FR2758614A1 - Hot water tank - Google Patents

Abstract

The tank consists of an insulated metal cylinder (1) with an inner supple lining (8) which is divided by a relatively heavy cylindrical insulator (5) to create two separate chambers (6, 7), attached to the top and bottom of the tank respectively. During operation the cold water enters through a pipe (2) at the bottom of the tank, inflating the lower chamber (6), which contains the heater (4). When the water has been heater to a set temperature, e.g. 60 deg C, a thermo-electric valve (9) opens, and the hot water is passed through a pipe (10) into the upper chamber, where it is kept at a constant temperature during use.

Description

The present invention relates to a hot water accumulator whose water is maintained at almost constant temperature.

Indeed all types of traditional hot water accumulators replace the hot water used by cold network water and thus mix it as and when used with the previously heated water remaining in the tank . This results in a gradual drop in the temperature of the usable water so that a mixture of 3/4 of water at 10 and 1/4 of water at 70 produces water at 25 perceived as too cold. to take a shower or a bath. It follows from this fact that at least 1/4 of the water reserve is useless.

The device according to the invention is a hot water accumulator, the tank of which is divided into at least two reservoirs of variable capacity, separated by a thermal insulator, connected so that the pressure of the water in each of them is balanced. Thus, as and when used, one empties of its hot water and the other fills with cold water.

These two tanks are also connected by a communication system by which, periodically, the tank emptied in part or in whole will be filled with the contents of the other, previously reheated. For the rest, it is a traditional hot water accumulator with an insulated tank, a water supply and a regulated heating device.

This hot water accumulator according to the invention has the advantage of clearly separating cold water from hot water and therefore makes it possible to maintain the latter longer at a high temperature.

This hot water accumulator could be manufactured with the same components and to the same standards as those usually used, the two devices mentioned above being added to the original parts during assembly.

This hot water accumulator will interest households or communities wishing to offer a higher volume of hot water use for a given tank volume and an almost constant temperature.

FIG. 1 represents a particular model of accumulator according to the invention, almost emptied of its hot water.

Figure 2 in the appendix shows an identical model of accumulator, filled to the maximum with hot water.

FIG. 3 represents another object model according to the invention characterized by the addition of an additional intermediate tank.

Figure 4 shows another object model according to the invention characterized by the separation of the two tanks by a single elastic membrane
According to a particular embodiment, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the device consists of a traditional cylindrical metal tank (1), insulated, inside which is introduced a flexible envelope (8), separated into two parts by a fairly heavy insulating cylinder (5), thus forming two independent tanks, one secured to the top of the tank (7), the other to the bottom of the latter (6).

The cold water traditionally arrives from below at (2) and inflates the envelope of the first reservoir (6), called the reception tank, inside which the heating device (4) is located; gradually, it takes place throughout the volume of the tank and thus pushes the insulating cylinder (5) upwards.

When, on the order of a clock or any other regulating means, the heating device (4) starts up, it heats the contents of this receiving tank (6) to a maximum temperature set at advance, for example 60.

When the water reaches this temperature, a thermoelectric valve (9), connected to a pipe (10) connecting the two tanks, opens, allowing circulation from one tank to the other. insulator (5), the water from the receiving tank (6) is emptied into the other tank (7), said to be of use, the envelope of which inflates until it occupies almost the entire volume of the tank (1).

As soon as the cylinder reaches a given position, the valve (9) closes; the use tank (7) is then filled with hot water.

When the user opens a tap, the pressure in the operating tank (7) is released, the upper pressure in the receiving tank (6) tends to push the cylinder (5) upwards, which then compresses the 'envelope (8) of the use tank (7) and the hot water contained therein escapes through the cane (3) towards the open tap, while the receiving envelope is filled with a volume cold water correspondent.

Users thus benefit from water at almost constant temperature until the usage envelope is empty. The heating / transfer cycle can then start again.

According to another particular embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 3, the object according to the invention may be provided with a small additional intermediate tank (11), provided with a more limited but more economical heating system (12), so that, via another electro-thermal valve (13), small quantities of hot water come to supply the use tank (7) permanently in order to avoid a total unavailability of hot water before the new heating period of the receiving tank.

According to another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4, the two envelopes and the cylinder can be replaced by a single waterproof membrane (8) fixed to the tank, made of a material or a composition of materials which are both elastic and heat-insulating. .

The object according to the invention is particularly intended to replace traditional hot water accumulators in homes and communities, which it improves the comfort of use. It also allows the installation of simpler and cheaper mixers easily adjustable to a given temperature.

Claims (2)

1) Hot water accumulator comprising at least two independent tanks connected by any device making it possible to permanently balance the pressures between them. 2) Hot water storage tank according to claim number one provided with devices for intermittently ensuring the transfer of the contents of one tank into another.