Supplemental electric water heater unit for compensating cooling of a hot water supply line

A hot water line accomodator for interposition between a hot water supply and a utility tap in proximity to the latter thereby to provide immediate hot water as needed, irrespective of standing line water temperature from the heater, comprising,

• a receptacle for receiving line water and discharging heated water therefrom,
• said receptacle having an inflow connection adapted to be connected to a hot water supply to receive hot water therefrom and a discharge connection adapted to be connected to a utility tap at the upper portion thereof,
• heating means for heating water in said receptacle,
• means controlling said heating means in response to temperature of water in said receptacle,
• means for directing water downwardly toward the bottom of said receptacle from a point adjacent said inflow connection,
• means defining a flow path between said inflow connection and said downward directing means
• a normally closed, pressure responsive check valve mounted in said flow path, said valve opening upon occurrence of a predetermined minimum inflow water pressure from said inflow connection,
• a thermostatic valve disposed in a flow passage between said flow path and said receptacle at the upper portion thereof for controlling flow between said flow path and said receptacle upper portion in bypass relation to said downward water flow directing means,
• said thermostatic valve opening in response to a predetermined minimum inflow water temperature, thereby to admit water directly to the upper portion of said receptacle through said flow passage for flow toward said discharge connection, wherein opening of said thermostatic valve relieves pressure on said check valve permitting closing thereof whereupon flow through said downward directing means toward the bottom of said receptacle is prevented when inflow water temperature is above said predetermined minimum temperature.

A hot water line accomodator for interposition between a hot water supply and a utility tap in proximity to the latter thereby to provide immediate hot water as needed, irrespective of standing line water temperature from the heater, comprising,

• a receptacle for receiving line water and discharging heated water therefrom,
• said receptacle having an inflow connection adapted to be connected to a hot water supply to receive hot water therefrom and a discharge connection adapted to be connected to a utility tap at the upper portion thereof,
• heating means for heating water in said receptacle,
• means controlling said heating means in response to temperature of water in said receptacle,
• means for directing inflowing water downwardly toward the bottom of said receptacle from a point adjacent said inflow connection,
• a thermostatic valve responsive to the temperature of the inflowing water mounted in a flow passage between the upper portion of said receptacle and said inflow connection for selectively controlling flow of inflowing water between said downward directing means and said receptacle upper portion through said water flow passage in bypass relation to said downward directing means,
• means for terminating flow of inflow water through said downward directing means in response to the opening of said thermostatic valve,
• said thermostatic valve opening in response to a predetermined minimum inflow water temperature, thereby to admit inflowing water directly to the upper portion of said receptacle through said flow passage for flow toward said discharge connection and thereby bypass flow to said downward directing means.

A hot water line accomodator for interposition between a hot water supply and a utility tap in proximity to the latter thereby to provide immediate hot water as needed, irrespective of standing line water temperature from the heater, comprising,

• a receptacle for receiving line water and discharging heated water therefrom,
• said receptacle having a discharge connection at the upper portion thereof adapted to be connected to a utility tap,
• heating means for heating water in said receptacle,
• means controlling said heating means in response to the temperature of water in said receptacle,
• an inflow connection on said receptacle adapted to be connected to a hot water supply and having a thermostatic valve associated therewith,
• said inflow connection having a first branch for directing water to the bottom portion of the receptacle and a second branch directing water to the upper portion of the receptacle,
• said inflow connection having means cooperating with said thermostatic valve to close said second branch in response to incoming water below a predetermined temperature and direct the water through said first branch toward the bottom of said receptacle, and to close said first branch in response to water above a predetermined water temperature and direct the water through said second branch into the top of said receptacle, whereby relatively cooler water will be heated by said heating means before exiting said discharge connection and relatively hotter water is enabled to pass directly to said discharge connection.