System and method for water connection convertibility

Abstract

A water heater appliance and a method of configuring or reconfiguring said appliance for connection to one or more external conduits located above or below said appliance is disclosed. The water heater appliance comprises a housing at least partially defining an interior. At least one conduit is positioned within the interior and has a fixable conduit section and a movable conduit section coupled at a joint and movable relative to the fixable conduit section. The joint permits rotation of the movable conduit section about an axis of the joint while remaining coupled to the fixable conduit section. The movable conduit section is movable for being oriented or reoriented for alignment with an opening in an upwardly-facing surface of the housing, or oriented or reoriented for alignment with an opening in a downwardly-facing surface of the housing, for the water heater appliance to be configured for connection to the external conduit.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A water heater appliance comprising:
 a housing at least partially defining an interior, the housing having at least one side wall, a top portion with an upwardly-facing surface and a bottom portion with a downwardly-facing surface;   at least one conduit positioned within the interior of the housing, the at least one conduit having a fixable conduit section and a movable conduit section coupled at a joint to the fixable conduit section;   the movable conduit section being movable relative to the fixable conduit section such that the movable conduit section can be oriented or reoriented for alignment with an opening in the upwardly-facing surface of the housing, or can be oriented or reoriented for alignment with an opening in the downwardly-facing surface of the housing, such that the water heater appliance can be configured for connection to an external conduit located above or below the water heater appliance, or can be oriented or reoriented for alignment with an opening in the at least one side wall of the housing, such that the water heater appliance can be configured for connection to an external conduit located adjacent to the at least one side wall of the housing of the water heater appliance; wherein the joint is configured to permit rotation of the movable conduit section about an axis of the joint while remaining coupled to the fixable conduit section.   
     
     
         2 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein an end portion of the movable conduit section is positionable for alignment with the opening in the upwardly-facing surface of the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein an end portion of the movable conduit section is positionable for alignment with the opening in the downwardly-facing surface of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein an end portion of the movable conduit section is positionable for alignment with the opening in the at least one side wall of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , wherein an end portion of the movable conduit section is positionable for alignment with an opening of one or more conduits located within the housing of the water heater appliance. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , comprising plural conduits positioned within the interior of the housing, each of the conduits having a fixable conduit section and a movable conduit section coupled at a joint to the fixable conduit section, the movable conduit section being movable relative to the fixable conduit section such that the movable conduit section can be oriented or reoriented for alignment with the opening in the upwardly-facing surface of the housing, or can be oriented or reoriented for alignment with the opening in the downwardly-facing surface of the housing, such that the water heater appliance can be configured or reconfigured for connection to external conduits located above or below the water heater appliance. 
     
     
         7 . The water heater appliance of  claim 6 , wherein a movable conduit section of a first conduit positioned within the interior of the housing can be oriented or reoriented for alignment with a first opening in the at least one side wall of the housing, and another movable conduit section of a second conduit positioned within the interior of the housing can be oriented or reoriented for alignment with a second opening in the at least one side wall of the housing, such that the water heater appliance can be configured for connection to external conduits located adjacent the at least one side wall of the housing of the water heater appliance. 
     
     
         8 . The water heater appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one side wall comprises a first side wall and a second side wall, and the first opening is in the first side wall and the second opening is in the second side wall. 
     
     
         9 . The water heater appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one side wall comprises a first side wall, and the first opening and the second opening are both in the first side wall or the second side wall. 
     
     
         10 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , the joint comprising a connector rotatable about an axis of rotation. 
     
     
         11 . The water heater appliance of  claim 10 , the joint further comprising a clip configured to couple the movable conduit section to the fixable conduit section, thereby restricting movement of the joint after the movable conduit section is oriented or reoriented. 
     
     
         12 . The water heater appliance of  claim 11 , the joint further comprising a gasket. 
     
     
         13 . The water heater appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the joint extends for a length between opposed ends, one of the opposed ends extending along a first axis and the other one of the opposed ends extending along a second axis that is different from the first axis. 
     
     
         14 . The water heater appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the joint extends between opposed ends, one of the opposed ends extending along a first axis and the other one of the opposed ends comprising a first branch extending along a second axis that is different from the first axis and a second branch opposite the first branch, the second branch extending along the second axis. 
     
     
         15 . The water heating appliance of  claim 14 , further comprising a third branch extending along the first axis, the third branch extending from a position between the first branch and the second branch. 
     
     
         16 . The water heater appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
         17 . The water heater appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a plug configured to cover the opening in the upwardly-facing surface of the housing or the opening in the downwardly-facing surface of the housing. 
     
     
         18 . A joint for coupling sections of conduit within an interior of a water heater appliance, the sections of conduit being configured to be disposed within an interior of a housing having a top portion with an upwardly-facing surface and a bottom portion with a downwardly-facing surface, the joint comprising:
 a connector for coupling the sections of conduit, the connector having an axis about which at least one of the sections of conduit can be rotated at least 180 degrees, such that an end portion of the at least one section of conduit is adjacent the opening in the upwardly-facing surface of the housing or the downwardly-facing surface of the housing; and   a clip configured to couple the connector to at least one of the sections of conduit, thereby restricting movement of the connector relative to at least one of the sections of conduit.   
     
     
         19 . The joint of  claim 18 , wherein the connector extends for a length between a first connector end and a second connector end, the first connector end extending along a first axis and the second connector end extending along a second axis that is different from the first axis. 
     
     
         20 . The joint of  claim 18 , wherein the connector extends between a first connector end and a second connector end, the first connector end extending along a first axis and the second connector end comprises a first branch extending along a second axis that is different from the first axis and a second branch opposite the first branch, the second branch extending along the second axis. 
     
     
         21 . The joint of  claim 14 , further comprising a third branch extending along the first axis, the third branch extending from a position between the first branch and the second branch. 
     
     
         22 . The joint of  claim 19 , wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
         23 . The joint of  claim 18 , further comprising a gasket for restricting movement of the connector relative to at least one of the sections of conduit. 
     
     
         24 . A method of configuring or reconfiguring a water heater appliance for connection to one or more conduits located adjacent the water heater appliance, the method comprising;
 positioning the water heater appliance relative to one or more conduits located adjacent the water heater appliance;   checking the orientation of a movable conduit section of the water heater appliance coupled at a joint to a fixable conduit section of the appliance;   if the movable conduit section of the water heater appliance is oriented toward an opening in an upwardly-facing surface of a housing of the water heater appliance and the one or more external conduits is located below the water heater appliance, reorienting the movable conduit section relative to the fixable conduit section about a joint between the movable conduit section and the fixable conduit section until the movable conduit section of the water heater appliance is oriented toward an opening in a downwardly-facing surface of the housing of the water heater appliance;   if the movable conduit section of the water heater appliance is oriented toward an opening in a downwardly-facing surface of the housing of the water heater appliance and the one or more external conduits is located above the water heater appliance, reorienting the movable conduit section relative to the fixable conduit section about the joint between the movable conduit section and the fixable conduit section until the movable conduit section of the water heater appliance is oriented toward the opening in the upwardly-facing surface of the housing of the water heater appliance; and   securing the movable conduit section for connection.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 if the movable conduit section of the water heater appliance is oriented toward the opening in the upwardly-facing surface of the housing of the water heater appliance or the opening in the downwardly-facing surface of the housing of the water heater appliance and the one or more external conduits is located adjacent a side wall of the housing of the water heater appliance, reorienting the movable conduit section relative to the fixable conduit section about the joint between the movable conduit section and the fixable conduit section until the movable conduit section of the water heater appliance is oriented toward the side wall of the housing of the water heater appliance.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 if the movable conduit section of the water heater appliance is oriented toward the opening in the upwardly-facing surface of the housing of the water heater appliance or the opening in the downwardly-facing surface of the housing of the water heater appliance or the opening of one or more external conduits located adjacent a side wall of the housing of the water heater appliance, reorienting the movable conduit section relative to the fixable conduit section about the joint between the movable conduit section and the fixable conduit section until the movable conduit section of the water heater appliance is oriented toward the one or more internal conduits located within the housing of the water heater appliance until the movable conduit section of the water heater appliance is oriented toward the opening of one or more internal conduits of the housing of the water heater appliance.   
     
     
         27 . A water heater appliance comprising:
 a housing at least partially defining an interior, the housing having a plurality of side walls, each side wall having a respective side-facing surface;   at least one conduit positioned within the interior of the housing, the at least one conduit having a fixable conduit section and a movable conduit section coupled at a first joint to the fixable conduit section;   the movable conduit section being movable relative to the fixable conduit section such that an end portion of the movable conduit section can be oriented or reoriented for alignment with an opening in one of the side walls, such that the water heater appliance can be configured for connection to an external conduit located adjacent one of the side walls of the water heater appliance;   wherein the first joint is configured to permit rotation of the movable conduit section about an axis of the first joint while remaining coupled to the fixable conduit section.   
     
     
         28 . The water heater appliance of  claim 27 , wherein another end portion of the movable conduit section is coupled at a second joint to another fixable conduit section or another movable conduit section, the another end portion being positionable for alignment with the external conduit located adjacent one of the side walls of the water heater appliance. 
     
     
         29 . The water heater appliance of  claim 27 , wherein the movable conduit section extends for a length between the end portion and another end portion, the first end portion extending along a first axis and the another end portion extending along a second axis that is different from the first axis. 
     
     
         30 . The water heater appliance of  claim 29 , wherein the first joint and the second joint each extends between opposed ends, one of the opposed ends extending along the first axis and the other one of the opposed ends comprising a first branch extending along the second axis that is different from the first axis and a second branch opposite the first branch, the second branch extending along the second axis. 
     
     
         31 . The water heating appliance of  claim 30 , further comprising a third branch extending along the first axis, the third branch extending from a position between the first branch and the second branch. 
     
     
         32 . The water heater appliance of  claim 29 , wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
         33 . A water heater appliance configured to be connected to an external conduit that may be oriented in one of plural optional orientations, the water heater appliance comprising:
 a housing at least partially defining an interior and having plural surface portions;   an internal conduit extending within the interior of the housing, the internal conduit having a fixed conduit section that is fixed in position relative to the housing, the internal conduit also having a movable conduit section that is coupled to the fixed conduit section for movement relative to the fixed conduit section and for movement relative to the housing;   the movable conduit section having a proximal end coupled to the fixed conduit section and a distal end configured to be coupled to the external conduit;   the movable conduit section being movable relative to the fixed conduit section and relative to the housing such that the distal end of the movable conduit section can be selectively oriented or reoriented for alignment with each of the surface portions of the housing;   the distal end of the movable conduit section being movable into alignment with one of the surface portions of the housing that corresponds to one of the optional orientations of the external conduit; and   the distal end of the movable conduit section also being movable into alignment with another one of the surface portions of the housing that corresponds to another one of the optional orientations of the external conduit;   the distal end of the movable conduit section being movable into alignment with the one or the another one of the surface portions of the housing for coupling with the external conduit when the external conduit is oriented in the one or the another one of the optional orientations of the external conduit, respectively.   
     
     
         34 . The water heater appliance of  claim 33 , the movable conduit section bridging a distance between the fixed conduit section and the surface portions of the housing, the distance between the fixed conduit section and one of the surface portions of the housing corresponding to the distance between the fixed conduit section and another one of the surface portions of the housing, such that distal end of the movable conduit section is selectively positionable adjacent the one of the surface portions or the another one of the surface portions. 
     
     
         35 . The water heater appliance of  claim 34 , the length of the movable conduit section corresponding to the distance between the fixed conduit section and the surface portions of the housing. 
     
     
         36 . The water heater appliance of  claim 33 , the distal end of the movable conduit section being movable along an arcuate path and the surface portions of the housing being positioned at locations associated with the arcuate path. 
     
     
         37 . The water heater appliance of  claim 33 , the movable conduit section being movable within a plane of movement, and the interior of the housing including a space along the plane of movement of the movable conduit section, the space being clear to accommodate movement of the movable conduit section within the plane of movement. 
     
     
         38 . The water heater appliance of  claim 37 , the space accommodating movement of the movable conduit section within the plane of movement extending between the surface portions of the housing. 
     
     
         39 . The water heater appliance of  claim 37 , the space accommodating movement of the movable conduit section having a depth exceeding a thickness of the movable conduit section. 
     
     
         40 . The water heater appliance of  claim 33 , the optional orientations of the external conduit including orientations extending to elevations above or below the water heater appliance. 
     
     
         41 . The water heater appliance of  claim 40 , the surface portions of the housing being at top and bottom elevations of the housing, such that the water heater appliance can be connected when the external conduit is located at elevations above or below the water heater appliance. 
     
     
         42 . The water heater appliance of  claim 33 , the optional orientations of the external conduit including orientations extending laterally relative to the water heater appliance. 
     
     
         43 . The water heater appliance of  claim 42 , the surface portions of the housing being at lateral sides of the housing, such that the water heater appliance can be connected when the external conduit is located at a lateral side of the water heater appliance. 
     
     
         44 . The water heater appliance of  claim 33 , each of the surface portions of the housing being configured to define an aperture for flow between the internal conduit and the external conduit when the water heater appliance is connected to the external conduit. 
     
     
         45 . The water heater appliance of  claim 33 , the movable conduit section being directly connected to the fixed conduit section. 
     
     
         46 . The water heater appliance of  claim 33 , the movable conduit section being pivotally connected to the fixed conduit section. 
     
     
         47 . The water heater appliance of  claim 46 , the movable conduit section being rotatable relative to the fixed conduit section about an axis of the fixed conduit section. 
     
     
         48 . The water heater appliance of  claim 33 , the water heater appliance comprising plural internal conduits extending within the interior of the housing, two or more of the internal conduits each having a fixed conduit section that is fixed in position relative to the housing and a movable conduit section that is coupled to the fixed conduit section for movement relative to the fixed conduit section and for movement relative to the housing. 
     
     
         49 . The water heater appliance of  claim 33 , the movable conduit section being decouplable from the fixed conduit section for the movement relative to the fixed conduit section and for the movement relative to the housing, the movable conduit section being configured to be decoupled from the fixed conduit section, reoriented relative to the fixed conduit section, and recoupled to the fixed conduit section in a new orientation.