Supercharged hot water heater

Details Supercharged hot water heater Supercharged hot water heater

2003-04-15

2003-12-09

Wilson, Gregory (Department: 3749)

Liquid heaters and vaporizers

Subsidiary

C122S013300, C392S444000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06659048

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to hot water heaters and more particularly to near boiling hot water heaters.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hot water dispensers that mount to sinks are common. Such dispensers consist of two main parts, a water tank with a heater and a faucet. In the water tank water is heated by the heater and stored until needed. The tank and associated plumbing are usually installed below the sink where they are out of the view of the user. The faucet is usually mounted above the sink such that a user can dispense the amount of hot water desired while any excess hot water falls harmlessly into the sink. Such dispensers are typically used by opening a valve on the faucet to dispense the hot water stored in the tank to the user who can then enjoy, for example, a hot cup of soup, hot chocolate, or tea. Several different methods may be used to open the valve such as twisting a handle, depressing a lever, or pushing a button on the faucet.
A typical prior art hot water dispenser, such as the In-Sink-Erator, Instant Hot™, hot water dispenser, model number H-990-W-5, is shown in FIG.
1
. Such prior art hot water dispensers
10
are typically mounted such that the water tank
12
, with the heater
18
, is attached to a wall beneath the sink by well known means. The faucet
34
, with the activating valve
32
, is typically attached to the upper surface of the sink through a hole in the sink cabinet's upper surface and is oriented such that any water emanating from the faucet will fall into the sink and drain away. Tubing
20
,
26
,
28
, and
30
, typically copper, stainless steel, or plastic, connects the faucet
34
with the tank
12
. Tubing
28
allows hot water
16
in the tank
12
to flow to faucet
34
. Tube
30
is connected to a water supply by any suitable means known in the plumbing arts. Prior art hot water dispensers typically heat the dispensed water
16
to a temperature below boiling, typically between 180° F. and 190° F.
Tank
12
is made of any suitable material such as stainless steel, copper, or high temperature plastic that can hold the heated water
16
in the tank. The water
16
in the tank
12
is heated by heating element
18
. Heating element
18
, in the prior art, is typically a 750-watt electric heating element that is regulated by a temperature adjustable thermostat
14
(electrical connection not shown).
A fixed baffle
22
divides the tank
12
into a hot water storage area
40
and an expansion area
24
. Tube
26
acts as a vent for expansion area
24
so that neither low pressure nor high pressure will be created to restrict the flow of water into and out of expansion area
24
. The baffle
22
is a rigid or semi-rigid material, such as stainless steel, copper or heat resistant plastic to which venturi
38
may be attached. The expansion area allows for any water remaining in tube
28
after water flow into the tank is shut off through tube
20
to drain into the expansion area through hole
42
. Additionally, because the cool water that has replaced the water used expands by about 8 percent as it is heated, an expansion area must be provided or water will be forced out of tube
28
where it would drip from faucet
34
. Consequently the heated and expanded water flows into venturi
38
through hole
42
and into expansion area
24
. The venturi
38
is affixed about the lower end of tube
28
. As water is forced out of tube
28
venturi
38
creates low pressure at opening
42
as water in tube
28
flows past it. The low pressure draws water from expansion area
24
through the opening thus draining any accumulated water in expansion area
24
.
In order to dispense hot water
16
, the user activates a spring-loaded, twist-actuated valve
32
, although any type of on-off water valve may be used, to allow cold water in tube
30
to flow into tube
20
. Tube
20
is connected to the bottom of tank
16
at inlet
36
. As relatively cold water enters the tank
12
through inlet
36
, hot water is forced out of tank
12
and into dispensing tube
28
and ultimately through faucet
34
. Faucet
34
, In-Sink-Erator™ model number 41760, amongst other things, constitutes a mounting device for valve
32
and a conduit for various tubes carrying water to and from the tank
12
. After an amount of hot water is dispensed in this fashion, the cold water received at inlet
36
is heated in preparation for the next activation of valve
32
.
In some applications it is desirable to dispense water hotter than 190° F. For example some users can taste the difference between tea that is brewed using water at 190° F. versus water that is near boiling (e.g., 205° F.-212° F.), and these users prefer the latter temperature. Water at near boiling temperatures may be desirable for other reasons as well.
Because of the desire for water at near boiling temperatures, other types of prior art hot water dispensers have been designed that heat the dispensed water to near boiling, and some even flash the water to steam before dispensing the water or steam. These prior art hot water dispensers provide hot water at or above 205° F. or may even provide steam for such uses as cappuccino. These types of prior art hot water dispensers provide near boiling hot water by utilizing highly accurate (and consequently expensive) thermostats to continuously cycle the heating element on and off in order to maintain the requisite near boiling water temperature.
These types of near boiling dispenser must contend with the possibility that the heated water may boil and turn into steam, thereby greatly expanding in volume and providing the potential for damaging components and injuring users. While steam generation is desired in some circumstances, the hot water dispenser must be designed to prevent the damaging effects of steam generation. In order to prevent damage from steam generation, typical prior art hot water dispensers typically utilize a pressure relief valve on the tank to prevent overpressure in the tank.
The reader is referred to the following references for further background regarding the design and operation of prior art hot water heaters, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,266,485, 6,256,465, 6,094,524, 6,069,998, 4,513,887, and pending application Ser. No. 09/564,199 filed May 4, 2000.
It has generally been regarded as difficult to design a relatively cheap, reliable, and safe system that can dispense near boiling water. Prior art hot water dispensers that dispense near boiling hot water are expensive to manufacture and operate. In this regard, it should be noted that the heat loss rate of water increases as its temperature increases. In other words, 205° F. water cools quicker than water between say 180° F. to 190° F. Thus the higher temperature water must be reheated more often than cooler water to keep it at the desired temperature, which raises energy costs. To compensate for the increased heat loss rate of higher temperature water, additional insulation can be used around the tank. Of course more insulation leads to higher manufacturing costs. Additionally, because the water is being held at a temperature closer to its boiling point, a more accurate thermometer must be used to avoid overheating the water. Overheating the water could lead to unwanted steam generation and higher tank pressure than the tank is designed to withstand. A more accurate thermometer is expensive, which again leads to higher costs. Additionally, pressure relief or safety valves to protect against the possibility of damage due to steam generation further raise manufacturing costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention provide a hot water dispenser capable of heating water to near boiling temperatures (e.g., 205° F. to 212° F.). When water at near boiling temperatures is required, a secondary heating element is activated. The secondary heating element is thermally coupled to the dispensing tube so that the water in the tube may be further heated as it passes through the dispensing tube f

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