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(11) | EP 0 126 801 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Water heater construction and method of heating water |
| (57) A water heater including a tank having a hot water outlet in the top portion thereof
and a cold water inlet in the tower portion thereof. An agitator assembly connected
to the cold water inlet and mounted in the bottom portion of the tank. The agitator
assembly includes a circular tubular member having a first row of orifice members
mounted along the inner side thereof, a second row of orifice members mounted along
the outer side thereof and a third row of orifice members mounted along the top side
thereof. The orifice members are all directed in the same direction with respect to
the axis of the circular tubular member to produce a swirling action in the bottom
portion of the tank each time hot water is drawn out of the hot water outlet, such
swirling action being effective to cause solid materials which have either settled
to the bottom or are in the process of settling to the bottom to be maintained in
suspension in the water so that ultimately at least a portion of such materials will
be carried upwardly in the tank and out the hot water outlet. |