Valve for Tankless Water Heater
First Claim
1. A valve assembly comprising:
- a valve body formed of at least two body sections with two body sections having an elongate tubular passageway portion which at least partially define a ball cavity therebetween communicating with two tubular passage portions, wherein one of the body sections defines an auxiliary inlet/outlet communicating with the ball cavity and further defining a tubular spindle flange communicating with the ball cavity;
an elongate spindle sealingly mounted within the spindle flange for limited rotation between an open position and a bypass position, the spindle having a first end extending toward the ball cavity and a second end external from the ball cavity;
a ball valve oriented within the ball cavity and cooperating with the elongate spindle to be rotated thereby between an open position and a bypass position, the ball valve having a primary elongate passageway which extends therethrough to interconnect the tubular passageway portions of the valve body sections when the ball valve is oriented in the open position, the ball valve having an internal bypass port aligned with one of the tubular passageway portions in a valve body section when the ball valve is oriented in the bypass position, internal bypass port serving to interconnect one of the tubular passage portions in a valve body section and the auxiliary inlet/outlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A valve assembly is provided having two valve sections, each having a tubular passageway portion and when joined together, defining a ball cavity in communication with the tubular passageways. One of the body sections is provided with an inlet/outlet in communication with the ball cavity as well as a spindle flange. An elongate spindle extends through the spindle flange projecting into the ball cavity region to rotate a spherical ball element between an open and a bypass position. The ball valve has a primary elongate passage which interconnects the two tubular passage portions in the valve body sections when the ball valve is in the open position. When the ball valve is rotated to the bypass position, the tubular passage portion of one of the ball body sections is sealed closed while the other tubular passage portion communicates with an internal bypass port within the ball valve which in turn, communicates with the auxiliary inlet/outlet. The preferred embodiment includes a pair of valve assemblies for use with a tankless hot water heater system.
22 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A valve assembly comprising:
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a valve body formed of at least two body sections with two body sections having an elongate tubular passageway portion which at least partially define a ball cavity therebetween communicating with two tubular passage portions, wherein one of the body sections defines an auxiliary inlet/outlet communicating with the ball cavity and further defining a tubular spindle flange communicating with the ball cavity; an elongate spindle sealingly mounted within the spindle flange for limited rotation between an open position and a bypass position, the spindle having a first end extending toward the ball cavity and a second end external from the ball cavity; a ball valve oriented within the ball cavity and cooperating with the elongate spindle to be rotated thereby between an open position and a bypass position, the ball valve having a primary elongate passageway which extends therethrough to interconnect the tubular passageway portions of the valve body sections when the ball valve is oriented in the open position, the ball valve having an internal bypass port aligned with one of the tubular passageway portions in a valve body section when the ball valve is oriented in the bypass position, internal bypass port serving to interconnect one of the tubular passage portions in a valve body section and the auxiliary inlet/outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11-15. -15. (canceled)
Specification