Patent ID: 7817907

Claim:
An apparatus for retaining and heating water comprising: a tank for retaining water, said tank defined by tank walls, including a bottom wall portion comprised of heat conductive material and having a lower surface, the tank having a water inlet for receiving water and a water outlet for dispensing hot water; an intermediate plate comprised of heat conductive material brazed to the lower surface of said bottom wall portion; a heating element secured within a heat conductive sheath, said sheath brazed to and positioned below the intermediate plate for provision of heat thereto and by conduction to said bottom wall portion and the water retained in said tank, the heat conductive sheath has a trapezoidal cross section and is formed into an overall circular shape with a first and a second terminal seal filing ends of the heat conductive sheath and two terminal pins welded to resistance wire of the heating element the resistance wire extending outside each terminal pin, the intermediate plate is brazed over its entire surface area to the lower surface of the bottom wall and said sheath is brazed to the intermediate plate.