System and method for water connection convertibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water heater installations require non-interchangeable components with specific geometries for connections with external conduits located above or below the heater, leading to challenges in cost, ease of installation, and manufacturability.
Innovation Solution
A water heater appliance with movable conduit sections and joints that allow rotation and reorientation for alignment with various openings in the housing, enabling flexible connections to external conduits above, below, or adjacent to the heater, using a joint that permits rotation of the movable conduit section about an axis while coupled to a fixable section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If non-interchangeable components with specific geometry are used for water heater connections, then proper installation is achieved, but the number of components increases and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit assembly is designed with a universal joint that can accommodate multiple connection orientations (above, below, or adjacent to the water heater) using a single component design. The movable conduit section can be rotated and reoriented to align with different external conduit locations, eliminating the need for multiple non-interchangeable components with specific geometries for different installation scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The conduit assembly incorporates a movable conduit section that can dynamically adjust its orientation through rotation at the joint. This dynamic capability allows the conduit to adapt to different installation configurations (top, bottom, or side connections) without requiring separate fixed-geometry components for each scenario.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple non-interchangeable components are used for different conduit orientations, then proper alignment is achieved, but installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable conduit section with rotational capability allows installers to quickly adjust the conduit orientation to match the external conduit location without needing to select and install different pre-configured components. This dynamic adjustment significantly reduces installation time while maintaining proper alignment through the joint's rotation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The conduit assembly is segmented into a fixed conduit section and a movable conduit section that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the movable section to be rotated and aligned with different external conduit locations, providing both precision alignment and installation flexibility without requiring multiple complete component sets.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed geometry components are used for water heater connections, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different installation locations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The joint and movable conduit section are designed as universal components that can accommodate multiple installation locations (above, below, or adjacent to the water heater). This universal design maintains manufacturing simplicity by using standardized components while dramatically improving adaptability to different external conduit configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
By incorporating a movable conduit section that can rotate at the joint, the system transforms a statically-manufactured component into a dynamically-adaptable assembly. The fixed geometry components are manufactured simply, but the movable section adds versatility allowing the same manufactured components to serve multiple installation locations and orientations.
Data Source
AI summary
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.