Apcom, Inc.

Aos Holding Company

A.o. Smith Corporation

American Water Heater Company

Mark A Murphy

Ray Oliver Knoeppel

Rodney Ray Syler

Thomas Gerard Van Sistine

Emadeddin Y Tanbour

Marcus E McAnally

Brian Thomas Branecky

Jianmin Yin

Jeffrey Ray Baxter

Benjamin Joseph Bolton

Edward Hammond

Duane A Lee

Wesley O Dunn

John W Hynes

A water heater system includes a tank having internal capacity no greater than 1 gallon, a water inlet, and a water outlet. A flow of water into the tank through the water inlet and out of the tank through the water outlet is a downstream water flow. An absence of downstream water flow is a standby condition of the water heater. The water heater includes a heating element for heating water in the tank, a first temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature of the water flowing into the tank, and a second temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature of the water flowing out of the tank. The water heater further includes a damper upstream of the second temperature sensor to reduce fluctuations in the temperature readings of the second temperature sensor to reduce false detection of downstream water flow.

Water heater with damper

A burner tube and door assembly for a water heater includes a burner tube and a fuel supply line in telescoping relationship to define a tube junction. The tube junction extends through the door of a water heater. One of the tube and line includes an enlarged portion. A lock ring applies a radially-directed force around a portion of the tube junction. The enlarged portion and lock ring are on opposite sides of the door to secure the door to the burner tube and fuel supply line. The enlarged portion and lock ring apply a compressive load to the door to resist rotation of the door with respect to the tube junction.

Water heater burner tube and door assembly

A water heater door assembly includes a base plate sized and shaped to substantially sealingly cover an access opening in a water heater combustion chamber and has at least one opening through which a fuel supply line extends at least partly between a burner in the combustion chamber and a gas control valve, and a flexible seal positioned at least partly within the opening including an engaging portion substantially sealed to an edge portion of the opening, and a through hole that is shaped to receive the fuel supply and has a size slightly smaller than the size of an outer dimension of the fuel supply line such that the flexible seal and the fuel supply line are friction fit together to form a seal.

Water heaters with sealed door assembly

A dry-fire protection system and method. The dry-fire protection system includes a tank, a heating element, a powered electrode, a sensor, and a microcircuit. The heating element and the powered electrode are positioned in the tank, the powered electrode being positioned above the heating element. The powered electrode includes an electrode wire and a connector having an electrical connector coupled to the electrode wire, but electrically isolated from the tank, and a fastener for coupling the powered electrode to the tank. The sensor detects an electrical characteristic of a circuit formed by the tank, the powered electrode, and water in the tank. The microcircuit determines if a possible dry-fire condition exists based on a signal received from the sensor.

Water storage device having a powered anode

A sacrificial anode assembly. The sacrificial anode assembly includes a sacrificial anode, an insulator positioned around an end of the anode, an electric coupler positioned around the insulator and extending beyond the end of the anode, the electric coupler electrically isolated from the anode, a resistor having a first lead and a second lead, the first lead electrically connected to the anode and the second lead electrically connected to the electric coupler, and a cap positioned around the electric coupler, the cap electrically connected to the electric coupler and electrically isolated from the anode. The cap complete encapsulates the resistor, the first lead, and the second lead.

Resistor anode assembly

A water heater including a vessel, a heating fixture (e.g., an electric-resistance heating element, a gas burner) having a rated maximum heating output, and a controller. The controller includes an interface and a temperature sensor. The controller can control the heating output of the heating element based on a sensed temperature of the temperature sensors. The heating output is a defined maximum heating output for the heating fixture. Also disclosed are methods of defining the capabilities of a water hater heater and methods of operating a water heater.

Water heater and method of customizing the water heater

A drain valve and method for assembling a drain valve. A valve assembly is inserted into a pipe, and a reduced diameter portion is formed in the pipe to create a substantially water-tight seal between a portion of the valve assembly and the pipe. A second reduced diameter portion may be formed in the pipe to provide a thrust bearing surface for resisting sliding movement of the valve assembly within the pipe. A transverse hole is provided in the pipe to provide access to a rotatable mechanism in the valve assembly to permit and restrict fluid flow through the drain valve.

Drain valve

A water heater having a powered electrode and a method of controlling the water heater. The water heater includes a tank to hold water, a heating element, an electrode, and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a variable voltage supply, a voltage sensor, and a current sensor. The control circuit is configured to controllably apply a voltage to the electrode, determine the potential of the electrode relative to the tank with the voltage sensor when the voltage does not power the electrode, determine a current applied to the tank after the voltage powers the electrode, determine a conductivity state of the water in the tank based on the electrode potential and the current, and define the voltage applied to the powered electrode based on the conductivity state. The control circuit of the water heater can also determine whether the water heater is in a dry-fire state.

Apparatus and method of incorporating a resistive interface between an anode rod and a water heater tank connector. The resistive interface can include a conductive polymer material or coating.

Resistored anode and a water heater including the same

A water heater including a water-tight tank, a cold water inlet and a hot water inlet in the tank. A first heat trap assembly is mounted at the cold water inlet and a second heat trap assembly is mounted at the hot water outlet. The first and second heat trap assemblies are adapted to allow flow of water both into and out of the tank when hot water is drawn out of the hot water outlet. The first and second heat trap assemblies are adapted to reduce convection heat loss from inside the tank when the water heater is in a stable condition, i.e., when water is not being drawn out of the hot water outlet. The heat trap assemblies are comprised of a housing member having a flange and a cylindrical body formed integrally therewith and a bushing member having a flange and a cylindrical body formed integrally therewith. The body of the bushing member is securely mounted inside the body portion of the housing member. A flapper valve member having a central flapper section and an outside ring section is secured between the flanges of the housing member and the flange of the bushing member. The central flapper section of the flapper valve member is movable with respect to the ring section of the flapper valve member in response to a pressure differential across the first and second heat trap assemblies.

Convection heat trap

A trip-free high limit control for a water heater having a source of heat to heat the water. A switch arm is mounted in a control housing for movement in the housing. The switch arm has a first contact portion at one end thereof. A second stationary contact is mounted in the housing. The contact portion on the switch arm is movable relative to the stationary contact between closed and open positions to control the energization and de-energization of the source of heat for the water heater. A bi-metallic snap disk is mounted in the housing and is movable with snap action between first and second positions of stability at a predetermined overheat temperature. A switch arm actuating plunger is mounted in the housing for movement by the snap disk to open the switch contacts at a predetermined overheat temperature. A reset mechanism is provided which includes a reset spring mounted in the housing in operable engagement with the plunger. The spring is calibrated to provide a predetermined force on the plunger relative to a predetermined compression travel force exerted on the spring. The reset mechanism further includes a reset button in operable engagement with the reset spring. The housing has a stop surface therein to limit travel of the reset button. Such limited travel of the reset button will limit the force applied to the plunger by the compression of the spring which, in turn, will limit the reset force applied to the bi-metallic snap disk. The reset mechanism will thus operate to produce insufficient force on the bi-metallic snap disk until a predetermined safe operating temperature is sensed by the bi-metallic snap disk. As a result, the operation of the water heater cannot be resumed after the bi-metallic disk is snapped at the overheat temperature until a safe operating condition is restored in the water heater.

Trip-free high limit control

A thermostatic switch construction including a housing having a switch arm mounted for movement inside. A bi-metallic snap disk is mounted in the housing and movable in response to temperature change with snap action between two positions of stability. A switch arm actuating plunger is slidably mounted in the housing with its lower end adapted for contact by and snap movement by the bi-metallic snap disk. A creep gap assembly is provided which includes a creep gap screw threadably mounted in the switch arm opposite the upper end of the plunger. Axes of the plunger and the gap set screw are in alignment. The creep space between the lower end of the set screw and the upper end of the plunger is adjustable by rotation of the set screw. A temperature setting adjustment is provided which includes a spring member mounted in the housing with one end of the spring member in direct contact with the bi-metallic snap disk to thereby exert pressure on the disk. An adjustment screw is threadably mounted in the housing with its end in contact with the spring member. The adjustment screw is operable when rotated to adjust the degree of pressure applied to the bi-metallic disk by the spring member. In the double throw embodiment of the invention, a first switch contact is mounted on a flexible support member and the second contact is mounted on the switch arm. The gap between the double throw contacts is adjustable by means of an adjustable screw member threaded into a stationary support opposite the first contact.

Thermostat construction

A thermostatic switch construction including a housing having a switch arm mounted for movement inside. A bi-metallic disk is mounted in the housing and movable in response to temperature change with snap action between two positions of stability. A switch arm actuating plunger is slidably mounted in the housing with its lower end adapted for contact with the bi-metallic snap disk. A bi-metallic disk mounting assembly is provided in which the disk is mounted. The disk housing serves to isolate the bi-metallic disk from contact with any part of the switch housing. The bi-metallic disk housing assembly is comprised of an aluminum platform member and an aluminum cup-shaped cup member mounted thereon to provide an enclosed space in which the bi-metallic snap disk is mounted.

Thermostat construction with improved bi-metallic disk mounting

The housing for an electrical device or control has a plurality of electric terminals, each having a base into which a screw is threaded with the screw head overlying the base to clamp a wire therebetween. Each base is recessed into the housing in a cavity having one side closed by a tab bent up from the base. The housing cavity and tab prevent lateral access to the space between the screw head and base except where permitted by a hole in the tab. The hole has an inverted teardrop shape and has its longitudinal axis tilted about 20.degree. so the larger end of the hole is further from the screw. The hole is positioned to the left of the screw (when viewed from outside the tab). As the screw is tightened the wire is forced down the tilted axis of the hole closer to the screw while friction between the screw head and the wire urges the wire further into the cavity. The base is provided with raised bumps or a recess. When the screw is tightened the wire is deformed against the bumps or into the recess.

Wiring terminal construction

A thermostat control for an electric water heater is held in firm contact with the heater storage tank by a mounting assembly comprising a tank bracket including a body having an opening adapted to lockingly fit over the heater tank stud and a pair of laterally-spaced legs extending from the body and having a bent upper end portion adapted to apply spring pressure toward the tank outer wall. The mounting assembly also includes a thermostat bracket carrying the thermostat control and having a pair of laterally-spaced, upstanding ears adapted to fit beneath the upper end portion of the legs on the tank bracket. Each of the ears includes a nib which is received in a slot in the legs on the tank bracket to interlock the two brackets. The tank bracket has a retaining lip located between the laterally-spaced legs which is positioned to tightly bear against the end wall of the thermostat control when the parts are in assembled position and an outward horizontal load is applied.

Growing community of inventors

Franklin, TN, United States of America

Mark A Murphy