Electric resistance heating devices – Heating devices – Continuous flow type fluid heater
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-10
2001-01-16
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)
Electric resistance heating devices
Heating devices
Continuous flow type fluid heater
C392S474000, C392S475000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175689
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” 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 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, and improved efficiency, for use in place of or complementary to the hot water heater disclosed in the '003 patent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved and simplified “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 heater having an elongated water-holding compartment with a heating element contained therein. It is yet another particular object of the present invention to provide an improved “in-line” tankless electrical resistance water heater for providing improved continuous flow of hot water, and which is instantaneously responsive to the demand for hot water. And, it is still another particular object of the present invention to provide an improved “in-line” tankless electrical resistance water heater in which the incoming water flows through a dedicated passageway in the water heater body to the bottom of the body to both deliver hot water and to operate a control device for actuating the water heating element.
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 two separate water chambers, a first of which has an inlet, but no outlet, to thereby only allow cold water to exert pressure against a resilient diaphragm for actuation of a plunger. A second water chamber adjacent the bottom of the housing has both a cold water inlet and a cold water outlet to a compartment having a heating element therein. This second water chamber exerts a further pressure against an opposite side of the resilient diaphragm to force the plunger into an opposite direction. When a hot water faucet connected to an outlet of the water heater is opened, the heating element is actuated to instantly heat the water in the compartment. When the hot water faucet is shut off, pressure actuated against the diaphragm will be reversed, to cut off the heating element.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2791671 (1957-05-01), Price
patent: 2903551 (1959-09-01), Fischer
patent: 3560706 (1971-02-01), Fonseca
patent: 4514617 (1985-04-01), Amit
patent: 4762980 (1988-08-01), Insley
patent: 4924069 (1990-05-01), Giordani
patent: 5277152 (1994-01-01), Liao
patent: 5285717 (1994-02-01), Knepler
patent: 5400432 (1995-03-01), Kager et al.
patent: 5408578 (1995-04-01), Bolivar
patent: 5437003 (1995-07-01), Blanco
patent: 6061499 (2000-05-01), Hlebovy
patent: 6080973 (2000-06-01), Thweatt, Jr.
Dahbour Fadi H.
O'Neill James G.
Walberg Teresa
LandOfFree
In-line tankless electrical resistance water heater does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with In-line tankless electrical resistance water heater, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and In-line tankless electrical resistance water heater will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2517287