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US 2013/0340690 A1Published application
Water heater with centering thermal break support
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsEliel Fresco Rodriguez, Samuel V. DuPlessis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A water heater is provided that includes a centering ring or thermal barrier that facilitates centering or alignment of the water tank while also diminishing heat loss through the bottom of the water heater. Features are provided with the bottom of the water heater and centering ring that can also improve the stability of the water heater when placed in a vertically upright position.
Claims18
A water heater comprising:
- a tank comprising a bottom, a top, a water inlet, and a water outlet, said tank also defining vertical and radial directions;
- a heating source in thermal communication with said tank;
- a jacket surrounding at least a portion of said tank, said jacket having a bottom opening;
- a thermal barrier onto which the bottom of said tank is positioned;
- a bottom cover positioned at the bottom opening of said jacket to close off the bottom opening, said bottom cover comprising:
- a base upon which said thermal barrier is received, the base defining a lip having a lead-in surface extending around and radially outside of said thermal barrier, the lead-in surface oriented towards the bottom of said tank;
- and
- a cylindrical wall portion extending around said thermal barrier and projecting along the vertical direction away from the base and towards said jacket.
5 more elements
A water heater comprising:
- a tank for storing water, the tank defining a circular bottom edge;
- an outer jacket surrounding said tank and defining an annular space between said tank and said outer jacket;
- insulation positioned in the annular space;
- a centering ring onto which said tank is positioned, said centering ring comprising:
- a base having a ground contacting portion located radially outward of the circular bottom edge of said tank;
- and
- a circular pocket into which the circular bottom edge of said tank is received.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.