Integrated anode for a heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11499748-B2
Application number	US-201916600277-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2019
Priority date	Oct 11, 2019
Publication date	Nov 15, 2022
Grant date	Nov 15, 2022

Abstract

A water heater can include a heat source and a heat exchanger that transfers heat to the water. A header attached to the heat exchanger provides an inlet and an outlet for water to flow into and out of the heat exchanger. The header can also include an anode assembly that releasably attaches to the header. The anode assembly can be located at a bottom of the header so that an anode in the anode assembly remains in contact with the water when water is flowing through the heat exchanger.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water heater comprising:
a combustion chamber;
an exhaust vent; and
a heat exchanger comprising a header and a series of tubes through which water passes, the heat exchanger positioned to transfer heat from combustion gases originating in the combustion chamber to the water passing through the series of tubes;
wherein the header comprises:
an inlet;
an outlet; and
an anode assembly directly attached to the header, the anode assembly comprising:
an anode housing; and
an anode disposed at least partially in the anode housing, the anode having a generally cross-shaped cross section oriented perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the anode housing.

2. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the anode is a passive anode.

3. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the anode housing comprises threads that attach to complementary threads on the header.

4. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the anode assembly attaches to a bottom side of the header.

5. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the anode assembly attaches to the inlet of the header.

6. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the anode is coupled by a wire to an exterior of the heat exchanger.

7. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the anode comprises an inner anode portion and an outer anode stud formed as an integral component, the inner anode portion having the generally cross-shaped cross section.

8. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the anode housing is transparent.

9. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the header further comprises a pressure relief valve disposed on the outlet.

10. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the header further comprises a pressure switch.

11. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the header further comprises a temperature sensor.

12. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the header further comprises a bypass valve.

13. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the header further comprises a thermal governor.

14. A water heater comprising:
a heat source; and
a heat exchanger comprising a header and a series of tubes through which water passes, the heat exchanger positioned to transfer heat from the heat source to the water passing through the series of tubes;
wherein the header comprises:
an inlet;
an outlet; and
an anode assembly directly attached to the header, the anode assembly comprising:
an anode housing; and
an anode disposed at least partially in the anode housing, the anode having a generally cross-shaped cross section oriented perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the anode housing.

15. The water heater of claim 14 , wherein the anode housing comprises threads that attach to complementary threads on the header.

16. The water heater of claim 14 , wherein the anode assembly attaches to a bottom side of the header.

17. The water heater of claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the anode housing is transparent.

18. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the anode comprises an inner anode portion disposed at least partially in the anode housing and an outer anode stud disposed at least partially outside of the anode housing, the inner anode portion having a width that is greater than a width of the outer anode stud.

19. The water heater of claim 18 , wherein the inner anode portion has the generally cross-shaped cross section.

20. An anode assembly for a pool water heater, the anode assembly comprising:
an anode housing configured to attach to a header of the pool water heater, the anode housing comprising a generally transparent material; and
an anode disposed at least partially within the anode housing, the anode having a generally cross-shaped cross section oriented perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the anode housing.

Assignees

• Rheem Mfg Co

Inventors

• Glass Robert Stuart
• Doyle Terence Sean
• Montanez Juan Carlos
• Joyce Owen Lewis
• Carpenter William Kevin
• Simmons Jr Timothy Curtis
• Papp Alexander Adam

Classifications

• C23F13/10 Primary

  Electrodes characterised by the structure (C23F13/16 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F24H1/40 Primary

  with water tube or tubes · CPC title

• F24H9/20

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title

• F24H9/45

  for preventing galvanic corrosion, e.g. cathodic or electrolytic means · CPC title

• F24H9/2007

  for water heaters · CPC title