Abstract: A hot water dispensing system comprises a one-piece plastic tank having a main heating chamber, an expansion chamber, and an air collection chamber. The air collection chamber is disposed generally below the expansion chamber and alongside the main heating chamber. The main heating chamber is in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the air collection chamber. The hot water dispensing system also includes a temperature control system having a heating element, a metal temperature sensing bracket, and a thermostat. The heating element is disposed within the plastic tank and connected to a metal temperature sensing bracket disposed outside the tank. The excellent conductive properties of a metal sheath that connects the metal temperature sensing bracket to the heating element allow the metal temperature sensing bracket to simulate changes in the temperature of water in the tank.

Abstract: An organic waste disposer 10 such as is commonly mounted to a kitchen sink 12 has mounted next to it a device 14 for injecting a predetermined quantity of bio-enzyme material into the disposer's grinding chamber each time the motor of the disposer is turned on.

Abstract: A grinder for dry waste materials such as rubber gloves has a vertically-oriented, cylindrically-shaped housing with an opening at its upper end for receiving materials to be comminuted. The housing is divided into upper and lower chambers by means of a rotatable, disk-shaped shredder element. The shredder element has a pair of parallel upwardly-extending impeller blades disposed on its upper surface on opposite sides of its center of rotation which define a channel across the diameter of the shredder element.

Abstract: A grinder for dry waste materials includes a vertically-oriented, cylindrically-shaped housing having an opening at its upper end for receiving materials to be comminuted. The shredder element has upwardly-extending impeller blades disposed on its upper surface. The outer perimeter of the shredder element is separated from the inner wall of the housing sufficiently to provide a gap through which comminuted materials can drop from the upper chamber to the lower chamber of the housing. The interior of the upper portion of the housing is provided around its circumference with diverget blades that are angled downwardly in the direction of rotation of the shredder element. The lower housing has a closed bottom and a tangentially oriented discharge element for discharge from the lower housing of comminuted materials.

Abstract: A waste disposer having a rotatable shredding element for grinding waste in a flushing liquid, an outlet for discharging ground waste material in liquid to a drain, an electrically-powered motor for driving the rotatable shredding element and a source for supplying flushing liquid the disposer that includes a detector for sensing the amount of electrical current flowing to the motor. The system includes, at least, one valve for controlling the flow of flushing liquid to the disposer which valve is controlled by means of a controller that is responsive to the electrical current detector. The controller increases the amount of flushing liquid falling into the disposer in response to a detected increase in the amount of electrical current flowing into the motor. The invention optionally includes a second valve for controlling flushing liquid to the disposer at a lower rate, which second valve is opened whenever the electrical is activated.

Abstract: An instant hot water dispenser has an upper plastic tank section connected to a lower brass tank section by a safety clamping arrangement which includes outturned tabs on the upper plastic tank section which interfit in notches in the brass lower tank section and a retainer ring located between the plastic tabs and outturned metal flanges on the brass tank section. An O-ring seal between the plastic upper tank and the brass tank provides a fluid seal. Various of the plumbing connections are integrally molded with the plastic top and expansion chamber cover which is separated from the main water tank by a common wall or partition. An aspirator opening in an integrally formed plastic stem in the expansion chamber cover aspirates water from the expansion chamber as incoming cold water passes the aspirator opening.

Abstract: An instant hot water dispenser has an upper plastic tank section connected to a lower brass tank section by a safety clamping arrangement which includes outturned tabs on the upper plastic tank section which interfit in notches in the brass lower tank section and a retainer ring located between the plastic tabs and outturned metal flanges on the brass tank section. An O-ring seal between the plastic upper tank and the brass tank provides a fluid seal. Various of the plumbing connections are integrally molded with the plastic top and expansion chamber cover which is separated from the main water tank by a common wall or partition. An aspirator opening in an integrally formed plastic stem in the expansion chamber cover aspirates water from the expansion chamber as incoming cold water passes the aspirator opening.

Abstract: An instant hot water dispenser has an upper plastic tank section connected to a lower brass tank section by a safety clamping arrangement which includes outturned tabs on the upper plastic tank section which interfit in notches in the brass lower tank section and a retainer ring located between the plastic tabs and outturned metal flanges on the brass tank section. An O-ring seal between the plastic upper tank and the brass tank provides a fluid seal. Various of the plumbing connections are integrally molded with the plastic top and expansion chamber cover which is separated from the main water tank by a common wall or partition. An aspirator opening in an integrally formed plastic stem in the expansion chamber cover aspirates water from the expansion chamber as incoming cold water passes the aspirator opening.