Leak detection in tankless water heater
AssigneeRheem Manufacturing Company
InventorsBurak Adanur, Prudhvi Amaravadhi, Tristin R. Watteau, Emil J. Antoon, Jeffrey Stogsdill
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides a device and a method for detecting leak in a tankless water heater. According to the present disclosure, a leak detection device is disposed on a base of the tankless water heater. The leak detection device includes a leak sensor and at least one absorption arm extending from the leak sensor. The absorption arm wicks water and transports the wicked water towards the leak sensor. The leak sensor generates a signal indicative of leakage in the tankless water heater, in response to sensing wetness.
Claims20
A leak detection device for a tankless water heater, comprising:
- a leak sensor;
- and
- at least one absorption arm extending from the leak sensor, the at least one absorption arm configured to (i) wick water, (ii) prevent condensation from flowing to the leak sensor based on the wicking and a length of the at least one absorption arm, and (iii) transport the wicked water towards the leak sensor when the wicked water exceeds a condensation level of water,
- wherein the leak sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of leakage in the tankless water heater, in response to sensing wetness.
A tankless water heater comprising:
- a leak detection device configured to detect a water leak in the tankless water heater, the leak detection device comprising:
- a leak sensor;
- and
- at least one absorption arm extending from the leak sensor, the at least one absorption arm configured to (i) wick water, (ii) prevent condensation from flowing to the leak sensor based on the wicking and a length of the at least one absorption arm, and (iii) transport the wicked water towards the leak sensor when the wicked water exceeds a condensation level of water,
- wherein the leak sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of detected leakage in the tankless water heater, in response to sensing wetness;
- and
- a controller coupled with the leak detection device, and configured to:
- receive the signal from the leak sensor;
- and
- actuate a notification device to provide a notification regarding the detected leak in the tankless water heater.
A method of detecting leak in a tankless water heater, the method comprising:
- wicking water by at least one absorption arm;
- preventing condensation from flowing to a leak sensor based on the wicking and a length of the at least one absorption arm;
- transporting wicked water towards the leak sensor when the wicked water exceeds a condensation level of water;
- generating a signal indicative of leakage in the tankless water heater, in response to sensing wetness;
- and
- providing a notification regarding detected leak in the tankless water heater, corresponding to the sensed wetness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.