NEXT GENERATION BARE WIRE WATER HEATER

• US 20160097562A1
• Filed: 11/24/2015
• Published: 04/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company (Paloma Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Eemax, Inc. (Paloma Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: HAYDEN, Chris, JURCZYSZAK, Eric R., HANKINS, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 10,139,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/142 using electric energy supply
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/128 Preventing overheating
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/20 characterised by control inputs
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/37 of electric heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 15/395 Information to users, e.g. alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 2250/02 Resistances
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/1818 Arrangement or mounting of electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/2028 Continuous-flow heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/16 the conductor being mounted on an insulating base
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/46 heating conductor mounted on insulating base

Abstract

A heating unit for heating fluid is described having at least one electrical resistance heating element on an outer surface of a tube. At least one indexed groove is provided around a surface of the tube allowing for at least one retention clip to hold the electrical resistance heating element. A heating chamber is also provided to enclose a portion of the tube and to provide a flow channel therebetween. The heating chamber includes an optical sensor to detect overheating of the at least one electrical resistance heating element. Fluid is heated by flowing over the surface of the at least one electrical resistance heating element and through the tube.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A heating unit comprising:

a retention device;

a tube having a flange and at least one indexed groove located along a length of the tube, wherein the at least one indexed groove contains the retention device; and

at least one electrical resistance heating element having a first end connected to the tube via the flange and a second end connected to the tube via the retention device; and

a heating chamber that partially encloses the tube thereby creating a first flow path therebetween, the heating chamber including at least one opening along the length of the tube.

3. The heating system according to claim 2, wherein the opening extends in a direction perpendicular to the length of the tube.

4. The heating system according to claim 2, wherein the heating chamber further includes an optical assembly having a translucent filter to filter infrared emissions from the at least one electrical resistance heating element.

5. The heating system according to claim 4, wherein the translucent filter extends along a length of the opening in a direction parallel to the length of the tube.

6. The heating system according to claim 2, wherein the heating chamber further includes an optical assembly having at least one optical sensor spaced apart from the at least one electrical resistance heating element in a direction perpendicular to the length of the tube.

7. The heating system according to claim 4, wherein the optical assembly further includes at least one optical sensor spaced apart from the at least one electrical resistance heating element in a direction perpendicular to the length of the tube.

8. The heating system according to claim 7, wherein the optical sensor is spaced apart from the translucent filter at a distance farther from the tube than the translucent filter in a direction perpendicular to the length of the tube.

9. The heating system according to claim 7, wherein the optical assembly further includes an opaque portion attached to a portion of the translucent filter to block external light from entering between the heating chamber and the translucent filter.

10. The heating system according to claim 9, wherein the optical assembly further includes a backplane affixed to the opaque portion and extending along a length of the opening in a direction parallel to the length of the tube.

11. The heating system according to claim 10, wherein the optical sensor is affixed to a portion of the backplane on a side facing the tube and at a location on the backplane which extends along a length of the opening.

12. The heating system according to claim 2, wherein the heating chamber includes a plurality of openings along a length of the tube.

13. The heating system according to claim 11, wherein the heating chamber includes a plurality of openings along a length of the tube, each heating chamber having a corresponding optical assembly.

14. The heating system according to claim 2, wherein the heating chamber is made from an opaque material.

15. The heating system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one optical sensor measures light emitted from the at least one electrical resistance heating element.

16. The heating system according to claim 2, wherein the tube includes a first opening on a first end and a second opening on a second end thereby providing a second flowpath within the tube.

17. The heating system according to claim 2, wherein the retention device is rotatably adjustable around a circumference of the tube within the at least one indexed groove to provide different locations on the circumference of the tube at which to connect the at least one resistance heating element.

18. The heating system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one electrical resistance heating element is attached to a surface of the retention device such that at least a portion of the at least one electrical resistance heating element is spaced apart from a surface of the tube.