Patent ID: 7089955
Filing Date: 2006-08-15
Classification: B60R,E03B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A recreational vehicle water warming and circulating apparatus for a recreational vehicle having an on-board water supply including cold water and heated water, the water supply having an exposed portion in thermal communication with outside air and having a water temperature affected by outside air temperature, particularly when the outside air temperature falls to near the freezing point of water and below, said recreational vehicle water warming and circulating apparatus comprising: a holding tank having a chamber to hold the cold water of the water supply; a pump having intake and discharge openings, said pump drawing cold water from said holding tank and pressurizing the cold water and heated water downstream of said pump; a water heater for producing the heated water, said water heater having a cold water inlet and a heated water outlet, said water heater receiving water from said pump; a water fixture having at least one manual valve to selectively dispense the cold water and heated water of the water supply, said water fixture being located inside the recreational vehicle; a heated loop including a heated supply line providing a flow path from said holding tank through said pump and water heater to said water fixture, and a heated return line providing a flow path from said water fixture back to said holding tank, said heated supply line supplying the heated water to said water fixture and said heated return line returning undispensed heated water to said holding tank; a heated loop flow control valve positioned along said heated return line, said control valve being operable to selectively open and close said flow path of said heated return line; a control circuit including a water supply temperature sensor with a sensing element positioned to determine when the cold water in the exposed portion of the water supply reaches one of either a lower temperature setting and an upper temperature setting, said control circuit selectively opening and closing said heated loop flow control valve to allow and stop a flow of heated water through said heated loop, respectively; and, wherein said control circuit opens said heated loop flow control valve to allow the heated water to flow through said heated loop when said water supply temperature sensor senses the cold water of the water supply has reached said lower temperature setting, said pump pumping water from said holding tank to said water heater and circulating the heated water through said heated loop and to said holding tank, and wherein said control circuit closes said heated loop flow control valve when said water supply temperature sensor senses the cold water of the water supply has reached said upper temperature setting.