US 5,205,318 AGranted

Recirculation hot water system

AssigneeSjoberg Industries, Inc.

InventorsDonald J. Massaro, Herbert E. Thompson

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Abstract

Recirculation hot water system including a fluid delivery system used to supply potable water throughout a home or other facility, having a hot water supply pipe, a cold water supply/return pipe, a hot water heater, a pump, a manifold, a control system, a hot water and cold water faucet or valve, and a demand site (typically a sink or wash basin). The manifold further includes a thermostatic actuator and a check valve. The control means further includes a sending unit, installed in close proximity to the demand site, and a receiving unit, installed in close proximity to the heater. Command signals are transferred, from the sending unit to the receiving unit, via modulated signals that pass through the AC power lines that are used to distribute power throughout the home or facility. The main potable water supply is bifurcated into the hot water and cold water supply pipes with the heater installed in the hot water supply pipe upstream of the manifold, and the pump installed between the heater and the manifold and in close proximity to the heater. The hot and cold water supply pipes are in fluid communication with separate inlets to the manifold. An outlet from the manifold is in fluid communication with a cold water valve, while another outlet from the manifold is in fluid communication with a hot water valve. The manifold is internally ported such that the hot and cold water supply pipes are in fluid communication with each other.

A system for delivering, to a demand site located in a home, a quantity of potable water, at an ambient temperature and at an elevated temperature, comprising:

a main potable water delivery path for generally directing said potable water;
a closeable bifurcated flow path communicatively coupled to said main delivery path and for directing said water to said demand sites, said bifurcated path including a first flow path for directing said potable water generally at said elevated temperature, and a second flow path for directing said potable water generally at said ambient temperature;
heater means installed in said first flow path, for heating said potable water to said elevated temperature;
a manifold including a temperature responsive valve, a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, wherein said first inlet connection is communicatively coupled to said first flow path and said second inlet connection is communicatively coupled to said second flow path, and said manifold is internally ported so as to communicatively couple said first flow path to said second flow path, wherein said temperature responsive valve is responsive to a temperature of said water flowing in said first flow path and is operative to permit said water to flow from said first flow path, through said manifold, and into said second flow path if said temperature is below a predetermined temperature level:
pump means inserted in said first flow path between said heater means and said manifold, for pumping said water at said elevated temperature through said first flow path:
faucet means communicatively coupled to said first outlet and said second outlet, for delivering said water to said demand site;
actuation means for selectively energizing said pump means to cause water to flow;
whereby if said pump means is energized and if said water flowing in said first flow path is below said predetermined temperature level, then said pump means causes said water to flow from said first flow path, through said manifold, into said second flow path until said actuation means de-energizes said pump or said water flowing in said first flow path is at or above said predetermined temperature level.

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Abstract

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