Drain feature for a junction box of a water heater
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsGregory L. Hutchison, Timothy David Gantt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A water heater appliance is provided that includes features for removing water from a junction box of the water heater appliance. More particularly, a water heater is provided that includes a draining feature that drains or removes water that has seeped or leaked into a junction box that is at least partially encased in an insulation material. In one exemplary aspect, the drain feature includes a drain conduit connected to an outlet defined by the junction box. The drain conduit may drain the water from the junction box to a number of suitable locations. For instance, the water may be drained to a dedicated drain port or a cavity defined in part by an access panel removably mounted to a casing of the water heater appliance.
Claims18
A water heater appliance, comprising:
- a casing;
- a tank positioned within the casing and defining a chamber for heating water;
- a heating source in thermal communication with the tank for selectively heating water within the chamber;
- a junction box mounted to the casing, the junction box defining an outlet;
- and
- a drain conduit in fluid communication with the outlet for draining fluid from the junction box.
A water heater appliance, comprising:
- a casing comprising a top cover;
- a tank positioned within the casing and defining a chamber for heating water;
- a heating source in thermal communication with the tank for selectively heating water within the chamber;
- a junction box mounted to the top cover, the junction box defining an outlet;
- an insulation material at least partially encasing the junction box;
- and
- a drain conduit in fluid communication with the outlet for draining fluid from the junction box.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.