Patent ID: 6508208
Filing Date: 2003-01-21
Classification: F24H

Abstract:
A water heater comprising a closed tank having a vertical exterior wall arrangement and a bottom portion with a wall extending horizontally and vertically to a normally closed bottom drain, a valve arrangement coupled to the bottom drain for selectively enabling water flowing through the bottom drain to flow through it, a hot water outlet connected to the tank interior, a cold water inlet having a segment in proximity to the horizontally and vertically extending wall, the cold water inlet being arranged so that in response to water being removed from the tank, cold water flows from the inlet into the bottom portion to gently wash sediment in the bottom portion toward the horizontally and vertically extending wall, the horizontally and vertically extending wall being arranged so the washed sediment drifts by gravity to the drain and the drifted sediment accumulates at and in proximity to the drain, and a controller for opening the valve from time to time for removing the washed sediment from the bottom portion via the drain and preventing accumulation of substantial sediment in the tank.