Versatile container

• US 8,453,610 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andre Houle
• Original Assignee: Andre Houle
• Inventors: Houle, Andr
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Gregory A
• Application Number:
  US11/819,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20070251468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,167 Days
• Field of Search: 122/19.2, 122/37, 122/59, 122/95.1, 122/95.2, 122/96, 122/123, 122/209.1, 122/221, 122/223, 122/439, 126/361.1, 392/445, 392/447, 392/448, 392/450, 392/453, 220/501, 220/504, 220/507, 220/553, 220/554, 220/565, 220/581
• US Class Current: 122/123
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/202 with resistances
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/0034 using liquid heat storage material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

A hot water tank comprising a sleeve, a removable top lid, at least one changeable water holding compartment adapted to be stacked vertically within the sleeve, stacked compartments being connected by a connecting pipe and at least one heating means provided with one of the compartments. The changeable compartments are configured to be removable from the sleeve upon removal of the top lid in case of failure and the space between the sleeve and the changeable compartments is adapted to hold the contents of the compartments during a leak.

Claims

1. A hot water tank comprising:

a sleeve;

a removable top lid;

at least one changeable water holding compartment adapted to be stacked vertically within said sleeve, stacked compartments being connected by a connecting pipe; and

at least one heating means provided with one of the compartments;

wherein said changeable compartments are configured to be removable from said sleeve upon removal of said top lid in case of failure and wherein space between said sleeve and said changeable compartments is adapted to hold the contents of said compartments during a leak.

2. The hot water tank of claim 1, wherein the compartments are spaced apart from each other.

3. The hot water tank of claim 2, wherein the compartments are spaced from each other by an air-tight space.

4. The hot water tank of claim 1, wherein the heating means is selected from a group consisting of electrical, gas, oil, wood, coal, combustible solids, solar, geothermal and nuclear.

5. The hot water tank of claim 1, wherein said heating means can be activated independently.

6. The hot water tank of claim 1, wherein the hot water tank comprises at least two compartments provided with heating means, and wherein said heating means can be activated independently or simultaneously.

7. The hot water tank of claim 1, wherein said heating means are electrical heating elements, said electrical heating elements heat to a controlled level of temperature water that is traveling downward from an upper compartment to a next lower compartment by way of the corresponding connecting pipe, whereby, in use, water in upper compartments is further heated through convection by lower compartments containing water that is heated by the electrical heating elements so that water entering the tank is warmed progressively and controllably before exiting the tank.

8. The hot water tank of claim 1, further comprising heat traps, said heat traps having two ends interfacing with a pipe connecting a lower compartment and an upper compartment, wherein the heat trap slows down circulation of water.

9. The hot water tank of claim 1, wherein said hot water tank being sealable so as to be made air-tight or so that the air can be changed for a gas, with a positive or negative pressure, to diminish heat losses.

10. The hot water tank of claim 1, further comprising a diversified array of sensors and a computer for cutting all energy sources, liquid, solids or gas or other, when a problem arises.

11. The hot water tank of claim 10, wherein a user can remotely program said computer to correct the problem.

12. The hot water tank of claim 11, wherein the user can remotely program said computer via internet or telephone.

13. The hot water tank of claim 10, wherein said computer is programmed to partially or totally shut off said heating means at selected times.

14. The hot water tank of claim 1, further comprising a valve to empty the contents of said sleeve when there is a leak.

15. The hot water tank of claim 1, further comprising a leak detector adapted to electromechanically shut off water supply to the tank.