Water heater threaded weld fitting having improved weld integrity

A water heater tank weldment comprising:

• a water storage tank having a tank wall and an opening defined in the tank wall;
• and
• a threaded weld fitting positioned over the opening defined in the tank wall, the threaded weld fitting comprising:
• a body defining an aperture along a longitudinal axis of the body and having a facing surface facing the tank wall;
• a female thread formed along at least a portion of the aperture and configured for threadedly receiving a male thread of a mating part;
• a weld projection defined on the facing surface of the body and including an edge positioned against the tank wall;
• a first beveled surface portion of the facing surface extending from the edge of the weld projection;
• a landing surface portion of the facing surface extending from the first beveled surface portion toward the longitudinal axis of the body, the landing surface portion being oriented at an angle with respect to the first beveled surface portion and substantially parallel to the tank wall;
• a second beveled surface portion of the facing surface extending from the landing surface and to the female thread;
• and
• wherein the first beveled surface portion is oriented at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body and the second beveled surface portion is oriented at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body, the first and second angles being different from one another,
• a weld joining the threaded weld fitting to the tank wall of the water storage tank, the weld consuming at least a portion of the first beveled surface portion of the facing surface, at least a portion of the weld extending into an annular area defined between the tank wall of the water storage tank, the landing surface portion of the facing surface of the threaded fitting and the second beveled surface portion of the facing surface of the threaded fitting.

A threaded weld fitting configured to be aligned with an opening defined in a tank wall and welded to the tank wall, the threaded weld fitting comprising:

• a body defining an aperture along a longitudinal axis of the body and having a facing surface configured to be positioned facing the tank wall;
• a female thread formed along at least a portion of the aperture and configured for threadedly receiving a male thread of a mating part;
• a weld projection defined on the facing surface of the body and including an edge configured to be positioned against the tank wall;
• a first beveled surface portion of the facing surface extending from the edge of the weld projection;
• a second beveled surface portion of the facing surface extending to the female thread;
• wherein the first beveled surface portion is oriented at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body and the second beveled surface portion is oriented at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body, the first and second angles being different from one another;
• wherein an angle defined between the first beveled surface portion and the second beveled surface portion is between about 160 degrees and about 170 degrees;
• and
• wherein at least a portion of the first beveled surface portion of the facing surface and the second beveled surface portion of the facing surface together define an open annular area positioned to receive a portion of a weld formed by welding the threaded weld fitting to the tank wall.

A water heater tank weldment comprising:

• a water storage tank having a tank wall and an opening defined in the tank wall;
• and
• a threaded weld fitting positioned over the opening defined in the tank wall, the threaded weld fitting comprising:
• a body defining an aperture along a longitudinal axis of the body and having a facing surface facing the tank wall;
• a female thread formed along at least a portion of the aperture and configured for threadedly receiving a male thread of a mating part;
• a weld projection defined on the facing surface of the body and including an edge positioned against the tank wall;
• a first beveled surface portion of the facing surface extending from the edge of the weld projection;
• a second beveled surface portion of the facing surface extending to the female thread;
• wherein the first beveled surface portion is oriented at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body and the second beveled surface portion is oriented at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body, the first and second angles being different from one another;
• wherein an angle defined between the first beveled surface portion and the second beveled surface portion is between about 160 degrees and about 170 degrees;
• and
• wherein at least a portion of the first beveled surface portion of the facing surface and the second beveled surface portion of the facing surface together define an open annular area receiving a portion of a weld joining the threaded weld fitting to the tank wall.