초록 ▼

A water control valve configured for use with a bypass valve to automatically bypass cold or tepid water in a hot water supply line so as to maintain hot water at the fixture. The water control valve is useful for shower/tub facilities and for appliances such as washing machines and dishwashing mach

A water control valve configured for use with a bypass valve to automatically bypass cold or tepid water in a hot water supply line so as to maintain hot water at the fixture. The water control valve is useful for shower/tub facilities and for appliances such as washing machines and dishwashing machines. The water control valve for use with shower/tub facilities is adapted for the bypass valve to attach to or be adjacent to the water control valve by utilizing bypass ports, passageways and/or connectors. The water control valve for use with appliances is adapted to have a second outlet for connecting to a second water control valve or, for combination service valves, to have the bypass valve disposed in the tubular section between the hot and cold water components. The preferred bypass valve is a thermostatically controlled bypass valve of the type having a thermal actuating element.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A water pump and bypass valve sub-system for use in a water circulating system, the sub-system comprising: a thermostatically controlled bypass valve configured to be located proximate a fixture in the water circulating system, the valve comprising: a housing having a hot wat

What is claimed is: 1. A water pump and bypass valve sub-system for use in a water circulating system, the sub-system comprising: a thermostatically controlled bypass valve configured to be located proximate a fixture in the water circulating system, the valve comprising: a housing having a hot water port and a cold water port formed integral with one another as part of a one-piece body, the hot water port being configured to be joined directly to a hot water supply line, the cold water port being configured to be joined directly to a cold water supply line, the housing having a passage permitting recirculating flow between the hot and cold water ports; a thermally sensitive actuating member, disposed within the housing, the thermally sensitive actuating member extending when heated above a preset temperature value and contracting when cooled below the preset temperature value, the thermally sensitive actuating member opening and closing the passage based on a temperature of the thermally sensitive actuating member; and a water pump configured to be located in the water circulation system remote from the fixture, the pump being configured to pump water through the water circulating system to the bypass valve. 2. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the hot and cold water ports are threaded with standard pipe threading to facilitate direct connection to flexible hoses that form part of the hot and cold water supply lines, respectively. 3. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the hot water port includes a hot inlet port and a hot discharge port located proximate to and integral with one another, the hot inlet port being configured to receive hot water, the hot discharge port being configured to discharge the hot water, the cold water port and the hot inlet and discharge ports being formed integral with one another as part of the one-piece body. 4. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the cold water port includes a cold inlet port and a cold discharge port located proximate to one another, the cold inlet port being configured to receive cold water, the cold discharge port being configured to discharge the cold water, the hot water port and the cold inlet and discharge ports being formed integral with one another as part of the one-piece body. 5. The sub-system of 1, further comprising a check valve connected in parallel with the pump, the check valve being configured to permit water to bypass the pump when a flow rate of the water circulating system exceeds a capacity of the pump. 6. The sub-system of claim 5, wherein the check valve is incorporated within a housing of the pump. 7. The sub-system of claim 1, further comprising a screen held within the housing proximate the hot water port. 8. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the bypass valve further comprises a bias spring disposed in the housing, the bias spring engaging the thermally sensitive actuating member and urging the thermally sensitive actuating member to contract. 9. The sub-system of claim 1, further comprising an over-travel spring disposed within the housing, the over-travel spring allowing movement of the thermally sensitive actuating member. 10. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an integral metal body with first and second ends, the first end including the hot water port, the second end including the cold water port, the first and second ends being cast in the one-piece body. 11. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the thermally sensitive actuating member includes an actuating element having a body and a piston extending and contracting relative to one another as the thermally sensitive actuating member heats and cools, respectively. 12. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the thermally sensitive actuating member includes a poppet located proximate an opening of the passage, the poppet seating against, and unseating from, the opening of the passage when the thermally sensitive actuating member extends and contracts, respectively. 13. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the thermally sensitive member includes a body having one of a wax filled cartridge, a bimetallic spring, and a memory alloy. 14. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the housing is made from one of plastic and metal. 15. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein the pump is mounted proximate one of an inlet and outlet of the hot water heater. 16. The sub-system of claim 1, further comprising a control timer that turns the pump on and off at predetermined times of day. 17. The sub-system of claim 1, further comprising a control timer that turns the pump on and off, the control timer being adjustable by a user to direct the pump to cycle on and off regularly during a period in which hot water is desired. 18. The sub-system of claim 1, further comprising a control timer that turns the pump on and off, the control timer being adjustable by a user to direct the pump to operate continuously for a period during which hot water is desired. 19. The sub-system of claim 1, further comprising a normally closed flow switch that monitors a flow through the water circulating system, the flow switch preventing the pump from turning on when the flow is larger than a maximum flow permitted through the bypass valve. 20. The sub-system of claim 1, wherein housing includes a chamber having an open end, the thermally sensitive actuating member being loaded into the chamber through the open end and held in the chamber with a retention member. 21. A water pump and bypass valve sub-system for use in a water circulating system, the sub-system comprising: a thermostatically controlled bypass valve configured to be located proximate a fixture in the water circulating system, the valve comprising: a housing having a hot water port and a cold water port formed integral with one another, the hot water port being configured to communicate with a hot water supply line, the cold water port being configured to communicate with a cold water supply line, the housing having a passage permitting recirculating flow between the hot and cold water ports; a thermally sensitive actuating member, disposed within the housing, the thermally sensitive actuating member extending when heated above a preset temperature value and contracting when cooled below the preset temperature value, the thermally sensitive actuating member opening and closing the passage based on a temperature of the thermally sensitive actuating member; a water pump configured to be located in the water circulation system remote from the fixture, the pump being configured to pump water through the water circulating system to the bypass valve; and a check valve connected in parallel with the pump, the check valve being configured to permit water to bypass the pump when a flow rate of the water circulating system exceeds a capacity of the pump. 22. The sub-system of claim 21, wherein the check valve is incorporated within a housing of the pump. 23. The sub-system of claim 21, wherein the hot and cold water ports are threaded with standard pipe threading to facilitate direct connection to flexible hoses that form part of the hot and cold water supply lines, respectively. 24. The sub-system of claim 21, wherein the hot water port includes a hot inlet port and a hot discharge port located proximate to and integral with one another, the hot inlet port being configured to receive hot water, the hot discharge port being configured to discharge the hot water, the cold water port and the hot inlet and discharge ports being formed integral with one another as part of a one-piece body. 25. The sub-system of claim 21, wherein the cold water port includes a cold inlet port and a cold discharge port located proximate to one another, the cold inlet port being configured to receive cold water, the cold discharge port being configured to discharge the cold water, the hot water port and the cold inlet and discharge ports being formed integral with one another as part of a one-piece body. 26. The sub-system of claim 21, further comprising a screen held within the housing proximate the hot water port. 27. The sub-system of claim 21, wherein the bypass valve further comprises a bias spring disposed in the housing, the bias spring engaging the thermally sensitive actuating member and urging the thermally sensitive actuating member to contract. 28. The sub-system of claim 21, further comprising an over-travel spring disposed within the housing, the over-travel spring allowing movement of the thermally sensitive actuating member. 29. The sub-system of claim 21, further comprising a control timer that turns the pump on and off at predetermined times of day. 30. The sub-system of claim 21, wherein the thermally sensitive actuating member includes a thermal actuator surrounded by insulation. 31. A water pump and bypass valve sub-system for use in a water circulating system, the sub-system comprising: a thermostatically controlled bypass valve configured to be located proximate a fixture in the water circulating system, the valve comprising: a housing having a hot water port and a cold water port, the hot water port being configured to communicate with a hot water supply line, the cold water port being configured to communicate with a cold water supply line, the housing having a passage permitting recirculating flow between the hot and cold water ports; a screen held within the housing proximate the hot water port; and a thermally sensitive actuating member, disposed within the housing, the thermally sensitive actuating member extending when heated above a preset temperature value and contracting when cooled below the preset temperature value, the thermally sensitive actuating member opening and closing the passage based on a temperature of the thermally sensitive actuating member; and a water pump configured to be located in the water circulation system remote from the fixture, the pump being configured to pump water through the water circulating system to the bypass valve. 32. The sub-system of claim 31, wherein the hot and cold water ports are threaded with standard pipe threading to facilitate direct connection to flexible hoses that form part of the hot and cold water supply lines, respectively. 33. The sub-system of claim 31, wherein the hot water port includes a hot inlet port and a hot discharge port located proximate to and integral with one another, the hot inlet port being configured to receive hot water, the hot discharge port being configured to discharge the hot water, the cold water port and the hot inlet and discharge ports being formed integral with one another as part of a one-piece body. 34. The sub-system of claim 31, wherein the cold water port includes a cold inlet port and a cold discharge port located proximate to one another, the cold inlet port being configured to receive cold water, the cold discharge port being configured to discharge the cold water, the hot water port and the cold inlet and discharge ports being formed integral with one another as part of a one-piece body. 35. The sub-system of 31, further comprising a check valve connected in parallel with the pump, the check valve being configured to permit water to bypass the pump when a flow rate of the water circulating system exceeds a capacity of the pump. 36. The sub-system of claim 31, wherein the check valve is incorporated within a housing of the pump. 37. The sub-system of claim 31, wherein the bypass valve further comprises a bias spring disposed in the housing, the bias spring engaging the thermally sensitive actuating member and urging the thermally sensitive actuating member to contract. 38. The sub-system of claim 31, further comprising an over-travel spring disposed within the housing, the over-travel spring allowing movement of the thermally sensitive actuating member. 39. The sub-system of claim 31, further comprising a control timer that turns the pump on and off at predetermined times of day. 40. The sub-system of claim 31, wherein the thermally sensitive actuating member includes a thermal actuator surrounded by insulation.