Heat exchanger

A heat exchanger adapted for facilitated positioning and removal in relation to a heat exchange station preparatory to extracting heat from combustion gases during the exiting flow thereof through an exit conduit, the said heat exchanger comprising four vertically oriented walls operatively arranged in facing relation to define an open rectangular frame of a selected size in excess of said exit conduit to contribute to unimpeded movement therethrough of said combustion gases, a sinuous arrangement of water-circulation conduits disposed in spanning relation between an opposing two of said walls for positioning said conduits transversely across said flow path of said combustion gases, movement-guiding surfaces extending laterally along opposite edges of each said wall for establishing contact with cooperating surfaces of said exit conduit of said combustion gases, whereby said heat exchanger is adapted to be urged through opposite direction sliding movement while supported by said established contact of said cooperating surfaces to thereby contribute to the facilitated positioning at and removal thereof from said heat exchange station, plural heat exchange fins supported transversely of and in spaced relation along said water-circulation conduits to contribute to maximizing the extent of heat extracted from said combustion gases, said spaces between adjacent fins being of an optimum nominal extent of approximately 3/8 of an inch and effectively maintained free of any clogging material incident to the facilitated removal of said heat exchanger for periodic cleaning, the ends of said water-circulation conduits being arranged to project beyond said one supporting wall serving as the front of said frame, and at least one additional horizontally oriented conduit being connected to said projected ends to provide fluid communication therebetween, whereby said additional conduit also effectively serves as a handle for conveniently gripping said heat exchanger incident to its being urged through said sliding movements, the ends of said water-circulation conduits are arranged to also project beyond said other supporting wall serving as the rear of said frame, and said movement-guiding surfaces of said rear wall extend an appropriate distance in relation to said projected ends to serve as stops protecting said ends against damaging contact during the positioning of said heat exchanger at said heat exchange station, said exit conduit of said combustion gases having connected to openings thereof in facing relation to each other a corresponding facing pair of cooperatively outwardly diverging conduit members for enlarging the size of said flow path of said combustion gases and there is a rectangular housing connected in an interposed position between said flow path-enlarging conduit members for slidably receiving said heat exchanger, and a thermostat being operatively associated with each said flow path-enlarging conduit members, whereby a comparison of the temperatures recorded on said thermostats is effective in indicating the temperature drop in said combustion gases flowing through said heat exchange station.