Hot water delivery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10519633-B2
Application number	US-201515509938-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2015
Priority date	Sep 11, 2014
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

A domestic pipe system for delivery of hot water includes hot water source (10) and a piping to a faucet (12). The piping comprises a splitter (14), two pipes (20, 22) and a controller (16), the controller having a housing, first and second inlets (24, 26), an outlet (28), and a thermally actuated valve. The first inlet is a permanently open inlet whereas the second inlet is opened depending on the temperature of water arriving at the controller. Stagnant water that cooled down only runs through the first pipe (20) until the temperature exceeds a preset threshold. Than the controller (16) opens the second inlet such that the stagnant cold water from the second pipe can be mixed gradually with the hot water from the first pipe. Thus, the user receives warm water earlier than if both pipes need to be emptied.

First claim

Having described the invention, and a preferred embodiment thereof, what is claimed as new, and secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for delivery of fluid, said apparatus comprising a mixing chamber, a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet, wherein said first inlet admits a first flow into said mixing chamber, wherein said second inlet admits a second flow into said mixing chamber, and wherein said outlet permits a third flow to exit said mixing chamber, wherein said first flow has a first-flow temperature, wherein said second flow has a second flow temperature, wherein said third flow has a third flow temperature, wherein said first flow and said second flow originate from a source maintained at a first temperature, wherein said second-flow temperature at said second inlet is initially at a second temperature, wherein as said second flow continues, said second-flow temperature at said second inlet approaches said first temperature, wherein said third flow has a third-flow temperature at said outlet that is initially at said second temperature, wherein as said second flow continues, said third-flow temperature at said outlet approaches said first temperature, wherein said third flow comprises said second flow, and wherein an extent to which said first flow contributes to said third flow is controllable in response to said third-flow temperature, wherein said fluid comprises hot water, wherein said apparatus comprises a controller, wherein said controller comprises a housing, said first inlet, said second inlet, said outlet, and a thermally actuated valve, wherein said housing defines a mixing chamber for receiving water from said first and second inlets, wherein said first inlet is a permanently open inlet for enabling water to enter said mixing chamber, wherein said second inlet is an inlet for enabling water to enter said mixing chamber depending on a position of said thermally-actuated valve, wherein said controller outlet is an outlet that enables water to exit said mixing chamber, and wherein said thermally-actuated valve opens said second inlet when a temperature of water in said mixing chamber exceeds a threshold.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a control system that controls flow through said first inlet, wherein in response to detecting that a difference between said first and second temperatures has fallen below a threshold value, said control system increases flow through said first inlet.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a valve having a valve body, wherein said valve body is configured to transition between a first state and a second state, wherein, in said first state, said valve body allows flow through said first inlet and through said second inlet, and wherein, in said second state, said valve body blocks flow through said first inlet.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising an actuator coupled to said valve body, wherein said actuator applies a force to move said valve body, wherein said actuator causes a transition between said first and second states when said third-flow temperature has sufficiently approached said first-flow temperature.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first inlet is configured to receive a first water-guide, wherein said second inlet is configured to receive a second water-guide, wherein said first water-guide has a first cross-sectional area, wherein said second water-guide has a second cross-sectional area, and wherein said first cross-sectional area is the same as said second cross-sectional area.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first inlet is configured to receive a first water-guide, wherein said second inlet is configured to receive a second water-guide, wherein said first water-guide has a first cross-sectional area, wherein said second water-guide has a second cross-sectional area, and wherein said first cross-sectional area differs from said second cross-sectional area.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said second cross-sectional area is greater than said first cross-sectional area.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , said thermally-actuated valve comprises a valve body and a thermal actuator, wherein said thermal actuator is connected to said valve body, wherein said valve body is disposed to transition between a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position said valve body blocks said second inlet, wherein in said second position said valve body opens said second inlet, and wherein said thermal actuator moves said valve body from said first position to said second position in response to an increase in temperature.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said first position is axially displaced from said second position.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said first position is angularly displaced from said second position.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said valve body comprises openings facing said controller outlet to enable water in said mixing chamber to flow through said controller outlet.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a spring connected to said valve body, wherein said spring is disposed to urge said valve body into said first position to block said second inlet.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a set point control for controlling a set point at which said thermally actuated valve will open said second inlet.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a flow splitter having a splitter inlet, a first splitter-outlet, and a second splitter-outlet, wherein said first splitter-outlet is connected to said first inlet of said mixing chamber and said second splitter-outlet is connected to said second inlet of said mixing chamber.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a first water guide and a second water guide, wherein said first water guide connects said first splitter-outlet to said first inlet, and said second water guide connects said second splitter-outlet to said second inlet.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said first water guide has a first volume, wherein said second water guide has a second volume, and wherein said first volume differs from said second volume.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said second volume exceeds said first volume.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said first water guide has a first volume, said second water guide has a second volume, and said first volume equals said second volume.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first-flow temperature is a time-varying temperature that varies according to a first temperature function, wherein said second-flow temperature is a time-varying temperature that varies according to a second temperature function, wherein said first temperature function has a first derivative that is, on average, positive, and wherein said second temperature function has a first derivative that is, on average, positive.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein said first derivative of said first temperature function is greater than said first derivative of said second temperature function.

Assignees

• Uponor Innovation Ab

Inventors

• Adelman Duane L

Classifications

• F16K31/002

  actuated by temperature variation (thermo-electric F16K31/025) · CPC title

• F16K19/006

  Specially adapted for faucets · CPC title

• F16K31/50

  with screw-spindle {or internally threaded actuating means} · CPC title

• E03B7/045 Primary

  diverting initially cold water in warm water supply · CPC title

• E03C1/044

  having a heating or cooling apparatus in the supply line (water heaters, e.g. with continuous flow, F24H) · CPC title