Water heater with centering thermal break support

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9541304-B2
Application number	US-201414565790-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2014
Priority date	Dec 10, 2014
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A water heater is provided that includes a centering ring or thermal barrier that facilitates centering or alignment of a tank of the water heater while also diminishing heat loss through the bottom of the tank. Features are provided with centering ring that keep the centering ring in place and help prevent insulation from intruding under the centering ring and the tank of the water heater.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water heater comprising:
a tank having a bottom and defining a chamber for heating water, the tank also defining a vertical direction and a radial direction;
a heating source in thermal communication with the tank;
a wrapper surrounding at least a portion of the tank, the wrapper having a bottom opening;
a bottom cover positioned at the bottom opening of the wrapper to close off the bottom opening; and
a centering ring onto which the bottom of the tank is positioned, the centering ring comprising:
a base having an inner wall and an outer wall and defining a base surface, the inner wall, outer wall, and the base surface defining a pocket into which the bottom of the tank is received, the pocket extending circumferentially about the base;
a sealing flange extending from the base along the radial direction; and
a plurality of arms extending along the radial direction from the sealing flange.

2. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the bottom cover comprises a base portion defining a recess to accommodate deformation of the centering ring.

3. The water heater of claim 2 , wherein the bottom cover comprises a wall portion extending circumferentially about the base portion of the bottom cover, and wherein the plurality of arms extend to the wall portion.

4. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the sealing flange of the centering ring defines a flange crush rib.

5. The water heater of claim 4 , wherein the flange crush rib extends circumferentially about the sealing flange.

6. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the arms are spaced apart along the circumference of the centering ring.

7. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the base surface of the centering ring base defines a pocket crush rib extending along the vertical direction within the pocket.

8. The water heater of claim 7 , wherein the pocket crush rib extends circumferentially about the base surface of the centering ring.

9. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the inner wall defines an inner lead-in surface positioned radially inside of the bottom of the tank.

10. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the outer wall defines an outer lead-in surface positioned radially outside of the bottom of the tank.

11. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the pocket of the centering ring is vertically displaced from the bottom cover.

12. A water heater comprising:
a tank for storing water, the tank having a bottom edge and defining a vertical direction and a radial direction;
a casing surrounding the tank and defining an interior between the tank and the casing, the casing comprising a wrapper;
insulation positioned in the interior; and
a centering ring onto which the tank is positioned, the centering ring comprising
a base defining a pocket into which the bottom edge of the tank is received;
a sealing flange extending along the radial direction from the base; and
a plurality of arms spaced apart along the circumference of the sealing flange.

13. The water heater of claim 12 , wherein the base of the centering ring comprises a pair of opposing walls extending substantially along the vertical direction and a base surface extending between the pair of opposing walls.

14. The water heater of claim 12 , wherein the base of the centering ring comprises:
an inner wall having an inner lead-in surface that is offset from the vertical direction; and
an outer wall having an outer lead-in surface that is offset from the vertical direction and positioned in an opposing manner to the inner lead-in surface,
wherein the bottom edge of the tank is positioned between the inner wall and the outer wall.

15. The water heater of claim 14 , wherein the base further comprises a base surface extending between the inner wall and the outer wall.

16. The water heater of claim 12 , wherein the base defines a pocket crush rib extending within the pocket.

17. The water heater of claim 12 , wherein the sealing flange defines a flange crush rib.

18. The water heater of claim 12 , wherein the wrapper comprises a bottom opening, and wherein the plurality of arms extend along the radial direction from the base of the centering ring to a wall portion of the bottom cover.

Assignees

• Gen Electric
• Haier U S Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Rissler Christopher Bryan
• Nelson Jonathan D

Classifications

• F24H9/02 Primary

  Casings; Cover lids; Ornamental panels · CPC title