Apparatus for preventing water pipe freeze-up
US4657038A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 1986 |
| Grant date | Apr 14, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 9, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/1987
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An automatic liquid flow control unit is adapted to be attached to an externally threaded spigot to enable liquid to trickle therethrough in order to avoid liquid freeze-up. The unit includes a rigid conduit which includes an internally threaded fastener which can be directly coupled to the threaded spigot. The conduit carries a solenoid actuated valve and a thermal switch which is electrically coupled to the valve to open the latter to a water trickling mode. The thermal switch senses the outside temperature of the conduit and thus is virtually directly responsive to the temperature of liquid within the conduit. The valve can be opened independently of the thermal switch to provide a normal water flow without removal of the unit from the spigot.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.