Water heater sediment drain system and method

Abstract

A sediment drain system used in a hot water heater having a tank with a top and a bottom, includes a hot water outlet in vicinity of the top of the tank, and a sediment removal tube having a tube inlet opening in vicinity of the bottom of the tank and a tube outlet opening in vicinity of the top of the tank. A combined hot water and sediment outlet connected to the hot water outlet and to the tube outlet opening mixes and draws off sediment and hot water together for a predetermined period of time from the vicinity of the top of the tank. A method for draining sediment from a water heater includes mixing and drawing off sediment and hot water together for a predetermined period of time from the vicinity of the top of the tank through the combined hot water and sediment outlet.

1 . In a hot water heater having a tank with a top and a bottom, a sediment drain system comprising:
 a hot water outlet in vicinity of the top of the tank;   a sediment removal tube having a tube inlet opening in vicinity of the bottom of the tank and a tube outlet opening in vicinity of the top of the tank; and   a combined hot water and sediment outlet connected to said hot water outlet and to said tube outlet opening for mixing and drawing off sediment and hot water together for a predetermined period of time from the vicinity of the top of the tank.   
     
     
         2 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tank has a side drain, and said sediment removal tube is disposed outside the tank and connected between the side drain and said combined hot water and sediment outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 2 , wherein the tank has a bib, and a T-fitting is connected to the side drain, the bib and said tube inlet opening of said sediment removal tube. 
     
     
         4 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 3 , which further comprises a drain extension tube connected to said T-fitting at the side drain, said drain extension tube having an inlet opening foot in vicinity of the bottom of the tank. 
     
     
         5 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 2 , which further comprises a three-way valve connected to said hot water outlet and to said tube inlet opening of said sediment removal tube, said three-way valve having said combined hot water and sediment outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 1 , wherein said sediment removal tube is disposed inside the tank, a tube inlet opening foot is disposed in vicinity of the bottom of the tank and is connected to said tube inlet opening of said sediment removal tube, and a three-way outlet valve is connected to said tube outlet opening of said sediment removal tube and to said hot water outlet and has said sediment outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 1 , wherein said hot water outlet passes through one opening in the top of the tank, said sediment removal tube is disposed inside the tank and passes through another opening in the top of the tank separated from said one opening, a tube inlet opening foot is disposed in vicinity of the bottom of the tank and is connected to said tube inlet opening of said sediment removal tube, and a three-way outlet valve is connected to said tube outlet opening of said sediment removal tube and to said hot water outlet and has said sediment outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 6 , which further comprises a fitting in which said hot water outlet and said sediment removal tube are coaxially disposed at said tube outlet opening of said sediment removal tube. 
     
     
         9 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 6 , which further comprises a fitting in which said hot water outlet and said sediment removal tube are combined at said tube outlet opening of said sediment removal tube. 
     
     
         10 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 6 , wherein said tank bottom has a concave shape with a lowest point at which said tube inlet opening foot is disposed. 
     
     
         11 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 7 , wherein said tank bottom has a concave shape with a lowest point at which said tube inlet opening foot is disposed. 
     
     
         12 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 8 , wherein said tank bottom has a concave shape with a lowest point at which said tube inlet opening foot is disposed. 
     
     
         13 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 9 , wherein said tank bottom has a concave shape with a lowest point at which said tube inlet opening foot is disposed. 
     
     
         14 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 5 , wherein said three-way valve is manually operated, spring operated or remotely electrically operated for initially draining sediment through said sediment removal tube for said predetermined period of time and then drawing off hot water from said hot water outlet, upon use of a hot water tap connected to said combined hot water and sediment outlet by a consumer. 
     
     
         15 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 6 , wherein said three-way valve is manually operated, spring operated or remotely electrically operated for initially draining sediment through said sediment removal tube for said predetermined period of time and then drawing off hot water from said hot water outlet, upon use of a hot water tap connected to said combined hot water and sediment outlet by a consumer. 
     
     
         16 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 7 , wherein said three-way valve is manually operated, spring operated or remotely electrically operated for initially draining sediment through said sediment removal tube for said predetermined period of time and then drawing off hot water from said hot water outlet, upon use of a hot water tap connected to said combined hot water and sediment outlet by a consumer. 
     
     
         17 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 8 , wherein said three-way valve is manually operated, spring operated or remotely electrically operated for initially draining sediment through said sediment removal tube for said predetermined period of time and then drawing off hot water from said hot water outlet, upon use of a hot water tap connected to said combined hot water and sediment outlet by a consumer. 
     
     
         18 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 9 , wherein said three-way valve is manually operated, spring operated or remotely electrically operated for initially draining sediment through said sediment removal tube for said predetermined period of time and then drawing off hot water from said hot water outlet, upon use of a hot water tap connected to said combined hot water and sediment outlet by a consumer. 
     
     
         19 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 5 , which further comprises an external bottom drain tube to be connected to said three-way valve. 
     
     
         20 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 6 , which further comprises an external bottom drain tube to be connected to said three-way valve. 
     
     
         21 . The sediment drain system according to  claim 7 , which further comprises an external bottom drain tube to be connected to said three-way valve. 
     
     
         22 . A method for draining sediment from a water heater, the method comprising the following steps:
 providing a hot water heater having a tank with a top, a bottom and a hot water outlet in vicinity of the top of the tank;   providing a sediment drain system including a sediment removal tube having a tube inlet opening in vicinity of the bottom of the tank and a tube outlet opening in vicinity of the top of the tank;   providing a combined hot water and sediment outlet connected to the hot water outlet and to the tube outlet opening; and   mixing and drawing off sediment and hot water together for a predetermined period of time from the vicinity of the top of the tank through the combined hot water and sediment outlet.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , which further comprises:
 providing a three-way valve connected to the hot water outlet and to the tube inlet opening of the sediment removal tube and having the combined hot water and sediment outlet; and   operating the three-way valve for initially draining sediment through the sediment removal tube for the predetermined period of time and then drawing off hot water from the hot water outlet, upon use of a hot water tap connected to the combined hot water and sediment outlet by a consumer.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 22 , which further comprises performing the three-way valve operating step automatically by spring operation or remote electrical operation of the three-way valve.