Water Heater Control System

Abstract

A heating system that dispenses water to household plumbing without violating laws of Shabbat. The system includes a holding tank of water that is automatically received heated water and given intervals and it is unresponsive to actual water use. Moreover, the system ensures that any water throughout the system does not exceed a predetermined temperature that is within the bounds of the laws of Shabbat.

Claims

1. A water control system, comprising: a water holding tank; a water heater; a first pipe comprising a first pipe distance disposed in fluid communication between the water holding tank and the water heater; a second pipe comprising a second pipe distance disposed in fluid communication between the water heater and the water holding tank; the first pipe distance being greater than the second pipe distance; a water pump disposed in fluid communication with the second pipe configured to pump water from the second pipe into the water heater, and to push water from the water heater to the holding tank; a control unit configured to run a Shabbat routine wherein, at repeated intervals, the water pump is activated for a predetermined period of time and then deactivated; and whereby the Shabbat routine is runs from approximately sunset on Friday to until a period of approximately 40 minutes after sunset on Saturday night.

2. The water control system of claim 1 wherein the water heater is a tankless water heater.

3. The water control system of claim 1 whereby the water heater is set to a predetermined temperature.

4. The water control system of claim 3, whereby the predetermined temperature is a temperature between 115 F. and 120 F.

5. The water control system of claim 4, whereby the predetermined temperature is 119 F.

6. The water control system of claim 4, whereby the predetermined temperature is 118 F.

7. The water control system of claim 4, whereby the predetermined temperature is 117 F.

8. The water control system of claim 4, whereby the predetermined temperature is 116 F.

9. The water control system of claim 4, whereby the predetermined temperature is 115 F.

10. The water control system of claim 4, whereby the second pipe length is approximately 100 feet.

11. The water control system of claim 1, whereby the predetermined period of time during which the pump is activated is substantially equal to the period of time required to substantially pump any water contained in the second pipe into the water heater.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a hot water system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a hot water system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The following is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the drawings in which the same reference numerals identify the same elements of structure in each of the several figures. It should be noted that these drawings are merely exemplary in nature and in no way serve to limit the scope of the invention.

[0008] With reference to FIG. 1, the system includes a reservoir tank 12 and a tankless water heater 14 (alternatively tankless). The reservoir tank may be any of known tanks but in a preferred embodiment an 80-gallon or an 120 gallon insulated tank is used. The reservoir tank has a first pipe 16 emanating therefrom which leads to the tankless water heater 14. A second pipe 18 leads from the tankless water heater 14 back to the reservoir tank 12thus forming a loop allowing for water to circulate from the reservoir 12, to the tankless 14, and then back to the reservoir tank 12. The loop between the reservoir 12 and the tankless 14 via pipes 16 and 18 may referred as the default loop. A third pipe 19 emanating from the reservoir tank 12 delivers hot water to the house.

[0009] In embodiments of the invention, a thermostatic switch 20 is installed in the reservoir tank. The switch is in communication with and configured to engage a one-way pump 22 anytime the water temperature inside the reservoir tank goes below a specified threshold temperature. In embodiments of the invention, the threshold temperature is 114. When activated, the one-way pump 22 pushes water into the tankless heater 14, such that water entering the tankless 14 is heated and returned to the reservoir tank via second pipe 18. Once the water temperature rises above the set thresholdthe one-way pump 22 turns off.

[0010] In embodiments of the invention, the tankless water heater 14 is configured to heat water to 115 F. In other embodiments the tankless 14 may be set to other temperatures that are below 120 F.for example any temperature in the range between 115 F. and 119 F. In embodiments of the invention, the thermostatic switch 20 is set to one or two degrees below the temperature of the tankless 14. For example, in the event that the tankless 14 is set to heat water to 118 F. then the thermostatic switch 22 is set to activate pump 22 at 116 F. of 117 F.

[0011] In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the system does not directly react to users drawing hot water from the reservoirrather, the system reacts to any drops in water temperature. Moreover, the tankless 14 is set to a maximum heat of no more than 114 F., 115 F. or 116 F., which is below the temperature that constitutes heating in Jewish law. Other temperatures below 120 F. are also possible.

[0012] In embodiments of the invention the system includes an alternative loop between the reservoir tank 12 and the tankless 14 that is only used on the Shabbat (whereas the default loop is used at all other times). In embodiments of the invention, the Shabbat loop is configured to incrementally cool water prior to being fed into the tankless 14. In this regard, there is a separate prohibition of heating water on the Shabbat (whereas on other holidays, the only concern is causing the kindling of fire). The Shabbat loop ensures that the water entering the tankless is sufficiently cooled to further ensure that water will reach a specified temperature. For example, in the event that the maximum temperature is set to 119 F., the then Shabbat loop is configured to ensure that temperature of water entering the tankless 14 is around 112 F. In this regard, when the water is run through the tankless 14 there is no chance that any quantities of water will reach above 119 F.

[0013] In embodiments of the invention, the Shabbat loop includes a pipe having extensive distance running between the reservoir 12 and the tankless 14. Water traveling the distance of the pipe between the reservoir 12 and the tankless 14 will cool by time in transit and by losing heat to the pipe wall.

[0014] With reference to FIG. 1, in an embodiment of the invention, pipe 19 which delivers water to the home, has a branching pipe 21 which includes a valve that, when open, directs water through an extended network or length of pipe 21.

[0015] As shown, pipe 21 runs a distance of about 100 feet, but other distances are possible in embodiments of the invention. In this regard, water traveling the length of pipe 21 loses some heat (roughly 10 F. when sitting in the pipe 21 between cycles). In embodiments of the invention, the maximum amount of heat imparted to the water in the tanklesseven the portions of water in direct contact with the tankless heating element is 118 F. or lower. This ensures that no water anywhere in the system is ever heated past 120 F.a temperature that is below the threshold to be considered a violation of the Shabbat.

[0016] In embodiments of the invention, a control unit 25 is provided in the system to toggle between the default loop and Shabbat loop. Control unit 25 is wired to the various pumps and valves to alternatively activate and deactivate such pumps/valves. In this regard, at all times that are outside of the (approximately) 25-hour period that is Shabbat (i.e. sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday), the default loop is used. Once the onset of Shabbat is detected, the control unit automatically engages the Shabbat loop.

[0017] In this regard, in embodiments of the invention, controller 25 includes a computer having a clock/calendar is utilized to determine the date/time and to perform other routines as described in more detail below. In embodiments of the invention, on calendar days Sunday through Thursday, the program remains dormant and it only engages on Friday and Saturday. Once a Friday is detected, the system goes into a routine where it periodically inquires as to whether the time of sunset (or a period before sunset) has been detected (i.e. Is It Shabbat?). In embodiments of the invention, the Is It Shabbat query is run every minute from when the calendar day Friday is detected up until sunset (or approximately 18 minutes prior thereto). In embodiments of the invention, once the answer to the query is yes, the system then turns of the thermostatic switch and the first one-way pump 22 so that the default loop becomes disabled, and the Shabbat loop (Shabbat mode) is then enabled.

[0018] In embodiments of the invention, in the Shabbat loop mode a secondary one-way pump 24 (also Shabbat pump herein) is engaged to circulate water through pipe 21. In this mode, the Shabbat pump 24 is activated to pump water from the reservoir 12 to the tankless 14 (via pipe 21) at given intervals. For example, in embodiments of the invention, the secondary one-way pump 24 is deployed to pump for 30 seconds every 10 minutes. In embodiments, once the Shabbat mode is enabled, the computer queries Is It Shabbat at each 10-minute interval. Each time the answer is yes, the system initiates the secondary pump 24 and turns it off after 30 seconds.

[0019] In embodiments of the invention, the detection of Shabbat is done through the use of a computer's internal clock (that is correctly set). In embodiments, a separate Real Time Clock module is provided to keep time accurately and ensure the time stays correct during a power outage. Based on the time provided by the internal clock, and the day provided by the internal calendar, the system is able to determine whether or not the time for sundown has arrived. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that there are well-known calculations for sunset based on latitude and longitude coordinates. Once the coordinates are noted and the day of the week is provided by the calendar, the system is equipped with sufficient information to enter into a mode whereby it periodically queries Is it Shabbat. In this regard, when a day is detected as a Friday, the response to Is It Shabbat will return as no up until approximately 18 minutes before the calculated sunset. Once a yes response is received, the system enters into Shabbat mode. If the day is detected as a Saturday, the response to the Is It Shabbat will return as a yes up until approximately 42 minutes after sunset. An Is It Shabbat query run after 42 minutes (or more, e.g. 72 minutes) after sunset will return a response of no, prompting the system to disengage the Shabbat loop and reengage the default loop. It will be understood that any of the timeframes provided herein may be adjusted in embodiments of the invention.

[0020] It will be understood that a control unit used to control the water heating system may utilize and of various modes of detecting the onset and end point of Shabbat. For example, a GPS-based system may determine sunset based on geographic coordinates. In this regard, the system is configured to enter into the Shabbat mode at a predetermined time prior to sunset and to exit Shabbat mode a predetermined period after sunset on Saturday night.

[0021] As described, in Shabbat mode, the thermostatic switch (or similar temperature sensor) is disengaged and the system is configured to periodically pump water from the reservoir to the tankless and backirrespective of water temperature and dependent solely on time controls provided by the controller.

[0022] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a single circuit having a single pump is used for both default and Shabbat functions. With reference to FIG. 2, a reservoir tank 32 has a recirculating or coiled pipe 34 or similar pipe having extensive distance running between the reservoir tank 32 and a tankless heater 36 (e.g. approximately 100 feet). A one-way water pump 37 is disposed at a terminal end of coiled pipe 34 between coiled pipe 34 and the tankless water heater 36. In embodiments of the invention, a thermostatic switch 39 is installed in the reservoir tank, which is wired (e.g. via wire 38) to one-way pump 37. Thermostatic switch 39 is configured to activate and deactivate one-way pump 37 any time the sensor of the thermostatic switch 39 detects that the water temperature inside the reservoir tank 32 drops below a specified threshold temperature. In embodiments of the invention, the threshold temperature is 114. Once activated, the one-way pump 37 pushes water from coiled pipe 34 into the tankless heater 36 and ultimately back to the reservoir tank 32. This circulation of water from the tankless 36 into the reservoir tank 32 continues until the water inside the reservoir tank 32 reaches a temperature that is above the specified threshold. Once this temperature is reached, the thermostatic switch 39 powers off the one-way pump 37 such that water ceases to circulate through the coiled pipe 34.

[0023] In embodiments of the invention, a switch (e.g. a relay switch) is provided to disable thermostatic switch 39 for use in Shabbat mode. In embodiments of the invention, in Shabbat mode, cycling of water is run on a periodic basis unresponsive to water temperature. For example, in embodiments, a computer or similar controller 35 is utilized to periodically activate one-way pump 37 (e.g. via wire 41) to circulate water through the coiled pipe 34 and tankless heater 36 and into reservoir 32 at preset given intervals. In embodiments of the invention, the interval of time during which one-way pump 37 is activated is configured to substantially equal the amount of time that is required to drain the standing water within coiled pipe 34. For example, if coiled pipe 34 stores 2.5 gallons of water, then a pump that draws 5 gallons per minute will be set to run for 30 secondsthereby emptying the contents of coiled pipe 34 such that the water is substantially replaced therein. The water added to coiled pipe will stand therein and will be cleared the next time pump 37 is activated and so on.

[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, the system is configured for the pump 37 to cycle on for 30 seconds every 4.5 minutes. As mentioned, this allows the system to ensure that water would have stood in the coiled pipe 34 a predetermined period of time (e.g. 4.5 minutes)thereby allowing the system to control of the water temperature entering the tankless heater 36, thereby ensuring that the water temperature never rises above a predetermined temperature.

[0025] It will be understood by those of skill in the art that pump 37 may be disposed at the substantial terminal end of coiled pipe 34, or it is alternatively placed at the substantial beginning of the coiled pipe 34.

[0026] Embodiments of the invention provide a method for providing hot water to faucets and other plumbing fixtures in a home. The method includes the steps of storing water in a reservoir tank and automatically circulating water from the reservoir tank into a tankless heater then back into the reservoir tank at given intervals. The tankless heater is set to a specified temperature such that water heated thereby does not exceed the predetermined temperature. The method further includes the step of cooling water prior to its delivery into the tankless heater by circulating such water through an extended pipe length. The method may further include the step of allowing the water to sit within the extended pipe length for a predetermined period of time.

[0027] Having described this invention with regard to specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the description is not meant as a limitation since further modifications and variations may be apparent or may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It is intended that the present application cover all such modifications and variations.