초록 ▼

A valve assembly for providing hot water includes a hot water side with a hot water inlet and a cold water side. The valve assembly also includes a central channel for fluid communication between the cold water side and the hot water side and a bypass valve portion. The bypass valve portion includes

A valve assembly for providing hot water includes a hot water side with a hot water inlet and a cold water side. The valve assembly also includes a central channel for fluid communication between the cold water side and the hot water side and a bypass valve portion. The bypass valve portion includes a thermostatic valve adapted to substantially block the fluid communication through the central channel between the cold water side and the hot water side when a temperature of water flowing through the central channel increases above a threshold temperature. The bypass valve portion also includes a temperature adjustment portion adapted to selectively vary the threshold temperature.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A valve assembly for providing hot water, comprising: a hot water side with a hot water inlet; a cold water side; a central channel for fluid communication between the cold water side and the hot water side; and a bypass valve portion, the bypass valve portion comprising: a t

What is claimed is: 1. A valve assembly for providing hot water, comprising: a hot water side with a hot water inlet; a cold water side; a central channel for fluid communication between the cold water side and the hot water side; and a bypass valve portion, the bypass valve portion comprising: a thermostatic valve adapted to substantially block the fluid communication through the central channel between the cold water side and the hot water side when a temperature of water flowing through the central channel increases above a threshold temperature; and a mechanical temperature adjustment portion adapted to selectively vary the threshold temperature, wherein the thermostatic valve includes a thermally sensitive valve body and a piston adapted to extend outward from the thermally sensitive valve body with increasing temperature, and wherein the mechanical temperature adjustment portion is adapted to adjust an amount of extension of the piston required to cause the thermostatic valve to substantially block the fluid communication through the central channel. 2. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the mechanical temperature adjustment portion is adapted to translate along an axis of the piston. 3. The valve assembly of claim 2, wherein the mechanical temperature adjustment portion includes a rotatable dial, a rotation of the dial being adapted to cause translation along the axis of the piston. 4. A valve assembly for providing hot water, comprising: a hot water side with a hot water inlet; a cold water side; a central channel for fluid communication between the cold water side and the hot water side; and a bypass valve portion, the bypass valve portion comprising: a thermostatic valve adapted to substantially block the fluid communication through the central channel between the cold water side and the hot water side when a temperature of water flowing through the central channel increases above a threshold temperature; and a mechanical temperature adjustment portion adapted to selectively vary the threshold temperature, wherein the mechanical temperature adjustment portion is adapted to translate along an axis of the thermostatic valve. 5. The valve assembly of claim 4, wherein the mechanical temperature adjustment portion includes a rotatable dial, a rotation of the dial being adapted to cause translation along the axis of the piston. 6. A water supply system comprising: a water outlet for providing hot water and cold water to a user; a water heater for supplying hot water to the water outlet; a cold water source for supplying cold water to the water outlet and to the water heater; a circulation pump assembly mounted between the cold water source and the water heater; and a valve assembly mounted at the water outlets the valve assembly comprising: a hot water side with a hot water inlet for receiving water from the water heater and a hot water outlet for providing water to the water outlet; a cold water side with a cold water inlet interconnected to the cold water source; a central channel for fluid communication between the cold water side and the hot water side; and a bypass valve portions the bypass valve portion comprising: a thermostatic valve adapted to substantially block the fluid communication through the central channel between the cold water side and the hot water side when a temperature of water flowing through the central channel increases above a threshold temperature; and a mechanical temperature adjustment portion adapted to selectively vary the threshold temperature, wherein the thermostatic valve includes a thermally sensitive valve body and a piston adapted to extend outward from the thermally sensitive valve body with increasing temperature, and wherein the mechanical temperature adjustment portion is adapted to adjust an amount of extension of the piston required to cause the thermostatic valve to substantially block the fluid communication through the central channel. 7. The water supply system of claim 6, wherein the mechanical temperature adjustment portion is adapted to translate along an axis of the piston. 8. The water supply system of claim 7, wherein the mechanical temperature adjustment portion includes a rotatable dial, a rotation of the dial being adapted to cause translation along the axis of the piston. 9. A water supply system comprising: a water outlet for providing hot water and cold water to a user; a water heater for supplying hot water to the water outlet; a cold water source for supplying cold water to the water outlet and to the water heater; a circulation pump assembly mounted between the cold water source and the water heater; and a valve assembly mounted at the water outlet, the valve assembly comprising: a hot water side with a hot water inlet for receiving water from the water heater and a hot water outlet for providing water to the water outlet; a cold water side with a cold water inlet interconnected to the cold water source; a central channel for fluid communication between the cold water side and the hot water side; and a bypass valve portion, the bypass valve portion comprising: a thermostatic valve adapted to substantially block the fluid communication through the central channel between the cold water side and the hot water side when a temperature of water flowing through the central channel increases above a threshold temperature; and a mechanical temperature adjustment portion adapted to selectively vary the threshold temperature, wherein the mechanical temperature adjustment portion is adapted to translate along an axis of the thermostatic valve. 10. The water supply system of claim 9, wherein the mechanical temperature adjustment portion includes a rotatable dial, a rotation of the dial being adapted to cause translation along the axis of the piston.