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US 4,219,044 AGranted
Control valve assembly
OwnerWarren M. Wilsoninventor
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OwnerWarren M. Wilsoninventor
Estimating the term…
A control valve assembly 10 for use in a system for heating water is disclosed. The system includes a source of steam 12, a steam condensate trap, a source of cold water, a heat exchanger 14 to transfer heat from the steam to the cold water, and an outlet where heated water is used. The control valve 10 assembly includes a dual valve structure which splits the flow of incoming cold water, directing one portion of it to the heat exchanger 14 and bypassing the other portion of the incoming cold water around the heat exchanger. The two portions of the incoming water rejoin in a blending chamber 16 which is connected with a water line to supply blended hot water to an outlet such as a shower or faucet. A controller 36 within the control valve assembly 10 is responsive to the demand for blended hot water. The controller regulates valves 18 and 22 which control the flow of water through the heat exchanger 14 and the flow of water bypassed around the heat exchanger to maintain the temperature of the water leaving the blending chamber 16 constant despite variations in the flow rate of blended hot water through the outlet 20.
A control valve assembly comprising housing means for receiving an incoming flow of cold water from a cold water source and defining first and second cold water flow paths, first valve means for regulating a flow of cold water in said first flow path to a heat exchanger, mixing chamber means for receiving the flow of hot water from the heat exchanger and a flow of cold water from said second flow path, second valve means for regulating the flow of cold water in said second flow path, said mixing chamber means having an outlet for mixed hot and cold water, and controller means responsive to changes in the demand for mixed water for varying the rate at which cold water flows in said first and second flow paths as a predetermined function of the flow rate of mixed water through said outlet from said mixing chamber means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.