Rinnai America Corporation

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America

Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha

Michael Scott Knoblett

Scott Gilman Humphrey

Jason William Siler

Matthew Ryan Dettmering

Jason Oliver

Floris Van Dijk BsC

Kenichi Otsuka

Ansley Houston

Iain Twiss

John-Mark Peckham

Otsuka Kenichi

A vent attachment facilitates attaching a coaxial air intake and exhaust vent of a tankless water heater to a Category I vent, such as B-vent. The vent attachment comprises a first end with a coaxial connector comprising a central exhaust pathway and a circumferential air intake pathway. The vent attachment also comprises a second end with a tubular exhaust vent connector in fluid communication with the central exhaust pathway. The vent attachment further comprises a frame that encloses the central exhaust pathway and comprises a mesh configured to provide fluid communication through the frame with the air intake pathway. Additionally, operation of the tankless water heater is modified to ensure that the exhaust generated is suitable for venting through a Category I vent. The tankless water heater maintains a high fuel consumption rate such that the temperature of hot water produced increases throughout each of a plurality of burner stages.

Hybrid tank and tankless water heating system

A hybrid water heater incudes a storage tank, a first temperature sensor, a tankless heater fluidly coupled to the storage tank, and a controller configured to determine a target output temperature range for the tankless heater based on a temperature setpoint, measure a temperature of hot water stored in an upper portion of the storage tank using the first temperature sensor, determine whether the measured temperature of the hot water is less than a first minimum temperature setpoint, generate an adjusted target output temperature range for the tankless heater based on a determination that the measured temperature is less than the first minimum temperature by increasing a value of both the lower threshold and the upper threshold, and control the tankless heater to produce the heated water according to the adjusted target output temperature range.

Hybrid water heater with adaptive temperature control

A building management system (BMS) gateway comprises a BMS router and a water heater hub configured to be communicatively coupled to a plurality of water heaters. The BMS router facilitates communication of status and control data between a BMS and the water heaters connected to the water heater hub. Connecting multiple water heaters to a single BMS gateway provides simplified installation and networking requirements. For installations with more water heaters than are able to be coupled to the water heater hub, additional BMS gateways may be installed. Local controls for water heaters managed by the BMS are typically disabled or overwritten by the BMS to prevent changes to settings. A local BMS user interface (UI) is configured to connect with the BMS gateway(s) and facilitate secure access, display, and/or adjustment of water heater status and control data for the plurality of water heaters connected to the BMS gateway(s).

Water heater building management system gateway

Various implementations include a water heater system. The system includes a variable speed pump. The variable speed pump has having an inlet and an outlet. The system includes a heat exchanger, having an inlet and an outlet. The heat exchanger outlet is fluidically connected to the variable speed pump inlet. The system includes an output temperature sensor disposed downstream of the heat exchanger outlet. The system includes a controller configured to receive a first temperature reading from the output temperature sensor. The controller is configured to control operation of the variable speed pump to adjust an output flow rate in response to the first temperature reading. The controller is further configured to receive a second temperature reading from a recovery temperature sensor on a storage tank. The controller is configured to turn off the variable speed pump upon a determination that the second temperature reading has reached a maximum temperature.

Tankless water heater with integrated variable speed pump

A water heater system includes a controller configured to integrate control of both recovery and recirculation operations of a recovery pump and a recirculation pump. As such, a separate device, installation location, and power source (e.g., available outlet) is not needed with the controller. Because a single controller is configured to control both recovery and recirculation operations, additional control functions are available. The controller may be in communication with an internal controller of the water heater and configured to receive an error notification upon abnormal operation of the water heater. The controller can stop recovery and recirculation operations in response to an error notification, unlike with traditional water heating systems which may otherwise continue to function. The recovery and recirculation operations are based on a setpoint temperature of the water heater such that changes made to the setpoint temperature will automatically adjust in the recovery and recirculation operations.

Water heater with integrated building recirculation control

Vent attachment for a tankless water heater

An offset mounting bracket that comprises a primary member and a stabilization member can be used to mount multiple heat engines to a water storage tank. An offset mounting bracket can include a primary member, having a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The offset mounting bracket can also have a stabilization member, having a top surface and a bottom surface, a supporting surface that is opposed and connected to the primary member outer surface. The offset mounting bracket can also have a connecting member. The connecting member can be configured to fasten to the top of a water storage tank. There, the offset mounting bracket, can provide a surface to mount a heat engine that otherwise would not fit onto the water storage tank structure.

Offset mounting bracket for a water heater

A hot water supply system decouples an intelligent hot water storage system from a water heating engine system. The water heating engine system includes a plurality of instantaneous water heaters that provide for redundant operation for improved reliability. The intelligent hot water storage system includes a storage tank that encloses a volume for storage of water. The intelligent hot water storage system includes a recirculation loop driven by an integrated pump and operated by an integrated controller. By positioning the tank recirculation outlet and inlet farther apart from each other, additional usable volume of hot water is provided by the intelligent hot water storage system. Isolation valves positioned on the input and output of a recirculation pump in the recirculation loop facilitate repair or replacement of the recirculation pump. The hot water system provides for increased capacity while providing redundant heating engines in a smaller floor space than conventional systems.

Hot water storage tank with integrated pump and controller

A personal watercraft includes a hull, a deck disposed above the hull, and a seat supported on the deck. The deck includes a platform disposed at a stern of the personal watercraft, an outer wall disposed between the seat and the platform, and an inner wall disposed forward relative to the outer wall. The outer wall defines an opening accessible to an article storage space provided between the outer wall and the inner wall. The outer wall includes a lid arranged to open and close the opening.

Personal watercraft

An interchangeable seat system for a water vehicle includes a front seat member, a common base member, at least two rear seat members, and at least two hand grips. One of the at least two rear seat members and one of the at least two hand grips are configured such that a combination of the front seat member, the common base member, the one of the at least two rear seat member and the one of the at least two hand grips provides a two-person seat configuration for the water vehicle, and another one of the at least two rear seat members and another one of the at least two hand grips are configured such that a combination of the front seat member, the common base member, the another one of the at least two rear seat member and the another one of the at least two hand grips provides a three-person seat configuration for the water vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Newnan, GA, United States of America

Michael Scott Knoblett