Patent ID: 7370648
Filing Date: 2008-05-13
Classification: F24H

Abstract:
1. A water heater system featuring a metallic housing with a glass liner for abating contamination of water in the system to be heated comprising, in combination: a housing having a circular top and a circular bottom with a cylindrical side wall there between, the housing being fabricated of a metallic material; a liner having a circular top and a circular bottom with a cylindrical side wall there between, the liner being fabricated of a unitary piece of glass, the top and bottom and side wall of the liner all being smaller than the top and bottom and side wall of the housing thereby forming a space above and below and around the sides of the liner and within the housing; insulation material throughout the space above and below and around the sides of the liner and within the housing; a pair of heating assemblies within the liner including an upper heating assembly in proximity to a central elevational height of the liner and a lower heating assembly in proximity to the bottom of the liner, each heating assembly including a hollow glass tube with a circular cross sectional configuration and formed into oval portions with curved extents in proximity to the liner and with linear extents coupling the curved extent and extending through the liner, an electrically conductive heating element within each glass tube positioned out of contact with the glass tube, electrical leads in contact with the heating elements and extending into the space for coupling the heating elements to a source of potential for heating water within the liner; a water inlet line fabricated of glass extending from exterior of the housing and liner through the top of the housing and liner terminating with an outlet at a location within the liner at an elevational height above the upper heater assembly, the water inlet line having an L-shaped bend exterior of and above the housing with a protective shield over the bend, the water inlet line also having an in-line water filter in advance of the bend; a water outlet line fabricated of glass extending to exterior of the housing and liner through the top of the housing and liner with an inlet at a location within the liner at an elevational height in proximity to the bottom of the liner, the water inlet line having an L-shaped bend exterior of and above the housing with a protective shield over the bend; a viewing zone formed as a rectangular opening in the housing with a central elevational height of the viewing zone at the elevational height of the upper heater assembly and the upper elevational height of the viewing zone at the elevational height of the outlet of the water input line, the viewing area thus being located to allow an observer to observe the upper heating assembly and the outlet end of the water input line; a light including a bulb with an illumination filament and an enclosing glass cover secured within the liner at an elevational height between the viewing zone and the lower heating assembly for illuminating the interior of the liner, the housing being formed with an opening adjacent to the bulb with a removable cover for repair and replacement of the bulb; a pair of thermostats on the housing, each thermostat located in proximity to an associated heating assembly and operatively coupled thereto for sensing and controlling the temperature of water within the liner; an overflow valve on the top of the housing for the relief of pressure in the event of over heating; a float level switch in the water inlet line to allow the adding of water to the liner as needed; and a faucet extending through the sidewalls of the housing and liner adjacent to the bottoms thereof for emptying the tank.