Plumbing fixture with heating element
First Claim
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1. A faucet comprising:
- a base for mounting the faucet;
a spout extending from the base and configured to discharge water;
a valve housing located within the spout and comprising a first end section, a second end section having an outlet, and a center section provided between the first and second end sections, the center section including a first inlet configured to receive cold water and a second inlet configured to receive hot water;
a first flow control valve located within a first waterway of the valve housing to control the flow of cold water from the first inlet to the outlet;
a second flow control valve located within a second waterway of the valve housing to control the flow of hot water from the second inlet to the outlet;
a first motor located within the spout and coupled to the first end section, wherein the first motor is configured to control movement of the first flow control valve to adjust a flow rate of cold water to the outlet;
a second motor located within the spout and coupled to the first end section, wherein the second motor is configured to control movement of the second flow control valve to adjust a flow rate of hot water to the outlet; and
an electric heater extending through at least a portion of the valve housing and configured to heat a surface defining at least part of one of the first or second waterways to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the respective waterway.
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Abstract
A plumbing component includes a valve provided within a portion of the plumbing component and configured to control the flow of water through the plumbing component. The valve includes a body and at least one waterway within the body. An electric heater extends through at least a portion of the body of the valve and is configured to heat at least a portion of the body to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the waterway.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A faucet comprising:
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a base for mounting the faucet; a spout extending from the base and configured to discharge water; a valve housing located within the spout and comprising a first end section, a second end section having an outlet, and a center section provided between the first and second end sections, the center section including a first inlet configured to receive cold water and a second inlet configured to receive hot water; a first flow control valve located within a first waterway of the valve housing to control the flow of cold water from the first inlet to the outlet; a second flow control valve located within a second waterway of the valve housing to control the flow of hot water from the second inlet to the outlet; a first motor located within the spout and coupled to the first end section, wherein the first motor is configured to control movement of the first flow control valve to adjust a flow rate of cold water to the outlet; a second motor located within the spout and coupled to the first end section, wherein the second motor is configured to control movement of the second flow control valve to adjust a flow rate of hot water to the outlet; and an electric heater extending through at least a portion of the valve housing and configured to heat a surface defining at least part of one of the first or second waterways to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the respective waterway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A faucet comprising:
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a structure comprising a mounting base and a spout extending from the mounting base that is configured to discharge water; a valve housing separate from the structure and located within the spout, the valve housing comprising a first end section, a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet, and a mixing chamber; a first flow control valve located within the valve housing to control the flow of cold water from the cold water inlet to the mixing chamber; a second flow control valve located within the valve housing to control the flow of hot water from the hot water inlet to the mixing chamber; a first motor located within the structure, coupled to the first end section, and configured to control movement of the first flow control valve; a second motor located within the structure, coupled to the first end section, and configured to control movement of the second flow control valve; and an electric heater located within the spout and configured to heat a surface defining a waterway to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the waterway. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A faucet comprising:
- an elongated spout having a cross sectional shape that is uniform along a length of the spout;
a valve housing separate from the spout and located therein, the valve housing comprising a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet, and a mixing chamber;
a cold water flow control valve configured to control the flow of cold water from the cold water inlet to the mixing chamber;
a hot water flow control valve configured to control the flow of hot water from the hot water inlet to the mixing chamber; and
an electric heater located within the spout and configured to heat a surface defining a waterway to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the waterway, wherein the electric heater is located within a portion of the spout that is downstream of the mixing chamber. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
- an elongated spout having a cross sectional shape that is uniform along a length of the spout;
Specification