Potable water heater and method of using same

Abstract

A hot water heating system for use in a boat or vehicle which utilises the engine of the vehicle or boat, an AC power source or a fuel powered heater to heat a living area and to heat potable water. Each of the power sources can be utilised independently or in combination depending on the location and operation of the vehicle or boat. A valve is automatically controlled by a thermostat to allow heated fluid to circulate through the living area or to bypass the area. Aquastats are provided to automatically allow potable water to be heated. A display is provided for displaying textual and numerical information in user friendly format relating to the operation of the hot water heating system.

We claim:  
     
         1 . Heating system for a boat or vehicle living environment comprising a first source of heat for a first fluid and a second source of heat for said first fluid, at least one space heater within which said first fluid circulates to provide heat to said living environment, a valve to allow said first fluid to bypass said at least one space heater or to allow said first fluid to flow through said at least one space heater, said valve being controlled by a thermostat to allow said first fluid to circulate through said space heater when said thermostat indicates heat is needed in said living environment and to bypass said space heater when said thermostat indicates heat is not required by said living environment.  
     
     
         2 . Heating system as in  claim 1  wherein said thermostat is adjustable.  
     
     
         3 . Heating system as in  claim 1  wherein said first source of heat is a fuel powered heater and said second source of heat is an AC powered heater.  
     
     
         4 . Heating system as in  claim 3  and further comprising a potable water circuit for carrying potable water and a first heat exchanger between said first fluid and said potable water, said first heat exchanger exchanging heat from said first fluid to said potable water.  
     
     
         5 . Heating system as in  claim 1  and further comprising a third source of heat for said first fluid.  
     
     
         6 . Heating system as in  claim 4  wherein said third source of heat is an engine of said boat or vehicle.  
     
     
         7 . Heating system as in  claim 5  wherein said third source of heat heats a second fluid and further comprising a second heat exchanger between said second fluid and said first fluid to exchange heat between said second fluid and said first fluid.  
     
     
         8 . Heating system as in  claim 4  and further comprising a first fluid pump to pump said first fluid through said first heat exchanger carrying said first fluid and said potable water.  
     
     
         9 . Water heating system for a vehicle or boat comprising a heater fluid loop with heater fluid therein, an engine circuit with engine fluid therein, a space heating loop used for heating a living environment and being operable to allow said heater fluid to circulate therein, a first heat source to heat said engine fluid, a second heat source to heat said heater fluid, a valve to route said heater fluid through said space heating loop or to bypass said space heating loop, said valve being operably connected to a thermostat for measuring the temperature of said living environment to be heated and for instructing said valve to route said heater fluid through said space heating loop or to bypass said space heating loop.  
     
     
         10 . Water heating system as in  claim 9  wherein said thermostat is adjustable.  
     
     
         11 . Water heating system as in  claim 9  herein said first heat source is an engine of said vehicle or boat.  
     
     
         12 . Water heating system as in  claim 11  wherein aid second heat source is a fuel powered heater.  
     
     
         13 . Water heating system as in  claim 9  and further comprising a third heat source to heat said heater fluid.  
     
     
         14 . Water heating system as in  claim 13  wherein said third source of heat is an AC powered heater.  
     
     
         15 . A heating system for heating an environment within a boat or vehicle, said heating system comprising a first heater, a first fluid circulating through said first heater and a potable water heat exchanger, a second fluid circulating through said potable water heat exchanger and being heated by said first fluid in said potable water heat exchanger, said second fluid being potable water.  
     
     
         16 . Heating system as in  claim 15  wherein said second fluid is potable water.  
     
     
         17 . Heating system as in  claim 15  and further comprising a second heater.  
     
     
         18 . Heating system as in  claim 17  wherein said second heater heats said first fluid.  
     
     
         19 . Beating system as in  claim 18  wherein said first heater is a fuel powered heater and said second heat source is an AC powered heater.  
     
     
         20 . A heating system for heating an environment within a boat or vehicle, said heating system comprising a fuel powered heater, a heater fluid line carrying fluid circulating through said fuel powered heater, a pump to circulate heater fluid through said heater fluid line, said heater fluid in said heater fluid line being heated by said fuel powered heater, said heater fluid line extending though at least one space heater in a living environment, said heater fluid in said space heater providing heat to said living environment and a temperature sensor to sense the temperature of said living environment and to control the ingress of said heater fluid into said space heater or to bypass said space heater according to said temperature sensed by said temperature sensor and a potable water heat exchanger having an aquastat and a potable water line carrying potable water associated therewith, said heater fluid line extending through said potable water heat exchanger and exchanging heat with said potable water in said potable water line, said aquastat controlling the operation of said fuel powered heater.  
     
     
         21 . Heating system as in  claim 20  and further comprising an AC powered heater to heat said heater fluid separately from or in combination with said fuel powered heater.  
     
     
         22 . Apparatus for displaying system status in a text and numerical form for a water heating system used in a boat or vehicle comprising a micro-controller for converting hexadecimal data or serial communications received from a control board into a text and/or numerical user friendly format display, said apparatus displaying the status of components of said water heating system and for displaying faults associated with said components of said water heating system.  
     
     
         23 . Apparatus as in  claim 22  and further displaying advertising and/or servicing information.  
     
     
         24 . Apparatus as in  claim 23  and further displaying a list of said faults and the number of times each of said faults has occurred during operation of said water heating system.  
     
     
         25 . Method for displaying in a user friendly format text and numerical information relating to a water heating system used in association with a vehicle or boat comprising visually displaying said text and numerical information in said user friendly format on a display, intermittently interrogating a control board connected to components of said water heating system, determining whether a fault is present which fault is associated with individual ones of said components, converting said fault information to said text and numerical information in said user friendly format and displaying said text and numerical information in said user friendly format on said display.  
     
     
         26 . Method for displaying user friendly text and numeral information relating to a water heating system on a vehicle or boat comprising positioning a display device for visually displaying said user friendly text and numerical information for viewing by a user in a convenient location for said user, continuously interrogating a control board connected to components of said water heating system, determining whether a fault is present which fault is associated with individual ones of said components, converting said fault information to said user friendly text and numerical information and displaying said user friendly text and numerical information on said display device.  
     
     
         27 . Method as in  claim 26  wherein said display is an LCD display.  
     
     
         28 . Method as in  claim 26  wherein said display is by way of a vacuum tube display and/or a touch screen display.  
     
     
         29 . Method as in  claim 26  and further displaying said faults upon commencement of the operation of said water heater system.  
     
     
         30 . Method as in  claim 29  and further displaying said faults upon shutdown of said water heater system.  
     
     
         31 . Method as in  claim 29  and further displaying the number of said faults associated with each of said components.  
     
     
         32 . Method as in  claim 26  and further including emitting an audio signal when a fault is present in said water heating system.  
     
     
         33 . Method as in  claim 26  wherein a unique number is associated with each of said components, said numbers being displayed upon power up or shutdown of said water heating system.  
     
     
         34 . Method as in  claim 26  and further including displaying textual and numerical information relating to fault free operation of said water heating system and for displaying servicing and advertising information.  
     
     
         35 . Apparatus for displaying system status in a text and numerical form for a water heating system used in a boat or vehicle comprising a display device for for displaying system status in a text and numerical form for said water heating system comprising a micro-controller for converting hexadecimal data or serial communications received from a control board into a text and/or numerical user friendly format display, said apparatus displaying the status of components of said water heating system and for displaying faults associated with said components of said water heating system.