Abstract: An improved residential countertop water treatment unit for producing potable water suitable for human ingestion such as by drinking or cooking that comprises a vertical arrangement of a base, a cartridge, and a spigot at the top. The base includes an elongated threaded stub pipe extended downward for fastening the base to a sink surface or countertop and for receiving water from a potable cold water supply line. The base includes an internal valve for controlling water flow between the elongated threaded stub pipe and the inlet of the water filter cartridge. With the valve closed, the cartridge may be readily exchanged by simply unscrewing the spent cartridge from the base and then screwing in a new cartridge.

Abstract: This gas-fired water heater has a shell sealed at opposite ends within an insulated storage tank, defining a water-tight chamber with inlet and outlet water connections thereto. The shell preferably is a one-piece casting of aluminum alloy, with a circular array of impervious passages between its opposite ends. Each passage is defined by a curved wall segment spaced inwardly adjacent the tank and a pair of side walls converging inwardly from opposite ends of each curved wall segment to an inboard corner, where the adjacent corners and side walls are spaced apart radially and circumferentially respectively yielding water contact against all exterior passage surfaces. A burner under the storage tank generates hot flue gases that vent through the passages for heating the chamber water. A rib can project inwardly from the curved wall segment into each flow passage, adding heat transfer to the wall segment and contacted water.

Abstract: A dual function water heater having two separate hot water outlets, one for potable water and the other for a building heating system. The vertical flue pipe, extending through the tank, comprises a radially expanded means for increasing water heater power productivity and efficiency of heat recovery from the flue gases. The radially expanded means comprises a chamber for the flow of the hot flue gases, and the chamber includes a means for directing the hot flue gases toward the inner surface of the radially expanded means. In a further improvement, the burner control unit possesses an additional means for adjusting burner power depending on water temperature in the water tank. In a still further improvement, the means for directing the flue gases constitutes a tank containing water in a heat exchange relationship with water in the tank.

Abstract: An improved residential countertop water treatment unit for producing potable water suitable for human ingestion such as by drinking or cooking comprises a vertical arrangement of a base, a cartridge, and a spigot at the top. The base includes an elongated threaded stub pipe extended downward for fastening the base to a sink surface or countertop and for receiving water from a potable cold water supply line. The base includes an internal valve for controlling water flow between the elongated threaded stub pipe and the inlet of the water filter cartridge. With the valve closed, the cartridge may be readily exchanged by simply unscrewing the spent cartridge from the base and then screwing in a new cartridge.

Abstract: Improved oil drainage structure and method of drainage for a combustion engine crank case oil pan or the like. This drainage structure provides safe operation along with simple and low cost manufacture and installation in both already existing and newly manufactured crank case oil pans. The improved drainage structure consists of an improved oil drain plug and holding means. The head of the oil drain plug possesses an additional recess designed to facilitate operational engagement with a correspondingly designed elongated holding means. The oil drain plug, elongated holding means, and associated method for unscrewing and removing the oil drain plug allow for the safer, simpler, and cleaner drainage of the used and hot oil.