SEALED AND SELF-CONTAINED TANKLESS WATER HEATER FLUSHING SYSTEM

• US 20120118246A1
• Filed: 11/16/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zoeller Pump Co LLC (Zoeller Company)
• Original Assignee: Zoeller Company
• Inventors: Schmidt, William L., Oberkorn, Deron B., Nichols, Gary L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,228,575 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 122/382
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/021 the pump being immersed in the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 19/0092 Devices for preventing or removing corrosion, slime or scale

Abstract

A sealed and self-contained tankless water heater flushing system including a holding basin, a cover lid for the holding basin firmly securable and sealed liquid tight to the holding basin, a submersible pump contained within the holding basin, a submersible pump hose, securable from the submersible pump within the holding basin to a discharge opening in the cover of the holding basin, a filter system, securable within the holding basin to a filter opening contained in the cover lid, wherein the filter system includes a filter for filtering solid substances from the tankless water heater during a flushing process, a discharge hose for connecting the discharge opening to the water heater, and a filter hose for connecting the filter opening to the water heater.

Claims

1. A sealed and self-contained tankless water heater flushing system comprising

a holding basin,

a cover lid for the holding basin, securable to the holding basin,

a submersible pump, contained within the holding basin,

a submersible pump hose, securable from the submersible pump to a discharge opening in the cover lid of the holding basin,

a filter system, securable within the holding basin to a filter opening in the cover lid of the holding basin, wherein the filter system comprises a filter for filtering solid substances from the tankless water heater during a flushing process,

a discharge hose, for connecting the discharge opening to the tankless water heater, and

a filter hose, for connecting the filter opening to the tankless water heater.

2. The tankless water heater flushing system of claim 1, wherein the filter system further comprises a fitting and tubing system securable to the filter opening of the holding basin and to the filter.

3. The water heater flushing system of claim 2, wherein the filter of the filter system is secured to the fitting and tubing system by a quick disconnect device.

4. The water heater flushing system of claim 3, wherein the quick disconnect device is selected from the group consisting of a snap ring, hose clamp, or other securing systems for securing the filter to the fitting and tubing system.

5. The water heater flushing system of claim 1, wherein the filter comprises a flexible mesh filter with filtration capability down to 200 microns.

6. The water heater flushing system of claim 1, wherein the filter is removable from the flushing system for cleaning or replacement.

7. The water heater flushing system of claim 1, wherein the filter system permits returned liquid to bypass the filter without damage to the filter or submersible pump, even if the filter is full of solid substances.

8. The water heater flushing system of claim 1, further comprising a handle secured to the cover lid, with at least a portion of that handle located above the cover lid.

9. The water heater flushing system of claim 8, wherein the handle is used for hose and power cord storage.

10. The water heater flushing system of claim 1, wherein the holding basin further comprises a transparent or substantially transparent window in a portion of the holding basin.

11. The water heater flushing system of claim 4, wherein the return fitting assembly is manufactured from a transparent or substantially transparent polymeric material.

12. The water heater flushing system of claim 1, wherein the holding basin and the cover lid are manufactured of materials which are corrosion resistant to acidic liquids.

13. The water heater flushing system of claim 1, wherein the cover lid is sealed to the holding basin prior to a flushing process to limit the discharge of gas or a liquid spill from within the holding basin.

14. The water heater flushing system of claim 1, wherein the submersible pump is tested to operate at temperatures of at least 130°

F. for at least three hours under continuous operation with a flow rate of at least two gallons per minute.

15. The water heater flushing system of claim 1, wherein the holding basin and cover lid contain an access connection to add liquids to or remove liquids from the holding basin.