Valve disinfecting method

• US 9,260,843 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr., John K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanchez-Medina, Reinaldo
• Application Number:
  US13/797,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20130340839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 137/341, 137/602, 137/603, 137/896, 137/897, 137/606, 137/607
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: 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 method of disinfecting a valve configured for use as part of a water delivery system includes activating a heating element that is configured to heat a body of the valve to a temperature sufficient to kill organisms that may be present on internal surfaces of the valve, wherein the heating element and the valve are configured to be provided within the water delivery system.

Claims

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

activating a heating element that is configured to heat a body of the valve to a temperature sufficient to kill organisms that may be present on internal surfaces of the valve, wherein the heating element and the valve are configured to be provided within the water delivery system, and wherein the valve is a mixing valve, wherein the step of activating the heating element comprises utilizing a controller associated with the valve to activate the heating element, and wherein the controller is located in a recessed area of a body of a plumbing fixture housing the mixing valve.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of activating the heating element causes the body of the valve to reach a temperature of at least 60 degrees Celsius.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising holding the body of the valve at the temperature for a predetermined amount of time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step of activating the heating element is performed at a predetermined time after the valve is used.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step of activating the heating element is performed at a predetermined time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step of activating the heating element is performed at predetermined time intervals.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising deactivating the heating element and then actuating the valve to direct a fluid through the valve to flush the valve.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising preventing the valve from operating to allow a fluid to pass therethrough while the heating element is activated.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating element is a resistive wire heating element.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating element and valve are within a body of a faucet.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the mixing valve includes a mixing chamber defined by at least one of the internal surfaces of the valve.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating element and valve are within a body of a showerhead assembly.

13. A method of removing organisms from a mixing valve that is included within a plumbing fixture, the method comprising:

operating a heating element extending through a portion of the mixing valve such that a temperature of a water contacting surface within the mixing valve reaches a temperature greater than approximately 60 degrees Celsius, wherein the step of operating the heating element comprises utilizing a controller associated with the mixing valve to operate the heating element, and wherein the controller is located in a body of the plumbing fixture that houses the mixing valve and the heating element.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising flushing the mixing valve to purge the mixing valve of organisms.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of operating the heating element causes the body of the valve to reach a temperature of at least 60 degrees Celsius.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising holding the body mixing valve at the temperature for a predetermined amount of time.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein step of operating the heating element is performed at a predetermined time after the mixing valve is used.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein step of operating the heating element is performed at a predetermined time.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein step of operating the heating element is performed at predetermined time intervals.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising preventing the mixing valve from operating to allow a fluid to pass therethrough while the heating element is operating.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the heating element is a resistive wire heating element.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the heating element and valve are within a body of a faucet.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the heating element and valve are within a body of a showerhead assembly.

24. A cleaning routine for a plumbing fixture, the cleaning routine comprising:

raising the temperature of a water contacting surface within the plumbing fixture to a temperature sufficient to kill organisms on the water contacting surface using an electric heater provided within the plumbing fixture; and

preventing the plumbing fixture from allowing water to pass therethrough during the step of raising the temperature of the water contacting surface;

wherein the plumbing fixture is selected from the group consisting of a faucet, a shower head, and a plumbing fitting.

25. The cleaning routine of claim 24, wherein the water contacting surface is within a valve located within the plumbing fixture.

26. The cleaning routine of claim 25, wherein the valve is a mixing valve.

27. The cleaning routine of claim 26, wherein the electric heater extends through a body of the mixing valve.

28. The cleaning routine of claim 24, wherein the temperature is greater than approximately 60 degrees Celsius.

29. The cleaning routine of claim 24, wherein the water contacting surface is a waterway within the plumbing fixture.

30. The cleaning routine of claim 29, wherein the water contacting surface is part of a liner provided within the plumbing fixture.

31. The cleaning routine of claim 30, wherein the heater is in contact with the liner.

32. The cleaning routine of claim 24, wherein the step of raising the temperature comprises utilizing a controller operate the heater, and wherein the controller is located in a body of the plumbing fixture that also houses the heater.

33. The cleaning routine of claim 24, further comprising holding the water contacting surface at the temperature for a predetermined amount of time.

34. The cleaning routine of claim 24, wherein step of raising the temperature of the water contacting surface is performed at a predetermined time after the mixing valve is used.

35. The cleaning routine of claim 24, wherein step of raising the temperature of the water contacting surface is performed at a predetermined time.

36. The cleaning routine of claim 24, wherein step of raising the temperature of the water contacting surface is performed at predetermined time intervals.

37. The cleaning routine of claim 24, wherein the electric heater is a resistive wire heating element.

38. The cleaning routine of claim 24, wherein the plumbing fixture is a faucet.

39. The cleaning routine of claim 24, wherein the heating plumbing fixture is a showerhead assembly.