# US 2019/0170371 A1 · System for Distributing Hot Water > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170371 A1 - Document ID: US20190170371A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/834,051 - Filed: 2017-12-06 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-06 - Inventors: James Connor Johnson; Lucas Choi; Christopher Ivory; Samuel Kim; Michael Brubaker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170371A1 ## CPC - F24D 17/0078: {Recirculation systems} - E03B 7/00: Water main or service pipe systems (pipes or tubes in general F16L) - E03B 7/045: {diverting initially cold water in warm water supply} - F24D 17/0094: {Recovering of cold water} - F24D 19/1051: {for domestic hot water} - F24H 1/18: Water-storage heaters - F24H 9/136: {Arrangement of inlet valves used therewith} - F24H 9/2007: {for water heaters} - E03C 2001/005: {Installations allowing recovery of heat from waste water for warming up fresh water} - F24D 2220/0257: Thermostatic valves - F24D: DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR (using steam or condensate extracted or exhausted from steam engine plants for heating purposes F01K17/02) - E03B: INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER (drilling wells, obtaining fluids in general from wells E21B; pipe-line systems in general F17D) - F24H: FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL (steam generation F22) - E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS ## Abstract Provided is a hot water distribution system comprising a water heater, a water pump, a controller, a temperature sensor, a point-of-use, and a diverting valve capable of directing water from the water heater to either the point-of-use or back to the water heater. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for distributing hot water comprising: a. a first conduit for channeling water from a water heater to a diverting valve, wherein the first conduit is connected to, and in fluid communication with, the water heater and the diverting valve; b. a second conduit for channeling water from the diverting valve to a water pump, wherein the second conduit is connected to, and in fluid communication with, the diverting valve and the water pump; c. a third conduit for channeling water from the diverting valve towards a point-of-use, wherein the third conduit is connected to, and in fluid communication with the diverting valve and at least one of (i) the point-of-use, (ii) a point-of-use valve, or (iii) an additional conduit leading to the point-of-use; d. a fourth conduit for channeling water from the water pump to water heater, wherein the fourth conduit is connected to, and in fluid communication with the water pump and the water heater; e. a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of water in the second conduit; and f. a controller in electric communication with the temperature sensor, the diverting valve, and the water pump; wherein the controller is effective to activate and deactivate the water pump in response to inputs from the temperature sensor, and wherein the diverting valve is effective to divert fluid flow from the first conduit to either the second conduit or the third conduit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the diverting valve is a solenoid valve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the diverting valve is a three-port/two-position solenoid valve, a four-port/three-position solenoid valve, or a four-port/four-position solenoid valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the point-of-use is a shower head. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the point-of-use is a faucet. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the diverting valve has a position that creates a closed recirculation loop containing the water heater, the water pump, and the first, second, and fourth conduits. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the closed recirculation loop is free of cold water supplied externally to the loop. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the water pump capacity is 125-150% of the shower head capacity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the water pump is a centrifugal pump. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the fourth conduit includes a check valve oriented to allow flow from the water pump to the water heater. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the water heater is a residential tank-type hot water heater with a capacity of 40 to 80 gallons. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a first cold water conduit for resupplying the water heater with water from an external source. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the point-of-use valve is a thermostatic valve or pressure-balance valve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the point-of-use valve is further connected to, and in fluid communication with, a second cold water conduit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the fourth conduit contains water having a temperature that is 90-100% of the temperature of water in the water heater. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein water in the water heater is maintained at a temperature of 110-150 deg. F. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an input device for signaling the controller to monitor the temperature of the temperature sensor, actuate the diverting valve, and operate the water pump. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A method for distributing hot water comprising the steps of: a. providing a system according to claim 1; b. providing a predetermined temperature set point to the controller; c. recirculating water from the water heater to the diverting valve and back to the water heater until the predetermined temperature set point it reached; and d. directing water from the water heater towards the point-of-use and away from the pump after the predetermined temperature set point is reached. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising the step: e. pushing residual water from the fourth conduit and into the water heater between steps (c) and (d). ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 further comprising the step: f. providing a prompt to a user that step (c) is complete.