US1698561A - Method and system of heating - Google Patents

Description

Jan 8, 3929. 1,698,5 6

L. L. RANSOM METHOD AND SYSTEM OF HEATING Filed Feb. 17, 1927 INVENTOR Lew/s L. fiazrsvm,

Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS L. RANSOM,.OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.-

' METHOD AND SYSTEM or HEATING.

Application filed February 17, 1927. Serial No. 168,880.

This invention" relates to he'atingsystems.

amount of energy used to heat the water, and

also in the temperature to'which the hot water is heated. Furthermore, the systems must be made of much greater capacity than would be necessary for the average loads. This, of course, involves great expense.

This invention has for its salient objectto provide a heating system so constructed and so controlled that the necessary and required amount of hot water will'be always available at a minimum cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system so controlled that the system will use only the amount of heat needed to meet requirements regardless of the variations in the requirements. Another object of the invention is to provide a heating system so constructed and arranged that the necessary supply'of water at a predetermined and constant temperature will be available at all times. i

Another object of'the invention is. to simplify the constructionand arrangement of the system'and to provide a system that can be easily, and readily installed at low cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a' system that will operate continuously without attention and without such derangement of parts as accompanies intricate and more complex systems and arrangements.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specification taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part of this application, and in which Fig. l is a diagrammatic view illustrating a system constructed'in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale showing a portion of the intake pipe for the reservoir or tank;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on an en larged scale showing the thermostatic control for the motor and water heater; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on an on larged scale showing the pressure control device for the motor circuit and heater.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevation illustrating theconstruction of one of the valves.

The invention briefly described comprises a.reservoir or tank adapted toreceive a supply of water'orother liquid tobe heated from the pressure mains. The liquid is introduced at the lower portion of the tank or reservoir and 1s also conducted through a pump or other suitable means to a heater and from the heater is introduced into the reservoir or tank at the upper portion thereof. The hot water I or liquid is withdrawn from .the upper portion of the reservoir.

The water is introduced into the tank from the pressure main through a difiuser and in such a manner that the water inthe reservoir will not be agitated or disturbed by the incoming liquid. By introducing and 1 withdrawing the liquid in the manner just described, the hot water will be disposed in the upper portion of the tank and thecold water in the lower portion and there will be a more or less definite line of separation between the hot and cold water. If the hot water is placed in the tank faster than it is withdrawn therefrom, the line of demarcation between the hot and cold waterwill be lowered. v i

Thermostatic control means may be provided to operate in such a manner that when there is suflicienthot water in the tank to reach the control means and effect the operation thereof. this control means will open the motor circuit for driving the pump and shut down the heat supply for the heater. Thereafter when the cold water level or line of demarcation between the coldand hot water rises, the thermostatic control means will operate to close the motor circuit, start the pump and 22 located as shown in Fig. 1 within the up difiuser '12. The difi'user portion of the inmain and by gradingtheopenings 13, an even flow of water or other liquid into the reservoir is provided for. The pipe 15 is connected to the intake ofa pump 18 of any suitable construction, the pump outlet being connected by a pipe 19 to a heater 20 of any suitable construction. The hot water is conducted from the heater through a pipe 21 to.a difl'user pipe per portion of the. tank or reservoir 10. The pipe 22 is-provided with openings similar to the openings 13 in pipe 12. The other end of the pipe 22 is connected by a pipe 25 to a hot water main 26 through which the hot water is conducted to any desired apparatus, such as laundry machines, by which it is used.

The pump 18 may be driven in any suitable manner as by a motor 30 connected to a suitable source of supply by wires 31 and '32. The motor main or wire 31 has incorporated therein a pair of switch contacts 33 and 34 controlled by a switch 35 in a manner hereinafter described.

By introducing the cold water or other liquid from the supply main into the lower portion of the reservoir through a dilfuser and introducing the hot water into the reservoir in the upper portion thereof through a diffuser there will be a more definite line of demarcation between the cold water level in the tank and the hot water level. In other words, a definite body of cold water will be disposed in the lower portion of the tank and a definite body of hot water will be disposed in the upper portion thereof. The location of this line of demarcation will depend on the rate of withdrawal of the hot water from the tank. If less water is withdrawn than is introduced into the tank, the line between the hot and cold water .will be lowered and if more hot water is withdrawn than is deposited in the reservoir, the line between the hot and cold' water will rise.

In order to prevent a greater accumulation of hot water than is required for the needs of the system, thermostatic control means is provided adjacent the lower end of thetank and this control means effects the shutting down of the pump and the shutting off from the heater of the supply of heating medium.

Heat and Zigm'd control'mecimnism.

connected to a rod or stem 41 of a slide valve 42 disposed in a valve casing 43. The movement of the valve in one direction is controlled by a set screw 44 mounted in the outer end of the casing 43. A pipe 45 of relatively small diameter is connected at one end to the cold water supply main 11 and at the othe'rend as shown'at 46 to the valvecas ing 43.

A pipe 48 has a bifurcated lower end as shown at 49 and 50 connected to the casing 43, the opposite end of the pipe 48 being connected to the casing 55 of a pressure control device. The valve 42 has a port 56 extending therethrough and adapted to establish communication between the end 46 ofthe pipe 45 and the branch 50 of the pipe 48 when the valve is in the position shown in Fig. 3. .Whenthe valve is shifted to its other position, or to the right in- Fig. 3, the valve port 56 establishes communication between the branch 49 of the pipe 48 and a drip pipe 57 connected to the bottom of the casing 43.

The pressure control device may be of any suitable construction and as shown in the drawings may have a diaphragm 60 positioned between the two halves 61 and 62 of the casing 55. A stem or post 64 is connected to the diaphragm and has secured thereto a laterally extending arm 65 to which is secured a switch .35 adapted to close the circuit through the contacts 33 and 34. A spring '67 may be positioned below the switch 35 to exert .an upward pressure thereon. The

medium, it Will be understood that any other desired heating medium may be utilized. For instance, the heater 20 may be electrically heated and the electric circuit for the heater could be controlled by the stem or rod 64. Fig. 5 illustrates one construction suitable for the valve 70 and in this figure a valve casing 76 is shown having a passage ,7 4 leading from a chamber which communicates with the pipe 72 to a chamber which communicates with a pipe 71. The passage 74 is controlled by a valve 73 carried by the rod 564.

If desired, instead of conducting the hot water from the pipe 25 through pipe 26 to the apparatus in which it is to be utilized, the water may be conducted to a tank 75 having "a float 76 connected by a rod 77 and link 78 to-a valve79 in the inlet pipe 80. The outlet pipe 81 may be connected through a swivel connection 82 to a pipe 83 controlled. by a float 84. The pipe 81 will in this instance be connected to the hot water mains for conducting the hot water or other liquid to the utilized.

Operation.

The system above described operates in the following manner. {001d water or other liquid to be heated is conducted to the reservoir or storage tank through the diffuser 12 located in the lower portion of the reservoir and is conducted from the reservoir through the pipe'1-5 and pump 18 to the heater 20.

'From the heater, the hot water passes'into the upper portion of the reservoir through the diffuser 22 and passes from the. reservoir through the pipe 25 to the hot water main 26.

The output of the pump is so proportioned and adjustedthat the pump will handle an amount of water approximately equal to the average demand and if water is drawn at a rate equalling the average demand, the hot water entering the storage tank or reservoir will pass directly into the hot water supply line or main and thus to the point of use.

If the demand should drop below the average, the difference between the immediate demand and the average demand will remain in the storage tank. On the other hand, if the demand should be greater than the average there will be drawn from the storage tank or reservoir the amount of hot water equal to the difference between the pump out- "surging 0r disturbance ofthe water in the tank. As explained in the above specification, there is a definite line' of demarcation between the hot water in the upper portion of the tank and the cold water entering and located in the bottom. portion of the tank, This is essential since the pump should re ceive thecold water at a constant temperature, sothat it is delivered to the upper portion of the tank at a' constant temperature.

If less hot water is withdrawn from the tank than is introduced therein, the line of demarcation will be lowered and if it is lowered to a sufficient extent, the thermostatic control device 40 will shift the valve 42 to the position shown in Fig. 3. 'When the valve has been so shifted, the pressure from the main 11 will be communicated through the 'pipe45, branch and pipe 48 to the pressure control device 55, thereby pressing the diaphragm 60, closing the steam control valve and opening the motor control switch 66, thus stopping the motor and the pump.

, water or other liquids.

Although one arrangement of apparatus.

When the heating system has been thus shut down, a further withdrawal of the hot water from the reservoir will cause the line of demarcation or separation betweenthe hot and cold water to rise and the thermostatic.- control device 40 will shift to the right, viewing Fig. 3, thus shutting off the pressurefrom the'pipe 48 and connecting this pipe through the branch 49 and valve port 56' to the drip pipe 57. .When the pressure on the diaphragm 6' is released, the diaphragm will be shifted to its normal position, the steam valve 7 0 will be opened by spring 68 and the motor switch 35 will be closed by the spring 67, thus placing the heater again in operation.

Attention is called to the fact that the .hot water system described functions to dethe thermostatic device.

. The temperature of the hot water output may be predetermined and is controlled by adjustment of: c

1. The output of the'pump, either by throttling or by varying the speed of the pump.

2. The quantity of steam admitted to the heater, or condenser.

3. The pressure of steam admitted to the heater or condenser. v

4. By the amount of heating surface incorporated in the instantaneous heater or condenser.

5. By the temperature of the cold water pp y v The temperature control of the hot water is, therefore, inherent in the system and the system described gives a constant steam load.

From the foregoing specification it will be evident that the system described will efficiently perform the desired obj ects' and will provide the necessary and required amount of hot water at a minimum cost. The system, moreover, is particularly adapted for use in industrial plants and its use will cut down to a material degree the cost of supplying ho for carrying out the system has been par-- ticularly shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is capable of modification and that changes in the construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made without departing from the spirit'or scope of the invention, as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A heating system comprising a reserr 4 within the tank, a connection between the exit end of the supply main and the heater, and a hot liquid main connected to the heater and extending into and through the upper portion of the tank and communicating with v tending into and through the upper portion of said upper portion.

2. A heating system comprising a reser- 5 voir tank, a heater, a pressure supply main extending into and through the bottom portion of the tank and having openings therein within the tank, a connection between the exit e d of the supply main and the. heater, a hot liquid main connected to the heater and extending into and through the upper portion of the tank and communicating with said upper portion, and a pump in theconnection between the heater intake and the exit end of the supply main.

\ 3. A heating-system comprising a reservoir tank, a heater,'a pressure supply main extending into and through the bottom portion of the tank and having openings therein within the tank, a connection between the exit end of the supply main and the heater, a hot liquid main connected to the heater and extending into and through the upper portion of,. the tank and communicating with 5 said upper portion, a pump in the connection between the heater intake and the exit end of the supply main, and thermostatically controlled means for shutting down the pump and the heater when the hot liquid in the tank approaches the bottom of the tank.

7 4. A heating system comprising a reservoir tank, a heater, a pressure supply main extending into and through the bottom portion of the tank and having openings therein with- 35 in the tank, a connection between the exit end of the supply-main and the heater, a hot liquid main connected to the heater and extending into and through the upper'portion of the tank and communicating with said upper portion, and thermostatically controlled -means for cutting "off the supply of cold liquid from the pressure main and tank to the heater when the hot liquid in the tank approaches the bottom of the tank. 7 5. A heating system comprising a reservoir tank, a heater, a pressure supply main extending into and through the bottom portion of the tank and having openings therein within the tank, aconnection between the exit end of the supply main and the heater, a hot liquid main connected to the heater and extending into and through the upper portion of the tank and communicating with said upper portion, a pump in the connection between the heater intake and the exit end of the sup-- ply main, and thermostatically controlled means for shutting down the pump when the line of demarcation between the hot and cold liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined Y eve k a 6. A heating system comprising. a reservoir tank, a heater, a pressure supply main extending into and through the bottom portion of thetank and having openings therein within the tank, a' connection between the exit end of the supply main and the heater, a hot liquid main connected tothe heater and exthe tank and communicating with said upper portion, a pump in the connection between the heater intake and the exit end of'the supply "of the tank, said main having graduated difiusing openings Within said tank, the opening being smaller at the entrance end of the main and larger at the exit end thereof, a

connection between the exit end of the supply main and the heater, and a hot water main connected to the heater and extending into and through the upper portion of the tank and communicating with said upper portion, and a pumpin the connection between the heater intake and the exit end of the supply main.-

8. A liquid heating system comprising a closed reservoir tank, a heater, means for withdrawing liquid from the lower portion of the tank, passing it through the heater-and returning the liquid in heated state th the upper portion of the tank, while maintaining a sharp line of demarcation between the heated and unheated liquid in said tank and also maintaining the heated liquid of substantially uniform temperature throughout its depth, a pressure supply means delivering into the lower portion of thetank arranged to keep th tank, the heater and said connections fille with liquid andan outlet main arranged to receive liquid from the upper portion-of the tank. 9. A liquid heating system comprising a reservoir tank, a'heater', means forw'ithdrawing liquid from the lower portion of the tank, passing it through the heaterand returning the' liquid in heated state to the upper portion of-the tank, while maintaining a sharp line of demarcation between the heated and unheated liquid in said tankand also mainuniform temperature throughout its depth,

'avpressure supply means delivering into the lower portion of thetank arranged to keep the tank, the heater and said connections filled with liquid, an outlet main arranged to receive liquid from" the upper portion of the the liquid in the tank.

10. A liquidheating system comprising a tank, and means for preventing agitationof reservoir tank, a heater, a connection between 4 the lower and upper portions ofthe tank and passing through said heater, a pump in said connection, a ressure supply meansdeliveringinto the ower portion of the tank arreaches a predetermined level.

11. A liquid heating system comprising a closed reservoir tank, means for keeping said system filled with liquid under pressure, said.

means comprising a liquid pressure supply pipe communicating with the lower portion of said tank, a heater for heating the liquid, means for positively drawing liquid from the bottom of the tank, passing through said heater and delivering it to the top thereof, while maintaining a sharp line of demarcation between the heated and. unheated liquid in said tank, and also maintaining the heated liquid of substantially uniform temperature throughout its depth, and an outlet pipe leading from the top of the tank. i

12. The method of heating which comprises supplying the liquid to a storage space, removing same for'heating and returning to said space, and propelling said liquid at a uniform rate, said rate being predetermined to equal the average of a variable rate of withdrawal of the heated liquid, and causing the uniformly propelled liquid to absorb heat at a predetermined rate during said heating.

13. The method of heating, which comprises supplying a liquid to a storage space under pressure, positively removing same for heating and returning to said space and propelling said liquid at a uniform ra'te regardless of initial pressure, 'said rate being predetermined to equal the average of a variablerate of withdrawal of-the heated liquid, and causing the uniformly propelled liquid to absorb heat at a predetermined rate during said heating.

14:. The method of heating which comprises propelling a liquid at a uniform rate regardless of initial pressure, said rate being predetermined to equal the average of a variable rate of withdrawal of the heated'liquid,

causing the uniformly propelled liquid to absorb heat at a predetermined rate, and interposing a body of liquid between the supply of liquid and the point of withdrawal, said body being of sufiicient size to compensate for temporary differences between the rate of withdrawal and the rate of heating.

15. The method of heating which comprises the provision of two interconnected columns of liquid, one of which is of suflicient size to serve as a heat accumulator, connecting the lower ends ofsaid columns with a source of supply and the upper ends thereof with an outlet, propelling the liquid in the other of said columns at a uniform rate regardless of initial pressure, said rate being predetermined to equal the average of a variable rate of withdrawal of the heated liquid and causing the uniformly propelled liquid to absorb heat at a predetermined rate.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of February, 1927.

LEWIS L. RANSOM.

Images