Automatic descaling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11117820-B2
Application number	US-201916370699-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2019
Priority date	Mar 29, 2019
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

An automated descaling system can be integrated into a tankless water heater or can be a separate system that is attached to a tankless water heater. The automatic descaling system comprises a cleaning media chamber and a four way valve with a motor. The descaling system can be set on an automatic cleaning schedule.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water heater comprising:
a water inlet;
a water outlet;
a heating chamber;
a cleaning media chamber fluidly connected to the water outlet and the water inlet;
a four way valve comprising a first valve connection, a second valve connection, a third valve connection, and a fourth valve connection, wherein the first valve connection is connected to the water outlet, the second valve connection is configured to be connected to a hot water pipe, the third valve connection is connected to the cleaning media chamber; and
the fourth valve connection is configured to be connected to a drain;
a motor connected to the four way valve; and,
a controller comprising processing circuitry, wherein the controller is configured to:
determine whether to initiate a descaling process; and
in response to determining to initiate the descaling process, (i) output a signal to a pump to direct a flow of water to the water inlet, and (ii) output a signal to the motor of the four way valve to direct the flow of water to the cleaning media chamber such that a mixture of at least a portion of the flow of water and at least a portion of cleaning media contained within the cleaning media chamber is directed from the cleaning media chamber to the water inlet.

2. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the water inlet is a cold water inlet and a check valve is installed between the cold water inlet and the cleaning media chamber.

3. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the water inlet is a return line, the return line being configured to direct water from the water heater.

4. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning media chamber is a pod or a cartridge.

5. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning media chamber comprises a chemical descaling agent.

6. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning media chamber comprises an abrasive cleaning agent.

7. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to automatically initiate the descaling process at a predetermined time.

8. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to calculate a time to descale based on hardness of water and automatically initiate the descaling process once the time to descale has passed.

9. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the water heater additionally comprises a solenoid valve in the water inlet.

10. The water heater of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to operate the solenoid valve.

11. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
initiate the descaling process, wherein the descaling process comprises, in order:
rotating the four way valve with the motor such that the four way valve forms a fluid path only between the water outlet and the cleaning media chamber, thereby allowing flow of water through the cleaning media chamber and into the water inlet;
rotating the four way valve with the motor such that the four way valve forms a fluid path only between the water outlet and the drain; and
rotating the four way valve with the motor such that the four way valve forms a fluid path only between the water outlet and the hot water pipe.

12. The water heater of claim 1 , wherein the four way valve is disposed within the water heater.

Assignees

• Rheem Mfg Co

Inventors

• Trant Troy
• Brown Robert D
• Turner Edward D

Classifications

• F24H15/288

  Accumulation of deposits, e.g. lime or scale · CPC title

• F24H15/269

  Time, e.g. hour or date · CPC title

• F24D19/0092

  Devices for preventing or removing corrosion, slime or scale · CPC title

• C02F2307/14

  Treatment of water in water supply networks, e.g. to prevent bacterial growth · CPC title

• C02F2103/02

  Non-contaminated water, e.g. for industrial water supply · CPC title