Water heating systems and methods

Abstract

A water heating system comprises a tank, a sensor holding apparatus, a heating element, a bracket, and a controller that is external to the sensor holding apparatus. The sensor holding apparatus is coupled to an electronic temperature sensor, and the heating element is mounted on the tank. The bracket has a hole and a notch. The heating element passes through the hole, and the sensor holding apparatus is inserted into the notch. The controller is configured to control an operational state of the heating element based on the electronic temperature sensor.

1 . A water heating system, comprising: 
 a tank;    a sensor holding apparatus coupled to a first electronic temperature sensor;    a first heating element mounted on the tank;    a first bracket having a first hole and a first notch, the first heating element passing through the first hole and the sensor holding apparatus inserted into the first notch; and    a controller external to the sensor holding apparatus and configured to control an operational state of the first heating element based on the first electronic temperature sensor.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second heating element mounted on the tank; and    a second bracket having a second hole and a second notch, the second heating element passing through the second hole and the controller inserted into the second notch.    
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a second electronic temperature sensor, wherein the controller is configured to control an operational state of the second heating element based on the second electronic temperature sensor.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the second electronic temperature sensor is embedded in the controller.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first bracket has a first arm and a second arm, the first and second arms defining the first notch, wherein the first arm has a hole, wherein the sensor holding apparatus has a first edge, and wherein the first edge extends through the hole in the first arm.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the first edge has a notch.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the second arm has a hole, wherein the sensor holding apparatus has a second edge, and wherein the second edge extends through the hole in the second arm.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first edge has a notch, and wherein the second edge has a notch.  
   
   
       9 . A water heating system, comprising: 
 a tank;    means for holding an electronic temperature sensor;    a heating element mounted on the tank;    a bracket having a hole and a notch, the heating element passing through the hole and the holding means inserted into the notch; and    means for controlling an operational state of the heating element based on the electronic temperature sensor, the controlling means external to the holding means.    
   
   
       10 . A method, comprising the steps of: 
 mounting a first heating element on a tank of a water heating system;    inserting the first heating element through a hole in a first bracket;    inserting a sensor holding apparatus into a notch of the first bracket such that the first bracket presses the sensor holding apparatus against the tank; and    enabling a controller external to the sensor holding apparatus to control an operational state of the first heating element based on an electronic temperature sensor coupled to the sensor holding apparatus.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of: 
 mounting a second heating element on the tank;    inserting the second heating element through a hole in a second bracket; and    inserting the controller into a notch of the second bracket such that the second bracket presses the controller against the tank.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the inserting step is performed such that a first edge of the sensor holding apparatus extends through a hole in a first arm of the first bracket.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the inserting step is performed such that a second edge of the sensor holding apparatus extends through a hole in a second arm of the first bracket.