U.S. patent application number 10/888115 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-13 for multicompartment hot water tank.
Invention is credited to Houle, Andre.
Application Number | 20050005879 10/888115 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34062118 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050005879 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Houle, Andre |
January 13, 2005 |
Multicompartment hot water tank
Abstract
A versatile hot water tank has a plurality of compartments, each
separated by a partition, each containing a heating means and each
connected to the other by a connecting pipe so that water can
circulate betwen compartments.
Inventors: |
Houle, Andre; (St-Gerard Des
Laurentides, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
INVENTARIUM
SUITE 1607
4050, ROSEMONT BLVD.
MONTREAL
QC
H1X2M4
CA
|
Family ID: |
34062118 |
Appl. No.: |
10/888115 |
Filed: |
July 9, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60486258 |
Jul 11, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
122/14.31 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D 20/0034 20130101;
Y02E 60/142 20130101; Y02E 60/14 20130101; F24H 1/202 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
122/014.31 |
International
Class: |
F22B 005/00 |
Claims
1. A versatile hot water tank comprising: a plurality of
compartments, each separated by a partition and each connected to
the other by a connecting pipe; water traveling downward from the
uppermost compartment to the next lowest compartment by way of a
connecting pipe.
2. A versatile hot water tank as in claim 1 wherein: said
compartments along with related hardware found inside a sleeve
having a top removable lid.
3. A versatile hot water tank as in claim 1 further comprising: a
humidity detector an electromechanical water shut off and a timer
to control heating cycles.
4. A versatile hot water tank as in claim 1 wherein: a heat trap
placed on at least one connecting pipe to slow down water migration
and comprising two ends interfacing with said connecting pipe and
said connecting pipe sectioned off to allow insertion of said heat
trap; two generally parallel pipe segments; and joining
segments.
5. A versatile hot water tank comprising: a plurality of
compartments, each separated by a partition and each connected to
the other by a connecting pipe; water traveling downward from the
uppermost compartment to the next lowest compartment by way of a
connecting pipe; said compartments along with related hardware
found inside a sleeve having a top removable lid; a humidity
detector an electromechanical water shut off and a timer to control
heating cycles.
6. A versatile hot water tank comprising: a plurality of
compartments, each separated by a partition and each connected to
the other by a connecting pipe; water traveling downward from the
uppermost compartment to the next lowest compartment by way of a
connecting pipe; said compartments along with related hardware
found inside a sleeve having a top removable lid; a humidity
detector with water shut off and a timer to control heating cycles;
a heat trap placed on at least one connecting pipe to slow down
water migration and comprising two ends interfacing with said
connecting pipe and said connecting pipe sectioned off to allow
insertion of said heat trap; two generally parallel pipe segments;
and joining segments.
7. Heat traps to slow down water migration comprising: two ends
interfacing with a connecting pipe and said connecting pipe
sectioned off to allow insertion of said heat trap; two generally
parallel pipe segments; and joining segments.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority based on provisional
application 60/486,258 filed Jul. 11, 2003 for claim 1 to 3.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to hot water tank but more
particularly to a hot water tank having a plurality of
interconnected compartments.
[0004] 2. Background
[0005] Hot water tanks have not evolved much in many years. Whether
they are gas, oil or electric, they are basically large reservoirs
containing water and means for warming water. In the case of
electric water tanks, a lower and an upper element alternate to
keep the water evenly warm. An emergency vent on top handles high
pressure while a drain at the bottom is used when emptying the
tank.
[0006] Over the years, a variety of accessories have been
developped to complement the features of a hot water tank such as
timers to start and stop water heating as an energy saving feature
and humidity alarms to detect water leaks and shut off water intake
to the tank.
[0007] But there are many other issues that have yet to be
addressed and therefore, there is a need for an improved hot water
tank.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is a main object of this invention to provide a hot water
tank with a plurality of interconnected compartments which
progressively warm up the water so as to provide a more economical
hot water tank.
[0009] In order to do so, the present invention consists of a hot
water tank contained within a container or sleeve which provides
increased insulation as well as a safety in case of leaks. The
sleeve has a top removable lid which allows for the removal of the
inside compartments and related hardware so as to minimize the
amount of disposable material thus producing a more ecologically
friendly hot water tank. Of course, such an advantage as a sleeve
with a top removable lid could be found on a single compartment
tank but would lose some of the advantages of a multicompartment
tank. Optionally, features such as a humidity detector can warn of
a leak and send a signal to electromechanically shut off the water
supply to the tank and a timer can be programmed for partially or
totally shut off water heating at selected times.
[0010] One advantage of a multicompartment tank is that only one
compartment need to be heated to provide on demand hot water during
off peak hours, such as nighttime wherein water from other
compartments could be left unheated in order to provide further
energy savings while at the same time providing a quicker warmup
time since each compartment has its own heating means. Heating
means referring to generally known means of generating or
transferring heat to water such as, but not limited to,
electricity, gas, oil, wood, coal, combustible solids, solar,
geothermal, nuclear and so forth.
[0011] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of
this invention will become more readily apparent from the following
detailed description of a preferred embodiment with reference to
the accompanying drawings, wherein the preferred embodiment of the
invention is shown and described, by way of examples such as
illustrating 3 compartments whereas as little as two and as many as
an infinite number of compartments are defined as
<<multicompartments>>. As will be realized, the
invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its
several details are capable of modifications in various obvious
respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly,
the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in
nature, and not as restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] FIG. 1 Side cutaway elevation of a first example embodiment
of a hot water tank.
[0013] FIG. 2 Side cutaway elevation of a second example embodiment
of a hot water tank.
[0014] FIG. 3 Side elevation of a heat trap.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] A versatile hot water tank (10) has a plurality of
compartments (12,12',12"), each separated by a partition (14), each
containing a heating means (11), each contained within a sleeve
(13) having a removable lid (15), and each connected to the other
by a connecting pipe (16, 16') of a diameter equivalent to a water
inlet pipe (18) or a water outlet pipe (20) so that water can
circulate betwen compartments (12, 12', 12") as fast as it can be
taken in by the water inlet pipe (18) or taken out by the water
outlet pipe (20).
[0016] Cold water travels downward from the uppermost compartment
(12) where it becomes warm, by way of the connecting pipe (16) to
the middle compartment (12') where it becomes warmer and from there
to the lowermost compartment (12"), by way of the connecting pipe
(16') where it is heated to a typical hot water tank temperature.
From the lowermost compartment (12") it is taken out by the outlet
pipe (20).
[0017] FIG. 3 To reduce water's tendency to migrate between
compartments (12, 12', 12"), heat traps (22) are set on connecting
pipes (16, 16'). A heat traps (22) is designd to create an eddy
which slows down water circulation, thus slowing down migration. It
consists of two ends (23, 23') interfacing with a pipe, in this
case, it is the connecting pipe. (16, 16') which is sectioned off
to allow insertion of the heat trap (22); two generally parallel
pipe segments (25, 25') and joining segments (27, 27').
[0018] When a user uses hot water, the water will be taken from the
lowermost compartment (12") which will require water from the
middle compartment (12') to replenish it. Therefore, water in the
connecting pipes (16, 16') will travel from a higher compartment,
whether the uppermost compartment (12) or the middle compartment
(12'), towards a lower compartment, whether the middle compartment
(12') or the lowermost compartment (12"). But when no one uses the
water, warmer water will tend to migrate, by way of the connecting
pipes (16, 16'), from the lower compartments, where it is warmer,
to higher compartments, where it is cooler. In order to slow down
the migration, a heat trap (22) is placed within the path of the
connecting pipe (16, 16'). Because of the two paths water can take
in the pipe segments (25, 25'), along with the direction as
indicated by the arrows, an eddy is created by conflicting
tendencies of water having different temperatures. For example,
warm water does not want to travel downwards as it is forced to do
in the pipe segment (25) but it wants to go up as it does in the
pipe segment (25'), which creates an eddy which in turn tends to
draw cooler water rather than letting warmer water migrate towards
cooler water. There is still transfer of heat but it is slowed
down.
[0019] A heat trap (22) can be used on standard hot water tanks as
well as any type of plumbing where heat transfer needs to be slowed
down and can therefore have applications well beyond the
application discussed in this instant invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 shows an example of asecond example of an embodiment
of the hot water tank (10) which can include the heat traps (22)
but where the connecting pipes (16, 16') run inside the
compartments instead of outside as per the embodiment of FIG.
1.
[0021] The optional features such as humidity detector (not shown)
can be found inside the sleeve (13) with water shut off (not shown)
and timer (both not shown), to control heating cycles, on or near
the tank (10) itself. The lid (15) on the sleeve (13) can be
fastened onto the sleeve (13) by way of any type of mechanical
fasteners adequate for securedly attaching the lid (15) in a non
permanent manner so as to make it removable.
* * * * *