Storage-type water heater having tank condition monitoring features

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 8068727
APP PUB NO 20090056644A1
SERIAL NO

12021421

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Abstract

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Methods and systems for evaluating the condition of a water tank having a powered anode protection system. The water heater includes a storage tank to hold water, a powered anode, and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a variable voltage supply, a voltage sensor, and a current sensor. The control circuit is configured to compare a measured parameter to a threshold. In some constructions, the threshold is indicative of a condition of the storage tank at which the powered anode is no longer able to protect the storage tank from corrosion. In other constructions, the threshold is predicative of a potential failure of the storage tank caused by corrosion. In some constructions, the control circuit is configured to estimate a time remaining until the predicted failure of the storage tank.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
A O SMITH CORP11270 W PARK PLACE MILWAUKEE WI 53224

International Classification(s)

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Caves, Andrew Robert Milwaukee, US 5 38
Knoeppel, Ray Oliver Hartland, US 10 74
Phillips, Andrew William Columbia, US 19 171
Schulz, John Matthew Franklin, US 5 33
Van, Sistine Thomas Gerard Menomonee Falls, US 6 53

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