Daniel T Welch

US Patent:

53796039, Jan 10, 1995

Filed:

Mar 28, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/218348

Inventors:

Daniel L. Welch - Tucson AZ
Jeff L. Love - Leander TX

International Classification:

F25C 112

US Classification:

62 66

Abstract:

Prechilling the tap water with the cold waste water from an ice machine is achieved by using an insulated, elongated casing, which encloses a reservoir housing a heat exchanger made of a relatively long tubing of copper to provide a relatively long path of travel for the tap water. The heat exchanger is in the form of a coil followed by a substantially straight tube within and surrounded by the coil's turns. A hollow member, closed at one end, is spaced from the straight tube. The coil's turns surround the hollow member and the straight tube. Preferably, the hollow member is mounted over and is spaced from the straight tube to form there between an elongated chamber. In use, the tap water flows downwardly in the coil and upwardly through the straight tube. The cold waste water flows through the elongated chamber into the reservoir, thereby progressively and continuously increasing the temperature of the waste water and correspondingly decreasing the tap water's temperature.