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US 9,353,955 B1Granted
Hot water recovery apparatus
OwnerSpencer Kim Hawsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The concepts relate to reducing energy loss associated with hot water systems. One example includes a water flow management device that includes inner and outer nested elastomeric bladders. The inner and outer nested elastomeric bladders define a tortuous fluid pathway into the inner bladder, between the inner and outer bladders, and out of the outer bladder.
Claims13
A water flow management device, comprising:
- inner and outer nested elastomeric bladders defining a tortuous fluid pathway passing into the inner bladder, through at least one flow cavity between the inner and outer bladders that is at an upper end of the outer bladder, and from the outer bladder out of the water flow management device through at least one flow tube slot at a lower end of the outer bladder that is opposite the upper end,
- wherein fluid flowing in the tortuous fluid pathway does not pass from the inner bladder to the at least one flow tube slot and out of the water flow management device without passing through the outer bladder in between the inner bladder and the at least one flow tube slot.
A system, comprising:
- a water heater;
- and
- a water flow management device positioned inside the water heater, the water flow management device comprising inner and outer nested elastomeric bladders defining a tortuous fluid pathway passing into the inner bladder, through at least one flow cavity between the inner and outer bladders that is at an upper end of the outer bladder, from the outer bladder out of the water flow management device through at least one flow tube slot at a lower end of the outer bladder that is opposite the upper end, and into the water heater,
- wherein fluid flowing in the tortuous fluid pathway does not pass from the inner bladder to the at least one flow tube slot and out of the water flow management device into the water heater without passing through the outer bladder in between the inner bladder and the at least one flow tube slot.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.