| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 1 018 855 A3 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| (88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
10.04.2002 Bulletin 2002/15 |
| (43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
12.07.2000 Bulletin 2000/28 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 23.12.1999 |
|
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE |
|
Designated Extension States: |
|
AL LT LV MK RO SI |
| (30) |
Priority: |
30.12.1998 US 114135 P
|
| (71) |
Applicant: AOS Holding Company |
|
Wilmington, DE 19890 (US) |
|
| (72) |
Inventors: |
|
- Hughes, Dennis R.
Hartford, Wisconsin 53027 (US)
- Knoeppel, Ray O.
Hartland, Wisonsin 53029 (US)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Neill, Alastair William et al |
|
APPLEYARD LEES 15 Clare Road
Halifax, West Yorkshire HX1 2HY
Halifax, West Yorkshire HX1 2HY (GB) |
|
| |
|
| (54) |
Gold-plated water heater element and method of making same |
(57) A self-cleaning water heater element is provided. The water heater element is plated
with a layer of gold such that the gold surface has a low surface roughness. The smooth
gold surface inhibits scale formation on the water heater element. The gold-plated
smooth-surfaced water heater element may be manufactured by coating a standard water
heater element with an adhesion layer, electroplating a layer of bright nickel on
the adhesion layer, and electroplating a gold layer on top of the bright nickel layer.