Water heater dip tube

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12553643-B2
Application number	US-202118257034-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 18, 2021
Priority date	Mar 18, 2021
Publication date	Feb 17, 2026
Grant date	Feb 17, 2026

Abstract

A water heater dip tube includes an elongated body having an inlet end and an outlet end. An inner volume is arranged within the elongated body. An anti-siphon orifice is arranged along the elongated body proximate the inlet end. The anti-siphon orifice extends through a wall of the elongated body. The dip tube further includes an elastomeric membrane secured to the elongated body. The elastomeric membrane is arranged in the vicinity of the anti-siphon orifice. The elastomeric membrane is operable to block fluid flow through the anti-siphon orifice when a pressure at the inlet end is greater than a pressure at the exterior of the dip tube adjacent to the anti-siphon orifice, and to allow fluid flow through the anti-siphon orifice when a pressure at the inlet end is less than a pressure at the exterior of the dip tube adjacent to the anti-siphon orifice.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A water heater dip tube comprising:
an elongated body having an inlet end and an outlet end; an inner volume arranged within the elongated body and providing a first fluid flow path extending through the inner volume between the inlet end and the outlet end; an anti-siphon orifice arranged along the elongated body proximate the inlet end and extending through a wall of the elongated body to provide a second fluid flow path between the inner volume and an exterior of the dip tube; and an elastomeric membrane secured to the elongated body and arranged in the vicinity of the anti-siphon orifice and operable to block fluid flow through the anti-siphon orifice when a pressure at the inlet end is greater than a pressure at the exterior of the dip tube adjacent to the anti-siphon orifice, and to allow fluid flow through the anti-siphon orifice when a pressure at the inlet end is less than a pressure at the exterior of the dip tube adjacent to the anti-siphon orifice.

2 . The water heater dip tube of claim 1 , further comprising a clamp that secures the elastomeric membrane to the elongated body.

3 . The water heater dip tube of claim 2 , wherein the clamp is a formed metal part or a molded plastic part.

4 . The water heater dip tube of claim 2 , wherein the clamp includes a spring mechanism to secure the elastomeric membrane to the elongated body.

5 . The water heater dip tube of claim 2 , wherein the clamp is joined to the elongated body by deforming a portion of at least one of the clamp and the elongated body.

6 . The water heater dip tube of claim 2 , wherein the anti-siphon orifice includes a first portion
of the orifice extending through the wall of the elongated body, a second portion of the orifice extending through the membrane and aligned with the first portion of the orifice, and a third portion of the orifice extending through the clamp and aligned with the first and second portions of the orifice.

7 . The water heating dip tube of claim 6 , wherein the third portion of the orifice is smaller in size than the first portion of the orifice.

8 . The water heating dip tube of claim 7 , wherein the third portion of the orifice is a round hole having a diameter of at least one eighth of an inch.

9 . The water heating dip tube of claim 6 , wherein the second portion of the orifice is arranged between the first portion of the orifice and the third portion of the orifice along the second fluid flow path.

10 . The water heating dip tube of claim 6 , wherein the membrane includes a portion that is disposed against the clamp to block the flow of fluid through the third portion of the orifice when a pressure at the inlet end is greater than a pressure at the exterior of the dip tube adjacent to the anti-siphon orifice, and that is deflected at least partially into the first portion of the orifice to allow fluid flow through the anti-siphon orifice when a pressure at the inlet end is less than a pressure at the exterior of the dip tube adjacent to the anti-siphon orifice.

11 . The water heater dip tube of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric membrane is arranged within the internal volume.

12 . A water heater dip tube comprising:
an elongated body having an inlet end and an outlet end; an inner volume arranged within the elongated body and providing a fluid flow path extending through the inner volume between the inlet end and the outlet end; an anti-siphon orifice arranged along the elongated body proximate the inlet end and extending through a wall of the elongated body; and a flow channel forming part of the inner volume and connecting the anti-siphon orifice to a remainder of the inner volume, wherein the flow channel is not along the fluid flow path and is configured to prevent flow through the anti-siphon orifice when fluid is flowing along the fluid flow path from the inlet end to the outlet end and to allow flow through the anti-siphon orifice in the absence of fluid flow along the fluid flow path from the inlet end to the outlet end, wherein the elongated body includes a first body portion and second body portion, the second body portion being joined to the first body portion to form the flow channel, and wherein the elongated body further includes a third body portion joined to one of the first body portion and the second body portion, and wherein the inlet end is provided by the third body portion.

13 . The water heater dip tube of claim 12 , wherein the flow channel is an annulus.

14 . The water heater dip tube of claim 12 , wherein the outlet end and the anti-siphon orifice are provided by the first body portion.

15 . A water heater dip tube comprising:
a first body portion providing an inlet end of the dip tube; a second body portion providing an outlet end of the dip tube; a third body portion joined to the first body portion and the second body portion, a first end of the third body portion being received within the first body portion and a second end of the third body portion being received within the second body portion; an anti-siphon orifice extending through a wall of the second body portion, wherein the anti-siphon orifice is located at a first distance from the inlet end and wherein the second end of the third body portion extends to a second distance from the inlet end, the second distance being greater than the first distance, wherein the anti-siphon orifice extends through a wall of the third body portion; and an elastomeric membrane at least partially arranged within the third body portion and operable to block fluid flow through the anti-siphon orifice when a pressure at the inlet end is greater than a pressure at the exterior of the dip tube adjacent to the anti-siphon orifice, and to allow fluid flow through the anti-siphon orifice when a pressure at the inlet end is less than a pressure at the exterior of the dip tube adjacent to the anti-siphon orifice.

16 . A water heater dip tube comprising:
a first body portion providing an inlet end of the dip tube; a second body portion providing an outlet end of the dip tube; a third body portion joined to the first body portion and the second body portion, a first end of the third body portion being received within the first body portion and a second end of the third body portion being received within the second body portion; an anti-siphon orifice extending through a wall of the second body portion, wherein the anti-siphon orifice is located at a first distance from the inlet end and wherein the second end of the third body portion extends to a second distance from the inlet end, the second distance being greater than the first distance; and an annular flow channel arranged between the second body portion and the third body portion, wherein the anti-siphon orifice is in fluid communication with the annular flow channel.

Assignees

• Smith Corp A O
• A O Smith China Water Heater Co Ltd

Inventors

• Murphy Mark Allan
• Yang Cui
• Chen Kaiju
• Styer Michael

Classifications

• F24D2220/025

  Check valves · CPC title

• F24H9/136 Primary

  Arrangement of inlet valves used therewith · CPC title

• F24H9/133 Primary

  Storage heaters · CPC title