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US 4,633,066 AGranted
Thermostatically controlled dual mode electric water heating receptacle
OwnerTien-Song Changinventor
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OwnerTien-Song Changinventor
Estimating the term…
An electric water heating receptacle is provided with an anode member and a cathode member arranged in spaced juxtaposed relationship and connected to an electric power source such that water in the receptacle is heated by current flowing through the water from the anode member to the cathode member. The anode member has separate major and minor portions which are initially both connected to the power source in a "high mode" of operation to rapidly heat the water in the receptacle to a predetermined temperature. Upon attainment of the predetermined temperature, a thermostat responsive to the water temperature disconnects the major portion of the anode leaving only the minor portion energized in a "low mode" of operation intended to maintain the water substantially at the predetermined temperature. Should the water temperature drop below the predetermined temperature, the thermostat reconnects the major anode portion for operation in the "high mode" to reestablish the predetermined water temperature. Indicators are provided to show that the heating receptacle is operative, that water must be added to the receptacle and that sufficient water is in the receptacle.
An electric water heater including a receptacle adapted to receive and contain a quantity of water, electric heating means in said receptacle for heating the water, said heating means comprising an anode member and a cathode member in juxtaposition to the anode member, means for connecting the anode and cathode members to a source of current, at least one of the members having means formed therein for the passage of water therethrough, whereby the current flowing through the water from the anode member to the cathode member heats the water, the anode member having separate first and second portions, said connecting means initially connecting both portions of said anode member and said cathode member to the source of current, thermally-responsive switch means responsive to the temperature of the water in the receptacle for disconnecting one of the portions of the anode member upon attainment of a predetermined water temperature within the receptacle, thereby providing a "hi" and a "lo" heat position, first means associated with said connecting means and said anode and cathode members for indicating that the electric water heater is in operation, and second means disposed in said receptacle for sensing that an insufficiently low water level is in the receptacle, thereby indicating that water must be added to the receptacle.
An electric water heater including a receptacle adapted to receive and contain a quantity of water, electric heating means within said receptacle, said heating means being energized from a source of current and comprising an anode member having first and second hollow cylindrical anode portions spaced vertically relative to one another within said receptacle, a hollow cylindrical cathode member concentrically surrounding the respective portions of the anode member, means for electrically connecting said cathode member to the negative side of the current source, circumferentially-spaced insulation means provided between the anode and cathode members, insulating block means mounted within the receptacle for supporting the anode and cathode members thereabove, a plurality of conductive spaced screws including first, second and third screws carried by the insulating block means, wherein the first conductive screw is electrically connected between the first anode portion and the positive side of the current source, wherein the third conductive screw is electrically connected between the second anode portion and the positive side of the current source in a path parallel to the first anode portion, and wherein the second conductive screw is electrically connected to the junction of the cathode and the current source, a thermally-responsive switch in the electrical connection between the first conductive screw and the positive side of the current source, said thermally-responsive switch being responsive to the temperature of the water in the receptacle, wherein said thermally-responsive switch is closed when the water in the receptacle is below a predetermined temperature, and wherein said thermally-responsive switch is open when the water in the receptacle is above a predetermined temperature, a first indicating means connected between the third conductive screw and ground for indicating that the electric water heater is in operation, a second indicating means in the electrical connection between the second conductive screw and the negative side of the current source for indicating that water must be added to the receptacle, and a third indicating means connected between a sensing means located at the high water level mark of said receptacle and the positive side of the current source to indicate that the receptacle is full.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.