US1609359A - humphrey - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 7 1926.

H. S. HUMPHREY WATER HEATER Vl t wm MDI. Wm 3m J IT YI. e .n Pl e ull Filed Jan. 6, 1925 atroz nais Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

UNITED sr'ras HERBERT S. HUMPHREY, OI? KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.'

WATER HEATER.

application mea January e, 1925. serial N9. 817.

heater for domestic use which is not likely to-become clogged or. its eiiiciency lowered by collections of sediment lwithin the heating element.

Second, to provide an improved water heater of the storage tank type in which the water has free circulation through the heater when water is not being drawn from the tank, this circulation being automatically cut off by the incoming or supply water entering to replace water drawn out of the tank, such water passing through the heating element and constituting a flushingrrmeans' therefor.'

Objects pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation of my invention will definitely appear from thedetailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the. devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawinv forming a part of this application, in^whic Fig. I is a side elevation of a water heater embodying the features of my invention, parts being shown conventionally for con- Avenience in illustration. l A Fig. II is a detail vertical section through the preferred form of circulation valve.

Fig, III is a detail section through a modified form of the circulation valve.

' Fig. IV'is a vertical section throughstill another modification of the circulation valve.

In the drawing similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all of the views.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the water storage tank, the same being provided with a discharge connection 2 at the top controlled by the faucet 3. It will be understood that this discharge connection is in practice the house or delivery connection having as many faucets as desired.

The water heater designated generally by the numeral 4 is provided with a heating element 5 preferably in the ,form of a coil'` a gas .burner 6 beino' shown as the source of heat. In practice the gas burner is preferably controlled by a thermostat but as such .thermostats and connections are well known inthe art', I do notv illustrate the same herein.

The bottom of the heating coil is connected to the bottom of the tank by the connection 7 while the top of the coil is connected to the tank through a circulation connection 8. The water supply connection 9 is also connected to the top of the coil. v

In normal operation when water is not being drawn from the tank, the water will circulate from the bottom of the tank through the connection 7 up through the heating element and through the circulation connection 8. In 'order to direct the incoming or supply water downward through the heating coil, I provide a circulating valve which is controlled by the supply water.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. I and II this valve comprises a casing 10 having coupling members 11, 12 and'13 to which the coil 5, the circulation connection 8 and the water supply connection 9 are respectively connected. The casing has a valve seat 14 with which the ball valve 15 coacts to close the circulation connection. This valve 15 is supported in an outwardly inclined tubular cage 16. having an inlet port 17 opening to the inlet passage 18 of the valve casing. The outward movement of the valve 15 is limited by the stop pin 19 carried bythe cap 19', the valve in this position being supported so that the incoming water enters behind the valve and carries it inwardly against the seat 14 as shown by dotted lines in Fig. III. The

water Hows out of the end of the cage and 'is drawn olf from the tank the supply water enters to replace the same. This supply water actuates the valve to close the circulation connection. As soon as the drawing of the water is discontinued the valve 15 returns to its open position allowing the water to circulate upwardly through the heating element.

By causing the incoming or supply water to flow throu h the coil a substantial current isset up wit in the coil or the water flows through the coil with considerable force carrying sediment from the coil or heating element into the tank where it settles to the bottom and4 may be blown off through the blow-off cock 21. This maintains the etliciency ofthe heater, it being found in practice that sediment or lime is likely to deposit in the heating element of heaters of this general type clogging the same, sometimes llo Y entirely clogging the heating element necessitating its removal for cleaning andrenewal. Under anyconditions the collection of sediment or deposit on the heating element walls lowers the elliciency of the heater.

In the modification shown inFig. III the Valve casing'22 is provided with coupling members for. the connections to the tank and supply water, this valve casing having a circulation valve seat 23 with. which the valve 24 coa'cts. like head 25'exposed to the incoming water in the passage 26. When the valve is vforced inwardly bythe incoming water against the tension of the spring 27 it uncovers the port 28 communicating with the heating element passage 29. A stop pin 30 is provided for the circulation valve.

In the modification shown in Fig. IVthe valve casing 31 is provided with a circulation valve `seat 32v for the valve 33. A

, plunger head 34 is mounted on the stem 35.

The outward movement of this plunger head is limited by the pin 36. .A spring 37 is arranged between the head 34 and the valve 33 so that the incoming water acting upon the head first seats the valve 34 and further n A movement against the tension ofthe spring liei will fully open the port 38 admit-ting the supply water to thev heating element.

I have illustrated the tank and the heater mainly in conventional form as the structural details thereof may be varied and my improvements readily adapted to heaters having heating elements other than of the coil type. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe such embodiments or adap tations as I believe this disclosure will enable the adaptation and embodiment of my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what aim .as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. In a water heater, the combination of a heating coil, a tank provided with a valved discharge connection at thetop, the bottom of said coil being connected to the said This valve 24 has a piston.

2. In a' water, heater, the'combination of'.

a heating coil, a tank provided with a valved discharge connection at the top, the -bottom of said coil being connected to the bottom of said tank, there being a circulation connection for the top of said coil to said tank, a water supply connection to the top of said coil, and a circulation 'valve actuated by the supply water to close said circulation connection whereby theA supply flow isy downward through the coil and the circulation flow may be upward therethrough.I

3. In a water heater, the combination of a heating element, a tank, the top and bottoni of the heating element being connected to said tank providing a circulation through the heating element, a water supply connection to said heating element, and a valve for said circulation connection actuated by the supply water to close said circulation connection whereby the supply flow is directed through the heating element.

4. In a water heater, the combination of a tank vprovided with a valved discharge, a water heating element having a circulation connection with said tank, a water supply connection for said heating element, and a waterl actuated circulation valve operatively associated with said water supply connection whereby the supply water actuates the valve to close/said circulation connection and the supply vwater is directed through the heating element.

In witness whereof I ave hereunto set my hand. 1

HRBERT s. HUMPHREY.

whereby the

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