Plumbing fixture with heating element

• US 10,604,919 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2018
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kohler MIRA Limited (Kohler Company)
• Original Assignee: Kohler MIRA Limited (Kohler Company)
• Inventors: Peel, Kevin T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanchez-Medina, Reinaldo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Colon-Morales, David
• Application Number:
  US15/935,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20180216323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/18 Roses; Shower heads with means for adding soap or the like E03C1/046; jet regulators E03C1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/24 incorporating means for heating the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. electrically
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/24 Applying particulate materials
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/006 Arrangements or methods for cleaning or refurbishing water conduits
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/074 Arrangement of water treatment devices
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/075 Arrangement of devices for control of pressure or flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/078 Combined units with different devices; Arrangement of different devices with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/02 Plumbing installations for fresh water
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/04 Water-basin installations specially adapted to wash-basins or baths valves, faucets, mixing valves, taps F16K
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0404 Constructional or functional features of the spout
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/0409 Shower handles
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/044 having a heating or cooling apparatus in the supply line water heaters, e.g. with continuous flow, F24H
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/055 Electrical control devices, e.g. with push buttons, control panels or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/44 Details of seats or valve members of double-seat valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/22 with an actuating member for each valve, e.g. interconnected to form multiple-way valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/24 with an electromagnetically-operated valve, e.g. for washing machines
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 19/00 Arrangements of valves and flow lines specially adapted for mixing fluids multiple-way valves F16K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 19/006 Specially adapted for faucets
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 27/0263 multiple way valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/04 using a motor
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 49/002 : Electric heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 1/00 : Pipe-line systems conveying articles or materials through a pipe- line by means of a fluid carrier B65G51/00, B65G53/00; liquids B67D; special devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers into vehicles or boats or vice versa, e.g. loading or unloading vehicles or portable containers B67D7/00; conveying material which has been excavated by a dredger or soil shifter through a pipe-line E02F7/10; sewer pipe-line systems E03F3/00; thermal insulation of pipe-lines F16L59/00; central heating systems F24D
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/13 : characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/16 : Controlling mixing ratio of fluids having different temperatures, e.g. by sensing the temperature of a mixture of fluids having different viscosities
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1393 : characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1858 : by varying the mixing ratio of fluids having different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 : characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 : using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 : specially adapted for fluid materials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 : Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0329 : Mixing of plural fluids of diverse characteristics or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0391 : Affecting flow by the addition of material or energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0424 : Liquid cleaning or flushing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6606 : With electric heating element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7759 : Responsive to change in rate of fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8376 : Combined
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8593 : Systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86389 : Programmer or timer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87668 : Single actuator operates plural flow control means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87684 : Valve in each inlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87692 : With common valve operator

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.

Claims

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.

2. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the first and second flow control valves are housed within the center section of the valve housing.

3. The faucet of claim 2, wherein both of the first and second inlets are provided on a first side of the center section of the valve housing.

4. The faucet of claim 3, wherein the electric heater extends through a bore of the valve body located on a second side of the center section of the valve housing that is opposite to the first side.

5. The faucet of claim 4, wherein

the first motor translates the first flow control valve relative to the valve housing to adjust the flow rate of cold water to the outlet;

and

the second motor translates the second flow control valve relative to the valve housing to adjust the flow rate of hot water to the outlet.

6. The faucet of claim 5, further comprising:

an electronic controller provided within the spout and configured to control operation of the first and second motors; and

a user interface for communicating a selected flow rate and a selected temperature of the water discharged from the spout to the electronic controller via a control signal.

7. The faucet of claim 6, further comprising a sensor located in the second end section and configured to monitor a temperature of the water flowing out of the outlet and communicating the temperature of the water flowing out of the outlet to the electronic controller.

8. The faucet of claim 7, wherein the first end section, the second end section, and the center section are separate members that are coupled together in a fluid tight manner.

9. The faucet of claim 7, wherein the electronic controller disables the first and second flow control valves in a closed position to prevent water flow to the outlet in response to the elevated temperature being at or above a predetermined threshold temperature.

10. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the valve housing comprises a thermally-conductive material.

11. The faucet of claim 10, wherein the spout comprises a thermally-insulating material and has a cross sectional shape that is uniform along a length of the spout.

12. The faucet of claim 11, wherein the electric heater comprises a resistive wire heater coil that is powered with 50 watts or less.

13. A faucet comprising:

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.

14. The faucet of claim 13, wherein the electric heater is located within a body of the spout that is downstream from the mixing chamber, and wherein a liner is disposed in the body and defines the surface.

15. The faucet of claim 14, wherein the electric heater is disposed between the liner and the body, the liner comprises a thermally conductive material, and the body comprises a thermally insulating material.

16. The faucet of claim 13, wherein the electric heater is located within a bore of the valve housing, the valve housing comprises a thermally-conductive material, and the spout comprises a thermally-insulating material.

17. The faucet of claim 16, wherein the housing comprises:

a second end section having an outlet from the mixing chamber; and

a center section provided between the first and second end sections, the center section including the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet;

wherein the first end section, the second end section, and the center section are separate members that are coupled together in a fluid tight manner.

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.

19. The faucet of claim 18, wherein a liner is disposed in the body and defines the surface, the electric heater is disposed between the liner and the body, the liner comprises a thermally conductive material, and the portion of the spout comprises a thermally insulating material.

20. The faucet of claim 18, wherein the electric heater is located within a bore of the valve housing, the valve housing comprises a thermally-conductive material, and the spout comprises a thermally-insulating material.