ELECTRIC WATER HEATER

• US 3,614,386 A
• Filed: 01/09/1970
• Issued: 10/19/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gordon H. Hepplewhite
• Original Assignee: Gordon H. Hepplewhite
• Inventors: Hepplewhite, Gordon H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truhe, J. V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Albritton, C. L.
• Application Number:
  US05/001,788
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 219/310,312,314,315,316,318
• US Class Current: 392/452
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/202 with resistances
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/0021 Sleeves surrounding heating elements or heating pipes, e.g. pipes filled with heat transfer fluid, for guiding heated liquid

Abstract

In accordance with this invention there is provided an electric water heater and storage tank wherein only a single electric heating element is vertically mounted near the bottom of the tank and is surrounded by a spaced-apart tube which is a good thermal insulator, such as a plastic tube. The insulator tube is open at the bottom for cold water inlet and has openings at the top for hot water outlet near the middle of the tank, forming a circulating system within the tank to cause cooler water to sweep across the surface of the electric heating element for economy and to greatly reduce stratification of the hot water within the tank.

Claims

1. An electric water heater and storage tank system comprising, in combination;

a vertical-type storage tank having an opening at its top, means for connecting a hot water withdrawal pipe into the tank near the top thereof, means for connecting a cold water inlet pipe through the wall of the tank, the inlet pipe terminating near the bottom of the tank, a dry well mounted through the opening at the top of the tank and extending into the tank, only a single elongated electric heating element connected to said dry well and extending vertically into said tank for engagement with water therein, electric wiring means connected to said heating element and extending into said dry well and out of the tank at said opening at the top of the tank, heat-insulating pipe means connected to said dry well and surrounding but spaced from said heating element, said insulating pipe being open at its bottom end and having an opening at its top end where it is connected to said dry well for flow of water therethrough and in contact with the said heating element, and thermostatic means mounted on said tank and connected electrically with said electric wiring means for controlling the energization of said heating element.

2. An electric water heater and storage tank comprising, in combination:

a vertical-type storage tank having an opening at its top, means for connecting a hot water withdrawal pipe near the top of the tank, means for connecting a cold water inlet pipe through the wall of the tank, the inlet pipe terminating near the bottom of the tank, a dry well through the said opening at the top of the tank and extending into the tank to a location about the middle of the tank, a heating element adapter connected to the bottom of the dry well, an elongated electric heating element connected electrically and mechanically to said adapter and holding said element vertically within said tank, heat-insulating pipe means connected to said dry well and surrounding but spaced from said heater element, said pipe means having openings at its top and having an open bottom near the bottom of the tank, electric wires extending from the outside of said tank down through said dry well to said adapter and to said heating element, and thermostat means mounted on said tank and connected to said electric wires for sensing the temperature of the water therein and for controlling the energization of said heater element.