Valve with heating element

• US 9,957,700 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2016
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• 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): McManmon, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLON MORALES, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US15/009,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20160146375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• 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: H05K 999/99 : dummy group
• 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 faucet that includes a base, a spout, a valve body, a first flow control valve, a second flow control valve, and an electric heater. The valve body includes a first end section, a second end section having an outlet, and a center section provided between the end sections and including first and second inlets configured to receive cold and hot water, respectively. The first flow control valve is located within a first waterway of the valve body to control the flow of cold water, and the second flow control valve is located within a second waterway of the valve body to control the flow of hot water. The electric heater extends through the valve body and is configured to heat a surface defining at least a part of one of the first and second waterways of the valve body to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms therein.

Claims

1. A faucet comprising:

a body having a mounting base, a spout, and a passageway configured to discharge water; and

a valve provided within the spout of the body, the valve comprising;

a first inlet configured to receive cold water;

a second inlet configured to receive hot water;

an outlet configured to output cold water, hot water, or a mixture thereof to the passageway of the body;

a first waterway fluidly connecting the first inlet and the outlet;

a second waterway fluidly connecting the second inlet and the outlet;

a first flow control valve located within the first waterway and configured to be moveable to control the flow of cold water through the first waterway;

a second flow control valve located within the second waterway and configured to be moveable to control the flow of hot water through the second waterway; and

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

wherein the first and the second inlets are located on opposite sides of the valve from one another.

2. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the valve further comprises:

a first end section;

a second end section that includes the outlet; and

a center section provided between the first and second end sections, the center section including the first and second inlets.

3. The faucet of claim 2, wherein at least two of the first end section, the second end section, and the center section are separate members that are coupled together in a fluid tight manner.

4. The faucet of claim 2, wherein at least the center section comprises a thermally-conductive material, and the body comprises a thermally-insulating material.

5. The faucet of claim 1, wherein the valve is configured having a thermal mass such that the electric heater is able to heat the first and second waterways to the elevated temperature with a power of not more than 50 watts.

6. The faucet of claim 1, wherein

the valve is configured having a thermal mass such that the electric heater is able to heat the first and second waterways by heating the portion of the valve to the elevated temperature with a power of not more than 50 watts.

7. The faucet of claim 6, wherein the portion of the valve comprises a thermally-conductive material, and the body comprises a thermally-insulating material.

8. The faucet of claim 7, wherein the portion abuts a liner defining at least a portion of the passageway of the body.

9. The faucet of claim 8, wherein the thermal mass of the portion of the valve is configured such that the electric heater is able to heat the second portion of the valve to the elevated temperature with a power of not more than 25 watts.

10. A faucet comprising:

a body comprising a thermally-insulating material and having a passageway configured to discharge water; and

a valve provided within the body, the valve comprising;

a first inlet configured to receive cold water;

a second inlet configured to receive hot water;

an outlet configured to output cold water, hot water, or a mixture thereof to the passageway of the body;

a first end section;

a second end section that includes the outlet;

a center section provided between the first and second end sections, wherein the center section comprises the first and second inlets and a thermally-conductive material;

a first waterway fluidly connecting the first inlet and the outlet;

a second waterway fluidly connecting the second inlet and the outlet;

a first flow control valve located within the first waterway and configured to be moveable to control the flow of cold water through the first waterway;

a second flow control valve located within the second waterway and configured to be moveable to control the flow of hot water through the second waterway; and

an electric heater extending through at least a portion of the valve and configured to heat both of the first and second waterways of the valve to an elevated temperature sufficient to kill organisms within each waterway

wherein the electric heater is potted into a through bore in the center section of the valve using a thermally-conductive adhesive.

11. The faucet of claim 10, wherein the first end section, the second end section, and the center section are separate members that are coupled together in a fluid tight manner.

12. The faucet of claim 10, further comprising:

a first motor coupled to the first end section and configured to control movement of the first flow control valve to adjust a flow rate of cold water to the outlet; and

a second motor coupled to the first end section and configured to control movement of the second flow control valve to adjust a flow rate of hot water to the outlet.

13. A faucet comprising:

a body having a mounting base, a spout, and a passageway configured to discharge water;

a valve provided within the spout of the body, the valve comprising;

a first inlet configured to receive cold water;

a second inlet configured to receive hot water;

an outlet configured to output cold water, hot water, or a mixture thereof to the passageway of the body;

a first waterway fluidly connecting the first inlet and the outlet;

a second waterway fluidly connecting the second inlet and the outlet;

a first flow control valve located within the first waterway and configured to be moveable to control the flow of cold water through the first waterway;

a second flow control valve located within the second waterway and configured to be moveable to control the flow of hot water through the second waterway; and

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

a second electric heater configured to heat the passageway to the elevated temperature.

14. The faucet of claim 13, wherein the first and second inlets are located on opposite sides of the valve from one another.