Distribution baffle for hot water tank

• US 5,092,279 A
• Filed: 03/25/1991
• Issued: 03/03/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Barmore, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Favors, Edward G.
• Application Number:
  US07/674,842
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 122/13.1, 122/13.2, 122/408.1, 122/451 R, 122/406.1, 122/408.2, 126/361, 126/362
• US Class Current: 122/19.1
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/202 with resistances
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/133 Storage heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2020/0069 Distributing arrangements; Fluid deflecting means
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 2020/0078 Heat exchanger arrangements

Abstract

A hot water tank for heating water which includes means for transforming a high velocity jet of incoming cold water at the inlet of the tank to a piston for forcing hot water accumulated in the upper portion of the tank through the outlet, whereby turbulent mixing between the incoming cold water and the accumulated hot water is minimized.

Claims

1. A hot water tank, comprising:

(a) a substantially cylindrical shell having an upper section and a lower section;

(b) a cold water inlet in said lower section;

(c) a hot water outlet in said upper section;

(d) means for heating water inside said shell; and

(e) means for transforming a high velocity cold water jet entering said shell through said inlet into a piston for displacing hot water in said upper section through said outlet, whereby turbulent mixing between cold water and hot water is minimized.

2. The hot water tank of claim 1, wherein said transforming means is a distribution baffle having an inlet side with an inlet chamber, at least one distribution chamber having flow communication with said inlet chamber, and a plurality of openings through said distribution baffle enabling flow communication between said inlet side and an outlet side of said distribution baffle.

3. The hot water tank of claim 2, said distribution baffle including a control chamber on said inlet side having flow communication with said inlet chamber, said distribution baffle having an opening therethrough within said control chamber wherein a portion of said cold water jet bypasses said distribution chamber and is mixed directly with hot water prior to exiting said outlet.

6. The distribution baffle of claim 1, further including means for affixing said baffle to the interior of said hot water tank by frictional engagement.

4. A distribution baffle for a hot water tank, comprising:

(a) a generally disk-shaped center portion having a plurality of openings therethrough;

(b) an inlet chamber on an inlet side of said distribution baffle for receiving a high velocity jet of water; and

(c) at least one distribution chamber having flow communication with said inlet chamber, said distribution chamber being aligned with said openings wherein said water flows from said inlet chamber into said distribution chamber and through said openings to form a piston.

5. The distribution baffle of claim 4, further comprising a control chamber on said inlet side in flow communication with said inlet chamber, said control chamber being aligned with one of said openings wherein a portion of said water jet bypasses said distribution chamber.