High flow rate water supply assembly
AssigneeKohler Co.
InventorsMichael H. Ostrowski, Jeffrey L. Mueller, James R. Lewis, Stanley P. Kaymen, John H. Schott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly for rapidly filing bathtubs, whirlpools, spas, washing machine drums and the like includes a basin, water storage tank(s) (such as hot and cold water storage tanks), and a system for controlling the filling of the basin from the tank(s). When it is desired to supply water to the basin, this is expedited by placing the tank(s) above the basin, using connecting piping with extra large area, using a pressure pump, and/or providing extra large delivery ports. The tank(s) are dedicated to the assembly, and preferably are closely adjacent thereto. Controls are provided to avoid excess weight gathering adjacent the basin.
Claims20
An assembly for rapidly delivering water from a water supply to a basin, the assembly comprising:
- a basin;
- a first storage tank receiving water from the water supply and storing a first volume of water, wherein the first storage tank is connected such that when the first volume of water is supplied to the basin the water supply fills the basin at a higher rate than without the first storage tank;
- a second storage tank receiving water from the water supply and storing a second volume of water, wherein the second storage tank is connected such that when the second volume of water is supplied to the basin the water supply fills the basin at a higher rate than without the second storage tank;
- a system for controlling the flow of water from the storage tanks to the basin when it is desired to supply the basin from one or more of the storage tanks;
- and means for expediting the flow of water from at least one of the storage tanks to the basin when it is desired to supply water there from to the basin, the means being selected from the group consisting of:
- (a) structures retaining at least one of said storage tanks at a position above at least a portion of the basin such that gravity can facilitate water flow from that tank to the basin when water is present in that tank;
- (b) conduit connecting the at least one of said storage tanks to the basin which has a portion with a cross-sectional area of at least five square inches;
- (c) a pressure pump;
- and
- (d) delivery ports adjacent the basin for delivering water to the basin from said at least one of said storage tanks, the ports having an outlet cross-sectional area totaling at least five square inches;
- wherein at least one of the storage tanks is dedicated to the assembly to supply water to the basin only.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.