The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 29, 2011
Filed:
Jan. 29, 2008
Andrew William Phillips, Columbia, SC (US);
Andrew Robert Caves, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Thomas Gerard Van Sistine, Menomonee Falls, WI (US);
Ray Oliver Knoeppel, Hartland, WI (US);
John Matthew Schulz, Franklin, TN (US);
Andrew William Phillips, Columbia, SC (US);
Andrew Robert Caves, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Thomas Gerard Van Sistine, Menomonee Falls, WI (US);
Ray Oliver Knoeppel, Hartland, WI (US);
John Matthew Schulz, Franklin, TN (US);
AOS Holding Company, Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
Methods and systems for evaluating the condition of a water tank having a powered anode protection system. The water heater includes a storage tank to hold water, a powered anode, 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 compare a measured parameter to a threshold. In some constructions, the threshold is indicative of a condition of the storage tank at which the powered anode is no longer able to protect the storage tank from corrosion. In other constructions, the threshold is predicative of a potential failure of the storage tank caused by corrosion. In some constructions, the control circuit is configured to estimate a time remaining until the predicted failure of the storage tank.