Hot water dispenser system

• US 6,094,524 A
• Filed: 02/19/1998
• Issued: 07/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Riley, Wayne C
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAMPBELL, THOR S
• Application Number:
  US09/026,070
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 392/485, 392/449-452, 392/441
• US Class Current: 392/485
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/188 with means for compensating water expansion

Abstract

A hot water supply system has a tank divided into a water heating chamber and a vented expansion chamber. A venturi orifice inlet is connected through a faucet valve to a cold water supply and the outlet of the orifice emits a high velocity jet at a negative pressure to cause water to be aspirated from the expansion chamber and mix with the supply water jet for pressurizing the heating chamber to cause hot water to be dispensed from the faucet spout, connected to the tank heating chamber, when the valve is opened. An air collection chamber receives the supply water jet stream which flows into the heating chamber until the expansion chamber is emptied of water for air to be aspirated into the collection chamber in which case the jet is disrupted and aspiration of air stops although the flow of water into and out of the heating tank can continue as long as the faucet valve remains open.

Claims

1. A hot water dispensing system including:

a water heating chamber and an expansion chamber which is vented to the atmosphere and is in fluid flow communication with the heating chamber

a heat source for heating water in said water heating chamber,

a tubular member having an inlet in communication with said water heating chamber and having an outlet from which heated water is dispensed,

a faucet valve having an inlet and an outlet for supply water,

an aspirator device between said expansion chamber and said water heating chamber, the device including a body with a venturi orifice having an inlet coupled to said outlet for supply water and having an outlet for emitting a jet of supply water and air into said heating chamber when said faucet valve is opened, said body of the aspirator having at least one inlet hole for said expansion chamber to communicate with said venturi orifice for drawing fluids from said expansion chamber, and

a vertically disposed air collection chamber sealingly connected to said aspirator body and arranged for receiving said jet of supply water and air emitted from the venturi orifice and conducting the supply water to said heating chamber for pressurizing the heating chamber sufficiently to enable said dispensing of heated water, and having a volume sufficient to retain a column of air drawn from the expansion chamber with a pressure which is sufficient to cause the venturi device to stop drawing air from said expansion chamber.

2. A hot water dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein said air collection chamber comprises a stationary baffle proximate to the exit end of said aspirator device, said baffle being arranged such that said jet of supply water and air impinges on said baffle and said baffle dissipates the kinetic energy of said jet of supply water and air to allow baffle and said baffle dissipates the kinetic energy of said jet of supply water and air to allow separation of said water and air and to prevent said air from exiting the bottom of said air collection chamber.

3. A hot water dispensing system according to claim 1 further comprising a controller for controlling energization of said heating element to heat the water in the tank to about 190°

F. (88°

C.) but not up to the boiling temperature of water.

4. A hot water dispensing system according to claim 1 wherein the water heating chamber and the expansion chamber are defined by walls composed of metal.

5. A hot water dispensing system according to claim 1 wherein the water heating chamber and the expansion chamber are defined by walls composed of plastic.