Thermostatically controlled bypass valve and water circulating system for same

A thermostatically controlled bypass valve, comprising:

• a generally tubular valve body having a first end, a second end and a separating wall therebetween, said first end having a first inlet port and a first discharge port, said second end having a second inlet port and a second discharge port, said separating wall having a passage therein interconnecting said first end and said second end of said tubular valve body;
• a thermally sensitive actuating element disposed in said valve body, said actuating element having an actuating body and a rod member, said rod member configured to operatively extend from said actuating body and sealably abut said passage in said separating wall;
• a bias spring disposed in said valve body between said separating wall and said actuating body of said actuating element and operative to urge said rod member toward said actuating body to open said passage in said separating wall;
• spring retaining means disposed in said valve body at said first end of said tubular valve body;
• and
• an over-travel spring disposed between said spring retaining means and said actuating element, said over-travel spring urging said actuating body against said internal shoulder.

A water circulating system for distributing water, comprising:

• a fixture configured for utilizing hot and cold water, said fixture having a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet;
• a hot water heater for supplying hot water to said fixture;
• a hot water piping system interconnecting said hot water heater with said hot water inlet at said fixture;
• a source of cold water for supplying cold water to said fixture and said hot water heater;
• a cold water piping system interconnecting said source of cold water with said cold water inlet at said fixture;
• and
• a thermostatically controlled bypass valve at said fixture, said bypass valve interconnecting said hot water piping system and said hot water inlet and interconnecting said cold water piping system and said cold water inlet, said bypass valve configured to bypass water from said hot water piping system to said cold water piping system until the water in said hot water piping system reaches a preset temperature value, said bypass valve comprising a generally tubular valve body having a thermally sensitive actuating element and a bias spring disposed therein, said valve body having a first end, a second end and a separating wall therebetween, said first end having a first inlet port and a first discharge port, said second end having at least one port, said separating wall having a passage therein interconnecting said first end and said second end of said valve body, said actuating element disposed in said valve body at said first end of said valve body, said actuating element having an actuating body and a rod member, said rod member configured to operatively extend from said actuating body and sealably abut said passage in said separating wall, said bias spring disposed in said valve body between said separating wall and said actuating body of said actuating element and operative to urge said piston toward said actuating body to open said passage in said separating wall.

A water circulating system for distributing water, comprising:

• a fixture configured for utilizing hot and cold water, said fixture having a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet;
• a hot water heater for supplying hot water to said fixture;
• a hot water piping system interconnecting said hot water heater with said hot water inlet at said fixture;
• a source of cold water for supplying cold water to said fixture and said hot water heater;
• a cold water piping system interconnecting said source of cold water with said cold water inlet at said fixture;
• a thermostatically controlled bypass valve at said fixture, said bypass valve comprising a generally tubular valve body having a first end, a second end and a separating wall therebetween, said first end having a first inlet port and a first discharge port, said second end having at least one port, said bypass valve interconnecting said hot water piping system and said hot water inlet and interconnecting said cold water piping system and said cold water inlet, said bypass valve configured to bypass water from said hot water piping system to said cold water piping system until the water in said hot water piping system reaches a preset temperature value;
• and
• a single pump in said hot water piping system prior to the first branch of said hot water piping system leading to said fixture having said bypass valve, said pump configured to pump water through said hot water piping system to said hot water inlet on said fixture.