Valve with heating element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016146375-A1
Application number	US-201615009325-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 28, 2016
Priority date	Jun 22, 2012
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A faucet that includes a base, a spout, a valve body, a first flow control valve, a second flow control valve, and an electric heater. The valve body includes a first end section, a second end section having an outlet, and a center section provided between the end sections and including first and second inlets configured to receive cold and hot water, respectively. The first flow control valve is located within a first waterway of the valve body to control the flow of cold water, and the second flow control valve is located within a second waterway of the valve body to control the flow of hot water. The electric heater extends through the valve body and is configured to heat a surface defining at least a part of one of the first and second waterways of the valve body to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms therein.

First claim

1 . (canceled)

2 . A faucet comprising:
a base for mounting the faucet; a spout extending from the base and configured to discharge water; a valve body provided within one of the base and the spout, the valve body including a first end section, a second end section having an outlet, and a center section provided between the first and second end sections, the center section including a first inlet configured to receive cold water and a second inlet configured to receive hot water; a first flow control valve located within a first waterway of the valve body to control the flow of cold water from the first inlet to the outlet of the second end section; a second flow control valve located within a second waterway of the valve body to control the flow of hot water from the second inlet to the outlet of the second end section; and an electric heater extending through at least a portion of the valve body and configured to heat at least a portion of a surface defining at least a part of one of the first and second waterways of the valve body to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the respective waterway.

3 . The faucet of claim 2 , wherein the first end section, the second end section, and the center section are separate members that are coupled together in a fluid tight manner.

4 . The faucet of claim 2 , wherein the first and second flow control valves are housed within the center section of the valve body.

5 . The faucet of claim 4 , wherein both of the first and second inlets are provided on a first side of the center section of the valve body.

6 . The faucet of claim 5 , wherein the electric heater extends through a bore of the valve body located on a second side of the center section of the valve body that is opposite to the first side.

7 . The faucet of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first motor coupled to the first end section and configured to control movement of the first flow control valve to adjust a flow rate of cold water to the outlet; and a second motor coupled to the first end section and configured to control movement of the second flow control valve to adjust a flow rate of hot water to the outlet.

8 . The faucet of claim 6 , further comprising:
a controller provided within one of the base and the spout, the controller being configured to control operation of the first and second motors; and a user interface for communicating a selected flow rate and a selected temperature of the water discharged from the spout to the controller via at least one signal.

9 . The faucet of claim 7 , further comprising a sensor located in the second end section of the valve body, the sensor being configured to monitor a temperature of the water flowing out of the outlet of the second end section and communicating the temperature of the water flowing out of the outlet to the controller.

10 . A faucet comprising:
a body having a passageway configured to discharge water; and a valve provided within the body, the valve comprising:
a first inlet configured to receive cold water;
a second inlet configured to receive hot water;
an outlet configured to output cold water, hot water, or a mixture thereof to the passageway of the body;
a first waterway fluidly connecting the first inlet and the outlet;
a second waterway fluidly connecting the second inlet and the outlet;
a first flow control valve located within the first waterway and configured to be moveable to control the flow of cold water through the first waterway;
a second flow control valve located within the second waterway and configured to be moveable to control the flow of hot water through the second waterway; and
an electric heater extending through at least a portion of the valve and configured to heat both of the first and second waterways of the valve to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within each waterway.

11 . The faucet of claim 10 , wherein the valve further comprises:
a first end section; a second end section that includes the outlet; and a center section provided between the first and second end sections, the center section including the first and second inlets.

12 . The faucet of claim 11 , wherein at least two of the first end section, the second end section, and the center section are separate members that are coupled together in a fluid tight manner.

13 . The faucet of claim 11 , wherein at least the center section comprises a thermally-conductive material, and the body comprises a thermally-insulating material.

14 . The faucet of claim 13 , wherein the electric heater is potted into a through bore in the center section of the valve using a thermally-conductive adhesive.

15 . The faucet of claim 10 , further comprising a second electric heater configured to heat the first and the second waterways to the elevated temperature.

16 . The faucet of claim 10 , wherein the first and the second inlets are located on opposite sides of the valve from one another.

17 . The faucet of claim 10 , wherein the valve is configured having a thermal mass such that the electric heater is able to heat the first and second waterways to the elevated temperature with a power of not more than 50 watts.

18 . A faucet comprising:
a body configured to discharge water from an outlet; a valve provided within the body and comprising a valve body and at least one flow control valve located within at least one waterway of the valve body to control the flow of water through the valve; and an electric heater extending through a first portion of the valve body and configured to heat a second portion of the valve to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the at least one waterway; wherein the second portion of the valve is configured having a thermal mass such that the electric heater is able to heat the second portion of the valve to the elevated temperature with a power of not more than 50 watts.

19 . The faucet of claim 18 , wherein the second portion of the valve comprises a thermally-conductive material, and the body comprises a thermally-insulating material.

20 . The faucet of claim 19 , wherein the second portion is a liner defining at least a portion of the at least one waterway.

21 . The faucet of claim 20 , wherein the thermal mass of the second portion of the valve is configured such that the electric heater is able to heat the second portion of the valve to the elevated temperature with a power of not more than 25 watts.

Assignees

• Kohler Mira Ltd

Inventors

• Peel Kevin T

Classifications

• F16K49/002 Primary

  Electric heating means · CPC title

• F16K11/20

  operated by separate actuating members (with one plug turning in another F16K11/12) · CPC title

• E03B7/075

  Arrangement of devices for control of pressure or flow rate · CPC title

• E03C1/046

  Adding soap, disinfectant, or the like in the supply line {or at the water outlet}(preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10) · CPC title

• B05B1/24

  incorporating means for heating the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. electrically · CPC title