Patent · US Expired

Control and method for operating an electric water heater

US7221862B1 · kind B1 · utility

48Cited by
9References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 8, 2005
Grant dateMay 22, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 13, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF24H15/37
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A water heater control for an electric water heater operates according to at least one fixed hardware and/or software temperature limit and a variable software temperature limit. The control monitors a temperature of water in a tank of the electric water heater to determine if the temperature exceeds the fixed hardware and/or software temperature limit. If the temperature exceeds the fixed temperature limit, the control turns off one or more heating elements of the electric water heater. The variable software temperature limit is indicative of a desired user temperature and an offset temperature. If the temperature exceeds the variable software temperature limit, the control turns off the one or more heating elements.

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