US3767894A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combination electric water heater and electric space heater
Assignee: Carrier Corp
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Filing: 1972-09-18
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Granted: 1973-10-23
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Expires: 1992-09-18
Abstract
Abstract An electric water heater and an electric space heater are combined with a control system for supplying a combined demandlimited electric current. The control system is arranged to provide a predetermined desired priority to the various resistance heating elements in the combined system so as to limit the total electrical demand to less than the sum of the demands of all of the heater elements. The arrangement avoids the need for subdivided branch circuits with separate circuit breakers to comply with electrical codes.
Inventors
- 👤 I Berger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 06:32
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24H; F24H1/00; F24H1/22; F24H1/225; F24H6/00; H; H02; H02J; H02J3/00; H02J3/12; H02J3/14; H02J2105/00; H02J2105/40; H02J2105/42; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/30; Y02B70/3225; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/20; Y04S20/222; Y04S20/242; Y04S20/244
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A combination electric water heater and electric space heater comprising: A. an electric space heater having a first electric space heater element and a second electric space heater element; B. an electric water heater having an electric water heater element; and C. a control system for selectively energizing the heater elements in the system, said control including: 1. a space heater thermostat having a switch means associated therewith adapted to respond to the demand for space heating imposed on the system; 2. a water heater thermostat having switch means associated therewith adapted to respond to the demand for water heating imposed on the system; 3. said water heater element being connected in an electrical circuit controlled by said water heater thermostat to energize and de-energize said water heater element in response to the sensed demand for water heating; 4. said first space heater element being connected in an electrical circuit controlled by the space heater thermostat to energize and de-energize said first space heater in response to the demand for space heating; and 5. said second space heater element being connected in an electrical circuit controlled by both said space heater thermostat and said water heater thermoStat to energize said second space heater element only when said water heater element is de-energized, whereby the total electrical demand by said combined system is limited to a demand less than the total demand of all of the heater elements in the system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
A combination electric water heater and electric space heater comprising: A. an electric space heater having a first electric space heater element and a second electric space heater element; B. an electric water heater having an electric water heater element; and C. a control system for selectively energizing the heater elements in the system, said control including: 1. a space heater thermostat having a switch means associated therewith adapted to respond to the demand for space heating imposed on the system; 2. a water heater thermostat having switch means associated therewith adapted to respond to the demand for water heating imposed on the system; 3. said water heater element being connected in an electrical circuit controlled by said water heater thermostat to energize and de-energize said water heater element in response to the sensed demand for water heating; 4. said first space heater element being connected in an electrical circuit controlled by the space heater thermostat to energize and de-energize said first space heater in response to the demand for space heating; and 5. said second space heater element being connected in an electrical circuit controlled by both said space heater thermostat and said water heater thermoStat to energize said second space heater element only when said water heater element is de-energized, whereby the total electrical demand by said combined system is limited to a demand less than the total demand of all of the heater elements in the system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
a water heater thermostat having switch means associated therewith adapted to respond to the demand for water heating imposed on the system;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
a water heater thermostat having switch means associated therewith adapted to respond to the demand for water heating imposed on the system;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
A combination electric water heater and electric space heater as defined in claim 1: A. said water heater having a second electric water heater element; and B. circuit means for energizing the second water heater element upon a demand for water heating sensed by the water heater thermostat only when the space heater thermostat senses a satisfied space heating demand, whereby at least one stage of water heating and at least one stage of space heating are always available upon demand therefor, but the total electrical demand by the system is always limited to a demand less than that of all the heater elements in the system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
A combination electric water heater and electric space heater as defined in claim 1: A. said water heater having a second electric water heater element; and B. circuit means for additionally energizing the second water heater element and for additionally de-energizing the first space heater element upon a demand being sensed by the water heater thermostat for water heating, whereby a demand for water heating is given priority over a demand for space heating to limit the total electrical demand on the system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
said water heater element being connected in an electrical circuit controlled by said water heater thermostat to energize and de-energize said water heater element in response to the sensed demand for water heating;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
said water heater element being connected in an electrical circuit controlled by said water heater thermostat to energize and de-energize said water heater element in response to the sensed demand for water heating;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
said first space heater element being connected in an electrical circuit controlled by the space heater thermostat to energize and de-energize said first space heater in response to the demand for space heating; and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
said first space heater element being connected in an electrical circuit controlled by the space heater thermostat to energize and de-energize said first space heater in response to the demand for space heating; and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
A combination electric water heater and electric space heater as defined in claim 1: A. said water heater having a second electric water heater element; and B. said second water heater element being connected in an electric circuit for energizing the second water heater element and de-energizing the first space heater element upon energizing of the first water heater element, whereby energizing of the space heater elements is preempted by a demand for water heating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
A combination electric water heater and electric space heater as defined in claim 1: A. said water heater having a second electric water heater element; and B. said second water heater element being connected in an electric circuit for de-energizing said second water heater element when the space heater thermostat senses a space heating demand, whereby energization of said second water heater element is preempted by a demand for space heating, so that at least one stage of space heating and at least one stage of water heating is available upon a demand being sensed therefor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
said second space heater element being connected in an electrical circuit controlled by both said space heater thermostat and said water heater thermoStat to energize said second space heater element only when said water heater element is de-energized, whereby the total electrical demand by said combined system is limited to a demand less than the total demand of all of the heater elements in the system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
66 words
said second space heater element being connected in an electrical circuit controlled by both said space heater thermostat and said water heater thermoStat to energize said second space heater element only when said water heater element is de-energized, whereby the total electrical demand by said combined system is limited to a demand less than the total demand of all of the heater elements in the system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
179 words
A combination electric water heater and electric space heater as defined in claim 1: A. said water heater having a second electric water heater element; B. said water heater thermostat having a second switch means associated therewith adapted to respond to a greater demand for water heating being imposed on the system than the demand to which the first water heater thermostat switch means is responsive; C. said second water heater element being connected in an electric circuit with one of said second water heater thermostat switch means to energize and de-energize the second water heater element in response to said greater demand for water heating; and D. said first space heater element being additionally connected in an electric circuit with said second water heater thermostat switch means to energize said first space heater element only when said second water heater element is de-energized, whereby sensing of a greater water heating demand by said water heater thermostat preempts the space heating demand until said greater water heating demand is satisfied, thereby limiting the total electrical demand by the system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
104 words
A combination electric water heater and electric space heater as defined in claim 1 including: A. an electrically driven fan for passing air over said electric space heater element and discharging the air into a space to be heated; and B. time delay relay means connected in an electric circuit with said electric space heatEr element, for energizing said electrically driven fan after a period of time has elapsed subsequent to energizing of said space heater element, whereby the electric space heater element is enabled to heat up for a period of time before the fan discharges air into the space to be heated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |