US606068A - Automatic water-h eater - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. L. MILLER. AUTOMATIC WATER HEATER.

No. 606,068. Patented June 21,1898.

W/TNESSES IN VENTOR Maw 41% (No Model.) 2' Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. L. MILLER. I w

AUTOMATIC WATER HEATER.

N0. 606,068. Patented Jun eZ1,1 898.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR,

valves or faucets through which the hot wa times STATES PATENT rrrcn.

AUTOMATIC WATER-HEATER.

SPECIFICATION; for ing part of Letters Patent no. 606,068, dated June 21, 1898.

' Application filed ober 1} 1897.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM LhlILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pitts! burg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Water-Heaters, of which improve ment the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an improvement in automatic water-heaters; and to this end it consists in a new and improved water-heater, in new and improved means for controlling and regulating the supply of heat, and in certain combinations and features of construction, all as hereinafterfully setforth.

My invention provides a new and improved automatic water-heater for supplying hot water to one or more faucets in which the supply of heat to a water-receptacle in which the water is to be heated is controlled by varia tions in the pressure of the water in the outlet pipe or passage, caused by'opening or closing, or partly opening or closing, one or more ter is drawn off for use.

My improved heater is efficient in operation, is adapted to furnish a supply of hot water practically instantaneously, is simple and in-. expensive in construction, and dispenses with objectionable features heretofore employed in heaters of this class-such, for example, as a water-controlling valve whose movement depends on or controls the velocity of flow of the water through the heater,and which is usually connected with the gas-controlling valve for regulating the supply of heat. In such constructions as have been employed heretofore the employment of. the water-valve involves either the employment of two separate valve devices and two separate casings with stuffing-boxes and objectionable outside connections, or else the construction is not such as to prevent the admission of water to the gas pipe or passages and to form at the same time a sensitive or easily-operated valve device for controlling the supply of heat.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an appliction of my invention, Figure 1 is a central vertical section through an automatic water-heater constructed in accordance Serial No. 653,670. (NemodeL) with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the regulating device, and Fig. 3 is a central section through a modification of myimprove- 'm'ent.

of supply are connected with the regulator and are at all times in open communication with one another through the passage 8, the capacity or cross-sectional area of which should be about the same as that of the coil 1.

The width of the-port 8 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawings should therefore be somewhat greater than the width, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The pipe 7 may be connected to the upper portion 6 of the regulator, if preferred, or the coil 1 and the pipe '7 from the main may be directly connected with one another outside of the regulator.

The regulator, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises an upper portion 6 and a lower portion 9, between which is clamped a movable abutment or diaphragm 10, the under side of which is at all times exposed to the pressure in the pipe 7 and in the end portion 5 of the coil 1, the water being admitted to the under side of the diaphragm through the passage 11. A smaller abutment or diaphragm 12 is held in placeby a cap 13, whichis secured to the lower portion of the regulator, and the two diaphragms are connected by means of a stem 14, to the lower end of which is secured a valve 15 for controlling the port 16, through which gas is supplied to the burner. The seat of the valve 15 is formed on the inner side of the cap 13, and the gas-supply pipe 17 is connected to a screwthreaded passage formed in the cap. The smaller diaphragm 12 separates the water-chamber between the two diaphragms from the valve-chamber and prevents the passage of water into the gas pipes or passages.

Passages 18 and 19 lead from the valvechamber to the jet 20, which delivers the gas into the perforated tube 26. The tube 26 forms a mixing-chamber for the air and gas, the air being admitted thereto through the lower open end, and the gas is burned outside of the tube 26 as it issues from the small holes 21. A small pipe 23 extends upward from the pipe 17, and at its upper end is provided with a 'burner which is always lighted and which ignites the gas as it escapes from the main burner 26. p

The chamber above the diaphragm 10 com-' municates with the outlet end of the coil 1 or, as shown in the drawings, with a pipe 22, leading to the valve or valves controlling the discharge of water from the heater. For this purpose a pipe 25 is shown leading from thechamber above the diaphragm to the outletpipe 22, but, if preferred, the outlet-pipe or the outlet end of the coil may be directly connected to the upper portion of the regulator, and the connecting-passage between the pipe or coil and the chamber above the diaphragm may be formed in the casting 6.

It will be seen that in my improvement there is a continuously-open free passage from the inlet or supply pipe 7 through the coil to the outlet or delivery pipe 22 and that theflow of water through the heater is therefore unobstructed except by the outlet valve 01 valves, through which the hot water is drawn when needed.

When the heater is not in use, the gas-valve is held closed by the water-pressure above the diaphragm 10 and by the pressure of the spring 24. hen no water is being drawn, the effective pressure ofthe water above the diaphragm will always be greater than the eifective pressure of the water below the diaphragm, because the pressure on the small diaphragm is downward and counterbalauces a portion of the upward pressure.

The coil 1 is preferably made of thin copper or other piping .of good conducting ma terial, and on account of the great number of coils presents a large heating-surface.

On the opening of one or more of the fan cets or valves through which the hot water is drawn off the pressure on the upper side of the diaphragm will be reduced and the pressurebelow the diaphragm will move the diaphragm upward and unseat the valve 15. Gas will then flow to the burner, where it will be ignited by the flame at the upper end of the-small pipe 23, and the coil and the water passing through it will be quickly heated. The chamber above the diaphragm being directly connected with the outlet portion of the heater any reduction of pressure in the} outlet, such as maybe caused by opening onei ormore faucets, will be immediately effectivel toperinit the upward movement of the dia-{ phragm by the pressure from the main which acts on the under side of the diaphragm and which is admitted thereto through the pas-l sage 11. l

The cross-sectional area of the pipe 7 rela-;' tive to the cross-sectional area of the coil 1 and also the capacity of the passage 11 should be such that a steady pressure, substantially the same as the pressure in the main, maybe maintained below the diaphragm 10.

The water supplied to the heater through the pipe 7 will fill the chamber below the diaphragm l0 and flow through the passage 8 and coil 1 to the outlet-pipe 22, and the pressure in the chamber above the diaphragm 10 and in the small pipe 25 will be the same as in the outlet-pipe. There need not be any flow or circulation of waterthrough the chamber below the diaphragm 10 or through the chamber above the diaphragm, and the only thin g necessary to operate the gas-con trolling valve is a variation in the outlet-pressu1'c, and this variation need not produce any ma terial variation in the pressure in the chamber below the diaphragm.

The operation of my improved heaterisnot dependent on the velocity of flow of the water to the heater or throughthe heater, but only on a variation of pressure such as might act later to vary the velocity of the water or to impart velocity to or overcome the velocity of the water. A change in the pressure in the outlet-pipe and in the chamber above the diaphragm may be effected almost instantly, while to change the motion of the water or to put it in motion through the coil, which forms a long and tortuouspassage, would require a considerable interval of time.

When water is flowing through the coil,

there is a considerable difference in the pressureat the inlet and outlet ends of the coil and any variation at the outlet will be felt at or near the inlet end of the coil only after a considerable interval of time. In my improvement the operation of the valve is practically instantaneous and no interval of time is necessary, such as that required to transmit a variation in pressure or velocity from one end of the coil to the other.

My improved heater is perfectly free from danger of explosion, as the pressure in the coil can never exceed the pressure in the main, because the coil is always in open communication with the water-main. In case, therefore, thatthe gas-controlling valve 15 should fail to close when the faucet or faucets are shut off no amount of heating can cause an explosion.

In case of a break in the main or in the supply-pipe 7 the water will escape from the under side of the diaphragm and the valve 15 will close. If there is no pressure acting on the diaphragm, the valve will be closed by the action of the spring 24. The tension of the spring 24 need not be any greater than is necessary to close the valve and to keep it closed when the diaphragm 10 is relieved of other pressure, so that the difference in the water-pressures above and below the diaiphragm lO which will be required to move the diaphragm and open the valve need not be much greater than that due to the difference in the effective areas of the opposite sides of the diaphragm 10. 1

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have shown a heater embodying my invention in which the heating-coil 1 is formedof a tube or pipe which is approximately elliptical in cross-section. The coil is made of thin copper or other good conducting material, the end portions 5 and 5 of which are circular in cross-section, and the remainder of the coil, which forms the heating portion of the coil, is flattened by being passed between rolls or byany other preferred means. Preferably the piping of which the coil is made is at first circular in cross-.

section and is afterward flattened out to any extent desired by a simple and inexpensive process. The object in giving the piping the particular form referred to is to increase the heating effect by increasing the heating-surface relative to the quantity of water contained in the coil. Thisis accomplished by giving the flattened or elliptical shape to the pipe withoutincreasing the length of the pipe. This particular form of piping is specially adapted for employment in my improved heater, in which the pressure within the coil and pipes is limited to the pressure in the water-supply main, and the pressure will therefore never be great enough to change the form of the cross-section of the pipe, as it might be in steam-boilers or in water-heaters in which it is possible to accumulate a greater pressure than the pressure in the main. Any

tendency to change of form of the cr0ss-sec-.

tion is further counteracted in my improvement by the coiled form of the piping and the comparatively small diameter of the coils. In my improvement there can be no change of form of the cross-section of the pipe without a change of form or straightening of the coils, and it would require an enormously high pressure, very much in excess of any pressure which can be obtained in the coil, to effect any such change in the form of the coil. The material of which the pipe is made may be very thin, so as to permit rapid heating without any danger of rupturingthe pipe on account of the limited pressure.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings the outlet-pipe from the water-supply main is to be connected to the screw-threaded nozzle 27, which is integral with the upper portion 28 of the regulator, and the inlet end 5 of the heating-coil is connected with the inlet-nozzle 27 by means of a union 29, so that there is a full and free opening through the nozzle into and through the inlet end 5 of the heating-coil. The outlet end 5 of the heating-coil is similarly connected by means of a union 30 with the out let-nozzle 31, which is screw-threaded to receive one end of the outlet-pipe which leads to the outlet valves or faucets, through which the hot water is drawn for use. The outletnozzle 31 is formed integral with the lower portion 32 of the regulator. The upper and lower portions 28 and 32 of the regulator are secured together by bolts 33, and between them is clamped a diaphragm 34, which divides the interior into two chambers 35 and 36. The upper chamber 35 is at all times in open communication with the water-supply main and with the inlet end of the heatingcoil through the passages 37 and 38, and the threaded bolt and nuts or by any desired means which will cause them to move together. A gas-controlling valve 42, which is secured to the diaphragms and is adapted to be moved by them, is'normally held closed by the unbalanced upward pressure of the water on the lower side of the diaphragm 34 and the pressure of the spring 43.

The gas-supply pipe is connected to the nozzle 45, formed integral with the upper side of the regulator, and the gas is admitted to the valve-chamber through the passage 44. The gas-valve 42 controls the supply of gas to the jet 46, from which it passes into the burner 47.

The burner 47 is preferably circular in shape and is provided with openings or perforations 48, through which. the mixed air and gas pass from the interior of the burner and at which they are ignited. The upper portion of the interior of the burner curves downwardly from its outer upper portion toward the center and toward the jet 46, and the lower portion of the burner. is provided with a conical hood or short flaring pipe,which surrounds the jet 46 and into which airis admitted through openings 49.

Both the air and gas in flowing into the burner impinge on the sides 50 of the central tapered portion or deflector 51 and are then reverberated and mixed with a whirling action against the wall of the burner before passing out through the openings 48, where they are ignited.

A small pipe 52 is connected with the interior of the nozzle 45, and on the end of the pipe 52 is a burner 53, which'lnay be kept burning for the purpose of igniting the gas from the openings in the main burner 47. The supply of gas to the small burner 53 is controlled by a valve 54.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings a full and free open passage is shown from the connection with the main supplypipe through the coil to the outlet connection heater, by which the flow of water through from the burner 53 and the water in thecoih will be heated.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings the outercasing 2, within which the heating-coil is inclosed,

is secured at its lowerend to a-casting 55, to: which are bolted the supports 56. A screw-1 threaded nipple 54,which extends downward from the gas-jet 46 of the burner, passes through thecasting 55 and screws into the upward extension 59 of the regulator, thereby clamping the regulator to'the casting 55. Al bolt 57 passes through the top plate or covera 58 of the casing and at its lower end screws into the burner 47, thereby securing the regu-i lator, the casting 55, and the burnerand the} top of the casinglfirmly together and forming? a rigid support forthe ends of the coil.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings the principal fea} tures of my improvement are clearly shown,; and that construction may be regarded asa} preferred form of my improvement; but my invention is not limited to all the details of construction shown in any of the drawings. An important feature of my invention is the; free and unobstructed passage through the theheater is unaffected by and independenti of any regulatin g-valve or other deviceexcepti the outlet valve or valves through which hot. water is drawn for use. Another important; feature of my invention is the means for regu-; lating the supply of heat by variation in the; pressure of the water at or near the outlet ofj the heater, by which the opening and closing of the gas-supply valve may be quickly and; certainly effected. 1

By means of the flattened or elliptical form; given to the piping in the heating-coil the. thickness of the body of water therein is so small that the heat can quickly pass to the center of the mass of water and the water can be very quickly and uniformly heated throughout its whole mass without even a local circulation of the particles, such as is required in a coil of circular section before the central portion of the water therein can be heated. The form of the mass ofwater in the heating-coil is that of a liquid ribbon, the thickness of which may be so slight that the heating of the whole mass may be practically instantaneous.

The burner and mixingdevice shown in Fig. 3 is preferably circular in form in its upper part, and the whole device may be made of one integral casting. It will be seen that when air and gas are being admitted to the burner the gas will strike first against the defleeting-surface 50 of the downwardly-projecting part 51 and will be deflected outwardly therefrom in all directions, 'so that it will with a whirling action mingle with the entering air inthe annular passage 60 and in the chamber 61.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In an automatic water-heater, thecombination, with a water-receptacle having inlet and outlet passages communicatingtherewith, of a heat-supplying device, a heat-regulator, and direct connections with opposite sides of the regulator,outside of the waterreceptacle, fromtheinlet and outlet passages to the heat-regulator whereby the supply of heat may be controlled by a difference in the inlet and outletrpressures of the water, sub- -stantially as setforth.

2. Inan automatic waterheater, the combination, with a water-receptacle,of inlet and outlet passages communicating with the receptacle, means for heating the water-receptacle, a heat-regulator outside of the direct flow of water, comprising a valve for controlling the supply of heat and a movable abutment for actuating the valve, a direct connection from the outlet-passageto one side of the abutment and a connection from the inlet-passage to the opposite side of the abutment, whereby the abutment may be operated by variationsof pressure in the outlet from the water-receptacle, substantially as set forth.

3. In an automatic water-heater, the combination, with a heating-coil, of a heat-sup ply, a heat-regulator, outside of the direct flow of water, comprising a valve for controlling the supply of heat to the coil and a movable abutment for operating the valve,

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which is exposed to the pressure of the water at or near the inlet and outlet portions of the coil, substantially as set forth.

4:. In an automatic water-heater, the combination, with a water-receptacle provided with an inlet and an outlet, of a heat-supply,

a heat-regulator outside of the direct flow of water and subjected 011 one side to the pressure of water flowingto the water-receptacle and on the other side to the pressure of water flowing from the receptacle, substantially as set forth.

5. In an automatic;water-heater, the combination, with a water-receptacle having inlet and outlet passages, of a water-supply pipe, means for heating the water-receptacle,a heatcontrolling device outside of the water-supply pipe and the direct flow of water, and conneeted with the inlet and outlet passages of the water-receptacle whereby variations of pressure between the inlet and outlet passages will operate the controlling device, substantially as set forth.

6. In an automatic water-heater, the combination, with a water-receptacle having in- ITS outlet-passage of the Water-receptacle, substantially as set forth. IO

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM L. MILLER. Witnesses:

HENRY D. ATWOOD,

E. GALLAGHER.

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