Improvements in Heaters applicable for Heating Water for Baths or similar purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1998
Complete Specification Left, 20th June, 1899-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1899
DAL OT
Complete Specification Left, 20th June, 1899-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Heaters applicable for Heating Water for Baths or
similar purposes.
A communication by ALFRED H. HUMPHREY, of the City of Kalamazoo, County
of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester,
both in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in heaters and especially to heaters
for heating water for a bath or similar purposes.
The objects of this invention are first to produce a simple and effective and
durable heater of what is popularly known as the instantaneous" variety;
second, to provide an efficient means of distributing the water in a heater of this
class so that it will come in contact with and quickly absorb the heat from the
gases and air arising from a burner suitably confined: third, to cheapen the con-
struction of water heaters of this class generally without impairing their efficiency.
Further objects will definitely appear in the detailed description to follow.
tube,
There is provided an upright cylindrical casing supported on any suitable base
or suitably finished to stand on its bottom. Within the lower portion of the
same is a suitable gas burner, connecting to a gas pipe, though of course the
burner might be a gasoline burner or any suitable means of burning
any suitable fuel. Just above the burner is a hollow conical
which is fitted water and gas tight to its bottom within the outer
walls of the main casing. This conical part is open at its top for
the passage of gases. Surrounding the upper portion of this conical tube
portion, is an inverted cone, which is also fitted snugly within the casing and
also embraces the upper end of the conical portion. This has a downwardly and
outwardly projecting flange, containing vertical corrugations which form a space
between its lower portion and the bottom cone, for the passage of water.
Extending up from the bottom of the heater centrally is a pipe, which delivers
water out of its top and is controlled by a stop cock. On this pipe is secured
by a suitable collar a concavo-convex disc of considerably larger diameter than
the cone at its top to deflect and prevent any water descending from above fall-
ing in the cone. Resting on this disc, is a funnel shaped disc with its periphery
in close contact with the casing; a similar disc is inverted and rests within the
upturned flange at the peripheries of the disc. These discs are perforated. The
perforations in the discs are a little less than 1, of an inch in diameter when made
round though the perforations might be slots of the same width. The perfora-
tions are cut clean in the discs but they could be made by a suitable punch with-
out cutting away the metal, though of course the plates would be roughened.
On the upper end of the pipe a little cage is provided consisting of a cross
piece, screwed or otherwise secured to the pipe with standards at each end and

page_text: a cross piece at the top. A spindle having a journal at the top is within the
pipe, and projects into a journal bearing in the cross piece. On this spindle is
mounted a sprinkling wheel, which is made up of angular wings projecting
radially and downwardly and so arranged or tipped as to revolve like the arms
of a wind-mill or turbine. The spindle of course does not materially obstruct
the flow of water through the top pipe. The casing is provided with a suitable
top and flue for carrying away the products of combustion.
A faucet or stop cock is inserted in the outer casing just above the point where
the cone is joined to the same, to draw off the heated water, though a discharge
spout or pipe could be substituted. In operation the burner lighted and the
water is turned on by opening stop cock. The heat passes up from the burner
through the cones and through the perforations in the plates, out at the top.
The water passes up through pipe and rotates the sprinkler head, which distributes
the water onto the plate, where if it is undisturbed it will practically spread over
and seal all of the perforations. It also descends with like effect upon
the perforated plate. The upward current of heated air and gases,
however, breaks through the film of water over the perforations and is thus
brought thoroughly into contact with it and substantially all of the heat is thus
absorbed. The water continuing to trickle down comes into contact with the
disc, which is more strongly heated, then descends onto the inverted cone, down
the outside of the cone, which is also of course thoroughly heated and can be
drawn off at the stop cock. The water is thoroughly practically heated from the
start.
Having thus described this improved water heater my correspondent desires to
state that it is capable of great variations in the details of its construction with-
out departing from the invention. A single perforated plate would be found
quite effective but by reversing the current through the device as has been done
by a second plate much more heat is utilized. By making the plate a little more
conical the necessity of the sprinkler can be dispensed with. The structure
will operate with a considerable degree of efficiency without the sprinkler, in its
present form. Instead of using perforated plates, woven wire screen might be
adopted and by making the angle more abrupt the meshes of perforations can be
considerably increased and by making the screen flat and providing a distributor
or sprinkler the perforations could be made smaller than has been here described.
The cylindrical form for the outer casing is preferred as it is most easily con-
structed but it is obvious that other forms could be adopted. The special arrange-
ment of parts in conjunction with the perforated screens herein before described
is especially available and practical.
By use of the screen the comparatively small quantity of water is spread over
a broad surface and the current of heated gases penetrates the entire mass finely
dividing the same and so heating it completely.
Dated this 8th day of September 1898.
Improvements in Heaters applicable for Heating Water for Baths or
similar purposes.
A communication by ALFRED H. HUMPIIREY, of the City of Kalamazoo, County
of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign 5
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester,

page_text: both in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
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:-
This invention relates to improvements in heaters and especially to heaters for
heating water for a bath or similar purposes.
The objects of this invention are first to produce a simple and effective and
durable heater of what is popularly known as the "instantaneous" variety;
second, to provide an efficient means of distributing the water in a heater of this
class so that it will come in contact with and quickly absorb the heat from the
gases and air arising from a burner suitably confined; third, to cheapen the con-
struction of water heaters of this class generally without impairing their
efficiency. Further objects will definitely appear in the detailed description to
follow.
The objects of the invention are accomplished by the devices and means
described in this specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out
in the claims. The structure is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings
forming a part of this specification, in which,
Figure 1 is a vertical detail sectional view taken through the centre of the
device which is preferably cylindrical in form.
Figure 2 is an enlarged detail plan view of the sprinkling device supported
in the upper part of the heater.
Figure 3 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the said sprinkler partly in
section.
Figure 4 is a detail plan view of the deflector E, showing the corrugated
portion E, at the bottom.
Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the spreader screen.
Figures 6 and 7 are views of the said screen showing a modification of the form
of perforations therethrough.
In the drawing similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout
the several views.
Referring to the lettered parts of the drawing, A represents an upright
cylindrical casing supported on any suitable base or suitably finished to stand
on its bottom. Within the lower portion of the same is a suitable gas burner B,
connecting to a gas pipe B', though of course the burner might be a gasoline
burner or any suitable means of burning any suitable fuel. Just above the
burner is a hollow conical tube D, which is fitted water- and gas-tight to its
bottom within the outer walls of the main casing. This conical part is open at
its top for the passage of gases. Surrounding the upper portion of this conical
tube portion D in an inverted cone E, which is also fitted snugly within the casing
and also embraces the upper end of the conical portion B. This has a downwardly
and outwardly projecting flange E¹, containing vertical corrugations which form
a space between its lower portion and the bottom cone D, for the passage of water.
Extending up from the bottom of the heater centrally is a pipe C, which delivers
water out of its top and is controlled by a stop cock C. On this pipe is secured
by a suitable collar na concavo-convex disc F, of considerably larger diameter
than the cone D, at its top to deflect and prevent any water descending from
above falling in the cone.
Resting on this disc F is a funnel shaped disc G¹, with its periphery in close
contact with the casing A; a similar disc G is inverted and rests within the
upturned flange at the peripheries of the disc G¹. These discs G G are per-
forated. The perforations in the discs when at the angle indicated in the draw-
ing are a little less than of an inch in diameter when made round as appearing
in Figure 5, though the perforations might be slots as appears in Figures 6
and 7, of the same width. The perforations are shown cut clean in the discs but

page_text: they could be made by a suitable punch without cutting away the metal, though of
course the plates would be roughened.
On the upper end of the pipe C a little cage is provided consisting of a cross
piece K, screwed or otherwise secured to the pipe with standards K', K' at each
end and a cross piece J, at the top. A spindle I having a journal I" at the
top is within the pipe G, and projects into a journal bearing in the cross piece J.
On this spindle is mounted a sprinkling wheel I, which is made up of angular
wings projecting radially and downwardly and so arranged or tipped as to revolve
like the arms of a wind-mill or turbine. The spindle 1', of course does not
materially obstruct the flow of water through the top piece C. The casing A 1
is provided with a suitable top F, and flue F, for carrying away the products of
combustion.
A faucet or stop cock H is inserted in the outer casing A, just above the point
where the cone D is joined to the same, to draw off the heated water, though a
discharge spout or pipe could be substituted. In operation the burner B is lighted
and the water is turned on by opening stop cock C. The heat passes up from
the burner through the cones and through the perforations in the places G¹, out
at the top. The water passes up through pipe C, and rotates the sprinkler head I,
which distributes the water onto the plate G, where if it is undisturbed it will
practically spread over and seal all of the perforations. It also descends with like
effect upon the perforated plate G. The upward current of heated air and
gases, however, breaks through the film of the water over the perforations and
is thus brought thoroughly into contact with it and substantially all of the heat
is thus absorbed. The water continuing to trickle down comes into contact with
the disc F, which is more strongly heated then descends onto the inverted cone E,
down the outside of the cone D, which is also of course thoroughly heated and
can be drawn off at the stop cock H. The water is thoroughly practically heated
from the start.
Having thus described this improved water heater, my correspondent desires
to state that it is capable of great variations in the details of its construction
without departing from the invention. A. single perforated plate would be
found quite effective but by reversing the current through the device as has
been done by a second plate much more heat is utilized. By making the plate G
a little more conical the necessity of the sprinkler I can be dispensed with. The
structure will operate with a considerable degree of efficiency without the
sprinkler I, in its present form. Instead of using perforated plates woven wires
screen might be adopted and by making the angle more abrupt the meshes of
perforations can be considerably increased and by making the screen flat and
providing a distributor or sprinkler the perforations could be made smaller than
has been here described. The cylindrical form for the outer casing is preferred
as it is most easily constructed but it is obvious that other forms could be adopted.
The special arrangement of parts in conjunction with the perforated screens here
shown is especially available and practical.
By use of the screen the comparatively small quantity of water is spread over
a broad surface and the current of heated gases penetrates the entire mass finely
dividing the same and so heating it completely.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination in a water heater of an outer casing containing a burner
in its lower part, a cone open at its top and united to the outer walls of said casing
at its bottom; an inverted cone above the lower cone to leave an open space
between the two cones and closely fitting the outer walls of the heater: a deflector
disc supported above the top of the first cone to shield the same: an inverted
conical shaped perforated plate resting on the deflector; and a perforated conical
plate with its base on the first perforated plate, the same fitting closely into the

page_text: walls of the heater; a water supply pipe extending up through the heater having
a cage at its top containing a suitable rotary sprinkler adapted to be actuated
by the flow of the water; a cover and flue for the outer casing and a suitable
heater all co-acting together substantially as described for the purpose specified.
2. The combination in a heater, of an outer casing containing a burner in its
lower part; a cone open at its top and united to the outer walls of said casing at
its bottom and a suitable discharge therefrom; deflectors above said cone to pro-
tect the same and also discharge water upon it; a perforated plate above said
deflector and a water pipe projecting above said perforated plate with a sprinkler
at its top to deliver water over the perforated plate co-acting for the purpose
specified.
3. The combination in a heater of an outer casing containing a burner in its
lower part; a cone open at its top and united to the outer walls or said casing at
its bottom and a suitable discharge therefrom; deflectors above said cone to pro-
tect the same and also discharge water upon it; a perforated plate above said
deflector and a water pipe projecting above said perforations to deliver water over
the perforated plate co-acting for the purpose specified.
4. The combination in a heater of an outer casing containing a burner in its
lower part; a perforated plate in the upper part of said casing forming a complete
partition across the same, a water pipe extending above said perforated plate to
deliver water over the same to present a thin film to the heated gases from below
and collector means for gathering the water as it passes from the plate and dis-
charging it outside the heater for the purpose specified.
5. The combination in a heater of an outer casing containing a burner in its
lower part; a perforated plate in the upper part of said casing; a water pipe
extending above said perforated plate to deliver water over the same to present
the same in a broad body to the heated gases from below and collector means for
gathering the water as it passes from the plate and discharging it outside the
heater for the purpose specified.
Dated this 19th day of June 1899.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.