Tempered water blending system
AssigneeEncon Safety Products
InventorsChristopher J. Bollas, Dai Duc Nguyen, Charles R. McAdams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An emergency tempered water blending apparatus is described which has a threeway, thermostatic mixing valve for mixing a cold water intake stream with a hot water intake stream at effective proportions to form a tempered water output stream having a desired, preset temperature. When the flow of the cold water is detected, a normally-closed valve in the tempered water stream opens allowing flow to the user. Water flow defaults to cold water upon either a mechanical or electrical failure, or upon the temperature of the tempered water becoming too hot to reduce probability of failure in hot mode.
Claims10
An apparatus for supplying tempered water comprising:
- a three-way, thermostatic mixing valve for mixing a cold water intake stream with a hot water intake stream in proportions to form a tempered water outlet stream having a desired, preset temperature;
- a sensor for detecting flow of cold water and in the cold water intake stream to the mixing valve;
- a first normally-closed solenoid valve in the tempered water stream which opens in response to flow of cold water;
- a temperature sensor, operably connected to a controller, positioned in said tempered water output stream, downstream of said first solenoid valve;
- and
- said controller operably connected to said flow sensor and temperature sensor to maintain a steady tempered water flow within an acceptable range.
An apparatus for supplying tempered water comprising:
- a cold water intake line having a flow sensor;
- a hot water intake line;
- a three-way, thermostatic mixing valve operatively connected to said cold and hot water intake lines for mixing water from said cold and hot water intake lines into a single tempered water output stream having a preset temperature;
- an output line for receiving the tempered water stream, said output line having a first normally-closed solenoid operatively positioned thereon;
- a temperature sensor operatively positioned in the tempered water output line downstream of said first solenoid valve;
- a cold water bypass line connected at one end to said cold water supply downstream of said flow sensor, and at its other end connected to said tempered water line downstream, said first solenoid valve and upstream said temperature sensor, said cold water bypass line having a second normally-open solenoid valve operatively connected therein;
- a controller operatively connected to said temperature sensor, solenoid valves and cold water flow sensor which causes said second solenoid valve to close, the first solenoid valve to open upon detecting flow by the cold water sensor, and for closing said first solenoid valve and opening said second solenoid valve upon the sensing of a temperature in excess of a preset temperature by the temperature sensor.
An apparatus for supplying tempered water comprising:
- a three-way, thermostatic mixing valve having a hot water inlet, a cold water inlet, a mixing chamber, and a tempered water outlet;
- a cold water intake line operatively connected to said cold water inlet wherein said cold water intake line has a flow sensor operatively connected thereon to detect cold water flow, and a check valve operatively connected thereon between said flow sensor and said cold water inlet of the mixing valve;
- a tempered water outlet line operatively connected to said tempered water outlet wherein said tempered outlet has a first normally-closed solenoid valve operatively positioned therein and a temperature sensor positioned downstream said first solenoid valve to open in response to the flow sensor sensing flow of cold water;
- a cold water bypass line connecting said cold water intake line and tempered water outlet lines, bypassing said three-way, mixing valve, and having a second normally-open solenoid valve operatively positioned therein;
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- a controller responsive to a mechanical or electrical failure or increase in the temperature of the outlet water reaching a predetermined value to allow the first solenoid valve to close to halt flow of hot water and allow the second solenoid valve to open to allow flow of cold water through the bypass.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.