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Water heater having molded plastic storage tank and associated fabrication methods

  • US 5,668,922 A
  • Filed: 11/16/1995
  • Issued: 09/16/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. Water storage apparatus comprising:

  • a plurality of molded plastic one piece hollow tubular body sections positioned in a coaxial, end-to-end orientation in which there is at least one axially adjacent pair of body sections, and including first and second opposite end sections having closed outer ends, each of said body sections having at least one open end portion and further having;

    (1) a tubular inner shell section,(2) a tubular outer shell section coaxially circumscribing said tubular inner shell section and forming between said inner and outer shell sections an annular insulation space, and(3) a circumferentially spaced series of ribs extending radially across said annular insulation space and dividing said annular insulation space into circumferential segments, said ribs being integrally molded with said inner and outer shell sections, and said closed outer ends of said first and second opposite end sections being integrally molded with said first and second opposite end sections; and

    joining means for permanently and sealingly joining opposing contiguous open end portions of each axially adjacent pair of said plurality of body sections in a manner forming from said plurality of body sections a hollow water storage body structure having an internal water storage vessel portion defined entirely by said inner shell sections, outwardly enveloped by said annular insulation spaces and structurally reinforced, via said ribs, by said outer shell sections.

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