Centering base for sealing an insulation cavity of a water heating appliance

Abstract

A water heating appliance includes a jacket wall, a tank base disposed within the jacket wall, and a centering base disposed under the tank base. The jacket wall engages an outer portion of the centering base to form a substantially liquid tight seal, and the substantially liquid tight seal at least partially prevents a flowable insulating material from traveling in between the jacket wall and the centering base to an exterior of the jacket wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A water heating appliance, comprising:
 a jacket including a jacket wall and a jacket base coupled to the jacket wall;   a tank disposed within the jacket and including a tank base proximate to the jacket base, the tank being configured to contain a volume of liquid; and   a centering base abutting the tank base, wherein a terminal portion of the jacket wall extends radially inward at an oblique angle relative to an engagement surface of the centering base, and wherein the terminal portion biases the centering base into a deformed condition, and wherein the deformed condition defines a substantially liquid tight seal between the jacket wall and the centering base, and wherein the substantially liquid tight seal at least partially prevents a flowable insulating material from traveling to an exterior of the jacket wall through a space defined between the engagement surface of the centering base and the terminal portion of the jacket wall.   
     
     
         2 . The water heating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the centering base is at least partially comprised of a deformable material. 
     
     
         3 . The water heating appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the flowable insulating material cures into a substantially solid form. 
     
     
         4 . The water heating appliance of  claim 3 , wherein a centering base diameter is greater than a tank diameter, and wherein the centering base is a unitary member. 
     
     
         5 . The water heating appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially liquid tight seal is formed without the use of fasteners. 
     
     
         6 . The water heating appliance of  claim 5 , wherein an inner diameter of the jacket wall at the terminal portion is less than an inner diameter of the jacket wall above the terminal portion. 
     
     
         7 . The water heating appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the terminal portion includes a crimped configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The water heating appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the terminal portion is configured to engage the jacket base to cut off a portion of the centering base. 
     
     
         9 . The water heating appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the terminal portion is generally frustoconical. 
     
     
         10 . A water heating appliance, comprising:
 a jacket wall;   a tank base disposed within the jacket wall; and   a centering base disposed under the tank base, wherein the jacket wall engages an outer portion of the centering base to form a substantially liquid tight seal, and wherein the substantially liquid tight seal at least partially prevents a flowable insulating material from traveling in between the jacket wall and the centering base to an exterior of the jacket wall.   
     
     
         11 . The water heating appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the jacket wall features a terminal portion that biases the centering base into a deformed condition that forms the substantially liquid tight seal. 
     
     
         12 . The water heating appliance of  claim 11 , wherein a base diameter of the centering base is greater than a tank diameter of the tank base, and wherein the centering base is a unitary member. 
     
     
         13 . The water heating appliance of  claim 11 , wherein a terminal portion diameter of the terminal portion is less than a jacket wall diameter of the jacket wall. 
     
     
         14 . A method of assembling a water heating appliance comprising the steps of:
 aligning a jacket with respect to a centering base;   engaging the jacket onto the centering base to define a deformed condition of the centering base, wherein the deformed condition defines a sealed interface between the centering base and the jacket;   disposing a tank on the centering base to define an insulating volume between the jacket, the tank, and the centering base;   disposing a flowable insulating material into the insulating volume; and   solidifying the flowable insulating material to form an at least partially solid insulation layer between the jacket, the tank, and the centering base.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tank is installed before the jacket engages the centering base. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the centering base is disposed on a jacket base that is coupled to the jacket. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a weight of the jacket wall at least partially causes the deformed condition. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the deformed condition is at least partially caused by a press exerting an external force onto the jacket wall. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a terminal portion of the jacket is formed to define a crimped edge. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein engagement of the terminal portion with the jacket base cuts off a portion of the centering base.