Abstract: A water heater (10) including a tank (12) adapted for mounting with its longitudinal axis substantially vertical and a duct (32) adapted for mounting with its longitudinal axis substantially vertical. The duct (32) is positioned within the tank (12) and extends through at least most of the height of the tank (12). The duct (32) defines a first volume (34) within the duct interior and a second volume (36) between the duct exterior and the tank interior. The first volume (34) being smaller than the second volume (36). The duct (32) has at least one upper opening (38) at or near the top of the duct (32) and at least one lower opening (40) at or near the bottom of the duct (32). The heater (10) also has a heating element (44) within, or forming all or part of, the duct (32). The element (44) extends at least substantially through the upper half of the duct (32). The heater (10) also has an inlet (24) at or near the bottom of the tank (12) and an outlet (22) at or near the top of the tank (12).

Abstract: A water heating system including a water container having a cold water inlet that connects to a water supply, a hot water outlet, a water heater outlet and a water heater inlet; an instantaneous water heater mounted to the water container and having a tank supply inlet connected to the water heater outlet, a tank supply outlet connected to the water heater inlet, a burner, and a heat exchanger located adjacent the burner between the tank supply inlet and the tank supply outlet; a pump connected between the water container and the instantaneous water heater that moves water between the water container and the instantaneous water heater; and a controller that operates the pump and the burner.

Abstract: A portable power washer with an on-demand gas-heated water supply, is provided with a water heater for receiving water from an external water supply and rapidly heating the water by passing it though a heat exchanger proximate one or more gas burners. After the water flows through the heater it flows into a pump adapted for use with hot water and is pressurized by the pump for delivery to a high pressure hose. A nozzle or valve at the end of the hose opposite the pump allows a user to cause a stream of hot, pressurized water to eject from the nozzle and against a surface to be cleaned. The pump may be powered by an electric motor or gasoline engine and the device is typically assembled upon a wheeled cart for ready mobility.

Abstract: The water includes a tank 10 which includes dual cold water inlets 21a, 21b. One or other of the cold water inlets 21a, 21b is in use connected to a cold water supply line. The cold water inlets 21a, 21b extend through inlet pipes 21c, 21d within the tank 10 and join at a cold water junction 22. Extending upwardly for cold water is a tempering tube or pipe 31, 31a, 31b that extends within the tank to the upper region of the tank 10 where the cold water can mix with hot water being drawn from the tank and passing through one of a pair of hot water outlets 26a, 26b. Either of the water outlets 26a, 26b in use is connected to a hot water delivery line for supply of the tempered water.

Abstract: A water control valve configured for use with a bypass valve to automatically bypass cold or tepid water in a hot water supply line so as to maintain hot water at the fixture. The water control valve is useful for shower/tub facilities and for appliances such as washing machines and dishwashing machines. The water control valve for use with shower/tub facilities is adapted for the bypass valve to attach to or be adjacent to the water control valve by utilizing bypass ports, passageways and/or connectors. The water control valve for use with appliances is adapted to have a second outlet for connecting to a second water control valve or, for combination service valves, to have the bypass valve disposed in the tubular section between the hot and cold water components. The preferred bypass valve is a thermostatically controlled bypass valve of the type having a thermal actuating element.

Abstract: A fuel-fired low NOx water heater extending along a vertical axis has a radiant fuel burner disposed in its combustion chamber. The entire burner combustion air quantity is delivered to the burner from outside the combustion chamber via a horizontally serpentined flow path extending through an internal portion of the water heater. This serpentined air inflow path configuration causes a substantial portion of particulate matter in the incoming combustion air to be removed therefrom before entering and potentially clogging the burner.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining water temperature comprised of an inlet, a mechanical temperature controlled shutoff valve, a check valve and an outlet. The shutoff valve and check valve are positioned between the inlet and outlet to provide for the shunting of water from the inlet to the outlet based upon the temperature of the water, thereby maintaining water temperature at the inlet. This permits continuous access to hot water at a faucet which has the apparatus installed between its inlets. The apparatus may be configured as a temperature control assembly and attached in line with a hot water supply system thereby maintaining the hot water temperature within the hot water supply side of the system. Tees may be attached to the to the inlet and outlet of the apparatus as well as the hot water inlet and cold water inlet of a faucet, thereby creating a temperature controlled faucet.

Abstract: A cold water inlet for a tank of a water heater is provided. The inlet includes an inlet conduit configured to extend toward a flue extending upwardly through the tank. The inlet conduit includes a proximal, intermediate, and distal conduit portion, the distal portion terminating at a closed end configured to reduce the amount of the water flow directed toward the flue. The cold water inlet further includes flow openings defined in the distal portion to permit the water flow to exit the inlet conduit. Deflectors are positioned along the distal portion proximal respective ones of the flow openings, and are oriented for deflecting the water flow. The closed end and the deflectors of the inlet conduit coact, as the water flows into the tank, to direct the water flow away from the flue and toward the side wall and bottom of the tank, thereby reducing an accumulation of scale.

Abstract: A supplemental water heater tank and system features a supplemental tank with an inner vessel surrounded by an outer jacket. The space there between is generally evacuated of air so that the inner vessel is vacuum insulated. The supplemental tank includes water inlet and outlet ports. Water is heated in a water heater and transferred from the upper portion of the water heater tank to the lower portion of the vacuum-insulated supplemental tank through an insulated line and a dip tube that extends between the water inlet port and the bottom portion of the inner vessel. Hot water is withdrawn from the upper portion of the inner vessel of the supplemental tank for use in a home or the like.

Abstract: An expansion tank which is intended to be connected to a pipe system which is filled or is to be filled with a liquid, comprises a closed tank with at least one connection opening for a liquid pipe. The tank is provided with a main valve inside the tank having a valve seat and a closure member and being designed to close off the connection opening at a defined difference between the pressure in the interior of the tank and the pressure in the connection opening and/or at a defined liquid level in the tank. The tank is further provided with an additional valve for closing off a channel or passage extending through the closure member of the main valve from the interior of the tank to the connection opening.

Abstract: A portable instant water heater. Water is delivered to a base unit of the instant hot water heater by a pump that draws water from a reservoir through a flow control valve. The water flows into a pre-heater that wraps around a base of the burner and that is heated by the burner. Water is heated in a heat exchanger and then exits the base unit through an outlet spout that swings out from the base unit to dispense water and that may be stored and locked into position in a handle for the base unit. The flow control valve may lower the flow of water through the heat exchanger, so the water has more time to absorb heat and to get hotter. The base unit includes a single control knob that turns on the pump and the burner and operates the flow control valve.

Abstract: A system and method for converting a liquid into a vapor are described. The system includes a housing, a liquid receptor disposed within the housing for accepting the liquid, a liquid inlet for delivering the liquid from outside the housing to the liquid receptor, and a measuring device for determining the amount of liquid delivered to the liquid receptor. The system further includes a heater for heating the liquid delivered to the liquid receptor to thereby convert the liquid to a vapor, and an outlet for discharging the vapor outside the housing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a hot water dispenser capable of heating water to near boiling temperatures (e.g., 205° F. to 212° F.). When water at near boiling temperatures is required, a secondary heating element is activated. The secondary heating element is in thermally coupled to the dispensing tube so that the water in the tube may be further heated as it passes through the dispensing tube from the tank to the dispensing outlet. Heating the water to near boiling just prior to its being dispensed reduces energy costs because the near boiling temperature water is not stored and allowed to cool. Additionally, the need for expensive insulation or expensive thermostats is eliminated.

Abstract: Household apparatus (100) for steam generation comprising a water reservoir (1) at atmospheric pressure; a boiler (5) suitable to contain water to be vaporised and comprising a heating unit (40) in turn including a heating source (7) for vaporising the water suitable to be at least partly immersed in the water and having an elevated portion (15) which extends along a predetermined direction, and a temperature sensor (12) contained into a protective sheath (14), said protective sheath (14) being in contact with said heating source (7), a water feeder (4, 3) from the reservoir (1) to the boiler (5), a steam deliverer (9, 10) from the boiler (5) to a steam user appliance (8), wherein the contact area between the protective sheath (14) and the elevated portion (15) extends along the predetermined direction so that the contact area is relatively wide.

Abstract: The trouble occurring followed by air supply shortage due to the clogging of the flame arrester is prevented.

Abstract: A combination domestic hot water and space heating system has an instantaneous domestic hot water heat exchanger and a low mass boiler-type heat generator connected in a series by a boiler water flow circuit containing a circulating pump. The boiler-type heat generator has an internal reservoir containing between 10 and 20 U.S. gallons (37.85 to 75 liters) of boiler water, which is sufficient to enable the heat exchanger to supply normal short term demand, yet avoid excessive downtime thermal losses. A three-way diverter valve in the flow circuit diverts boiler water to a second heat exchanger in an air handler unit for space heating. Priority is given to domestic water heating.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for conserving water and heat energy in a hot water supply system. A holding tank is provided near the Point Of Use to capture unwanted cooled water. An integrated displacement actuator allows this volume to be recirculated back into the hot water supply line after use. The actuator consists of a flexible bladder or rolling diaphragm that divides the holding tank into two compartments; one for non-compressible supply water, and the second for a compressible phase change fluid. At ambient temperature, the phase change fluid condenses to a liquid phase at a relatively low pressure, allowing diverted water to flow into the tank from the hot water supply system. When the phase change fluid is warmed by the adjacent hot water, it changes to a gaseous phase, pressurizing the holding tank and allowing re-injection of the cool water into the hot water supply system. A control system is provided direct water flow based on time, temperature and pressure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are storage type water heaters having means for improved mixing of cold water supply with water stored in the water tank of a water heater, means for limiting surges of water into and out of a water tank, and means for disrupting formation and propagation of convection currents and water streamers in a water tank.

Abstract: A thermostatically controlled bypass valve for bypassing water away from a hot water valve until the water temperature reaches a desired level at a fixture in use for home or industrial applications. The bypass valve has a valve body with a thermally sensitive actuator disposed between the hot water inlet and discharge ports and the cold water inlet and discharge ports that is thermally responsive to the temperature of the water. A bias spring pushes against the piston on the thermal actuator to close the actuator and open a passage between the cold and hot water sides when water needs to be bypassed. When the water from the hot water heater reaches the desired temperature level at the bypass valve, the bypass valve closes and hot water is made available to the hot water side of the fixture. Until then, the thermal actuator remains open and cold or tepid water is allowed to bypass the hot water side of the fixture.

Abstract: A water heater includes a storage tank communicating with a cold water supply pipe and a hot water supply pipe for the respective supply of cold water to, and removal of hot water from, the tank. The water heater also includes an insulated heat recovery module communicating between the cold water supply pipe and the tank. The heat recovery module defines a cavity, and the cold water supply pipe communicates with a lower portion of the cavity. The heat recovery module has a smaller surface area-to-volume ratio than the cold water supply pipe. When water in the tank is heated, some water is thermally displaced from the tank and into the cavity. Consequently, water is displaced out of the lower portion of the cavity and into the cold water supply pipe. Therefore, only the coldest water is displaced out of the cavity, and thermal energy loss is reduced.

Abstract: A domestic gas storage water heater utilizes a plastic non pressure tank to deliver mains pressure hot water. The heater may be external or internal of the tank and has a heat out put of about 4-10 Mega joules per hour. A pressure transfer module uses the mains pressure of the incoming cold water to deliver hot water from the tank at mains pressure. The tank may be of larger storage capacity than conventional gas heaters and the arrangement ensures that the heated water in the tank is stratified into layers of different temperature. This enables an uninterrupted supply of hot water to be achieved.

Abstract: A portable vacuum insulated bottle includes a heat source having a minimum volume and a heat pipe which acts as a heat transmitting device. With this construction, a portable vacuum insulated bottle is provided which makes hot water instantly. In particular, a portable vacuum insulated bottle is provide which makes hot water using liquid propane gas as a possible heat source.

Abstract: A water heater includes a substantially cylindrical tank having a cold water inlet, a hot water outlet, and an exhaust flue. The cold water inlet is disposed adjacent the lower end of the tank to prevent condensation from occurring between the cold water inlet and the exhaust flue. A T connector having an inlet and first and second outlets is connected to the cold water inlet. A flush valve is connected to the second outlet of the T connector to allow the tank to be flushed. A nozzle is connected to the cold water inlet and is disposed inside the tank. The nozzle is angled to swirl the water that is being placed into the tank so that sediment is lifted into the water. The nozzle may be angled downwardly to stir up sediment from the bottom of the tank.

Abstract: The trouble occurring followed by air supply shortage due to the clogging of the flame arrester is prevented.

Abstract: A water heater has a cold water inlet bushing which screws into a threaded boss in the side wall of a hot water tank near its bottom. Cold water is injected through a pipe into the inlet bushing. A blind passageway is formed within the inlet bushing which extends radially inwardly from the tank outer wall. An outlet port intersects the blind passageway at 90 degrees, and is positioned tangent to the circular outer wall of the hot water tank at the point the tank is penetrated by the inlet bushing. The inlet bushing creates a jet of water which results in the water within the tank rotating. When turbulent mixing and circulation are created by the inlet water jet, smaller particles of sediment which are placed into suspension can be removed from the hot water tank along with the hot water.

Abstract: A water heater and dispenser includes a heater reservoir and an expanded liquid reservoir. An outlet line includes a venturi valve with a port from the expanded liquid reservoir. Heated water in the expanded liquid reservoir is hence made use of.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a device for heating liquid feed for veal calves, although this device may have wider application. The present invention is a pre-heater system used to raise the temperature of liquid feed that is being pumped from cold storage to a mixing tank prior to being fed to an animal. Additionally, the present invention is arranged to independently supply heated water externally of the system.