US3770197A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arrangement in a hot water-circulating heating system
Assignee: Vaillant GmbH
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Filing: 1972-04-17
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1992-04-17
Abstract
Abstract A gas burner heats water to be forced through radiators by a pump. A valve assembly on the forward or feed conduit has a connection going to the radiators and a connection going through a by-pass to the return conduit. In the by-pass conduit is a heat exchanger for heating water to be consumed. A temperature sensor on the assembly is exposed to and responsive to the unheated water to be consumed and the heated water in the forward conduit. This temperature sensor operates an electrical switch and, through a lost motion connection, operates the water flow valve in the valve assembly. When this sensor is cool the valve is set to cause the water in the forward conduit to flow through the bypass and the electrical switch is closed. As the temperature sensor heats up its first opens the electrical switch and thereafter moves the valve to a position at which the heated water in the forward line flows to the radiators. For summer operation the gas burner and the pump are controlled through that switch. For winter operation that switch is by-passed and a room thermostat controls the electric supply to the gas valve and pump. Also included in the electrical circuits are switches responsive to the flow of water to be heated through the heat exchanger and water temperature limit switches.
Inventors
- 👤 H Meier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:12
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24D; F24D19/00; F24D19/10; F24D19/1006; F24D19/1066; F24D19/1069; F24H; F24H15/00; F24H15/30; F24H15/305; F24H15/31; F24H15/335; F24H15/355; F24H15/36; F24H15/40; F24H15/407
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
333 words
In an apparatus for use with a source of electrical power and comprising a water heater and a water flow circuit connected thereto which circuit includes a forward conduit, a return conduit, a vAlve assembly connected to one of said conduits, a by-pass extending from the valve assembly to the other conduit, a heat exchanger in said by-pass for heating water to be consumed, a circulating pump, a heating circuit extending from the valve assembly to the other conduit, a gas valve for controlling the generation of heat in the water heater, electrical control means including switch means connected to the pump and to the gas valve, said valve assembly including a housing, a temperature sensor in the housing and exposed to the heated water of the water flow circuit as it passes through the housing and also exposed to the cold water flowing to the heat exchanger to be heated therein, a valve in the housing having a first valve seat through which flows the water of the heating circuit, a second valve seat through which flows the water of the by-pass and valve closure means for the seats, and actuating means connecting the closure means to the sensor for closing the first valve seat when the sensor is relatively cool and for closing the second valve seat when the sensor is relatively hot, the improvement comprising: said switch means being connected to said sensor for, in a first position, opening the valve and running the pump when the sensor is relatively cold and for, in a second position, closing the gas valve and stopping the pump when the sensor is relatively hot, said actuating means including a lost-motion connection to the closure for moving the closure from the first seat after the switch moves from the first to the second position as the sensor heats up and for moving the closure to the first seat before the switch moves from the second to the first position as the sensor cools down.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
333 words
In an apparatus for use with a source of electrical power and comprising a water heater and a water flow circuit connected thereto which circuit includes a forward conduit, a return conduit, a vAlve assembly connected to one of said conduits, a by-pass extending from the valve assembly to the other conduit, a heat exchanger in said by-pass for heating water to be consumed, a circulating pump, a heating circuit extending from the valve assembly to the other conduit, a gas valve for controlling the generation of heat in the water heater, electrical control means including switch means connected to the pump and to the gas valve, said valve assembly including a housing, a temperature sensor in the housing and exposed to the heated water of the water flow circuit as it passes through the housing and also exposed to the cold water flowing to the heat exchanger to be heated therein, a valve in the housing having a first valve seat through which flows the water of the heating circuit, a second valve seat through which flows the water of the by-pass and valve closure means for the seats, and actuating means connecting the closure means to the sensor for closing the first valve seat when the sensor is relatively cool and for closing the second valve seat when the sensor is relatively hot, the improvement comprising: said switch means being connected to said sensor for, in a first position, opening the valve and running the pump when the sensor is relatively cold and for, in a second position, closing the gas valve and stopping the pump when the sensor is relatively hot, said actuating means including a lost-motion connection to the closure for moving the closure from the first seat after the switch moves from the first to the second position as the sensor heats up and for moving the closure to the first seat before the switch moves from the second to the first position as the sensor cools down.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
119 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said valve seats are opposite each other and said valve closure means is a disc between the seats, said sensor being adjacent the first valve seat, said actuating means includes a rod connected to the sensor and extending through the seats and the disc, said actuating means extending outside said housing and there being operably connected to said switch means, said actuating means including a spring resiliently urging said disc toward said first valve seat and a coupling member on said rod to move the disc away from the first seat against said urging in response to movement of the rod and after a lost motion of the rod.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
111 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 2, including a conduit to the heat exchanger for water to be heated therein, and wherein said electrical control means includes a flow responsive switch means connected to said last mentioned conduit and in series with said switch means actuated by the valve assembly, means including the switch of a room thermostat electrically connected to said pump and to said gas valve, a room heating control including a switch by-passing the switch means actuated by the valve assembly and in series with the flow responsive switch means and a switch between the source of electrical power and the switch of the room thermostat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
126 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 3, including a second switch operatively connected to said sensor of the valve assembly to be in one position when said sensor is cold and in a second position when said sensor is hot, a second temperature responsive switch having a sensor responsive to the temperature in said forward conduit with the switch being in parallel with the second position of said second switch operatively connected to the sensor of the valve assembly, one side of said last-mentioned parallel connection being connected to the gas valve and the other side thereof being connected to said room thermostat switch, said one position of said second switch being in series with said gas valve and said flow responsive switch means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 4, including means comprising a manual switch connected between the first mentioned switch means and the second temperature responsive means and short circuiting the flow responsive sWitch means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including a conduit to the heat exchanger for water to be heated therein, and wherein said electrical control means includes a flow responsive switch means connected to said last mentioned conduit and in series with said switch means actuated by the valve assembly, means including the switch of a room thermostat electrically connected to said pump and to said gas valve, a room heating control including a switch by-passing the switch means actuated by the valve assembly and in series with the flow responsive switch means and a switch between the source of electrical power and the switch of the room thermostat.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
126 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 6, including a second switch operatively connected to said sensor of the valve assembly to be in one position when said sensor is cold and in a second position when said sensor is hot, a second temperature responsive switch having a sensor responsive to the temperature in said forward conduit with the switch being in parallel with the second position of said second switch operatively connected to the sensor of the valve assembly, one side of said last-mentioned parallel connection being connected to the gas valve and the other side thereof being connected to said room thermostat switch, said one position of said second switch being in series with said gas valve and said flow responsive switch means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
In an apparatus as set forth in claim 7, including means comprising a manual switch connected between the first mentioned switch means and the second temperature responsive means and short circuiting the flow responsive switch means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3426971A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |