Burner Plate and Gasket for Water Heater

Abstract

A burner mounting plate and a burner gasket are provided. A bottom portion of the burner mounting plate includes a groove configured to receive the burner gasket. The burner mounting plate also includes one or more mechanical stops protruding from the groove at various intervals. The burner gasket is shaped such that the burner gasket fits within the groove around the mechanical stops to prevent over compression of the burner gasket. The burner mounting plate also includes one or more protrusions corresponding to one or more apertures provided on the burner gasket. Further, an adhesive may be provided on the burner mounting plate and/or the burner gasket. This all serves to secure the burner gasket to the burner mounting plate to prevent the burner gasket from moving within the groove or falling out of the groove during installation.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heater comprising:
 a burner mounted to a water tank of the water heater and to ignite a combustible gas to generate heat to heat water in the water tank;   a burner mounting plate configured to be mounted between the burner and the water tank; and   a burner gasket provided between a bottom portion of the burner mounting plate and the water tank,   wherein the burner mounting plate comprises:   a groove on the bottom portion of the burner mounting plate configured to receive the burner gasket; and   one or more mechanical stops protruding from the groove and configured to mitigate compression of the burner gasket.   
     
     
         2 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the burner gasket further comprises one or more cut-outs such that the burner mounting plate receives the burner gasket within the groove at least partially around the one or more mechanical stops. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater of  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive provided on at least one of: the groove and the burner gasket. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more mechanical stops include one or more first apertures. 
     
     
         5 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the burner mounting plate further comprises one or more protrusions, wherein the burner gasket further comprises one or more second apertures, and wherein the one or more second apertures are configured to receive the one or more protrusions. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more protrusions are provided in the groove. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the burner mounting plate further comprises one or more third apertures provided within the groove to provide visibility to the burner gasket from a top portion of the burner mounting plate. 
     
     
         8 . The water heater of  claim 1 , further comprising a fourth aperture configured to receive an igniter and a fifth aperture configured to receive a flame sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The water heater of  claim 1 , wherein the burner mounting plate is mounted to a center tube of the water heater. 
     
     
         10 . A burner mounting plate for use with a water heater, the burner mounting plate comprising:
 a groove on a bottom portion of the burner mounting plate configured to receive a burner gasket that, in operation, forms a seal between the bottom portion of the burner mounting plate and a water tank of the water heater; and   one or more mechanical stops protruding from the groove and configured to mitigate compression of the burner gasket.   
     
     
         11 . The burner mounting plate of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more mechanical stops include one or more first apertures. 
     
     
         12 . The burner mounting plate of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more protrusions configured to be inserted into one or more second apertures provided on the burner gasket. 
     
     
         13 . The burner mounting plate of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more protrusions are provided in the groove. 
     
     
         14 . The burner mounting plate of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more third apertures provided within the groove to provide visibility to the burner gasket from a top portion of the burner mounting plate. 
     
     
         15 . The burner mounting plate of  claim 10 , further comprising a third fourth configured to receive an igniter and a fifth aperture configured to receive a flame sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The burner mounting plate of  claim 10 , wherein the burner mounting plate is mounted to a center tube of the water heater. 
     
     
         17 . The burner mounting plate of  claim 10 , further comprising an adhesive provided on the groove to secure the burner gasket to the burner mounting plate. 
     
     
         18 . A burner gasket for a burner mounting plate of a water heater unit, the burner gasket comprising:
 one or more cut-outs such that the burner gasket is configured to be received within a groove provided on a bottom portion of the burner mounting plate at least partially around one or more mechanical stops within the groove,   wherein the burner gasket is configured to provide a seal between the bottom portion of the burner mounting plate and a water tank of a water heater.   
     
     
         19 . The burner gasket of  claim 15 , further comprising one or more apertures configured to receive one or more protrusions provided on the burner mounting plate. 
     
     
         20 . The burner gasket of  claim 15 , further comprising an adhesive to secure the burner gasket to the burner mounting plate.