Instantaneous water heater

• US 7,140,378 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2005
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graham Companies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graham Companies Incorporated
• Inventors: Kubik, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/037,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20050161086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 137/334, 137/337, 137/340, 137/1, 138/167, 236/12.11
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 17/00 Domestic hot-water supply systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1313 without temperature sensing element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6416 With heating or cooling of the system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6497 Hot and cold water system having a connection from the hot to the cold channel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6579 Circulating fluid in heat exchange relationship

Abstract

A system for instantaneously heating water has a heat exchanger for heating cold water to produce overheated water; a hot water supply member connected to a first intake of the heat exchanger; a cold water supply member connected to a second intake of the heat exchanger; and a blending valve having two intakes and an outtake. A hot water outlet member is connected to an outtake of the heat exchanger and to the intake of the blending valve. The cold water supply member is also connected to the blending valve. The blending valve has a chamber for blending the cold water with the overheated water from the heat exchanger to produce blended hot water at a predetermined temperature.

Claims

1. A method for instantaneously heating water, comprising:

supplying a hot water supply source;

supplying hot water into a heat exchanger from said hot water supply source via a first intake of said heat exchanger;

supplying cold water into said heat exchanger via a second intake of said heat exchanger;

heating the cold water within said heat exchanger to produce overheated water;

supplying the overheated water from the heat exchanger to a blending valve;

supplying cold water to the blending valve;

blending the cold water and overheated water; and

supplying the blended water from the blending valve.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

supplying hot water on a continuous flow at a predetermined high temperature to the heat exchanger.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein supplying hot water to the heat exchanger includes supplying water in the range of 150°

to 350°

Fahrenheit.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

adjusting water temperature within the blending valve using a temperature control member.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

sensing outlet pressure of the blending valve using a sensing line.

6. A system for instantaneously heating water comprising:

a heat exchanger for heating cold water to produce overheated water;

a hot water supply source;

a first inlet member connected to a first intake of said heat exchanger and to said hot water supply source for supplying hot water into said heat exchanger from said hot water supply source;

a second inlet member connected to a second intake of said heat exchanger for supplying cold water into said heat exchanger;

a blending valve comprising a first intake and an outtake; and

an outlet member connected to an outtake of said heat exchanger and to said first intake of said blending valve for supplying overheated water from said heat exchanger to said blending valve, said second inlet member also connected to a second intake of said blending valve, said blending valve comprising a chamber for blending said cold water with said overheated water from said heat exchanger to produce blended hot water at a predetermined temperature.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said heat exchanger comprises a plate heat exchanger.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said first inlet member provides a continuous flow of water at a predetermined high temperature.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said hot water supply source supplies water in the range of 150°

to 350°

Fahrenheit to said heat exchanger.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said blending valve is a feed forward blending valve.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein said blending valve comprises a diaphragm which moves in response to a water flow demand.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said blending valve further comprises a plug which is located in said outtake of said blending valve.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said plug is regulated by movement of said diaphragm.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said blending valve further comprises a sensing line which provides a top portion of said diaphragm with cold water pressure and senses blended water outlet pressure.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said blending valve further comprises a differential sensing head to which said sensing line is connected.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said blending valve further comprises a temperature control member for adjusting water temperature within said valve.