Water heater appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016377322-A1
Application number	US-201514748703-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 24, 2015
Priority date	Jun 24, 2015
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A water heater appliance includes a tank and a heated water conduit that extends from the tank. A mixing valve is coupled to the heated water conduit, and a mixed water conduit extends from the mixing valve. A thermal mass is positioned on the mixed water conduit, and a thermal safety sensor is positioned at the thermal mass.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A water heater appliance, comprising:
a tank; a heated water conduit extending from the tank; a mixing valve coupled to the heated water conduit; a mixed water conduit extending from the mixing valve, the mixed water conduit defining a thickness between an inner surface of the mixed water conduit and an outer surface of the mixed water conduit; a thermal mass positioned on the mixed water conduit, the thermal mass defining a thickness between the inner surface of the mixed water conduit and an outer surface of the thermal mass, the thickness of the thermal mass being greater than the thickness of the mixed water conduit; and a thermal safety sensor positioned at the outer surface the thermal mass.

2 . The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the thermal mass is integrally formed on the mixed water conduit.

3 . The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the thermal mass and the mixed water conduit are formed of a single piece of continuous metal.

4 . The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the thermal mass is machined or cast on the mixed water conduit.

5 . The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the thermal mass is no less than twice as large as the thickness of the mixed water conduit.

6 . The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the thermal mass is constructed of a first material and the mixed water conduit is constructed of a second material, the first and second materials being different.

7 . The water heater appliance of claim 6 , wherein the first and second materials are different metals.

8 . The water heater appliance of claim 1 , further comprising a casing, the tank disposed within the casing, the mixing valve positioned within the casing above the tank.

9 . The water heater appliance of claim 8 , wherein the mixed water conduit extends from the mixing valve through the casing at a top portion of the casing.

10 . The water heater appliance of claim 1 , wherein the thermal safety sensor is a bimetal switch or a thermal cutoff (TCO).

11 . A water heater appliance, comprising:
a casing a tank disposed within the casing; a heated water conduit extending from the tank; a mixing valve positioned within the casing and coupled to the heated water conduit; a mixed water conduit extending from the mixing valve; a thermal mass positioned on the mixed water conduit at an outer surface of the mixed water conduit; and a thermal safety sensor positioned on the thermal mass such that the thermal mass is positioned between the thermal safety sensor and an inner surface of the mixed water conduit.

12 . The water heater appliance of claim 11 , wherein the thermal mass has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the mixed water conduit, the thickness of the mixed water conduit defined between the inner surface of the mixed water conduit and the outer surface of the mixed water conduit, the thickness of the thermal mass defined between the inner surface of the mixed water conduit and an outer surface of the thermal mass.

13 . The water heater appliance of claim 11 , wherein the thermal mass is integrally formed on the mixed water conduit.

14 . The water heater appliance of claim 11 , wherein the thermal mass and the mixed water conduit are formed of a single piece of continuous metal.

15 . The water heater appliance of claim 11 , wherein the thermal mass is machined or cast on the mixed water conduit.

16 . The water heater appliance of claim 11 , wherein the thickness of the thermal mass is no less than twice as large as the thickness of the mixed water conduit.

17 . The water heater appliance of claim 11 , wherein the thermal mass is constructed of a first material and the mixed water conduit is constructed of a second material, the first and second materials being different.

18 . The water heater appliance of claim 17 , wherein the first and second materials are different metals.

19 . The water heater appliance of claim 11 , wherein the mixed water conduit extends from the mixing valve through the casing at a top portion of the casing.

20 . The water heater appliance of claim 11 , wherein the thermal safety sensor is a bimetal switch or a thermal cutoff (TCO).

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Ward Shaun Michael
• Shaffer Timothy Scott

Classifications

• F24H9/2007 Primary

  for water heaters · CPC title

• G05D23/1313

  without temperature sensing element · CPC title

• G05D23/134

  measuring the temperature of mixed fluid · CPC title

• G05D23/1326

  details of the sensor · CPC title

• G05D23/132

  with temperature sensing element · CPC title