Patent ID: 6021798
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: E03B,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for preventing freezing of at least one of a hot or cold water supply pipe located inside a building, which said water supply pipe extends from a remote water inlet end to a water outlet end located adjacent a water usage station, said water usage station having a water supply fixture which includes a water outlet and at least one manually operated valve located upstream of said water outlet, at least one freeze prone portion of said water supply pipe being located in a portion of said building where the ambient temperature adjacent said water supply pipe is subject to dropping below the freezing point of water during cold weather, comprising:a thermal switch attached to said water supply pipe in said freeze prone portion;a first conduit communicating the outlet end of said water supply line to the inlet of a solenoid-actuated valve;a second conduit communicating the outlet of said solenoid-actuated valve with said water outlet of said fixture downstream of said manually operated valve; andelectrical circuitry operably connecting said thermal switch and said solenoid-actuated valve to an electric power source, said thermal switch being configured to close the circuit between said power source and said solenoid-actuated valve at a temperature up to about the freezing point of water and to open the circuit at a temperature above the freezing point of water, said solenoid-actuated valve being in a closed position when said circuit is open and open when said circuit is closed.