Heating systems – Combined with water heater
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-26
2003-04-15
Boles, Derek (Department: 3743)
Heating systems
Combined with water heater
C237S00800C, C237S012100, C126S247000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06547153
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a frictional heating assembly for use with a heating and cooling system, and a water heater. In particular, the application discloses a frictional heating system wherein enhanced heating efficiency and operation is achieved by sequentially passing air through multiple turbine housings. A rotating turbine is positioned in each of the turbine housings. The turbines generate mechanical energy during operation which is converted into heat energy that heats the air passing through the housings.
Prior art patents disclose the concept of frictionally heating air by using a single turbine which is driven by a motor positioned together within the same enclosure in which the air is frictionally heated. Placing the motor and turbine together within such a confined space can cause the motor to overheat, which not only severely impairs the performance of the prior art frictional heating devices, but also drastically shortens the overall life of the motors. Furthermore, using only one turbine within a single enclosure compromises the efficiency of prior art devices by limiting the extent to which the temperature of the air passing through the enclosure can be increased.
The invention of the present invention addresses these and other problems present in prior art devices by providing a frictional heating assembly having a unique motor and turbine assembly. Unlike prior art devices which confine the motor that drives the turbine within the same housing in which the turbine resides, the motor used in the frictional heating assembly of the present application is positioned within a separate air supply duct located outside of the enclosure in which the turbines are positioned. Placing the motor inside the air supply duct allows it to be cooled by ambient air from the building or other structure in which the heating assembly is being used.
The frictional heating assembly of the present application does not rely solely upon a single turbine to frictionally heat the air. The single motor is instead operatively connected to a single common shaft upon which multiple turbines and an intake fan are positioned. The turbines are each positioned within individual housings which are contained within a single enclosure. The turbines are selectively utilized to frictionally heat air which is introduced within the interior of the enclosure and housings. The intake fan is positioned within the air supply duct upstream from the motor and outside of the enclosure in which the turbines are located. This energy-efficient arrangement prevents the motor from overheating, permits the motor to drive the intake fan for drawing ambient air through the air supply duct while simultaneously driving the turbines inside the enclosure, and results in air which is frictionally heated to temperatures much higher than those previously achieved using prior art devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a frictional heating system which utilizes a motor positioned outside of the enclosure in which air is frictionally heated so that the motor does not overheat from being subjected to the heat generated inside the enclosure during the heating process.
It is another object of the invention to provide a frictional heating system within which the air moving therethrough is maintained at a substantially constant pressure while the frictional heating system is in operation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a frictional heating system which efficiently utilizes a single motor to simultaneously operate not only the turbines used to frictionally heat air inside the heating assembly, but also an intake fan used to draw ambient air from a building through a heating and cooling system used in conjunction with the frictional heating system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a frictional heating system which uses a conduit system which interconnects the air-cooling condenser coil of a conventional cooling system in a manner such that the heat generated from the condenser coil during operation is directed back into the cooling system and efficiently utilized, thereby permitting the condenser coil to be completely enclosed within the interior of a building rather than having to be positioned outside of the building so that the heat generated by the condenser coil can dissipate into the open air.
It is another object of the invention to provide a frictional heating system which includes a plurality of turbines positioned in individual turbine housings in which air is frictionally heated, wherein the passage of the air through the turbine housings changes in sequence depending upon the extent to which the temperature of the air is to be increased.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a frictional heating system which communicates with an air supply duct to heat and cool air in a building. The frictional heating system includes an enclosure defining an interior, two air inlets, and at least one air outlet therein communicating with the interior of the enclosure for permitting air flow therethrough. A plurality of turbines are carried on a common shaft for rotation therewith. Each of the turbines is positioned within the enclosure for drawing air into the enclosure and frictionally heating the air therein. A motor assembly is operatively connected to the common shaft and positioned outside the enclosure for driving the common shaft and turbines mounted thereon. A first conduit is in fluid communication with the air outlet, water heater and air conditioning system for moving frictionally-heated air from the air outlet to one or the other of the water heater and the air conditioning system.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, a first directional valve is positioned in the first conduit for selectively moving frictionally-heated air from the air outlet to one or the other of the water heater and the air conditioning system.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the improved frictional heating assembly further comprises a plurality of turbine housings positioned within the enclosure. Each of the turbine housings defines an interior in fluid communication with the air inlet for permitting air to flow into the turbine housings and with the air outlet for permitting the air to flow out of the turbine housings. Each of the turbines is positioned within a respective one of the turbine housings for drawing air into the respective turbine housing interior and frictionally heating the air therein.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the motor assembly further comprises an intake fan mounted on the common shaft and positioned within the air supply duct for drawing ambient air therethrough.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the motor is interconnected by a head and tail pulley assembly to the common shaft for driving the common shaft, turbines and intake fan, and is positioned upstream from the intake fan within the air supply duct for being cooled by the ambient air drawn therethrough.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the frictional heating system further includes at least one turbine conduit selectively communicating with the plurality of turbine housings for directing air from the air inlet from an upstream side to a downstream side of each turbine housing to frictionally heat the air therein to a predetermined temperature.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the frictional heating system further includes at least one recirculation conduit selectively communicating with the plurality of turbine housings for directing the air through the turbine housings and into the air outlet.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the turbines includes a series of radially-extending vanes for creating and maintaining a flow of air wi
Adams, Schwartz & Evans P.A.
Boles Derek
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