Method and Means for Installing a Union Nut around a Valve Port
First Claim
1. A valve assembly for a tankless water heater comprising:
- a casing having a first port, a second port and a third port;
a main valve in the first port;
a drain valve in the third port;
a main handle connected to the main valve, the main handle characterized by a lever arm portion; and
a drain handle connected to the drain valve, the drain handle not characterized by a lever arm portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A service valve assembly for a tankless water heater incorporates one or more features that provide safer operation and easier installation of a valve assembly. Installation of a valve assembly is facilitated by foreshortening all perpendicularly protruding ports, thereby increasing the rotational freedom during installation. A main valve and a drain valve are intentionally distinguished from each other by providing different port sizes, valve handles and valve shapes that change the overall shape and characteristics of the valve assembly in such a way that accidental opening a drain port becomes much less likely. Installation can further be simplified by using a unique union nut that allows a service valve to be easily connected to an existing tankless water heater.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A valve assembly for a tankless water heater comprising:
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a casing having a first port, a second port and a third port; a main valve in the first port; a drain valve in the third port; a main handle connected to the main valve, the main handle characterized by a lever arm portion; and a drain handle connected to the drain valve, the drain handle not characterized by a lever arm portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A valve assembly for a tankless water heater comprising:
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a casing having a chamber, a first port, a second port and a third port; a main valve in the first port; a drain valve in the third port; wherein the third port is substantially perpendicular to a flow of water through the chamber, the first port and the second port; and wherein the third port protrudes by not more than twice the value of the outer diameter of the casing that surrounds a portion of the chamber. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A valve assembly for a tankless water heater comprising:
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a casing having a chamber, a first port, a second port and a third port; a main ball valve in the first port; a drain ball valve in the third port; and wherein the diameter of the main ball valve is at least fifty percent larger than the diameter of the drain ball valve. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification