Tankless water heater
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A water heater securable to a vertical surface, comprising:
- a tank housing having a first end, a second end, a middle spaced equidistantly between the first end and the second end, an internal chamber with a curved inner sidewall and a central tank axis, the tank housing securable to the vertical surface in one of a horizontal orientation, to orient the central tank axis horizontally, and a vertical orientation to orient the central tank axis vertically;
one or more electrically powered heating elements coupled to the first end of the tank housing to extend from the first end and into the internal chamber for heating water received within the internal chamber, the one or more electrically powered heating elements being connectable at terminals disposed exterior to the internal chamber to a current source;
a water inlet line having a first longitudinal axis parallel to the central tank axis, the water inlet line connectable at a first end to a water source and extending at a second end from outside the tank housing through an inlet port in fluid communication with an upper portion of the internal chamber of the tank housing to introduce water supplied from the water source into the internal chamber of the tank housing for heating by the one or more electrically powered heating elements;
a water outlet line exterior of the internal chamber to remove water displaced from the internal chamber by water introduced into the internal chamber of the tank housing, the water outlet line extending from the tank housing and fluidically connected to the internal chamber of the tank housing, the water outlet line having a second longitudinal axis parallel to the first axis;
a first outlet port extending through the curved inner sidewall between the water outlet line and the internal chamber, the first outlet port longitudinally between the middle and the second end of the tank housing;
a second outlet port extending through the curved inner sidewall between the water outlet line and the internal chamber, the second outlet port longitudinally between the first outlet port and the first end of the tank housing;
a first cap connected to the one or more heating elements;
a second cap connected to the second end of the tank housing;
a sealing element between the second cap and the tank housing;
wherein the first water outlet port and the second water outlet port are between a first plane intersecting and parallel to the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis and a second plane parallel to and spaced a distance from the first plane and intersecting the central tank axis;
wherein the water inlet line intersects a third plane, the third plane intersecting and parallel to the first longitudinal axis and the central tank axis; and
wherein the water outlet line intersects a fourth plane angled less than ninety degrees from the third plane, the fourth plane intersecting and parallel to the second longitudinal axis and the central tank axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A water heater (10) is suitable for point-of-use applications. The water heater includes a tank housing (12) and one or more electrically powered heating elements (18). A water inlet line (20) and a water outlet line (24) may be molded as a unitary structure with the tank housing. The water outlet line includes a lower port (68) and an upper port (70) for mixing water in the outlet line. The housing may be mounted such that its axis is either vertical or horizontal.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A water heater securable to a vertical surface, comprising:
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a tank housing having a first end, a second end, a middle spaced equidistantly between the first end and the second end, an internal chamber with a curved inner sidewall and a central tank axis, the tank housing securable to the vertical surface in one of a horizontal orientation, to orient the central tank axis horizontally, and a vertical orientation to orient the central tank axis vertically; one or more electrically powered heating elements coupled to the first end of the tank housing to extend from the first end and into the internal chamber for heating water received within the internal chamber, the one or more electrically powered heating elements being connectable at terminals disposed exterior to the internal chamber to a current source; a water inlet line having a first longitudinal axis parallel to the central tank axis, the water inlet line connectable at a first end to a water source and extending at a second end from outside the tank housing through an inlet port in fluid communication with an upper portion of the internal chamber of the tank housing to introduce water supplied from the water source into the internal chamber of the tank housing for heating by the one or more electrically powered heating elements; a water outlet line exterior of the internal chamber to remove water displaced from the internal chamber by water introduced into the internal chamber of the tank housing, the water outlet line extending from the tank housing and fluidically connected to the internal chamber of the tank housing, the water outlet line having a second longitudinal axis parallel to the first axis; a first outlet port extending through the curved inner sidewall between the water outlet line and the internal chamber, the first outlet port longitudinally between the middle and the second end of the tank housing; a second outlet port extending through the curved inner sidewall between the water outlet line and the internal chamber, the second outlet port longitudinally between the first outlet port and the first end of the tank housing; a first cap connected to the one or more heating elements; a second cap connected to the second end of the tank housing; a sealing element between the second cap and the tank housing; wherein the first water outlet port and the second water outlet port are between a first plane intersecting and parallel to the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis and a second plane parallel to and spaced a distance from the first plane and intersecting the central tank axis; wherein the water inlet line intersects a third plane, the third plane intersecting and parallel to the first longitudinal axis and the central tank axis; and wherein the water outlet line intersects a fourth plane angled less than ninety degrees from the third plane, the fourth plane intersecting and parallel to the second longitudinal axis and the central tank axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A water heater securable to a vertical surface, comprising:
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a tank housing having an internal chamber with a curved inner sidewall and a central tank axis, the tank housing securable to the vertical surface in one of a horizontal orientation, to orient the central tank axis horizontally, and a vertical orientation to orient the central tank axis vertically; one or more electrically powered heating elements coupled to a first end of the tank housing to extend from the first end and into the internal chamber for heating water received within the internal chamber, the one or more electrically powered heating elements being connectable at terminals disposed exterior to the internal chamber to a current source; a first cap connected to the one or more heating elements; a second cap connected to the tank housing; a sealing element between the second cap and the housing; a water inlet line connectable at a first end to a water source and extending at a second end from outside the tank housing to an inlet port in fluid communication with the internal chamber of the tank housing; and a water outlet line extending from the tank housing and in fluid communication with a first water outlet port in an upper portion of the internal chamber of the tank housing and also in fluid communication with a second water outlet port in a lower portion of the internal chamber of the tank housing; wherein the first water outlet port and the second water outlet port are between a first plane intersecting and parallel to the first axis and the second axis and a second plane parallel to the first plane and intersecting the central tank axis; and a diverter having an entry port, a chamber, and a curved flow path therebetween, the diverter adjacent to the curved inner sidewall of the tank housing; wherein each of the water inlet line and the water outlet line are integral with the tank housing, and are spaced circumferentially within a quadrant of the tank housing. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method of heating a stream of water, comprising:
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providing a tank housing having an internal chamber with a curved inner sidewall, a central tank axis, an open first end, and an open second end; providing a water inlet line extending from outside the tank housing to an inlet port in fluid communication with the internal chamber of the tank housing, the water inlet line having a first axis; providing a water outlet line extending from the tank housing to the exterior of the tank housing, the water outlet line having a second axis parallel to the first axis and being in fluid communication with a first water outlet port and a second water outlet port in fluid communication with the internal chamber of the tank housing, the first axis and the second axis intersecting and parallel to a first plane; providing a diverter having an entry port, a chamber, and a curved pathway therebetween; disposing the diverter in the internal chamber of the tank housing so the entry port is on the opposing side of the second plane from the water outlet line; securing the tank housing to a vertical surface; connecting the water inlet line to a source of unheated water; connecting the water outlet line to a water discharge line; providing one or more electrically powered heating elements for heating water within the interior chamber; closing off the open first end of the tank housing with a cap or gland supporting the one or more electrically powered heating elements; closing off the second end of the tank housing with a cap and sealing element; installing the one or more electrically powered heating elements to protrude a portion of the one or more electrically powered heating elements into the internal chamber of the tank housing; and connecting a pair of electrical terminals on a portion of the electrically powered heating elements exterior to the internal chamber to a source of electrical power to generate electrical resistance heating in the protruding portion of each of the one or more electrically powered heating elements to heat water flowing therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A water heater, comprising:
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a tank housing having an internal chamber and a central tank axis; one or more electrically powered heating elements for heating water within the internal chamber; a water inlet line having a first axis parallel to the central tank axis, the water inlet line extending from outside the tank housing to an inlet port; a water outlet line having a second axis parallel to the first axis, the water outlet line extending from an outlet port in the tank; a first cap connected to the one or more heating elements; a second cap connected to the tank housing; a sealing element between the second cap and the tank housing; a controller for controlling power to the one or more electrically powered heating elements, the controller responsive to a flow condition based on an absolute value of the change in temperature sensed upstream from the inlet port and the absolute value of the change in the temperature sensed downstream from the first outlet port; a first plane parallel to and intersecting the first axis and the second axis; a second plane parallel to the first plane and intersecting the central tank axis; and wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are between the first plane and the second plane. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A water heater, comprising:
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a cylindrical tank housing having an internal chamber and a central tank axis; one or more electrically powered heating elements for heating water received within the internal chamber and coupled to a first end of the tank housing; a water inlet line having a first longitudinal axis parallel to the central tank axis, the water inlet line extending from outside the tank housing through an inlet port in direct fluid communication with the tank housing; a water outlet line having a second longitudinal axis parallel to the central tank axis, the water outlet line extending from an axially spaced outlet port from the tank housing; a seal ring for sealing between the one or more heating elements and the tank housing; and a gland threadedly securable to a correspondingly threaded element port in the tank housing for forcing the one or more electrically powered heating elements into sealing engagement with the seal ring thereby isolating the gland threads and the corresponding element port threads from water received into the internal chamber; a cap connected to the housing; a first plane parallel to and intersecting the first longitudinal axis and second longitudinal axis; a second plane parallel to and spaced a distance from the first plane and intersecting the central tank axis;
wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are between the first plane and the second plane;an inlet temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of water flowing in the water inlet line and for generating a signal indicating the sensed temperature thereof; an outlet temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of water flowing in the water outlet line and for generating a signal indicating the sensed temperature thereof; and a controller to receive the signals generated by the inlet temperature sensor and the outlet temperature sensor and to respond by controlling the electrical current to the one or more electrical powered heating elements, said controller for controlling power to the one or more electrically powered heating elements, the controller responsive to a flow condition based on an absolute value of the sensed change in temperature of water flowing upstream from the inlet port added to the absolute value of the sensed change in temperature of the water flowing downstream from the first outlet port. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification