Improvements in Sectional Water Heaters.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1898-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sectional Water Heaters.
I, JOSEPHUS PLENTY, of 148, Randolph Avenue, in the City of Jersey City, in
the County of Hudson and State of New Jersey, United States of America,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained, in
and by the following statement : —
The invention relates to improvements in sectional water heaters, and it con-
sists in the novel features and combinations hereinafter described and particularly
pointed out in the claims:
I have embodied the invention, as hereinafter fully explained, in a heater
composed of individual vertical hollow communicating sections substantially
corresponding with one another and arranged side by side to form a heater of
the desired length, each section being complete in itself and the bank of sections
being bound together between two end sections by bolts and superimposed over
a suitable ash pit. Between the lower portions or legs of the several sections
is formed the main combustion chamber, and through the upper portions of
said sections are formed three longitudinal conduits or flues all being side by
side and affording a passage to the exit pipe for the smoke, gases and other
products of combustion ascending from the furnace or main combustion cham-.
ber. The said sections are so constructed, and this is a feature of the invention,
that the ascending heated gases shall traverse the faces of the sections and be
prevented from entering the middle one of said flues or conduits until
they shall have passed through the side flues or conduits and directed to
that end of the middle flue farthest removed from the exit pipe. Thus the ascend-
ing heated gases, the flames and other ascending heated products of combustion
are compelled to do their maximum duty, and the result is that by the use of
the present invention I secure greater efficiency from a given amount of fuel.
The upper central portions of the said sections are somewhat raised and are
formed with longitudinal openings through their side faces in order that the
interior water chambers of the several sections may be brought into direct com-
munication with one another; and this raised portion of the upper part of the
sections receives the outlet pipes for the water from the heater, the inlet or return
pipes for the water being led to the lower ends or legs of said sections.
Aside from other important features hereinafter explained, each of said
sections is made up of two parts or sections which are brought together to form
the complete section, and each of these parts may have on its inner face ribs,
flanges, lugs, or equivalent features, extending into the water chambers or cells
and serving to conduct the heat inward to the water and compel a more efficient
circulation of the water.
The invention will be thoroughly understood from the detailed description

page_text: hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in
which:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a complete sectional water heater constructed
in accordance with and embodying my invention;
Fig. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal section of same taken centrally through
the three smoke flues;
Fig. 3 is an inner face view of one part of one of the hollow sections;
Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a complete hollow section on the line 4-4 of
Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a transverse section of same on the dotted line 5-5 of Fig. 3;
Fig. 6 is a like section of same on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;
Fig. 7 is an inner face view of the other part of one of the hollow sections:
Fig. 8 is a transverse section of one of the hollow sections on the ilotted
line 8-8 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the hollow
sections.
In the drawings A designates the individual hollow sections intermediate
the end sections, which are indicated by the letters B, C, respectively, and said
sections, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are arranged side by side over a suitable
ash-pit D to form the complete water heater, the body of which above the ash-
pit being composed of a bank of said sections extending transversely over the
ash-pit and forming between their lower outer portions or legs the sides of the fire
box or combustion chamber E, access to which may be had at one or both ends
of the heater by means of a suitable door or doors F.
The bank of sections denoted by the letters A, B, C, are firmly secured together
by the bolts G, as hereinafter explained.
The construction of the sections A may be fully understood on reference to
Figs. 3 to 9 inclusive, in which it will be seen that each section is formed of the
two auxiliary sections or parts H, I, which when brought together form a hollow
section adapted to hold and permit the circulation of the water to be heated.
The part H of the sections A. is of receptacle shape being formed of the face
and longitudinal flanges J, and the part I of said sections is in the nature of a
face plate having narrow longitudinal flanges K and fitting within the flanges J.
of the part H, a rust or other suitable and convenient joint being formed between
the contacting portions of the said parts H, I.
The flanges J, K, of the parts H, I, of the individual hollow sections extend
along the entire edges outlining said parts H, I; and said parts H, I, are also
'formed with the longitudinal flanges L, M, which engage one another, as do
the flanges J, K, and form sections of the three flues N, O, P, extending longi-
tudinally through the upper portion of the heater and leading to the final exit
or smoke pipe Q. The flues N, O, P, are on the same horizontal plane, and the
side flues N, P, are closed at one end and at the other end are brought into
communication with the central flue O, by means of the bonnet R, at a point
farthest removed from the smoke pipe Q
The outer portions of the hollow water sections have the faces S at their front
and rear sides and these faces $ when the said sections are brought together
contact with one another; and said sections along their middle portions over
the fire-box and below the central flue 0 are depressed or set inward at their
front and rear sides and preferably on downwardly converging lines, to form
vertical transverse heat flues T between said hollow sections, said flues T at
their upper portions communicating with the side longitudinal flues N, P, and
being prevented from having communication with the central longitudinal flue O
by reason of the face to face contact of said sections entirely around said central
flue 0, the said sections being so formed as to permit and ensure this result. It
will thus be apparent that the gases and other products ascending from the
fire-box or combustion chamber, will pass into the heat flues T and after spread-
ing over the front and rear surfaces of the hollow sections A will enter the side

page_text: longitudinal flues N, P, and pass through the same to the central flue O, through
which they will pass to the exit or smoke pipe Q. The heat from the fire-box
is thus compelled to do its maximum duty before reaching the smoke pipe Q,
and greater efficiency is thus secured in the heater since the ascending heat is
compelled with its maximum effect to pass.laterally over the front and rear
faces of the water cells or chambers to reach the flues N, P, instead of being
permitted to act upon its natural tendency to ascend at once and pass directly
into the central flue O leading to the exit pipe Q.
The inner faces of the parts H, I, of the hollow sections are provided with
ribs V (or equivalent means, such as studs W) to conduct the heat inward into
the water cells, the more quickly and economically to heat the water and
compel its proper circulation.
At the lower side portions or legs of the hollow sections are formed the corre-.
sponding longitudinal aligned apertures X, which are in the face to face contacting
portions of said sections and afford means for the water to pass from one to
another of said sections at points adjacent to the inlet nozzles Y formed in some
of said sections for receiving the pipes (not shown) by which the water is fed
or returned to said sections at opposite sides of their lower portions. The end
sections B, C, at their outer faces have small apertures in line with the afore-
said apertures X, and through those small apertures and the said apertures X
pass the lower bolts G securing said sections together, the diameter of the aper-
tures X being greater than that of the bolts G so as not to permit the bolts G to
interfere with the circulation of the water from one to another of said sections.
Above the central flue 0, the sections A, B, C, are raised or dome-shaped, as
denoted at a, and through the contacting faces of this portion of these sections
are formed the longitudinal aligned apertures b, which form means for the passage
of the water from one section to another adjacent to the points where some of
the sections are provided with the nozzles d for the coupling thereto of the out-
let pipes (not shown) for the hot water from the heater.
Through the apertures b, and the smaller apertures in the front and rear faces
of the heater passes the upper securing bolt G, whose diameter is less than the
diameter of the said apertures b so as not to close the same. In view of the fact
that the apertures permit water communication from one section A to another
along the dome or head portion a, it is unnecessary to provide each of said
sections with the outlet nozzles d; and likewise since the apertures X establish
water communication between the lower portions of the hollow sections it is
unnecessary to provide all the sections with the inlet nozzles Y.
The exterior outline of the sections A, B, C, is of importance in that the
vertical outer portions of said sections above their lower ends turn outward and
then upward, as shown, both within and without the heater, and thereby in-
creased water capacity is created in the sections and the fire-box is given greater
breadth or lateral extent with increased efficiency.
The operation of the heater herein before described will probably be understood
from the explanations above given and hence but brief further description of
the same is required. The sections A, B, C, being in position and secured by
the bolts G, the fire will be started in the fire-box E and the water permitted to
enter the lower portions of said sections through the nozzles Y and apertures X
and to escape from the upper portions of said sections through the apertures b
and nozzles. The gases, heat and other products ascending from the fire-box
are compelled to spread over the front and rear surfaces of the several hollow
sections and pass upward and laterally to the longitudinal side flues N, P, whence
they travel to the bonnet R and then through the central flue to the smoke
pipe Q, whereby the water within the said several sections becomes heated and
à due circulation of the water is established.
The outer portions of the hollow water sections have been described as having
faces S which come into contact with one another, but it must not be understood
that these faces necessarily come into physical touch with one another, since

page_text: a layer of asbestos may be placed between them, and it may be preferred to
provide the said faces with ribs a, which when coming together will leave small
spaces between the hollow sections to receive the asbestos.
It must be understood, also, that that part of my invention which involves
the making of the individual water sections or cells A in separate cast parts H, I,
flanged and brought together to form the complete section, is not limited in every
instance to vertical transverse sections A but is equally applicable to water heaters
in which the individual sections are horizontal and arranged one above the other
to form the complete heater.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a sectional water heater of the character described, the combination of
the several hollow sections arranged side by side and having at their upper por-
tions the side and central communicating exit flues, said sections being of a
construction to direct the products of combustion over their surfaces and to the
said side flues and prevent their direct entrance to the said central flue, which
leads to the exit pipe; substantially as set forth.
2. In a sectional water heater of the character described, the combination of
the several hollow sections arranged side by side and having at their upper
portion the longitudinal flue leading to the exit or smoke pipe, the central por-
tions of said sections over the fire box being set inward or depressed to forni
the heat flues, and the upper portions of said sections above said longitudinal
flue being dome-shaped or raised and correspondingly apertured in their con-
tacting side faces to establish substantially a head communicating with all of
said hollow sections and provided with means for receiving the ends of the
outlet pipes for the hot water; substantially as set forth.
3. In a sectional water heater of the character described, the combination of
the several hollow sections arranged side by side and forming between them the
heat flues from the fire box to the escape flue, the upper portions and the lower
outer side portions or legs of said sections having their contacting faces aper-
tured to establish communication for water from one section to another adjacent
to the outlets for the hot water and adjacent to the inlets for the water; substan-
tially as set forth.
4. In a sectional water heater of the character described, the combination of the
several hollow sections forming between them the heat flues from the fire box
to the exit flue, said sections extending downward at their outer sides to form
the sides of the box and just above the lower ends of said sides bulging outward
both within and without the heater to form increased water and heating capacity
in said sections and increased fire box or combustion capacity between those
portions of said sections which form the fire box; substantially as set forth.
5. In a sectional water heater of the character described, the combination of
the several hollow water-sections bound together and forming between them the
heat flues which extend upward to a longitudinal exit flue, said sections being
composed of the vertical transverse parts H, I, brought together and whose
flanges form said longitudinal exit flue; substantially as set forth.
6. In a sectional water heater of the character described, the combination of
the several sections forming between them the heat flues and longitudinal exit
flue, said sections being composed of the parts H, I, flanged and brought together,
one of the said parts having the deep flange and the other the shallow flange;
substantially as set forth.
7. In a sectional water heater, the several individual water sections or cells
banked together to form the complete heater, each of said sections being composed
of the separately formed parts flanged and brought together and forming the
complete section, substantially as set forth.
8. In a sectional water heater, the several individual water sections or cells

page_text: banked together to form the complete heater, each of said sections being composed
of the separately formed parts brought together to form the complete section,
and said parts being formed on their inner faces with inwardly projecting heat
conducting portions; substantially as set forth.
Dated this 30th day of June 1898.
JOSEPHUS PLENTY.
H. D. Fitzpatrick,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.