Method and apparatus for manufacturing a foam insulated water heater
AssigneeGSW Inc.
InventorRobert W. Tilton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for insulating a water heater with foamed insulation comprises inflating a tube in the cavity between the shell and the tank to define a boundary for the cavity into which the insulating material is injected. The device is deflated after the foamed insulation has set in the cavity. Apparatus for carrying out such method is provided.
Claims26
A method of manufacturing a water heater having an internal tank, an intermediate layer of expanded foam and an outer shell spaced from said internal tank by said intermediate layer, comprising
- positioning the outer shell about said internal tank to at least partially form a cavity for said insulative material,
- closing said partially formed cavity adjacent one end thereof by inflating an inflatable device between said shell and tank to define a boundary for said insulative material,
- placing an expandable foam material into said cavity defined by said internal tank, said inflatable device and said outer shell,
- waiting for said form material to expand and form said intermediate layer,
- deflating said inflatable device and inspecting the area of said tank and outer shell adjacent the boundary previously formed by said inflatable device to assure said intermediate layer has been retained by said inflatable device during the expansion of said expandable foam material.
An apparatus for use in insulating water heaters of the type having an inner tank and an outer shell spaced from such inner tank by an intermediate layer of insulative material, said apparatus comprising means for locating supporting such inner tank, means for locating and supporting such outer shell in a manner to be spaced from such inner tank which in combination with said means for locating and supporting such inner tank positions such inner tank within such outer shell intermediate the length thereof, an inflatable tube for securement about such inner tank intermediate the length thereof and interior to such outer shell, said tube when inflated sealingly engaging such outer shell and inner tank and closing the space therebetween to allow forming of such insulative layer by inserting a fluid post-foaming material in the space between such outer shell and such inner tank above said inflated tube.
Apparatus for use in insulating a fuel-fired water heater having an inner tank and an outer shell spaced from such inner tank to provide a cavity into which a fluid post-foaming insulative material is introduced to insulate such inner tank, said apparatus comprising means for locating such inner tank bottom inwardly of such outer shell base portion to provide space beneath such inner tank for a fuel burner arrangement and an inflatable tube for insertion in the cavity defined between such inner tank base portion and such outer shell, said tube when inflated with fluid sealing off such cavity at the lower end of said water heater and said tube being deflatable after foamed insulative material has set in such cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.