Hot water recirculation system
OwnerRoger Kaufmaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hot water recirculation system for a house or other building causes water to be recirculated to a water heater for reheating until the water is above a set-point temperature at which time the heated water is made available for use at a faucet or other hot water plumbing fixture. Recirculation of hot water takes place only when there is demand for hot water at a hot water plumbing fixture. A flow switching module for use in the hot water recirculation system can selectively direct water supplied to the flow switching module from a water heater either to a hot water plumbing fixture or to return piping for returning the water to the water heater. The flow switching module may be operated manually, automatically, or semi-automatically.
Claims18
A flow switching apparatus for use in a hot water recirculation system comprising:
- an apparatus body comprising one or more housings and having a first hot water supply port through which water from a source of hot water can be introduced into the apparatus body, a first delivery port through which water within the apparatus body can be supplied to a plumbing fixture, and a preheat port through which water within the apparatus body can be returned to the source of hot water;
- a first valve member disposed in the apparatus body for movement within the apparatus body, the first valve member having a first normal position in which it permits flow of water from the apparatus body through the first delivery port while blocking flow of water through the preheat port, and a preheat position in which it blocks flow of water out of the first delivery port while enabling fluid communication through the apparatus body between the first hot water supply port and the preheat port;
- a first biasing member disposed in the apparatus body and applying a biasing force to the first valve member away from the preheat position when the first valve member is in the preheat position;
- a detent mechanism responsive to the temperature of water within the apparatus body, the detent mechanism resisting movement of the first valve member away from the preheat position under the biasing force of the first biasing member when the water temperature within the apparatus body is below a predetermined set-point temperature and allowing the first valve member to move away from the preheat position under the biasing force of the first biasing member when the water temperature in the apparatus body is at least the set-point temperature;
- and
- a manual control member which extends into the apparatus body and is manually operable by a user of the flow switching apparatus for movement with respect to the apparatus body to switch the first valve member between its first normal position and its preheat position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.