US 2022/0011017 A1 · FIELD CONVERSION ELECTRIC WATER HEATER

Abstract

An electric water heater has upper and lower electric resistance type heating elements respectively controlled by a single pole, double throw upper thermostat and a single pole, single throw lower thermostat. The upper and lower thermostats are operatively interconnected by a wiring harness having outer conductor end portions that are connected to a terminal block portion of an external junction box to provide the water heater with a variety of heating element operating modes without having to replace either of the thermostats, vary the wiring harness interconnections therebetween, or vary the connection between the outer conductor end portions and the terminal block. The water heater may thus be advantageously manufactured in a single variant that may be easily and quickly modified in the field to selectively alter the heating element control mode of the water heater.

Claims21

Dependent claims

1-20. (canceled)

A liquid heating apparatus comprising:

a tank configured to hold a liquid;
a first electric heating element configured to provide heat to the liquid;
a first thermostat configured to control the first electric heating element;
a second electric heating element configured to provide heat to the liquid;
a second thermostat configured to control the second electric heating element;
a terminal block having (i) line side terminals configured to interchangeably connect to electrical power supply conductors and (ii) heating side terminals;
and
wiring connected to the first and second thermostats and the heating side terminals in a manner such that, without replacing either of the first and second thermostats or altering the wiring to either of the first and second thermostats or the heating side terminals, a selective portion of the electrical power supply conductors is connected to the line side terminals to provide the liquid heating apparatus with a plurality of heating element control modes, the plurality of heating element control modes including a single-phase control mode and a three-phase control mode.

5 more elements

A liquid heating apparatus comprising:

a tank configured to hold a liquid;
a first electric heating element configured to provide heat to the liquid;
a first thermostat configured to control the first electric heating element;
a second electric heating element configured to provide heat to the liquid;
a second thermostat configured to control the second electric heating element;
a terminal block having (i) line side terminals configured to interchangeably connect to electrical power supply conductors and (ii) heating side terminals;
and
wiring connected to the first and second thermostats and the heating side terminals in a manner such that, without replacing either of the first and second thermostats or altering the wiring to either of the first and second thermostats or the heating side terminals, a selective portion of the electrical power supply conductors is connected to the line side terminals to provide the liquid heating apparatus with a plurality of heating element control modes, the plurality of heating element control modes including a simultaneous dual element control mode and a non-simultaneous dual element control mode.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

17/379,039Filed 19 Jul 2021

Priority

12 Jul 2018

Published

13 Jan 2022

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

F24H 9/2021
Using electrical energy supply: storage heaters
F24H 1/202
Using electric energy supply: with resistances
F24H 9/1818
For water heaters: arrangement or mounting of electric heating means
F24H 15/407
Characterised by the type of controllers: using electrical switching, e.g. TRIAC

Field conversion electric water heater

Life of this patent

Field conversion electric water heater

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21