Valve disinfecting method

• US 9,683,352 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2016
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• 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): Sanchez-Medina, Reinaldo
• Application Number:
  US15/010,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20160146376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 137341
• 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 performing a cleaning cycle for a water supply system having a valve. The method includes determining whether the cleaning cycle is necessary in a central controller located remotely from the water supply system; and when cleaning is necessary, sending a signal from the central controller to a local controller located within the water supply system to activate a heating element within the water supply system to heat an internal waterway of the water supply system to a temperature configured to clean the internal waterway.

Claims

1. A method of performing a cleaning cycle for a water supply system for washing, showering, or bathing, the water supply system having a valve for controlling the flow of water therethrough, the method comprising:

determining in a central controller whether the cleaning cycle is necessary, wherein the central controller is located remotely from the water supply system; and

when cleaning is necessary, sending a signal from the central controller to a local controller located within the water supply system to activate a heating element within the water supply system to heat an internal waterway of the water supply system to a temperature configured to clean the internal waterway;

wherein the local controller can determine whether the cleaning cycle is necessary and activate the heating element to heat the internal waterway of the water supply system independently of the central controller.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring a heating level in the internal waterway during the cleaning cycle using a sensor; and

providing feedback from the sensor to the local controller regarding the heating level.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising deactivating the heating element once the heating level reaches the temperature.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the local controller prevents the valve from being opened until the heating level reaches a safe operating temperature.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising deactivating the heating element after the heating level reaches the temperature for a period of time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the central controller is programmable and reprogrammable through a user interface to vary the schedule of the cleaning cycles.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating element is located in a body of the valve and the internal waterway is part of the valve, and wherein the local controller is coupled to the body of the valve.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a body of the valve has a thermal mass that allows the heating element to heat the internal waterway of the water supply system to the temperature using no more than 50 watts.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating element is located in a body of the water supply system that is located outside of the valve between the valve and an outlet of the water delivery device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a plurality of water supply systems with each water supply system having a local controller located within the associated water supply system, a heating element located therein, and an internal waterway located therein;

determining in the central controller whether a cleaning cycle is necessary in each of the plurality of water supply systems, wherein the central controller is located remotely from each water supply system of the plurality of water supply systems; and

upon determining that a cleaning is necessary, sending a signal from the central controller to the local controller of each water supply system to be cleaned to activate the associated heating element to heat the associated internal waterway to the temperature.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the water supply system includes a user interface that is separate from the central controller and is configured to activate the heating element to clean the internal waterway to an input temperature for an input period of time.

12. A method of performing a cleaning cycle for a water supply system for washing, showering, or bathing, the water supply system having a valve for controlling the flow of water therethrough, the method comprising:

using a controller to determine whether the cleaning cycle is necessary, wherein the controller is associated with the water supply system;

using the controller to activate a heating element within the water supply system for a time to heat a water contacting surface within the water supply system to a temperature configured to clean the water contacting surface after determining that a cleaning is necessary; and

using the controller to prevent the valve of the water supply system from being opened during the time that the heating element is activated.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

monitoring a heating level of the water contacting surface during the cleaning cycle using a sensor; and

providing feedback from the sensor to the controller regarding the heating level.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the controller disables the valve for a period of time after the heating element has been deactivated to allow the water contacting surface to cool down to a safe temperature for use.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the water supply system is selected from the group consisting of a faucet, a shower head, a plumbing fitting, a plumbing fixture, a water tap, and a tub spout.

16. A method of performing a cleaning cycle for a water supply system for washing, showering, or bathing, the water supply system having a valve for controlling the flow of water therethrough, the method comprising:

activating a heating element within the water supply system to heat a water contacting surface within the water supply system to a temperature configured to clean the water contacting surface;

deactivating the heating element; and

preventing the valve from being opened for a period of time after deactivating the heating element to allow the water contacting surface to cool down to a safe temperature for use.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the temperature of the water contacting surface is monitored using a temperature sensor.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining in a controller whether the cleaning cycle is necessary, wherein the controller is associated with the water supply system and upon a determination that cleaning is necessary, the controller activates the heating element, and wherein the controller disables the valve for the period of time after deactivating the heating element.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the controller communicates with the temperature sensor and enables/disables the valve based on the temperature of the water contacting surface.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the water supply system includes a user interface that is configured to activate the heating element to clean the internal waterway to an input temperature for an input period of time.