US2768008A - Interlocked and welded tank outlet - Google Patents

Description

Oct- 23, 1956 R. s. RHEEM INTERLocKED AND WELDED TANK `OUTLET Filed Feb. 29, 1952 R/cHA/Pn s. RHEEM,

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United States Patent INTERLOCKED AND WELDED TANK OUTLET Richard S. Rheem, San Francisco, Calif., assigner to Rheem Manufacturing Company, Richmond, Calif., a corporation of California Application February 29, 1952, Serial No. 274,210 1 claim. (Cl. 28s- 179) This invention relates to the fabrication of innerlined tanks, more particularly water tanks used in domestic water heaters.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved nipple structure for an innerlined tank, wherein there is communication between the interior of the tank and the nipple without any danger of contact of the outer jacket bythe fluid contained in the tank.

When a tank is installed in place by or on behalf of the consumer, there is often considerable twisting applied to the tank nipples as the communication pipes are screwed thereinto. The average plumber generally relies on the bond between the nipple and the tank to prevent the nipple from twisting, and he therefore seldom counters the twisting by a pipe wrench applied directly to the nipple. The result is that the bond between the nipple and the tank is often subjected to such severe torque that the nipple breaks loose from the tank and must be repaired before the installation can be completed. It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved nipple structure in which twisting of the nipple within the tank opening is positively precluded, and which does not rely on the bond between the nipple and the tank to resist the tightening torque when connecting pipes are screwed onto the nipple.

In accordance with these objects and with other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a longitudinal cross-section of a tank constructed in accordance with the instant invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section taken near the top of the tank showing the character of the internal construction.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken at the side of the tank, showing further details of construction.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section showing one of the connecting nipples at the top of the tank shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary under side view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, 11 and 12 designate substantially identical halves of a relatively ductile liner preferably made of copper. These two liner sections are each like a bathtub in shape; that is, each has a semi-cylindrical central portion terminated at each end with quarter spherical portions. Each half section 11 and 12 is identica-l in construction, and completely around the edges of each section is provided an inwardly turned flange 13, denoting the flange on the section 11, and 14 denoting the flange on the section 12.

Closely and completely surrounding the inner liner composed of the sections 11 and 12, and of substantially the same shape, is an outer jacket 16 formed of a cylindrical central portion 17 closed at each end by a pair of hemispherical caps 18 and 19. Each cap is swaged or otherwise outwardly otset as shown at 19' and 34 to provide a lip which ts closely over the contiguous rim of the cylindrical portion 17.

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The principal function of the copper liner is to provide corrosion resistance to the contents of the tank, for example, water; and the principal function of the jacket 16, which is preferably made of steel, is to provide mechanical strength and support.

In the upper portion of the tank are provided registering openings in the liner and in the jacket, which accommodate a nipple 21 giving access to the interior of the tank. A similar nipple 22 is provided on the other side of the tank, one nipple being used for inlet purposes and the other for outlet purposes. As best seen in Figs. 1 and 4, the nipples are substantially vertical, whereas the tank wall at the place of opening therein is not horizontal. Therefore, since the nipples are preferably cylindrical in cross-section, the registering openings in the liner and jacket are somewhat elliptical in form as shown in Fig. 5. In this manner the nipple 21, even though circular, completely fills the opening 23 in the tank. This nipple construction does not require reliance on the weldment 24 to prevent it from twisting within the opening 23, but such twisting is naturally prevented by the inherent geometry of the bond. This is because any twisting of the nipple brings it into engagement with the wall around the non-circular opening, and such engagement resists further twisting.

Other nipples 26 and 27 are also provided in the tank, nipple 26 being in the cylindrical body portion and adapted to receive a thermostat element, and nipple 27 being at the bottom and adapted to receive a drain cock.

A small opening 29 is formed in the steel jacket for the purpose of testing with air pressure for any leaks in the jacket and this opening is welded closed after the tests. An opening 31 is made in the bottom hemisphere for eventual reception of the drain nipple 27. The upper hemisphere 18 is also formed with two openings 32 and 33 adapted to receive eventually the two nipples 21 and 22, respectively. The openings at 31, 32, and 33 are elliptical in shape as shown generally in Fig. 5, so that when projected onto a horizontal plane they are circular for reasons which will appear hereinafter.

Each of these openings in the tank is provided with a nipple, in a manner which will now be described, by way of example, in connection with the opening 23 corresponding to the opening 32 in the steel jacket, and with particular reference to Figs. 4 and 5. By means of a suitable swage or flanging tool, the copper rim extending inwardly from the periphery of the opening 32 in the steel jacket is forced through the opening 32 in the hemisphere 18 and is then anged outwardly around the outside of the jacket, as shown at 36 in Fig. 4.

As seen in Fig. 4, the lower end of the nipple 21 is cut on a bias corresponding to the angle of slope of the tank wall at the opening 23. A cylindrical flange portion 37 is formed around the bias rim of the nipple 21, the outside diameter of this flange conforming closely to the diameter of the opening 23 after the edge of the liner 11 has been pressed therethrough and flanged around as shown at 36. Thus, when the nipple 21 is disposed vertically, as shown in Fig. 4, its anged portion 37 extends into the opening 23 and completely fills the opening because of the corresponding elliptical geometry between the rim 37 and the opening 23.

After the nipple 21 is in the position shown in Fig. 4, it is welded completely around its periphery by a weldment 24. It is preferred to use a welding material having a good wetting ingredient such as silver, so that the weld material flows into the crevice between the ange 37 and the copper liner 11, and also into the crevice between the copper liner 11 and the edge of the opening 32 in the hemispherical head 18. Weld material also bonds between the nipple 21 and the steel head 18. Thus, there is formed a good bond of the nipple to the liner, of the liner to the head, and of the nipple to the head. In this way the steel jacket 16 is completely protected from Contact by the contents of the tank, since the nipple 21 is bonded directly to the copper liner and there is no possibility of Contact between jacket and tank contents.

The nipples 22 and 27 are secured in place by a similar process. The nipple 26 is also secured in place by a similar operation, except that the opening may be circular instead of elliptical, the slight cylindrical curvature of the tank at this point being insuicient to require alteration of the circular section of the opening.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claim so as to embrace any and all equivalent Vdinal axis of the opening being directed toward the axis of the tank, a cy1indrica1 nipple of circular cross-section and having a tank adjacent end, the nipple being secured at its tank adjacent end to said one end wall circumjacent said opening and extending outwardly from said outside surface, the axis of the nipple being substantially parallel to the axis of the tank, a cylindrical ange of elliptical cross-section extending from the tank adjacent end of the nipple, said ange extending into the opening and being of a size such that the outside surface of the ange mates with the side walls dening the said opening.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 351,66() Shepard Oct. 26, 1886 1,059,598 Daniels et al. Apr. 22, 1913 1,873,275 Boosey Aug. 23,r 1932 1,875,640 Moore Sept. 6, 1932 2,018,683 Meyer Oct. 29, 1935 2,041,450 Adams May 19, 1936 2,100,895 Austin Nov. 30, 1937 2,239,509 Uecker Apr. 22, 1941 2,266,610 Martin Dec. 16, 1941 2,374,763 Martin May 1, 1945 2,453,331 Martin Nov. 9, 1948 2,568,111 Bond Sept. 18, i951 2,614,867 Artis Oct. 21, 1952

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