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US 6,640,048 B2Granted
Instant water heater
OwnerDon Novotny, Ivanhoe Chaputinventors
Life of this patent
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OwnerDon Novotny, Ivanhoe Chaputinventors
Estimating the term…
An in-line water heater utilizing electrically conductive polymer structures for electrodes. The area of electrodes that confront one another can be varied, and thereby the temperature to which the water is heated can be variably adjusted. The heat is not generated by the electrodes, but instead by the resistance of the water to the electrical current flowing between them. While the electrodes can be moved relative to one another, preferably they will be fixed, and an non-electrically conductive current gating plate can adjustably be placed between them to variably adjust the amount of confronting areas. A field obstructor can be provided at the inlet and outlet of the heater housing to prevent the exit of electrical current from the heater electrodes, and also non-conductive grounding screens in place for secondary safety.
An electrode for an instant water heater, said electrode being intended for submersion in a stream of water to be heated where it is likely to be subjected to water hammer forces and abrasive wear, and for conducting electricity for heating water between itself and a confronting similar electrode, said electrode being characterized by low electrical resistivity, by being injection molded, and by comprising a body of electrically conductive polymer without metal on surfaces intended to be exposed to water being heated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.