US 2003/0140966 A1 · Water control valve adaptable for use with bypass valves

Abstract

A water control valve configured for use with a bypass valve to automatically bypass cold or tepid water in a hot water supply line so as to maintain hot water at the fixture. The water control valve is useful for shower/tub facilities and for appliances such as washing machines and dishwashing machines. The water control valve for use with shower/tub facilities is adapted for the bypass valve to attach to or be adjacent to the water control valve by utilizing bypass ports, passageways and/or connectors. The water control valve for use with appliances is adapted to have a second outlet for connecting to a second water control valve or, for combination service valves, to have the bypass valve disposed in the tubular section between the hot and cold water components. The preferred bypass valve is a thermostatically controlled bypass valve of the type having a thermal actuating element.

Claims146

Dependent claims

A water control valve, comprising:

a valve manifold having a valve interface configured for operatively receiving or abutting a valve cartridge;
a hot water inlet connected to said valve interface and adapted for connection to a hot water line so as to supply hot water to said valve interface;
a cold water inlet connected to said valve interface and adapted for connection to a cold water line so as to supply cold water to said valve interface;
at least one discharge port connected to said valve interface for distribution of hot and cold water through said water control valve to a fixture;
a hot water bypass port in said valve manifold, said hot water bypass port configured for connection to a bypass valve inlet on a bypass valve;
a cold water bypass port in said valve manifold, said cold water bypass port configured for connection to a bypass valve outlet on said bypass valve;
a hot water bypass passageway in said valve manifold, said hot water bypass passageway interconnecting said hot water inlet and said hot water bypass port;
and
a cold water bypass passageway in said valve manifold, said cold water bypass passageway interconnecting said cold water inlet and said cold water bypass port.

6 more elements

A water control valve assembly, comprising:

a valve manifold having a valve interface configured for operatively receiving or abutting a valve cartridge;
a hot water inlet connected to said valve interface and adapted for connection to a hot water line so as to supply hot water to said valve interface;
a cold water inlet connected to said valve interface and adapted for connection to a cold water line so as to supply cold water to said valve interface;
at least one discharge port connected to said valve interface for distribution of hot and cold water through said water control valve to a fixture;
a bypass valve having a bypass valve inlet and a bypass valve outlet, said water control valve and said bypass valve configured to be disposed behind and accessible through an opening in a wall associated with said fixture;
a first bypass connector disposed between said hot water line and said hot water inlet, said bypass connector having a bypass outlet connected to said bypass valve inlet;
a second bypass connector disposed between said cold water line and said cold water inlet, said bypass connector having a bypass inlet connected to said bypass valve outlet;
a first tubular line connecting said bypass outlet on said first bypass connector to said bypass valve inlet;
and
a second tubular line connecting said bypass valve outlet to said bypass inlet on said second bypass connector.

7 more elements

A water control valve, comprising:

a valve manifold;
a hot water component in said valve manifold, said hot water component having an inlet configured for connection to a hot water line, an outlet configured for connection to a fixture and a hot water chamber interconnecting said inlet and said outlet of said hot water component;
a cold water component in said valve manifold, said cold water component having an inlet configured for connection to a cold water line, an outlet configured for connection to said fixture and a cold water chamber interconnecting said inlet and said outlet of said cold water component;
a tubular section in said valve manifold disposed between said hot water component and said cold water component;
and
a bypass valve disposed in said tubular section, said bypass valve having a bypass valve inlet and a bypass valve outlet, said bypass valve inlet connected to said hot water chamber between said inlet and said outlet of said hot water component, said bypass valve outlet connected to said cold water chamber between said inlet and said outlet of said cold water component, said bypass valve configured to bypass water from said hot water line to said cold water line.

3 more elements

A water circulating system for distributing water to a fixture, comprising:

a cold water line connected to a source of water for supplying cold water to said fixture;
a hot water line connected to a hot water heater for supplying hot water to said fixture;
means connected to said hot water line for pressurizing said hot water line;
a first water control valve having a valve manifold with an inlet connected to said hot water line and a first outlet connected to said fixture;
a second water control valve having a valve manifold with an inlet connected to said cold water line and a first outlet connected to said fixture;
and
a bypass valve interconnecting said first water control valve and said second water control valve, said bypass valve having a bypass valve inlet in fluid communication with said first water control valve and a bypass valve outlet in fluid communication with said second water control valve.

4 more elements

A water circulating system for distributing water to a fixture, comprising:

a cold water line connected to a source of water for supplying cold water to said fixture;
a hot water line connected to a hot water heater for supplying hot water to said fixture;
means connected to said hot water line for pressurizing said hot water line;
a control valve having a valve manifold with a hot water component, a cold water component and a tubular section disposed therebetween, said hot water component having an inlet configured for connection to a hot water line, an outlet configured for connection to a fixture and a hot water chamber interconnecting said inlet and said outlet, said cold water component having an inlet configured for connection to a cold water line, an outlet configured for connection to said fixture and a cold water chamber interconnecting said inlet and said outlet;
and
a bypass valve disposed in said tubular section, said bypass valve having a bypass valve inlet and a bypass valve outlet, said bypass valve inlet connected to said hot water chamber between said inlet and said outlet of said hot water component, said bypass valve outlet connected to said cold water chamber between said inlet and said outlet of said hot water component, said bypass valve configured to bypass water from said hot water line to said cold water line.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Water control valve adaptable for use with bypass valves

Life of this patent

Water control valve adaptable for use with bypass valves

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims146