Combined electric heating and water inlet/outlet assembly for water heating tanks

• US 4,578,565 A
• Filed: 12/05/1984
• Issued: 03/25/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shmuel Dawidowitch
• Original Assignee: Shmuel Dawidowitch
• Inventors: Dawidowitch, Shmuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Bartis, A.
• Application Number:
  US06/678,460
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 219/310, 219/312, 219/314, 219/316, 219/318, 219/319-321, 219/335, 219/336, 219/306, 126/362, 126/361, 126/351, 122/13 A
• US Class Current: 392/452
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/133 Storage heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/1818 Arrangement or mounting of electric heating means

Abstract

A combined heating and water inlet/outlet assembly for installation in a bottom opening of a domestic water heater tank includes a plastic mounting flange adapted to cover the opening and a plastic open-top cylindrical sleeve extending upwardly therefrom and adapted to project into the tank through the opening. An electric immersion heating element is removably carried by the flange and projects into the sleeve. Integrally formed water inlet and outlet tubes extend along the outer generatixes of the sleeve. A second, plastic, closed-top cylindrical unit is received on top of the sleeve to form an extension of thereof. An integral tubular section along the outer surface of the cylindrical member forms an extension of the outlet conduit. The closed top of the cylindrical member has an integral upwardly extending riser tube forming an outlet for water heated by the heating element. A series of integrally formed pairs of parallel plastic tube lengths fit one on top of the other and on top of the tubular outlet and riser tube section to form extensions thereof up to the top wall of the tank. A valved opening is provided in the cylindrical member for introducing water thereinto from the tank and permitting shutting off the water flow into the cylindrical member for replacing the heating element without need to empty the whole tank.

Claims

1. A combined heating and water inlet/outlet assembly for domestic electric water heater tanks having a circular bottom opening surrounded by a series of gudgeon bolts for fastening thereto an electric element mounting flange, comprising

(a) a first, integrally formed unit having a circular flange adapted to cover the tank opening and provided with circumferentially spaced openings adapted to receive the tank gudgeons;

(b) an open-top cylindrical sleeve having its bottom closed by and extending upwardly from a central section of the flange, which sleeve is adapted to be inserted through the tank opening into the interior of the tank;

(c) a tapped opening in said central portion threadably receiving a plug member carrying an electric immersion-type heating element extending upwardly into said sleeve with its terminals projecting downwards;

(d) a pair of tubular conduits, adapted to form the water inlet and outlet of the tank, extending upwardly from the said flange each along an outer generatrix of the said sleeve, and downwards of the flange, for connecting thereto cold and heated water conduits;

(e) a second, integrally formed unit comprising a closed top cylindrical member seated on top of the said sleeve to form an extension thereof;

(f) a tubular section extending along an outer generatrix of the cylindrical member thus forming an extension of said outlet conduit;

(g) an upwardly extending riser tube section at the closed top of the cylindrical member, forming an outlet for water heated by said heating element;

(h) a series of integrally formed pairs of parallel tube lengths fitting one on top of the other and on top of said tubular outlet and said riser tube section, to form extensions thereof up to the top wall of the tank; and

(i) an opening at the wall of the cylindrical member for introducing water thereinto from the interior of the tank.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a valve for selectively closing said water introducing opening.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said valve is operated by a manipulatable member extending downwards of the flange.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein a thermostat is mounted on the flange, adjacent the sleeve.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug is provided with two integrally-formed gudgeons mounting the electric element thereon.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein a pair of threaded pins are embedded in the plug, projecting from the bottom side thereof.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first unit is integrally formed by plastic injection molding.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second unit is integrally formed by plastic injection molding.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tube pairs of said series are integrally formed by plastic injection molding.