Abstract: A domestic gas-fired water heater condensing flue system wherein in one embodiment a blower is secured at the outlet end of the flue pipe to direct the hot flue gases through an external heat exchange flue conduit. The external heat exchange flue conduit has a sealed water channel surrounding a narrow flue gas internal passage. Water from the bottom end of the tank is circulated in the external heat exchange flue conduit and release in the top part of the tank. In a further embodiment, an inverted U-shaped flue pipe is supported vertically in the water tank and the domestic water supply for the tank is disposed in a downward section of the flue pipe to pre-heat the water supply to the tank and cool the flue gases before being released to atmosphere.

Abstract: A fluid conduit dielectric nipple for securement to a tank wall of a fluid holding tank, such as a steel tank of a water heater is described. The fluid conduit dielectric nipple has a tank securement end and a cylindrical conduit connecting end specifically configured for receiving a push-fit quick connector to secure to a water supply line and a hot water return line. The fluid conduit dielectric nipple is fabricated from inexpensive metal, such as plated steel, and has a plastics liner to protect parts thereof intended to be exposed to water to prevent corrosion while providing a leak-proof connection. Accordingly, there is provided an inexpensive dielectric nipple which provides quick connection and disconnection.

Abstract: An integrated water heating system is comprised of a hot water holding tank having an outer jacket secured in spaced relationship therearound. An insulating space is defined about the hot water holding tank and the outer jacket. A connecting bracket is secured to an outer surface of the hot water holding tank and has a projecting formation provided with an arcuate connecting wall spaced a predetermined distance from the outer surface for close fit adjacent an inner surface of the outer jacket and disposed for alignment with an external support bracket adapted to be secured thereto through the outer jacket. Thermal insulating material is disposed in the insulating space and about the connecting bracket. An external water heating device is removably supported by the external support bracket. A pump circulates water through the water heating device and through the hot water holding tank.

Abstract: A pressure clamp adapter for mounting a thermistor on an existing thermostat control support bracket secured to a hot water tank spud is described. It comprises a thermistor bracket having a rear wall with opposed transverse projecting connecting arm formations extending from an outer surface of the rear wall. A cavity is formed from the rear surface of the rear wall to form a housing shaped to receive a thermistor therein. A passage communicates with the cavity. Each of the connecting arm formations is adapted for removable attachment to a pair of upwardly projecting legs of the thermostat control support bracket.

Abstract: A water heater, particularly but not exclusively for domestic use, is herein described and having removably secured thereto an external modulating gas power burner to heat the water in a separate tank portion. The two are easily separable from one another for service, repair or interchange. The hot water or a mixture thereof from the burner is circulated in a heat exchanger to transfer the heat to the tank water circulated from the water tank through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A hot water heater, particularly but not exclusively for domestic use, is herein described and having removably secured thereto a modular heat exchanger or an external water heater to heat the water in a separate tank portion. The two are easily separable from one another for service, repair or interchange. The air-to-air heat exchanger extracts heat loss from the central flue of a gas fired water heater to provide a source of heat for the building in which the hot water heater is installed. The external water heater is provided with a gas-fired burner for heating water from the tank circulated in a heat exchanger to transfer heat from a fluid heated by the burner and circulated in the heat exchanger to transfer the heat to water circulated from the water tank.

Abstract: An integrated water heating system is comprised of a hot water holding tank having an outer jacket secured in spaced relationship therearound. An insulating space is defined about the hot water holding tank and the outer jacket. A connecting bracket is secured to an outer surface of the hot water holding tank and has a projecting formation provided with an arcuate connecting wall spaced a predetermined distance from the outer surface for close fit adjacent an inner surface of the outer jacket and disposed for alignment with an external support bracket adapted to be secured thereto through the outer jacket. Thermal insulating material is disposed in the insulating space and about the connecting bracket. An external water heating device is removably supported by the external support bracket. A pump circulates water through the water heating device and through the hot water holding tank.

Abstract: A method of constructing an inner glass-lined steel tank is described. The lower edge of the top dome shell is machined wherein a smooth angulated surface is formed between an outer and an inner surface of the top dome shell to form a smooth angulated surface to eliminate abrupt transition edges. Also, couplings are machined and press-fitted into the tank wall to form smooth surfaces with the inner surface of the tank. When the porcelain enamel is sprayed inside the tank there are no sharp edges which often results in defects due to the fact that the porcelain enamel is not properly adhered thereto. Such defects eventually cause corrosion within the inner tank and greatly reduce the life expectancy thereof as well as the life expectancy of the sacrificial anode connected to the tank and extending therein.

Abstract: A gas water heater having increased thermal efficiency comprises a water tank having a sealed combustion chamber thereunder. An atmospheric burner is located in the combustion chamber. A flue pipe extends from the sealed combustion chamber and through the water tank for heat exchange of hot atmospheric gas therein with water in the water tank. A heat exchanger is in communication with the combustion gases exiting the water tank to extract residual heat from the combustion gas in the flue pipe for mixture with ambient air to produce pre-heated combustion air. An air convection or draft inducing device directs the hot combustion air from the heat exchanger through a sealed conduit to direct the pre-heated combustion air to the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A method of constructing an inner glass-lined steel tank is described. The lower edge of the top dome shell is machined wherein a smooth angulated surface is formed between an outer and an inner surface of the top dome shell to form a smooth angulated surface to eliminate abrupt transition edges. Also, couplings are machined and press-fitted into the tank wall to form smooth surfaces with the inner surface of the tank. When the porcelain enamel is sprayed inside the tank there are no sharp edges which often results in defects due to the fact that the porcelain enamel is not properly adhered thereto. Such defects eventually cause corrosion within the inner tank and greatly reduce the life expectancy thereof as well as the life expectancy of the sacrificial anode connected to the tank and extending therein.

Abstract: A fuel-fired water heater has a tank which holds a reserve of water to be heated by a burner located in a sealed combustion chamber disposed under a bottom heat transfer wall of the tank. A combustion gas exhaust flue extends vertically through the center of the tank in contact with the water therein. A restrictive baffle is secured inside the gas exhaust flue to retard hot gases rising in the flue from the combustion chamber whereby to increase heat transfer from the hot gases to the water in contact with the exhaust flue. A draft inducing blower is secured in a top end of the exhaust flue above the top wall of the tank. A heat exchanger is in communication with a heat exchange section of the flue above the top end of the exhaust flue to extract further heat from residual hot gases in the exhaust flue.

Abstract: A hot water heater, particularly but not exclusively for domestic use, is herein described and having removably secured thereto a modular heat exchanger or an external water heater to heat the water in a separate tank portion. The two are easily separable from one another for service, repair or interchange. The air-to-air heat exchanger extracts heat loss from the central flue of a gas fired water heater to provide a source of heat for the building in which the hot water heater is installed. The external water heater is provided with a gas-fired burner for heating water from the tank circulated in a heat exchanger to transfer heat from a fluid heated by the burner and circulated in the heat exchanger to transfer the heat to water circulated from the water tank.

Abstract: A water heater device with an integrated modular heat pump is described. The water heater device has an insulated glass-lined casing for storing water to be heated. One or more resistive heating elements are provided in the casing for heating water. A cold water conduit introduces water in a lower portion of the casing and a hot water conduit extracts hot water from an upper portion of the casing. Detachable supports are provided to support the modular heat pump in close proximity to the water heater. The refrigeration system of the heat pump has a condensation coil having a refrigerant conduit in heat exchange relationship with a water circulation conduit to heat water in the water circulation conduit pumped from the lower portion of the casing through a supply conduit and returned to the casing by a return conduit. Detachable couplings are provided to easily detach the cold water conduit, the hot water conduit and the supply conduit and return conduit when repair and maintenance require it.

Abstract: A method of recycling cured foam insulation having an internal cell/bubble structure is described. The method comprises cutting the cured foam cell insulation into foam pieces of predetermined sizes and shape dependent on the dimensions of cavities to be insulated and incorporating the foam pieces therein. A predetermined volume of the cavities is filled with the foam pieces and a predetermined quantity of an expandable liquid foam insulation is injected into the cavities containing the foam pieces and caused to expand to fill voids in the cavities with the foam pieces forming a homogeneous insulating foam body throughout the cavities while retaining substantially their internal cell/bubble structure.

Abstract: A monitoring module for connection to a diagnostic device having two or more light emitting sources for indicating operating fault conditions of an apparatus. The monitoring module feeds information signals to a communication link for reception at a remote location. The monitoring module is secured over a series of light emitting diodes of the diagnostic device and reproduces these for local access. The series of LED's indicate fault conditions of the apparatus which in this embodiment is a hot water heater. Accordingly, the operation of the hot water heater at its fault status can be monitored from a remote location and on site.

Abstract: A high efficiency, peak-power reducing, domestic hot water heater is described. It comprises a closed tank having a predetermined water holding capacity. A hot water outlet is provided in a top end wall of the tank. A cold water inlet is provided in a side wall of the tank adjacent a bottom wall thereof. Three spaced apart resistive heating elements project substantially horizontally in the tank. A bottom one of the resistive heating elements extends in the tank and spaced slightly above the bottom wall. A middle one of the resistive heating elements extends in the tank at a level close to an average maximum water consumption volume drawn during a peak power demand time period. A top one of the resistive heating elements extends between the middle element and the top end wall of the tank. The bottom element has a low watt density in the range of from about 15 to 30 W/in2.

Abstract: A flue baffle for use in a hot water tank flue pipe which is disposed to be in contact with water contained in an inner tank of the hot water heater. A burner chamber is provided at a lower end of the inner tank. The flue baffle is comprised of an elongated rectangular metal strip which has a plurality of spaced circular metal discs disposed substantially transverse to the strip and to the longitudinal axis of the flue pipe. The metal discs are dimensioned to be spaced from an inner surface of the flue pipe. Two or more spacing nipples protrude from a circumferential outer edge of the circular metal discs and are spaced apart from one another for slight frictional engagement with the inner surface of the flue pipe to maintain a substantially constant circumferential passage between the circumferential outer edge of the discs and the inner surface of the flue pipe.

Abstract: There is herein described a peak-power reducing domestic hot water heater comprising: a closed tank having a predetermined water holding capacity, a hot water outlet in a top end wall of said tank, a cold water inlet in a side wall of said tank adjacent a bottom wall thereof, three spaced apart resistive heating elements projecting substantially horizontally in said tank, each of said resistive heating elements having a temperature sensing element to enable a control of their respective activation; a bottom one of said resistive heating elements extending in said tank spaced slightly above said bottom wall and having a lowest power rating, said bottom resistive heating element being turned on when water is flowing into said cold water inlet and drawn out of said hot water outlet during a peak-power demand time period; a middle one of said resistive heating elements extending in said tank at a level which is calculated to be equal or above an average maximum daily water consumption volume drawn out during the

Abstract: A high efficiency, peak-power reducing, domestic hot water heater is described. It comprises a closed tank having a predetermined water holding capacity. A hot water outlet is provided in a top end wall of the tank. A cold water inlet is provided in a side wall of the tank adjacent a bottom wall thereof. Three spaced apart resistive heating elements project substantially horizontally in the tank. A bottom one of the resistive heating elements extends in the tank and spaced slightly above the bottom wall. A middle one of the resistive heating elements extends in the tank at a level close to an average maximum water consumption volume drawn during a peak power demand time period. A top one of the resistive heating elements extends between the middle element and the top end wall of the tank. The bottom element has a low watt density in the range of from about 15 to 30 W/in2.