US3212494A - Stock tank heater - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 19, 1965 M. H. STAPLETON 3,212,494

STOCK TANK HEATER Filed July 9, 1965 a 33 //VVE/V7'O/? MA THEN/i 574 ETO/V F241 2 flizwiw United States Patent 3,212,494 STOCK TANK HEATER Mathew H. Stapleton, J eiferson, Iowa Filed July 9, 1963, Ser. No. 293,744 1 Claim. (Cl. 126-360) This invention relates generally to automatic gas tank heaters and more particulary to heaters of this type used in livestock tanks which are placed in the open.

In the past, and still as to many present day stock tank heaters, due to the subjection of the heaters to severe changes in ambient temperatures, the commercially available automatic gas control unit would malfunction after a relatively short period of use.

One type of control unit, used by applicant, and manufactured under the trademark Unitrol by the Gryason Division of the Robertshaw Controls Company, was forwarded to the division for an anaylsis as to the reason for the malfunctioning. It was determined that a white corrosion formed within the control unit was causing the malfunctioning. The corrosion was due to minute amounts of water vapor in the gas which was condensed on the inside of the control unit by the extreme temperatures, such as 20 degrees Fahrenheit, to which the unit was subjected.

Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the formation of the condensate in and about the main gas valve and the power springs internally of the control unit was causing these elements to freeze at extreme temperatures, thus creating additional malfunctioning of the unit.

After considerable research and development, an improved stock tank heater has been provided by this invention, which overcomes these corrosion and condensation problems. It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide such an improved stock tank heater.

It is another object of this invention to provide a stock tank heater wherein the ambient temperature of the air relative to the automatic control valve unit is stabilized by the heating of the water in the stock tank.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a stock tank heater wherein said ambient temperature is also stabilized by the constant heat output of the pilot light for the heater, and further wherein any temperature fluctuation about the control unit would be Well above the ,deW point of either the air on the external surface of the control unit, or the gas operating internally thereof.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of an automatic stock tank heater capable of attaining the above designated objectives which is economical, simple and rugged in construction, and effective in operation.

These objects, and other features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the accompanying description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the stock tank heater of this invention, shown in assembled relation with a stock tank holding a normal quantity of water;

FIG. 2 is an enlarge'd,'fragmentary sectional view of the heater and the tank;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of the cover unit of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the stock tank heater of this invention, hereinafter referred to as the heater is designated generally at in FIG. 1. The heater 10 comprises basically an upright cylindrical control box 11 having a rectangular, box-like housing 12 at the base 3,212,494 Patented Oct. 19, 1965 thereof for a heat chamber 13, and including a circular cover unit 14 for the admission of fresh air to the box 11 and for the exhausting of gas fumes from the heat chamber 13.

The heater 10 is adapted to be placed into a stock tank 16 of a conventional size and shape for this type heater 10, with the top of the box 11 and the cover unit 14 always being above the level 17 of the water 18. As noted from FIG. 2, the water level 17 is maintained at approximately three-fourths the height of the box 11. The upper end of the box 11 and cover unit 14 are at a level above the rolled edge 28 of the tank 16.

The box 11 is secured to a side 19 of the tank 16, with its base 21 (FIG. 2) resting on the bottom 22 of the tank 16, by a fastening unit 23 which includes a circular collar 24 wrapped about the box 11 and a pair of interconnected arms 26 and 27 extended over the rolled edge 28 of the tank side 19. A pair of brackets 29 and 31 are attached to the arms 26 and 27, each for threadably holding a bolt 32 turnably engageable against the outer surface of the side 19. To space and maintain the heater box 11 inwardly from the side 19, an adjustable U-bracket 33 is aflixed to the lower end of the box 11. By this arrangement of clamping the box 11 to the tank side 19, the heat chamber housing 12 extends into the interior of the tank 16 as best shown in FIG. 1.

Refering particularly to FIG. 2, an automatic temperature control assembly is indicated generally at 34 and is mounted within the box 11. This control assembly 34 includes a gas supply pipe 36 connected to an external conduit 37 which leads to a supply of natural or bottled gas (not shown). At the lower end of the supply pipe 36, a commercially available automatic temperature control unit 38 is fluidly connected. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the control unit 38 is supported at approximately mid way of the height, or length, of the heater box 11; and importantly, at this position of the control unit 38 it is always below the normal level 17 of the water 18 in the stock tank 16.

A gas discharge pipe 39 depends from a fluid connection from the control unit 38 and has a conventional burner unit 41 extended horizontally from its lower end. The nozzle 42 of the burner is supported by a shield 40 within the lower end of the box 11. A thermo-couple line 43 also depends from the control unit 38, as does a pilot light conduit 44, both of which elements terminate adjacent the burner nozzle 42 in the conventional arrangement.

Within the heat chamber 13, baffle 46 (FIGS. 2 and 4) is secured to the sides of the housing 12 and extends upwardly at an incline toward the front of heat chamber 13. It will be noted in FIG. 2 that the entire heat chamber housing 12 is also slightly inclined upwardly. The purpose for this, as also the purpose of the baffle 46, is to trap and direct condensate to a pocket at the rear of both the baffle 46 and the base 47 of the housing 12. A condensation burner plate 45, having a very narrow width as noted in FIG. 4, and having an L-shape with a rearwardly extended portion 50, is secured to the underside of the baffle 46 and depends therefrom to where the portion 50 is closely adjacent the housing base 47 and suspended thereabove. The burner plate 45 is placed directly in front of the burner to receive the full heat of the flame emitting therefrom when operating.

To transmit the exhaust gases from the heat chamber 13, an exhaust stack 48 is formed internally the box and fluidly connects the interior of the heat chamber with the atmosphere at the top of the box 11. A stack extension 48a (FIG. 2) extends upwardly and inwardly from the stack 48 into the cover unit 14. To complete the exhausting of the gas fumes, the cover unit 14 is provided. This unit 14 includes a polygonal shaped base 52 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which has a pair of diametrically opposed, depending lips 53 and 54. The lips are each adapted to rest upon and to be supported by, respectively, a pin 56 extended outwardly from the box 11, and the joint 57 between the supply conduit 37 and the supply pipe 36, whereby the main part of the base 52 is spaced above the top 58 of the box 11. Secured to the underside of the base 52 is a polygonal intake bafile member 60 of a width which permits the upper end of the box 11 to fit between it, the baflle member 60, and the lips of the base 52. Thus, as indicated by the downwardly directed arrows in FIG. 2, air from outside the tank enters the hollow box 11 through the vertical space between the base 52 and the top 58 of the box, and between the latter and the spaced portions of the baflle member 60.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the base 52 is provided centrally with an upturned rim 59 defining an opening of a considerably smaller diameter than the diameter of the box 11. Supported by a plurality of legs 62 on the flat portion 63 of the base 52 is a circular collar 64, the bottom edge 66 of which, except for the legs 62, is spaced above the flat portion 63. Extended upwardly from the collar 64 are a plurality of braces 67 which support a circular concave-convex cover 68 the peripheral edge 69 of which extends laterally beyond the periphery of the collar 64.

The heater is completed by a sensing tube 71 which is integral part of the control unit 38. The line 72 for the tube 71 extends upwardly within the box 11, thence outwardly thereof to be placed within the water 18. As a practical matter, the tube 71 is inserted through a bracket 73 (FIG. 1) secured to the exterior of the box 11, and held thereby against unnecessary movement.

Operation of the heater 10 is as follows. With the control unit 38 set to maintain the water 18 in the tank at a certain temperature, operation of the control unit 38 results in [a flame emitting from the burner nozzle 42, utilizing fresh air from the top of the box 11 as shown by the downwardly directed arrows in FIG. 2. The flame impinges upon the burner plate 45 which attains extremely high temperatures. The plate 45, not being in contact with the walls 49, 50, and 51 of the heat chamber housing 12, imparts this heat to the baflfle 46 which in turn heats the housing 12 and thus the water externally thereof.

The exhaust gases move upwardly through the stack 48, and out through the extension 48a and the cover unit 14. To aid the evacuation of the exhaust gases, air passes between the collar bottom edge 66 and the base 52, and then upwardly and outwardly beneath the cover 68. This movement of air creates a slight vacuum suflicient to aid in pulling the air outwardly from the stack 48.

The placement of the control unit 38 below the normal water level 17, and relatively close, about half the height or length of the box 11, to the constantly burning pilot light (not shown) adjacent the burner nozzle 42, maintains the temperature at the control unit 38 sufliciently above the dew point of the air external of the control unit 38 to prevent condensation of water internally thereof, and prevents freezing of any water condensation which may accidentally form therein. The placement of the control unit 38 also maintains the temperature of the gas well above its dew point.

Tests have shown that by maintaining the control unit 38 at this location below the normal level of the water line, and above the pilot light as indicated above, the ambient temperature at the control unit 38 has been stabilized at approximately fifteen to twenty degrees Fahrenheit above the dew points of the air surrounding the control unit 38 and the gas internally thereof.

In summation, a stock tank heater has been disclosed and described herein which is an improvement over other present day heaters of this type and for this purpose, particularly as to stabilizing the ambienttemperature about the control unit even under most inclement weather conditions.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my stock tank heater without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claim, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

A stock tank heater for use in a stock tank containing water at a normal level, said stock tank heater comprising in combination:

hollow means including an elongated box closed at the bottom end and open at the top end, said box placed in said tank on the floor thereof with the top end spaced above the upper edge of the tank, the normal level of the water in the tank being approximately at a height three quarters the height of the box;

bracket means securing said housing means adjacent to a side wall of said tank and holding said tank in spaced relation of said side Wall; housing means secured to said hollow means at said bottom end beneath the normal water level, and being open to the interior of said hollow means at the bottom end, said housing means including a baflle extended transversely across said housing means and slanted toward said box, and including further a plate depending from said baflle toward said box and being suspended above the fioor of said housing means, said plate having a width less than the width of said housing means, and including a lip at the lower end thereof extended angularly relative to the main plane of said plate, and extended also toward said interior of said hollow means; exhaust means mounted within said box and comprising an elongated stack member secured to one wall of said box and extending from said housing means to the top end of said box, said stack member fluidly connecting said housing means interior to the atmosphere; automatic gas means mounted in said hollow means with a control unit below the normal water level, said control means fluidly connected to a source of gas, said control means including a burner unit operable to heat the air inside said housing means; and

cover means mounted on said hollow means, and

spaced above and covering said top end.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,295 3/57 Johnson 126-360 1,307,706 6/19 Schaetfer 126-367 X 1,525,175 2/25 Filer et a1. 126-367 2,698,616 1/55 Kudobe 126-360 2,805,616 9/57 Roth 98-67 2,984,237 5/61 Gunion 126-360 3,062,201 11/62 Kudobe 126-360 JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner, ROBERT A, QLEARY, Examiner.

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