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US 9,260,842 B2Granted
Valve with heating element
AssigneeKohler Mira Limited
InventorKevin T. Peel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve for a plumbing fixture includes an internal passageway configured to route fluid through the valve. The internal passageway includes a surface and at least a portion of the valve comprises a thermally-conductive material. The valve also includes an electric heating element configured to heat at least a portion of the thermally-conductive material to an elevated temperature sufficient to disinfect the surface.
Claims24
A plumbing fixture comprising:
- a body;
- a valve provided within the body and having an internal passageway configured to route fluid through the valve, wherein the internal passageway comprises a surface and at least a portion of the valve comprises a thermally-conductive material;
- a bore in the body extending from the valve toward an outlet of the body;
- a liner within the bore, the liner comprising a thermally-conductive material and including a fluid passageway for receiving fluid from the valve;
- and
- an electric heating element in direct contact with the liner and disposed between the liner and the body, wherein the heating element is configured to heat at least a portion of the liner to an elevated temperature sufficient to disinfect the liner.
3 more elements
A water delivery component comprising:
- a mixer valve comprising:
- a valve body formed at least in part of a thermally-conductive material;
- a first inlet into the valve body that is configured to receive a first fluid from a first fluid source;
- a second inlet into the valve body that is configured to receive a second fluid from a second fluid source;
- and
- a mixing chamber within the valve body that is configured to mix the first and second fluids;
- a passageway fluidly connected to an outlet of the mixer valve;
- a thermally-conductive liner disposed within the passageway, the liner having a bore through which fluid from the mixer valve may flow;
- and
- a heating element configured to heat at least a portion of the liner to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms that may be present within the bore of the liner.
7 more elements
A water delivery system comprising:
- a valve comprising:
- a valve body formed at least in part of a thermally-conductive material;
- a waterway extending through the valve body and configured to route fluid through the valve body, wherein the waterway comprises a surface;
- and
- a fixture body comprising:
- an inner wall defining at least part of an internal passageway fluidly connected to the waterway of the valve;
- and
- a recessed area extending from the inner wall;
- an electric heater disposed in the recessed area of the fixture body and configured to heat at least a portion of the fixture body to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms that may be resident on the portion;
- a controller in communication with the heater for controlling the operation of the heater;
- a sensor extending from the valve body into the waterway, wherein the sensor detects a value comprising at least one of a temperature and a flow rate of the fluid in the waterway and communicates the detected value to the controller;
- and
- a liner disposed in the recessed area, such that the heater is provided between the liner and the fixture body, wherein the liner comprises a copper-containing material and is in direct contact with the heater.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.