Abstract: An electrolysis-resistant coupling assembly for a valve within a fluid line. A line flange within the line includes a first mating surface and a fluid passageway therethrough. A valve flange downstream from the line flange includes a second mating surface. The valve flange has an aperture passing therethrough with first and second bores forming a lip. A valve coupler has an upstream end provided with a coupler flange having a third bore. A substantially non-compressible, non-metallic captive ring is interposed between the lip, and the flange and body of the valve coupler. Bolts and nuts assemble the valve flange to the line flange with a gasket therebetween, compressing the lip against the captive ring and the coupler flange. The valve is either sweat fitted or threadably attached to the downstream end of the valve coupler. Various configurations for the valve flange, the captive ring, and the valve coupler are disclosed.

Abstract: An universal fluid coupling assembly is provided that includes a coupler housing that has an inner bore extending along an axis of, and opening onto a mating end of, the coupler housing. The coupler housing has an outer perimeter that includes an outer coupler flange that extends about the outer perimeter and that is located proximate to the mating end. The outer coupler flange has a periphery that follows a predetermined circumferential envelope and that has at least one discontinuity therein to define a blank area in the envelope. The assembly further includes a fitting member with an aperture there through. The aperture has an inner diameter that is smaller than the circumferential envelope of the outer coupler flange. The fitting member is loaded over the outer coupler flange onto the outer perimeter of the coupler housing by orienting the fitting member in a non-orthogonal relation with the coupler housing such that the outer coupler flange passes through the aperture.

Abstract: A water control fixture having an operating valve and a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in the fixture for bypassing water away from the fixture until the water temperature reaches a desired level. When pressurized water from the hot water heater reaches the desired temperature level at the fixture, the bypass valve closes and hot water is made available to the fixture. The bypass valve has a thermal actuator element that is thermally responsive to the temperature of the water. The fixture can have a housing with an interior chamber for operatively receiving the bypass valve. Various passages or channels can be provided to facilitate communication between the bypass valve and the water supply lines. Alternatively, the bypass valve can be positioned in the operating valve, including the moveable ball and the replaceable cylindrical valving cartridge types. A system using the in-fixture bypass valve is also provided.

Abstract: A water circulating system including a water control fixture having an operating valve and a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in the fixture for bypassing water away from the fixture until the water temperature reaches a desired level. When pressurized water from the hot water heater reaches the desired temperature level at the fixture, the bypass valve closes and hot water is made available to the fixture. The bypass valve has a thermal actuator element that is thermally responsive to the temperature of the water. The fixture can have a housing with an interior chamber for operatively receiving the bypass valve. Various passages or channels can be provided to facilitate communication between the bypass valve and the water supply lines. Alternatively, the bypass valve can be positioned in the operating valve, which can include the moveable ball or replaceable cylindrical valving cartridge types of valves.

Abstract: A water control valve configured for use with a bypass valve to automatically bypass cold or tepid water in a hot water supply line so as to maintain hot water at the fixture. The water control valve is useful for shower/tub facilities and for appliances such as washing machines and dishwashing machines. The water control valve for use with shower/tub facilities is adapted for the bypass valve to attach to or be adjacent to the water control valve by utilizing bypass ports, passageways and/or connectors. The water control valve for use with appliances is adapted to have a second outlet for connecting to a second water control valve or, for combination service valves, to have the bypass valve disposed in the tubular section between the hot and cold water components. The preferred bypass valve is a thermostatically controlled bypass valve of the type having a thermal actuating element.

Abstract: A water control fixture having an operating valve and a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in the fixture for bypassing water away from the fixture until the water temperature reaches a desired level. When pressurized water from the hot water heater reaches the desired temperature level at the fixture, the bypass valve closes and hot water is made available to the fixture. The bypass valve has a thermal actuator element that is thermally responsive to the temperature of the water. The fixture can have a housing with an interior chamber for operatively receiving the bypass valve. Various passages or channels can be provided to facilitate communication between the bypass valve and the water supply lines. Alternatively, the bypass valve can be positioned in the operating valve, including the moveable ball and the replaceable cylindrical valving cartridge types. A system using the in-fixture bypass valve is also provided.

Abstract: A water control fixture having an operating valve and a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in the fixture for bypassing water away from the fixture until the water temperature reaches a desired level. When pressurized water from the hot water heater reaches the desired temperature level at the fixture, the bypass valve closes and hot water is made available to the fixture. The bypass valve has a thermal actuator element that is thermally responsive to the temperature of the water. The fixture can have a housing with an interior chamber for operatively receiving the bypass valve. Various passages or channels can be provided to facilitate communication between the bypass valve and the water supply lines. Alternatively, the bypass valve can be positioned in the operating valve, including the moveable ball and the replaceable cylindrical valving cartridge types. A system using the in-fixture bypass valve is also provided.

Abstract: A water control fixture having an operating valve and a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in the fixture for bypassing water away from the fixture until the water temperature reaches a desired level. When pressurized water from the hot water heater reaches the desired temperature level at the fixture, the bypass valve closes and hot water is made available to the fixture. The bypass valve has a thermal actuator element that is thermally responsive to the temperature of the water. The fixture can have a housing with an interior chamber for operatively receiving the bypass valve. Various passages or channels can be provided to facilitate communication between the bypass valve and the water supply lines. Alternatively, the bypass valve can be positioned in the operating valve, including the moveable ball and the replaceable cylindrical valving cartridge types. A system using the in-fixture bypass valve is also provided.

Abstract: A water control fixture having an operating valve and a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in the fixture for bypassing water away from the fixture until the water temperature reaches a desired level. When pressurized water from the hot water heater reaches the desired temperature level at the fixture, the bypass valve closes and hot water is made available to the fixture. The bypass valve has a thermal actuator element that is thermally responsive to the temperature of the water. The fixture can have a housing with an interior chamber for operatively receiving the bypass valve. Various passages or channels can be provided to facilitate communication between the bypass valve and the water supply lines. Alternatively, the bypass valve can be positioned in the operating valve, including the moveable ball and the replaceable cylindrical valving cartridge types. A system using the in-fixture bypass valve is also provided.

Abstract: Apparatuses and system for retrofitting an existing water control valve mounted in a water distribution system that allows the user to quickly and easily replace the functions of the existing water control valve with updated and additional features in a new retrofit valve without having to remove or replace the existing valve manifold. An adapter plug having an interface corresponding to the existing valve cartridge interface is inserted into the open valve cavity to hydraulically connect with the existing valve cartridge interface. Fluid passages transfer fluid through the adapter plug to one or more fluid connectors that transfer fluid between the adapter plug and a retrofit valve. The retrofit valve has a fluid chamber with a water control cartridge, having features such as pressure balancing, disposed therein. The retrofit valve can include a second fluid chamber with a bypass valve disposed therein to provide an instant hot water feature.

Abstract: A water control valve configured for use with a bypass valve to automatically bypass cold or tepid water in a hot water supply line so as to maintain hot water at the fixture. The water control valve is useful for shower/tub facilities and for appliances such as washing machines and dishwashing machines. The water control valve for use with shower/tub facilities is adapted for the bypass valve to attach to or be adjacent to the water control valve by utilizing bypass ports, passageways and/or connectors. The water control valve for use with appliances is adapted to have a second outlet for connecting to a second water control valve or, for combination service valves, to have the bypass valve disposed in the tubular section between the hot and cold water components. The preferred bypass valve is a thermostatically controlled bypass valve of the type having a thermal actuating element.

Abstract: A thermostatically controlled bypass valve for bypassing water away from a hot water valve until the water temperature reaches a desired level at a fixture in use for home or industrial applications. The bypass valve has a valve body with a thermally sensitive actuator disposed between the hot water inlet and discharge ports and the cold water inlet and discharge ports that is thermally responsive to the temperature of the water. A bias spring pushes against the piston on the thermal actuator to close the actuator and open a passage between the cold and hot water sides when water needs to be bypassed. When the water from the hot water heater reaches the desired temperature level at the bypass valve, the bypass valve closes and hot water is made available to the hot water side of the fixture. Until then, the thermal actuator remains open and cold or tepid water is allowed to bypass the hot water side of the fixture.

Abstract: A variable width pump impeller that allows for the selection of a fixed impeller width from two or more possible impeller widths. The impeller comprises a first impeller shroud having a plurality of impeller vanes and a second impeller shroud having an equal number of flat surfaces and one or more sets of grooves, each set comprising an equal number of recessed grooves for receiving the vanes of the first impeller shroud. The manufacturer selects between a flow channel formed by the outer edge of the vanes joining against the flat surfaces or one or more flow channel widths formed by vanes being received in the grooves. Once formed, the impeller has a fixed impeller width. Use of the impeller reduces the number of manufacturing molds required to make impellers of different widths and reduces the need to have an inventory of different impeller components.

Abstract: A water control fixture having an operating valve and a thermostatically controlled bypass valve disposed in the fixture for bypassing water away from the fixture until the water temperature reaches a desired level. When pressurized water from the hot water heater reaches the desired temperature level at the fixture, the bypass valve closes and hot water is made available to the fixture. The bypass valve has a thermal actuator element that is thermally responsive to the temperature of the water. The fixture can have a housing with an interior chamber for operatively receiving the bypass valve. Various passages or channels can be provided to facilitate communication between the bypass valve and the water supply lines. Alternatively, the bypass valve can be positioned in the operating valve, including the moveable ball and the replaceable cylindrical valving cartridge types. A system using the in-fixture bypass valve is also provided.

Abstract: A circulating pump having a pump housing made of non-metallic materials, such as plastic, composite or other moldable materials. The use of a non-metallic housing facilitates the use of features which are difficult or expensive to obtain with a metal cast housing. A U-bolt or other clamping member couples the pump housing between the pump motor and a metallic tubular manifold to place the housing in compression between the motor and manifold to virtually eliminate tensile and bending stresses in the pump housing and, thereby, reduce the possibility of structural degradation from exposure of the non-metallic housing to fluids. The manifold has a shaped portion having a planar surface thereon that abuts the housing and provides a surface for one or more sealing members between the manifold and the housing. The metallic manifold allows the circulating pump to be installed in a metallic piping system utilizing conventional installation materials and methods.