GB2122737A

GB2122737A - Space heating apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2122737A
Application number: GB08302064A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dr V Sharma; K P Rickson
Original assignee: British Gas Corp
Current assignee: British Gas Corp
Priority date: 1982-06-25
Filing date: 1983-01-26
Publication date: 1984-01-18
Also published as: GB8302064D0

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a vessel, for example a domestic hot water cylinder 1, for storing and supplying domestic hot water, a portable housing 2 in which the cylinder 1 is mounted and a fan 3 for drawing air into the housing 2 for heating by the cylinder 1 and for discharging the heated air to the dwelling. A cold water storage tank 7 is also mounted in the housing 2 above the cylinder 1. The fan 3 is mounted in an aperture 18 in the top of the housing 2. Cold air is drawn by the fan 3 into the housing 2 through the aperture 18, is heated by the cylinder 1 and issues as warm air from a bottom duct 15 by way of a grill 16. The housing 2 may be mounted in a cupboard 14 which has a grill 17 for inlet air, the duct 15 extending into an air outlet aperture in the cupboard 14. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Space heating apparatus This invention relates to apparatus for providing space heating in a dwelling, particularly a small dwelling which may conveniently be of the timber-framed type providing very high thermal insulation.

According therefore to the invention, there is provided apparatus for providing space heating in a dwelling, the apparatus comprising a vessel for storing and supplying hot water for domestic purposes, the vessel having an Wet for receiving cold water and an outlet for discharging hot water to the domestic hot water supply system, a portable housing in which the vessel is mounted, the housing having inlet means to receive air from the dwelling for heating by the vessel and outlet means for discharging the heated air from the housing into the dwelling and means associated with the housing for causing the air to be drawn into and discharged from the housing.

Embodiment of the invention will now be particularly described with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of one form of the apparatus, certain parts thereof shown in crosssection, Figure 2 is a view along the lines Il-li of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a front view of another form of the apparatus and Figure 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 3 with the top removed.

Referring to the Figures 1 and 2 the apparatus comprises a vessel, in the form of a conventional domestic hot water cylinder 1, serving as a reservoir for storing hot water for domestic purposes, a portable housing 2 of insulated material in which the cylinder 1 is mounted and a suitable conventional electrically operated fan 3 for drawing air into the housing 2 for heating by the cylinder 1.

The housing 2, which may comprise any suitable heat insulating material, is of cylindrical construction with a circular base 4, annular top 5 and a cylindrical main wall 6.

Apart from the cylinder 1 and the fan 3, there is also mounted within the housing 2 a conventional cold water storage tank 7. The tank 7 is mounted above the cylinder 1 so as to supply cold water by gravity as conventional to the cylinder 1. For this purpose the tank 7 and the cylinder 1 are connected by a pipe 8 serving as an outlet from the tank and an inlet to the cylinder. The tank 7 also has, as conventional, an inlet pipe 9 for receiving water from the mains and located above the pipe 8. The tank 7 and the cylinder 1 are also connected by an expansion pipe 10 as conventional.

The cylinder 1 itself may be provided as conventional with an internal calorifier (not shown) the inlet and outlet pipes 11 and 12 respectively of which are shown in Figure 1.

These in use are connected to a suitable domestic boiler or circulator. Finally, as shown in Figure 2, the cylinder 1 is also provided with the usual hot water outlet pipe 1 3 which is connected to the hot water taps (not shown) at various points.

The pipes 9, 11, 12 and 13 all extend through suitable apertures provided in the cylindrical wall 6 of the housing 2.

The housing 2 itself is located in a suitable alcove in the dwelling such as the cupboard 14 shows in Figure 1. Extending radially outwardly from a point at the base of the housing 2 is an air outlet duct 1 5 through which heated air issues.

The duct 1 5 terminates within a suitable aperture in the cupboard 14, the duct 15 being closed by a grill 16 through which the heated air issues.

Another grill 17 is located in a further aperture in the cupboard wall at a position above both the grill 16 and the housing top 5. The grill 1 7 provides an inlet for air to the cupboard 14.

Mounted in the central aperture 1 8 of the annular housing top 5 by means which is not shown is an electrically driven fan 3 serving to draw air into the housing 2 by way of the grill 17 and the aperture 1 8. This relatively cold air (from the dwelling) is forced by the fan 3 to flow downward through the housing 2 (which is sealed except for the aperture 18 and the duct 15) by way of the gap between the external wall of the cylinder 1 and the internal wall of the housing 2.

As the air flows past the cylinder it is heated by the surface thereof. The thus-heated air is then caused to leave the housing 2 by way of the duct 1 5 and the grill 1 6 and returns to the dwelling to provide space-heating thereof. The hot-water cylinder is therefore utilised both as a reservoir or source for hot water and as a means of providing space heating for the dwelling.

While the fan 3 has been shown as mounted at the top of the housing in the aperture 18 it may just as conveniently and advantageously be mounted in the air outlet duct 1 5.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 the apparatus comprises a domestic hot water cylinder 1 7 serving as a reservoir for storing hot water for domestic purposes, a portable housing 18 of insulated material in which the cylinder 1 7 is mounted and a suitable conventional electrically operated fan (not shown) for drawing air into the housing 18 for heating by the cylinder 17.

The housing 1 8 comprises inner and outer concentric steel cylinders 1 9 and 20 which form therebetween an annular space in which is disposed glass fibre wool 21 or other similar insulating material.

The housing 18 has a circular base 22 and a circular top 23 on which is seated a cabinet 24 in which the fan is mounted. While not shown the cabinet 24 has an aperture in one side wall to permit air to be drawn into the cabinet 24. While also not shown the bottom of the cabinet 24 is open to the housing 18 to permit the inducted air to be supplied to the housing 18.

Unlike the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, the water tank is mounted separately from the housing 18 in Figures 3 and 4 but,above the cylinder 1 7 to permit gravity feeding of cold water to the cylinder 17. The cylinder 1 7 has a cold water inlet pipe (not shown) connected to the tank (not shown) for this purpose.

In addition the cylinder 1 7 has two internal calorifiers (not shown) the inlet and outlet pipes 26, 27 of one and 28, 29 of the other being shown in Figure 3. One calorifier served by pipes 26 and 27 is for summer heating und is disposed near the top of the cylinder 1 7. The other calorifier served by pipes 28 and 29 is for winter heating and is disposed near the bottom of the cylinder 1 7. A valve (not shown) permits selection of one or other of the calorifiers. The cylinders 1 7 is also provided with the usual hot water outlet pipe 30 which is connected to the hot water taps (not shown) and a cold water return pipe 31 is also provided.

The pipes all extend through suitable apertures in the cylindrical wall of the housing 18.

In order to increase the degree of heat transfer from the cylinder 1 7 it is provided with several circumferentially spaced fins 32 which are brazed to the surface of the cylinder 1 7.

The housing 18 is provided with two diametrically opposed air outlet ducts 33 near its base of similar construction to that shown in Figure 1.

While not shown in the drawings, the fan is controlled thermostatically so as to be operable only when space heating is required in the dwelling.

The apparatus need not be mounted in an enciosed or substantially enclosed cupboard, it may be mounted at any convenient site in the dwelling.

Claims

1. Apparatus for providing space heating in a dwelling, the apparatus comprising a vessel for storing and supplying hot water for domestic purposes, the vessel having an inlet for receiving cold water for heating and an outlet for discharging hot water to the domestic hot water I supply system, a portable housing in which the vessel is mounted, the housing having inlet means to receive air from the dwelling for heating by the vessel and outlet means for discharging the heated air from the housing into thedwelling and a fan causing the air to be drawn into and discharged from the housing.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the air inlet means is located above the air outlet means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 in which the air inlet means is located above the vessel.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the air outlet means is located below the vessel.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 in which the fan is located in the housing air inlet means.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which a cold water storage tank is mounted within the housing above the vessel, the tank having an inlet for receiving cold water from the mains and an outlet connected to the vessel inlet.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any of the prededing claims in which the housing is made of a heat insulated material.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the fan is controlled thermostatically so as to be operable only when space heating is required in the dwelling.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the surface of the vessel is provided with means to increase the degree of heat radiating from the surface of the vessel.

10. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9 in which the means comprise fins.

11. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.