HOT WATER DISPENSER
A hot water dispensing system includes a water tank having a heat source for heating water in the tank. The tank has a cold water inlet and a hot water outlet. An expansion chamber is connected to the water tank and situated above the water tank for receiving heated water from the water tank.
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This application is a non-provisional application of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/710,953, filed on Aug. 24, 2005, which is incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUNDDevices for dispensing instant hot water typically consist of two main parts: a faucet that would be situated above a sink for dispensing the liquid as desired, and another unit for mounting below the sink so it is out of view of the user and does not occupy counter space. The under-sink unit for an instant hot water dispenser has a water heater and a tank for holding hot water connected to the faucet.
In typical under-sink hot water dispensers, the tank includes two tanks or chambers: a main chamber in which water is heated and an expansion chamber into which water being heated in the main chamber is allowed to expand. When hot water is drawn from the tank due to opening of the faucet, it is necessary to withdraw the hot water from the expansion chamber of the tank to provide for expansion of the replenishment cold water that is supplied to the main tank chamber from the building water system. This expanded water is evacuated from the expansion chamber via an aspiration vacuum formed by a venturi system activated by the incoming stream of cold water during each use of the dispenser.
Known dispensers locate the expansion chamber either below or along side the main water heating tank. As the water levels in the expansion chamber and main heating chamber balance out, a void or air space develops in the main heating tank. During a draw, the void or air space developed in the main heating tank needs to be filled before water actually exits the tank. Depending on the volume of the air space developed in the heating tank, there can be a significant delay (1 to 15 seconds in some known systems) before hot water flows from the spout. This delay in flow is often seen as a malfunction of the unit and that can increase service calls and reduce customer satisfaction.
The teachings of the present disclosure address shortcomings associated with the prior art.
SUMMARYIn accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, a water heating system includes a water tank having a heat source for heating water in the tank. The tank has an inlet and an outlet, with an expansion chamber connected to the water tank. The water heating system typically includes a faucet connected to the outlet for dispensing hot water for use in making hot food or beverage items. The expansion chamber is situated above the water tank for receiving heated water from the water tank such that water flows from the expansion chamber to the water tank when water is expelled from the water tank via the outlet.
In certain exemplary embodiments, the expansion chamber includes a generally funnel-shaped portion having a check ball situated therein. The funnel-shaped portion is connected to the inlet of the tank such that water flows from the expansion chamber, though the funnel-shaped portion to the inlet and into the tank. An aspirator is connected to the inlet so that that water flowing into the tank through the inlet draws water into the tank from the expansion chamber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSOther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONIllustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
The under sink unit 112 includes a water heating unit, which is shown in further detail in
The tank 120 is connected to an expansion chamber 130 into which supply water that is heated in the tank 120 can expand. In the illustrated embodiment, the expansion chamber 130 is made of plastic, though it may be made of other materials. The expansion chamber 130 is vented to the atmosphere by way of a vent tube 140. When hot water is drawn from the tank 110 by activating the dispensing lever 116, it is necessary to withdraw the hot water from the expansion chamber 130 to provide for expansion of the replenishment cold water that is supplied to the tank 120. When the dispensing lever 116 is activated it does not directly control dispensing of hot water; rather, it supplies cold water to the tank 120 to thereby force hot water out at the top of the tank 120 via the outlet 136.
In the illustrated embodiment, the expansion chamber 130 is positioned directly above the heating chamber 120, rather than along side or below the heating chamber as in known products. After a water draw, the tank 120 remains full due to the location of the expansion chamber 130 above the tank 120, eliminating water flow delays associated with a void at the top of the tank.
In the exemplary illustrated embodiment, the expansion chamber 130 is composed of upper and lower parts 130a,130b with o-rings 150,151 sealing the parts 130a,130b when assembled.
The inlet 132 is connected to an aspirator 170, which is connected to a baffle 172 that directs incoming water to the bottom of the tank 120. A tube 174 connects the aspirator 170 to the funnel-shaped portion 154 of the expansion chamber 130. Cold supply water flows into the aspirator 170 from the inlet 132. The aspirator 170 is structured to define a ventruri restriction therein, which restricts the flow through the aspirator 170. The restriction causes an increase of flow velocity, which is accompanied by reduced pressure of the water relative to the pressure of the hot water in the expansion chamber 130. Consequently, hot water from the expansion chamber 130 is drawn into the tank 120 through the tube 174. The incoming stream of water from the expansion chamber 130 and the supply water forces hot water out of the tank 120 and up the outlet tube 136 to be discharged from the faucet spout 114.
Once all of the water is drawn out of the expansion chamber 130 into the tank 120, the check ball 156 seats at the bottom of the funnel-shaped portion 154, blocking the tube 174 to prevent air from entering the system. When hot water is not being dispensed through the faucet 110, water is heated in the tank 120, and the heated water expands from the tank 120, up the aspirator 142 and into the expansion chamber 130 through the tube 174. As the heated water enters the funnel-shaped portion 154 of the expansion chamber 130, the check ball 154 floats up so water can enter the expansion chamber 130.
The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A water heating system, comprising:
- a water tank having a heat source for heating water in the tank, the tank having an inlet and an outlet; and
- an expansion chamber connected to the water tank and situated above the water tank for receiving heated water from the water tank, such that water flows from the expansion chamber to the water tank when water is expelled from the water tank via the outlet.
2. The water heating system of claim 1, wherein the water tank is made of stainless steel.
3. The water heating system of claim 1, wherein the expansion chamber is made of stainless steel.
4. The water heating system of claim 1, wherein the expansion chamber includes a generally funnel-shaped portion having a check ball situated therein.
5. The water heating system of claim 4, wherein the funnel-shaped portion is connected to the inlet of the tank such that water flows from the expansion chamber, though the funnel-shaped portion to the inlet and into the tank.
6. The water heating system of claim 5, further comprising an aspirator connected to the inlet, such that water flowing into the tank through the inlet draws water into the tank from the expansion chamber.
7. The water heating system of claim 1, wherein the expansion chamber includes a vent tube.
8. The water heating system of claim 1, wherein the hot water inlet is situated at the top of the tank.
9. The water heating system of claim 1, further comprising a faucet connected to the outlet.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 18, 2006
Publication Date: Mar 1, 2007
Applicant: Emerson Electric Co. (St. Louis, MO)
Inventors: Paul DeSantis (Racine, WI), Terrence Snyder (Racine, WI)
Application Number: 11/465,657
International Classification: F24H 1/18 (20060101); F24H 9/00 (20060101);