Apparatus and method for preventing lime scale buildup in water heaters

Abstract

An apparatus for preventing lime scale buildup in a water heater tank includes a curve-biased tube, the tube including an opening disposed at an end, a length of at least seventy-five percent of the circumference of an interior bottom of the water heater tank, and a plurality of holes disposed along the length that face radially inward when the tube is arranged in a substantially annular configuration in accordance with its curve-biased position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heater, comprising:
 a tank, the tank including an interior bounded by a top and a bottom connected by a wall, and a drain valve coupling opening disposed in the wall; and   a tube disposed in the interior of the tank, the tube arranged circumferentially around the bottom of the tank and including a plurality of holes facing radially inward towards the center of the bottom of the tank, the tube in fluid communication with an external water supply line through the drain valve coupling opening and arranged such that water flowing out of the holes creates turbulence that moves solids and sediments away from the center of the bottom of the tank.   
     
     
         2 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is coupled to the external water supply line through a re-circulating pump. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the water heater tube is pre-installed in the interior of the tank before the bottom is attached to the wall. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises a plurality of individual tube segments in fluid communication with one another through a plurality of union fittings. 
     
     
         5 . The water heater of  claim 4 , wherein the holes are disposed in the union fittings. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises a single length of tube. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for preventing lime scale buildup in a water heater tank, comprising:
 a curve-biased tube, the tube including an opening disposed at an end, a length of at least seventy-five percent of the circumference of an interior bottom of the water heater tank, and a plurality of holes disposed along the length that face radially inward when the tube is arranged in a substantially annular configuration in accordance with its curve-biased position.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the tube comprises a plurality of individual tube segments in fluid communication with one another through a plurality of union fittings. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the holes are disposed in the union fittings. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the tube comprises a single length of tube. 
     
     
         11 . A method for preventing lime scale buildup in a water heater tank, comprising:
 providing a flow of water into the water heater tank using an external water supply line;   splitting the flow into a plurality of sub-flows arranged circumferentially around the bottom of the tank; and   directing the sub-flows radially inward towards the center of the bottom of the tank.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein providing a flow of water into the water heater tank comprises providing a flow of water into the water heater tank from a re-circulating pump. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein splitting the flow into a plurality of sub-flows arranged circumferentially around the bottom of the tank, and directing the sub-flows radially inward towards the center of the bottom of the tank comprises:
 providing a tube having a plurality of holes;   placing the tube in the interior of the water heater tank through an opening in a wall of the tank;   arranging the tube circumferentially around the bottom of the tank such that the holes face radially inward towards the center of the bottom of the tank; and   placing the tube in fluid communication with the external water supply line.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the opening is a hand hole clean out opening. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein arranging the tube circumferentially around the bottom of the tank such that the holes face radially inward towards the center of the bottom of the tank comprises directing the position of the tube using a plumbing snake. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein splitting the flow into a plurality of sub-flows arranged circumferentially around the bottom of the tank, and directing the sub-flows radially inward towards the center of the bottom of the tank comprises:
 providing a tube having a plurality of holes;   placing the tube in the interior of the water heater tank prior to assembling the tank;   arranging the tube circumferentially around the bottom of the tank such that the holes face radially inward towards the center of the bottom of the tank;   assembling the tank;   placing the tube in fluid communication with an exterior water supply line; and   using the exterior water supply line to provide a flow of water through the tube.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein providing a tube having a plurality of holes comprises providing a plurality of individual tube segments coupled together through a plurality of union fittings having a plurality of holes. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein providing a tube having a plurality of holes comprises providing a single length of tube having a plurality of holes.