VALVE WITH HEATING ELEMENT

• US 20130340847A1
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Published: 12/26/2013
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 9,260,842 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/341
• 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: H05K 999/99 : dummy group
• 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 valve for a plumbing fixture includes an internal passageway configured to route fluid through the valve. The internal passageway includes a surface and at least a portion of the valve comprises a thermally-conductive material. The valve also includes an electric heating element configured to heat at least a portion of the thermally-conductive material to an elevated temperature sufficient to disinfect the surface.

Claims

1. A valve for a plumbing fixture, the valve comprising:

an internal passageway configured to route fluid through the valve, wherein the internal passageway comprises a surface and at least a portion of the valve comprises a thermally-conductive material; and

an electric heating element configured to heat at least a portion of the thermally-conductive material to an elevated temperature sufficient to disinfect the surface.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve is a mixer valve.

3. The valve of claim 1, wherein the plumbing fixture is selected from the group consisting of a faucet, a shower head, and a bath spout.

4. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve is a flow control valve.

5. The valve of claim 1, wherein the heating element is a resistive wire heater.

6. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve includes a body and the heating element extends through a portion of the body.

7. The valve of claim 1, wherein the heating element is configured to heat the portion of the valve to a temperature of at least 60 degrees Celsius.

8. The valve of claim 1, wherein the heating element is configured to heat the portion of the valve to a temperature sufficient to kill organisms that may be present on the surface.

9. The valve of claim 1, further comprising a controller for controlling the heating element.

10. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a copper-containing material.

11. The valve of claim 10, wherein the copper-containing material is brass.

12. The valve of claim 1, wherein the heating element is provided outside of the passageway and in contact with the thermally-conductive material of the valve.

13. The valve of claim 1, wherein the valve is configured to be provided within the plumbing fixture.

14. A mixer valve for a water delivery component, the mixer valve comprising:

a body formed at least in part of a thermally-conductive material;

a first inlet into the body that is configured to receive a first fluid from a first fluid source;

a second inlet into the body that is configured to receive a second fluid from a second fluid source;

a mixing chamber within the body that is configured to mix the first and second fluids; and

a heating element configured to heat at least a portion of the body to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms that may be present within the body.

15. The valve of claim 14, wherein the water delivery component is selected from the group consisting of a faucet, a shower head, and a bath spout.

16. The valve of claim 14, wherein the heating element is an electric resistive wire heater.

17. The valve of claim 14, wherein the heating element extends through a portion of the body.

18. The valve of claim 14, wherein the heating element is configured to heat the portion of the body to a temperature of at least 60 degrees Celsius.

19. The valve of claim 14, further comprising a controller located proximate the valve for controlling the heating element.

20. The valve of claim 14, wherein the first and second inlets are provided in the same surface of the body.

21. The valve of claim 14, wherein the first and second inlets are provided in opposed surfaces of the body.

22. The valve of claim 14, wherein the mixer valve comprises a copper-containing material.

23. The valve of claim 14, wherein the valve is configured to be provided within the water delivery component.

24. A valve configured for use as part of a water delivery system, the valve comprising:

a body formed at least in part of a thermally-conductive material;

a waterway extending through the body and configured to route fluid through the body, wherein the waterway comprises a surface; and

an electric heater extending through at least a portion of the body and configured to heat at least a portion of the body to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms that may be resident on the surface.

25. The valve of claim 24, wherein the valve is a mixer valve.

26. The valve of claim 24, wherein the water delivery system comprises a component that is selected from the group consisting of a faucet, a shower head, and a bath spout.

27. The valve of claim 24, wherein the valve is a flow control valve.

28. The valve of claim 24, further comprising a controller in communication with the heater for controlling the operation of the heater.

29. The valve of claim 24, wherein the heater is a resistive wire heater configured to heat the portion of the body to a temperature of at least 60 degrees Celsius.

30. The valve of claim 24, wherein the valve comprises a copper-containing material.