Plumbing fixture with heating elements

• US 9,273,450 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2013
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• 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): Schneider, Craig
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morales, David Colon
• Application Number:
  US13/796,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20130340846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 137/341, 137/801, 137/625.4, 137/625.41, 137/625.17, 137/602, 137/603, 137/606, 137/605, 4596-598, 462/3, 460/7, 251/129.04, 422/28, 422/38, 422108-110, 422/307
• 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 plumbing component includes a valve provided within a portion of the plumbing component and configured to control the flow of water through the plumbing component. The valve includes a body and at least one waterway within the body. An electric heater extends through at least a portion of the body of the valve and is configured to heat at least a portion of the body to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the waterway.

Claims

1. A plumbing component comprising:

a mixer valve provided within a portion of the plumbing component and configured to control the flow of water through the plumbing component, the mixer valve comprising a body and at least one waterway within the body;

a first electric heater extending through at least a portion of the body of the mixer valve and configured to heat at least a portion of the body to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the waterway;

a waterway provided within the plumbing component and downstream of an outlet of the mixer valve; and

a second electric heater for heating a surface of the waterway, which leads to an outlet of the plumbing component, to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the waterway of the plumbing component;

wherein the portion of the body is a wall that defines at least a portion of a mixing chamber of the mixer valve.

2. The plumbing component of claim 1, wherein the plumbing component is a faucet.

3. The plumbing component of claim 2, wherein the mixer valve and the first electric heater are provided within a spout of the faucet.

4. The plumbing component of claim 1, wherein the plumbing component is a shower head.

5. The plumbing component of claim 4, wherein the mixer valve and the first electric heater are provided within a handle or a neck of the shower head.

6. The plumbing component of claim 1, wherein the plumbing component is a plumbing fitting.

7. The plumbing component of claim 1, further comprising a liner within the plumbing component that defines the waterway, the liner being formed from a thermally conductive material, the second electric heater being disposed between the liner and a body of the plumbing component, and the second electric heater being configured to heat the liner.

8. The plumbing component of claim 1, wherein the body includes an opening and the first electric heater extends at least partially through the opening.

9. The plumbing component of claim 1, wherein the first electric heater is a resistive wire heater.

10. The plumbing component of claim 1, wherein the mixer valve is for a shower head.

11. The plumbing component of claim 1, wherein the mixer valve is for a faucet.

12. The plumbing component of claim 1, wherein the mixer valve includes at least one stepper motor associated therewith for opening and closing the mixer valve, wherein the at least one stepper motor is provided within a body of the plumbing component.

13. The plumbing component of claim 1, further comprising a controller within the plumbing component for controlling at least one of operation of the mixer valve or activation of at least one of the first and second electric heaters.

14. The plumbing component of claim 1, further comprising a user interface associated with the plumbing component for controlling the temperature of water exiting the plumbing component.

15. A water delivery component configured to be engaged by a user for providing water as directed by the user, the water delivery component comprising:

a mixer valve provided within a portion of the water delivery component, the mixer valve comprising a first inlet for receiving cold water and a second inlet for receiving hot water, wherein the mixer valve is configured to mix the hot water and cold water in a mixing chamber provided within the mixer valve;

a first heating element extending through at least a portion of the mixer valve and configured to heat at least a portion of the mixer valve to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms that may be within the mixer valve;

a waterway within the water delivery component; and

a second heating element for heating a surface of the waterway to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the waterway of the water delivery component, wherein the second heating element is separate from the first heating element extending through at least a portion of the mixer valve.

16. The water delivery component of claim 15, wherein the water delivery component is selected from the group consisting of a faucet, a shower head, and a plumbing fitting.

17. The water delivery component of claim 16, wherein the water delivery component is a faucet and the mixer valve and the first heating element are provided within a spout of the faucet.

18. The water delivery component of claim 16, wherein the water delivery component is a shower head and the mixer valve and the first heating element are provided within a handle or neck of the shower head.

19. The water delivery component of claim 16, wherein the water delivery component is a plumbing fitting.

20. The water delivery component of claim 15, further comprising a liner within the water delivery component that defines the waterway, the liner being formed from a thermally conductive material, the second heating element configured to heat the liner.

21. The water delivery component of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first or second heating elements is a resistive wire heater.

22. The water delivery component of claim 15, wherein the mixer valve includes a plurality of stepper motors provided within the portion of the water delivery component.

23. The water delivery component of claim 15, further comprising a controller within the water delivery component for controlling activation of at least one of the first and second heating elements.

24. The water delivery component of claim 15, further comprising an integral user interface associated with the water delivery component for controlling the temperature of water exiting the water delivery component.

25. A plumbing fixture comprising:

a mixing valve including a body, a first inlet configured to be coupled to a first fluid source and a second inlet configured to be coupled to a second fluid source, and an outlet for directing a mixture of the first and second fluids out of the mixing valve;

a first electric heating element provided within the plumbing fixture for heating the body of the mixing valve to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the mixing valve;

a waterway within the plumbing fixture; and

a second electric heating element for heating a surface of the waterway to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within the waterway of the plumbing fixture.

26. The plumbing fixture of claim 25, wherein the plumbing fixture is a faucet and the mixing valve and the first electric heating element are provided within a spout of the faucet.

27. The plumbing fixture of claim 25, wherein the plumbing fixture is a shower head and the mixing valve and the first electric heating element are provided within a handle or neck of the shower head.

28. The plumbing fixture of claim 25, further comprising a liner within the plumbing fixture that defines the waterway, the liner being formed from a thermally conductive material, the second electric heating element configured to heat the liner.

29. The plumbing fixture of claim 25, wherein at least one of the first or second electric heating elements is a resistive wire heater that extends through a portion of the body.

30. The plumbing fixture of claim 25, wherein the mixing valve includes a plurality of stepper motors provided within the portion of the plumbing fixture.

31. The plumbing fixture of claim 25, further comprising a controller within the plumbing fixture for controlling activation of at least one of the first or second electric heating elements.

32. The plumbing fixture of claim 25, further comprising an integral user interface associated with the plumbing fixture for controlling the temperature of water exiting the plumbing fixture.