Abstract: A valve is provided having an air gap to protect against backflow in a fluid system. The valve can also be used to control fluid flow while providing such backflow protection. The valve can be used with e.g., a reverse osmosis water filtration system and/or other systems. By incorporating both backflow protection and flow control into the same device, efficiencies in space, complexity, and/or installation time are provided.

Abstract: A water heater appliance with a mixing valve positioned within a casing of the water heater appliance is provided. The mixing valve is fluidly coupled to a heated water conduit and a bypass conduit of the water heater appliance. An actuator assembly is configured for selectively adjusting a mixing ratio of the mixing valve. The actuator assembly includes a knob positioned at an outer surface of the casing.

Abstract: A flow diverter device includes a diverter body defining therein a diverter channel that connects with two inlet channels and an outlet channel, and a diverter valve stem including at least two sealing mechanisms. The diverter valve stem is movable between a first position wherein one of the sealing mechanisms engages the diverter channel such that the diverter channel fluidly connects one of the inlet channels with the outlet channel only and a second position wherein another of the sealing mechanisms engages the diverter channel such that the diverter channel fluidly connects the other of the inlet channels with the outlet channel only.

Abstract: A heat pump water heater appliance is provided including a tank defining an interior volume, a sealed system configured for heating water within the interior volume, and a casing. The casing defines an airflow inlet and an airflow exhaust, and the tank and an evaporator of the sealed system are disposed within the casing. A transition member is also provided, including a first end attached to the casing over the airflow inlet and a second end. A passage is defined between the first and second ends. Additionally, a filter tray is removably positioned in the passage of the transition member, allowing, e.g., a user or operator to easily remove and/or replace filter medium supported by the filter tray without disassembling the transition member or any ductwork attached thereto.

Abstract: The present subject matter provides a damper valve. The damper valve includes an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve. The inner sleeve is positioned within the outer sleeve and is pivotable between a first position and a second position within the outer sleeve. Radial openings of the inner sleeve align with radial openings of the outer sleeve when the inner sleeve is in the first position, and axial openings of the inner sleeve align with axial openings of the outer sleeve when the inner sleeve is in the second position. A related heat pump water heater appliance is also provided.

Abstract: A method for forming a filter medium includes mixing activated carbon and nitrogen enriched plastic binder. The activated carbon and nitrogen enriched plastic binder are heated in order to bind the activated carbon to the nitrogen enriched plastic binder and form a filter medium block. A related filter cartridge is also provided.

Abstract: A water heater appliance includes a tank with a sidewall. A boss is mounted to the sidewall of the tank, and an anode is mounted to the boss. The anode extends through the tank into an interior volume of the tank at an angle such that the anode avoids internal tank components of the water heater appliance. A related heat pump water heater appliance is also provided.

Abstract: A water filter is provided. The water filter includes a check valve positioned at an opening of a casing. The check valve regulates a flow of liquid through the opening of the casing. By regulating the flow of liquid, the check valve can hinder spilling of liquid contained within the water filter during removal or replacement of the water filter.

Abstract: A flow diverter device includes a diverter body. The diverter body defines therein two inlet channels and an outlet channel and includes a diverter valve defining therein a connecting channel. The diverter valve is movable between a first position wherein the connecting channel fluidly connects one of the inlet channels with the outlet channel only and a second position wherein the connecting channel fluidly connects the other of the inlet channels with the outlet channel only. The flow diverter device further includes a sleeve component including a secondary inlet channel and a secondary outlet channel. The sleeve component is connectable to the diverter body.

Abstract: A water filter assembly is provided. The water filter assembly includes a casing that is selectively mounted to a manifold. A filtering media is positioned within the casing for filtering a flow of water through the casing. The water filter assembly also includes features for hindering spilling of water during changing of the filtering media.

Abstract: A flow diverter device includes a valve body component defining therein two inlet channels and an outlet channel; and a rotatable diverter component comprising an exterior side wall and defining therein a connecting channel in the form of an annular slot positioned around a portion of the exterior side wall. The rotatable diverter component is rotatably received by the valve body component and being movable between a first position where the connecting channel fluidly connects one of the inlet channels with the outlet channel only and a second position where the connecting channel fluidly connects the other of the inlet channels with the outlet channel only.

Abstract: A water filter assembly is provided. The water filter assembly includes a manifold and a fitting rotatably mounted to the manifold such that the fitting is rotatable between a substantially vertical configuration and a substantially horizontal configuration. The water filter assembly also includes a diverting member and a handle mounted to the diverting member. The handle is positioned opposite the fitting on the manifold.

Abstract: A water heater appliance and method for operating a water heater appliance are provided. The method includes measuring a temperature of water within the water heater appliance, operating a heating element of the water heater appliance if the temperature of water within the water heater appliance is less than a threshold temperature and deactivating the heating element of the water heater appliance when the temperature of water within the water heater appliance exceeds the threshold temperature.

Abstract: An ignition control system for an appliance is disclosed. The appliance includes a gas burner, a user actuable valve for controlling a flow of fuel to the burner and an electrical resistance igniter for igniting fuel at the burner. The system includes a user actuable control interface having an off state and an on state, coupled to the valve operative to control the valve and provide a control signal indicative of the state of the control interface. The system also includes a controller having a timer circuit responsive to the control signal and a boost circuit coupled to the timer circuit. The timer circuit selectively activates the boost circuit for a predetermined period of time. A first DC power supply is selectively coupled to the igniter to provide power to the igniter through the boost circuit. A second DC power supply is coupled to the igniter and control interface.

Abstract: A water filter is provided. The water filter includes a casing with a filtering media disposed within the casing. The water filter also includes a plug and a water soluble support. The plug can impede a flow of water through the chamber in order to encourage replacement of the water filter.

Abstract: A bottom fill, fluid dispensing system is provided having a dispenser capable of being mounted to a countertop and a container. The container may be placed onto the dispenser and the dispenser may be moved to a first position, to allow the dispenser to fill the container with a fluid. The container may be filled through a one way valve in the container wall. Once the container is filled to a desired level, the dispenser may be moved to a second position and the container may be removed from the dispenser without the fluid leaking from the one way valve in the container wall.

Abstract: A valve is provided having an air gap to protect against backflow in a fluid system. The valve can also be used to control fluid flow while providing such backflow protection. The valve can be used with e.g., a reverse osmosis water filtration system and/or other systems. By incorporating both backflow protection and flow control into the same device, efficiencies in space, complexity, and/or installation time are provided.

Abstract: A filter block for a filter is provided. The filter block uses a structure constructed from bound particles of an adsorption media that create one or more chambers for the receipt of unbound particles of the adsorption media. By using a structure formed of bound particles of the adsorption media having one or more chambers that contain unbound particles of the adsorption media, the surface area available for adsorption can be substantially increased relative to conventional configurations.

Abstract: An oven appliance with a pair of doors is provided. The doors slide along a track in order to open and close and are coupled with a linkage assembly. The linkage assembly allows movement of one of the doors to be transferred to the other door such that the doors open and close simultaneously. When the doors are open, the doors are stored in pockets defined in the oven appliance.

Abstract: A voltage switching microswitch is provided for supplying power to a hot surface igniter in a gas burning system. The microswitch is configured to operate concurrently with manual operation of a gas control valve such that rotation of an operating stem of the gas control valve produces rotation of a cam within the microswitch. The cam is configured to operate a pair of reed switches so that a relatively high voltage from a power supply is applied to the hot surface igniter following a first predetermined amount of rotation of the cam and a relatively lower voltage is applied to the hot surface igniter following a second predetermined amount of rotation of the cam to maintain the temperature of the igniter.