Thermal switch for energy sustaining water heater
AssigneeBradford White Corporation
InventorsEric M. Lannes, Garrett Doss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A water heater is provided that includes a tank for storing water and a combustion chamber in thermal communication with the tank for heating the water. The combustion chamber contains a pilot burner and at least one main burner. The water heater also includes a flue containing a flue damper to control the passage of exhaust gases from said combustion chamber. The water heater further includes an electrical control circuit connected to said flue damper. The electrical control circuit includes a thermal switch positioned proximal to the main burner The thermal switch is configured to prevent the flue damper from closing while the main burner is firing.
Claims16
A water heater comprising:
- a tank for storing water;
- a combustion chamber in thermal communication with said tank for heating said water, said combustion chamber containing a pilot burner and at least one main burner;
- a flue with a flue damper to control the passage of exhaust gases from said combustion chamber;
- an electrical control circuit connected to said flue damper and including a thermal switch positioned proximal to said main burner, said thermal switch being configured to prevent said flue damper from closing while said main burner is firing.
A method of manufacturing a water heater, the method comprising:
- mounting a combustion chamber, including at least one main burner, in thermal communication with a tank for heating water in the tank;
- coupling a flue and a flue damper to the combustion chamber for controlling passage of exhaust gases from the combustion chamber;
- positioning a thermal switch proximal to the main burner for detecting a temperature proximal to the main burner;
- and
- connecting the flue damper electrically with the thermal switch.
A method of controlling a flue damper in a water heater, the method comprising:
- connecting the flue damper to a thermal switch positioned proximal to a burner of the water heater;
- determining whether the burner is firing using the thermal switch;
- controlling said flue damper based on the determination of whether said at least one main burner is firing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.