Patent · US Active

Water heater

US10753644B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by

111References

16Claims

0Family size

Assignee

A. O. Smith Corporation · US

Inventors

Zhongsheng Niu · Columbia, US
Michael W. Schultz · Elk River, US
Meng Yang · Nanjing, CN

Key dates

Filing date	Aug 4, 2017
Grant date	Aug 25, 2020
Priority date	—
Expiry date	May 9, 2038

Classification

Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
CPC primaryF24H9/1836
WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A water heater system includes a primary heat exchanger including a tank and at least one flue, and a secondary heat exchanger including a core and a flue gas flow path. The water heater is operable in a heating mode in which a combustor produces hot flue gas and a water pump flows water through the core of the secondary heat exchanger and into the tank, and in a non-heating mode in which the combustor and the water pump are inoperative. The flue gas flows from the combustor through the at least one flue to heat the water in the tank and then through the flue gas flow path to heat water in the core before being exhausted.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.