US1385564A - Heater for fluids - Google Patents

Description

u. M. LUEHRS. HEATER FOR FLUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 7; 1920.

Patented July 26, .1921.

PATIENT oFFicE.

.DANIEL M. tonnes, or CLEVELAND, 'onro.

HEATER FOR FLUIDS.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 26, 1921.

Application filed October 7, 1920.. Serial No. 415,362.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 'I, DANIEL M. LUEHRS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in thecounty of Cuyahoga and State. of Ohio, have'invented, certain new and useful Improvements in Heaters for Fluids, of which the following is a specification. i v T This invention relates to a heater for heating, fluids in transit, and it comprises a drum or casing having a spiral channel of considerable depth extending fromits periphery to its center, and heating units, in the form of rods or'tubes, arranged at suitable intervals throughout the length of the channel. These units aresecuredto one or both heads of the drum and extendtransversely of the channel, preferably spaced fromits spiral wall, so that the fluid flowing through. the channel will come in direct contact with all parts of the several heating elements. The spiral channel has several convolutions, and as the fluid to be heated flows from the outer convolution toward the center, it accumulates heat from the heating units in its path. Little or no loss of heat occurs by conduction through the spiral wall of the channel, since the incoming cooler fluid in an outer convolution takes up any heat transferredto the channel wall from the hotter fluid in an inner convolution.

The heating units are preferably electric resistance rods, removably secured in one head of the casing and readily replaceable in case a unit becomes defective. I may, however, employ as heating units thin metal tubes extending through both heads of the drum and adapted to be heated by the passage of hot gases through the tubes.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is an end view of a heating drum embodying my invention, a part of the drum being shown in central section and the spiral channel being indicated in dotted lines; and,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, partly in section, most of the heating units being omitted, for the sake of clearness of illustration. I

Referring to the drawing, A indicates a cylindrical casing or drum having heads 1 and 2, the latter being removable and secured to a flange 3. Within the casing is a spiral wall or partition 4, which'extends, in

width, .from head to head of the drum, and in length, from an inlet opening 5 in the peripheral wall of the drum to an outlet opening 6 at the center of one of the heads. The several convolutions of the spiral wall are substantially parallel with one another, and the spiral channel 7, formed by the wall and the casing, is rectangular in sec tion, hav-ing considerable width, measured between the casing heads, as-compared with its depth, measured between the convolutions of the spiral wall.

'The head 2 is provided with a spirally arranged series of openings, through which heating units in the form of electric resistance rods 8 are extended intothe channel. These rods, as shown in the drawing,

pass through stufling boxes 9 in the head 2 and aresupported by said head. The rods extendtransversely' of the channel and are supported clear of the spiral wall in order that the fluid to be heated may flow past the rods in contact w'ith their entire surfaces. The openings for receiving the rods are spaced at suitable intervals throughout the length of the channel, as shown in the drawing, and as the rods are readily removable, any desired number of rods can be employed, according to the temperature to which it may be desired to raise the fluid. Of course, when a rod is removed, the corresponding opening in the head will be plugged. The temperature also may be controlled by leaving the rods in position and connecting or disconnecting the circuits of the rods; but preferably when a unit is not to be used it will be withdrawn, in. order not to impede the progress of the fluid through the channel.

The heating units may be supported in both heads of the drum, if desired, and also, where electric current is not available, or for certain purposes, instead of employing electric heating units, I may use hollowrods or tubes of thin metal, extending through both heads and adapted to be heated by the passage of hot gases through these tubes.

It will be evident that when the fluid to be heated, such as oil or water, is passed in at the inlet opening 5, it will flow in contact with the successive heating units to the outlet 6, accumulating heat from said units as it flows toward the center of the drum. Any heat conducted through the spiral wall from an inner convolution will be taken up by the cooler fluid in the immediately surrounding convolution. Thus, since the flow of fluid is from the periphery toward the center, practically no loss of heat occurs by conduction through the spiral wall. The body of the drum and its heads may, of course, be suitably insulated to prevent the loss of heat. This being a common expedient, it is not illustrated in the drawing.

What I claim is:

1. A heater for fluids comprising a drum having openings at its periphery and center and having a spiral channel connecting said openings, and heating units spaced apart in said channel.

2. A heater for fluids comprising a drum having openings at its periphery and center and having a spiral channel connecting said openings, and heating units, secured to an end wall of the drum and extending into said channel.

3. A heater for fluids comprising a drum having openings at its periphery and center and having a spiral channel connecting said openings, and heating units, secured to an end wall of the drum and extending into said channel, said units being spaced apart from one another and spaced from the spiral walls of the channel.

4. A heater for fluids comprising a drum having openings at its periphery and center and having a spiral channel connecting said openings, and heating rods extending into said channel through an end wall of the drum, at suitable intervals apart.

5. A heater for fluids comprising a drum having openings at its periphery and center and having a spiral channel connecting said openings, and heating rods extending into said channel through an end Wall of the drum, at suitable intervals apart, said rods being spaced from the spiral walls of the channel.

6. A heater for fluids comprising a drum having openings at its periphery and center and having a spiral channel connecting said openings, and heating units removably secured in an end wall of the drum and projecting into the channel.

7. A heater for fluids comprising a drum having openings at its periphery and center and having a spiral channel connecting said openings, the walls of the channel being substantially parallel, and heating rods extending transversely of the channel and spaced apart from one another.

8. A heater for fluids comprising a drum having openings at its periphery and center and having a spiral channel connecting said openings, the walls of said channel being substantially parallel, and heating rods extending transversely of the channel and spaced apart from one another and from said spiral walls.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DANIEL M. LUEHRS.

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