| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 122140300 | Having water flow control feature | 37 |
| 20090084329 | MALFUNCTION DETECTION DEVICE FOR HOT WATER SUPPLIER - A malfunction detection device for a hot water supplier has a tank temperature detection thermistor for detecting a hot water temperature of a hot water storage tank and is configured such that when the detected hot water temperature of the hot water storage tank is a reference temperature or higher, a relay provided at a tank printed circuit board stops power supply from a tank unit to a heat pump unit. A heat pump shutdown command is a standby power saving command for saving a standby power of the heat pump unit. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090133641 | Device for Preventing Initial Hot Water Supplying in Concentric Tube Type Heat Exchanger and Its Control Method - Disclosed are a device for preventing initial hot water from being discharged from a double pipe heat exchanger and a method of controlling the same, which can temporarily mix cold water with hot water so as to decrease the temperature of the discharged hot water when the high temperature water is initially discharged from the double pipe heat exchanger. The device for preventing initial hot water from being discharged from a double pipe heat exchanger which includes a cold water pipe into which a cold water is introduced, a hot water heat exchanging pipe for absorbing combustion heat of a burner so as to heat the cold water to hot water and to discharge the hot water, a hot water pipe for supplying high temperature hot water discharged from the hot water heat exchanging pipe, and a heating water heat exchanging pipe having both ends connected to a heating water returning inlet and a heating water discharging outlet and disposed in the hot water heat exchanging pipe, includes: a bypass pipe extending between a cold water pipe and a hot water pipe, for directly supplying cold water in the cold water pipe to the hot water pipe; a mixing valve mounted on one end of the bypass pipe; a heating water temperature sensor mounted on the heat water discharging outlet, for detecting the heating water temperature; a hot water temperature sensor mounted on the hot water supplying pipe, for detecting a hot water temperature; and a controller for receiving temperature values detected by the heating water temperature sensor and the hot water temperature sensor so as to control a degree of opening of the mixing valve. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20100006041 | VARIABLE VOLUME ENERGY SAVING WATER HEATER - The present invention relates generally to apparatuses used for the heating of water and relates more specifically to water heaters in which the volume of water heated and stored may be fluctuated in response to the changing demand for heated water. The household demand for hot water depends on a variety of factors, including the number of people living in the household. It is therefore desirable to have a water heater in which the amount of water heated and stored may be varied so as to compensate for the changing hot water demand. The present invention is a variable volume water heater that can be used to accomplish this goal of matching the supply and demand of heated water. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100116223 | WATER HEATER - In a non-operation state, a controller determines whether the first operation was made after a power source being switched on in S | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100122668 | STORAGE TYPE WATER HEATER - A storage type water heater comprising: a stored hot water tank; a heating unit including a heat exchanger, a gas burner, and an air supply fan; a circulation pipe line; a circulating pump; a first temperature sensor for detecting an inlet side temperature T | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100192872 | FLOW CONTROL - Apparatus for controlling the flow of heated water from a boiler to a water outlet comprising: a main housing, an inlet, an outlet, a variable opening, a permanent opening and a temperature sensitive adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the variable opening between a fully closed position and an open position. A heated water delivery system. The opening of a tap at a water outlet allows water to flow though the boiler. A flow control valve is located between the boiler and the outlet, such that the flow of water is limited during an initial period during which the temperature of the water is relatively low. In this way, the total flow of water is increased as the temperature of the water increases. A method of supplying heated water from a boiler through a heated water supply to a water outlet. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100192873 | Burner Flashback Detection and System Shutdown Apparatus - A fuel-fired water heater is provided with a premixing type main burner and an associated pilot burner for igniting it. A specially designed protective system is operative to detect a flame flashback burning condition in the main burner and responsively shut down the water heater. In one embodiment thereof, the protective system uses main burner body heat to melt a portion of a fuel supply line connected to the pilot burner during a flame flashback condition in the main burner. Such melting responsively causes an associated fuel supply valve to close and terminate water heater operation. In a second protective system embodiment a normally closed pressure switch is opened, thereby shutting down the water heater, when the switch detects a pressure indicative of a flame flashback condition in the main burner. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100251974 | Non-invasive Demand Response Hot Water Recirculation Pump Signaling and Control Appliance - This invention provides demand activation of a hot water recirculation pump to reduce energy wasted from running the pump when its use is not needed. The invention uses momentary water flow at the remote tap as the signaling mechanism. Heated water flowing into the hot water egress pipe raises the temperature of the pipe. A temperature sensor continuously measures the temperature and provides the measurements to a controller where the time rate of change of temperature measurements are detected and used as the signal to operate the recirculation pump. Controller logic processes the digitized output of the temperature sensor, threshold detects the time rate of temperature change, and activates power to the external recirculation pump for timed intervals. This invention requires no modification to existing plumbing in a domestic plumbing system already equipped with a recirculation pump. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100326372 | WATER HEATER HAVING A WATER LEAKAGE SENSING DEVICE - A water heater equipped with a leakage detecting device is provided. A flow control valve is disposed at an inlet and controls the flow rate of water flowing into the water heater. A leakage detecting device detects when water which has flowed in the water heater leaks out through pipes in the water heater due to burst of the pipes and is filled at or more than a predetermined level from the floor of a water heater case, and transmits a signal to a controller. A case protects parts in the water heater by shielding the parts from the outside. The controller controls a series of combustion processes and operation of the water heater, and closes the flow control valve, when a leakage detection signal is transmitted from the leakage detecting device. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110132279 | EQUIPMENT FOR PRODUCING DOMESTIC HOT WATER - The equipment of the invention includes a boiler, a hot water storage tank, a duct for supplying domestic cold water, and a duct for tapping domestic hot water, wherein said equipment is characterized in that the duct for supplying cold water comprises a T-shaped connector connected by a duct provided with a storage vessel to a re-circulation duct connecting the tank to the inlet duct, provided with a pump, of the boiler, and in that the outlet duct of the boiler is provided with a three-way valve connected by a by pass duct to said T-shaped connector, wherein said valve can selectively assume a position in which it ensures communication between the boiler outlet and the central portion of the tank, or a position in which it ensures communication between the boiler outlet and said bypass duct. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20120037095 | HOT WATER MIXING VALVE WITH FAILURE DETECTION - A mixing valve comprises a housing including first and second inlet passages and a third outlet passage. The first passage is connectable in a high temperature fluid supply line. The second passage is connectable with a low temperature fluid supply. The third passage selectively communicates with the first and second passages. A valve assembly is mounted within the housing. The valve assembly includes a thermostat element and a valve body actuatable by the thermostat element. The thermostat element is contactable thermally by the high temperature fluid passing through the first passage. The valve body is operable under the influence of the thermostat element to regulate flow of low temperature fluid and provide a mix ratio of high temperature fluid and low temperature fluid that results in a mixed fluid having a selected temperature flowing out of the third passage. The mixing valve is adapted to provide feedback to a consumer of a failure condition. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120067300 | Heating or Cooling System Featuring a Split Buffer Tank - This invention relates to a heating/cooling system operating on the basis of a novel SPLIT BUFFER TANK; representing an efficiency improvement alternative to HVAC systems functioning with existing commercial buffer tanks. Currently, commercial buffers have the heat source provider (HSP)-return and system-return discharging to a common buffer/vessel. Novel SPLIT BUFFER is provided with a SEPARATION DISK placed inside the tank as mechanical way of separating the hot water inflow from the HSP from the warmer water inflow from system return. The disk moves up and down along the tank driven by demanded water supply and return. Pump- | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120073519 | HOT WATER SYSTEM CONFIGURATION, DESCALING AND HEATING METHODS THEREFORE - The present invention relates to a user activated hot water heater and control system for processing hot water to hot water output locations, e.g. faucet, shower, or the like, such that temperature fluctuations and delays in hot water delivery are reduced. The present invention provides energy savings resulting from smart activation of internal and/or external recirculation systems. Additionally, trickle flow is detected and responded to based on temperature responses at various points in the main flow line of the present configuration. Simultaneous internal and external recirculations are made possible with advantageous placement of a pump within internal and external recirculation loops and a solenoid valve within the internal recirculation loop. The present system further comprises a means for adjusting the pump action in response to a thermostatic valve, temperature sensors advantageously placed in the main flow line to reduce dead heading. | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120090560 | WATER HEATER AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - A water heater includes combustion means (burner) that combusts fuel and generates exhaust; heat exchange means (primary heat exchanger and secondary heat exchanger) that exchanges heat of the exhaust for supplied water; bypassing means (bypass pipe) that makes the supplied water flow to an outlet of the heat exchange means; exchanged heat temperature detection means (exchanged heat temperature sensor) that detects temperature of the supplied water after heat exchange; flow rate adjustment means (bypass valve) that adjusts a volume of the supplied water flowing into the bypassing means and the heat exchange means; and a control unit that controls the flow rate adjustment means so as to make a predetermined volume of the supplied water or over flow to the heat exchange means. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20140033993 | HYDROGEN GAS BUILDUP PREVENTION IN HOT WATER HEATERS - A hot water heater includes a controller, a hot water tank and a sensor operatively coupled to the hot water tank and the controller. The sensor is configured to detect use of hot water from the hot water tank. The controller is operative to determine an interval of non-use of hot water from the hot water tank; and enable a drain cycle to withdraw a portion of water from the hot water tank. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140060458 | LATENT HEAT RECOVERY TYPE WATER HEATER - A latent heat recovery type water heater A being designed such that water flown in a secondary heat exchanger | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140209041 | Companion Water Heater - A hot water heater appliance includes a boiler, a companion water heater and a controller. The controller is configured to control the water heater appliance in response to a scheduled plurality of performance modes based on a preset schedule. A first performance mode is scheduled to be performed at an expected low usage time and a second performance mode is scheduled to be performed at an expected high usage time relative to the expected low usage time. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20140209042 | Dual Sensor Companion Water Heater - A hot water heater appliance includes a boiler, companion water heater, and a controller. The companion water heater has a hot water storage tank. The controller is configured to control the water heater appliance in response to a sensed temperature at an upper portion of the hot water storage tank and a sensed temperature at a lower portion of the hot water storage tank. The controller is configured to control the boiler to quickly heat water in the hot water storage tank in response to both upper and lower temperatures of the hot water storage tank being below a predetermined temperature and the controller is configured to more slowly heat water in the hot water storage tank in response to the upper temperature of the hot water storage tank being above the predetermined temperature and the lower temperature of the hot water storage tank being below the predetermined temperature. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20150040841 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING A WATER HEATING CYCLE IN A MULTI-PURPOSE HVAC SYSTEM - A method for improving a water heater cycle in a system for heating water and conditioning an interior space by operating a water pump at a first rate of speed until the entering water temperature is within a desirable range, or the water pump has operated at the first rate of speed for a predetermined time, then operating the water pump at a second rate of speed. | 02-12-2015 |
| 20150308711 | Heat Recovery Method and Apparatus - A hot water heater or similar heating device includes equipment for pre-cooling hot flue gas while preheating water for the water heater. It further includes a heat and mass exchanger for transferring heat and water from the pre-cooled flue gas to combustion air for the hot water heater. The pre-cooler may comprise a separate device or may be incorporated as part of a condensing water heater. The heat and mass exchanger may use membranes having condensing sides and evaporating sides, which allow water to pass from the condensing sides to the evaporating sides. It may further comprise troughs for wetting the membranes. | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150338129 | WATER HEATING APPARATUS - A water heating apparatus, including: a heat source circuit including a first circulation pump, a heat pump, and a heat source side of a hot water supply tank heat exchanger that are connected to each other by a pipe, the heat source circuit being configured to allow water to circulate therethrough; a hot water supply circuit including a second circulation pump, a use side of the hot water supply tank-use heat exchanger, and a hot water supply tank that are connected to each other by a pipe, the hot water supply circuit being configured to allow water to circulate therethrough; and a control unit configured to perform, when the hot water supply tank temperature falls below the reheating tank temperature, reheating, and control a flow rate of the second circulation pump. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150354832 | HOT WATER SUPPLY APPARATUS - A hot water supply apparatus has: a thermo-sensitive valve which is connected in parallel to a cold water delivery pipe and a hot water delivery pipe and which is closed when the hot water temperature to flow inside the valve is above a predetermined temperature to thereby shut off communication between the cold water delivery pipe and the hot water delivery pipe; and a circulation pump. By operation of the circulation pump, water circulation takes place from a heat exchanger through the hot water delivery pipe, a return pipe, the circulation pump, and a cold water supply pipe back to the heat exchanger. When the thermo-sensitive valve is open, water circulation takes place also through the thermo-sensitive valve. Instantaneous hot water supply operation is finished when an amount detected by a flow sensor falls below a predetermined amount during the instantaneous hot water supply operation. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20150354854 | WATER PURIFIER - A water purifier is provided. The water purifier includes a purified water tank for storing purified water, a hot water tank including a heater for heating the purified water supplied from the purified water tank, a purified water supply pipe connecting the purified water tank and the hot water tank to supply the purified water of the purified water tank to the hot water tank, a purified water supply valve opening or closing the purified water supply pipe, a manipulation unit through which a user inputs an extraction amount of hot water, a memory unit for readably storing an opening time of the purified water supply pipe depending on an amount of purified water to be supplied to the hot water tank, and a control unit setting the extraction amount of hot water to the amount of purified water to be supplied to the hot water tank when the extraction amount of hot water is inputted through the manipulation unit, reading the opening time of the purified water supply pipe corresponding to the amount of purified water to be supplied to the hot water tank from the memory unit, and opening the purified water supply pipe during a specified opening time. | 12-10-2015 |
| 20160033170 | Heat Recovery System and Method - The present techniques are directed to a heat recovery system, such as a waste heat recovery system (WHRU) that receives and passes a vapor across a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the vapor to a heating medium in the heat exchanger. The vapor may be an exhaust gas from a source outside of the heat recovery system. The heat recovery system includes a collection system to deinventory the heating medium from the heat exchanger during abnormal operation of the heat recovery system. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160033171 | HOT WATER SUPPLY DEVICE - The present invention provides a hot water supply device. When a hot water supply operation is started in response to an instruction for checking a heat exchange state, a heat exchange state determiner 12 measures a post-boiling temperature Tup, which indicates the rise width of a temperature detected by a heat exchange outlet temperature sensor 26 from the point when the hot water supply operation stopped, and outputs a heat exchange success report if the post-boiling temperature Tup is lower than a first threshold temperature. Further, when the hot water supply operation is started independently of the instruction for checking a heat exchange state, the heat exchange state determiner 12 outputs a report of clogging of a heat exchanger if the post-boiling temperature Tup is higher than a second threshold temperature Bth, which is higher than the first threshold temperature Ath. | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160069590 | WATER HEATING AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND SYSTEM CONTROL DEVICE - A water heating and distribution includes a water heating device for heating water, a water output device connected to the water heating device and configured to output the heated water from the water heating device, and a system control device connected to the water heating device and the water output device. The system control device is configured to allow the water heating device to receive water from a water supply when the system control device works in a first mode. The system control device is configured to disconnect the water heating device from the water supply and allow water to circulate between the water heating device and the water output device when the system control device works in a second mode. | 03-10-2016 |
| 20160161148 | Lead Lag Control System for Water Heaters - A control system is shown for a series of two or more water heaters arranged in parallel. A cold water supply line delivers cold water from a cold water source to a cold water inlet at each of the respective two or more water heaters arranged in parallel. A low pressure restriction is present at each cold water inlet of the water heaters which presents a low pressure restriction to the flow of cold water at each cold water inlet. A by-pass valve is also present at the cold water inlets for by-passing cold water from the cold water supply line around each of the low pressure restrictions. A hot water discharge line receives and discharges hot water from each of the water heaters. A controller is used to control when each of the by-pass valves will be open or closed based upon demand with only the by-pass valves being open which are needed to meet demand placed upon the system. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160187027 | Method for Managing the Heating of Water in a Tank of a Water Heater - The invention relates to a method for managing the heating of water in a tank of a water heater which comprises a device for electrically heating the water in the tank, characterized in that it comprises, when a water heating phase is actuated: activation of heating by the heating device, determination of a variation of the temperature in the tank over time and determination of at least one water filling state in the tank according to the variation over time. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160201946 | WATER HEATER APPLIANCE | 07-14-2016 |
| 20160377322 | WATER HEATER APPLIANCE - A water heater appliance includes a tank and a heated water conduit that extends from the tank. A mixing valve is coupled to the heated water conduit, and a mixed water conduit extends from the mixing valve. A thermal mass is positioned on the mixed water conduit, and a thermal safety sensor is positioned at the thermal mass. | 12-29-2016 |
| 20190145633 | Hot water unit fluid supply control systems and methods | 05-16-2019 |
| 20190145661 | Leak Detection Sensor Assemblies For Water Heaters | 05-16-2019 |
| 122140310 | Using valve actuated by flow or pressure (e.g., check valve, etc.) | 5 |
| 20110146593 | COMMERCIAL HOT WATER CONTROL SYSTEM - A commercial hot water system includes a boiler, a storage tank, and a hot water delivery line connected between the storage tank and at least one plumbing fixture along with a cold water delivery line connection between said plumbing fixture, a cold water source and said boiler. A pump, interconnected between the hot and cold water delivery lines, enables circulation of water to the fixtures. A timer and controller provides for turning on the pump and a temperature sensor, connected to the controller, is effective in stopping the pump to prevent heated water from being circulated through the cold water line. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110253067 | PIPE FITTING - A pipe fitting is connected in a conduit from a source of fluid under pressure. The pipe fitting comprises a tubular body defining an elongate interior chamber open at both an upstream end and a downstream end. The wall of the body defines a plurality of radial passages opening into the interior chamber and extending through the wall at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the body. The passages open to the atmosphere through the wall axially spaced upstream from the passage openings into the interior. Fluid flows through the body from the upstream end to the downstream end without escaping through the passages. When fluid flow is blocked downstream of the body, backflow of fluid is directed radially outwardly and angularly upstream through the passages to the atmosphere. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20140069353 | COFFEE MAKER WATER HEATER - Embodiments of the present invention provide improved heating methods for use in coffee makers and other beverage makers that use hot water for various beverages and other purposes. These improvements find particular use on-board aircraft or other passenger transport vehicles, where quick heating and reduced power consumption are particularly desirable and beneficial. Further embodiments also relate to improved water level sensing, improved water reservoirs, and improved carafe features. | 03-13-2014 |
| 20150136042 | Hot Water Generator - A cold water intake pipe | 05-21-2015 |
| 20160201943 | Heated Water Storage Tank with Integral Trapped Air to Mitigate Expansion/Contraction | 07-14-2016 |
