Heating devices to prevent bacteria proliferation in the lowermost region of a water holding tank of an electric water heater

Abstract

An electric water heater is described and wherein the bottom portion of the water holding tank is provided with various forms of electric heating elements to heat the water in the lowermost region of the tank adjacent the dome-shaped bottom wall to a temperature sufficient to prevent the proliferation of bacteria growth such as the Legionella bacteria in such lowermost region. The insulating foam support base of the water heater also provides a thermal barrier to the heating elements while biasing the heating element on the dome-shaped bottom wall in a region to insure excellent heat transfer to the cavitated zone surrounding the dome-shaped bottom wall where sedimentary deposits occur to create a culture medium for bacteria growth. In one embodiment a heating wire transfers heat to the lowermost region from the lower end of the surrounding side wall of the tank and access to the heating wire is provided for connection and removal thereof.

Claims

1. An electric water heater comprising a water holding tank having a cylindrical side wall, a top wall and a dome-shaped bottom wall; a cold water inlet disposed for releasing water under pressure in a lower portion of said tank, two ore more resistive heating elements to heat water in an upper and lower region of said tank, a thermostat having a temperature sensor and a control associated with each said two or more resistive heating elements to control the operation of said resistive heating elements to heat water within said tank regions to pre-set desired temperatures, an insulating support base at a bottom end of said water holding tank and shaped and disposed for contact with an outer surface of said dome-shaped bottom wall; and controllable electric heating means interposed between said insulating support base and said outer surface of said dome-shaped bottom wall to heat water in said tank in the immediate area of said dome-shaped bottom wall to a temperature sufficient to sanitize said tank lower region to prevent the proliferation of harmful bacteria.

2. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 1 wherein said insulating support base has a solid dome portion with said controllable electric heating means being interposed between a lower area of said dome portion and a cavitated circumferential area defined between a lower end portion of said tank circumferential side wall and said dome shaped bottom wall.

3. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 1 wherein said insulating support base is molded from a thermally insulating material and defines a circumferential outer support flange portion on which a lower edge of said tank side wall is supported and a solid projecting dome portion for flush support engagement, in at least portions thereof, with said outer surface of said dome-shaped bottom wall.

4. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 2 wherein a cavity is formed in an outer surface of said surrounding lower portion of said insulating support base and shaped for housing said controllable heating means therein wherein said heating means is positioned in contact with said dome-shaped bottom wall adjacent said cavitated circumferential area, and control means for controlling the operation of said heating means.

5. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 4 wherein said controllable heating means is a film-type heating element having one or more resistive heating wires and connection leads, said cavity having a protective channel formed therein for said connection leads to exit said insulating support base and connect to said control means.

6. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cavity has a flat bottom wall shaped to extend parallel to said dome shape bottom wall in said surrounding lower portion of said support base and a depth wherein said film type heating element is press-fit against said surrounding lower portion of said dome-shaped bottom wall by said insulating support base.

7. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 6 wherein a reflective substrate is positioned over said flat bottom wall of said cavity for reflecting heat from said film type heating element against said surrounding lower portion of said dome-shaped bottom wall.

8. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control means is one of a thermostat secured to an outer surface of said water holding tank adjacent said dome-shaped bottom wall and a controller associated with temperature sensing means and/or a timer and/or a controller programmed to manage the operation of said controllable heating means.

9. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 2 wherein a spiral cavity is formed in an outer surface of said surrounding lower portion of said insulating support base and shaped for housing a heating wire constituting said controllable heating means, said spiral cavity positioning said heating wire in flush contact with said dome-shaped bottom wall adjacent said cavitated circumferential area, said spiral cavity having sufficient turns to house a heating wire length calculated to produce a desired power factor,and control means for controlling the power supply to said heating wire.

10. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 9 wherein a thermally conductive paste is disposed over said heating wire from a top open end of said spiral cavity to fill voids about said heating wire and conduct heat from said heating wire to said dome-shaped bottom wall.

11. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 9 wherein said control means is one of a thermostat secured to an outer surface of said water holding tank adjacent said dome-shaped bottom wall, and a controller associated with temperature sensing means and/or a timer and programmed to manage the operation of said controllable heating means.

12. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cavity is a circular cavity formed about said outer face of said surrounding lower portion of said dome portion of said insulating support base and shaped for housing a circular resistive heating element in close fit therein, said circular resistive heating element constituting said controllable heating means, said circular resistive heating element having a space defined between opposed conductor ends thereof for said conductors to secure to a power supply to energize said circular resistive heating element.

13. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 12 wherein a reflective substrate is positioned in said circular cavity for reflecting heat from said circular resistive heating element against said surrounding lower portion of said dome-shaped bottom wall.

14. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 12 wherein a thermally conductive paste is disposed over said circular resistive heating element and surrounding voids end areas of said circular cavity to conduct heat to said dome-shaped bottom wall.

15. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 12 wherein said outer face of said surrounding lower portion of said dome-shaped insulating support base is a downwards and outwardly curved-shaped surface, said circular cavity having an arcuate bottom wall and an upwardly curved upper side wall shaped to provide snap-fit entry of said circular resistive heating element into said circular cavity.

16. An electric water heater comprising a water holding tank having a cylindrical side wall, a top wall and a dome-shaped bottom wall; a cold water inlet disposed for releasing water under pressure in a lower portion of said tank, two or more resistive heating elements to heat water in an upper and lower region of said tank, a thermostat having a temperature sensor and a control associated with each said two or more resistive heating elements to control the operation of said resistive heating elements to heat water within said tank regions to pre-set desired temperatures, a conduit secured about at least a substantial circumferential portion of an outer surface of said cylindrical side wall adjacent said dome-shaped bottom wall, a resistive heating wire in said conduit and having connection leads extending out of a free open end of said conduit to an access area to provide connection to power terminals and control means, said control means controlling the supply of power to said resistive heating wire.

17. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 16 wherein said conduit is constructed of non-conductive material and held captive against said outer surface of said cylindrical side wall adjacent a circumferential cavitated area defined between a lower end portion of said tank circumferential side wall and said dome-shaped bottom wall, and retention means for maintaining said conduit in position about a substantial circumferential portion of said cylindrical side wall.

18. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 17 wherein said retention means is one of a tape or tape portions and an injected expandable insulating foam or a combination of both.

19. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 17 wherein a reflective tape is held over said conduit for reflecting heat from said conduit against said outer surface of said tank.

20. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 16 wherein said conduit has an upwardly curved end section to position said free open end in an access area of said thermostat of said lower resistive heating element in said tank lower region to provide access for removal and insertion of said resistive heating wire and access to said connection leads.

21. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 17 wherein said conduit is formed of a suitable plastic material or other non-conductive material to keep heat generated by said resistive heating wire against said outer surface of said cylindrical side wall.

22. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 16 wherein said control means is one of a thermostat secured to an outer surface of said water holding tank adjacent said dome-shaped bottom wall, and a controller associated with temperature sensing means and/or a timer and programmed to manage the operation of said resistive heating wire in said conduit.

23. An electric water heater comprising a water holding tank having a cylindrical side wall, a top wall and a dome-shaped bottom wall; a cold water inlet disposed to releasing water under pressure in a lower portion of said tank, two or more resistive heating elements to heat water in an upper and lower region of said tank, a thermostat having a temperature sensor and a control associated with each said two or more resistive heating elements to control the operation of said resistive heating elements to heat water within said tank regions to pre-set desired temperatures, a cavitated circumferential area defined between a lower end portion of said cylindrical side wall and said dome-shaped bottom wall, and a bottom resistive heating element extending in at least a portion of said cavitated circumferential area to heat water therein to a temperature sufficient to sanitize a lower region of said water holding tank in the immediate area of said dome-shaped bottom wall.

24. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 23 wherein said bottom resistive heating element is a low watt density resistive heating element having a partly circular shape and supported in said cavitated circumferential area and closely spaced to said dome-shaped bottom wall and said bower end portion of said cylindrical side wall.

25. The electric water heater as claimed in claim 24 wherein said partly circular resistive heating element has opposed free-end sections each shaped as an upwardly extending goose-neck, a connecting flange secured to said free end sections for supporting sid partly circular resistive heating element in said cavitated circumferrential area in a substantially horizontal plane, said connecting flange having a sealed connection with an inner face of said cylindrical said wall about an opening for the passage thereof for immovable securement to an outer connecting flange assembly.

Description

DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the examples thereof as illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic illustration, partly fragmented and exploded, showing a water holding tank of an electric water heater of the prior art supported on an insulating support base;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a side view of a dome shaped support base modified in accordance with the present invention to support and position a film-type heating element therein and a thermostat for the control of the heating element;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a top view of the dome shaped support base of FIG. 2 but modified wherein the control is an automatic control device located externally of the support base;

[0021] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view illustrating a cavity passage formed in the insulating support base for the passage of wires under the surrounding bottom edge of the water holding tank;

[0022] FIG. 5 is a top view of the insulating support base wherein a spiral channel is formed in the top surface of the support base for housing a heating wire in spiral form therein;

[0023] FIG. 6 is a top view, similar to FIG. 5, but wherein the insulating support base has been modified to support a thermostat and associated wiring and connections;

[0024] FIG. 7 is a fragmented side view of the insulating support base of FIG. 6 illustrating the cavities and channels formed therein for the passage of wiring to connect to an external controller;

[0025] FIG. 8 is a top view of a circular resistive heating element shaped for attachment in an insulating support base of an electric water heater;

[0026] FIG. 9 is a fragmented sectional view of a bottom outer region of a water holding tank resting on an insulating support base in which the circular resistive heating element of FIG. 8 is secured in close snap-fit in a circular cavity formed in the outer surface of the dome bottom portion of the support base to position the resistive heating element in contact with the dome-shaped bottom wall of the tank and wherein a heat conductive paste is positioned in the voids about the resistive heating element;

[0027] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the region of the resistive heating element shown in FIG. 9 located in its retention cavity;

[0028] FIG. 11 is a fragmented sectional view of an example of a heating element secured about the outer surface of the water holding tank side wall in the area adjacent the dome-shaped bottom wall of the tank and wherein a heating wire is removably positioned within a thermally conductive conduit secured to the tank side wall;

[0029] FIG. 12 is a fragmented side view illustrating an embodiment for the control of the heating element of FIG. 11;

[0030] FIG. 13 is a simplified side view showing the shape of an end section of the conduit to provide access thereto for the insertion and removal of the heating wire;

[0031] FIG. 14 is a fragmented sectional view illustrating a still further embodiment of the present invention wherein a resistive heating element is supported inside the tank and in the cavitated circumferential area defined between a lower end portion of the side wall of the tank and the dome-shaped bottom wall;

[0032] FIG. 15 is a side view illustrating the shape and construction of the resistive heating element of FIGS. 14, and

[0033] FIG. 16 is a top view of FIG. 15.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0034] Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic illustration of a water holding tank 10 of an electric water heater and sized to contain a predetermined volume of water to be heated. The water holding tank 10 is constructed of steel material and defines a circumferential side wall 11, a top wall 12 and a dome-shaped bottom wall 13. Two or more resistive heating elements, herein the bottom resistive heating element 14 being shown, extend with the water holding tank to heat water in the upper region 15 and bottom region 16 of the tank. Each of the resistive heating elements have a thermostat 17 associated therewith and provided with a temperature sensor and control, not shown but obvious to a person skilled in the art, for the operation of the resistive heating elements 14 to heat water within their respective regions of the tank to preset temperatures set within the control of the thermostat, usually at 140 degrees F. When water is drawn from the top end of the tank through a hot water supply conduit 18, cold water from the domestic water supply is introduced in the bottom region 16 of the tank via a dip tube 19. The water holding tank 10 is insulated by expandable foam material 20 injected between the tank 10 and an outer shell 21 of the water heater. As illustrated, the water holding tank 10 is supported on an insulating rigid foam support base 22 which is shaped for contact with the dome-shaped bottom wall 13 of the tank to thermally insulate and provide support to the dome-shaped bottom wall of the tank. The support base 22 has a dome support portion 23 and a circumferential outer support flange portion 24 on which the lower edge of the tank side wall is also supported. The flange portion 24 extends for close fit with the inner surface of the outer shell 21onto which the foam 20 expands to. Thus, is a brief description of a prior art water holding tank 10 and insulation of the tank of an electric water heater.

[0035] With reference now to FIGS. 2 to 4 there is shown an example of a heating means associated with insulating support base 22 for heating the dome-shaped bottom wall 13 of the water holding tank 10. As herein illustrated the heating means is in the form of a resistive film-type electric heating element 25 which is fitted and glued within a shallow, belt-shaped, surrounding cavity 26 formed in an outer face 27 of a surrounding lower portion of the dome portion 23 of the insulating support base. The cavity 26 has a depth wherein when the tank 10 is positioned over the insulating support base 22, the film-type resistive heating element 25 is in direct contact with the outer surface 29 of the dome-shaped bottom wall 13 to provide direct heat transfer to the bottom wall 13. As herein shown, the cavity 26 is disposed in a lower area of the dome portion 23 of the support base whereby to heat the dome-shaped bottom wall 13 of the tank in a cavitated circumferential area 30 defined between a lower end portion 31 of the tank 10 circumferential side wall 11 and the dome-shaped bottom wall 13.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the thin film-type heating element has one or more resistive heating wires 32, herein one sinusoidal shaped wire, and connection leads 33 secured to a connection terminal 34 to which power supply leads 35 are connected to. The connection terminal 34 is also located in an appropriate cavity formed in the support base. The cavity 26 is formed with a flat bottom wall 36 shaped to extend parallel to the dome-shape bottom wall 13. As shown in FIG. 3, a reflective substrate 37 may be glued on the flat bottom wall 36 of the cavity or may be laminated to the film-type heating element 25 whereby to reflect heat in the direction of the dome-shaped bottom wall. Of course, the insulating support base is molded from a suitable styrene foam material capable of resisting to the heat generated by the heating element 25.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2 a thermostat locating cavity 38 is formed in the dome section 28 of the support base 22 to position a control thermostat 39 therein for close fit of its sensor 40 against the outer surface 29 of the dome-shaped bottom wall 13 to sense the temperature of the bottom wall 13 which is substantially the same as the water inside the tank against the bottom wall. A power supply cable 41 extends in a protective channel 42 and connects power to the thermostat 39 which controls the film-type heating element 25 to maintain the water temperature inside the tank in the region of the bottom wall 13 at a set desired temperature sufficient to prevent harmful bacteria proliferation, for example 140 degrees F. FIG. 3 shows another control for the resistive heating film 25 wherein the cable leads 35 connect externally to a switch 43 which is operated by a controller device 44 which receives temperature value signals from a sensor 45 secured to the tank outer surface adjacent the cavitated area 30. The controller is programmed to maintain the predetermined temperature in the tank lower portion adjacent the dome-shaped bottom wall. Other functions can be programmed within the memory of the controller to interface with a remote location such as the grid provider. A timer circuit may be associated with the controller if programmed to operate the heating element during predetermined time periods and predetermined programmed occurances of the electric water heater

[0038] Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 7, there is illustrated another embodiment of the invention wherein the heating element is in the form of a spiral heating wire 50 which is held in tight fit or glued into a spiral channel 51 formed in the outer surface 52 of the dome portion 53 of the insulating support base 54, which is similar to the insulating support base 22 of FIG. 2. Also, a thermostat locating cavity 55 may be formed to house a thermostat 56 therein. However, if the water heater is equipped with an intelligent controller, by noticing a temperature increase from 140 degrees F. to 141, it will provide an indication that the sanitation cycle is done. Channels 56 are also formed to accommodate the wiring and connectors as with the FIG. 2 embodiment. The operation of the spiral wire heating wire can also be controlled by a remote controller 57 operating the same as the controller 44 of FIG. 3.

[0039] With reference now to FIGS. 8 to 10, there is illustrated an another version of the invention wherein the heating element is a resistive heating element commonly found in water heaters but wherein the element is formed as a circular resistive heating element 60 which is retained in close snap-fit engagement in a circular cavity 61 formed about the outer face 62 of the surrounding lower portion 63 (see FIG. 1) of the dome portion 23 insulating support base 22. The circular resistive heating element 60 has a space 63 defined between opposed conductor ends 64 thereof for the leads 65 to secure to a connector 66 to which power can be connected in a similar fashion as with the previous embodiments described above.

[0040] As better seen in FIG. 10, the circular cavity 61 has an arcuate bottom wall 67 and an upwardly curved upper side wall 68 shaped to provide easy snap-fit entry of the circular resistive heating element 60 therein from above the base. A heat conductive paste 69 of a type well known in the art and suitable for this application, is applied over the resistive heating element and surrounding open top end areas 70 to fill the voids and provide good heat transfer to the dome-shaped bottom wall of the tank. Alternatively, or in combination therewith, a heat reflective substrate or film 71 may be glued within the circular cavity 61. The connections and operation of the circular resistive heating element is the same as with the other resistive heating elements described above.

[0041] Referring now to FIGS. 11 to 13 there is illustrated a different embodiment wherein a heating wire 80 is removably retained inside a conduit 81 formed by a U-shaped non-conductive material, such as plastic or other suitable material, and which is secured about at least a substantial circumferential portion of the outer surface 82 of the cylindrical side wall 83 of the water holding tank of an electric water heater. The conduit 81 extends in a lower region of the tank adjacent the dome-shaped bottom wall 85 adjacent the circumferential cavitated zone 84 defined between the bottom end section 86 of the tank side wall 83 and the dome-shaped bottom wall where sediments 88 collect to create a culture zone for bacteria growth. The U-shaped conduit 81 may be made of flexible material capable of being curved over the curved side wall 83 or be pre-formed as a curved conduit.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 11 the conduit 81 may be immovably retained against the side wall 83 by a suitable adhesive tape 90, or tape portions. The tape and the conduit is also held immovable by the expandable insulating foam 93 injected in the space between the tank outer wall and the outer shell 94. A reflective tape (not shown) can also be held against the conduit 80 to reflect heat towards the tank side wall 83.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the conduit 81 has an upwardly curved end section 87 with a free open top end 95 which terminates in the access opening 96 of the bottom resistive heating element 14, see FIG. 1. The heating wire 80 is inserted into the conduit 81 through this open top end 95 and is connected to power terminals of the terminal block 97 of the lower thermostat 17 through which power is rendered accessible by suitable controls such as the controller 98 illustrated in FIG. 12 through which power is provided when necessary to do so as determined by monitored signals received from water temperature sensor 99. Therefore, access is provided to the heating wire 80 for replacement if necessary and connection to a supply without having to form another access opening between the tank and the outer shell and providing an additional access panel.

[0044] Referring now to FIGS. 14 to 16 there is shown a still further embodiment of the present invention wherein a bottom resistive heating element 100 is shaped to extend at least partly within the cavitated circumferential area 30 defined between the tank side wall 11 and the dome-shaped bottom wall 13. As better illustrated by FIGS. 15 and 16, the bottom resistive heating element 100 has a circular shape 101 with spaced opposed free end sections 102 each shaped as an upwardly extending goose-neck 103 to which is secured a connecting flange 104 spaced form the free ends 105. The free ends 105 extend through a securement hole in the tank side wall with a water-proof gasket 106 disposed against the flange 104 and an inner face 108 of the side wall 11. An outer connecting flange assembly 107 holds the connecting flange in pressure engagement with the inner surface 108 of the side wall to position the bottom resistive heating element 100 is a substantially horizontal plane in the cavitated circumferential area 30 and closely spaced to the inner face 108 of the side wall. The bottom element is a low watt density heating element and preferably secured to the tank wall by a dielectric connector assembly 107 formed of material made of copper or stainless, incoloy, inconel, or any other suitable material to prevent corrosion. The bottom resistive heating element 100 is installed before the dome-shaped bottom wall and must be positioned as low as possible but high enough to prevent interference during the assembly process of the dome-shaped bottom wall 13 with the tank side wall 11.

[0045] In all embodiments described herein the heating means is arranged such as to heat the water within the lowermost portion of the tank including the cavitated circumferential area to a temperature of 140 degrees F. and for a sufficient time to kill the Legionella bacteria. These heating means may also be operated during non-peak hours when electricity is plentiful and costs are lower

[0046] It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any modifications of the preferred embodiments described herein provided such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.