Mounting bracket for use with a water heater

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9249986-B2
Application number	US-79459310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2010
Priority date	Dec 18, 2009
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

A mounting bracket for mounting a temperature sensor, a gas valve, a power delivery unit, a controller and/or any other suitable object or device to a water heater tank or other appliance. An illustrative but non-limiting example may be found in a mounting bracket that includes a polymeric body that has a sensor portion configured to receive a temperature sensor. The sensor portion may have a distal end that extends into and supports the temperature sensor within the water heater tank. The polymeric body may also includes a threaded portion that is configured to threadably engage a threaded spud in a water heater tank such that the distal end of the sensor portion extends into the water tank of the water heater. Various features for increasing the strength and durability of the bracket are also disclosed.

First claim

We claim:

1. A bracket for a water heater with a water tank, the bracket comprising:
a polymeric body having a component retaining region and an elongated sensor portion extending from the component retaining region, the elongated sensor portion configured to receive a temperature sensor at least partially within the elongated sensor portion;
wherein the elongated sensor portion includes a threaded portion that is configured to threadably engage a threaded spud of the water heater such that at least part of the elongated sensor portion extends into the water tank of the water heater; and
wherein the threaded portion has a first thread and a last thread oriented such that the first thread begins and the last thread terminates on a lateral side of the threaded portion when the bracket is assembled with a water heater.

2. A bracket for a water heater with a water tank, the bracket comprising: a polymeric body having a component retaining region and an elongated sensor portion extending from the component retaining region, the elongated sensor portion configured to receive a temperature sensor at least partially within the elongated sensor portion; wherein the elongated sensor portion includes a threaded portion that is configured to threadably engage a threaded spud of the water heater such that at least part of the elongated sensor portion extends into the water tank of the water heater;
wherein the elongated sensor portion includes an elongated stem that has an internal well for receiving the temperature sensor; and
wherein the internal well is defined, at least in part, by a wall having one or more ribs, wherein the ribs are configured to properly position the temperature sensor within the well.

3. The bracket of claim 2 , wherein the threaded portion extends around the elongated sensor portion.

4. The bracket of claim 2 , wherein the elongated sensor portion has a distal end that terminates inside of the water tank when the bracket is installed on the water heater, and wherein the elongated sensor portion includes a thread lead in region between the threaded portion and the distal end of the elongated sensor portion, the thread lead in region guiding the bracket relative to the water heater before the threaded portion of the elongated sensor portion threadably engages the threaded spud of the water heater.

5. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the elongated sensor portion has a distal end that terminates inside of the water tank when the bracket is installed on the water heater, and wherein the wall thickness of the threaded portion has a greater wall thickness than the distal end.

6. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the elongated sensor portion has a distal end that terminates inside of the water tank when the bracket is installed on a water heater, and wherein the distal end includes a blade element to help pierce a barrier when the bracket is installed on a water heater.

7. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric body includes a material that, when sufficiently stressed, fractures suddenly in a clean break.

8. The bracket of claim 7 , wherein the polymeric body includes DuPont Zytel 70G33.

9. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the component retaining region includes two or more ribs for providing additional support to the component retaining region.

10. The bracket of claim 9 , wherein the component retaining region includes retaining elements for retaining a gas valve module.

11. The bracket of claim 10 , wherein the component retaining region includes retaining elements for retaining a water heater controller module.

12. The bracket of claim 8 , wherein the component retaining region includes a first boss along one lateral side and a second boss along the same lateral side, with a rib extending between the first boss and the second boss.

13. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric body is molded as a single piece.

14. A bracket for a water heater with a water tank, the bracket comprising:
a body having a component retaining region and an elongated sensor region extending from the component retaining region, the elongated sensor region having an internal well for receiving a temperature sensor;
the elongated sensor region including a threaded portion that extends around the elongated sensor region for threadably engaging a threaded spud of a water heater such that at least part of the elongated sensor region extends into the water tank of the water heater;
the elongated sensor region having a first region positioned between the component containing region and the threaded portion, an outer surface of the first region defining a larger cross-sectional area than an outer surface of the threaded portion, and the threaded portion having a thinner wall thickness than the first region; and
the elongated sensor region further including a tapered region positioned between the threaded portion and the first region, the tapered region having a tapered wall thickness between the thinner wall thickness of the threaded portion and the thicker wall thickness of the first region.

15. The bracket of claim 14 , wherein the body is molded as a single piece from a polymeric material.

16. The bracket of claim 14 , wherein the threaded portion is configured such that, when the threaded portion is threadably engaged with the threaded spud, an outside region of the threaded portion is in tension and an inside region of the threaded portion is in compression.

Assignees

• Hazzard Fritz
• Young Gregory
• Kennedy Don C
• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Hazzard Fritz
• Young Gregory
• Kennedy Don C

Classifications

• F24H9/1836

  using fluid fuel · CPC title

• F24H9/1818

  Arrangement or mounting of electric heating means · CPC title

• F24H9/06 Primary

  Arrangement of mountings or supports · CPC title