Water control fixture having thermostatically controlled bypass valve
First Claim
1. A water control fixture, comprising:
- an operating valve in said water control fixture for controlling the flow of water from a pressurized supply of hot water; and
a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in said water control fixture, said bypass valve having a thermally sensitive actuating element therein configured to bypass water from said supply of hot water to a supply of cold water until the temperature of the water is at a preset level, said actuating element being insulated.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A water control fixture having an operating valve and a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in the fixture for bypassing water away from the fixture until the water temperature reaches a desired level. When pressurized water from the hot water heater reaches the desired temperature level at the fixture, the bypass valve closes and hot water is made available to the fixture. The bypass valve has a thermal actuator element that is thermally responsive to the temperature of the water. The fixture can have a housing with an interior chamber for operatively receiving the bypass valve. Various passages or channels can be provided to facilitate communication between the bypass valve and the water supply lines. Alternatively, the bypass valve can be positioned in the operating valve, including the moveable ball and the replaceable cylindrical valving cartridge types. A system using the in-fixture bypass valve is also provided.
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Citations
76 Claims
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1. A water control fixture, comprising:
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an operating valve in said water control fixture for controlling the flow of water from a pressurized supply of hot water; and
a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in said water control fixture, said bypass valve having a thermally sensitive actuating element therein configured to bypass water from said supply of hot water to a supply of cold water until the temperature of the water is at a preset level, said actuating element being insulated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A water control fixture, comprising:
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an operating valve in said water control fixture for controlling the flow of water from a pressurized supply of hot water;
a housing having an interior chamber, said interior chamber hydraulically connected to said supply of hot water, and a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in said interior chamber, said bypass valve having a thermally sensitive actuating element therein configured to bypass water from said supply of hot water to a supply of cold water until the temperature of the water is at a preset level, said actuating element configured to operatively seal said bypass valve, said bypass valve disposed in a cartridge configured to fit within said interior chamber. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. A water control fixture, comprising:
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an operating valve in said water control fixture for controlling the flow of water from a pressurized supply of hot water;
a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in said water control fixture, said bypass valve having a thermally sensitive actuating element therein configured to bypass water from said supply of hot water to a supply of cold water until the temperature of the water is at a preset level, said actuating element configured to operatively seal said bypass valve; and
a screen disposed in a hot water inlet of said water control fixture so as to be cleaned by the movement of water from said pressurized supply of hot water when said operating valve is open. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A water control fixture, comprising:
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an operating valve in said water control fixture for controlling the flow of water from a pressurized supply of hot water;
a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in said water control fixture, said bypass valve having a thermally sensitive actuating element therein configured to bypass water from said supply of hot water to a supply of cold water until the temperature of the water is at a preset level; and
a screen disposed in a hot water inlet of said water control fixture so as to be cleaned by the movement of water from said pressurized supply of hot water when said operating valve is open. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A water control fixture, comprising:
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an operating valve in said water control fixture for controlling the flow of water from a pressurized supply of hot water;
a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in said water control fixture, said bypass valve having a thermally sensitive actuating element therein configured to bypass water from said supply of hot water to a supply of cold water until the temperature of the water is at a preset level; and
a housing having an interior chamber disposed in said housing, said interior chamber hydraulically connected to said supply of hot water, said bypass valve disposed in a cartridge in said interior chamber.
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56. A water control fixture, comprising:
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an operating valve in said water control fixture for controlling the flow of water from a pressurized supply of hot water;
a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in said water control fixture, said bypass valve having a thermally sensitive actuating element therein configured to bypass water from said supply of hot water to a supply of cold water until the temperature of the water is at a preset level; and
a housing having an interior chamber disposed in said housing, said interior chamber hydraulically connected to said supply of hot water, said bypass valve removably disposed in said interior chamber, said bypass valve removable through the top of said water control fixture.
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57. A water control fixture, comprising:
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an operating valve in said water control fixture for controlling the flow of water from a pressurized supply of hot water;
a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in said water control fixture, said bypass valve having a thermally sensitive actuating element therein configured to bypass water from said supply of hot water to a supply of cold water until the temperature of the water is at a preset level; and
a housing disposed at the rear of said fixture, said housing having an interior chamber disposed in said housing, said interior chamber hydraulically connected to said supply of hot water, said bypass valve disposed in said interior chamber.
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58. A water control fixture, comprising:
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an operating valve in said water control fixture for controlling the flow of water from a pressurized supply of hot water;
a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in said water control fixture, said bypass valve having a thermally sensitive actuating element therein configured to bypass water from said supply of hot water to a supply of cold water until the temperature of the water is at a preset level; and
a housing having an interior chamber disposed in said housing, said housing a threaded pipe integral with said fixture, said interior chamber hydraulically connected to said supply of hot water, said bypass valve disposed in said interior chamber.
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59. A water control fixture, comprising:
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an operating valve in said water control fixture for controlling the flow of water from a pressurized supply of hot water;
a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in said water control fixture, said bypass valve having a thermally sensitive actuating element therein configured to bypass water from said supply of hot water to a supply of cold water until the temperature of the water is at a preset level; and
a housing having an interior chamber disposed in said housing, said interior chamber hydraulically connected to said supply of hot water, said bypass valve disposed in said interior chamber, said housing adapted for use as a dual handle, single spout water control fixture by adding a side port for the discharge of water from said fixture.
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60. A water control fixture, comprising:
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an operating valve in said water control fixture for controlling the flow of water from a pressurized supply of hot water; and
a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in said operating valve, said bypass valve having a thermally sensitive actuating element therein configured to bypass water from said supply of hot water to a supply of cold water until the temperature of the water is at a preset level. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. A water control fixture, comprising:
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an operating valve in said water control fixture for controlling the flow of water from a pressurized supply of hot water;
a housing having an interior chamber disposed therein, said interior chamber hydraulically connected to said supply of hot water; and
a thermostatically controlled bypass valve removably disposed in said interior chamber, said bypass valve having a thermally sensitive actuating element therein configured to bypass water from said supply of hot water to a supply of cold water until the temperature of the water is at a preset level, said actuating element configured to operatively seal said bypass valve, said bypass valve removable through the top of said water control fixture. - View Dependent Claims (70)
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71. A water control fixture, comprising:
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an operating valve in said water control fixture for controlling the flow of water from a pressurized supply of hot water; and
a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in said operating valve, said bypass valve having a thermally sensitive actuating element therein configured to bypass water from said supply of hot water to a supply of cold water until the temperature of the water is at a preset level, said actuating element configured to operatively seal said bypass valve. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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Specification