Back to results
US 4,955,207 AGranted
Combination hot water heater-refrigeration assembly
OwnerClark B. Minkinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combination hot water heater-refrigeration assembly includes a refrigeration assembly coupled to a hot water tank via a heat pipe. The heat pipe has the heat releasing end thereof near the bottom of the hot water tank.
Claims1
A combination hot water heater-refrigeration assembly comprising:
- (A) a hot water heater unit which includes
- (1) a tank for containing water to be heated, said tank having a bottom and a top with a cold water inlet located adjacent to said bottom and a hot water outlet located adjacent to said top, and
- (2) heater means for heating the water contained in the tank;
- (B) a refrigeration system which includes
- (1) a compressor for compressing fluid, such as Freon.
- (2) a condenser fluidically connected to said compressor and receiving compressed fluid therefrom,
- (3) a three-way valve fluidically connecting said compressor to said condenser;
- and
- (C) a water heating heat transfer system which includes
- (1) a heat exchange element in said hot water heater unit tank,
- (2) an inlet fluid line fluidically connecting said three-way valve to said heat exchange element and conducting fluid from said compressor to said heat exchange element,
- (3) an outlet fluid line fluidically connecting said heat exchange element to said condenser and conducting fluid from said heat exchange element to said condenser,
- (4) a heat pipe in said tank and having a heat absorber at one end in heat transferring association with said heat exchange element, said heat pipe having a heat releaser at another end in heat transferring association with water located adjacent to the bottom of the tank,
- (5) said heat exchange unit including a sleeve located inside said heat pipe, and
- (6) a pressure control unit connected to said outlet fluid line.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.