John M Funk

US Patent:

20080006227, Jan 10, 2008

Filed:

Apr 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/742472

Inventors:

Raymond G. Ziehm - Littleton CO, US
John Funk - Evergreen CO, US

Assignee:

Evergreen Innovation Partners I, LP - Evergreen CO

International Classification:

F24H 9/12
F24H 1/10
F24H 9/00

US Classification:

122 191, 137564, 392465

Abstract:

A water heater unit is described for providing convective water flow through a water circulatory system. In one embodiment, the water heater unit has an outer housing, a water tank disposed within the housing, and a first cold water inlet coupled to the tank and connectable to a cold water supply line. A hot water outlet is coupled to the tank and connectable to a hot water supply line. A connection chamber adjacent to the tank has a second cold water inlet connectable to the cold water line, and a chamber outlet connected to the first cold water inlet of the tank. The connection chamber has at least one return inlet connectable to the hot water return line at a position to allow a substantially continuous flow of return hot water driven by convection forces without the benefit of a recirculation pump.

US Patent:

20100263604, Oct 21, 2010

Filed:

Jun 29, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/826523

Inventors:

Raymond G. Ziehm - Littleton CO, US
John Funk - Evergreen CO, US

International Classification:

F24H 9/12

US Classification:

122 191

Abstract:

A water heater unit is described for providing convective water flow through a water circulatory system. In one embodiment, the water heater unit has an outer housing, a water tank disposed within the housing, and a first cold water inlet coupled to the tank and connectable to a cold water supply line. A hot water outlet is coupled to the tank and connectable to a hot water supply line. A connection chamber adjacent to the tank has a second cold water inlet connectable to the cold water line, and a chamber outlet connected to the first cold water inlet of the tank. The connection chamber has at least one return inlet connectable to the hot water return line at a position to allow a substantially continuous flow of return hot water driven by convection forces without the benefit of a recirculation pump.