Electric resistance heating devices – Heating devices – Continuous flow type fluid heater
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-06
2001-05-29
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)
Electric resistance heating devices
Heating devices
Continuous flow type fluid heater
C392S474000, C392S475000, C392S485000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240250
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to water heaters, and, more particularly, to an improved “in-line”, compact double element electrical resistance water heater.
2. Description of Related Art
Electrical resistance “in-line” water heaters are well known in the art. An example of such a water heater is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,003 to Blanco (“'003”). The disclosure of the '003 patent is incorporated herein, in its entirety, by this reference thereto. The Blanco patent discloses a unitary electrical resistance “in-line” tankless water heater, having a body, which is separated into three stacked compartments or sections of circular configuration, and formed of molded, non-conducting plastic material. The lower compartment includes a terminal block for connection to a power supply conduit. An upper compartment encloses a circular heating coil element, and includes a top cover member, having a cold water inlet port and a hot water outlet port. An intermediate compartment encloses a microswitch, which is electrically connected to the power leads via the terminal block in the lower compartment, and to the terminals of the heating coil in the upper compartment. Furthermore, a water flow sensing mechanism is provided within the upper compartment, which, upon sensing water flow between the cold water inlet port and the hot water outlet port, actuates the microswitch within the intermediate compartment to energize the heating coil so as to produce hot water based upon the flow demand therefor.
The in-line tankless hot water heater disclosed and claimed in the '003 patent provides an improvement in the art, which is still useful today. However, the present invention provides an improved in-line tankless water heater of different configuration, having two heating elements contained in separate compartments for improved efficiency, as well as for the increased production of hot water, thereby allowing wider use thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved “in-line” tankless electrical resistance water heater of compact size. It is a particular object of the present invention to provide an improved continuous flow electrical resistance “in-line” tankless water heater, which can be easily installed and serviced. It is another particular object of the present invention to provide an improved “in-line” tankless electrical resistance water be heater having a pair of heating elements held in separate elongated compartments. It is yet another particular object of the present invention to provide an improved “in-line” tankless electrical resistance water heater for providing large quantities of continuous hot water, and which is instantaneously responsive to the demand for hot water. It is still another particular object of the present invention to provide an improved “in-line” tankless electrical resistance water heater having double water heating elements in separate compartments, in which incoming cold water flows through a dedicated passageway in the water heater body to the bottom of the body where the cold water is diverted to operate separate control devices for actuating the double water heating elements. And, it is a further particular object of the present invention to provide an improved compact “in-line” tankless water heater having a pair of heating elements, which produce sufficient hot water to enable a person to bathe or shower, or for other uses.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing an improved “in-line” tankless electrical resistance water heater in which cold water enters a top inlet of a body and flows through a dedicated passageway in the body to a bottom of the body. Adjacent the bottom of the body, the cold water flows into four separate chambers, two each on opposite sides of the body. The two chambers on opposed sides of the body are comprised a first chamber having an inlet, but no outlet, to thereby only allow cold water to exert pressure against a resilient diaphragm or element for actuation of a plunger, and a second chamber, adjacent the bottom of the housing having both a cold water inlet and a cold water outlet connected to a separate hot water compartment having one of a pair of heating elements held therein. Each of the second chambers exert a further pressure against an opposite side of their respective resilient diaphragms to force the plungers in an opposite direction. When a hot water faucet connected to an outlet of the water heater is opened, the pair of heating elements are activated to instantly heat the water in its respective compartment. When the hot water faucet is shut off, pressure will act against each diaphragm in a reverse direction, to shut off each of the pair of heating elements.
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Dahbour Fadi H.
O'Neill James G.
Walberg Teresa
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