US 11,988,414 B2
System and method for control of electric water heater
Brian T. Branecky, Oconomowoc, WI (US); and Ronald Bartos, Menomonee Falls, WI (US)
Assigned to A.O. SMITH CORPORATION, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed by A. O. SMITH CORPORATION, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed on Oct. 14, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/601,141.
Application 16/601,141 is a continuation of application No. 15/267,849, filed on Sep. 16, 2016, granted, now 10,443,894.
Prior Publication US 2020/0041168 A1, Feb. 6, 2020
Int. Cl. F24H 9/20 (2022.01); F24H 1/20 (2022.01); F24H 15/168 (2022.01); F24H 15/174 (2022.01); F24H 15/225 (2022.01); F24H 15/37 (2022.01); F24H 15/407 (2022.01); F24H 15/421 (2022.01); F24H 15/45 (2022.01); F24H 15/493 (2022.01); F24H 15/277 (2022.01); F24H 15/281 (2022.01); F24H 15/395 (2022.01)
CPC F24H 9/2021 (2013.01) [F24H 1/201 (2013.01); F24H 15/168 (2022.01); F24H 15/174 (2022.01); F24H 15/225 (2022.01); F24H 15/37 (2022.01); F24H 15/407 (2022.01); F24H 15/421 (2022.01); F24H 15/45 (2022.01); F24H 15/493 (2022.01); F24H 15/277 (2022.01); F24H 15/281 (2022.01); F24H 15/395 (2022.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric water heater comprising:
an electric heating element;
a switching device capable of operating in an enabled state and a disabled state, the switching device being arranged electrically in series with the electric heating element; and
a relay capable of operating in an activated state and a deactivated state, the relay being arranged electrically in series with the switching device and providing electrical power to the switching device when operating in the activated state,
wherein the switching device is controlled to operate in one of the enabled state and the disabled state independently of the relay being controlled to operate in one of the activated state and the deactivated state, and wherein the electric heating element receives electrical power only when the relay is operating in the activated state and the switching device is operating in the enabled state.