Patent Description:
Such a demand in hot water can be addressed by conventional fluid heating systems that heat water as water circulates through them.

Although such conventional fluid heating systems are widely used, they present important drawbacks. For example, such conventional fluid heating systems may fail in precisely heating the water at a desired temperature and heating water in an energy efficient way as these conventional fluid heating systems do not accurately evaluate and provide adequate heat. In addition, these conventional fluid heating systems may be difficult to install and may require important modifications to be added to a preexisting water supply circuit. <CIT> describes a fluid heating system having a heating chamber, dispensing device, thermostatic control device and valve. <CIT> describes an electric water heating unit and faucet. <CIT> describes a temperature -controlled differential pressure tap.

Optional features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

In the drawings, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Further, as used herein, the words "a", "an", and the like include a meaning of "one or more", unless stated otherwise. The drawings are generally drawn not to scale unless specified otherwise or illustrating schematic structures or flowcharts.

<FIG> are a schematic view of a fluid heating system <NUM> with a pressure regulating valve C-<NUM>, and cross sectional views of the pressure regulating valve C-<NUM> in an open position and in a closed position, respectively and according to certain aspects of the disclosure.

The fluid heating system <NUM> can include a heating chamber A-<NUM> that receives fluid, e.g. water, from a supply line <NUM> and provides heated fluid via a dispensing device B-<NUM> with a drain B-<NUM>, e.g. a faucet with a sink, that dispenses the heated fluid. The fluid heating system also includes a pressure regulating valve C-<NUM> that connects an outlet of the heating chamber A-<NUM> with an inlet of the drain B-<NUM> to facilitate draining of the heating chamber A-<NUM>.

The pressure regulating valve C-<NUM> is articulable between an open position and a closed position. In the open position the pressure regulating valve C-<NUM> provides a passage of the fluid from the heating chamber A-<NUM> to the drain B-<NUM> of the dispensing device B-<NUM>. In the closed position, the pressure regulating valve C-<NUM> blocks the passage of the fluid if the fluid has a pressure below a predetermined pressure threshold and allows the passage of a predetermined amount of fluid if the fluid has a pressure above the predetermined pressure threshold. The predetermined pressure threshold can correspond to a maximum pressure up to which the heating chamber A-<NUM> can withstand before failures may occur, e.g. cracking, and/or overheating.

The connection between the heating chamber A-<NUM> and the drain B-<NUM> via the pressure regulating valve C-<NUM> prevents pressure accumulations in the heating chamber A-<NUM> and evacuates the fluid directly through a dedicated and preexisting route, e.g. the drain B-<NUM>, without causing fluid damages, e.g. fluid discharges, staining, mold growing, or the like.

The pressure regulating valve C-<NUM> can include a valve body C-<NUM>, a valve inlet C-<NUM> on one side of the valve body C-<NUM> that receives heated fluid from the heating chamber A-<NUM>, a valve outlet C-<NUM> on an opposite side of the valve body C-<NUM> that outputs the heated fluid towards the drain B-<NUM>, a valve handle C-<NUM> that protrudes from the valve body C-<NUM>, and a ball valve C-<NUM> inside the valve body C-<NUM> connected to the valve handle C-<NUM> and articulable between the open position and the closed position via the valve handle C-<NUM>. In addition, the pressure regulating valve C-<NUM> can include a seal C-<NUM> between the ball valve C-<NUM> and the valve body C-<NUM> to prevent fluid from leaking into the valve body C-<NUM> from the ball valve C-<NUM>.

The ball valve C-<NUM> can also include a ball through hole C-<NUM> that is aligned with the valve inlet C-<NUM> and the valve outlet C-<NUM> when the pressure regulating valve C-<NUM> is in the open position, and a pressure regulator C-<NUM> that is aligned with the valve inlet C-<NUM> and the valve outlet C-<NUM> when the pressure regulating valve C-<NUM> is in the closed position.

The pressure regulator C-<NUM> is elaborated to block the passage of the heated fluid when the pressure of the hot fluid at the valve inlet C-<NUM> is below the predetermined pressure threshold and to allow the passage of all or a portion of the heated fluid at a particular flow rate when the pressure of the hot fluid at the valve inlet C-<NUM> is above the predetermined pressure threshold.

For example, the predetermined pressure threshold can be between <NUM> bar to <NUM> bar, preferably between <NUM> bar to <NUM> bar, and more preferably between <NUM> bar and <NUM> bar, which corresponds to pressure in residential heating system.

For example, the pressure regulator C-<NUM> can include a channel C-<NUM> aligned with the valve inlet C-<NUM> and the valve outlet C-<NUM> when the pressure regulating valve C-<NUM> is in the closed position, and substantially perpendicular with the valve inlet C-<NUM> and the valve outlet C-<NUM> when the pressure regulating valve C-<NUM> is in the open position.

The channel C-<NUM> may include a regulator inlet with a seat C-<NUM>, a regulator ball C-<NUM> to lodge in the seat C-<NUM>, and bias mechanism C-<NUM>, e.g. spring, to push the regulator ball C-<NUM> against the seat C-<NUM> and block the passage of the fluid when the pressure of the fluid at the valve inlet C-<NUM> is below the predetermined pressure threshold and to let the regulator ball C-<NUM> move away from the seat C-<NUM> when the pressure of the fluid at the valve inlet C-<NUM> is above the predetermined pressure threshold and let the fluid pass through the channel C-<NUM> and the pressure regulating valve C-<NUM>.

The channel C-<NUM> is configured to prevent damages, e.g. pipe cracking, and bursting, projection of hot fluid and/or steam, from occurring by generating a narrow passage, e.g. passage smaller than a diameter of the ball valve C-<NUM>, between the heating chamber A-<NUM> and the drain B-<NUM> when the pressure inside the heating chamber A-<NUM> is above the predetermined threshold even if the pressure regulating valve C-<NUM> is in the closed position.

The elements of the pressure regulating valve C-<NUM>, e.g. the valve body C-<NUM>, and/ or the ball valve C-<NUM>, can be made of materials configured to resist to a minimum fluid pressure, e.g. pressure superior to the predetermined pressure threshold, as well as to facilitate the articulation of the pressure regulating valve C-<NUM> between the close position and the open position. For example, the valve body C-<NUM> can be made of metal, plastic, or metal with a ceramic, for strength, while the ball valve C-<NUM> can be chrome plated for durability and to provide a smooth contact between the valve body C-<NUM> and the seal C-<NUM>.

<FIG> are a schematic view of the fluid heating system <NUM> with an energy recovery device D-<NUM> and a cross sectional view of the energy recovery device D-<NUM>, respectively, according to certain aspects of the disclosure.

The fluid heating system <NUM> can include an energy recovery device D-<NUM> to harvest energy provided by the flow of fluid from the heating chamber A-<NUM> to dispensing device B-<NUM>.

The energy recovery device D-<NUM> can include a turbine D-<NUM> driven by a flow of heated fluid when the dispensing device B-<NUM> dispenses the heated fluid, an electrical generator D-<NUM> driven by the turbine D-<NUM> that generates electrical energy, a regulator D-<NUM> that regulates the electrical energy and provides regulated energy, e.g. constant voltage and/or current, and batteries D-<NUM> that store the regulated energy and feed a thermostatic control device E-<NUM> that controls power supplied to the heating chamber A-<NUM>.

In one example, the elements of the energy recovery device D-<NUM>, e.g. the turbine D-<NUM>, the electrical generator D-<NUM>, the regulator D-<NUM>, and/or the batteries D-<NUM>, are configured to be sufficiently small to fit below and/or inside the dispensing device B-<NUM>.

The recovery energy device D-<NUM> provides the ability to feed power to the thermostatic control device E-<NUM> without requiring an external power source, e.g. house hold electrical supply, or any electrical equipment necessary to transfer, convert, and/or transform the electrical energy provided by the external source into an electrical energy acceptable for the thermostatic control device E-<NUM>, e.g. line transformers, and/or cables. Such electrical equipment may be voluminous and consume additional energy. Consequently, the energy recovery device D-<NUM> provides improvements of space and energy for the fluid heating device <NUM>.

<FIG> are a schematic and a cross sectional views of the fluid heating system <NUM> with the thermostatic control device E-<NUM> integrated into the fluid dispensing device B-<NUM>, respectively and according to certain aspects of the disclosure.

The fluid heating system <NUM> can include a thermostatic control device E-<NUM> that supplies power to the heating chamber A-<NUM> as the heated fluid is dispensed via the dispensing device B-<NUM> and maintains a supply of heated fluid at a preset temperature T.

The thermostatic control device E-<NUM> can include a plurality of sensors, e.g. temperature sensors, pressures sensors, and/or flow sensors, to provide fluid signals commensurate with thermo-hydro-dynamic parameters, e.g. temperature, pressure, and/or flow rate, of the fluid.

For example, the thermostatic control device E-<NUM> can include an inlet temperature sensor E-<NUM> placed upstream of the heating chamber A-<NUM> to provide readings indicative of an inlet temperature Tin, a flow meter E-<NUM> placed upstream of the heating chamber A-<NUM> that provides readings indicative of a flow rate Q of the cold fluid going through the heating chamber A-<NUM>, an outlet temperature sensor E-<NUM> placed downstream of the heating chamber A-<NUM> that provides readings indicative of an outlet temperature Tout, a power switch E-<NUM>, e.g. a TRIAC, that controls the power supplied to the heating chamber A-<NUM>, and an Electrical Control Unit (ECU) E-<NUM> that receives the readings provided by the inlet temperature sensor E-<NUM> and the flow meter E-<NUM>, and controls the power switch E-<NUM>, based on the inlet temperature Tin and the flow rate Q, to dispense the heated fluid at the preset temperature T.

The ECU E-<NUM> may control the power switch E-<NUM> via Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), Pulse Density Modulation (PDM), Phase Control, Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) techniques, other methods, algorithms, and/or software instructions to manage and supply adequate power to the heating chamber A-<NUM>.

For example, The ECU E-<NUM> can be configured to actuate the power switch E-<NUM> to supply power to the heating chamber A-<NUM> when the flow rate Q is above a predetermined minimum flow rate threshold and to actuate the power switch E-<NUM> to not supply power to the heating chamber A-<NUM> when the flow rate Q is below the predetermined minimum flow rate threshold. Further, the ECU E-<NUM> can actuate the power switch E-<NUM> to increase the power supplied to the heating chamber A-<NUM> as the flow rate Q increases and to decrease the power supplied to the heating chamber A-<NUM> as the flow rate Q decreases.

In addition, the ECU E-<NUM> can be configured to take into account the outlet temperature Tout to manage more accurately the power supplied to the heating chamber A-<NUM>. For example, the ECU E-<NUM> can actuate the power switch E-<NUM> to control the power supplied to the heating chamber A-<NUM> through a feedback loop mechanism, e.g. a PID loop, between the inlet temperature Tin and the outlet temperature Tout.

The thermostatic control device E-<NUM> precisely and effectively adjusts the power supplied to the heating chamber A-<NUM> making the fluid heating system <NUM> more efficient and capable to dispense hot fluid at a temperature matching the preset temperature T.

<FIG> are cross sectional views of a mixing valve E-<NUM> and a manual mixing valve E-<NUM> integrated into the dispensing device B-<NUM>, according to certain aspects of the disclosure.

The fluid heating system <NUM> can include a mixing valve E-<NUM> that controls the temperature of the heated fluid dispensed by the dispensing device B-<NUM>. The mixing valve E-<NUM> can mix the heated fluid coming out from the heating chamber A-<NUM> with the cold fluid entering the heating chamber A-<NUM> and provide a tempered fluid temperature below a predetermined maximum temperature.

The mixing valve E-<NUM> can prevent the tempered fluid from being dispensed at an excessive temperature, e.g. above the predetermined maximum temperature, which can be desired for public handwashing applications and to meet regulations and/or codes such as the ASSE <NUM> code.

The mixing valve E-<NUM> can include a cold supply line E-<NUM> that runs between an inlet of the heating chamber A-<NUM> and a cold inlet of the mixing valve E-<NUM> to partially diverge the cold fluid entering the heating chamber A-<NUM> and supplies the mixing valve E-<NUM> with the cold fluid. The mixing valve E-<NUM> can also include a hot supply line E-<NUM> that runs between an outlet of the heating chamber A-<NUM> and a hot inlet of the mixing valve E-<NUM> and supplies the mixing valve E-<NUM> with the hot fluid, and a dispense line E-<NUM> that runs between an outlet of the mixing valve E-<NUM> and an outlet of the dispensing device B-<NUM> and supplies the temperature controlled fluid.

The mixing valve E-<NUM> can include a knob E-<NUM> that adjusts a mixing ratio between the hot fluid and the cold fluid and consequently adjust the predetermined maximum temperature of the tempered fluid. The knob E-<NUM> can be manually controlled or controlled via servo-mechanics based on control feedback and information analyzed by the ECU E-<NUM>.

The fluid heating system <NUM> including the mixing valve E-<NUM> can be completely or partially integrated inside the fluid dispensing device B-<NUM> to gain space.

For example, the heating chamber A-<NUM> can be placed inside a body B-<NUM> of the fluid dispensing device B-<NUM>, the mixing valve E-<NUM> can be positioned above the heating chamber A-<NUM> with the hot inlet of the mixing valve E-<NUM> directly connected to the outlet of the heating chamber A-<NUM> to minimize a length of the hot supply line E-<NUM>. The cold supply line E-<NUM> can run along the heating chamber A-<NUM> and inside the body B-<NUM> of the fluid dispensing device B-<NUM> and the dispensing line E-<NUM> can run inside and along a beak B-<NUM> of the dispensing device B-<NUM>.

In addition, the knob E-<NUM> of the mixing valve E-<NUM> can be placed on top of the mixing valve E-<NUM> and can face upwardly to be easily accessible by a user when manual adjustment of the mixing ratio is desired.

Alternatively or in addition to the mixing valve E-<NUM>, a manual mixing valve E-<NUM> can be placed upstream of the inlet of the heating chamber A-<NUM> to provide additional controls in mixing the hot fluid with the cold fluid and dispensing the temperature controlled fluid, as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a cross sectional view of the fluid heating system <NUM> with a cold channeling system F-<NUM>, according to certain aspects of the disclosure.

The heating chamber A-<NUM> can include a cold channeling system F-<NUM> that insulates the user and/or other outside surfaces from heat generated by the heating chamber A-<NUM>.

The cold channeling system F-<NUM> can force the cold fluid entering the heating chamber A-<NUM> to follow a predetermined path before being heated by the heating chamber A-<NUM> so as to limit heat diffused through the body B-<NUM> of the dispensing device B-<NUM>. The predetermined path can envelope an internal volume of the heating chamber A-<NUM> to form a jacket of cold fluid that limits heat diffusion through the heating chamber A-<NUM> towards the exterior of the dispensing device B-<NUM>.

For example, the predetermined path can be similar to a Hill vortex that goes radially along a lower side A-<NUM> of the heating chamber A-<NUM>, upwardly along walls A-<NUM> of the heating chamber A-<NUM> adjacent to the body B-<NUM> of the fluid dispensing device B-<NUM>, radially along an upper side A-<NUM> of the heating chamber A-<NUM>, and downwardly towards the lower side A-<NUM> of the heating chamber A-<NUM> to be heated by the heating chamber A-<NUM>.

The cold channeling system F-<NUM> may rely on channels and/or diffusors A-<NUM>, e.g. winglets, spoilers, and/or geometrical structures configured to deflect the cold fluid, placed on an internal surface of the heating chamber A-<NUM> that forces the cold fluid to follow the predetermined path and prevent the fluid heating system <NUM> from using a separate medium to insulate the heating chamber A-<NUM>. This provides additional advantages of reduced parts, repair and production costs.

In one example, the heating chamber A-<NUM> can be similar to or include a heating device A-<NUM> disclosed in the <CIT>, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Alternatively, the heating chamber A-<NUM> may heat fluid passing therein by other methods as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

<FIG>, <FIG> are cross sectional views of a supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> connected to the fluid dispensing device B-<NUM>, a passage A-<NUM> of the supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM>, and a stem A-<NUM> of the supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> affixed to the dispensing device B-<NUM>, respectively and according to certain aspects of the disclosure.

The fluid heating system <NUM> can include a supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> configured to be affixed below a support surface <NUM> of the dispensing device B-<NUM>, e.g. a counter top or a sink basin, to facilitate an installation of the fluid heating system <NUM> by providing ease of access, visibility and by limiting the use of tools.

The supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> can include a passage A-<NUM> that goes through a full length of the supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM>, a stem A-<NUM>, a cold inlet A-<NUM> that receives the cold fluid, a hot outlet A-<NUM> that dispenses heated fluid, and a cold outlet A-<NUM> that dispenses the cold fluid back from the heating chamber A-<NUM> and/or a supplementary fluid line. The supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> can also include a connection system A-<NUM> that connects the hot outlet A-<NUM> and the cold outlet A-<NUM> to a hot inlet A-<NUM> of the fluid dispensing device B-<NUM> and a cold inlet A-<NUM> of the fluid dispensing device B-<NUM>, respectively. Additionally, an electrical supply line A-<NUM> is provided to feed the supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> with electrical energy for heating fluid.

The stem A-<NUM> can include a stem first end A-<NUM> that protrudes from an upper side A-<NUM> of the supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> and a stem second end A-<NUM> that protrudes from a lower side A-<NUM> of the supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM>, wherein the stem first end A-<NUM> is affixed to the dispensing device B-<NUM>, e.g. through threading, and a fastening device A-<NUM>, e.g. a jamb nut, is inserted through the stem second end A-<NUM> to press the supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> against the support surface <NUM>, and connect the fluid dispensing device B-<NUM>, via the connection system A-<NUM>.

The connection system A-<NUM> can easily, e.g. without tool and through a plug-in/out action, connect the hot outlet A-<NUM> and the cold outlet A-<NUM> of the supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> to a cold inlet and a hot inlet of the dispensing device B-<NUM>, as well as disconnect the hot outlet A-<NUM> and the cold outlet A-<NUM> of the supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> from the cold inlet and the hot inlet of the dispensing device B-<NUM>.

For example, the connection system A-<NUM> can rely on quick connect fittings to make- or-break connections between the supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> and the dispensing device B-<NUM>. The quick connect fittings can rely on a male tubing and matching female tubing with fastening teeth that lock the male tubing inside the female tubing when a connecting force is applied between the male tubing and the female tubing and wherein the fastening teeth unlock and release the male tubing from the female tubing when an disconnecting force is applied between the male tubing and the female tubing.

The passage A-<NUM> can have an internal profile passage A-<NUM> that matches an external profile stem of the stem A-<NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, to assure alignment between the cold outlet A-<NUM> of the supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> and the cold inlet A-<NUM> of the dispensing device B-<NUM> as well as to assure alignment between the hot outlet A-<NUM> of the supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> and the hot inlet A-<NUM> of the dispensing device B-<NUM>. For example, the internal profile passage A-<NUM> and the external profile stem can have a partial circular shape with a flat portion A-<NUM> to prevent rotation of the supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> around the stem A-<NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

The supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> can be used in combination with the heating chamber A-<NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, to enhance the ability to heat the cold fluid.

<FIG> are sectional views of the supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> connected to the dispensing device B-<NUM>, and mounted onto a standard supply line <NUM>, respectively and according to certain aspects of the disclosure.

The supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> can be used alone and mounted directly to the dispensing device B-<NUM> equipped with the hot inlet A-<NUM> and the cold inlet A-<NUM> to receive the hot outlet A-<NUM> and cold outlet A-<NUM> of the supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. <FIG> shows an alternative not forming part of the invention.

For example, the supplemental heating chamber A-<NUM> can include a standard hot outlet <NUM> elaborated to be used with standard compression hoses, e.g. <NUM>/<NUM>", of the standard supply line <NUM>.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary embodiments of an object of the present invention.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, an object of the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms within the scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A fluid heating system comprising:
a heating chamber (A-<NUM>) that receives and heats fluid to provide heated fluid;
a dispensing device (B-<NUM>) that dispenses the heated fluid, the dispensing device (B-<NUM>) encompassing the heating chamber (A-<NUM>);
a thermostatic control device (E-<NUM>) that regulates a power supply to the heating chamber (A-<NUM>);
a drain (B-<NUM><NUM>) open to an external environment, and
a pressure regulating valve (C-<NUM>) articulable between an opened position and a closed position, wherein
in the opened position, passage for the heated fluid is provided between the drain (B-<NUM>) and the heating chamber (A-<NUM>), and
in the closed position, passage for the heated fluid is prevented between the heating chamber (A-<NUM>) and the drain (B-<NUM>) when a pressure in the heating chamber (A-<NUM>) is below a predetermined pressure threshold;
characterized in that
with the pressure regulating valve in the closed position, passage for the heated fluid is provided between the heating chamber (A-<NUM>) and the drain (B-<NUM>) when the pressure in the heating chamber (A-<NUM>) is above the predetermined pressure threshold; and
the fluid heating system further comprises an energy recovery device (D-<NUM>) that harvests mechanical energy provided by a flow of the heated fluid from the heating chamber (A-<NUM>) to the dispensing device (B-<NUM>) and generates electrical energy to power the thermostatic control device (E-<NUM>).