Liquid heaters and vaporizers – Fronts
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-22
2001-08-21
Wilson, Gregory (Department: 3749)
Liquid heaters and vaporizers
Fronts
C122S498000, C110S172000, C110S17300B
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276307
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a boiler apparatus or other fluid heating apparatus, and to a housing for containing and supporting a boiler. The present invention also relates to a door for providing access to a boiler located in a confined location. The present invention also relates to a method of operating and/or maintaining a boiler apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Known boilers (fluid heating devices) use various combustion processes which produce flue products consisting of water vapor, carbon dioxide, unburned fuel, oxidized contaminants, carbon and other particulate material which may and do adhere to the heat transfer surfaces. These surfaces are designed to absorb the heat of combustion as much as possible before the heat exits the boiler into the vent system.
Periodic inspection and cleaning of boiler heat exchange surfaces may be required to insure optimum heat transfer performance. Such maintenance may also be needed to insure that flow passages are free and open so as not to restrict the flow of combustion products. Such obstructions could create back pressure at the burner and reduce proper fuel balance resulting in subsequently less clean burning and increased surface contamination and restriction. There is thus a need in the art for a boiler apparatus that provides optimum heat transfer surface contact for efficient transfer as well as access to the heat transfer surfaces to permit inspection and complete and thorough cleaning when required.
A known boiler that provides efficient heat transfer is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,299. The known boiler has an insulated back cover. The cover may be removed to provide access to the interior heat exchange surfaces for maintenance and repair. Obtaining access to the back cover, which is opposite to the front of the boiler (and opposite the burner and controls), requires a clearance space of at least twelve inches (and preferably twenty-four to thirty inches for easier servicing). The known apparatus has significant space requirements.
Other known boilers, which vary significantly in design of combustion, heat transfer and flue passages, have removable cleanout panels on the top, sides, back or front. Recently, it has been proposed to mount the burner on a hinged door which could swing to either the right or the left (horizontally) to allow access to passages without physical removal and setting the cover aside. A disadvantage associated with the proposed arrangement, however, is that when the door swings to the side, the burner and the cover require a relatively large side access area. The need for side access space may preclude use of the door. In certain confined locations, the door may have to be removed from the housing to gain access to the boiler for inspection and cleaning.
Conventional boilers, due to their heavy weight, are normally mounted on or near the floor. This is a disadvantage because it makes it difficult to service them. The repair technician must be seated on the floor or bent over in an awkward position with poor or incomplete visibility of the passages that need to be inspected or cleaned.
Prior art heating devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 787,617 (Evans); 1,416,487 (Mauck); 2,200,304 (Sands); 2,237,054 (Jensen); 2,562,023 (Dufault); 3,151,615 (Siniaho); 3,934,554 (Carlson); 4,418,649 (Purvis); and 4,872,443 (Ruark).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes many of the problems and disadvantages of the prior art. The present invention relates to an apparatus that has a heater (such as a boiler) for heating water and a housing for containing the heater. According to one aspect of the invention, the heater has a front cover and interior heat transfer surfaces. The housing may have a door for providing access to the heat transfer surfaces. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the front cover of the heater is a door. One or more hinges may be located at the bottom of the door for supporting the door in a substantially horizontal, open position.
According to another aspect of the invention, the heater is a boiler with spiral flow passages, and the passages are covered and sealed by the front cover when the door is in its closed position. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inside of the cover may be lined with compressible insulation material.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing is supported on a rigid stand. The stand mays be used to provide space for a water tank without increasing the overall footprint of the apparatus. The stand may also be used to elevate the boiler to a position where it can be easily inspected and serviced by a technician in a comfortable position.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, the boiler support legs form a stop or the stand may be used as the hinge stop for supporting the door in its open, horizontal position. If desired, rubber bumpers may be provided on the stand to resiliently support the lightweight door in its open position.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, an electrical switch may be activated by the door for automatically disabling the burner when the door is opened.
The present invention also relates to a method of operating and maintaining a boiler apparatus.
An object of the invention is to provide a boiler apparatus that has reduced space requirements. Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus that enables easy access and visibility to all combustion areas and passages.
According to another aspect of the invention, the boiler may be located on an elevated stand with all water connections and piping on the top or back of the boiler. Once installed, the pipe connections at the back may not need to be serviced. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, all serviceable components are accessible from the front of the apparatus.
An advantage of locating the burner in an elevated position is that the passages to be inspected and cleaned are fully visible from a normal standing position. Another advantage of locating the burner in an elevated position is that the stand can accommodate a domestic hot water tank. This way, the boiler and the hot water tank can be located in the same small footprint.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, when vertical height is limited, a base of lesser height may be employed. The reduced height base may perform all of the functions of the taller stand discussed above, except that the reduced height base does not provide a location for the hot water tank.
According to another aspect of the invention, a door switch may be located in the electrical box adjacent to the top of the closed door. The switch may be used to disconnect the power supply to the burner upon lowering the door.
REFERENCES:
patent: 563990 (1896-07-01), Tetley
patent: 787617 (1905-04-01), Evans
patent: 1416487 (1922-05-01), Mauck
patent: 2200304 (1940-05-01), Sands
patent: 2237054 (1941-04-01), Jensen
patent: 2562023 (1951-07-01), Dufault
patent: 3151615 (1964-10-01), Siniaho
patent: 3934554 (1976-01-01), Carlson
patent: 4261299 (1981-04-01), Marran
patent: 4418649 (1983-12-01), Purvis
patent: 4493308 (1985-01-01), Hurley et al.
patent: 4872443 (1989-10-01), Ruark
patent: 5803021 (1998-09-01), Rourke et al.
patent: 6085701 (2000-07-01), Stauffer et al.
High Operational Reliability and Long Service Life with the Eutectoplex Heat Transfer Surface.
Reduced Emissions due to Triple-Pass Design.
Dickstein , Shapiro, Morin & Oshinsky, LLP
Energy Kinetics, Inc.
Wilson Gregory
LandOfFree
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