Patent ID: 6577817
Filing Date: 2003-06-10
Classification: F24H

Abstract:
An electric water heater comprising:a tank having an inner wall and an outer wall wherein said inner wall and said outer wall are separated by a first open space region and said first open space region is filled at least partially with thermal insulation; further wherein said water tank is adapted to hold a quantity of non-pressurized and non-circulating heat transfer liquid; a top adapted to be separated from said tank, said top having an upper wall and lower wall wherein said upper wall and said lower wall are separated by a second open space region and said second open space region is filled at least partially with thermal insulation; at least one thermally conductive coil adapted to circulate water from a water inlet, said coil being mounted inside said tank and having said water inlet and a water outlet in communication with an exterior of said tank, further wherein said water inlet and said water outlet each extends outside of said water heater; at least one heating element attached to said top and positioned to extend downwardly through said top and heat said heat transfer liquid within said tank; a sensor plate in communication with said coil in a position proximate to said water inlet and wherein said sensor plate extends from said top to said coil; a thermostat connected to said sensor plate, wherein said thermostat is in thermal proximity with said sensor plate such that it activates said heating element when the temperature signaled by said sensor plate reaches a pre-determined temperature; and wherein said heating element contacts and heats the heat transfer liquid inside the tank and said heat transfer liquid contacts said coil to heat water from a water supply that enters said water heater and circulates through said coil such that heated water leaves said water outlet.