Water heater status monitoring system
US10119726B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 6, 2016 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 6, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF24H15/45
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A water heater having a monitoring mechanism, an appliance burner configured to heat water in a tank of a water heater, a water temperature sensor configured to detect a water temperature in the tank, a pilot device configured to ignite the appliance burner, and a thermopile having a tip and a base, and having an output voltage that represents a temperature difference between the tip and the base. The tip of the thermopile may be heated by the pilot device. The base of the thermopile may receive heat from the appliance burner when the appliance burner is turned on, and thus the voltage output of the thermopile may decrease. If the voltage output does not decrease and the water temperature exceeds a thermal cutout limit, then a warning about the water heater may be issued by the monitoring mechanism.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.