Liquid heater assembly

• US 5,724,478 A
• Filed: 05/14/1996
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Global Heating Solutions, Inc., Watkins Manufacturing Corporation (Masco Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Truheat Corporation
• Inventors: Thweatt, Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): HOANG, TU BA
• Application Number:
  US08/647,713
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 392/484, 392/480, 392/482, 392/483, 392/496, 392/470, 165/157, 165/158, 165/159, 165/168, 165/169, 165/171, 165/172, 165/173, 165/175, 165/181, 165/182, 165/185, 165/186, 165/277, 219/535, 219/544
• US Class Current: 392/484
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/142 using electric energy supply

Abstract

An elongated heat conductive assembly for heating water including a plurality of water passages equally spaced about the central axis of a heat conductive member in which an elongated electrical heating element is located on the central axis of the heat conductive member. Preferably the water passages are tubes located in a highly heat conductive member whereby the heat is trapped in the center of the conductive member from where it is transferred to the water. In one embodiment, caps are provided at the ends of the tubes so that the water enters a first end and flows to a second end and then back to the first end where it exits to the hot tub. In another embodiment, the water flows through one end to the other end from whence it flows to the hot tub. In another preferred embodiment the transfer of heat from the conductive member to the water flowing in the pipes is maximized by expanding the tubes against the walls of openings in the conductive member by applying hydraulic pressure inside the tubes.

Claims

1. A liquid heater including four or more elongated tubular members, said tubular members having a selected outer configurated shape;

an elongated heat conductive member having a central axis and four or more elongated openings having axes spaced about said central axis;

said openings each having a shape generally conforming to said selected outer configurated shape of said tubular members and each receiving one of said tubular members, each of the walls of said openings being in close contact with the outer wall of said tubular member which extends therethrough;

an elongated heating element electrically isolated from said heat conductive member, said elongated heating element having a cross sectional dimension greater than the distance said openings are spaced one from another; and

said heat conductive member being constructed of solid heat conductive material substantially encompassing the entire outer walls of said tubular member for conducting heat radiated from said heating element to said tubular members for heating water flowing through said tubular members.

2. The liquid heater of claim 1 in which said heat conductive member is an extruded aluminum member.

3. The liquid heater of claim 1 in which said tubular members include first, second, third, and fourth tubes, a first fitting provided at one of the ends of the tubes, said first fitting including one inlet opening communicating with said first tube, an outlet opening communicating with said second tube, and a means for providing communication between said third and fourth tubes;

a second fitting located at the other of the ends of said tubes, said second fitting including means for providing communication between said first and third tubes and between said second and fourth tubes whereby forcing water in said inlet opening results in water flowing through all of said tubes and out of said outlet opening.

4. The liquid heater of claim 1 in which a manifold fitting is located on at least one end of said tubular members to combine the flow of water through said tubular members.

5. The liquid heater of claim 1 in which the cross sectional shapes of said openings and said tubular members are circular.

6. The liquid heater of claim 1 in which the heating element is located substantially on said central axis.

7. The liquid heater of claim 1 in which a number of said openings and tubular members are provided to substantially surround the heating element so as to substantially trap the heat radiated by said heating element in the central portion of the heat conductive member to heat the water from the inside while keeping the outer surface of the heat conductive member relatively cool.

8. The liquid heater of claim 2 in which the tubular members are stainless steel.

9. The liquid heater of claim 1 in which said heat conductive member includes a central opening located at said central axis and in which said electrical heating element is located.

10. The liquid heater of claim 1 in which said tubular members are members expanded outwardly of their axes against the walls of said openings to insure a tight fit so as to facilitate greater heat transfer.

11. The method of constructing a liquid heater in which heat is transferred to liquid flowing in a tubular member having a wall from a heat conductive member having at least one opening in which said tubular member is located comprising:

providing said heat conductive member having at least one opening;

inserting said tubular member into one of said at least one opening; and

expanding said tubular member by forcing a fluid into the inside of said tubular member thereby causing said wall of said tubular member to be forced against the wall of said opening so as to insure a tight fit and facilitate greater heat transfer.

12. The method of claim 11 in which the fluid forced into said inside of said tubular member is accomplished by inserting a probe inside the tubular member and providing sealer members at selected positions to select the section of said tubular member to be expanded.

13. The method of claim 11 in which the fluid forced into the inside of said tubular member is created by a high pressure hydraulic pump.

14. A liquid heater having first, second, third, and fourth tubes arranged parallel to each other, said tubes terminating at a first end and at a second end;

a first fitting at the first end and a second fitting at the second end;

said first fitting including one inlet opening communicating with said first tube, an outlet opening communicating with said second tube, and a means for providing communication between said third and fourth tubes;

said second fitting including means for providing communication between said first and third tubes and between said second and fourth tubes whereby forcing water in said inlet opening results in water flowing through all of said tubes and out of said outlet opening.

15. The liquid heater of claim 14 wherein the liquid heater includes an elongated heat conductive member having an opening for each of said tubes and through which said tubes extend;

and

a heating element for heating said heat conductive member.

16. The liquid heater of claim 15 in which said heating element is located centrally of said tubes inside of said heat conductive member.

17. The liquid heater of claim 15 in which said tubular members are members expanded outwardly of their axes against the walls of said openings to insure a tight fit so as to facilitate greater heat transfer.

18. The liquid heater of claim 17 in which said tubular members are members expanded outwardly of their axes against the walls of said openings to insure a tight fit so as to facilitate greater heat transfer.

19. A liquid heater including a plurality of elongated tubular members, said tubular members having a selected outer configurated shape;

an elongated heat conductive member having a central axis and a plurality of elongated openings having axes spaced about said central axis;

said openings each having a shape generally conforming to said selected outer configurated shape of said tubular members and each receiving one of said tubular members, each of the walls of said openings being in close contact with the outer wall of said tubular member which extends therethrough;

said tubular members being expanded outwardly of their axes against the walls of said openings by a probe to ensure a tight fit so as to facilitate greater heat transfer;

an elongated heating element electrically isolated from said heat conductive member; and

said heat conductive member being constructed of solid heat conductive material substantially encompassing the entire outer walls of said tubular member for conducting heat radiated from said heating element to said tubular members for heating water flowing through said tubular members.

20. The liquid heater of claim 19 wherein said elongated heat conductive member is an extruded aluminum member.

21. The liquid heater of claim 19 wherein a manifold fitting is located on at least one end of said tubular members to combine the flow of water through said tubular members.

22. The liquid heater of claim 19 wherein the cross sectional shapes of said openings and said tubular members are circular.

23. The liquid heater of claim 19 wherein said tubular members are stainless steel.

24. The liquid heater of claim 19 wherein said elongated heating element has a cross sectional dimension greater than the distance said openings are spaced one from another.

25. A liquid heater including a plurality of elongated tubular members, said tubular members having a selected outer configured shaped;

an elongated heat conductive member having a central axis and a plurality of elongated openings having axes spaced about said central axis;

said openings each having a shape generally conforming to said selected outer configurated shape of said tubular members and each receiving one of said tubular members, each of the walls of said openings being in close contact with the outer wall of said tubular member which extends therethrough;

said tubular members being expanded outwardly of their axes against the walls of said openings to ensure a tight fit so as to facilitate heat transfer;

an elongated heating element electrically isolated from said heat conductive member; and

said heat conductive member being constructed of solid heat conductive material substantially encompassing the entire outer walls of said tubular member for conducting heat radiated from said heating element to said tubular members for heating water flowing through said tubular members.