US 12,442,560 B2
System and method for enhanced provision of hot water
Matthew Schmitt, Kenosha, WI (US); Greg Chesack, Kenosha, WI (US); and Don Gapko, Mount Pleasant, WI (US)
Assigned to INSINKERATOR LLC, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by INSINKERATOR LLC, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 25, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/615,596.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/455,850, filed on Mar. 30, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0328673 A1, Oct. 3, 2024
Int. Cl. F24H 15/223 (2022.01); F24D 19/10 (2006.01); F24H 15/281 (2022.01); F24H 15/315 (2022.01)
CPC F24H 15/223 (2022.01) [F24D 19/1051 (2013.01); F24H 15/281 (2022.01); F24H 15/315 (2022.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A point-of-use water heating system comprising:
a thermostatic mixing valve having first, second, third, and fourth ports, wherein the first port is configured to receive, at least indirectly, input water having an input water temperature;
a hot water tank having a first inlet and a first outlet, wherein the first inlet is coupled at least indirectly to the second port of the thermostatic mixing valve, and wherein the first outlet is coupled at least indirectly to the third port of the thermostatic mixing valve, wherein the hot water tank is configured to heat a portion of the input water received from the thermostatic mixing valve to become heated water having an elevated temperature greater than the input water temperature;
an actuatable valve having a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein the second inlet is coupled at least indirectly to the fourth port of the thermostatic mixing valve; and
a buffering chamber having a third inlet and a third outlet, wherein the third inlet is coupled at least indirectly to the second outlet of the actuatable valve, and wherein the third outlet is configured to provide, at least indirectly, output water having a desired output temperature that is greater than the input water temperature and less than the elevated temperature,
wherein the thermostatic mixing valve is configured to output, at the fourth port, mixed water including both a first portion of the input water and a second portion of the heated water, wherein the mixed water is communicated by the actuatable valve to be received by the buffering chamber, and wherein the buffering chamber is configured to retain a residual portion of the mixed water when the actuatable valve is switched to a closed status so that, when the actuatable valve is subsequently switched to an open status, a further amount of water communicated from the thermostatic mixing valve by the actuatable valve to be received by the buffering chamber undergoes a mixing with the residual portion,
whereby, if the further amount of water has a further temperature greater than the desired output temperature due to a reaction time of the thermostatic mixing valve, then due to the mixing a combined water portion within the buffering chamber resulting from the mixing has a combined temperature that is less than the further temperature.