Patent ID: 8651330

Claim:
A refrigeration appliance with a hot water dispenser comprising: a refrigerated cabinet having a dispenser area; a cabinet water inlet in the refrigerated cabinet connectable to a premises water line; and a hot water storage tank having a tank body defining an interior volume, a heater in the interior volume of the tank body, an inlet for admitting water into the interior volume of the tank body supplied via the cabinet water inlet, and an outlet for providing water via a dispensing conduit to a dispenser in the dispenser area, the inlet including a venturi portion for creating a reduced pressure within the hot water storage tank via flow of water into the hot water storage tank, the reduced pressure being in communication with the dispensing conduit via the outlet so that, after dispensing operation is completed, water remaining in the dispensing conduit is drawn toward the interior volume of the tank body, the hot water storage tank also having an evacuation chamber in communication with the inlet via a conduit extending from the venturi portion, the evacuation chamber positioned above the interior volume of the tank body and having a vent opening such that the evacuation chamber is vented to atmosphere, air within the evacuation chamber being in contact with water in the evacuation chamber, wherein water flows into the evacuation chamber via the conduit and air flows out of the evacuation chamber via the vent opening when the reduced pressure draws water from the dispensing conduit toward the interior volume of the tank body, wherein water flows out of the evacuation chamber via the conduit and air flows into the evacuation chamber via the vent opening when water from the cabinet water inlet flows through the venturi portion.