Abstract:
A water heater baffle having an inlet and an outlet for the passage of water therethrough, the baffle being arranged to force the water entering the baffle through a labyrinth before exiting the baffle in a direction substantially 90° to its general flow of entry into the baffle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to improvements in water baffle heaters. 
     BACKGROUND ART KNOWN TO THE APPLICANT 
     Water heaters are traditionally fitted with a baffle arrangement at the point where the cold water inlet pipe enters the water container to minimise the agitation and subsequent mixing of cold inlet and hot stored water. This baffle can take several forms, but usually relies on altering the direction of the inlet flow. Where the water heater is fed by a high pressure, high flow, cold feed, the velocity of the water entering the water container is often sufficient, despite the presence of a baffle, to cause agitation of the stored water, thus mixing the stored hot water with cold inlet water, reducing the hot water output efficiency of the water heater. 
     It is the intention of the present invention to alleviate this problem and to also reduce the inlet water velocity to such a level that the flow noise at the inlet of the heater is minimal thereby ensuring quieter running of the heater itself. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view through the centre of the baffle and through its vertical plane illustrating the flow of water through the baffle. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the baffle through its horizontal plane. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the base plate of the baffle. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the top plate of the baffle. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the assembled baffle. 
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention in its broadest aspect, there is provided a water heater baffle comprising an inlet and an outlet for the passage of water therethrough, characterised in that the baffle arrangement forces the water entering the baffle through a labyrinth before exiting the baffle in a direction substantially 90° to its general flow of entry into the baffle. 
     Preferably, the aperture for the outlet is greater than the inlet aperture. 
     More preferably still, the inlet aperture is provided with a water pipe abutment means allowing entry of a water pipe into the baffle only up to the abutment. 
     Preferably, the baffle is formed from two interlocking units, a base plate, and a top plate. 
     Preferably, the base plate is provided with a number of apertures to ensure that there is a constant flow of water around the base area of the baffle when it is in use. 
     Preferably, the labyrinth is so designed to ensure that there are at least two changes of direction of the water flow in one plane prior to the water exiting the outlet. 
     Preferably, the base plate is provided with a number of feet to enable the base plate to “sit” on the internal floor of the storage heater thereby ensuring that water can flow underneath the base plate once the baffle has been installed. 
     Preferably, the baffle is circular. 
     Preferably, a number of the internal baffles are provided with at least one curved portion. 
     Preferably, the outlet comprises a plurality of openings along the peripheral edge of the baffle. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a baffle generally referenced  1  comprising a top plate  5  and a bottom plate  4  that come together in a “snap-fit” arrangement to form a completed baffle  1 . FIG. 1 illustrates the baffle  1  seated at tile base of a water storage container  8  via the feet  7 , the baffle  1  being submerged below the water line  3  of the storage heater. A water inlet pipe  2  engages the mouth of the inlet  11  of the top plate  5  of the baffle  1  and also engages in a “push-fit” arrangement, the pipe gripper  9 , the pipe  2  being guided over the pipe gripper  9  by virtue of the bevelled edges  10  of the pipe gripper  9 . The periphery of the pipe then engages the abutment  13  that forms part of the pipe gripper  9 , the height of the abutment  13  essentially being sufficient to allow water entering the baffle  1  to pass out through the outlet  12  via the internal baffle plates  6  as shown in FIG. 1 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a typical arrangement of internal baffle plates  6  in the completed baffle  1 , showing the labyrinth style flow that has to occur once the water moves from a generally vertical direction to a horizontal direction (upon leaving the pipe and entering the baffle) and before exiting the baffle  1  through the aperture  12 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the base plate  4  together with a series of apertures  15  that occur in the base  4  plate to allow the stagnant water below the base plate  4  once the baffle  1  is in use to circulate around the baffle  1  and back into the water system of the storage heater as a result of the feet  7 . FIG. 3 also illustrates the male gripping members  16  used to inter-engage with the top plate  5  to form the completed baffle  1 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the top plate  5  of the baffle  1  and also shows one of the apertures  17  that inter-engages with the gripping members  16  in a snap-fit to form the completed baffle  1 . 
     For the avoidance of doubt, it will be noted that part of the internal baffle walls  6  are formed on the base plate  4  and on the top plate  5 . This is because, approximately the same amount of plastics material is used to form both the top plate  5  and the bottom plate  4  thereby providing cost benefits to the users and designers of the moulds that form both the top and bottom plates of the baffle  1 . 
     The pipe  2  is a standard 22 mm pipe and the plastics material used to manufacture the baffle is preferably polypropylene. 
     FIG. 5 shows the baffle  1  in its completed state with the gripping members  16  inter-engaged with the sockets  17 . 
     All of the internal baffle walls  6  are substantially orthogonal to the main horizontal plane of the baffle  1 , at least one part of each respective internal baffle wall being curved. 
     When the inlet water finally emerges from the baffle  1  its velocity will have been significantly reduced ensuring a minimal amount of turbulence and hence mixing of the cold inlet water with the stored hot water.