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US 9,541,304 B2Granted
Water heater with centering thermal break support
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Bryan Rissler, Jonathan D. Nelson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A water heater is provided that includes a centering ring or thermal barrier that facilitates centering or alignment of a tank of the water heater while also diminishing heat loss through the bottom of the tank. Features are provided with centering ring that keep the centering ring in place and help prevent insulation from intruding under the centering ring and the tank of the water heater.
Claims18
A water heater comprising:
- a tank having a bottom and defining a chamber for heating water, the tank also defining a vertical direction and a radial direction;
- a heating source in thermal communication with the tank;
- a wrapper surrounding at least a portion of the tank, the wrapper having a bottom opening;
- a bottom cover positioned at the bottom opening of the wrapper to close off the bottom opening;
- and
- a centering ring onto which the bottom of the tank is positioned, the centering ring comprising:
- a base having an inner wall and an outer wall and defining a base surface, the inner wall, outer wall, and the base surface defining a pocket into which the bottom of the tank is received, the pocket extending circumferentially about the base;
- a sealing flange extending from the base along the radial direction;
- and
- a plurality of arms extending along the radial direction from the sealing flange.
7 more elements
A water heater comprising:
- a tank for storing water, the tank having a bottom edge and defining a vertical direction and a radial direction;
- a casing surrounding the tank and defining an interior between the tank and the casing, the casing comprising a wrapper;
- insulation positioned in the interior;
- and
- a centering ring onto which the tank is positioned, the centering ring comprising
- a base defining a pocket into which the bottom edge of the tank is received;
- a sealing flange extending along the radial direction from the base;
- and
- a plurality of arms spaced apart along the circumference of the sealing flange.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.