David Michael Mcfadden

US Patent:

54958296, Mar 5, 1996

Filed:

Sep 14, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/306128

Inventors:

Viswanath Jayaraman - Brecksville OH
David H. McFadden - Lexington MA
Scott J. Hynek - Waltham MA

Assignee:

Consolidated Natural Gas Service Company, Inc. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

F22B 912

US Classification:

122110

Abstract:

A self-powered forced or induced draft water heater is provided including a tank adapted for storing hot water, a sealed combustion chamber, a powered burner, a thermoelectric module, and a through-chamber heat sink having a base portion and a pin portion. The combustion chamber has a common wall with the tank at a lower zone of the tank. The powered natural gas burner has a blower which delivers air to the burner through an inlet duct and forces combustion products out a flue. The thermoelectric module generates operating power for the burner blower. The thermoelectric module has a hot side in thermal communication with a combustion zone of the burner and a cold side attached to the heat sink base portion. The pin portion of the heat sink is conically shaped and extends through an opening in the common wall to the interior of the tank. The base portion of the heat sink is removably attached to the common wall and is provided with an o-ring or other means to seal the wall opening.