Heated water availability control
AssigneeRheem Manufacturing Company
InventorsRaheel A. Chaudhry, Michael C. Mitchell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A water heater system includes a water heater having a first water outlet and a second water outlet. The water heater system further includes a flow detection device coupled to the first water outlet to detect a water flow through the first water outlet. The water heater system also includes a flow control valve fluidly coupled to the second water outlet. The flow control valve is configured to control a flow of water through the second water outlet based on whether the water flow through the first water outlet is detected by the flow detection device.
Claims18
A water heater flow control method, comprising:
- detecting, by a flow detection device, a water flow through a first water outlet of a water heater;
- and
- controlling, by a controller and based on the water flow through the first water outlet of the water heater, a flow control valve coupled to a second water outlet of the water heater to (i) at least partially close the flow control valve if water flow is detected through the first water outlet or (ii) at least partially open the flow control valve if no water flow is detected through the first water outlet.
A water heater system configured to provide heated water to a domestic use system and a hydronic heating system, comprising:
- a water heater having a first water outlet in communication with the domestic use system and a second water outlet in communication with the hydronic heating system;
- a flow detection device coupled to the first water outlet to detect a water flow through the first water outlet;
- and
- a flow control valve fluidly coupled to the second water outlet and configured to control a flow of water through the second water outlet based on whether the water flow through the first water outlet is detected by the flow detection device.
A heated water system configured to provide heated water to a domestic use system and a hydronic heating system, comprising:
- a water heater system comprising:
- a water heater having a first water outlet in communication with the domestic use system and a second water outlet in communication with the hydronic heating system;
- a flow detection device coupled to the first water outlet to detect a water flow through the first water outlet;
- and
- a flow control valve fluidly coupled to the second water outlet and configured to control a flow of water through the second water outlet based on whether the water flow through the first water outlet is detected by the flow detection device;
- and
- a pump fluidly coupled to the second water outlet of the water heater to circulate water from the water heater through the hydronic heating system and back to the water heater through a recirculation water inlet of the water heater.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.