Pressure compensating water heater
AssigneeSouthcorp Water Heaters USA, Inc.
InventorThomas G. Nogles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A water heater storage tank including a rigid outer shell having ports connected for water flow into and out from the storage tank. The water heater storage tank also has a flexible container within the outer shell having a wall and fittings connected to the wall for water flow into and out from the container. The fittings on the wall of the container are mounted in the ports on the outer shell. The container has a pressure compensating cushion mounted integrally with the wall of the container. The pressure compensating cushion is inflated to compensate for pressure fluctuations within the water heater storage tank.
Claims8
A lined water heater storage tank comprising:
- an outer shell having ports connected to said outer shell for water flow into and out from said water heater storage tank;
- and
- a liner within said outer shell having a water tight outer wall and fittings connected to said outer wall for water flow into and out from said liner, said fittings on said outer wall of said liner being mounted in said ports on said outer shell, said liner having a fluid tight pressure compensating cushion defined by an interior wall mounted to said outer wall of said liner and forming a pressure-tight seal with said outer wall at said fittings on said outer wall of said liner, said pressure compensating cushion containing a fluid having capacity to expand and contract to compensate for water pressure fluctuations within said water heater storage tank, said fluid in said pressure compensating cushion being more easily compressible than water.
A water heater comprising:
- an outer shell having ports connected to said outer shell for water flow into and out from said water heater;
- a liner within said outer shell having a water tight outer wall and fittings connected to said outer wall for water flow into and out from said liner, said fittings on said outer wall of said liner being mounted in said ports on said outer shell, said liner having a fluid tight pressure compensating cushion defined by an interior wall mounted to said outer wall of said liner and forming a pressure-tight seal with said outer wall at said fittings on said outer wall of said liner, said pressure compensating cushion containing a fluid having capacity to expand and contract to compensate for water pressure fluctuations within said water heater, said fluid in said pressure compensating cushion being more easily compressible than water;
- and
- a heat source positioned to heat water contained in said liner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.