IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0812711
(2001-03-19)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Fulwider Patton Lee & Utecht, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
15 인용 특허 :
3 |
초록
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In a system and method for exchanging heat with a fluid, for heating the fluid, the system includes a heat exchanger, for exchanging heat with a fluid so as to heat the fluid, adapted to store heat energy, and to enable heat energy to be exchanged with the fluid to heat the fluid. The heat exchanger
In a system and method for exchanging heat with a fluid, for heating the fluid, the system includes a heat exchanger, for exchanging heat with a fluid so as to heat the fluid, adapted to store heat energy, and to enable heat energy to be exchanged with the fluid to heat the fluid. The heat exchanger enables the fluid to rapidly attain and maintain a stable heated fluid temperature, and a stable fluid dispensing temperature. The system further includes a fluid inlet, for enabling the fluid to flow into the heat exchanger, and a fluid outlet, for enabling the heated fluid to flow out of the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has a channel therein, adapted to enable the fluid to flow thereinto and therefrom, and to enable the fluid to be retained therein for efficient and effective heating of the fluid.
대표청구항
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1. A system for exchanging heat with a fluid, for heating the fluid, comprising:a heat exchanger, for exchanging heat with a fluid so as to heat the fluid, adapted to store heat energy, and to enable heat energy to be exchanged with the fluid to wheat the fluid, having a channel therein adapted to e
1. A system for exchanging heat with a fluid, for heating the fluid, comprising:a heat exchanger, for exchanging heat with a fluid so as to heat the fluid, adapted to store heat energy, and to enable heat energy to be exchanged with the fluid to wheat the fluid, having a channel therein adapted to enable the fluid to flow thereinto and therefrom, and to enable the fluid to be retained therein, comprising:a heating element, for heating the fluid;a channel, for enabling the fluid to flow thereinto and therefrom, and for enabling the fluid to be stored therein; anda storing element, for enabling the storing of fluid in the channel, the heating of the fluid stored in the channel by the heating element to a stored heated fluid temperature, and the maintaining of the fluid in the channel at the stored heated fluid temperature, and for enabling the fluid to be substantially rapidly heated by the heating element to a fluid dispensing temperature above the stored heated fluid temperature for dispensing of the fluid. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is comprised of aluminum. 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sealing element for sealing the heat exchanger. 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid inlet. 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid outlet. 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a sensing element for sensing the temperature of the heat exchanger, and for controlling and stabilizing the temperature thereof. 7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a system for dispensing the fluid, which includes the heat exchanger therein. 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid inlet, for enabling the fluid to flow into the channel, and a fluid outlet, for enabling the fluid to flow out of the channel, and wherein the storing element is further adapted to retain heat, such that, upon turning off the heating element and the fluid inlet after dispensing fluid, any fluid remaining in the channel evaporates through the fluid outlet responsive thereto. 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a flow-controlling element for controlling the flow of the fluid from the fluid outlet for dispensing thereof. 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an operation-controlling element for controlling the operation of the system. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the storing element is adapted to enable the fluid to be in direct contact therewith. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the heating element is generally m-shaped. 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the heating element is adapted to be connected to a heating source. 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the channel is in the shape of a spiral. 15. The system of claim 7, wherein the heat exchanger is located generally in the upper portion of the fluid dispensing system. 16. The system of claim 7, wherein the fluid dispensing system further includes an outlet for dispensing the heated fluid. 17. The system of claim 9, wherein the flow-controlling element comprises a flowmeter. 18. The system of claim 10, wherein the operation-controlling element comprises a processing element for processing the temperature of the heat exchanger. 19. The system of claim 16, wherein the fluid dispensing outlet comprises a fluid spray head. 20. The system of claim 18, wherein the processing element comprises a microprocessor. 21. The system of claim 3, wherein the sealing element comprises a pair of plates, in which each plate is relatively thin, and the storing element is located between the pair of sealing element plates, and comprises a storing element plate which is relatively thick, wherein the thickness of the storing element plate is substantially greater than the thickness of each relatively thin sealing element plate, such that the storing element plate is adapted to retain heat for a substantial period of time to maintain the fluid at the heated fluid temperature. 22. A system for exchanging heat with a fluid, for heating the fluid, comprising:heat exchanging means, for exchanging heat with a fluid so as to heat the fluid, comprising:heating means, for heating the fluid;a channel, for enabling the fluid to flow thereinto and therefrom, and for enabling the fluid to be stored therein; andstoring means, for enabling the storing of fluid in the channel, the heating of the fluid stored in the channel by the heating element to a stored heated fluid temperature, and the maintaining of the fluid in the channel at the stored heated fluid temperature, and for enabling the fluid to be substantially rapidly heated by the heating means to a fluid dispensing temperature above the stored heated fluid temperature for dispensing of the fluid. 23. A method of exchanging heat with a fluid, for heating the fluid, in a system which comprises a heat exchanger, for exchanging heat with a fluid so as to heat the fluid, comprising a heating element, for heating the fluid, a channel, for enabling the fluid to flow thereinto and therefrom, and for enabling the fluid to be stored therein and a storing element, for enabling the storing of fluid in the channel, the heating of the fluid stored in the channel to a stored heated fluid temperature, and the maintaining of the fluid in the channel at the stored heated fluid temperature, and for enabling the fluid to be substantially rapidly heated by the heating element to a fluid dispensing temperature above the stored heated fluid temperature for dispensing of the fluid, wherein the method comprises:heating the fluid in the channel, by the heating element; andheating and maintaining the heating of the fluid stored in the channel at the stored heated fluid temperature, by the storing element, for enabling the fluid to be substantially rapidly heated by the heating element to the fluid dispensing temperature above the stored heated fluid temperature for dispensing of the fluid. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the heat exchanger is comprised of aluminum, and wherein exchanging heat comprises exchanging heat with the fluid in the aluminum heat exchanger. 25. The method of claim 23, further comprising a sealing element for sealing the heat exchanger, further comprising sealing the heat exchanger. 26. The method of claim 23, further comprising a fluid inlet, and further comprising a fluid inlet flow which comprises enabling the fluid to flow through the fluid inlet. 27. The method of claim 23, further comprising a fluid outlet, and further comprising a fluid outlet flow which comprises enabling the fluid to flow through the fluid outlet. 28. The method of claim 23, further comprising a sensing element for sensing the temperature of the heat exchanger and for controlling and stabilizing the temperature thereof, further comprising sensing the temperature of the heat exchanger and controlling and stabilizing the temperature thereof. 29. The method of claim 23, further comprising a system for dispensing the fluid, which includes the heat exchanger therein, further comprising dispensing the fluid from the fluid dispensing system. 30. The method of claim 23, further comprising a fluid inlet, for enabling the fluid to flow into the channel, and wherein the storing element is further adapted to retain heat, such that, upon turning off the heating element and the fluid inlet after dispensing fluid, any fluid remaining in the channel evaporates through the fluid outlet responsive thereto, further comprising evaporating any fluid remaining in the channel, after dispensing fluid, responsive to the retained heat in the storing element. 31. The method of claim 23, further comprising a fluid outlet, for enabling the fluid to flow out of the channel, and a flow-controlling element for controlling the flow of the fluid from the fluid outlet for dispensing thereof, and further comprising controlling the flow of the fluid from the fluid outlet for dispensing thereof. 32. The method of claim 23, further comprising an operation-controlling element for controlling the operation of the system, further comprising controlling the operation of the system. 33. The method of claim 23, wherein the storing element is adapted to enable the fluid to be in direct contact therewith, and wherein exchanging heat comprises enabling fluid to be in direct contact with the storing element. 34. The method of claim 25, wherein the sealing element comprises a pair of plates, in which each plate is relatively thin, and the storing element is located between the pair of sealing element plates, and comprises a storing element plate which is relatively thick, wherein the thickness of the storing element plate is substantially greater than the thickness of each relatively thin sealing element plate, such that the storing element plate is adapted to retain heat for a substantial period of time to maintain the fluid at the heated fluid temperature, and wherein storing further comprises storing fluid heated to the heated fluid temperature in the relatively thick storing element plate so as to retain heat for a substantial period of time to maintain the fluid at the heated fluid temperature. 35. The method of claim 23, wherein the heating element is generally m-shaped, and wherein exchanging heat further comprises heating the storing element through the generally m-shaped heating element. 36. The method of claim 23, wherein the heating element is adapted to be connected to a power source, and wherein exchanging heat further comprises heating the heating element upon actuating the power source. 37. The method of claim 23, wherein the channel is in the shape of a spiral, and wherein exchanging heat further comprises enabling fluid to flow into the spiral-shaped channel. 38. The method of claim 29, wherein the heat exchanger is located generally in the upper portion of the fluid dispensing system, and wherein exchanging heat further comprises exchanging heat in the generally upper portion of the fluid dispensing system. 39. The method of claim 29, wherein the fluid dispensing system further includes an outlet for dispensing the heated fluid, and wherein dispensing further comprises dispensing the fluid from the heated fluid dispensing outlet. 40. The method of claim 31, wherein the flow-controlling element comprises a flowmeter, and wherein controlling further comprises controlling the flow of the fluid in the flowmeter. 41. The method of claim 32, wherein the operation-controlling element comprises a processing element for processing the temperature of the heat exchanger, and wherein operation-controlling further comprises processing the temperature of the heat exchanger. 42. The method of claim 38, wherein the fluid dispensing outlet comprises a fluid spray head, and wherein dispensing further comprises dispensing through the fluid spray head. 43. The method of claim 41, wherein the processing element comprises a microprocessor, and wherein sensing further comprises processing through a microprocessor. 44. A method of exchanging heat with a fluid, for heating the fluid, in a system which comprises heat exchanging means, for exchanging heat with a fluid so as to heat the fluid, comprising heating means, for heating the fluid, a channel, for enabling the fluid to flow thereinto and therefrom, and for enabling the fluid to be stored therein, and storing means, for enabling the storing of fluid in the channel, the heating of the fluid stored in the channel by the heating means at a stored heated fluid temperature, and the maintaining of the fluid in the channel at the stored heated fluid temperature, and for enabling the fluid to be substantially rapidly heated by the heating means to a fluid dispensing temperature above the stored heated fluid temperature for dispensing of the fluid, wherein the method comprises:heating the fluid in the channel, by the heating means; andheating and maintaining the heating of the fluid stored in the channel at the stored heated fluid temperature, by the storing means, for ena bling the fluid to be substantially rapidly heated by the heating means to the fluid dispensing temperature above the stored heated fluid temperature for dispensing of the fluid.
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