Fluid flow detector and control for a hot water system

Claim 2

A fluid flow detector comprising, a body having inlet and outlet ports on opposite sides of and in communication with a chamber, a vane pivotally positioned in said chamber with its free end extending between said inlet and outlet ports and being adapted to pivot between first and second positions extending across said inlet and outlet ports respectively, means for yieldably moving said vane to said first position, an actuation means connected to and moveable with said vane outside said body, said chamber being substantially rectangular in cross sectIon, and said vane being substantially rectangular in shape to substantially correspond to the cross section of said chamber to close communication between said inlet and outlet ports when said vane is in said first position at said inlet port, said chamber at said outlet port only being enlarged to provide a bypass around said vane when said vane is in said second position whereby upon fluid entering said chamber through said inlet port said vane is pivoted towards said outlet port against the resistance of said yieldable means and said fluid bypasses said vane while maintaining said vane in said second position.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 wherein said chamber at said outlet port is enlarged by lune openings being provided on opposite sides of said vane.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 2 wherein said lune openings in said chamber at said outlet port merge into said outlet port which is circular in cross section and extends through a side wall of said body to the exterior thereof.

Claim 5

The structure of claim 3 wherein the outer edges of said lune openings are spaced apart a maximum distance equal to the diameter of said outlet port.

Claim 6

The structure of claim 1 wherein said vane and actuation means includes a pivot shaft extending to the exterior of said body and an arm provided on said shaft.

Claim 7

The structure of claim 1 wherein said rectangular in cross section chamber includes four side walls and two end walls, and said vane includes an enlarged semicylindrical shoulder between the pivotal axis of said vane and an adjacent chamber side wall, the outer surface of said shoulder being so positioned relative to said adjacent side wall that substantially no fluid may pass therebetween when said vane is in said first position.

Claim 8

The structure of claim 1 wherein said rectangular in cross section chamber includes four side walls and two end walls, and said vane includes an enlarged semicylindrical shoulder on each side between the pivotable axis of said vane and said adjacent chamber side walls, the outer surface of said shoulders being so positioned relative to said adjacent side walls that substantially no fluid may pass therebetween.

Claim 9

The structure of claim 3 wherein said chamber includes removeable closure members at opposite ends.

Claim 10

A hot water system comprising, an electrically controlled heater unit having inlet and outlet lines, a valve in said outline line, a flow detector control in said inlet line comprising, a body having inlet and outlet ports on opposite sides of and in communication with a chamber, a vane pivotally positioned in said chamber with its free end extending between said inlet and outlet ports and being adapted to pivot between first and second positions extending across said inlet and outlet ports respectively, means for yieldably moving said vane to said first position, an actuation means connected to and moveable with said vane outside said body and operatively connected to said electrically controlled heater unit, said chamber being substantially rectangular in cross section, and said vane being substantially rectangular in shape to substantially correspond to the cross section of said chamber to close communication between said inlet and outlet ports when said vane is in said first position at said inlet port; and said chamber at said outlet port only being enlarged to provide a bypass around said vane when said vane is in said second position whereby upon fluid entering said chamber through said inlet port said vane is pivoted towards said outlet port against the resistance of said yieldable means and said fluid bypasses said vane while maintaining said vane in said second position.

Claim 11

A hot water system comprising, an electrically controlled heater unit having inlet and outlet lines, a valve in said outline line, a flow detector control in said inlet line comprising, a body having inlet and outlet ports on opposite sides of and in communication with a chamber, a vane pivotally positioned in said chamber with its free end extending between said inlet and outlet ports and being adapted to pivot between first and second positions extending across said inlet and outlet ports respectively, means for yieldably moving said vane to said first position, an actuation means connected to and moveable with said vane outside said body and operatively connected to said electrically controlled heater unit, said chamber being substantially rectangular in cross section, and said vane being substantially rectangular in shape to substantially correspond to the cross section of said chamber to close communication between said inlet and outlet ports when said vane is in said first position at said inlet port; and said chamber at said outlet port only being enlarged to provide a bypass around said vane when said vane is in said second position whereby upon fluid entering said chamber through said inlet port said vane is pivoted towards said outlet port against the resistance of said yieldable means and said fluid bypasses said vane while maintaining said vane in said second position.

Claim 12

The structure of claim 9 wherein said chamber at said outlet port is enlarged by lune openings being provided on opposite sides of said vane.