Importance

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Abstract

An electric water heater (10) for a vending unit has an elongated cylindrical housing (11) defining a water heating chamber divided lengthwise into a large inlet subchamber (24) and a small outlet subchamber (27) by a panel (26) extending the entire length of the heating chamber and supported by the arms (32, 33) of a lengthwise disposed U-shaped thickened embossment (14) integrally formed with the inner surface of the housing, with the U-shaped embossment (14) and panel (26) defining the outlet subchamber (27). Cold water enters the inlet subchamber (24) under control of a float valve unit (17) and is heated to a predetermined temperature by an electric heater (19) therein. The heated water then flows through a restricted opening (31) in the panel (26) into the outlet subchamber (27) for discharge from a fluid outlet (13). The smaller outlet subchamber (27) restricts convection action therewithin such that the hot water stored therein retains its heat longer than that stored in the inlet subchamber (24).

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First Claim