Hydrothermal stabilizer and expansion tank system
US5584316A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 5, 1995 |
| Grant date | Dec 17, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 5, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/6497
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Plumbing apparatus is provided for reducing energy consumption and controlling increases in water pressure of a hot water heater. The apparatus includes a tank and a buoyant piston movably disposed within the tank and having a perimeter slidably engaging an inside wall of the tank. Water entering a top of the tank pushes the buoyant piston towards a bottom of the tank and at a selected position, grooves are provide in an inside wall of the tank to enable entering water to pass the buoyant piston. When the apparatus is connected between a conventional hot water heater and a cold water source, the water heater is buffered from the cold water source for small draws of water from the hot water heater thus preventing such small draws of water from tripping the water heater thermostat. The buoyant piston is designed to enable expansion of tank capacity such that upon increases in water volume due to thermal expansion, pressure within the tank is controlled and rupture of the tank is prevented.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.