Flexible connectors for water heater

A water heater for connection to a pipe defining a pipe axis, the water heater comprising:

• a tank having a tank wall defining an interior space adapted to contain water;
• a shroud defining a component space over the tank;
• a heat source operate to heat the water;
• and
• a flexible connector extending through the component space and having a first end communicating with the interior space of the tank and a second end communicating through a top end of the shroud;
• wherein the first end of the flexible connector defines a non-collinear axis that is non-collinear with the pipe axis and the second end of the flexible connector defines a collinear axis that is collinear with the pipe axis,
• wherein the water heater further comprises a torque carrier having a loadbearing surface that engages the second end of the flexible connector and prevents rotation of the second end of the flexible connector with respect to the shroud, and
• wherein the torque carrier is integrally formed with the shroud or is mounted to the shroud.

A water heater for connection to a pipe defining a pipe axis, the water heater comprising:

• a tank having a tank wall defining an interior space adapted to contain water;
• a shroud defining a component space over the tank;
• a heat source operable to heat the water;
• and
• a flexible connector extending through the component space and having a first end communicating with the interior space of the tank and a second end communicating through a top end of the shroud;
• wherein the first end of the flexible connector defines a non-collinear axis that is non-collinear with the pipe axis and the second end of the flexible connector defines a collinear axis that is collinear with the pipe axis, and
• where the water heater further comprises a mixing valve positioned within the component space and in fluid communication with the first end of the flexible connector.

A method of making a water heater comprising:

• threading a first end of a first rigid connector into a spud arranged at a top end of a tank;
• connecting a first end of a flexible connector to a second end of the first rigid connector;
• receiving a second end of the flexible connector into a torque carrier, and
• connecting a second rigid connector to the second end of the flexible connector,
• wherein connecting the second rigid connector to the second end of the flexible connector comprises applying a torque, and
• wherein the torque is resisted by the torque carrier.