Friction heater
OwnerWilliam E. Newman, Sr., Henry W. Clark, Jr.inventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A friction heater is provided which includes a rotor which rotates relative to a stator to generate heat which is transferred to a wall of a tank which contains a quantity of liquid to be heated. The outer surface of the stator and a surface of the tank are smooth surfaces which are in contact with each other substantially throughout their extent so that virtually no heat is lost at the interface between such surfaces. Baffles are provided in the tank to increase the dwell time of the liquid flowing through the tank.
Claims18
A friction heater comprising:
- a rotor;
- a stator into which said rotor extends, an outer surface of said rotor engaging an inner surface of said stator;
- means attached to said rotor for rotating said rotor about a stator axis;
- an enclosed reservoir housing having at least one inner wall, and at least one outer wall, which extend from a top wall to a bottom wall, said at least one inner wall enclosing a central area of said enclosed reservoir housing, said stator extending into said central area such that a smooth outer surface of said stator engages a smooth outer surface of said inner wall;
- a divider disposed within said enclosed reservoir housing, said divider extending from said outer wall to said inner wall and from said top wall to said bottom wall to prevent the flow of liquid within said enclosed reservoir housing past said divider;
- a plurality of baffle plates positioned in said enclosed reservoir housing and extending from said outer wall to said inner wall, alternate baffle plates extending from said top wall to a distance from said bottom wall, and baffle plates adjacent said alternate baffle plates extending from said bottom wall to a distance from said top wall;
- an inlet extending through said outer wall into said enclosed reservoir housing adjacent one side of said divider;
- and
- an outlet extending through said outer wall into said enclosed reservoir housing adjacent an opposite side of said divider.
A friction heater comprising an annular enclosed housing having a central open area defined by a heat transfer wall having a smooth outer surface, a stator disposed within said central open area providing a smooth first heat transfer surface and an opposite smooth second heat transfer surface, said first heat transfer surface being substantially entirely in intimate contact with said smooth outer surface, a rotor coaxially disposed relative to said annular enclosed housing and said stator and providing a smooth third heat transfer surface substantially entirely in intimate contact;
- with said second heat transfer surface, means for rotating said rotor relative to said stator, a divider provided within and sealingly attached to said annular enclosed housing for preventing 360.degree. flow of liquid in said annular enclosed housing, an inlet extending into said annular enclosed housing and located circumferentially on one side of said divider, an outlet extending into said annular enclosed housing and located circumferentially on an opposite side of said divider, and at least one baffle plate positioned within said annular enclosed housing and located in a flow path of any liquid flowing through said annular enclosed housing from said inlet to said outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.