Water heater appliance

Abstract

A water heater appliance includes a support pad positioned on an outer shell of the water heater appliance. A pair of inserts is disposed within the support pad. Each insert of the pair of inserts is positioned on a respective one of an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit of the water heater appliance. The inserts have a density greater than the support pad.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heater appliance, comprising:
 an outer shell extending between a top portion and a bottom portion;   a tank disposed within the outer shell, the tank defining an interior volume;   an inlet conduit extending through the tank into the interior volume of the tank at the top portion of the outer shell;   an outlet conduit extending through the tank into the interior volume of the tank at the top portion of the outer shell;   a support pad positioned on the outer shell at the top portion of the outer shell; and   a pair of inserts disposed within the support pad, a first one of the pair of inserts positioned on the inlet conduit, a second one of the pair of inserts positioned on the outlet conduit, the inserts of the pair of inserts having a density greater than the support pad.   
     
     
         2 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the support pad includes a top panel and a side wall, the top panel positioned on top of the outer shell, the side wall extending from the top panel around the outer shell. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the outer shell and the side wall define a gap therebetween and each insert of the pair of inserts and the support pad define a space therebetween, the space between each insert of the pair of inserts and the support pad being smaller than the gap between the outer shell and the side wall. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the gap is less than one eighth of an inch and the space is less than one sixteenth of an inch. 
     
     
         5 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein each insert of the pair of inserts has a top surface, the support pad also having a top surface, the top surfaces of the pair of inserts being positioned at or below the top surface of the support pad. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit are positioned below the top surfaces of the pair of inserts. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the inserts of the pair of inserts are cylindrical. 
     
     
         8 . The water heater appliance of  claim 7 , wherein an outer perimeter of the support pad is square. 
     
     
         9 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the inserts of the pair of inserts are constructed with plastic, expanded polystyrene, wood or aluminum. 
     
     
         10 . The water heater appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the support pad is constructed with expanded polystyrene. 
     
     
         11 . A water heater appliance defining a vertical direction, a circumferential direction and a radial direction, the water heater appliance comprising:
 an outer shell extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along the vertical direction;   a tank;   an inlet conduit extending along the vertical direction into the tank at the top portion of the outer shell;   an outlet conduit extending along the vertical direction into the tank at the top portion of the outer shell;   a support pad positioned at the top portion of the outer shell; and   a pair of inserts disposed within the support pad, a first one of the pair of inserts positioned on the inlet conduit, a second one of the pair of inserts positioned on the outlet conduit, a density of the inserts of the pair of inserts is greater than a density of the support pad.   
     
     
         12 . The water heater appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the support pad includes a top panel and a side wall, the top panel positioned on the outer shell at the top portion of the outer shell, the side wall extending downwardly from the top panel along the vertical direction, the side wall also extending around the outer shell along the circumferential direction. 
     
     
         13 . The water heater appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the outer shell and the side wall define a gap along the radial direction and each insert of the pair of inserts and the support pad define a space along the radial direction, the space being smaller than the gap. 
     
     
         14 . The water heater appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the gap is less than one eighth of an inch and the space is less than one sixteenth of an inch. 
     
     
         15 . The water heater appliance of  claim 11 , wherein each insert of the pair of inserts has a top surface, the support pad also having a top surface, the top surfaces of the pair of inserts positioned at or below the top surface of the support pad along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         16 . The water heater appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit are positioned below the top surfaces of the pair of inserts along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         17 . The water heater appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the inserts of the pair of inserts are cylindrical. 
     
     
         18 . The water heater appliance of  claim 17 , wherein an outer perimeter of the support pad is square. 
     
     
         19 . The water heater appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the inserts of the pair of inserts are constructed with plastic, expanded polystyrene, wood or aluminum, the support pad constructed with expanded polystyrene. 
     
     
         20 . The water heater appliance of  claim 11 , further comprising a sealed system for heating water within the tank, the sealed system comprising a compressor and an evaporator, the compressor and the evaporator disposed within the outer shell at the top portion of the outer shell.