Recycle heat exchanger for watercraft
OwnerBrian Lapwoodinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus to heat potable water aboard a recreational marine watercraft includes a metal enclosure that sits atop one burner of a conventional galley stove powered separately from the engine and the source of AC power. Potable water is circulated through a tubing unit mounted within the enclosure by a pump operated by a low DC voltage. The heated potable water is then transferred back to the potable water holding tank through a check valve which prevents reversed flow of the heated water. This provides a boater with the ability to maintain a source of hot water while away from shore power or while the engine is turned off. The top of the enclosure is partially open to allow use of the burner for cooking, or boiling water as needed with the cooking vessel being placed atop of the enclosure.
Claims14
In combination with a recreational marine watercraft, an apparatus for heating water aboard said watercraft independently from both a source of AC power and independently from operation of a watercraft's engine, said apparatus comprising:
- (a). a heat exchanger operably connected to each of a source of heat and a source of water and capable of transferring heat generated by said source of heat to water circulating through said heat exchanger, said heat exchanger further comprising:
- (i). an enclosure having a top panel, a bottom panel and a peripheral side panel;
- (ii). a heating tube unit mounted within said enclosure;
- and,
- (iii). an aperture formed in at least one of said top panel and said bottom panel for directly exposing said heating tube unit to said heat generated by said heat source;
- (b). a water supply conduit means for delivering water from said source of water to said heat exchanger;
- (c). a water return conduit means for returning heated water from said heat exchanger to said source of water;
- (d). a pump electrically connected to a source of DC power and operable for selectively circulating water from and to said source of water through said heat exchanger;
- and,
- (e). a valve which is operably mounted within said water return conduit means for preventing a reversed flow of water therein;
- wherein said heat source is at least one burner mounted on top of a galley stove of said watercraft and wherein said heat exchanger has said bottom surface thereof abuttingly engaging a top portion of said at least one burner and said aperture is formed in said bottom surface for directly exposing said heating tube unit mounted within said heat exchanger to said heat generated by said heat source.
A method of heating potable water aboard a recreational marine watercraft independently from one of a source of AC power and operation of a watercraft's engine, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a). positioning a heat exchanger in abutting engagement with a top portion of a burner mounted atop a stove of said watercraft, said burner capable of generating heat sufficient to heat said potable water;
- (b). positioning a pump and a check valve in a predetermined location within said watercraft;
- (c). connecting said pump in fluid communication with an outlet of a tank containing said potable water and an inlet of said heat exchanger;
- (d). connecting said valve in fluid communication with an inlet of said tank and an outlet of said heat exchanger;
- (e). connecting said pump to a source of DC power;
- (f). turning said burner on to generate said heat;
- (g). energizing said pump to circulate said potable water from and to said tank through said heat exchanger when said potable water is at a first pre-selected temperature;
- and,
- (h). de-energizing said pump when said potable water is heated to a second pre-selected temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.