Water control fixture having auxiliary functions

• US 8,231,064 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grundfos Pumps Corporation (POUL DUE Jensen's FOND)
• Original Assignee: Grundfos Pumps Corporation (POUL DUE Jensen's FOND)
• Inventors: Lum, Ken, Kempf, Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US12/165,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20090007975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 236/12.1, 236/12.11, 236/12.13, 137/337
• US Class Current: 236/12.13
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 1/048 Systems for collecting not used fresh water
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/04 Domestic or like local pipe systems domestic plumbing E03C1/02
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/045 diverting initially cold water in warm water supply
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 17/00 Domestic hot-water supply systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 17/0094 Recovering of cold water
• 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 137/86815 Multiple inlet with single outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet

Abstract

A water control fixture includes a housing having a plurality of ports defining a hot water inlet port, a cold water port, a fixture outlet port, and an auxiliary port, wherein water is dispensed from the housing via the fixture outlet port. A flow control unit is configured to be selectively positioned in fluid communication with different combinations of the plurality of ports, wherein the flow control unit has a main passage in fluid communication with the hot water inlet port, the cold water port, and the fixture outlet port. The flow control unit controls the flow of water from the hot water inlet port and the cold water port to the fixture outlet port. The flow control unit has an auxiliary passage in fluid communication with the auxiliary port and at least one of the hot water inlet port, the cold water port, and the fixture outlet port to perform an auxiliary function.

Claims

1. A water control fixture, comprising:

a housing having at least four ports, wherein the at least four ports include a hot water inlet port, a cold water inlet port, a fixture discharge port and a dedicated hot water return port;

a flow control unit operatively associated with the housing and the at least four ports, wherein the flow control unit fluidly couples the at least four ports in multiple combinations of ports to perform different functions, wherein a first set of the ports is fluidly coupled to perform a first function and a second set of the ports is fluidly coupled to perform a second function, wherein the flow control unit fluidly couples the hot water inlet port, the cold water inlet port, and the fixture discharge port to perform a hot/cold mixing function, and wherein the flow control unit fluidly couples the hot water inlet port and both of the dedicated hot water return port and the cold water inlet port to perform a hot water recirculation function through at least one of the dedicated return port and the cold water inlet port; and

a flow restriction member, wherein hot water recirculation flow occurs through the cold water inlet port when the flow restriction member is used, and wherein hot water recirculation flow occurs through the dedicated hot water return port when the flow restriction member is not used.

2. The water control fixture of claim 1, wherein the flow control unit fluidly couples the auxiliary port and the fixture discharge port to perform an anti-scald function.

3. The water control fixture of claim 1, wherein the flow control unit fluidly couples the auxiliary port and the fixture discharge port to perform a pressure balance function.

4. The water control fixture of claim 1, wherein the flow restriction member comprises a plug received within the housing for restricting recirculating flow through the dedicated hot water return port.

5. The water control fixture of claim 1, wherein the at least four ports include an auxiliary port, the water control fixture further comprising an antiscald device in fluid communication with the auxiliary port, wherein the antiscald device shuts off flow from the fixture outlet port when the water pressure is above a predetermined amount.

6. The water control fixture according to claim 1, wherein the at least four ports include an auxiliary port, the water control fixture further comprising a pressure device in fluid communication with the auxiliary port, wherein the pressure device changes a mixture ratio of water from at least one of the hot water inlet port, the cold water port and the auxiliary port when a pressure of the water flowing through at least one of the hot water inlet port, the cold water port and the auxiliary port fluctuates.

7. A water control fixture, comprising:

a housing having a chamber and a plurality of ports in fluid communication with the chamber, the plurality of ports defining a hot water inlet port, a cold water port configured to be in fluid communication with a cold water supply line, a bypass port, and a fixture outlet port, wherein water is dispensed via the fixture outlet port; and

a flow control unit received within the chamber and in fluid communication with the plurality of ports for controlling the flow of water from the hot water inlet port to the fixture outlet port and for controlling the flow of water from the hot water inlet port to the bypass port, wherein the flow control unit opens to permit a flow of water from the hot water inlet port to the bypass port based on an activation condition and wherein the flow control unit controls a flow of water from the hot water inlet port to the cold water port.

8. The water control fixture according to claim 7, wherein the activation condition is based on a temperature of the water within the flow control unit such that when the temperature is below a predetermined amount, water is permitted to flow from the hot water inlet port to the bypass port.

9. The water control fixture according to claim 7, wherein the flow control unit controls a flow of water from the cold water port to the fixture outlet port.

10. The water control fixture according to claim 7, further comprising a flow restriction member, wherein the flow control unit fluidly couples the hot water inlet port, the cold water port, and the fixture discharge port to perform a hot/cold mixing function, and wherein the flow control unit fluidly couples the hot water inlet port and both of the bypass port and the cold water port to perform a hot water recirculation function through at least one of the bypass port and the cold water port, wherein hot water recirculation flow occurs through the cold water port when the flow restriction member is used, and wherein hot water recirculation flow occurs through the bypass port when the flow restriction member is not used.

11. The water control fixture according to claim 7, further comprising an antiscald device in fluid communication with the bypass port, wherein the antiscald device shuts off flow from the fixture outlet port when the water pressure is above a predetermined amount.

12. The water control fixture according to claim 7, further comprising an antiscald device in fluid communication with the bypass port, wherein the antiscald device changes the flow from one of the hot water inlet port, the cold water port and the bypass port to change the mixture of the water dispensed from the fixture outlet port when the water temperature is above a predetermined amount.

13. The water control fixture according to claim 7, further comprising a pressure device in fluid communication with the bypass port, wherein the pressure device changes a mixture ratio of water from at least one of the hot water inlet port, the cold water port and the bypass port when a pressure of the water flowing through at least one of the hot water inlet port, the cold water port and the bypass port fluctuates.

14. The water control fixture according to claim 7, wherein the flow control unit includes a first operating valve having the main passage for controlling the flow of water from the hot water inlet port and the cold water port to the fixture outlet port, and wherein the flow control unit includes a bypass valve and having a bypass passage for permitting recirculating flow between the hot water inlet port and the bypass port.

15. The water control fixture according to claim 7, wherein the flow control unit is operable in a first set of positions that restrict water flow through the fixture outlet port and allow water flow between the bypass port and at least one of the hot water inlet port, the cold water port, and the fixture outlet port, and is operable in a second set of positions that allow water flow through the fixture outlet port and allow water flow between the bypass port and at least one of the hot water inlet port, the cold water port, and the fixture outlet port.

16. The water control fixture according to claim 15, wherein the flow control unit is operable in a third set of positions that allow water flow through the fixture outlet port and restrict water flow through the bypass port.

17. A water control fixture, comprising:

a housing having a chamber and a plurality of ports in fluid communication with the chamber, the plurality of ports defining a hot water inlet port, a bypass port, and a fixture outlet port, wherein water is dispensed via the fixture outlet port; and

a flow control unit received within the chamber and in fluid communication with the plurality of ports for controlling the flow of water from the hot water inlet ort to the fixture outlet port and for controlling the flow of water from the hot water inlet port to the bypass port, wherein the flow control unit opens to permit a flow of water from the hot water inlet port to the bypass port based on an activation condition;

wherein the activation condition is based on a pressure of the water within the flow control unit such that when the pressure is above a predetermined amount, water is permitted to flow from the hot water inlet port to the bypass port.

18. The water control fixture according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of ports includes a cold water port configured to be in fluid communication with a cold water supply line, the water control fixture further comprising a pressure device in fluid communication with the bypass port, wherein the pressure device changes a mixture ratio of water from at least one of the hot water inlet port, a cold water port and the bypass port when a pressure of the water flowing through at least one of the hot water inlet port, the cold water port and the bypass port fluctuates.

19. The water control fixture according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of ports includes a cold water port configured to be in fluid communication with a cold water supply line, the flow control unit controlling a flow of water from the hot water inlet port to the cold water port.