Patent US3929154A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3929154A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Freeze protection apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-07-29
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Granted: 1975-12-30
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Expires: 1994-07-29
Abstract
Abstract An arrangement and method for winterizing, by the use of antifreeze, a structure having hot and cold water pipes and a hot water storage tank and in which the hot water storage tank is normally the only connection between the hot and cold water pipes, the arrangement involving introducing antifreeze into both the cold and hot water pipes so that the hot water tank can be drained and maintained in a drained condition during the period of winterization. The arrangement is particularly adapted for use in connection with recreational vehicles.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank E Goodwin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:19
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R15/00; E; E03; E03B; E03B7/00; E03B7/09; E03B7/10; E03B7/12; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/1189; Y10T137/5327; Y10T137/5497; Y10T137/6416; Y10T137/6497; Y10T137/6851; Y10T137/6855
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
In combination with a structure having a plurality of water conduits leading to various regions of utilization, at each of which regions there is a valved outlet from one of said water conduits, some of said conduits acting as hot water conduits and other of said conduits acting as cold water conduits; a water heater having a storage tank with a valved drain outlet, a valved inlet connection to one of said cold water conduits and a valved outlet connection between said tank and said hot water conduits, said storage tank and said valved inlet and outlet connections constituting the only interconnections between said hot and cold water conduits when said valved inlet and outlet connections are open, a source of water connected to said cold water conduits by a further valved connection, a source of antifreeze also connected to said cold water conduits by a further valved connection, and a normally closed further valved connection between said hot and cold water conduits so that upon opening the valve in said last named connection and the valve in the connection between the source of antifreeze and said cold water conduits, following closure of the valves in the connection to the source of water and in the inlet and outlet connections of said heater storage tank and draining of the latter, antifreeze can be admitted to both said cold and hot water conduits while leaving said heater storage tank substantially free of fluid of any kind.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
In combination with a structure having a plurality of water conduits leading to various regions of utilization, at each of which regions there is a valved outlet from one of said water conduits, some of said conduits acting as hot water conduits and other of said conduits acting as cold water conduits; a water heater having a storage tank with a valved drain outlet, a valved inlet connection to one of said cold water conduits and a valved outlet connection between said tank and said hot water conduits, said storage tank and said valved inlet and outlet connections constituting the only interconnections between said hot and cold water conduits when said valved inlet and outlet connections are open, a source of water connected to said cold water conduits by a further valved connection, a source of antifreeze also connected to said cold water conduits by a further valved connection, and a normally closed further valved connection between said hot and cold water conduits so that upon opening the valve in said last named connection and the valve in the connection between the source of antifreeze and said cold water conduits, following closure of the valves in the connection to the source of water and in the inlet and outlet connections of said heater storage tank and draining of the latter, antifreeze can be admitted to both said cold and hot water conduits while leaving said heater storage tank substantially free of fluid of any kind.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the normally closed valve connEction between said hot and cold water conduits is between hot and cold water conduits extending to a common region of utilization and is located adjacent the terminal points of said conduits so that the valve therein is readily accessible at said region of utilization.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which a pump is provided in the connection between the source of antifreeze and said cold water conduits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the source of water includes a storage tank and in which said tank has provision for draining the same.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the structure is a recreational vehicle.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
312 words
The method of winterizing a structure having a plurality of water conduits leading to various regions of utilization, at each of which regions there is a valved outlet from one of said water conduits, some of said conduits acting as hot water conduits and other of said conduits acting as cold water conduits, a water heater having a storage tank with a valved drain outlet, a valved inlet connection to one of said cold water conduits and a valved outlet connection between said tank and said hot water conduits, said storage tank and said valved inlet and outlet connections constituting the only interconnections between said hot and cold water conduits when said valved inlet and outlet connections are open, and a source of water connected to said cold water conduits by a valved connection, said method comprising: providing a normally closed connection between said hot and cold water conduits, closing off the connections between said source of water and said cold water conduits, opening the valved outlets at each of said points of utilization and opening said drain outlet of said heater storage tank to drain substantially all of the water from said storage tank and said conduits, closing the inlet and outlet connections of said heater storage tank and the valved outlets at the regions of utilization, supplying an antifreeze solution under pressure to said cold water conduits, opening said valved outlets in the cold water conduits at the regions of utilization, one by one, and maintaining each such valved outlet open until said antifreeze solution starts to flow out of said outlet, opening said normally closed connection between said hot and cold water conduits, and opening said valved outlets in the hot water conduits at the regions of utilization, one by one, and maintaining each such valved outlet open until said antifreeze solution starts to flow out of said outlet.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
312 words
The method of winterizing a structure having a plurality of water conduits leading to various regions of utilization, at each of which regions there is a valved outlet from one of said water conduits, some of said conduits acting as hot water conduits and other of said conduits acting as cold water conduits, a water heater having a storage tank with a valved drain outlet, a valved inlet connection to one of said cold water conduits and a valved outlet connection between said tank and said hot water conduits, said storage tank and said valved inlet and outlet connections constituting the only interconnections between said hot and cold water conduits when said valved inlet and outlet connections are open, and a source of water connected to said cold water conduits by a valved connection, said method comprising: providing a normally closed connection between said hot and cold water conduits, closing off the connections between said source of water and said cold water conduits, opening the valved outlets at each of said points of utilization and opening said drain outlet of said heater storage tank to drain substantially all of the water from said storage tank and said conduits, closing the inlet and outlet connections of said heater storage tank and the valved outlets at the regions of utilization, supplying an antifreeze solution under pressure to said cold water conduits, opening said valved outlets in the cold water conduits at the regions of utilization, one by one, and maintaining each such valved outlet open until said antifreeze solution starts to flow out of said outlet, opening said normally closed connection between said hot and cold water conduits, and opening said valved outlets in the hot water conduits at the regions of utilization, one by one, and maintaining each such valved outlet open until said antifreeze solution starts to flow out of said outlet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 6 in which the structure has a cold water storage tank which has a valved drain and is connected to the cold water conduits by a valved connection, in which method said cold water storage tank is drained by opening said valved drain, and in which said valved connection to said cold water pipes is closed before the antifreeze solution is supplied to said cold water conduits.
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) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |