Water heater and method of controlling the same
OwnerKenneth A. Bradenbaughinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A water heater including a water inlet line having an inlet opening that introduces cold water to a tank, a water outlet line having an outlet opening that withdraws heated water from the tank, and a heating element. The water heater further includes a control circuit. The heating element can be an electrical resistance heating element, a gas heating element, or a combination thereof. In one construction, the gas heating element includes a first combustive section and a second combustive section separately controlled from the first combustive section.
Claims75
A water heater comprising:
- a water tank;
- a combustion chamber having a thermal relation to the water tank;
- and
- a gas heating element disposed in the combustion chamber, the gas heating element including a first combustive section and a second combustive section separately controlled from the first combustive section;
- wherein the water heater further comprises a valve comprising an inlet to receive gas from a source, a valve spool connected to the inlet, and first and second outlet passageways connected to the combustive sections, respectively, and wherein the valve spool controls at least a portion of the gas to the first outlet passageway and to control at least a portion of the gas to the second outlet passageway.
A water heater comprising:
- a water tank;
- a combustion chamber having a thermal relation to the water tank;
- and
- a gas heating element disposed in the combustion chamber, the gas heating element including a first combustive section and a second combustive section separately controlled from the first combustive section;
- and further comprising a single ignition to light the first and second combustive sections.
A storage-type water heater comprising:
- a water tank;
- at least one water temperature sensor operable to sense a water temperature;
- a combustion chamber having a thermal relation to the water tank;
- a gas heating element disposed in the combustion chamber;
- a valve connectable to a gas source and connected to the gas heating element;
- and
- a controller in communication with the valve and the temperature sensor, the controller being operable to receive the sensed temperature, to determine a ratio of the maximum amount of fuel deliverable to the heating element over a time period based on the sensed temperature, the ratio being determined from a plurality of available ratios including a ratio between zero and one hundred percent, and to selectively generate a control signal to control the valve based on the determination.
A method of controlling a temperature of water in a storage-type water heater, the storage-type water heater including a tank for storing water, a gas heating element to heat the stored water, a valve connectable to a fuel source and connected to the gas heating element, and a controller adapted to control the valve, the method comprising the acts of:
- sensing a temperature of the water;
- determining a ratio of the maximum amount of fuel deliverable to the heating element over a time period based on a sensed water temperature, the ratio being determined from a plurality of available ratios including a ratio between zero and one hundred percent;
- and
- controlling the valve to issue an amount of fuel corresponding to the determined ratio.
A method of controlling a temperature of water in a storage-type water heater, the storage-type water heater including a tank for storing water and a water temperature sensor, the method comprising the acts of:
- storing water in the water tank so that the water can be heated to a selected temperature during periods of non-use;
- sensing a temperature of the water;
- determining a ratio of the maximum amount of power deliverable by the heating element over a time period based on a sensed water temperature, the ratio being determined from a plurality of available ratios including a ratio between zero and one hundred percent;
- and
- delivering power with the heating element based on the determined ratio.
A method of controlling a temperature of water in a storage-type water heater, the storage-type water heater including a tank for storing water and a water temperature sensor, the method comprising the acts of:
- storing water in the water tank so that the water can be heated to a selected temperature during periods of non-use;
- sensing a temperature of the water;
- determining a ratio of the maximum amount of energy deliverable to the heating element over a time period based on a sensed water temperature, the ratio being determined from a plurality of available ratios including a ratio between zero and one hundred percent;
- and
- delivering energy to the heating element based on the determined ratio.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.