Sealed access assembly for water heaters

Details Sealed access assembly for water heaters Sealed access assembly for water heaters

1999-06-10

2001-10-16

Lu, Jiping (Department: 3749)

Liquid heaters and vaporizers

Stand boiler

C122S014210, C122S019200, C122S494000, C122S504000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06302062

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to gas fired water heaters, particularly to gas fired water heaters that have sealed access components.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The most commonly used gas-fired water heater is the storage type, generally comprising an assembly of a water tank, a main gas burner to provide heat to the tank, a standing pilot burner to initiate the main burner on demand, an air inlet adjacent the burner near the base of the jacket, an exhaust flue and a jacket to cover these components. Another type of gas-fired water heater is the instantaneous type which has a water flow path through a heat exchanger heated, again, by a main burner initiated from a pilot burner flame.
For convenience, the following description is in terms of storage type water heaters but the present invention is not limited to this type. Thus, reference to “water container,” “water containment and flow means,” “means for storing or containing water” and similar such terms includes water tanks, reservoirs, bladders, bags and the like in gas-fired water heaters of the storage type and water flow paths such as pipes, tubes, conduits, heat exchangers and the like in gas-fired water heaters of the instantaneous type.
A particular difficulty with many locations for water heaters is that they are also used for storage of other equipment such as lawn mowers, trimmers, snow blowers and the like. It is a common procedure for such machinery to be refueled in such locations. There have been a number of reported instances of spilled gasoline and associated fumes being accidently ignited. There are many available ignition sources, such as refrigerators, running engines, electric motors, electric light switches and the like. However, gas water heaters have sometimes been suspected because they often have a pilot flame.
Vapors from spilled or escaping flammable liquid or gaseous substances in a space in which an ignition source is present, provide a potential for ignition. “Fumes,” “extraneous gases” or “extraneous fumes” are sometimes hereinafter used to encompass gases, vapors or fumes generated by a wide variety of liquid volatile or semi-volatile substances such as gasoline, kerosene, turpentine, alcohols, insect repellent, weed killer, solvents and the like s well RR non-liquid substances such as propane, methane, butane and the like.
In reconstructions of accidental ignition situations, and when gas water heaters are sometimes suspected and which involved spilled fuels typically used around households, it is reported that the spillage is sometimes at floor level and, it is reasoned, that it spreads outwardly from the spill at first close to floor level. Without appreciable forced mixing, the air/fuel mixture would tend to be at its most flammable levels close to floor level for a longer period before it would slowly diffuse towards the ceiling of the room space. The principal reason for this observation is that the density of fumes typically involved is not greatly dissimilar to that of air. Combined with the tendency of ignitable concentrations of the fumes being at or near floor level is the fact that many gas appliances often have their source of ignition at or near that level.
The present invention aims to substantially lower the probability of fumes entering the water heater at locations where fuel supply lines, detectors, igniters and the like enter the combustion chamber.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides an assembly for a water heater that includes a burner fuel supply line adapted to connect between the fuel control valve and the burner, a pilot fuel supply line adapted to connect between the fuel control valve and the pilot burner, a detection line containing a heat sensor adapted to connect to the fuel control valve and positioned to sense heat from the pilot burner, and a line having an igniter positioned proximate the pilot burner and connected to the igniter initiator. The burner fuel supply line, pilot fuel supply line, detection line and line having an igniter pass through a plate in a sealed condition. The plate is adapted to sealingly engage the side portion of the combustion chamber of the water heater.
The invention also provides a water heater that includes a water tank and a combustion chamber containing a main burner positioned to heat water in the water tank and a pilot burner. An assembly that extends into the combustion chamber includes a burner fuel supply line adapted to connect between the fuel control valve and the burner, a pilot fuel supply line adapted to connect between the fuel control valve and the pilot burner, a detection line containing a heat sensor adapted to connect to the fuel control valve and positioned to sense heat from the pilot burner; a line having an igniter positioned proximate the pilot burner and connected to the igniter initiator. The burner fuel supply line, pilot fuel supply line, detection line and line having an igniter pass through a removable plate in a sealed condition. The plate is adapted to sealingly engage a side portion of a combustion chamber of the water heater. Foam insulation surrounds the water tank to maintain thermal efficiency.


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