Water heater inlet fitting, flow sensor, shut off valve and diffuser

Abstract

An integrated valve and flow sensor for a water heater can have a valve body that includes a valve and a flow sensor for measuring the flow of water through the valve. The integrated valve and flow sensor can be disposed within a fitting that can be attached to a water heater. An actuator for opening and closing the valve can be attached to the fitting. A diffuser can also be attached to the fitting.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inlet fitting for a water heater comprising:
 an inlet configured for fluid coupling to a water supply and comprising threads for threaded attachment to the water supply;   an outlet configured for fluid coupling to an inlet of a water heater and comprising threads for threaded attachment to the inlet of the water heater;   a shut-off valve disposed between the inlet and the outlet of the fitting, the shut-off valve comprising a valve body, a valve stem, and a rotatable ball disposed with the valve body; and   an electronic actuator for opening and closing the shut-off valve via controlling the operation of the rotatable ball, the electronic actuator being coupled to the shut-off valve via the valve stem,   wherein the inlet fitting is effective to control a flow of water into the water heater and to maintain a vacuum seal within the water heater.   
     
     
         2 . The inlet fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic actuator is controlled by a controller coupled to the electronic actuator via a lead. 
     
     
         3 . The inlet fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet fitting is further configured for selective, operable fluid coupling to an outlet of a water heater. 
     
     
         4 . The inlet fitting of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat trap downstream of the shut-off valve to prevent heated water from the water heater from flowing through the inlet fitting and mixing with cold water from the water supply. 
     
     
         5 . A fitting assembly for a water heater, comprising:
 the inlet fitting of  claim 1 ; and   a dip tube in communication with the inlet fitting.   
     
     
         6 . A fitting assembly for a water heater, comprising:
 the inlet fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet further comprises:
 an extended cylindrical flange comprising a diffuser attachment mechanism; and 
 a diffuser with a complementary diffuser attachment mechanism, the complementary diffuser attachment mechanism configured to couple to the diffuser attachment mechanism of the extended cylindrical flange, the diffuser being configured to extend into a tank of the water heater. 
   
     
     
         7 . A water heater, comprising:
 a tank comprising an inlet for receiving a flow of water from a water supply and an outlet for releasing heated water from the tank;   a heating element configured to heat water in the tank;   an inlet fitting coupled to the inlet of the tank, the inlet fitting comprising:
 a fitting inlet configured for fluid coupling to a water supply and comprising threads for threaded attachment to the water supply; 
 a fitting outlet configured for fluid coupling to the inlet of the tank and comprising threads for threaded attachment to the inlet of the tank; 
 a shut-off valve disposed between the fitting inlet and the fitting outlet, the shut-off valve comprising a valve body, a valve stem, and a rotatable ball disposed with the valve body; and 
 an electronic actuator for opening and closing the shut-off valve via controlling the operation of the rotatable ball, the electronic actuator being coupled to the shut-off valve via the valve stem, 
 wherein the inlet fitting is effective to control a flow of water into the tank and to maintain a vacuum seal within the tank. 
   
     
     
         8 . The water heater of  claim 7 , wherein the electronic actuator is controlled by a controller coupled to the electronic actuator via a lead. 
     
     
         9 . The water heater of  claim 7 , wherein the inlet fitting is further configured for selective, operable fluid coupling to an outlet of the water heater. 
     
     
         10 . The water heater of  claim 7 , wherein the inlet fitting further comprises a heat trap downstream of the shut-off valve to prevent heated water from the tank from flowing through the inlet fitting and mixing with cold water from the water supply. 
     
     
         11 . The water heater of  claim 7 , further comprising a dip tube in communication with the inlet fitting. 
     
     
         12 . The water heater of  claim 7 , wherein the fitting outlet further comprises:
 an extended cylindrical flange comprising a diffuser attachment mechanism; and   a diffuser with a complementary diffuser attachment mechanism, the complementary diffuser attachment mechanism configured to couple to the diffuser attachment mechanism of the extended cylindrical flange.