System and method for controlling temperature of a liquid residing within a tank
AssigneeA. O. Smith Corporation
InventorsWade Patterson, Terry Phillips
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for controlling a temperature of a liquid residing within a tank comprises a tank, a first heating element, a first switch, a temperature-based switch, and logic. The first heating element is mounted on the tank, and the temperature-based switch is coupled to the first heating element and to the first switch. The logic is configured to control a state of the first switch based on a temperature of a liquid residing in the tank.
Claims18
A liquid heating system, comprising:
- a tank for storing a liquid;
- a first heating element mounted on the tank;
- a first controller configured to activate the first heating element if a temperature of the liquid within a first region of the tank falls below a threshold;
- and
- a second controller configured to enable or disable the first controller by controlling, based on a temperature of the liquid, whether electrical power is delivered to the second controller.
A liquid heating system, comprising:
- a tank;
- a first heating element mounted on the tank;
- a first switch;
- a temperature-based switch coupled to the first heating element and to the first switch;
- and
- logic configured to control a state of the first switch based on a temperature of a liquid residing in the tank.
A liquid heating method, comprising the steps of:
- controlling an activation state of a heating element mounted on a tank via a temperature-based switch that controls whether electrical power is provided to the heating element;
- sensing a temperature of a liquid residing in the tank;
- and
- controlling, based on the sensed temperature, whether the electrical power is delivered to the temperature-based switch.
A method for retrofitting an existing liquid heating system with a new controller, the existing liquid heating system having a first controller for controlling a first heating element mounted on a tank and a second controller for controlling a second heating element mounted on the tank, the first and second controllers mounted on the tank, the second controller having a temperature-based switch for controlling, based on a temperature of a liquid within the tank, whether electrical power is provided to the second heating element, the method comprising the steps of:
- mounting the new controller on the tank;
- and
- coupling the new controller to the second controller such that a switch within the new controller controls whether electrical power is delivered to the temperature-based switch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.