Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to prosthetic valves having a frame, a frame cover, and a leaflet construct. Some aspects are directed to a diametric taper for the prosthetic valve for achieving enhanced performance of the prosthetic valve under operational conditions, enhanced compressibility and delivery characteristics, and other additional or alternative advantages. Other aspects are directed toward unique assembly and attachment methods for securing leaflet constructs to support structures. Other aspects are directed toward features for interacting with transcatheter delivery systems. Still other aspects are directed to such apparatuses, systems, and methods for valve replacement, such as cardiac valve replacement.

Abstract: A water heater adapted to be positioned outside of a building and to interface with the plumbing system of the building. The water heater includes a water storage tank adapted to store water outside of the building, a means for heating the water in the tank, a base member supporting the tank outside of the building, and a plurality of water pipes communicating with the water tank. The water heater also includes a manifold that is mounted to the base member and includes a plurality of pipe unions adapted to interface between the plumbing system and the plurality of pipes to provide cold water to the tank and to remove heated water from the tank for use in the building.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating a medium includes a combustion chamber; a burner within the combustion chamber and operable to create products of combustion for heating the medium to be heated; a conduit for the exhaust of the products of combustion; and an airflow apparatus capable of creating airflow in the absence of any opposition to the airflow, the airflow having a pressure, the airflow apparatus communicating with the conduit and operable such that the pressure of the airflow resists standby convection flow of gases out of the conduit when the burner is not operating, and wherein the airflow apparatus is adjustable to vary the magnitude of the airflow to substantially equalize the airflow and the standby convection flow of gases to create a substantially stagnant state within the conduit when the burner is not operating.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating a medium includes a combustion chamber; a burner within the combustion chamber and operable to create products of combustion for heating the medium to be heated; a conduit for the exhaust of the products of combustion; and an airflow apparatus capable of creating airflow in the absence of any opposition to the airflow, the airflow having a pressure, the airflow apparatus communicating with the conduit and operable such that the pressure of the airflow resists standby convection flow of gases out of the conduit when the burner is not operating, and wherein the airflow apparatus is adjustable to vary the magnitude of the airflow to substantially equalize the airflow and the standby convection flow of gases to create a substantially stagnant state within the conduit when the burner is not operating.

Abstract: A water heater includes a water tank adapted to contain water; a flue extending through the water tank and having a first end communicating with the water heater's combustion chamber for the flow of products of combustion through the tank; a damper communicating with the flue; and an apparatus for creating a flow of air proximate the second end of the flue to resist the flow of warm air out of the second end of the flue due to standby convection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting a water heater on the roof of a building or at another location outside of the building. A roof curb surrounds a hole in the roof, and a base member is mounted to the roof curb. Alternatively, the base member is mounted on a concrete pad at ground level. A water tank is mounted to the base member with the longitudinal axis of the water tank extending horizontally. Support rails are mounted to the base member, and wedge-shaped supports are mounted to the support rails. The wedge-shaped supports are interconnected with tank mounted brackets that are mounted to the sides of the water tank. Thermally insulated spacers are interposed between the wedge-shaped supports and the tank mounting brackets.

Abstract: A water heater includes a water tank adapted to contain water; a flue extending through the water tank and having a first end communicating with the water heater's combustion chamber for the flow of products of combustion through the tank; a damper communicating with the flue; and an apparatus for creating a flow of air proximate the second end of the flue to resist the flow of warm air out of the second end of the flue due to standby convection.

Abstract: A water heater adapted to be mounted on the rooftop of a building includes a substantially cylindrical tank having a horizontally-oriented longitudinal axis. A U-shaped flue tube has a burner end and an exhaust end, both ends being mounted in a head portion of the tank. The legs of the flue tube define a flue plane that is preferably angled 30°-60° with respect to vertical. An inlet tube and an outlet tube also extend through the head of the tank. The inlet tube is positioned at the bottom of the tank and has holes that open downwardly only; the outlet tube is positioned at the top of the tank and has holes that open upwardly only. The tank is weather-tightly enclosed by a cabinet. A base member of the cabinet is supported by a roof curb and supports the water tank. The base member includes a drain opening for draining water from the inside the cabinet to the sewage system of the building, and a water pipe opening through which extend a plurality of pipes communicating with the tank.

Abstract: A water heater adapted to be positioned outside of a building and to interface with the plumbing system of the building. The water heater includes a water storage tank adapted to store water outside of the building, a means for heating the water in the tank, a base member supporting the tank outside of the building, and a plurality of water pipes communicating with the water tank. The water heater also includes a manifold that is mounted to the base member and includes a plurality of pipe unions adapted to interface between the plumbing system and the plurality of pipes to provide cold water to the tank and to remove heated water from the tank for use in the building.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting a water heater on the roof of a building or at another location outside of the building. A roof curb surrounds a hole in the roof, and a base member is mounted to the roof curb. Alternatively, the base member is mounted on a concrete pad at ground level. A water tank is mounted to the base member with the longitudinal axis of the water tank extending horizontally. Support rails are mounted to the base member, and wedge-shaped supports are mounted to the support rails. The wedge-shaped supports are interconnected with tank mounted brackets that are mounted to the sides of the water tank. Thermally insulated spacers are interposed between the wedge-shaped supports and the tank mounting brackets.

Abstract: A water heater includes a water tank, a combustion chamber below the tank and communicating with the flue tube, and a flue system. The flue system includes a flue tube, and V-shaped fins that are metallurgically bonded to the flue tube wall to divide the flue tube into four flue chambers extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flue tube. The V-shaped fins include radially extending apertures that reduce the thermal expansion of the V-shaped fins with respect to the flue tube to reduce stress at the joint between the fins and the flue tube. The flue system also includes a removable baffle hanging in each flue chamber. The baffles include adjustable turbulation surfaces to control the quality of combustion in the water heater.

Abstract: A water heater adapted to be mounted on the rooftop of a building includes a substantially cylindrical tank having a horizontally-oriented longitudinal axis. A U-shaped flue tube has a burner end and an exhaust end, both ends being mounted in a head portion of the tank. The legs of the flue tube define a flue plane that is preferably angled 30°-60° with respect to vertical. An inlet tube and an outlet tube also extend through the head of the tank. The inlet tube is positioned at the bottom of the tank and has holes that open downwardly only; the outlet tube is positioned at the top of the tank and has holes that open upwardly only. The tank is weather-tightly enclosed by a cabinet. A base member of the cabinet is supported by a roof curb and supports the water tank. The base member includes a drain opening for draining water from the inside the cabinet to the sewage system of the building, and a water pipe opening through which extend a plurality of pipes communicating with the tank.

Abstract: A water heater includes a water tank, a combustion chamber below the tank and communicating with the flue tube, and a flue system. The flue system includes a flue tube, and V-shaped fins that are metallurgically bonded to the flue tube wall to divide the flue tube into four flue chambers extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flue tube. The V-shaped fins include radially extending apertures that reduce the thermal expansion of the V-shaped fins with respect to the flue tube to reduce stress at the joint between the fins and the flue tube. The flue system also includes a removable baffle hanging in each flue chamber. The baffles include adjustable turbulation surfaces to control the quality of combustion in the water heater.

Abstract: A water heater includes a water tank, a combustion chamber below the tank and communicating with the flue tube, and a flue system. The flue system includes a flue tube, and a cruciform fin metallurgically bonded to the flue tube wall and dividing the flue tube into four flue chambers extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flue tube. The flue system also includes a removable baffle hanging in each flue chamber. The baffles include adjustable turbulation surfaces to control the quality of combustion in the water heater.

Abstract: A combined potable water heater and hydronic heating system including: a water tank for holding hydronic heating water; a flue extending through the tank; a burner below the flue so that heat and exhaust gases generated by the burner pass through the flue to heat the water in the tank; and a potable water container mounted in the tank so that the hydronic heating water heats the water in the potable water container and so that the hydronic water is separated from the potable water.