Heat trap assembly

Abstract

An outlet heat trap assembly for a tank-type water heater includes a tube having a tube wall, the tube defining a bore extending along a longitudinal axis and a transverse opening through the tube wall, the transverse opening communicating with the bore; and a flexible member within the bore, the flexible member deflectable between a first position in which the flexible member covers the transverse opening, and a second position in which the flexible member is deflected toward the longitudinal axis to allow fluid flow through the transverse opening into the bore. The outlet heat trap assembly further comprises an insert member coupled to a distal end of the tube, wherein the tube further defines an axial opening at the distal end of the tube, the axial opening communicating with the bore, and wherein the insert member covers the axial opening.

1 . An outlet heat trap assembly provided at a hot water outlet of a tank-type water heater, comprising:
 a tube having a tube wall, the tube defining a bore extending along a longitudinal axis and a transverse opening through the tube wall, the transverse opening communicating with the bore; and   a flexible member within the bore, the flexible member deflectable between a first position in which the flexible member covers the transverse opening, and a second position in which the flexible member is deflected toward the longitudinal axis to allow fluid flow through the transverse opening into the bore.   
     
     
         2 . The outlet heat trap assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an insert member coupled to a distal end of the tube, wherein the tube further defines an axial opening at the distal end of the tube, the axial opening communicating with the bore, and wherein the insert member covers the axial opening. 
     
     
         3 . The outlet heat trap assembly of  claim 2 , wherein a first end of the flexible member is coupled to the insert member. 
     
     
         4 . The outlet heat trap assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the insert member includes a body portion received by the bore via the axial opening at the distal end of the tube. 
     
     
         5 . The outlet heat trap assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the body portion has a first end, and wherein the flexible member bends towards the longitudinal axis about the first end of the body portion. 
     
     
         6 . The outlet heat trap assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the insert member includes protrusions extending from a body portion of the insert member transverse to the longitudinal axis to provide a friction fit between the insert member and the tube. 
     
     
         7 . The outlet heat trap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible member extends parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The outlet heat trap assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the transverse opening comprises a plurality of transverse openings, wherein the flexible member comprises a plurality of flexible members, and wherein the number of the plurality of transverse openings equals the number of the plurality of flexible members. 
     
     
         9 . The outlet heat trap assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of transverse openings comprises a first transverse opening and a second transverse opening circumferentially spaced from the first transverse opening about the longitudinal axis of the outlet tube, and wherein the first transverse opening and the second transverse opening are on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The outlet heat trap assembly of  claim 8 , wherein a sum of area of the plurality of transverse openings define a total inlet fluid flow cross-sectional area greater than an inner fluid flow cross-sectional area of the bore in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . An outlet heat trap assembly provided at a hot water outlet of a tank-type water heater, comprising:
 a tube having a tube wall and a distal end, the tube defining a bore extending along a longitudinal axis and an axial opening at the distal end of the tube, the axial opening communicating with the bore, the tube wall defining a transverse opening through the tube wall, the transverse opening communicating with the bore;   an insert member coupled to the distal end of the tube to cover the axial opening; and   a flexible member within the bore, a first end of the flexible member coupled to the insert member, the flexible member deflectable between a first position in which the flexible member covers the transverse opening, and a second position in which the flexible member is deflected toward the longitudinal axis to allow fluid flow through the transverse opening into the bore.   
     
     
         12 . The outlet heat trap assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a first portion of the flexible member defines an aperture, and wherein the insert member includes a projection received in the aperture to couple the first end to the insert member. 
     
     
         13 . The outlet heat trap assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the insert member includes a body portion received by the bore via the axial opening at the distal end of the tube. 
     
     
         14 . The outlet heat trap assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the body portion has a first end, and wherein the flexible member bends towards the longitudinal axis about the first end of the body portion. 
     
     
         15 . The outlet heat trap assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the insert member includes protrusions extending from a body portion transverse to the longitudinal axis to provide a friction fit between the insert member and the tube. 
     
     
         16 . The outlet heat trap assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible member extends parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         17 . The outlet heat trap assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the transverse opening comprises a plurality of transverse openings, wherein the flexible member comprises a plurality of flexible members, and wherein the number of the plurality of transverse openings equals the number of the plurality of flexible members. 
     
     
         18 . A method for reducing energy loss during standby in a water heater, comprising:
 providing a water heater including
 a tank defining an interior space adapted to contain water, 
 a heat source operable to heat the water within the tank, 
 a cold water inlet in fluid communication with the interior space, the cold water inlet adapted to deliver cold water to the interior space from a cold water source, 
 a hot water outlet, and 
 a heat trap assembly coupled to the hot water outlet, the heat trap assembly having
 a tube having a tube wall, the tube defining a bore extending along a longitudinal axis and a transverse opening through the tube wall, the transverse opening communicating with the bore; and 
 a flexible member within the bore, the flexible member deflectable between a first position in which the flexible member covers the transverse opening, and a second position in which the flexible member is deflected toward the longitudinal axis to allow fluid flow through the transverse opening into the bore; 
 
   during standby, covering the transverse opening by the flexible member, sealing the transverse opening from fluid flowing into the bore; and   during performance draw, deflecting the second end of the flexible member toward the longitudinal axis to allow fluid flow through the transverse opening into the bore.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , the heat trap assembly further comprising an insert member coupled to a distal end of the tube, wherein the tube further defines an axial opening at the distal end of the tube, the axial opening communicating with the bore, and wherein the insert member covers the axial opening. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the flexible member is coupled to the insert member, wherein the insert member includes a body portion having a first end, and wherein the flexible member bends towards the longitudinal axis about the first end of the body portion.