Hot water heater with in-tank heat exchanger tube

Abstract

The invention relates to a hot water heater that includes a tank, one or more heating elements, one or more thermostats and one or more heater exchanger tubes. The tank has a water outlet and one or more water inlets. The one or more heating elements extend within the tank. The one or more thermostats function to control the energy applied to the one or more heating elements. The one or more heater exchanger tubes are positioned within the tank. Each heater exchanger tube has a first end with a first opening and a second end with a second opening and defines a channel between the two openings. The second opening in the channel opens into the tank. Each heater exchanger tube surrounds at least a portion of one heating element. The water inlet includes an opening into the heater exchanger tube for water to enter the heater exchanger tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hot water heater comprising:
 a tank having a water outlet and one or more water inlets;   one or more heating elements extending within the tank;   one or more thermostats to control the energy applied to the one or more heating elements; and   one or more heater exchanger tubes being positioned within the tank, each heater exchanger tube having a first end with a first opening and a second end with a second opening and defining a channel between the two openings, wherein each heater exchanger tube surrounds at least a portion of one heating element, and the second opening in the channel opens into the tank, and wherein the water inlet comprises an opening into the heater exchanger tube for water to enter the heater exchanger tube.   
     
     
         2 . The hot water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the heater exchanger tube and the heating element are collinear with the heating element positioned within the heater exchanger tube. 
     
     
         3 . The hot water heater of  claim 2 , wherein the heating element is generally of a similar length as the heater exchanger tube. 
     
     
         4 . The hot water heater of  claim 2 , wherein the heating element is shorter in length than the heater exchanger tube. 
     
     
         5 . The hot water heater of  claim 2 , wherein the heating element is longer in length than the heater exchanger tube. 
     
     
         6 . The hot water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the heater exchanger tube comprises a fitting and a tube, wherein the tube extends from the fitting. 
     
     
         7 . The hot water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the heater exchanger tube is made of copper. 
     
     
         8 . The hot water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the heater exchanger tube includes one or more fins extending from an outer surface of the heater exchanger tube. 
     
     
         9 . The hot water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the heater exchanger tube includes one or more baffles extending from an inner surface of the heater exchanger tube into the channel of the heater exchanger tube.