US 12,222,136 B2
Field conversion electric water heater
Matthew S. Park, Auburn, AL (US); Timothy D. Scott, Atlanta, GA (US); and William Jason Hall, Atlanta, GA (US)
Assigned to Rheem Manufacturing Company, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed by Rheem Manufacturing Company, Atlanta, GA (US)
Filed on Jul. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/379,039.
Application 17/379,039 is a continuation of application No. 16/034,085, filed on Jul. 12, 2018, granted, now 11,067,311.
Prior Publication US 2022/0011017 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. F24H 9/20 (2022.01); F24H 1/20 (2022.01); F24H 9/1818 (2022.01); F24H 15/407 (2022.01)
CPC F24H 9/2021 (2013.01) [F24H 1/202 (2013.01); F24H 9/1818 (2013.01); F24H 15/407 (2022.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A liquid heating apparatus comprising:
a tank configured to hold a liquid;
a first electric heating element configured to provide heat to the liquid;
a first thermostat configured to control the first electric heating element;
a second electric heating element configured to provide heat to the liquid;
a second thermostat configured to control the second electric heating element;
a terminal block having (i) line side terminals configured to interchangeably connect to electrical power supply conductors and (ii) heating side terminals; and
wiring connected to the first and second thermostats and the heating side terminals in a manner such that, without replacing either of the first and second thermostats or altering the wiring to either of the first and second thermostats or the heating side terminals, a selective portion of the electrical power supply conductors is connected to the line side terminals to provide the liquid heating apparatus with a plurality of heating element control modes, the plurality of heating element control modes including:
a dual independent branch circuit element control mode; and
single-phase and three-phase simultaneous dual element and non-simultaneous dual element control modes.