U.S. patent application number 11/823266 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-01 for water heater sediment drain system and method.
Invention is credited to W. Thomas Mc Clellan.
Application Number | 20090000573 11/823266 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40158930 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090000573 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mc Clellan; W. Thomas |
January 1, 2009 |
Water heater sediment drain system and method
Abstract
A sediment drain system used in a hot water heater having a tank
with a top and a bottom, includes a hot water outlet in vicinity of
the top of the tank, and a sediment removal tube having a tube
inlet opening in vicinity of the bottom of the tank and a tube
outlet opening in vicinity of the top of the tank. A combined hot
water and sediment outlet connected to the hot water outlet and to
the tube outlet opening mixes and draws off sediment and hot water
together for a predetermined period of time from the vicinity of
the top of the tank. A method for draining sediment from a water
heater includes mixing and drawing off sediment and hot water
together for a predetermined period of time from the vicinity of
the top of the tank through the combined hot water and sediment
outlet.
Inventors: |
Mc Clellan; W. Thomas; (Fort
Lauderdale, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LERNER GREENBERG STEMER LLP
P O BOX 2480
HOLLYWOOD
FL
33022-2480
US
|
Family ID: |
40158930 |
Appl. No.: |
11/823266 |
Filed: |
June 26, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
122/382 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24D 2220/042 20130101;
F24D 19/0092 20130101; F28F 19/00 20130101; F28D 20/0034 20130101;
F24H 9/16 20130101; Y02E 60/142 20130101; Y02E 60/14 20130101; F24H
1/202 20130101; F24H 9/0015 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
122/382 |
International
Class: |
F22B 37/54 20060101
F22B037/54 |
Claims
1. In a hot water heater having a tank with a top and a bottom, a
sediment drain system comprising: a hot water outlet in vicinity of
the top of the tank; a sediment removal tube having a tube inlet
opening in vicinity of the bottom of the tank and a tube outlet
opening in vicinity of the top of the tank; and a combined hot
water and sediment outlet connected to said hot water outlet and to
said tube outlet opening for mixing and drawing off sediment and
hot water together for a predetermined period of time from the
vicinity of the top of the tank.
2. The sediment drain system according to claim 1, wherein the tank
has a side drain, and said sediment removal tube is disposed
outside the tank and connected between the side drain and said
combined hot water and sediment outlet.
3. The sediment drain system according to claim 2, wherein the tank
has a bib, and a T-fitting is connected to the side drain, the bib
and said tube inlet opening of said sediment removal tube.
4. The sediment drain system according to claim 3, which further
comprises a drain extension tube connected to said T-fitting at the
side drain, said drain extension tube having an inlet opening foot
in vicinity of the bottom of the tank.
5. The sediment drain system according to claim 2, which further
comprises a three-way valve connected to said hot water outlet and
to said tube inlet opening of said sediment removal tube, said
three-way valve having said combined hot water and sediment
outlet.
6. The sediment drain system according to claim 1, wherein said
sediment removal tube is disposed inside the tank, a tube inlet
opening foot is disposed in vicinity of the bottom of the tank and
is connected to said tube inlet opening of said sediment removal
tube, and a three-way outlet valve is connected to said tube outlet
opening of said sediment removal tube and to said hot water outlet
and has said sediment outlet.
7. The sediment drain system according to claim 1, wherein said hot
water outlet passes through one opening in the top of the tank,
said sediment removal tube is disposed inside the tank and passes
through another opening in the top of the tank separated from said
one opening, a tube inlet opening foot is disposed in vicinity of
the bottom of the tank and is connected to said tube inlet opening
of said sediment removal tube, and a three-way outlet valve is
connected to said tube outlet opening of said sediment removal tube
and to said hot water outlet and has said sediment outlet.
8. The sediment drain system according to claim 6, which further
comprises a fitting in which said hot water outlet and said
sediment removal tube are coaxially disposed at said tube outlet
opening of said sediment removal tube.
9. The sediment drain system according to claim 6, which further
comprises a fitting in which said hot water outlet and said
sediment removal tube are combined at said tube outlet opening of
said sediment removal tube.
10. The sediment drain system according to claim 6, wherein said
tank bottom has a concave shape with a lowest point at which said
tube inlet opening foot is disposed.
11. The sediment drain system according to claim 7, wherein said
tank bottom has a concave shape with a lowest point at which said
tube inlet opening foot is disposed.
12. The sediment drain system according to claim 8, wherein said
tank bottom has a concave shape with a lowest point at which said
tube inlet opening foot is disposed.
13. The sediment drain system according to claim 9, wherein said
tank bottom has a concave shape with a lowest point at which said
tube inlet opening foot is disposed.
14. The sediment drain system according to claim 5, wherein said
three-way valve is manually operated, spring operated or remotely
electrically operated for initially draining sediment through said
sediment removal tube for said predetermined period of time and
then drawing off hot water from said hot water outlet, upon use of
a hot water tap connected to said combined hot water and sediment
outlet by a consumer.
15. The sediment drain system according to claim 6, wherein said
three-way valve is manually operated, spring operated or remotely
electrically operated for initially draining sediment through said
sediment removal tube for said predetermined period of time and
then drawing off hot water from said hot water outlet, upon use of
a hot water tap connected to said combined hot water and sediment
outlet by a consumer.
16. The sediment drain system according to claim 7, wherein said
three-way valve is manually operated, spring operated or remotely
electrically operated for initially draining sediment through said
sediment removal tube for said predetermined period of time and
then drawing off hot water from said hot water outlet, upon use of
a hot water tap connected to said combined hot water and sediment
outlet by a consumer.
17. The sediment drain system according to claim 8, wherein said
three-way valve is manually operated, spring operated or remotely
electrically operated for initially draining sediment through said
sediment removal tube for said predetermined period of time and
then drawing off hot water from said hot water outlet, upon use of
a hot water tap connected to said combined hot water and sediment
outlet by a consumer.
18. The sediment drain system according to claim 9, wherein said
three-way valve is manually operated, spring operated or remotely
electrically operated for initially draining sediment through said
sediment removal tube for said predetermined period of time and
then drawing off hot water from said hot water outlet, upon use of
a hot water tap connected to said combined hot water and sediment
outlet by a consumer.
19. The sediment drain system according to claim 5, which further
comprises an external bottom drain tube to be connected to said
three-way valve.
20. The sediment drain system according to claim 6, which further
comprises an external bottom drain tube to be connected to said
three-way valve.
21. The sediment drain system according to claim 7, which further
comprises an external bottom drain tube to be connected to said
three-way valve.
22. A method for draining sediment from a water heater, the method
comprising the following steps: providing a hot water heater having
a tank with a top, a bottom and a hot water outlet in vicinity of
the top of the tank; providing a sediment drain system including a
sediment removal tube having a tube inlet opening in vicinity of
the bottom of the tank and a tube outlet opening in vicinity of the
top of the tank; providing a combined hot water and sediment outlet
connected to the hot water outlet and to the tube outlet opening;
and mixing and drawing off sediment and hot water together for a
predetermined period of time from the vicinity of the top of the
tank through the combined hot water and sediment outlet.
23. The method according to claim 22, which further comprises:
providing a three-way valve connected to the hot water outlet and
to the tube inlet opening of the sediment removal tube and having
the combined hot water and sediment outlet; and operating the
three-way valve for initially draining sediment through the
sediment removal tube for the predetermined period of time and then
drawing off hot water from the hot water outlet, upon use of a hot
water tap connected to the combined hot water and sediment outlet
by a consumer.
24. The method according to claim 22, which further comprises
performing the three-way valve operating step automatically by
spring operation or remote electrical operation of the three-way
valve.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a water heater sediment drain
system. The invention also relates to a method for draining
sediment from a water heater.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In water heaters, heat and stasis cause dissolved minerals
and other suspended particulates to settle out and collect in the
bottom of the tank. This sediment coats the interior of the tank,
layering a slime and scale on the thermostat, heating elements and
tank lining, decreasing the heater's efficiency and service life.
Occasionally, globs of the slimy sediment are seen in hot drinks,
cooking dishes and bath water.
[0005] The two existing methods of sediment removal are either
ineffective and contaminating or inconvenient and very difficult to
perform.
[0006] The first existing method is a prior art dip tub with a
horizontal element having out-flowing jets for intentionally
creating turbulence to circulate and mix the sediment with the
outgoing heated water. That dip tube is not only ineffective at
sediment removal but decreases water heater efficiency by defeating
the very purpose for having the dip tube, that is the introduction
of cold water at the bottom of the tank, so as not to disturb the
hot water above. The intentional admixing of hot with cold
prematurely reduces the temperature of the outgoing hot water,
contaminates the entire tank with gooey slime and spits out
sediment particles just when the user wants hot "clean" water.
[0007] The second existing method of sediment removal is to drain
the bottom dwelling sediment through a side mounted drain valve of
the tank. That outlet is located too high and isolated at one side
to be truly effective and is markedly difficult and inconvenient to
use. The user must connect a garden hose to the drain valve, direct
the distant end of the garden hose through a door or window to the
outside and away from the house, open the valve to drain the tank,
close the outlet valve, and removed and put-away the garden hose.
That procedure should be done monthly but is so inconvenient and
problematic as to be seldom "if ever" done. Apartment dwellers and
businesses have little chance of performing that procedure and
sediment contamination continues as the number one cause of
decreasing efficiency, heater element failure and heater
maintenance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a
water heater sediment drain system and method, which overcome the
hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known systems
and methods of this general type and in which sediment removal and
even sediment prevention is effective, convenient, and simple.
[0009] With the foregoing and other objects in view there is
provided, in accordance with the invention, in a hot water heater
having a tank with a top and a bottom, a sediment drain system
comprising a hot water outlet in vicinity of the top of the tank,
and a sediment removal tube having a tube inlet opening in vicinity
of the bottom of the tank and a tube outlet opening in vicinity of
the top of the tank. A combined hot water and sediment outlet is
connected to the hot water outlet and to the tube outlet opening
for mixing and drawing off sediment and hot water together for a
predetermined period of time from the vicinity of the top of the
tank.
[0010] Thus, according to the invention, sediment is never
permitted to accumulate at the bottom of the tank, because it is
drained off for the first few seconds of use by a consumer opening
a hot water tap anywhere in a home or business. By the time the
water runs hot and the consumer begins to use it, the sediment is
no longer being drained.
[0011] In accordance with another feature of the invention, the
tank has a side drain, and the sediment removal tube is disposed
outside the tank and connected between the side drain and the
combined hot water and sediment outlet. The tank has a bib, and a
T-fitting is connected to the side drain, the bib and the tube
inlet opening of the sediment removal tube. A drain extension tube,
which is connected to the T-fitting at the side drain, has an inlet
opening foot in vicinity of the bottom of the tank. This first
embodiment of the invention permits an existing hot water heater to
be retrofitted with the sediment removal tube disposed outside the
tank, which is particularly cost-effective.
[0012] In accordance with a further feature of the invention, a
three-way valve is connected to the hot water outlet and to the
tube inlet opening of the sediment removal tube. The three-way
valve has the combined hot water and sediment outlet. The three-way
valve may be manually operated, spring operated or remotely
electrically operated for initially draining sediment through the
sediment removal tube for the predetermined period of time and then
drawing off hot water from the hot water outlet, upon use by a
consumer of a hot water tap connected to the combined hot water and
sediment outlet. This makes it particularly easy to switch-over
from sediment and hot water removal to hot water removal alone by
merely switching the position of the valve.
[0013] In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the
sediment removal tube is disposed inside the tank, a tube inlet
opening foot is disposed in vicinity of the bottom of the tank and
is connected to the tube inlet opening of the sediment removal
tube, and a three-way outlet valve is connected to the tube outlet
opening of the sediment removal tube and to the hot water outlet
and has the sediment outlet. According to this second embodiment of
the invention, the tank is produced with the sediment removal tube
in the tank and the valve can once again easily switch from
combined sediment and hot water removal to hot water removal
alone.
[0014] In accordance with an additional feature of the invention,
the hot water outlet passes through one opening in the top of the
tank, the sediment removal tube is disposed inside the tank and
passes through another opening in the top of the tank separated
from the one opening, a tube inlet opening foot is disposed in
vicinity of the bottom of the tank and is connected to the tube
inlet opening of the sediment removal tube, and a three-way outlet
valve is connected to the tube outlet opening of the sediment
removal tube and to the hot water outlet and has the sediment
outlet. In this third embodiment of the invention, the sediment
removal tube is once again disposed inside the tank, but the hot
water outlet is separate from the sediment removal tube.
[0015] In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the
hot water outlet is disposed coaxially with or is combined with the
sediment removal tube in a fitting at the tube outlet opening of
the sediment removal tube. This fourth embodiment uses one fitting
leading to the valve for sediment and hot water supply.
[0016] In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the
tank bottom has a concave shape with a lowest point at which the
tube inlet opening foot is disposed. This embodiment uses a tank
which is itself constructed differently than conventional tanks,
with a bottom that aids in collecting sediment for removal
according to the invention.
[0017] In accordance with yet another feature of the invention,
there is provided an external bottom drain tube to be connected to
the three-way valve. This feature provides an alternative sediment
removal device downstream of the valve.
[0018] With the objects of the invention in view, there is also
provided a method for draining sediment from a water heater. The
method comprises providing a hot water heater having a tank with a
top, a bottom and a hot water outlet in vicinity of the top of the
tank, providing a sediment drain system including a sediment
removal tube having a tube inlet opening in vicinity of the bottom
of the tank and a tube outlet opening in vicinity of the top of the
tank, and providing a combined hot water and sediment outlet
connected to the hot water outlet and to the tube outlet opening.
Sediment and hot water are mixed and drawn off together for a
predetermined period of time from the vicinity of the top of the
tank through the combined hot water and sediment outlet. This
method is easily performed, ensures sediment removal, ensures water
which is free of sediment when being used and increases the service
life of the water heater.
[0019] In accordance with another mode of the invention, a
three-way valve is connected to the hot water outlet and to the
tube inlet opening of the sediment removal tube and has the
combined hot water and sediment outlet. The three-way valve is
operated for initially draining sediment through the sediment
removal tube for the predetermined period of time and then drawing
off hot water from the hot water outlet, upon use by a consumer of
a hot water tap connected to the combined hot water and sediment
outlet. The tap or faucet which initially removes sediment and hot
water together can be located anywhere within any plumbing
installation.
[0020] In accordance with a concomitant mode of the invention, the
three-way valve operating step is performed automatically by spring
operation or remote electrical operation of the three-way valve.
The consumer therefore does not need to manually switch over the
valve when sufficient sediment has been removed.
[0021] Other features which are considered as characteristic for
the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
[0022] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein
as embodied in a water heater sediment drain system and method, it
is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown,
since various modifications and structural changes may be made
therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and
within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
[0023] The construction and method of operation of the invention,
however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof
will be best understood from the following description of specific
embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, longitudinal-sectional view of a
hot water heater including a first embodiment of a sediment drain
system according to the invention with an external connection
between a side drain and a three-way valve at a hot water
outlet;
[0025] FIG. 1A is a side-elevational view of an internal drain
extension;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a second
embodiment of the sediment drain system, which is disposed in a
tank with a tapered bottom and has a fitted sediment removal tube
and inlet;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a third
embodiment of the sediment drain system, which is disposed in a
tank with a tapered bottom and has separate hot water and sediment
removal tube outlets;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal-sectional view of a fourth
embodiment of the sediment drain system, which is disposed in a
tank with a tapered bottom and has a combined outlet containing a
short hot water outlet and a long tank-bottom sediment removal
tube; and
[0029] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, side-elevational view of an
attachable external bottom drain.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and
first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a typical
electric water heater 1 having a tank 2, a side drain 3, a hot
water outlet 4 at the top of the tank, upper and lower heating
elements 5, a temperature/pressure relief valve 7 and a high
efficiency, non-admixing, reduced outflow energy dip tube 8 having
a cold water inlet 9. The dip tube 8 is described in detail in
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/811,428, filed Jun.
8, 2007, by the inventor of the instant application. The
high-efficiency dip tube 8 has a vertical section with the upstream
inlet 9 at the top and a horizontal section with downstream outlet
orifices 6 at the bottom, as seen in water flow direction
represented by an arrow. The horizontal section of the dip tube 8
may be curved.
[0031] The hot water heater 1, which need not be electric, also
employs a first embodiment of a sediment drain system 10 according
to the invention. The sediment drain system 10 includes an external
T-fitting 11 connected to the side drain 3 and having a bib 12. An
external, permanent, side-mounted connection or sediment removal
tube 14 has a tube inlet opening 14' connected to the T-fitting 11
at the side drain 3 and a tube outlet opening 14'' connected to a
three-way valve 15. The three-way valve 15 is also connected to the
hot water outlet 4 and has a combined hot water and sediment outlet
16 to be connected to the regular building plumbing system and
fixtures or taps. The first embodiment of the sediment drain system
10 utilizes the conventional side drain 3 because of its
availability and readiness for retrofit of existing water heaters.
The T-fitting 11, sediment removal tube 14 and three-way valve 15
may be constructed of metal or any other suitable material.
[0032] FIG. 1A shows an internal drain extension tube 17 having an
externally threaded end-taper to be screwed into a non-illustrated
internal thread at an end 13 of the T-fitting 11 at the side drain
3, for improving sediment drainage. The internal drain extension
tube 17 is formed to lay closer to and more centrally in the tank
bottom and has a tube inlet opening foot 18 at a bottom 19 for
supplementing the existing side drain 3 to improve pick up and
removal of the sediment.
[0033] FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show tanks 2' according to the invention,
having dependant tapered or frustoconical sediment-gathering
bottoms 19'. It is also noted that conventional bibs 12 are present
at the side drains 3 in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.
[0034] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a sediment drain system
20 according to the invention, with a sediment removal tube 24
fitted inside the tank 2' and having a tube inlet opening 24'
connected to a tube inlet opening foot 28. The sediment removal
tube 24 has a tube outlet opening 24'' connected to a three-way
outlet valve 25 having a combined hot water and sediment outlet 26
and a manual, spring-loaded or electric servo control 27. The hot
water outlet 4 is disposed alongside the tube outlet opening 24''.
Once again, the more dependant contour of the bottom 19' of the
water heater tank 2' in the shape of a modified cone or circle
facilitates a focused collection of the sediment for improved pick
up and removal by the tube inlet opening foot 18.
[0035] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a sediment drain system
30 according to the invention, with a separate hot water outlet 4
and sediment removal tube 34 having a tube outlet opening 34''
connected to a three-way valve 35. Therefore, the sediment drain
system 30 utilizes two closely-spaced, typically-sized outlet
fittings in the top of the water heater tank 2'. One of the two
outlets accommodates the conventional short tube hot water outlet 4
for drawing off hot water from the upper part of the tank and the
other of the two outlets accommodates the long sediment removal
tube 34 which is contoured to the tank bottom and has a tube inlet
opening 34' connected to a tube inlet opening foot 38 to serve as a
tank sediment drain. Both outlets are connected to the three-way
valve 35 having a manual, spring-loaded or servo control or drive
37 and a combined hot water and sediment outlet 36.
[0036] FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of a sediment drain system
40 according to the invention, with a high-efficiency, straight dip
tube 8 on the right. A combined outlet containing the short hot
water outlet 4 and a long tank-bottom sediment removal tube 44 are
controlled by an integrated three-way valve 45. The sediment
removal tube 44 has a tube outlet opening 44'' connected to the
three-way valve 45 and a tube inlet opening 44' connected to a tube
inlet opening foot 48. The valve is shown with a servo-driven valve
selector 47 and a combined hot water and sediment outlet 46. A
switch 47', which is diagrammatically illustrated as being
connected to the valve selector 47, may be a manually-operated
electric switch or a timer, although a timer can also be integrated
within the valve selector 47. These features can also be used in
the other embodiments as well. The sediment draining tube has the
tube inlet opening foot 48.
[0037] It may be seen by comparing FIG. 3 with FIGS. 2 and 4, that
the second embodiment of FIG. 2 and the fourth embodiment of FIG. 4
use a larger-diameter hot water outlet fitting 25', 45' containing
both the short length hot water outlet 4 and the longer tank bottom
sediment draining tube, which may be coaxial or combined with one
other.
[0038] The integrated three-way valves 15, 25, 35 and 45 of FIGS.
2, 3, 4 and 5 can select either source for the outlet flow and be
manual, spring-loaded or electrically controlled by a remote switch
or automatically electrically controlled to select the sediment
drain for the first few seconds of each hot water use cycle. When
the three-way valve selects the short hot water outlet as its
incoming source in a first position, the water heater functions
normally. In a second temporary position, the water is re-routed or
diverted from the bottom of the sediment draining tube to carry and
effectively remove sediment. Admixing in the tank is prevented by
the non-admixing dip tube 8, efficiency is preserved and sediment
is allowed to collect gently in the tank bottom to reduce
contamination and ease the next removal.
[0039] The user of the water heater may simply open any hot water
tap, momentarily select the second or diverted position and finally
close the hot water tap. This sediment drainage system is tool and
implement free and takes less than one minute to operate. The use
of a hot water tap provides an approved time and place, so that the
contaminated water will not be used or consumed and controls the
sediment and debris being flushed down the drain.
[0040] The three-way valve can be a manually-operated,
spring-loaded, failsafe-return or electrically-driven valve, such
as with a remote switch under a kitchen sink, or electrically
controlled on a timed circuit to drain the sediment line for a few
seconds during the initial flow of each hot water use (or
predetermined number of hot water uses). This automated timed
sediment removal system takes advantage of the natural pause as
users wait for the water to run hot and totally eliminates the
problem of sediment build up since microscopic amounts of
particulate are flushed with each hot water use and sediment build
up never occurs.
[0041] FIG. 5 shows an attachable, external bottom drain tube 54 to
be connected to the three-way valve 15, 25, 35, 45 as an alternate
way of draining sediment externally from the three-way valve,
rather than through plumbing fixtures or taps.
* * * * *