Structured hot water demand flow control system with accommodation for thermal expansion
OwnerLarry K. Ackerinventor
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Abstract
In a hot water system for providing intermittent hot water, a separate holding vessel is provided and disposed in a hot water line between a hot water source and a plumbing fixture for blending of incoming hot water with residual water in the vessel in order to decrease cold water surges at the plumbing fixture upon repeated use of hot water in the plumbing fixture. A bladder disposed within the separate holding vessel accommodates for thermal expansion of the water.
Claims14
In a hot water system for providing intermittent hot water, the system including a hot water source, at least one plumbing fixture and a hot water line interconnecting said hot water source and said plumbing fixture, an improvement comprising:
- a separate holding vessel, disposed in said hot water line between said hot water source and said plumbing fixture, for blending of incoming hot water with residual water in the vessel in order to decrease cold water surges at said plumbing fixture upon repeated use of hot water at said plumbing fixture, said vessel having a volume of water per given length greater than a volume of water in said hot water line for the given length;
- and
- a bladder, disposed in said separate holding vessel and sealing a gas therein, for accommodation thermal expansion of water in the water system in order to prevent damage to the water system including the hot water source, or release of water from the system.
The improvement according to claim 4 wherein the vessel is disposed within a housing of the tankless hot water heater.
A hot water system for providing intermittent hot water, the system comprising:
- a hot water source;
- at least one plumbing fixture;
- a hot water line interconnecting said hot water source and said plumbing fixture;
- and
- a separate holding vessel, disposed in said hot water line between said hot water source and said plumbing fixture, for blending of incoming hot water with residual water in the vessel in order to decrease cold water surges at said plumbing fixture upon repeated use of hot water at said plumbing fixture, said vessel having a volume of water per given length greater than a volume of water in said hot water line for the given length;
- and
- a bladder, disposed in said separate holding vessel and sealing a gas therein, for accommodation thermal expansion of water in the water system in order to prevent damage to the water system including the hot water source, or release of water from the system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.