply service hot water, means for connecting a heating module hot water outlet to a service hot water line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 1 in which the flow of said heat transfer fluid is counter to the flow of said gases of combustion in the portion of said flue means that is located in said water preheating means and parallel to the flow of said gases of combustion in the portion of said product flue means that is located in said water heating tank means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 1 further comprising mixing or tempering means in said connecting means for mixing or unheated water with heated water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 1 in which said water preheating means and said water heating tank means are adjacent but separated by a partition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 4 in which said partition is insulated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 1 in which said flow causing means comprises an induction fan.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 1 in which said flow loop means is an open loop and said heat transfer fluid is water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 7 in which the flow of said heat transfer fluid is counter to the flow of said gases of combustion in the portion of said flue means that is located in said water preheating means and parallel to the flow of said gases of combustion in the portion of said flue means that is located in said water heating means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 7 further comprising mixing or tempering means in said connecting means for mixing unheated water with heated water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 7 in which said water preheating means and said water heating tank means are adjacent but separated by a partition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 10 in which said partition is insulated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 7 in which said flow causing means comprises an induction fan.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
85 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 1 in which said flow loop means is a closed loop and said heating module means further comprises: heat transfer fluid preheating means in heat transfer relationship with water in said water preheating means; and p1 heat transfer fluid heating means in heat transfer relationship with water in said water heating tank means; with said heat transfer fluid preheating means being in series flow relationship upstream in said flow loop means from said heat transfer fluid heating means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 13 in which the flows of said water and said heat transfer fluid are both counter to the flow of said gases of combustion in the portion of said flue means that is located in said water preheating means and parallel to the flow of said gases of combustion in the portion of said flue means that is located in said water heating tank means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 13 further comprising mixing or tempering means in said connecting service hot water supply means for mixing unheated water with heated water.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 13 in which said water preheating means and said water heating tank means are adjacent but separated by a partition.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 13 in which said partition is insulated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 13 in which said flow causing means comprises an induction fan.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
288 words
An integrated heating system capable of supplying service hot water, heated heat transfer fluid for space heating or both comprising: closed flow loop means; means for circulating a heat transfer fluid through said closed flow loop means; heating module means through which passes a portion of said closed flow loop and by which said heat transfer fluid is heated, said heating module means comprising (a) water preheating means in series water flow communication with and upstream of water heating means, (b) a burner cavity extending into said water heating means and in heat exchange relationship with water in said water heating means, (c) a burner disposed within said burner cavity, (d) flue means for conducting gases of combustion from said burner cavity through and in heat exchange relationship with both said water heating means and said water preheating means and out of said heating module means, (e) means for causing a flow of gases of combustion in said flue means, (f) heat transfer fluid preheating means in heat transfer relationship with water in said water preheating means, and (g) heat transfer fluid heating means in heat transfer relationship with water in said water heating means and in series flow relationship upstream in said closed flow loop means from said heat transfer fluid heating means; when said integrated heating system is used to supply heated heat transfer fluid, heat transfer fluid-to-air heat exchanger means in said flow loop means for transferring heat from said heat transfer fluid to air in heat exchanger relationship with said heat transfer fluid-to-air heat exchanger means; and when said integrated heating system is used to supply service hot water, means for connecting a heating module hot water outlet to a service hot water line.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
288 words
An integrated heating system capable of supplying service hot water, heated heat transfer fluid for space heating or both comprising: closed flow loop means; means for circulating a heat transfer fluid through said closed flow loop means; heating module means through which passes a portion of said closed flow loop and by which said heat transfer fluid is heated, said heating module means comprising (a) water preheating means in series water flow communication with and upstream of water heating means, (b) a burner cavity extending into said water heating means and in heat exchange relationship with water in said water heating means, (c) a burner disposed within said burner cavity, (d) flue means for conducting gases of combustion from said burner cavity through and in heat exchange relationship with both said water heating means and said water preheating means and out of said heating module means, (e) means for causing a flow of gases of combustion in said flue means, (f) heat transfer fluid preheating means in heat transfer relationship with water in said water preheating means, and (g) heat transfer fluid heating means in heat transfer relationship with water in said water heating means and in series flow relationship upstream in said closed flow loop means from said heat transfer fluid heating means; when said integrated heating system is used to supply heated heat transfer fluid, heat transfer fluid-to-air heat exchanger means in said flow loop means for transferring heat from said heat transfer fluid to air in heat exchanger relationship with said heat transfer fluid-to-air heat exchanger means; and when said integrated heating system is used to supply service hot water, means for connecting a heating module hot water outlet to a service hot water line.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
72 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 19 in which the flows of said water and said heat transfer fluid are both counter to the flow of said gases of combustion in the portion of said flue means that is located in said water preheating means and parallel to the flow of said gases of combustion in the portion of said flue means that is located in said water heating tank means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 19 further comprising mixing or tempering means in said connecting service hot water supply means for mixing unheated water with heated water.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 19 in which said water preheating means and said water heating tank means are adjacent but separated by a partition.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 19 in which said partition is insulated.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
An integrated heating system as in claim 19 in which said flow causing means comprises an induction fan.