Water heater system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing water heater mounting systems lack flexibility and stability, particularly in distributing stress and deformation, and often require additional mounting parts for horizontal or vertical orientations.

Innovation Solution

A water heater system with hooks attached to the heater and a wall mounting bracket that has screw-mounted hook receiving portions inside the bracket, rather than at its circumference, allowing for improved stress distribution and ease of mounting in both horizontal and vertical orientations without additional parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If hook mounting portions are arranged at the circumference of the bracket, then the bracket structure is simple, but the stress distribution and deformation are increased reducing stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebracket structureVSAvoidsystem stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The hook mounting portions are moved from the circumferential edge to the interior region of the bracket, utilizing the internal space for load-bearing functions. This spatial reconfiguration allows the hooks to be positioned in a more structurally advantageous location that reduces stress concentration and deformation while maintaining bracket simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the water heater is mounted directly to the wall, then the mounting process is simple, but the mounting flexibility for different orientations is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting processVSAvoidmounting orientation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

A wall mounting bracket is introduced as an intermediary component between the water heater and the wall. This bracket serves as a flexible adapter that can be mounted to the wall and provides multiple hook mounting portions for accommodating different water heater orientations (horizontal or vertical) without requiring additional mounting parts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If additional mounting parts are provided for horizontal or vertical orientations, then the adaptability for different orientations is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting orientationVSAvoidmounting parts
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wall mounting bracket is designed with multiple hook mounting portions that can accommodate both horizontal and vertical water heater orientations using the same component. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate mounting parts for different orientations, achieving versatility while maintaining simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3657092B1Water heater system
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 STIEBEL ELTRON GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3657092B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3657092B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3657092B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A water heater system comprises a water heater (100) and a wall mounting bracket (300) having at least two hook receiving portions (310). At least two hooks (400) coupled to the water heater (100) are configured to engage into the at least two hook receiving portions (310) of the bracket (300). The hook receiving portions (310) are arranged in the wall mounting bracket (300) without a connection to a circumference of the wall mounting bracket (300).