Arrangements to reduce hardness of water in a hot water system
US8152995B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 12, 2008 |
| Grant date | Apr 10, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 9, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC02F2209/055
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Hot water pipes, in areas with hard water, tend to fill with scale until they no longer pass enough water. De-scaling water pipes with acid is dangerous, expensive and damages the pipes. Ion exchange and reverse osmosis water softeners eliminate scale buildup in pipes, but are expensive. Embodiments of this invention provide a means of keeping an amount of the scale precipitate, created when water is heated, inside a housing by passing the hot water through a removal medium where the scale sticks to the surface. The removal medium can be placed inside the water heater or in a separate housing connected to the water heater; both configurations remove the precipitate from hot water; both save hot water pipes from scale accumulation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.