Heat exchanger for a combined boiler, and combined boiler using said heat exchanger

Abstract

An instantaneous heat exchanger for heating sanitary water in a combined boiler has a casing defining a chamber for a first fluid, within which there extends a conduit or tubing for a second fluid. At least one of the chamber and the conduit has a substantial capacity of containment of the respective fluid, preferably between three and six litres, and the heat exchanger is pre-arranged for hydraulic connection to a standardized connection assembly for an ordinary plate-type heat exchanger for a combined boiler.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
   
   
       38 . An instantaneous heat exchanger for heating sanitary water in a combined boiler, particularly a domestic boiler of compact dimensions, the heat exchanger having a casing defining a chamber for a first fluid, within which a conduit or tubing for a second fluid extends, wherein at least one of the chamber and the conduit has a capacity of containment of a substantial quantity of the respective fluid, in particular greater than one litre, and the heat exchanger is pre-arranged for hydraulic connection to a standardized connection assembly for an ordinary plate-type heat exchanger for a combined boiler. 
   
   
       39 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 38 , wherein the conduit has a capacity of containment or storage of the respective fluid greater than two litres, preferably comprised between three and six litres. 
   
   
       40 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 38 , wherein on one and the same face of the casing there are provided:
 a first inlet and a first outlet of said chamber; and   a second inlet and a second outlet, of said conduit,   where in particular said inlets and outlets are pre-arranged for fast hydraulic connection to said standardized connection assembly, in particular in absence of threaded pipe unions.   
   
   
       41 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 40 , wherein on said face of the casing there are provided means for positioning and/or mechanically fixing the heat exchanger to the boiler, said means of positioning and/or mechanical fixing comprising in particular a first element and a second element horizontally aligned to one another. 
   
   
       42 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 40 , wherein the axes of said inlets and outlets are substantially parallel to one another;
 the first inlet and the first outlet are horizontally aligned to one another;   the second inlet and the second outlet are horizontally aligned to one another;   
     and where, in particular:
 the first inlet and the second outlet are vertically aligned to one another; and 
 the second inlet and the first outlet are vertically aligned to one another. 
 
   
   
       43 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 38 , further comprising conveying means to bring about a flow according to a substantially predefined path or direction of the first fluid within said chamber. 
   
   
       44 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 38 , wherein the heat exchanger is pre-arranged so that a flow of the second fluid occurs, within said conduit, in countercurrent, or in a direction opposite to a flow of the first fluid within said chamber. 
   
   
       45 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 43 , wherein said conveying means comprise at least one of:
 a partition member designed to enable circulation of the first fluid in just one direction within said chamber, from the respective inlet to the respective outlet,   a body housed in said chamber and operative for forcing the first fluid to flow through coils of said conduit, the conduit being configured in the form of a coil, said body preferably having the shape of a hollow cylinder with a respective closed end that opposes the direction of the flow of the first fluid within said chamber.   
   
   
       46 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 41 , wherein said face comprises at least one, preferably projecting, portion having a respective front, preferably plane, surface, there opening in said front surface at least two of said inlets and outlets and there being provided at least one first means of positioning and/or fixing. 
   
   
       47 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 40 , wherein:
 a vertical distance between centers of the first inlet and the first outlet and a vertical distance between centers of the second inlet and the second outlet are substantially equal to one another and measure approximately 40 mm, or else 42 mm; and   a horizontal distance between centers of said first inlet and first outlet and a horizontal distance between centers of said second inlet and second outlet are substantially equal to one another and measure approximately 154 mm, 172 mm, or else 278 mm.   
   
   
       48 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 38 , wherein at least one of the casing has an as a whole annular shape and the chamber has a substantially annular shape. 
   
   
       49 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 38 , wherein the conduit is defined by a tubing wound in a helix. 
   
   
       50 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 49 , wherein the chamber has a substantially annular shape and the tubing is wound in a helix that follows an annular development of the chamber. 
   
   
       51 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 38 , wherein the casing is formed by at least two components joined together in a sealed way, in particular at least two half-shells joined to one another in a separable way, between the two half-shells there being operatively positioned water sealing means. 
   
   
       52 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 46 , wherein said surface is defined by a front element, fixed in a separable way to a component of said casing, where in particular there is provided a plurality of front elements of different types, differentiated with respect to one another at least as regards the relative position between said inlets and outlets. 
   
   
       53 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 38 , wherein adapter means are provided, designed to be fixed mechanically and in a sealed way between said standardized connection assembly and the heat exchanger itself, said adapter means defining internal channels designed for hydraulic connection with said inlets and outlets. 
   
   
       54 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 53 , wherein said adapter means comprise one or more adapter bodies, each body having at least one internal passage that extends between two opposite and parallel faces of the body itself, there being provided, on a face, means for the positioning and/or mechanical fixing of the body with respect to the boiler, and there being provided, on the other face, second means for positioning and/or mechanical fixing of the heat exchanger with respect to the body. 
   
   
       55 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 51 , wherein said components comprise at least one component of a first type that may be selectively coupled to components of a second type differentiated with respect to one another at least as regards the relative position between said inlets and outlets. 
   
   
       56 . The heat exchanger according to  claim 38 , wherein the casing is at least in part obtained by moulding, in particular of a synthetic or aluminium material and/or the overall dimensions of the casing are not greater than approximately 400 mm in width, 120 mm in depth, and 270 mm in height. 
   
   
       57 . An instantaneous heat exchanger for heating sanitary water in a combined boiler, particularly a domestic boiler of compact dimensions, the heat exchanger having a casing defining a chamber for a first fluid, within which there extends a conduit or tubing for a second fluid, wherein
 at least one of the chamber and the conduit has a capacity of containment of a substantial quantity of the respective fluid, in particular greater than one litre,   on one and the same face of the casing there are provided:
 a first inlet and a first outlet of said chamber, and 
 a second inlet and a second outlet of said tubing, 
   said inlets and outlets are pre-arranged for fast hydraulic connection to a connection assembly without the aid of threaded pipe unions.   
   
   
       58 . A boiler of a combined type comprising:
 a primary circuit for a heating fluid or primary fluid, having at least:
 a delivery branch and a return branch, designed for connection with a plant for heating an environment; 
 an auxiliary branch that connects the delivery branch to the return branch; 
   a main heat exchanger, preferably a gas-burner heat exchanger, for heating the primary fluid;   a circulation pump arranged along the primary circuit;   a secondary circuit for the sanitary water, or secondary fluid;   an auxiliary heat exchanger, inserted in said auxiliary branch of the primary circuit and provided for heat exchange between the primary fluid and the secondary fluid; and   means for deviating selectively the circulation of the primary fluid towards said auxiliary branch or towards the plant for heating an environment,   
     the boiler moreover comprising a standardized connection assembly for installation, on the boiler itself, of a heat exchanger of the plate type, the connection assembly having at least:
 a first connection and a second connection, for connection of the auxiliary heat exchanger to the auxiliary branch of the primary circuit; and 
 a third connection and a fourth connection, for connection of the auxiliary heat exchanger to the secondary circuit, 
 
     said first, second, third and fourth connections being in particular of the quick-change type, or without threaded pipe unions, 
     wherein said auxiliary heat exchanger is built in accordance with  claim 38 . 
   
   
       59 . The boiler according to  claim 58 , wherein said standardized assembly comprises two connection units associated to one and the same support, each unit having a respective connection to a portion inside the heat exchanger of the auxiliary branch of the primary circuit, as well as a respective connection to a stretch inside the heat exchanger of the secondary circuit. 
   
   
       60 . The boiler according to  claim 59 , wherein each connection unit further comprises at least one of:
 a respective connection to the plant for heating an environment and a respective connection to a plant for sanitary water, where said further connections project underneath said support and have respective axes substantially parallel to one another and perpendicular with respect to the axes of said first, second, third and fourth connections,   a means of positioning and/or mechanical fixing, designed to co-operate with a respective means of positioning and/or mechanical fixing of the heat exchanger.   
   
   
       61 . The boiler according to  claim 58  further comprising a shell with overall dimensions not greater than approximately 500 mm in width, 400 mm in depth, and 900 mm in height.