A.o. Smith Corporation

Regal Beloit America, Inc.

Matthew William Critchley

Frank Edward Staigl, Iii

Stephen Thomas English

Joseph Aaron Henry

Janice Arline Fitzgerald

Charles John Koehler

John R Belko

Ngan Fai Leung

Barbara Mary Shanks

Jianmin Yin

JianMin Yin

Quinn Thomas Keller

A water heater system includes a gas burner configured to selectively produce flue gases, and a heat exchanger for heating water in the water heater system. The water heater system is operable in a heating mode, and a standby mode. An exhaust assembly is in communication with the heat exchanger, and includes a condensate collector configured to receive the flue gases and condensate. A first temperature sensor is positioned to sense a temperature of the condensate within the condensate collector. The first temperature sensor is configured to detect a rate of temperature change of the condensate. A controller is configured to determine a leakage when the rate of temperature change adjusts from a first state to a second state when the water heater system is in the standby mode after the water heater system was in the heating mode.

Leakage detection in condensing water heater

A method for determining flow velocity in a flow path, comprises defining a flow path for a fluid, the fluid flowing in a downstream direction that is opposite an upstream direction. A thermally-conductive element is exposed to the flow path. A known amount of heat is applied to a first portion of the thermally-conductive element and a sensed temperature is sensed at a second portion of the thermally-conductive element downstream of the first portion. The known amount of heat and the sensed temperature are used to determine a flow velocity of the fluid in the flow path.

Flow sensor with hot film anemometer

A flow sensor includes a tube having a tube wall with a window in it. A thermally-conductive base covers the window and has mounted to it a heater and a sensor of a hot film anemometer flow sensor. The base is sealed to the window to resist leakage of fluid from the flow path through the window under normal operating pressures. The hot film anemometer flow sensor is used to measure fluid flow through the tube.

A water heater includes a tank containing water to be heated and a thermal displacement conduit communicating between a portion of the tank and a receptacle. Water is displaced out of the portion of the tank, through the conduit, and to the receptacle during thermal expansion of the water during heating.

Water heater having thermal displacement conduit

An electric machine includes a stator having a first end and a second end and an end frame including a first cup portion arranged to at least partially contain a portion of the stator. The end frame is positioned adjacent the first end of the stator. A potting cup includes a second cup portion arranged to at least partially contain a portion of the stator. The potting cup is positioned adjacent the second end of the stator. A potting member is coupled to the stator, the end frame, and the potting cup to permanently bond the end frame, the potting cup, and the stator to one another.

Air cooled electric motor

An electric motor assembly. A stator includes a set of windings and has a first end, a second end, and an outer radial surface. A rotor includes a shaft having an axis. A first frame supports the shaft at a first axial position. A canopy substantially surrounds the first frame. The canopy includes a fluid inlet and a fluid discharge. A second frame supports the shaft at a second axial position and includes at least one fluid outlet. A chute is positioned downstream of the canopy fluid discharge. The chute directs fluid flow along the outer radial surface of the stator towards the fluid outlet. A fan is coupled to the shaft downstream of the fluid outlet for rotation with the shaft.

A motor includes a shaft that extends along a rotational axis and an end frame that includes a first surface that is substantially normal to the axis. A first plurality of annular features are arranged concentrically about the rotational axis and coupled to the first surface. A fan is mounted to the rotating shaft and including a slinger portion and a second surface. A second plurality of annular features are arranged concentrically about the rotational axis and coupled to the second surface. The first plurality of annular features cooperate with the second plurality of annular features to form a non-contact seal between the fan and the end frame.

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Milwaukee, WI, United States of America

Matthew William Critchley