Water heater life extender
OwnerGeorge Staranchukinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An illustrated view of an improved anode rod assembly for removing corrosive elements from the water of the tank. The improved anode rod assembly is useful for providing a longer life span for water heater units. Further, an illustrated view of an exemplary water intake assembly is presented. The water intake assembly is useful, it provides an extra port so that more anodes can be inserted into the tank. Also having the dip tube at the very bottom of the tank provides more hot water and increases the efficiency of the water heater. Having multiple anodes will give an indefinite life span for the water heater.
Claims22
An improved water heater providing lengthened cathodic protection for lengthened life-span of the water heater, the water heater comprising:
- a tank defining an interior of the tank and having a top surface, a bottom, and side walls;
- at least one top port extending through the top surface of the tank;
- a bottom drain port extending through one of the side walls of the tank in proximity to the bottom of the tank;
- a water intake assembly attached to the exterior of the tank at the bottom drain port and comprising:
- a three-way coupling-t-device having a left side port, a center port and a right side port;
- a water piping for coupling to a cold-water source, said water piping coupled to the center port of the coupling-t-device;
- a dip tube coupled at one end to the left side port of the coupling-t-device and extending horizontally through the bottom drain port of the tank for placement of cold water at a distal end thereof within the interior of the tank when coupled to the cold-water source via the coupling-t-device;
- and
- a tank drain valve coupled to the right side port of the coupling-t-device;
- and an anode rod assembly comprising:
- one or more anode rods flexibly suspended within the interior of the tank from at least one cap engaging a top port of the tank,
- wherein each anode rod comprises a single non-flexible element of finished desired length to extend from its top end for installation near the top of the tank to its distal bottom end at the desired fully installed depth within the tank;
- and is flexibly attached to a cap by a wire having a first end attached to the anode rod and another end attached to the interior of the cap, whereby the flexible attachment of the at least one anode rod to the cap permits the attachment of more than one anode rods to the cap following insertion of said anode rods through the top port of the tank.
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A method for enhancing the lifespan of a water heater by providing lengthened cathodic protection thereof, wherein the water heater comprises:
- a tank defining an interior and having a top surface, a bottom, and side walls;
- at least one top port extending through the top surface of the tank;
- and
- a bottom drain port extending through the side wall of the tank in proximity to the bottom of the tank;
- the method comprising:
- determining a desired number of anode rods suspended within the interior of the tank to provide lengthened cathodic protection, each anode rod comprising a single non-flexible element of finished desired length to extend from its top end for installation near the top of the tank to its distal bottom end at the desired fully installed depth within the tank;
- inserting the desired number of anode rods through existing top ports in the tank for suspension therein, attaching a water intake assembly to the exterior of the tank at the bottom drain port of the tank, the water intake assembly comprising:
- a three-way coupling-t-device having a left side port, a center port and a right side port;
- a water piping for coupling to a cold-water source, said water piping coupled to the center port of the coupling-t-device;
- and
- a dip tube coupled at one end to the left side port of the coupling-t-device and extending horizontally through the bottom drain port of the tank for placement of cold water at a distal end thereof within the interior of the tank when coupled to the cold-water source via the coupling-t-device;
- and
- a tank drain valve coupled to the right side port of the coupling-t-device;
- wherein the shorter length and horizontal orientation of the dip tube provides enhanced lifespan to the dip tube;
- and
- the anode rods provide a lengthened period of time of cathodic protection to the hot water heater assembly.
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A conversion apparatus for use with a water heater to provide enhanced cathodic protection for lengthened life span of the water heater, the water heater comprising a tank defining an interior of the tank and having a top surface, a bottom, and side walls;
- at least one top port extending through the top surface of the tank, and a bottom drain port extending through the side wall of the tank in proximity to the bottom of the tank, wherein the conversion apparatus comprises:
- a water intake assembly for attachment to the exterior of the tank at the bottom drain port and comprising:
- a three-way coupling-t-device having a left side port, a center port and a right side port;
- a water piping for coupling to a cold-water source, said water piping coupled to the center port of the coupling-t-device;
- a dip tube coupled at one end to the left side port of the coupling-t-device;
- and
- a tank drain valve coupled to the right side port of the coupling-t-device;
- and at least one anode rod assembly comprising:
- a cap for attachment to a top port of the tank;
- one or more linear anode rods, where each linear anode rod comprises a single non-flexible element of finished desired length to extend from its top end for installation near the top of the tank to its distal bottom end at the desired fully installed depth within the tank;
- and
- a wire corresponding to each anode rod having a first end for attachment to the anode rod and another end for attachment to the interior of the cap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.