Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090084328 | WATER HEATERS WITH COMBUSTION AIR INLET - A water heater includes a water container, a combustion chamber adjacent the, water container, a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, a blower assembly positioned to receive combustion gases generated by the burner, a shield positioned below at least a heating portion of the burner, a diverter that directs combustion air into the combustion chamber below the shield, and a passageway that directs at least a portion of the combustion air from the combustion air inlet, as primary combustion air, to the burner. | 04-02-2009 |
20090308332 | WATER HEATER WITH FORCED DRAFT AIR INLET - A water heater includes an air intake assembly that includes a blower for providing primary and secondary air to a combustion chamber at pressures above atmospheric pressure. The primary air is mixed with gaseous fuel and the mixture is combusted at a burner in a partially premixed but substantially diffusion flame having an envelope. Combustion of the mixture is completed within the envelope in the presence of secondary air at elevated pressure. A 24 V controller provides power to a user interface and a powered anode in the tank. The controller receives input from a pressure sensor in the air intake assembly, a flame sensor in the combustion chamber, and a flammable vapor sensor outside the water heater. The controller controls operation of the blower and a gas valve. A flue and baffle arrangement in the tank causes products of combustion from the burner to lose pressure and vent at near atmospheric pressure at the top of the flue. An air distributor plate creates a substantially uniform distribution of pressurized secondary air within the combustion chamber. | 12-17-2009 |
20100065203 | SEALABLE WATER HEATER MANIFOLD DOORS - A sealable water heater manifold door is formed by adhering a gasket to a manifold door base plate. The manifold door base plate is sized and shaped to cover an opening in a water heater combustion chamber. The gasket is formed from a sealing material that is cut into multiple partial gaskets. The arrangement of multiple partial gaskets on the sealing material reduces excess and unusable sealing material. Each partial gasket has opposed ends that engage opposed ends of another partial gasket to form the gasket. A pair of partial gaskets is applied to an assembly device for accurate and quick placement of the pair of partial gaskets with the manifold door base plate. Door guides on the assembly device are used to align the base plate with the gasket, and the base plate is adhered to the gasket by an acrylic material that is applied to the gasket. | 03-18-2010 |
20100101507 | WATER HEATERS WITH FUEL LINE AND DOOR ASSEMBLY - A water heater includes a water container, a combustion chamber having an opening that may be covered by a door and located adjacent the water container, a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, and a control valve for regulating fuel flow from an external fuel source. A fuel line extends between the control valve and the burner, the fuel line has a first substantially rigid portion connected to the control valve, a second interior portion extending from the door to the burner and a third flexible portion fixedly connected to both of the first and second portions. | 04-29-2010 |
20100101508 | WATER HEATERS WITH SEALED DOOR ASSEMBLY - A water heater door assembly includes a base plate sized and shaped to substantially sealingly cover an access opening in a water heater combustion chamber and has at least one opening through which a fuel supply line extends at least partly between a burner in the combustion chamber and a gas control valve, and a flexible seal positioned at least partly within the opening including an engaging portion substantially sealed to an edge portion of the opening, and a through hole that is shaped to receive the fuel supply and has a size slightly smaller than the size of an outer dimension of the fuel supply line such that the flexible seal and the fuel supply line are friction fit together to form a seal. | 04-29-2010 |
20100101509 | WATER HEATERS WITH SEALED DOOR ASSEMBLIES - A water heater door assembly includes a seal positioned over an access opening in a water heater combustion chamber and having at least one opening through which a fuel supply line extends at least partly between a burner in the combustion chamber and a gas control valve, the seal including a pair of complementary seal pieces adjacent each other in sealing contact with at least edge portions of the access opening and in sealing contact with the fuel supply line and a retainer affixed to edge portions of the combustion chamber adjacent the access opening which sealingly holds the seal pieces over the access opening. | 04-29-2010 |
20100101510 | WATER HEATERS WITH SEALED DOOR ASSEMBLY - A water heater door assembly includes a base plate sized and shaped to substantially sealingly cover an access opening in a water heater combustion chamber and having at least one opening through which a fuel supply line extends at least partly between a burner in the combustion chamber and a fuel control valve, and a seal positioned at least partly within the opening and having a through hole that is sized and shaped to receive the fuel supply line, the seal comprising a plurality of complementary deformed seal pieces sealed together, to the opening and to the fuel supply line by a deforming force. | 04-29-2010 |
20100154724 | WATER HEATER BURNER TUBE AND DOOR ASSEMBLY - A burner tube and door assembly for a water heater includes a burner tube and a fuel supply line in telescoping relationship to define a tube junction. The tube junction extends through the door of a water heater. One of the tube and line includes an enlarged portion. A lock ring applies a radially-directed force around a portion of the tube junction. The enlarged portion and lock ring are on opposite sides of the door to secure the door to the burner tube and fuel supply line. The enlarged portion and lock ring apply a compressive load to the door to resist rotation of the door with respect to the tube junction. | 06-24-2010 |
20130284118 | WATER HEATERS WITH SEALED DOOR ASSEMBLY - A water heater door assembly includes a base plate sized and shaped to substantially sealingly cover an access opening in a water heater combustion chamber and has at least one opening through which a fuel supply line extends at least partly between a burner in the combustion chamber and a gas control valve, and a flexible seal positioned at least partly within the opening including an engaging portion substantially sealed to an edge portion of the opening, and a through hole that is shaped to receive the fuel supply and has a size slightly smaller than the size of an outer dimension of the fuel supply line such that the flexible seal and the fuel supply line are friction fit together to form a seal. | 10-31-2013 |