US1629658A - Water heater - Google Patents

Description

May 24, 1927.

(l FTDX WATER HEATER Filed Jan. 23, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1,629,658 May 24, 1927. O. FOX

WATER HEATER Filed Jan. 23, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 in the appended claims.-

Patented May "24, 1927.

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waren *Appia-uan nea :anni n, i622. sentiments.

lThis invention relates to improvements in water heaters, and in certain lrespects is an improvement over the construction shown in my prior Patent No. 1,025.389, patented May In my prior patent I have shown a water heater, the heater or boiler proper of which is composed of a number of ca'st sections arranged side by side, and each having upright portions -connected by transverse and slightly inclined ducts or tubes. These ducts or tubes of adjacent elements are staggered, and they have lateral and vertical wings, the lateral wings or extensions of each element overlapping the similar wings of adjacent elements.

The heater shown in my priorv patent is eiective. but by the present invention is improved in certain particulars, resulting in increased efficiency, these improvements residing in the form and arrangement of the lowermost tubes or ducts of the heater.'

One of these improvements consists in bringing the lower portions of the lower series of cross tubes of all the parallel heater elements substantially the same distance from the burners.

Another improvement resides in so forming the lower series of cross tubes that they have less tendency to restrict the upward flow of heat than do the tubes above.

The invention may be further briey summarized as consisting in certain novel details of construction, and combinations and arrangementsy of parts which will be de-y scribed in the specification and set forth In the accompanying sheets of drawings showing the preferred embodiment of my invention, Fig. 1 is a view looking toward the front of myrtimproved heater, with a portion tliereoiirin section, substantially along the irregiilar line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2, is a side viewliwith the outer wall of the heater removed; Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the heater elements removed; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the heater with the cover or top removed, and with the two opposite side Walls in section; and Fig. '5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the tubes in the lower part of the heater.

My improved heater includes a base 10 which may have any suitable construction, andwhicli carries a plurality of burners 11 adapted to be supplied with gas from a pipe 12.. O n this base is su vported a plurality of water circulating e enients 13, in the form vof castings arranged side by side. Aside from the shape and arrangement of the lowermost cross tubes of these castings, the details of the latter are immaterial, though in a general vway they are similar to the water circulating elements of my prior patent, but in this instance each is formed of one casting instead of'two castings, as shown in my patent.

Each casting `or water circulating element 1 3 has along the sides, upright conduit portions 13", 13", and these conduit portions are connected together bycross tubes 14,

forming water ducts, these tubes, as in my inlet header with which all the elements' communicate. Likewise, the upper front portions of the castings have similar bosslike extensions 16 which engage one another and are connected together, forming in effect an outlet header or water outlet, these portions 16 communicating with the upper front part of the water circulating elements. The rear upright vwalls of the heating elements 13 abut for their full length, forming a closed rear wall, but preferably the front upright portions of the elements are slightly spaced apart forcleaning purposes, but the spaces between them are closed by upright closure members 17, held in place by clamps 18". Additionally the sides of the boiler are closed by side walls 18 with flanges 18'L which project inwardly between the lateral wings or extensions of the cross tubes of the two outer elements 13. Additionally the heater is provided With a suitable top or cover 19.

In my prior patent the shape of the lowermost cross tubes are identical with the f staggered, the rlowermost tubes f `alternate bottom tubes of part ofthe elements are considerably less effective for heating purposes than the bottom tubes of the other elements which are closer to the burners.

The one important improvement which I have made consists in bringing the bottom portions of the bottom tubes of all the elements to the same, or substantially,the-same level. In the drawings, the bottom tubes of certain of the elements (two in this instance) are designated 14, and the bottom tubes of the other'alternate elements (three in this instance) are designated 14h. In accordance with my invention, the lower portion of tubes 14a are brought to, or substantially to the same level as the lower portions of the tubes 14". This is accomplished by extending the bottom wings of the tubes 14 considerably lower than in the tubes above them. Also the tubes 14 are lowered somewhat 'rom the tubes immediately above them, whereas the tubes 14h are elevated slightly or brought somewhat closer to the tubes immediately above themas regards the spacing between the remainder of the tubes of each element.

Furthermore, when the tubes are all alike, as shown in my prior patent, I find that the upward flow of the heat is considerably obstructed 4by the lateral wings of the lowermost tubes causing a too intense heating action at this point, and I ind that the eliciency ot the heater is considerably improved by so forming the lowermost tubes of the several elements 13 that they will `have a vless heat obstructing eiTect than the ltubes above, and it will be observed that the lowermost tubes of the different elements 1:5 are narrower than the remaining tubes, that.

is to say, the lateral extensions are shorter.

Likewisethe bottom extensions merge more gradually into the lateral extensions, thus avoiding abrupt changes in shape or curvature, and providing a less battling eii'eet than is' produced by the tubes above the lowermost. On the other hand, the heat can pass upward quite freely between the lowermost tubes.

Thus while tortuous passageways are prorided for the heat from the bottom to the top of the heating elements, nevertheless, there is little restriction or baffling at the bottom, as is desired, whereas there 1s a considerable baiiiing by the overlapping wings of the tubes above the lowermost tubes, as is desired.

By these changes in the shape and relative Aarrangement of the lowermost tubes,

' the efficiency of the heater as a. whole is imall modificationswhichy do not involve a departure from the spirit and scope of my invention. as defined in the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A water heater comprising a series of water circulating elements arranged side by side and each comprising upright water conveyingA portions and transverse ducts extending between the same, burners arranged beneath the elements, the ducts of adjacent elements being staggered, and the bottom portions of the lowermost ducts oi' said elements being at substantially the same level.

2. In a water heater, a plurality of water circulating elements arranged side by side and each comprising upright portions-and transverse ducts connecting the same, all for the circulation of water, the ducts of adjacent elements being staggered, the bottom portions of the lowermost ducts of the diierent elements being more nearly in the same level than the bottom portions of the ducts above the lowermost.

3. Ina water heater, a plurality of water circulating elements arranged side by side and each comprising upright portions and transverse ducts connecting the same, all for the circulation of water, the ducts being arranged in superposed series, with the ducts lof each series staggered, and the ducts having lateral extensions, the lateral width of the ducts of the vlowermost of the su erposed series/being less than the lateral width of the ducts ,above the lowermost series.

4. In a water heater, a series of water heating elements arranged side by side and each composed of upright portions and transverse ducts,lthe ducts being provided with staggered lateral extensions forming tortuous assageways for the heat, the passageways icing the lowermost ducts being less tortuous than between the ducts above the lowermost.

5. In a water heater, a plurality of water circulating elements arranged side by side, burners beneath the same, each element being composed of upright portions and transverse tubes, all of the tubes being provided with lateral extensions, the extensions of the tubes of one element projecting into the space between'extensions of tubes of adjacent elements, whereby tertuous passagcways are formed between adjacent tubes for baiiiing the heat in its upward travel between the tubes, the passageway between the lowermost tubes of adjacent elements being less tortuous: than between the tubes above the lowermost.

6. In a water heater, a plurality of adjacent water circulating elements, burners arranged beneath the same, each element being composed of upright portions and connecting tubes, the tubes of adjacent elements having lateral extensions, the extensions of the tubes of one element projecting into the space between extensions of tubes of adjacent elements thereby forming tortuous passageways for the heat, the opposed -sides of the lowermost tubes of adjacent elements having more of a vertical disposition than theltubes above the lowermost whereby said lowermost tubes have less baiiin'g effect than the tubes above the lowermost.

7. In a water heater, a plurality of heating elements, each provided with upright portions and with transverse connectmg tubes, the tubes of adjacent elements having lateral extensions,` the extensions of the tubes of one of the elements projecting into the spaces between extensions of tubes of adjacent elements, thereby forming tortuous passageways for the heat, the juncture of the l5 bottom and laterally extendin portions of the lowermost tubes of said e ements being -less abrupt than in the tubes above them whereby the baling effect of the lowermost tubes is less than that of the tubes above the 20 lowermost.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto ax my si ature.

gn OTTO FOX.

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