Water Heater Valves and Controllers and Methods of Mounting the Same

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments are disclosed of valves and controllers for water heaters. Also disclosed are mounting methods for valves and controllers for water heaters. In an exemplary embodiment, a gas valve and controller are mounted to and/or located at a burner door of a water heater.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heater comprising:
 a storage tank;   a combustion chamber below the storage tank;   a burner assembly within the combustion chamber for heating water in the storage tank;   a burner tube for supplying fuel to the burner assembly;   a tank jacket disposed around the storage tank and including an opening through which the burner tube passes; and   a gas valve and controller located at the opening of the tank jacket and including a valve outlet coupled to the burner tube for controlling a supply of fuel to the burner assembly via the burner tube.   
     
     
         2 . The water heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing coupled to the water heater that houses components of the gas valve and controller and covers the opening of the tank jacket. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the gas valve and controller comprises one or more user interface items facing upward, whereby the one or more user interface items are visible from above. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the gas valve and controller comprises one or more user interface items facing upward, whereby the one or more user interface items are visible from above by a user in a standing position. 
     
     
         5 . The water heater of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more user interface items comprise:
 a switch for selectively changing an operational setting of the burner assembly between OFF, PILOT, and ON;   a pilot indicator light configured to illuminate when there is sufficient heat to hold a pilot valve open; and   a mirrored surface configured to allow verification that a pilot light is lit.   
     
     
         6 . The water heater of  claim 5 , further comprising a housing that houses components of the gas valve and controller and covers the opening of the tank jacket, wherein the switch, the pilot indicator light, and the mirrored surface are on an upper surface of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more surface mount temperature sensors coupled to an outer surface of the storage tank for sensing a temperature of water in the storage tank without using immersion temperature sensors. 
     
     
         8 . The water heater of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more surface mount temperature sensors comprise:
 a first temperature sensor printed circuit board including a thermistor positioned against the outer surface of the storage tank adjacent a bottom of the storage tank; and/or   a second temperature sensor printed circuit board including a thermistor positioned against the outer surface of the storage tank adjacent a top of the storage tank.   
     
     
         9 . The water heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature selection control for selectively changing a temperature setpoint for water in the storage tank, and including one or more surface mount temperature sensors for sensing a temperature of water in the storage tank without using immersion temperature sensors, wherein the temperature selection control is located closer to a top of the water heater than to a bottom of the water heater, whereby the temperature selection control is at eye level. 
     
     
         10 . A gas valve and controller for controlling a supply of fuel for a sealed combustion water heater having a burner door, the gas valve and controller comprising:
 a valve outlet configured to be coupled to a burner tube passing through the burner door;   a housing in which components of the gas valve and controller are housed, the housing configured to be mounted to the water heater and to cover and seal the burner door; and   one or more user interface items facing upward and visible from above.   
     
     
         11 . The gas valve and controller of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more user interface items comprise:
 a switch for selectively changing an operational setting between OFF, PILOT, and ON;   a pilot indicator light configured to illuminate when there is sufficient heat to hold a pilot valve open; and   a mirrored surface configured to allow verification that a pilot light is lit.   
     
     
         12 . The gas valve and controller of  claim 11 , wherein the switch, the pilot indicator light, and the mirrored surface are on an upper surface of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . A water heater comprising the gas valve and controller of  claim 10 , the water heater further comprising:
 one or more surface mount temperature sensors configured to be coupled to an outer surface of a storage tank of the water heater for sensing a temperature of water in the storage tank without using immersion temperature sensors; and   a temperature selection control for selectively changing a temperature setpoint for water in the storage tank, and including at least one of said one or more surface mount temperature sensors.   
     
     
         14 . The water heater of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more surface mount temperature sensors comprise:
 a first temperature sensor printed circuit board including a thermistor positionable against the outer surface of the storage tank adjacent a bottom of the storage tank; and/or   a second temperature sensor printed circuit board including a thermistor positionable against the outer surface of the storage tank adjacent a top of the storage tank, the temperature selection control including the second temperature sensor printed circuit board.   
     
     
         15 . A sealed combustion water heater comprising:
 a burner door;   a burner tube passing through the burner door;   a gas valve and controller located at the burner door and including a valve outlet coupled to the burner tube for controlling a supply of fuel to the burner tube; and   a housing in which components of the gas valve and controller are housed, the housing mounted to the water heater so as to cover and seal the burner door.   
     
     
         16 . The water heater of  claim 15 , wherein the burner door is an opening in an outside tank jacket of the water heater. 
     
     
         17 . The water heater of  claim 15 , further comprising one or more user interface items on an upper surface of the housing and facing upward, whereby the one or more user interface items are visible from above. 
     
     
         18 . The water heater of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more user interface items comprise:
 a switch for selectively changing an operational setting between OFF, PILOT, and ON;   a pilot indicator light configured to illuminate when there is sufficient heat to hold a pilot valve open; and   a mirrored surface configured to allow verification that a pilot light is lit.   
     
     
         19 . The water heater of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 one or more surface mount temperature sensors coupled to an outer surface of a storage tank of the water heater for sensing a temperature of water in the storage tank without using immersion temperature sensors; and   a temperature selection control for selectively changing a temperature setpoint for water in the storage tank, and including at least one of said one or more surface mount temperature sensors.   
     
     
         20 . The water heater of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the one or more surface mount temperature sensors comprise first and second thermistors positioned against the outer surface of the storage tank adjacent a respective bottom and top of the storage tank; and/or   the temperature selection control is located closer to a top of the water heater than to a bottom of the water heater, whereby the temperature selection control is at eye level.