AU2012101259A4 - A water heater - Google Patents

Abstract

A WATER HEATER Abstract A water heater (10) includes an elongate water tank (12) and an electric heating element (26). The water tank (12) has a bottom end (12b), a top end (12a) and an element mounting opening (24). The electric water heating element (26) has a mounting part (26a) and a heating part (26b). The heating element (26) is mountable adjacent the mounting aperture (24) in a first electric orientation, positioning the heating part (26b) substantially adjacent the bottom end (12b) of the tank (12), and a second electric/solar orientation, positioning the heating part (26b) substantially adjacent a middle of the water tank (12). Us

Description

S&F Ref: P044682 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION Name and Address Dux Manufacturing Limited, of Applicant: an Australian company, ACN 077 879 844, of Collins Road, Moss Vale, New South Wales, 2577, Australia Actual Inventor(s): Patrick Pussell Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: A water heater The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5843c(6(22313 I) 1 A WATER HEATER Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a water heater. [0002] The invention has been developed primarily for use as a domestic water heater and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use and also suitable for use as a commercial hot water heater Background of the Invention [0003] A common form of water heater uses an electric heating element positioned inside the water tank and has a heated water outlet near the top of the tank. The majority of the electric heating element is positioned near the bottom of the tank so that, when energised, it heats all of the water in the tank as the water near the element is heated and then rises towards the heated water outlet. This type of water heater includes an opening in or near the bottom of the tank through which the element is mounted. [0004] Water heaters are also known that have an electric element and also the ability to receive heated water from one or more solar panels, in order to increase energy efficiency. These water heaters are generally known as electric/solar. The majority of the electric element is positioned near the middle of the tank so that, when energised, the water near the element rises towards the heated water outlet. Heated water from the solar panel(s) is introduced near the bottom of the tank and rises towards the electric element for further heating. This type of water heater includes an aperture near the middle of the tank through which the electric heating element is mounted. [0005] A disadvantage of the water heaters described above is that a different tank design is needed depending on the water heater type, which creates production, storage, transport and retailing inefficiencies. An alternative approach is to have a single tank design that has two element mounting openings, one for the tank bottom and one for the tank middle. However, this increases the complexity and cost of the tank and the closing/sealing of the unused opening creates an additional potential leak source in the tank.

2 Object of the Invention [0006] It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages. Summary of Invention [0007] Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a water heater including: an elongate water tank with a bottom end, a top end and an element mounting opening; and an electric water heating element having a mounting part and a heating part, wherein the heating element is mountable adjacent the mounting aperture in a first electric orientation, positioning the heating part substantially adjacent the bottom end of the tank, and a second electric/solar orientation, positioning the heating part substantially adjacent a middle of the water tank. [0008] The opening is preferably positioned to allow the mounting part to be positioned about a quarter of the length of the water tank away from the bottom in both the first electric orientation and the second electric/solar orientation. [0009] The heating element preferably includes a substantially longitudinally extending heating extension part between the mounting part and the heating part, the heating extension part having a length about a quarter of the length of the water tank. [00010] The heating part preferably extends substantially normally to the extension part. [00011] The tank preferably includes a first water inlet at or near the bottom end, a heated water outlet at or near the top end and a second water inlet at or near the middle. Brief Description of Drawings [00012] A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 3 [00013] Fig. 1 is a cross sectional side view of a first embodiment of a water heater, configured for electric operation; and [00014] Fig. 2 is a cross sectional side view of the water heater shown in Fig 1, configured for electric/solar operation. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment [00015] Fig 1. shows an embodiment of a domestic water heater 10. The water heater 10 includes a generally cylindrical water tank 12, about 250 litres in capacity, with a domed bottom end 12a and a domed upper end 12b. In use, the tank 12 is installed with its longitudinal axis orientated substantially vertically. [00016] The tank 12 is positioned within a casing 14, which has a generally rectangular cross section. The space 16 between the outside of the tank 12 and the inside of the casing 14 is filled with insulation. The tank 12 includes a first water inlet 18 near the bottom end 12b of the tank 12, a heated water outlet 20 near the top end 12a of the tank 12 and a second water inlet 22 near the middle of the tank 12. The tank 12 also includes an opening 24 through which an electric heating element 26 can be introduced to inside the tank 12 for mounting thereto. The opening 24 is positioned approximately one quarter of the length/height of the tank 12 away from the bottom end 12b. [00017] The electric heating element 26 includes a mounting part 26a, a heating part 26b and an extension part 26c there between. The heating part 26b does the majority of the heating of the surrounding water. However, the extension part 26c does contribute to the heating the water. [00018] In the longitudinal direction of the tank 12, the distance between the mounting part 26a and the heating part 26b is approximately one quarter of the length/height of the tank 12. Put another way, the length of the extension part 26c is approximately one quarter of the length/height of the tank 12. [00019] The water heater 10 also includes power and control componentry, indicated generally by the reference numeral 28, near the opening 24. The construction and operation of such componentry is well known to persons skilled in the art.

4 [00020] The water heater 10 also includes a sacrificial anode 30, the construction and operation of which is also well known to persons skilled in the art. [000211 Fig. I shows the water heater 10 configured for electric operation. In this configuration, the element 26 is mounted with the heating part 26b near the bottom end 12b of the tank 12. Mains water at about 8 to 15 Degrees Celsius is introduced into the tank 12 via the first inlet 18. The second inlet 22 is plugged and not used. When the element 26 is energised, it heats all of the water in the tank 12 due to the upward circulation of the heated water. The water in the tank 12 is heated to about 60 to 70 Degrees Celsius and drawn off for use (e.g. showers, baths, basins etc) via the heated water outlet 20. [00022] Fig. 2 shows the water heater 10 configured for electric/solar operation. In this configuration, the element 26 is mounted with the heating part 26b near the middle of the tank 12. Mains water is introduced into the tank 12 via the first inlet 18. When sufficient solar energy is available, heated water of about 4 to 10 Degrees celcius above the water temperature of the water in the bottom half of the tank 12 from the solar panel(s) is introduced into the tank 12 via the second inlet 22. When there is insufficient solar heated water available, the energised element 26 further heats the water above the position of the energised element 26. The energy efficiency of the water heater 10 is improved in this configuration due to the solar energy reducing the amount of electrical energy required to heat the same volume of water. The heated water is again drawn off for use (e.g. showers, baths, basins etc) via the heated water outlet 20. [00023] The main advantage provided by the water heated 10 is that it allows a single tank design, and a single heating element design, to be easily and quickly configured for electric operation or electric/solar operation as required. The water heater achieves this dual use without requiring additional componentry or additional openings in the tank. The water heater can also be purchased and/or installed in one configuration and quickly and easily be changed to the other configuration. The heating element can also be moved between the two configurations without conflicting with, or requiring the removal of, the anode 30. [00024] Although the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims (5)

1. A water heater including: an elongate water tank with a bottom end, a top end and an element mounting opening; and an electric water heating element having a mounting part and a heating part, wherein the heating element is mountable adjacent the mounting aperture in a first electric orientation, positioning the heating part substantially adjacent the bottom end of the tank, and a second electric/solar orientation, positioning the heating part substantially adjacent a middle of the water tank.

2. The water as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the opening is positioned to allow the mounting part to be positioned about a quarter of the length of the water tank away from the bottom in both the first electric orientation and the second electric/solar orientation.

3. The water heater as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the heating element includes a substantially longitudinally extending heating extension part between the mounting part and the heating part, the heating extension part having a length about a quarter of the length of the water tank.

4. The water heater as claimed in claim 3, wherein the heating part extends substantially normally to the extension part.

5. The water heater as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tank includes first water inlet at or near the bottom end, a heated water outlet at or near the top end and a second water inlet at or near the middle. Dated 20 August 2012 Dux Manufacturing Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON