Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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S_P E C I F I C A T I O N
INVENTIC)N: WATER REMOVAL ARRANGEMENT
FOR A HOT WATlER HEATER
CROSS REF13RENCE TO R~:LaTED APPI-ICATIONS
The present application claims the rights of priority
with respect to application Serial No. G 90 00 442 . 6 filed
January 17th, 1990 in the Federal Republic of Germany, the
subject matter of which is incorporated herein by rePerence.
BACKGP~OUND Ol? THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a water removal
arrangement for a hot water heater, particularly an under-
the-counter hot water heater, whirh includes a heated water
vessel connected to a fresh water intake conduit and to a
water removal fitting including a fitting body having a water
outlet pipe, and an inlet conduit to be connected to the hot
water heater, as well as a push button for initiating and
terminating a tapping process.
: 15 Water removal fittings provided with one or two push
buttons to actuate valve spindles are disclosed in German
Auslegeschrift (published patent application) No. 2,105,11B
: and German Paten~ No. 2,063,973. In these water removal
fittings, one or more valve spindles are a~commodated in the
body of the fitting. The push button is seated on the valve
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spindle. Depressing the push button against the force of a
spring opens the respective valve. The open valve position
is then retained by latching. Renewed depression of khe push
button causes the valve spindle to be released again and
permits it to return into the closed position.
In a fitting of this type, the valve components in the
conduit system are constantly subjected to and contacting
the flowing water. The result is that the operation of the
valve components is adversely influenced by the adhesion o~
substances contained in khe water. Corrosion phenomena at
the parts of the fitting subjected to the water after a
relatively short period o~ operation are not uncommon.
SUMMARY OF ~HE IMVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to simplify the
structure of a water removal arrangement of the type first
described above, and specifically to avoid moving components
in the conduit system of the water removal fitting that are
directly charged with water in the flow path of the water.
The above and other objects are accomplished in accor-
dance with the invention by the provision of a water removalarrangement ~or a hot water heater including a heated water
vessel connected to a fresh water intake conduit, comprising:
a water removal fitting including a fitting body having a
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water outlet pipe, a hot water inlet conduit connected with
the water outlet pipe and adapted for co~nection with the
heated water container, a compressed air conduit having first
and second ends, and push button means connected to the ~irst
end of the compressed air conduit for compressing air therein
when actuated; switch means operatively communicating with
the second end of the compressed air conduit for switching
states in response to the presence o~ compressed air in the
compressed air conduit caused by actuation of the push
button: and controllable valve means for connection ko the
fresh water intake conduit for controlling fresh water intake
into the heated water vessel, the switch means being opera-
tively connected to the controllable valve for controlling
the valve to be in one of an opened or closed position in
dependence on the state of the switch means.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the switch
means comprises an electrical compressed air switch and the
controllable valve is a magnetic valve.
Due to the ~act that the fitting inlet conduit leading
~0 to the tap on the heated water vessel does not itself
include a valve, the above-described drawbacks do not occur
so that periodic maintenance work is no longer necessary. A
water removal ~itting in the context of the water removal
arrangement according to the invention is therefore distin-
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guished by malfunction-free operation and a long service
life.
~ ne embodiment o~ the invention is illustrated in the
drawing figures and will now be described in greater detail
with reference thereto.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA~INGS
Figure 1 shows a water removal fitting in conjunction
with a heated water vessel designed as an under-the-counter
hot water reservoir.
Figure 2 is a partial sectional view of the water
removal fitting shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a top view of the water removal fitting
shown in Figure 1.
DETAILED ~ESCRIPrION OF PR~FER~ED E~BODIMENTS
Referring to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a water
removal fitting 1 for use with a ~eated water vessel,
depicted in the Figure 1 as an under-the-counter hot water
reservoir 2 having a housing 9, which in turn is connected
for receiving fresh water from a fresh water intake conduit
13. The water is heated in reservoir 2 by means (not shown)
which form no part of the present invention but which are
generally known in the art.
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Fitting 1 is essentially composed of a fitting body 3includin~ a water outlet pipe 4, a hot water inlet co~duit 5
to be connected to the hot water reservoir 2 and a push
button assembly 6 at the head end of fitting 1 operatively
connected to one end of a compres6ed air conduit 8 which ha~
its other end connect d to reservoir 2 by way of a connecting
pipe section lO disposed at reservoir housing 9. Push button
assembly 6, when actuated, creates compressed air in conduit
8 for initiating and terminating the tapping process for
removing hot water from reservoir 2 as will be described
below.
Push button assembly 6 includes a generally cylindrical
housing 6a which has a lower end suitably connected, for
- example by way of screw threads, to a narrowed upper annular
region 3a at the head end of fitting 1, an upper end provided
with an inwardly projecting flange 6c, a spring 6d seated on
annular region 3a and a T-shaped push button 6b having a
central leg 6e and an annular portion 6f disposed between
spring 6d and flange 6c and slidably engaged with the inner
wall of housing 6a. Central leg 6e is operatively connected
with an actuating unit 7 which in turn is connected to one
end o~ conduit 8. Actuating unit 7 operates in a known
mannex for compressing the air in conduit ~ when push button
6b is depressed. In an alternative embodiment, a push button
assembly 6', having a generally similar construction to push
button assembly 6, could be provided at an end face 4a oE
water outlet pipe 4, or other easily accessible region of
water removal fitting 1. Preferably, water outlet pipe 4 is
made pivotal. Intake conduit 5 of the water removal fitting
which is connected with hot water reservoir 2 is con~igured
as a hose.
In order to prevent inadvertent removal of hot water and
thus, under certain circumstances, scalding, push button
assembly 6, may be configured so that it can be actuated
only if water outlet pipe 4 has taken on a certain water
removal positionO
According to a further modification, push button
assembly 6, may also be equipped with a lock against inadver-
tent use for childproofing.
An electrical comprsssed air switch 11 is shown disposedin housing 9 of hot water reservoir 2 and interacts with
connecting pipe section 10 in response to the presence of
compressed air in compressed air conduit 8. The electrical
compressed air switch 11 is connected electrically in series
with the circuit of a magnetic valve 12 which controls fresh
water intake conduit 13 leading to hot water reservoir 2.
Although compressed air switch 11 is shown disposed within
housing 9, it may be disposed on the exterior of housing 9 at
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a location which is convenient for making the connection to
conduit 8 as well as the electrical connection to magne~ic
valve 12. Additionally, it should be understood that
magnetic valve 12 may take other forms so long as the opened
and closed position of the valve remain controllable in
response to the states of switch 11.
The described water removal arrangement operates in that
upon depression of push ~utton 6b in conjunction with the
cooperating actuating unit 7, the air disposed in compressed
air conduit 8 is compressed and thus compressed air switch 11
is actuated. The result is that magnetic valve 12~ which
seals fresh water intake conduit 13 from hot water reservoir
2 is brought into the open position. The now inflowing fresh
water displaces hot water from hot water reservoir 2 through
inlet conduit 5 leading to water outlet pipe 4 of fitting 1.
Renewed depression of push button 6b results in magnetic
valve 12 being switched from its open position to its closed
position. Thus, fresh water intake conduit 13 is closed
again and the tapping process is completed.
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Obviously, numerous and additional modifications and
variations of the present invention are possible in light of
the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that
within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be
practiced otherwise than as specifically claimed.
