Importance

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Abstract

A water heater including a water-tight tank, a cold water inlet and a hot water inlet in the tank. A first heat trap assembly is mounted at the cold water inlet and a second heat trap assembly is mounted at the hot water outlet. The first and second heat trap assemblies are adapted to allow flow of water both into and out of the tank when hot water is drawn out of the hot water outlet. The first and second heat trap assemblies are adapted to reduce convection heat loss from inside the tank when the water heater is in a stable condition, i.e., when water is not being drawn out of the hot water outlet. The heat trap assemblies are comprised of a housing member having a flange and a cylindrical body formed integrally therewith and a bushing member having a flange and a cylindrical body formed integrally therewith. The body of the bushing member is securely mounted inside the body portion of the housing member. A flapper valve member having a central flapper section and an outside ring section is secured between the flanges of the housing member and the flange of the bushing member. The central flapper section of the flapper valve member is movable with respect to the ring section of the flapper valve member in response to a pressure differential across the first and second heat trap assemblies.

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First Claim