Outdoor enclosure for a circulating pump

Abstract

The present invention describes a novel outdoor enclosure for circulating pumps for outdoor tankless heaters, outdoor boilers and other outdoor applications. The enclosure includes a body and a cover with the body attaching to the circulator motor. When closed, the enclosure keeps rainfall and other contaminates from entering the wiring space within the enclosure and the circulator motor. The body of the enclosure has multiple ports for electrical wiring inputs for power and for controls connections which can be made with flexible cords and/or hardwires. The outdoor enclosure can be equipped with a terminal strip to simplify wiring and/or with a timer to control when the circulator operates. To avoid problems associated with freezing, the enclosure may include a thermal device that turns the circulator on if temperatures drop. To secure the cover to the body, fastener tabs are included that can accept a screw or lock.

Claims

1. A recirculation system that is comprised of: an outdoor circulator; a demarcation wall that defines respective indoor and outdoor plumbing areas; a hot water heater that is disposed in the outdoor plumbing area; the outdoor circulator being disposed in the outdoor plumbing area; a hot water supply line from the hot water heater; a cold water supply line to the hot water heater; a hot water dedicated return line that includes a first segment line that connects the cold water supply line with an input of the outdoor circulator, and a second segment line that connects from an output of the outdoor circulator; respective hot and cold fixtures disposed in the indoor plumbing area; the hot water supply line running through the demarcation wall between the outdoor and indoor plumbing areas to the hot water fixture; the cold water supply line running through the demarcation wall between the outdoor and the indoor plumbing areas to the cold water fixture; and the second segment line of the hot water dedicated return line running through the demarcation wall between the outdoor and indoor plumbing areas; wherein the outdoor circulator includes: an enclosure body, an enclosure cover; a circulating pump; the enclosure body having one or more entry ports for receiving an electrical connection cord, fasteners for mounting the enclosure body to the circulating pump, a securing member for securing the enclosure cover to the enclosure body, the enclosure body and the enclosure cover providing an inner space for accommodating electrical power and control wiring; and a tee connection in the indoor plumbing area having opposed ends defining a through connection connecting respectively to the hot water supply line, and to the hot water fixture, the tee connection further having a direct side connection that is connected to the second segment line of the hot water dedicated return line.

2. The recirculating system of claim 1 including an internally mounted terminal strip disposed within said inner space to connect the electrical power and control wiring with the circulating pump.

3. The recirculating system of claim 2 including a timer partially or completely enclosed within the inner space provided between the enclosure body and the enclosure cover.

4. The recirculating system of claim 3 wherein the timer has a clear cover or lid through which a timer setting can be viewed.

5. The recirculating system of claim 1 including a gasket that is disposed between the enclosure body and the enclosure cover.

6. The recirculating system of claim 1 wherein the circulating pump has a cylindrical shape and the enclosure body has an arcuate rear wall that matches the cylindrical shape.

7. The recirculating system of claim 6 including a gasket that is disposed between the circulating pump and a rear wall of the enclosure body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of one example of the enclosure of the present invention, also showing a timer according to various embodiments of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of one example of the enclosure of the present invention without a timer according to various embodiments of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the enclosure with electrical entries for power and control cords;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates the various flow directions of the circulator that maintain the enclosure in an upright rain resistant position;

(6) FIG. 5 shows the enclosure with the cover in an open position;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a complete recirculation system including the outdoor circulator and hot water heater; and

(8) FIG. 7 is a simple schematic diagram showing an alternative mechanism for securing the base and cover using a snap fit arrangement in place of a hinge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”, when used in this specification, signify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

(10) Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

(11) In describing the present invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.

(12) Novel outdoor enclosures for circulating pumps for use with outdoor tankless heaters, wood boilers and other outdoor equipment is discussed herein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below. The present description will now be described by referencing the appended figures representing preferred embodiments of the present invention.

(13) FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of the elements that may comprise an outdoor enclosure with a timer 14 and thermostat 11 according to various embodiments of the present invention. In preferred embodiments the elements of the outdoor enclosure are contained in or are attached to the enclosure body 1 and the enclosure cover 2. The enclosure body 1 is attached directly to the circulator motor 10 by means of screws 4A and washers 5. Sealing between the enclosure body 1 and the circulator motor 10 is by means of an enclosure gasket 8. The enclosure cover is pivotally attached to the enclosure body with a hinge pin 6. When the enclosure cover 2 is closed a screw 7, or a series of screws secures the enclosure cover 2 to the enclosure body 1.

(14) The body 1, as shown in FIG. 1, has a curved side at 1A that matches the diameter of the circulator motor 10. The screws 4A may be provided in sets and are adapted to pass through the inner end wall of the housing 1, through the gasket 8 and into an outer housing of the circulator motor 10. The housing 1 also has at least two side disposed ports 1B. On the top surface of the housing 1 there is provided a flange 1C for receiving the hinge pin 6. One or more screws 7 may be used to secure the enclosure cover 2 with the enclosure base 1. The enclosure cover 2 is also provided with a flange set 2A that is adapted to mate with the flange 1C at the top wall of the housing base or body 1. The hinge pin passes through both flanges 1C and 2A.

(15) The timer 14 is enclosed between the timer base 12 and the timer base cover 13. The timer 14 is provided with a face 14A where the selected time can be observed. The timer base 12 is attached to the enclosure body 1 by means of screws 4B and the timer base cover 13 is attached to the timer base with screws 4C. Multiple screws 4B and 4C may be provided. Each of the screws is adapted to pass through a cover or base in a manner to removably secure the parts together. Wiring (not shown) of the circulator motor 10, power cord 9 and thermostat 11 is arranged within the timer base 12 and timer base cover 13. The power cord 9 enters the enclosure body 1 through a water tight cord connector 3 at one of the ports 1B.

(16) Referring now to FIG. 2 there is depicted an exploded view of the elements that may comprise an outdoor enclosure with a thermostat and without a timer according to various embodiments of the present invention. In preferred embodiments the elements of the outdoor enclosure are contained in or are attached to the enclosure body 1 and the enclosure cover 2. The enclosure body 1 is attached directly to the circulator motor 10 by means of screws 4A and washers 5, an in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Sealing between the enclosure body 1 and the circulator motor 10 is by means of an enclosure gasket 8. The enclosure cover 2 is attached to the enclosure body with a hinge pin 6, as in FIG. 1. When the enclosure cover 2 is closed one or more screws 7 secure the enclosure cover 2 to the enclosure body 1.

(17) In FIG. 2 there is shown a terminal strip 15 that may be secured to the enclosure body 1 by means of screws 4D. The circulator motor 10, power cord 9 and thermostat 11 are connected to the terminal strip 15. A similar terminal strip may also be associated with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

(18) Reference is now made to FIG. 3 which illustrates the connections to the outdoor enclosure body A via the power cord C with an attached plug. This power cord is used for powering the circulator 10 directly from a wall outlet and/or when powering the freeze protection thermostat 11. If an external control or thermostat is used to turn on and off a separate cord D is used to make or break the power to the circulator. If the power and/or control for the circulator is managed by a tankless heater or other device another cord set E may be used. Wiring can be either by flexible cords or hardwired. Reference is now made to FIG. 4 wherein the outdoor enclosure is shown with various flow directions while maintaining an upward facing orientation to resist rain fall. In FIGS. 3 and 4 the enclosure body A is mounted on the circulator motor 10. In this way the circulator flow housing 18 is allowed to rotate into multiple flow directions, indicated by the flow arrows in FIG. 3, while maintaining the enclosure in an upright position that withstands rainfall and other hazardous weather conditions in the various rotational positions on the flow housing 18. In this regard FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the various rotational positions wherein the enclosure cover 2 is always in an upward facing position.

(19) Reference is now made to FIG. 5 wherein the outdoor enclosure with a timer 14 is shown in an open position exposing the timer face 14A. The face 14A of the timer 14 preferably has a clear cover or lid through which a timer setting can be viewed. A clip latch 16 is used to open/close the outdoor enclosure and locking tabs 17 are used to secure the cover with a screw or lock. FIG. 5 shows the enclosure cover 2 in at least a partially open position so that the face of the timer is visible. Reference is also made to the schematic diagram of FIG. 7 that shows an alternate base and cover arrangement that does not employ a hinge pin but instead provides a snap fit at X between the base 1′ and the cover 2′.

(20) Reference is now made to FIG. 6 for an illustration of a complete recirculation system that employs an outdoor circulator C. The diagram of FIG. 6 by means of the wall W defines a demarcation between outdoor plumbing at W1 and indoor plumbing at W2. FIG. 6 also indicates the hot water heater 8 which may be a tankless heater or any other type of water heater. FIG. 6 also illustrates by lines L1 the cold water connection and by lines L2 the hot water connection. The fixtures are schematically illustrated at F.

(21) While preferred materials of construction for the elements have not been described, the present invention may be constructed of but not limited to metal alloys, plastic, glass, rubber, foam, composites and other materials. These materials may comprise some or all of the elements of the present invention.

(22) Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.