Water heater having temperature control system with thermostatically controlled mixing device

Abstract

A water heater assembly includes a water storage tank configured for containing water; an inlet port positioned on the water storage tank for receiving cold water delivered from a cold water supply line; an outlet port positioned on the water storage tank for distributing hot water from the water storage tank toward a hot water supply line; and a water tempering device releasably coupled to both the inlet port and to the outlet port for diverting a portion of the cold water from the cold water supply line to the hot water supply line, wherein the water tempering device is configured to selectively mix the cold water with the hot water for delivery of mixed water into the hot water supply line.

1 . A water heater assembly comprising:
 a water storage tank configured for containing water;   an inlet port positioned on the water storage tank for receiving cold water delivered from a cold water supply line;   an outlet port positioned on the water storage tank for distributing hot water from the water storage tank toward a hot water supply line; and   a water tempering device releasably coupled to both the inlet port and to the outlet port for diverting a portion of the cold water from the cold water supply line to the hot water supply line, wherein the water tempering device is configured to selectively mix the cold water with the hot water for delivery of mixed water into the hot water supply line.   
     
     
         2 . The water heater assembly of  claim 1 , the water tempering device further comprising a fitting including an inlet port configured for coupling with a cold water supply line, an outlet port configured for releasable coupling with the inlet port of the water storage tank to deliver cold water into the water storage tank, and a bypass port for diverting a portion of the cold water from the cold water supply line. 
     
     
         3 . The water heater assembly of  claim 2 , the water tempering device further comprising a conduit including an inlet port configured for coupling to the bypass port of the fitting, an outlet port, and a fluid flow passageway defined between the inlet port and the outlet port. 
     
     
         4 . The water heater assembly of  claim 3 , the water tempering device further comprising a mixing device including a mixing port configured for coupling with the outlet port of the conduit, an inlet port configured for releasable coupling with an outlet port of the water storage tank, and an outlet port configured for coupling with a hot water supply line. 
     
     
         5 . The water heater assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the mixing device includes a thermostatic mixing valve for selectively permitting the flow of water through the mixing port of the mixing device. 
     
     
         6 . The water heater assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the water storage tank inlet and outlet ports are positioned on a top surface of the water storage tank. 
     
     
         7 . A water heater assembly comprising:
 a water storage tank configured for containing water;   an inlet port positioned on the water storage tank for receiving cold water delivered from a cold water supply line;   an outlet port positioned on the water storage tank for distributing hot water from the water storage tank toward a hot water supply line; and   a water tempering device for diverting a portion of the cold water from the cold water supply line to the hot water supply line, the water tempering device including a conduit extending between the inlet port and the outlet port, wherein the conduit comprises means for facilitating bending of the conduit for positioning the water tempering device on the water storage tank.   
     
     
         8 . The water heater assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the means for facilitating bending comprises corrugations positioned along a length dimension of the conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The water heater assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the means for facilitating bending is positioned along a portion of the conduit, rendering that portion more flexible than the remainder of the conduit. 
     
     
         10 . The water heater assembly of  claim 7 , wherein an inlet port and an outlet port of the conduit are oriented along respective axes that are not parallel to one another. 
     
     
         11 . The water heater assembly of  claim 7 , the water tempering device further comprising a fitting including an inlet port for coupling with the cold water supply line, an outlet port for releasable coupling with the inlet port of the water storage tank to deliver cold water into the water storage tank, and a bypass port for diverting a portion of the cold water from the cold water supply line. 
     
     
         12 . The water heater assembly of  claim 11 , the conduit further comprising an inlet port for coupling to the bypass port of the fitting, an outlet port, and a fluid flow passageway defined between the inlet port and the outlet port of the conduit. 
     
     
         13 . The water heater assembly of  claim 12 , the water tempering device further comprising a mixing device including a mixing port for coupling with the outlet port of the conduit, an inlet port for releasable coupling to the outlet port of the water storage tank, and an outlet port for coupling to the hot water supply line. 
     
     
         14 . The water heater assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the mixing device includes a thermostatic mixing valve for selectively permitting the flow of water through the mixing port of the mixing device. 
     
     
         15 . The water heater assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the fitting and the conduit are configured to direct all cold water received from the cold water supply line to the mixing port of the mixing device or the inlet port of the water heater. 
     
     
         16 . The water heater assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the means for facilitating bending is configured for aligning the inlet port of the conduit with the bypass port of the fitting and for aligning the outlet port of the conduit with the mixing port of the mixing device. 
     
     
         17 . A water heater assembly comprising:
 a water storage tank configured for containing water;   an inlet port positioned on the water storage tank for receiving cold water delivered from a cold water supply line;   an outlet port positioned on the water storage tank for distributing hot water from the water storage tank toward a hot water supply line; and   a water tempering device including:
 (i) a fitting including an inlet port configured for coupling to the cold water supply line, an outlet port configured for releasably coupling to the inlet port of the water storage tank to deliver cold water into the water storage tank, and a bypass port configured for diverting a portion of the cold water from the cold water supply line; 
 (ii) a conduit comprising an inlet port configured for coupling to the bypass port of the fitting, an outlet port, and a fluid flow passageway defined between the inlet port and the outlet port of the conduit; and 
 (iii) a mixing device including a mixing port configured for coupling to the outlet port of the conduit, an inlet port configured for releasable coupling to the outlet port of the water storage tank, and an outlet port configured for coupling to the hot water supply line. 
   
     
     
         18 . The water heater assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the conduit further comprises means, located between the inlet port and the outlet port of the conduit, for facilitating bending of the conduit for alignment of the inlet port of the conduit with the bypass port of the fitting and alignment of the outlet port of the conduit with the mixing port of the mixing device. 
     
     
         19 . The water heater assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the means for facilitating bending is configured for aligning the inlet port of the conduit with the bypass port of the fitting and for aligning the outlet port of the conduit with the mixing port of the mixing device. 
     
     
         20 . The water heater assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the fitting and the conduit are configured to direct all cold water received from the cold water supply line to the mixing port of the mixing device or the inlet port of the water heater.