Electric water heating element

Abstract

The invention is an on-demand electric water heater which includes one heater housing having an electric cartridge heating element surrounded by at least one water heating chamber containing a partition member mounted on the top cover or base cover of the heater housing to define opposing flow passages along the longitudinal direction of the electric cartridge heating element such that as cold water enters the housing and proceeds along the opposing flow passages, heat generated by the electric cartridge heating element is absorbed by the incoming cold water flowing along the opposing flow passages to minimize heat losses from the on-demand electrical water heater.

1 . An on-demand electrical hot water heater comprising:
 at least one water heating chamber having an inlet passage and an outlet passage, said at least one water heating chamber having one end and an opposite end;   a top cover member mounted to said one end of said at least one water heating chamber, said top cover member having a passage therethrough;   an electrical heating element sealingly mounted in said passage of said top cover member, said electrical heating element further suspended in said at least one water heating chamber and having a peripheral surface;   means for connecting said electrical heating element to a source of electric power;   said at least one water heating chamber surrounding said electrical heating element to define a sealed heater housing having said inlet and said outlet;   a base cover mounted to said opposite end of said at least one water heating chamber, said base cover having an opening therethrough, said opening defining said outlet passage;   said at least one water heating chamber further having:
 an outer wall; 
 an inner wall defined by said peripheral surface of said electrical heating element; and 
 a partition member mounted to one of said top cover or base cover, to define opposing flow passages along the longitudinal direction of said electrical heating element; 
 whereby as cold water enters said inlet and proceeds along said opposing flow passages, heat generated by said electrical heating element is absorbed by said incoming cold water flowing along said opposing flow passages such as to minimize heat losses from said on-demand electrical water heater; and 
   means for connecting said electrical heating element to a source of electrical power.   
     
     
         2 . The on-demand electrical hot water heater as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising means responsive to the flow of water through said at least one water heating chamber for activating a flow sensor in response to the flow of water exceeding a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The on-demand electrical hot water heater as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising means responsive to the temperature of the water flowing out of the hot water outlet for activating a temperature sensor in response to the temperature of the water at said hot water outlet exceeding a predetermined adjustable threshold temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The on-demand electrical hot water heater as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said power connecting means further comprises:
 means responsive to the flow of water through said at least one water heating chamber for activating a flow sensor in response to the flow of water exceeding a predetermined threshold; 
 means responsive to the temperature of the water flowing out of the hot water outlet for activating a temperature sensor in response to the temperature of the water at said hot water outlet exceeding a predetermined adjustable threshold temperature; and 
 an electronic control unit for connecting said electrical heating element to a source of electrical power in response to said means responsive to the flow of said water and means responsive to the temperature of said water being simultaneously in an activated state. 
 
     
     
         5 . The on-demand electrical hot water heater as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a one-way flow valve mounted to an incoming cold water line to prevent backflow of said incoming cold water. 
     
     
         6 . An on-demand electrical hot water heater comprising:
 at least one water heating chamber having an inlet and an outlet;   an electrical heating element disposed in said at least one water heating chamber, said electrical heating element having a peripheral surface;   means for connecting said electrical heating element to a source of electric power;   said at least one water heating chamber surrounding said electrical heating element to define a sealed heater housing having said inlet and said outlet, said at least one water heating chamber having a closed end and a partly open end, said electrical heating element mounted in said closed end;   said at least one water heating chamber further comprising:
 an outer wall; 
 an inner wall defined by said peripheral surface of said electrical heating element; and 
 a partition member mounted to one of said closed end or partly open end of said at least one water heating chamber to define opposing flow passages along the longitudinal direction of said electrical heating element whereby as cold water enters said inlet and proceeds along said opposing flow passages, heat generated by said electrical heating element is absorbed by said incoming water flowing along said opposing flow passages such as to minimize heat losses from said on-demand electrical hot water heater. 
   
     
     
         7 . The on-demand electrical hot water heater as claimed in  claim 6  further comprising means responsive to the flow of water through said at least one water heating chamber for activating a flow sensor in response to the flow of water exceeding a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         8 . The on-demand electrical hot water heater as claimed in  claim 6  further comprising means responsive to the temperature of the water flowing out of the hot water outlet for activating a temperature sensor in response to the temperature of the water at said hot water outlet exceeding a predetermined adjustable threshold temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The on-demand electrical hot water heater as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said power connecting means further comprises:
 means responsive to the flow of water through said at least one water heating chamber for activating a flow sensor in response to the flow of water exceeding a predetermined threshold; 
 means responsive to the temperature of the water flowing out of the hot water outlet for activating a temperature sensor in response to the temperature of the water at said hot water outlet exceeding a predetermined adjustable threshold temperature; and 
 an electronic control unit for connecting said electrical heating element to a source of electrical power in response to said means responsive to the flow of said water and means responsive to the temperature of said water being simultaneously in an activated state. 
 
     
     
         10 . The on-demand electrical hot water heater as claimed in  claim 6  further comprising a one-way flow valve mounted to an incoming cold water line to prevent backflow of said incoming cold water. 
     
     
         11 . An on-demand electrical hot water heater comprising:
 a heater housing having:
 an outer wall having a cold water inlet; 
 a top cover member at one end, said top cover member having a passage therethrough; 
 a base cover member at an opposite end, said base cover member having a passage therethrough, said passage defining an outlet; 
 an electrical heating element sealingly mounted in said passage of said top cover member, said electrical heating element further suspended in said heater housing and having a peripheral surface; 
 means for connecting said electrical heating element to a source of electric power; 
 at least one water heating chamber surrounding said electrical heating element; 
 said at least one chamber defining said outer wall of said heater housing; 
 an inner wall defined by said peripheral surface of said electrical heating element; and 
 at least one partition member mounted to one of said top cover member or base cover member to define opposing flow passages along the longitudinal direction of said electrical heating element, whereby as said cold water enters said cold water inlet and proceeds along said opposing flow passages, heat generated by said electrical heating element is absorbed by said incoming cold water flowing along said opposing flow passages such as to minimize heat losses from said on-demand electrical hot water heater. 
   
     
     
         12 . The on-demand electrical hot water heater as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising means responsive to the flow of water through said at least one water heating chamber for activating a flow sensor in response to the flow of water exceeding a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         13 . The on-demand electrical hot water heater as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising means responsive to the temperature of the water flowing out of the hot water outlet for activating a temperature sensor in response to the temperature of the water at said hot water outlet exceeding a predetermined adjustable threshold temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The on-demand electrical hot water heater as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said power connecting means further comprises:
 means responsive to the flow of water through said at least one water heating chamber for activating a flow sensor in response to the flow of water exceeding a predetermined threshold; 
 means responsive to the temperature of the water flowing out of the hot water outlet for activating a temperature sensor in response to the temperature of the water at said hot water outlet exceeding a predetermined adjustable threshold temperature; and 
 an electronic control unit for connecting said electrical heating element to a source of electrical power in response to said means responsive to the flow of said water and means responsive to the temperature of said water being simultaneously in an activated state. 
 
     
     
         15 . The on-demand electrical hot water heater as claimed in  claim 11  further comprising a one-way flow valve mounted to an incoming cold water line to prevent backflow of said incoming cold water.