Gas fueled water heater appliance having a temperature control switch

A gas fueled water heater, comprising:

• a tank for storage of water for heating;
• a chamber wall defining a combustion chamber, the chamber wall comprising an inner surface directed toward the combustion chamber and an outer surface directed away from the combustion chamber, the chamber wall further defining a wall aperture extending from the outer surface to the inner surface;
• a gas burner positioned adjacent to the tank and within the combustion chamber to heat the water in the tank;
• a valve controlling a flow of gaseous fuel to the gas burner;
• a temperature control switch in operable communication with the valve, the temperature control switch being spaced apart from the outer surface of the chamber wall along an axial direction outside of the combustion chamber;
• and
• a conductive probe extending through the wall aperture of the chamber wall along the axial direction from a first end to a second end, the first end being positioned proximal to the outer surface and disposed on the temperature control switch, the second end being positioned proximal to the inner surface and disposed within the combustion chamber,
• wherein the conductive probe comprises a plurality of radial tabs, a probe body, a radial flange, a collar body, and a planar contact body, wherein the planar contact body extends along the axial direction from the temperature control switch at the first end to the collar body, wherein the collar body extends along the axial direction from the planar contact body to the radial flange at the outer surface of the chamber wall, wherein the probe body extends along the axial direction through the wall aperture from the radial flange to the second end, and wherein the plurality of radial tabs extend along a radial direction from the probe body within the combustion chamber to restrict movement of the conductive probe along the axial direction.

A gas fueled water heater, comprising:

• a tank for storage of water for heating;
• a chamber wall defining a combustion chamber, the chamber wall comprising an inner surface directed toward the combustion chamber and an outer surface directed away from the combustion chamber, the chamber wall further defining a wall aperture extending from the outer surface to the inner surface;
• a gas burner positioned adjacent to the tank and within the combustion chamber to heat the water in the tank;
• a valve controlling a flow of gaseous fuel to the gas burner;
• a temperature control switch in operable communication with the valve, the temperature control switch being spaced apart from the outer surface of the chamber wall along an axial direction outside of the combustion chamber;
• and
• a conductive probe extending through the wall aperture of the chamber wall along the axial direction from a first end to a second end, the first end being positioned proximal to the outer surface on the temperature control switch, the second end being positioned proximal to the inner surface within the combustion chamber,
• wherein the conductive probe comprises a plurality of radial tabs, a probe body, a radial flange, a collar body, and a planar contact body, wherein the planar contact body extends along the axial direction from the temperature control switch at the first end to the collar body, wherein the collar body extends along the axial direction from the planar contact body to the radial flange at the outer surface of the chamber wall, wherein the probe body extends along the axial direction through the wall aperture from the radial flange to the second end, wherein the plurality of radial tabs extend along a radial direction from the probe body within the combustion chamber to restrict movement of the conductive probe along the axial direction, and wherein each radial tab defines a support surface an angled leading surface extending continuously at a non-orthogonal angle from the support surface.