Systems and methods for adjusting thermostats relative to heating elements

Abstract

A thermostat is disclosed for use with a water tank, a heating element, and a mounting bracket. The heating element may be mounted into the water tank, and the mounting bracket may be mounted to the heating element. The thermostat may include a mounting body having a guide arm configured engage with the mounting bracket to move along an axial direction about the mounting bracket, a temperature detector disposed within the mounting body and configured to detect a temperature of the water tank, and a setting mechanism disposed within the mounting body and configured to apply a setting force normal to the water tank to generate frictional force to maintain a position of the mounting body relative to the mounting bracket.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermostat for use with a water tank, a heating element, and a mounting bracket, the heating element being mounted into the water tank, the mounting bracket being mounted to the heating element, the thermostat comprising:
 a mounting body having a guide arm configured engage with the mounting bracket to move along an axial direction about the mounting bracket;   a temperature detector disposed within the mounting body and configured to detect a temperature of the water tank; and   a setting mechanism disposed within the mounting body and configured to apply a setting force to maintain a position of the mounting body relative to the mounting bracket.   
     
     
         2 . The thermostat of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting body has a second guide arm configured to move along the axial direction about the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         3 . The thermostat of  claim 1 , wherein the guide arm comprises a slot configured to receive an engaging portion of the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The thermostat of  claim 1 , wherein the guide arm is configured to engage with a slot of an engaging portion of the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         5 . The thermostat of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the mounting body comprises a back side configured to contact the water tank and a front side opposite the back side,   wherein the setting mechanism comprises a screw configured to penetrate from the front side of the mounting body and through the back side of the mounting body to contact the water tank.   
     
     
         6 . The thermostat of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature detector comprises a thermistor. 
     
     
         7 . The thermostat of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power wire receptacle configured to receive a power wire carrying electricity; and   a neutral wire receptacle configured to receive a neutral wire.   
     
     
         8 . A mounting bracket for use with a water tank, a heating element, and a thermostat, the heating element being mounted into the water tank, the thermostat comprising a mounting body having a guide arm, the mounting bracket comprising:
 a heating element receiving portion having a passthrough to receive the heating element; and   an engaging arm having an engaging portion configured to engage with the guide arm,   wherein the engaging arm is configured to enable the thermostat to move along an axial direction so as to be mounted within a range of distances from the heating element.   
     
     
         9 . The mounting bracket of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a second engaging arm having a second engaging portion configured to engage with a second guide arm of the thermostat,   wherein the first engaging arm is disposed a distance from the second engaging arm to enable the thermostat to be disposed between the first engaging arm and the second engaging arm.   
     
     
         10 . The mounting bracket of  claim 9 , further comprising a bracing arm connecting the first engaging arm with the second engaging arm. 
     
     
         11 . The mounting bracket of  claim 8 , wherein the engaging portion comprises a slot configured to receive the guide arm. 
     
     
         12 . The mounting bracket of  claim 8 , wherein the engaging portion is configured to engage with a slot on the guide arm. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a water heater, the method comprising:
 mounting a mounting bracket onto a water tank of the water heater, the mounting bracket comprising (i) a heating element receiving portion having a passthrough to receive a heating element and (ii) an engaging arm having an engaging portion configured to engage with a guide arm of a thermostat comprising a mounting body having the guide arm; and   mounting the thermostat to the mounting bracket.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising mounting the heating element into the passthrough of the heating element receiving portion of the mounting bracket and to the water tank of the water heater. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the mounting the thermostat to the mounting bracket comprises:
 engaging the engaging portion of the engaging arm with the guide arm of the thermostat; and   setting a setting mechanism to apply a setting force to maintain a position of the mounting body relative to the heating element receiving portion of the mounting bracket.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 unsetting the setting mechanism;   moving the thermostat along an axis while maintaining engagement between the engaging portion of the engaging arm and the guide arm of the thermostat; and   resetting the setting mechanism to apply the setting force to maintain a second position of the mounting body relative to the heating element receiving portion of the mounting bracket.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the engaging the engaging portion of the engaging arm with the guide arm of the thermostat comprises receiving the engaging arm into a slot of the engaging portion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the engaging the engaging portion of the engaging arm with the guide arm of the thermostat comprises receiving the engaging portion into a slot of the engaging arm. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the setting a setting mechanism comprises turning a screw, configured to penetrate from a front side of the mounting body and through a back side of the mounting body so as to contact the water tank, to apply a setting force to maintain a position of the mounting body relative to the heating element receiving portion of the mounting bracket. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 operating the water heater to heat water; and   determining a parameter of the water heater.