US3556124A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Valve for instant hot water system
Assignee: W F PRODUCTS CORP
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Filing: 1968-08-21
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Granted: 1971-01-19
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Expires: 1988-08-21
Abstract
Abstract An instant hot water system has a return line from the far end of the hot water supply line back to the cold water inlet of the water heater. At the junction between the return line and the cold water supply line, there is a piston valve which closes the return line when cold water flows into the heater to replace hot water drawn off. The piston valve member, spring pressed to a position normally closing the cold water inlet and opening the connection to the return line, is of molded plastic material.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A Walton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:21
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24D; F24D17/00; F24D17/0078; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2496; Y10T137/2559; Y10T137/2564; Y10T137/2567; Y10T137/6416; Y10T137/6497; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/85954; Y10T137/85962
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
359 words
An instant hot water system comprising: a hot water tank, a hot water supply line heading from said tank to a remote point where hot water is to be drawn off, a cold water supply line for supplying cold water to said tank to replace hot water drawn off therefrom, a water circulation return line operatively connected to said hot water supply line near said remote point and leading thence to said cold water supply line near said tank, said return line opening freely into said cold water supply line without substantial obstruction so long as no incoming cold water is flowing in said cold water supply line, and means operated by flow of incoming cold water for substantially closing the opening of said return line into said cold water supply line, said means for substantially closing the opening of said return line comprising a hollow valve body having a cold water inlet, an outlet, and a port connected to said return line, a movable valve member having a portion adapted to uncover said port when said valve member is in a first position and to cover said port when said valve member is in a second position, a spring tending to move said valve member to said first position, and a portion on said valve member displaced by inflow of water into said inlet to move said valve member from said first position to said second position against the force of said spring, said valve body having a substantially cylindrical chamber with said port formed in a lateral wall thereof and with a transverse wall apertured to form an inlet orifice at an inlet end of said chamber, said valve member comprising a stem portion extending axially in said chamber, a piston portion surrounding said stem portion and engaging the walls of said chamber to cover said port when said valve member is in said second position and to uncover said port when said valve member is in said first position, and a head portion on said stem for cooperating with said transverse wall to close the inlet orifice when said valve member is in said first position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
359 words
An instant hot water system comprising: a hot water tank, a hot water supply line heading from said tank to a remote point where hot water is to be drawn off, a cold water supply line for supplying cold water to said tank to replace hot water drawn off therefrom, a water circulation return line operatively connected to said hot water supply line near said remote point and leading thence to said cold water supply line near said tank, said return line opening freely into said cold water supply line without substantial obstruction so long as no incoming cold water is flowing in said cold water supply line, and means operated by flow of incoming cold water for substantially closing the opening of said return line into said cold water supply line, said means for substantially closing the opening of said return line comprising a hollow valve body having a cold water inlet, an outlet, and a port connected to said return line, a movable valve member having a portion adapted to uncover said port when said valve member is in a first position and to cover said port when said valve member is in a second position, a spring tending to move said valve member to said first position, and a portion on said valve member displaced by inflow of water into said inlet to move said valve member from said first position to said second position against the force of said spring, said valve body having a substantially cylindrical chamber with said port formed in a lateral wall thereof and with a transverse wall apertured to form an inlet orifice at an inlet end of said chamber, said valve member comprising a stem portion extending axially in said chamber, a piston portion surrounding said stem portion and engaging the walls of said chamber to cover said port when said valve member is in said second position and to uncover said port when said valve member is in said first position, and a head portion on said stem for cooperating with said transverse wall to close the inlet orifice when said valve member is in said first position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A construction as defined in claim 1, in which said piston portion of said valve member has a plurality of passages extending through the thickness of said piston portion in an axial direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A construction as defined in claim 1, in which at least the piston portion of said valve member is formed of plastic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A construction as defined in claim 1, further including a valve stem guide mEmber extending transversely across said chamber and engaging and guiding said stem portion at a point thereof on the opposite side of said piston portion from said head portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
A construction as defined in claim 4, further including a coil spring surrounding said stem portion between said guide member and said piston portion, said spring reacting against said guide member and pressing axially against and piston portion in a direction tending to move said valve member to said first position and to seat said head portion thereof in closing relation to said inlet orifice.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
307 words
A valve for connecting a cold water supply line to a hot water circulation return line in an instant hot water system: said valve comprising a tubular body having a cylindrical chamber therein with an inlet end adapted to be connected to a cold water supply line, and an outlet end, a lateral port in a sidewall of said chamber, said port being adapted to be connected to said hot water circulation return line; a transverse wall near the inlet end of said chamber, said wall being apertured to form an inlet orifice; a valve member movable axially within said chamber; said valve member having a central stem extending axially, a head at one end of said stem, and a piston portion at an intermediate point on the length of said stem; said head being of a size to close said inlet orifice when said head is seated against said transverse wall and being of smaller diameter than said chamber so that water may flow past the peripheral edge of said head when said head is moved axially away from said transverse wall; said piston portion having openings extending axially therethrough so that water may flow through said piston portion and having a peripheral edge slidably engaging the sidewalls of said chamber in the vicinity of said lateral port and positioned to cover and block said lateral port when said head is moved axially away from said transverse wall; so that water may then flow in said inlet orifice, past said head, through said piston, and out said outlet end without flowing into said port, said peripheral edge of said piston uncovering said lateral port when said head is seated against said transverse wall to close said inlet orifice, so that water may then flow from said port into said chamber and thence out said outlet end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
307 words
A valve for connecting a cold water supply line to a hot water circulation return line in an instant hot water system: said valve comprising a tubular body having a cylindrical chamber therein with an inlet end adapted to be connected to a cold water supply line, and an outlet end, a lateral port in a sidewall of said chamber, said port being adapted to be connected to said hot water circulation return line; a transverse wall near the inlet end of said chamber, said wall being apertured to form an inlet orifice; a valve member movable axially within said chamber; said valve member having a central stem extending axially, a head at one end of said stem, and a piston portion at an intermediate point on the length of said stem; said head being of a size to close said inlet orifice when said head is seated against said transverse wall and being of smaller diameter than said chamber so that water may flow past the peripheral edge of said head when said head is moved axially away from said transverse wall; said piston portion having openings extending axially therethrough so that water may flow through said piston portion and having a peripheral edge slidably engaging the sidewalls of said chamber in the vicinity of said lateral port and positioned to cover and block said lateral port when said head is moved axially away from said transverse wall; so that water may then flow in said inlet orifice, past said head, through said piston, and out said outlet end without flowing into said port, said peripheral edge of said piston uncovering said lateral port when said head is seated against said transverse wall to close said inlet orifice, so that water may then flow from said port into said chamber and thence out said outlet end.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A construction as defined in claim 6, further comprising a coil spring surrounding said stem and tending to move said valve member axially to maintain said head in closing relation to said inlet orifice.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-18 | 1974-07-20 | 1975-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-18 | 1978-07-20 | 1979-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-07-20 | 1983-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |