Enclosure for marine water heaters

Abstract

A water heater includes a rotationally molded plastic enclosure, and a tank for holding water to be heated located within the enclosure and having electrical components at a forward end. The enclosure has a cylindrically-shaped side wall, a front wall at a forward end of the side wall, and a rear wall at a rear end of the side wall to form an enclosed interior space for the tank. The front wall has an opening at the electrical components and a removable electrical enclosure is secured to the enclosure covers the opening in the front wall. The tank has a cold water inlet, a hot water outlet, a drain, and a relief valve and the enclosure has openings for the cold water inlet, the hot water outlet, the drain, and the relief valve. Preferably, a common molded enclosure blank is used for a plurality of different water heater configurations.

1 . A water heater comprising, in combination:
 a molded enclosure comprising a non-corrosive material;   a tank for holding water to be heated located within the enclosure and having electrical components at a forward end;   wherein the enclosure has a cylindrically-shaped side wall, a front wall at a forward end of the side wall, and a rear wall at a rear end of the side wall to form an enclosed interior space for the tank; and   wherein the front wall has an opening at the electrical components.   
   
   
       2 . The water heater according to  claim 1 , further comprising a removable electrical closure covering the opening in the front wall. 
   
   
       3 . The water heater according to  claim 2 , wherein the electrical enclosure engages the tank to separate the electrical components from a space located between the enclosure and the tank. 
   
   
       4 . The water heater according to  claim 3 , wherein insulation is located in the space between the tank and the enclosure. 
   
   
       5 . The water heater according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one bracket is secured to the tank and the at least one bracket extends through an opening in the enclosure. 
   
   
       6 . The water heater according to  claim 5 , wherein the tank and brackets each comprise metal and the brackets are attachable to a ground. 
   
   
       7 . The water heater according to  claim 1 , wherein the tank has a cold water inlet, a hot water outlet, a drain, and a relief valve and the enclosure has openings for the cold water inlet, the hot water outlet, the drain, and the relief valve. 
   
   
       8 . The water heater according to  claim 7 , wherein the opening for the relief valve is sized and shaped for passing the relief valve through the opening and the relief valve extends through the opening in the enclosure. 
   
   
       9 . The water heater according to  claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of the enclosure has recesses for cutting additional openings. 
   
   
       10 . A water heater comprising, in combination:
 a molded enclosure comprising a non-corrosive material;   a tank for holding water to be heated located within the enclosure and having electrical components at a forward end;   wherein the enclosure has a cylindrically-shaped side wall, a front wall at a forward end of the side wall, and a rear wall at a rear end of the side wall to form an enclosed interior space for the tank;   wherein the tank has a cold water inlet, a hot water outlet, a drain, and a relief valve and the enclosure has openings for the cold water inlet, the hot water outlet, the drain, and the relief valve;   wherein the front wall has an opening at the electrical components;   a removable electrical enclosure secured to the enclosure and covering the opening in the front wall; and   wherein the electrical enclosure engages the tank to separate the electrical components from a space located between the enclosure and the tank.   
   
   
       11 . The water heater according to  claim 10 , wherein insulation is located in the space between the tank and the enclosure. 
   
   
       12 . The water heater according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one bracket is secured to the tank and the at least one bracket extends through an opening in the enclosure. 
   
   
       13 . The water heater according to  claim 12 , wherein the tank and brackets each comprise metal and the brackets are attachable to a ground. 
   
   
       14 . The water heater according to  claim 10 , wherein the opening for the relief valve is sized and shaped for passing the relief valve through the opening and the relief valve extends through the opening in the enclosure. 
   
   
       15 . The water heater according to  claim 10 , wherein an exterior surface of the enclosure has recesses for cutting additional openings. 
   
   
       16 . A method of making water heater enclosures for a plurality of different water heater configurations, said method comprising the steps of, in combination:
 molding identical first and second cylindrically-shaped enclosures;   cutting the first enclosure in a direction perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis to form two portions having a first collective length for a first one of the water heater configurations;   cutting openings in the first enclosure for the selected first one of the water heater configurations;   cutting the second enclosure in a direction perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis to form two portions having a second collective length for a second one of the water heater configurations; and   cutting openings in the second enclosure for the selected second one of the water heater configurations.   
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the openings for the selected first one of the water heater configurations are in different locations than the openings for the selected second one of the water heater configurations. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the first collective length is longer than the second collective length. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of molding the first and second enclosures includes the step of rotationally molding the enclosures using a non-corrosive material. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of molding the first and second enclosures includes the step of blow molding the enclosures using a non-corrosive material.