Claims
- 1. A water heater adapted to be positioned outside of a building and to interface with the plumbing system of the building, said water heater comprising:
a water storage tank adapted to store water outside of the building; means for heating the water in said tank; a base member supporting said tank outside of the building; a plurality of water pipes communicating with said water tank; and a manifold mounted to said base member and including a plurality of pipe unions adapted to interface between the plumbing system and said plurality of pipes to provide cold water to said tank and to remove heated water from said tank for use in the building.
- 2. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said manifold is rigidly affixed to said base member to resist movement of said water pipes with respect to said manifold.
- 3. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said manifold unions are rigidly fixed with respect to said base and wherein said plumbing system of the building is connectable to and disconnectable from said unions without regard to whether said plurality of pipes are connected to said unions.
- 4. The water heater of claim 1, further comprising a gasket interposed between said manifold and said base member to create a substantially water-tight seal therebetween.
- 5. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said unions extend through said base such that said plurality of pipes interconnect with said unions on one side of said base and the plumbing system interconnects with said unions on the other side of said base.
- 6. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said means for heating includes at least one electrical element converting electricity into heat energy for heating the water within said tank.
- 7. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said means for heating includes a gas fuel burner creating hot products of combustion and a flue tube within said tank for the flow of the products of combustion.
- 8. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said base member includes a roof curb adapted to be mounted on a roof of the building around a hole in the roof such that the water heater and plumbing system are interconnected through the hole.
- 9. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said base member includes a concrete pad mounted on the ground outside of the building.
- 10. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said base member is elevated above a predicted flood level of the area surrounding said water heater such that said water tank is supported by said base member above the flood level.
- 11. The water heater of claim 1, further comprising a bleed vent in the highest point of at least one of said plurality of pipes to facilitate bleeding air from said at least one pipe.
- 12. The water heater of claim 1, wherein said tank includes a rounded surface, said water heater further comprising a mounting bracket affixed to said rounded surface, and a wedge-shaped support supported by said base member and interconnected with said mounting bracket to support said tank above said base member.
- 13. The water heater of claim 11, further comprising a thermally insulated spacer interposed between said mounting bracket and said wedge-shaped support.
- 14. The water heater of claim 1, further comprising an outlet spud and an inlet spud mounted on said tank and communicating between the inside of said tank and selected ones of said plurality of pipes.
- 15. The water heater of claim 14, further comprising at least one recirculation pump for simultaneously displacing water in selected pipes of the plumbing system into said tank through at least one of said manifold unions, at least one of said plurality of pipes, and said inlet spud and replacing the so-displaced water with water from said tank through said outlet spud, at least one of said plurality of pipes, and at least one of said manifold unions.
- 16. The water heater of claim 15, wherein said recirculation pump includes an integral check valve permitting the flow of water in only one direction through said pump.
- 17. The water heater of claim 15, wherein said at least one recirculation pump includes a hot water recirculation pump and a separate mixed water recirculation pump for the displacement and replacement of hot water and mixed water, respectively, in the plumbing system.
- 18. The water heater of claim 15, further comprising a flow control valve communicating between the plumbing system and said plurality of pipes to limit the rate of flow of displaced water into said tank.
- 19. The water heater of claim 18, wherein said selected rate is about four gallons per minute.
- 20. The water heater of claim 14, wherein said plurality of pipes includes a cold water inlet pipe communicating through one of said manifold unions between the cold water supply of the plumbing system and said inlet spud, a hot water outlet pipe communicating through one of said manifold unions between said outlet spud and the hot water supply pipes of the plumbing system, a hot water return pipe communicating through one of said manifold unions between said inlet spud and the hot water pipes of the plumbing system, a mixing valve communicating between said hot water outlet pipe and said cold water inlet pipe, a mixed water outlet pipe communicating through one of said manifold unions between said mixing valve and the mixed water pipes of the plumbing system, and a mixed water return pipe communicating through one of said manifold unions between said inlet spud and the mixed water pipes of the plumbing system.
- 21. The water heater of claim 20, wherein said mixing valve includes an integral check valve permitting flow of water in only a single direction through said mixing valve.
- 22. The water heater of claim 1, further comprising a cabinet supported by said base and weather-tightly enclosing said water tank, means for heating, and plurality of pipes.
- 23. The water heater of claim 22, wherein said cabinet includes front and rear panels and first and second side panels extending between said front and rear panels, said front and rear panels being substantially identical to each other and said side panels being substantially identical to each other.
- 24. The water heater of claim 23, wherein said front, rear, and side panels are interconnected with each other without the use of fasteners.
- 25. The water heater of claim 22, wherein said base member includes a drain therethrough for draining water from inside said cabinet, and wherein said drain provides the only path for water outside of said plurality of pipes to escape through said base member.
- 26. The water heater of claim 22, wherein said mixing valve provides for the delivery of mixed hot and cold water to the plumbing system through one of said manifold unions, said mixing valve being disposed within said cabinet.
- 27. The water heater of claim 22, wherein said unions extend through said base such that said plurality of pipes interconnect with said unions within said cabinet and the plumbing system interconnects with said unions outside of said cabinet.
- 28. The water heater of claim 22, wherein said means for heating includes a gas burner and a flue tube within said tank communicating with said gas burner for the flow of hot products of combustion from said burner through said flue to heat water in said tank, said water heater further comprising a vent communicating with said flue for the removal of the products of combustion from said flue and out of said cabinet, said vent including first and second ducts within said cabinet and extending through first and second sides, respectively, of said cabinet.
- 29. The water heater of claim 28, wherein said vent is substantially T-shaped.
- 30. The water heater of claim 28, wherein said first and second ducts are interconnected with a slip-fit connection including a sealing member to resist the escape of products of combustion through said slip-fit connection.
- 31. The water heater of claim 28, further comprising a blocking member resisting the flow of products of combustion out of one of said ducts, and a vent outlet mounted to the end of the other duct to weather-tightly exhaust the products of combustion out of said cabinet.
- 32. The water heater of claim 31, wherein said vent outlet includes a vertical riser extending upwardly outside of said cabinet to elevate the products of combustion with respect to said water heater prior to exhausting said products of combustion to the atmosphere surrounding said water heater.
- 33. The water heater of claim 22, further comprising at least one recirculation pump for simultaneously displacing water in the pipes of the plumbing system into said tank through at least one of said manifold unions and at least one of said plurality of pipes and replacing the so-displaced water with water from said tank through at least one of said plurality of pipes and at least one of said manifold unions, said at least one recirculation pump being disposed within said cabinet.
- 34. The water heater of claim 27, wherein said at least one recirculation pump includes a hot water recirculation pump and a separate mixed water recirculation pump for the displacement and replacement of hot water and mixed water, respectively, in the plumbing system; and wherein both of said hot water and mixed water recirculation pumps are disposed within said cabinet.
- 35. A water heater adapted to be positioned outside of a building and to interface with the plumbing system of the building, said water heater comprising:
a water storage tank adapted to store water outside of the building; a gas burner; a flue tube within said tank communicating with said gas burner for the flow of hot products of combustion from said burner through said flue tube to heat water in said tank; a cabinet surrounding said tank and supporting said tank outside of the building; and a vent communicating with said flue tube for the removal of the products of combustion from said flue tube and out of said cabinet, said vent including first and second ducts within said cabinet and extending through first and second sides, respectively, of said cabinet.
- 36. The water heater of claim 35, wherein said vent is substantially T-shaped.
- 37. The water heater of claim 35, wherein said first and second ducts are interconnected with a slip-fit connection including a sealing member to resist the escape of products of combustion through said slip-fit connection.
- 38. The water heater of claim 37, further comprising a blocking member resisting the flow of products of combustion out of one of said ducts, and a vent outlet mounted to the end of the other duct to weather-tightly exhaust the products of combustion out of said cabinet.
- 39. The water heater of claim 38, wherein said vent outlet includes a vertical riser extending upwardly outside of said cabinet to elevate the products of combustion with respect to said water heater prior to exhausting said products of combustion to the atmosphere surrounding said water heater.
- 40. A water heater assembly adapted to be positioned outside of a building and to interface with the plumbing system of the building, said water heater assembly comprising:
a water heater including
a water storage tank adapted to store water outside of the building, means for heating the water in said tank, and a plurality of water pipes communicating with said water tank; a cabinet surrounding the water heater; and a manifold mounted to said cabinet to interface between the plumbing system and said plurality of pipes to provide cold water to said tank within the cabinet and to remove heated water from said tank and said cabinet for use in the building.
- 41. The water heater assembly of claim 40, wherein said manifold is rigidly affixed to said cabinet to resist movement of said plurality of pipes with respect to said manifold.
- 42. The water heater assembly of claim 40, wherein manifold includes a gasket contacting said cabinet to create a substantially water-tight seal.
- 43. The water heater assembly of claim 40, wherein the manifold is rigidly fixed with respect to said cabinet and wherein said plumbing system of the building is connectable to and disconnectable from said manifold without regard to whether said plurality of pipes are connected to said manifold.
- 44. The water heater assembly of claim 40, wherein said plurality of pipes interconnect with said manifold inside of the cabinet and the plumbing system interconnects with said manifold outside of said cabinet.
- 45. The water heater assembly of claim 40, wherein said means for heating includes at least one electrical element converting electricity into heat energy for heating the water within said tank.
- 46. The water heater assembly of claim 40, wherein said means for heating includes a gas fuel burner creating hot products of combustion and a flue tube within said tank for the flow of the products of combustion.
- 47. The water heater assembly of claim 40, wherein said cabinet includes a roof curb adapted to be mounted on a roof of the building around a hole in the roof such that the plumbing system extends from the building through the hole.
- 48. The water heater assembly of claim 40, wherein said cabinet includes a concrete pad mounted on the ground outside of the building.
- 49. The water heater assembly of claim 40, wherein said cabinet includes a base member elevated above a predicted flood level of the area surrounding said water heater such that said water tank is supported by said base member above the flood level.
- 50. The water heater assembly of claim 40, wherein the water heater includes a bleed vent in the highest point of at least one of said plurality of pipes to facilitate bleeding air from said at least one pipe.
- 51. The water heater assembly of claim 40, wherein said tank includes a rounded surface, said water heater including a mounting bracket affixed to said rounded surface, and a wedge-shaped support supported by said cabinet and interconnected with said mounting bracket to support said tank within said cabinet.
- 52. The water heater assembly of claim 50, wherein the water heater includes a thermally insulated spacer interposed between said mounting bracket and said wedge-shaped support.
- 53. The water heater assembly of claim 40, wherein the water heater includes an outlet spud and an inlet spud mounted on said tank and communicating between the inside of said tank and selected ones of said plurality of pipes.
- 54. The water heater assembly of claim 53, wherein the water heater includes at least one circulation pump for simultaneously displacing water in selected pipes of the plumbing system into said tank through said manifold, at least one of said plurality of pipes, and said inlet spud and replacing the so-displaced water with water from said tank through said outlet spud, at least one of said plurality of pipes, and said manifold.
- 55. The water heater assembly of claim 54, wherein said at least one circulation pump includes an integral check valve permitting the flow of water in only one direction through said pump.
- 56. The water heater assembly of claim 54, wherein said at least one circulation pump includes a hot water circulation pump and a separate mixed water circulation pump for the displacement and replacement of hot water and mixed water, respectively, in the plumbing system.
- 57. The water heater assembly of claim 54, wherein the water heater includes a flow control valve communicating between the plumbing system and said plurality of pipes to limit the rate of flow of displaced water into said tank.
- 58. The water heater assembly of claim 57, wherein said selected rate is about four gallons per minute.
- 59. The water heater assembly of claim 53, wherein said plurality of pipes includes a cold water inlet pipe communicating through said manifold between the cold water supply of the plumbing system and said inlet spud, a hot water outlet pipe communicating through said manifold between said outlet spud and the hot water supply pipes of the plumbing system, a hot water return pipe communicating through said manifold between said inlet spud and the hot water pipes of the plumbing system, a mixing valve communicating between said hot water outlet pipe and said cold water inlet pipe, a mixed water outlet pipe communicating through said manifold between said mixing valve and the mixed water pipes of the plumbing system, and a mixed water return pipe communicating through said manifold between said inlet spud and the mixed water pipes of the plumbing system.
- 60. The water heater assembly of claim 59, wherein said mixing valve includes an integral check valve permitting flow of water in only a single direction through said mixing valve.
- 61. The water heater assembly of claim 40, wherein said cabinet includes a base supporting said water heater, said cabinet weather-tightly enclosing said water heater.
- 62. The water heater assembly of claim 61, wherein said cabinet includes front and rear panels and first and second side panels extending between said front and rear panels, said front and rear panels being substantially identical to each other and said side panels being substantially identical to each other.
- 63. The water heater assembly of claim 62, wherein said front, rear, and side panels are interconnected with each other without the use of fasteners.
- 64. The water heater assembly of claim 61, wherein said base member includes a drain therethrough for draining water from inside said cabinet, and wherein said drain provides the only path for water outside of said plurality of pipes to escape through said base member.
- 65. The water heater assembly of claim 40, wherein said mixing valve provides for the delivery of mixed hot and cold water to the plumbing system through said manifold.
- 66. The water heater assembly of claim 40, wherein said means for heating includes a gas burner and a flue tube within said tank communicating with said gas burner for the flow of hot products of combustion from said burner through said flue to heat water in said tank, said water heater assembly further comprising a vent communicating with said flue for the removal of the products of combustion from said flue and out of said cabinet, said vent including first and second ducts within said cabinet and delivering the hot products of combustion through apertures in first and second sides, respectively, of said cabinet.
- 67. The water heater assembly of claim 66, wherein said vent is substantially T-shaped.
- 68. The water heater assembly of claim 66, wherein said first and second ducts are interconnected with a slip-fit connection including a sealing member to resist the escape of products of combustion through said slip-fit connection.
- 69. The water heater assembly of claim 66, further comprising a blocking member resisting the flow of products of combustion out of one of said ducts, and a vent outlet mounted to the end of the other duct to weather-tightly exhaust the products of combustion out of said cabinet through said aperture.
- 70. The water heater assembly of claim 69, further comprising a vertical riser extending upwardly outside of said cabinet to elevate the products of combustion with respect to said cabinet prior to exhausting said products of combustion to the atmosphere surrounding said cabinet.
- 71. The water heater assembly of claim 40, wherein the water heater includes at least one circulation pump within the cabinet for simultaneously displacing water in the plumbing system into said tank through said manifold and at least one of said plurality of pipes and replacing the so-displaced water with water from said tank through at least one of said plurality of pipes and said manifold.
- 72. The water heater assembly of claim 71, wherein said at least one circulation pump includes a hot water circulation pump within the cabinet and a separate mixed water circulation pump within the cabinet for the displacement and replacement of hot water and mixed water, respectively, in the plumbing system.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/274,183, filed Oct. 18, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/732,472, filed Dec. 7, 2000. The entire contents of these related applications are incorporated by reference herein.
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09732472 |
Dec 2000 |
US |
Child |
10274183 |
Oct 2002 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10274183 |
Oct 2002 |
US |
Child |
10369421 |
Feb 2003 |
US |