Leak Detection System for Water Heaters
AssigneeRheem Manufacturing Company
InventorsJoseph D. Gardner, Michael C. Mitchell, Timothy D. Scott, William Jason Hall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A water heater with a leak detection system includes a leak sensor assembly that is disposed in an insulation cavity between an inner storage tank and an outer protective jacket of the water heater. The leak sensor assembly is configured to detect water that leaks from the storage tank. Further, the water heater includes a barrier that is disposed in the insulation cavity and wrapped around the inner storage tank to channel the water that leaks from the storage tank towards the leak sensor assembly, and prevent the water that leaks from the storage tank from flowing through an insulation material that is disposed in the insulation cavity.
Claims20
A water heater comprising:
- an inner storage tank that is configured to store liquid that is to be heated;
- an outer jacket that is disposed around and spaced apart from the inner storage tank such that the outer jacket and the inner storage tank define an annular insulation space therebetween;
- a leak sensor assembly that is disposed in the annular insulation space to detect the liquid that leaks from the inner storage tank;
- and
- a barrier that is disposed in the annular insulation space to prevent the liquid that leaks from the inner storage tank from flowing through an insulation material that is disposed in the annular insulation space and such that an interface between the barrier and the inner storage tank forms a channel that directs the liquid that leaks from the inner storage tank towards the leak sensor assembly.
A water heater comprising:
- an inner storage tank that is configured to store water that is to be heated;
- an outer jacket that is disposed around and spaced apart from the inner storage tank such that the outer jacket and the inner storage tank define an insulation space therebetween;
- and
- a leak sensor assembly that is disposed in the insulation space to detect water that leaks from the inner storage tank, wherein the leak sensor assembly comprises:
- a leak sensor;
- and
- a wicking tube that is formed of a wicking material and configured to transport the water towards the leak sensor,
- wherein the wicking tube is helically wrapped around the storage tank and coupled to the leak sensor, and
- wherein the wicking tube and leak sensor operate in concert to form a circumferential area of leak detection around the storage tank.
A water heater comprising:
- an inner storage tank that is configured to store liquid that is to be heated;
- an outer jacket that is disposed around and spaced apart from the inner storage tank such that the outer jacket and the inner storage tank define an insulation space therebetween;
- and
- a leak sensor assembly that is disposed in the insulation space to detect the liquid that leaks from the inner storage tank, wherein the leak sensor assembly comprises a plurality of leak sensors that are disposed on the storage tank;
- wherein the plurality of leak sensors operate in concert to form a circumferential area of leak detection around the storage tank;
- and
- a barrier that is disposed in the annular insulation space to direct the liquid that leaks from the storage tank towards the leak sensor assembly while preventing the water from flowing through an insulation material that is disposed in the annular insulation space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.