Integrated Anode For A Heat Exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021108827-A1
Application number	US-201916600277-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 11, 2019
Priority date	Oct 11, 2019
Publication date	Apr 15, 2021
Grant date	—

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.

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

3 . The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the anode assembly further comprises an anode housing, wherein the anode is disposed in the anode housing.

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

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

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

7 . The water heater of claim 3 , wherein the anode comprises:
an inner anode portion disposed in an inside of the anode housing; and an outer anode stud disposed outside of the anode housing.

8 . The water heater of claim 7 , wherein the outer anode stud is coupled by a wire to an exterior of the heat exchanger.

9 . The water heater of claim 7 , wherein the inner anode portion and the outer anode stud are formed as an integral component.

10 . The water heater of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the anode housing is transparent.

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

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

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

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

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

16 . 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.

17 . The water heater of claim 16 , wherein the anode assembly further comprises an anode housing, wherein the anode is disposed in the anode housing.

18 . The water heater of claim 17 , wherein the anode housing comprises threads that attach to complementary threads on the header.

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

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

Assignees

• Rheem Mfg Co

Inventors

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

Classifications

• F24H9/2007

  for water heaters · CPC title

• F28F19/004

  by using protective electric currents, voltages, cathodes, anodes, electric short-circuits · CPC title

• F28F9/02

  Header boxes; End plates · CPC title

• F28D2021/0024

  for combustion apparatus, e.g. for boilers · CPC title

• F28D7/1623

  with particular pattern of flow of the heat exchange media, e.g. change of flow direction · CPC title