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Stackable water heater apparatus

  • US 9,835,359 B1
  • Filed: 12/08/2015
  • Issued: 12/05/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An electric water heating system comprising:

  • a first individually separable electric water heater comprising;

    a first tank sized to hold a first quantity of water less than 55 gallons;

    a first electric heating structure disposed within the first tank and adapted to heat the first quantity of water; and

    a first control circuit in electrical communication with the first electric heating structure, the first control circuit comprising a first temperature sensing element configured to detect a temperature of the first quantity of water;

    a second individually separable electric water heater configured to have the first individually separable electric water heater mounted thereon, the second individually separable electric water heater comprising;

    a second tank sized to hold a second quantity of water less than 55 gallons, the first and second tanks being sized so that the combined first and second quantities of water are greater than 55 gallons;

    a second electric heating structure disposed within the second tank and adapted to heat the second quantity of water; and

    a second control circuit in electrical communication with the first control circuit and the second electric heating structure, the second control circuit comprising a second temperature sensing element configured to detect a temperature of the second quantity of water;

    a first jacket structure outwardly circumscribing the first tank and forming a first insulation space between the first jacket structure and the first tank;

    a second jacket structure outwardly circumscribing the second tank and forming a second insulation space between the second jacket structure and the second tank; and

    a first insulation material disposed in the first insulation space and a second insulation material disposed in the second insulation space,wherein the first individually separable electric water heater includes a first upper junction box and a first lower junction box, wherein the second individually separable electric water heater includes a second upper junction box and a second lower junction box, wherein the first control circuit is connected in series with the second control circuit, and wherein the first upper junction box is configured to receive power from a branch circuit and supply the power to the first control circuit and, via the first lower junction box and the second upper junction box, to the second control circuit connected in series such that the first control circuit and the second control circuit form a control unit that is configured to prevent both the first electric heating structure and the second electric heating structure from being simultaneously operable.

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