Water heater with self-centering bottom cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10890357-B2
Application number	US-201816037215-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2018
Priority date	Jul 17, 2018
Publication date	Jan 12, 2021
Grant date	Jan 12, 2021

Abstract

A water heater appliance is provided that includes features that facilitate centering a tank within a casing of the water heater while also diminishing heat loss through the bottom of the water heater. More particularly, a water heater is provided that includes a bottom cover that has an integral centering feature that facilitates centering of the tank within the casing. A method for assembling a water heater appliance is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water heater appliance defining a vertical direction, a centerline axis extending along the vertical direction, and a radial direction extending to and from the centerline axis, the water heater appliance comprising:
a tank having a tank bottom, the tank defining a chamber for heating water;
a heating source in thermal communication with the tank for selectively heating water within the chamber;
a support ring onto which the tank bottom is positioned;
a wrapper surrounding at least a portion of the tank, the wrapper having a bottom opening; and
a bottom cover onto which the support ring is positioned, the bottom cover positioned at the bottom opening of the wrapper to close off the bottom opening, the bottom cover having a base, an outer wall projecting from the base along the vertical direction, and a centering feature projecting from the base along the vertical direction, wherein the centering feature is positioned inward of the support ring along the radial direction, and
wherein the centering feature has an upper base and a sidewall connecting the upper base and the base of the bottom cover, the bottom cover defining a radius extending from the outer wall to the centerline axis along the radial direction, the sidewall being positioned outward of a midpoint of the radius along the radial direction, and wherein the sidewall of the centering feature provides an abrupt elevation differential between the upper base of the centering feature and the base of the bottom cover so that haptic feedback is received when the tank is slid or centered into position with respect to the centering feature.

2. The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the centering feature projects from the base upward along the vertical direction.

3. The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the centering feature has an upper rounded edge transitioning the upper base and the sidewall.

4. The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the centering feature has a lower rounded edge transitioning the sidewall and the base of the bottom cover.

5. The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the sidewall of the centering feature extends substantially parallel with the vertical direction.

6. The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the centering feature has an upper rounded edge transitioning the upper base and the sidewall and a lower rounded edge transitioning the sidewall and the base of the bottom cover.

7. The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the upper base of the centering feature defines an outer periphery, and wherein a height of the centering feature at the outer periphery extends between the upper base and the base along the vertical direction, and wherein the height of the centering feature at the outer periphery is greater than half of a height of the support ring.

8. The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the centering feature has an elliptical cone shape.

9. The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the base extends annularly between the outer wall and the centering feature.

10. The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the support ring is formed of a compliant, thermally insulating material.

11. The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the support ring has a ring body and a flange projecting outward from the ring body along the radial direction, and wherein the tank bottom is positioned on the flange of the support ring.

12. The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the support ring is attached to the tank bottom by an interference fit.

13. A method for assembling a water heater appliance defining a vertical direction, a centerline axis, and a radial direction extending to and from the centerline axis, the method comprising:
assembling a wrapper with a bottom cover to form at least a part of a casing;
attaching a support ring formed of a thermally insulating material to a bottom edge of a tank to form a tank assembly;
inserting the tank assembly into the casing; and
wherein when the tank assembly is inserted into the casing, a centering feature projecting from a base of the bottom cover along the vertical direction centers the tank assembly within the casing such that the support ring of the tank assembly is positioned onto the base of the bottom cover outward of the centering feature along the radial direction, and
wherein an outer wall projects from the base along the vertical direction, and
wherein the centering feature has an upper base and a sidewall connecting the upper base and the base of the bottom cover, the bottom cover defining a radius extending from the outer wall to the centerline axis along the radial direction, the sidewall being positioned outward of a midpoint of the radius along the radial direction, and wherein the sidewall of the centering feature provides an abrupt elevation differential between the upper base of the centering feature and the base of the bottom cover so that haptic feedback is received when the tank is slid or centered into position with respect to the centering feature.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
inserting an expanding foam insulation into an annular cavity defined between the casing and the tank assembly, wherein when the expanding foam insulation is inserted into the annular cavity, the expanding foam insulation expands to a base of the bottom cover.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein when the expanding foam insulation is inserted the annular cavity, the expanding foam insulation expands substantially along a portion of the base that is positioned outward of the support ring along the radial direction.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
attaching a top cover to the wrapper to form the casing.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the sidewall of the centering feature extends substantially parallel with the vertical direction.

18. A water heater appliance defining a vertical direction, a centerline axis extending along the vertical direction, and a radial direction extending to and from the centerline axis, the water heater appliance comprising:
a tank having a tank bottom, the tank defining a chamber for heating water;
a heating source in thermal communication with the tank for selectively heating water within the chamber;
a support ring onto which the tank bottom is positioned;
a wrapper surrounding at least a portion of the tank, the wrapper having a bottom opening; and
a bottom cover onto which the support ring is positioned, the bottom cover positioned at the bottom opening of the wrapper to close off the bottom opening, the bottom cover having a base, an outer wall projecting from the base along the vertical direction, and a centering feature projecting from the base along the vertical direction, wherein the centering feature is positioned inward of the support ring along the radial direction, and
wherein the centering feature has an upper base and a sidewall connecting the upper base and the base of the bottom cover, at least a portion of the sidewall extending substantially parallel with the vertical direction, the bottom cover defining a radius extending from the outer wall to the centerline axis along the radial direction, the sidewall being positioned outward of a midpoint of the radius along the radial direction, and wherein the sidewall of the centering feature provides an abrupt elevation differential between the upper base of the centering feature and the base of the bottom cover so that haptic feedback is received when the tank is slid or

Assignees

• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Hutchison Gregory L
• Mcdonald Neil Kent
• Gantt Timothy David
• Nelson Jonathan D

Classifications

• F28D20/0034

  using liquid heat storage material · CPC title

• F24H9/02 Primary

  Casings; Cover lids; Ornamental panels · CPC title

• F24H1/182

  Insulation · CPC title

• Y02E60/14

  Thermal energy storage · CPC title

• B23P19/04

  for assembling or disassembling parts · CPC title