Hydro-furnace

Abstract

A hydro-furnace includes a water heater, a furnace component with a holding tank, a holding tank temperature sensor, a heater core, a pump, and a blower, and a control circuit coupled with the holding tank temperature sensor, the pump, and the blower. The blower drives air across the heater core in a heat exchange relationship, and the pump drives a fluid circuit between the water heater, the heater core, and the holding tank. The control circuit is configured to activate the pump and the water heater when a temperature in the holding tank drops below a predetermined threshold temperature.

1 . A hydro-furnace comprising:
 a water heater;   a furnace component including a holding tank, a holding tank temperature sensor, a heater core, a pump, and a blower, wherein the blower drives air across the heater core in a heat exchange relationship, and wherein the pump drives a fluid circuit between the water heater, the heater core, and the holding tank; and   a control circuit coupled with at least the holding tank temperature sensor, the pump, and the blower, wherein the control circuit is configured to activate the pump and the water heater when a temperature in the holding tank drops below a predetermined threshold temperature.   
     
     
         2 . A hydro-furnace according to  claim 1 , further comprising a room thermostat coupled with the control circuit that measures a room temperature and enables a user to set a desired room temperature, wherein the control circuit is configured to activate the pump and the blower when the room temperature drops below the desired room temperature regardless of an operating status of the water heater. 
     
     
         3 . A hydro-furnace according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid circuit comprises an outlet pipe from the holding tank, in series with an inlet in the water heater, in series with an outlet in the water heater, in series with the heater core, and in series with an inlet pipe into the holding tank. 
     
     
         4 . A hydro-furnace according to  claim 3 , wherein the outlet pipe from the holding tank and the inlet pipe into the holding tank are offset in the holding tank to prevent water input to the holding tank from mixing with the water being output from the holding tank. 
     
     
         5 . A hydro-furnace according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an outlet pipe in fluid communication with the holding tank, the outlet pipe delivering water from the holding tank to the water heater; and   an inlet pipe in fluid communication with the holding tank, the inlet pipe delivering water from the heater core to the holding tank,   wherein the outlet pipe and the inlet pipe are offset in the holding tank to prevent water input to the holding tank from the heater core from mixing with the water being output from the holding tank to the water heater.   
     
     
         6 . A hydro-furnace according to  claim 1 , further comprising a mixing valve in fluid communication with the holding tank, the mixing valve outputting water from the holding tank to a faucet. 
     
     
         7 . A hydro-furnace according to  claim 6 , further comprising a cold water inlet in fluid communication with the mixing valve, the mixing valve mixing cold water from the cold water inlet with water from the holding tank before outputting through the faucet. 
     
     
         8 . A hydro-furnace comprising:
 a water heater;   a furnace component including a holding tank, a holding tank temperature sensor, a heater core, a pump, and a blower, wherein the blower drives air across the heater core in a heat exchange relationship, and wherein the pump drives a fluid circuit between the water heater, the heater core, and the holding tank, the fluid circuit including an outlet pipe in fluid communication with the holding tank that delivers water from the holding tank to the water heater and an inlet pipe in fluid communication with the holding tank that delivers water from the heater core to the holding tank, wherein the outlet pipe and the inlet pipe are offset in the holding tank to prevent water input to the holding tank from the heater core from mixing with the water being output from the holding tank to the water heater; and   a control circuit coupled with at least the holding tank temperature sensor, the pump, and the blower.   
     
     
         9 . A hydro-furnace according to  claim 8 , further comprising a room thermostat coupled with the control circuit that measures a room temperature and enables a user to set a desired room temperature, wherein the control circuit is configured to activate the pump and the blower when the room temperature drops below the desired room temperature regardless of an operating status of the water heater. 
     
     
         10 . A hydro-furnace according to  claim 9 , wherein the control circuit is configured to activate the pump and the water heater when a temperature in the holding tank drops below a predetermined threshold temperature. 
     
     
         11 . A hydro-furnace according to  claim 8 , wherein the outlet pipe is in series with an inlet in the water heater, wherein an outlet in the water heater is in series with the heater core, and wherein the heater core is in series with the inlet pipe into the holding tank. 
     
     
         12 . A hydro-furnace according to  claim 8 , further comprising a mixing valve in fluid communication with the holding tank, the mixing valve outputting water from the holding tank to a faucet. 
     
     
         13 . A hydro-furnace according to  claim 12 , further comprising a cold water inlet in fluid communication with the mixing valve, the mixing valve mixing cold water from the cold water inlet with water from the holding tank before outputting through the faucet. 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a hydro-furnace including a water heater, a furnace component with a holding tank, a holding tank temperature sensor, a heater core, a pump, and a blower, and a control circuit coupled with the holding tank temperature sensor, the pump, and the blower, the method comprising:
 driving air with the blower across the heater core in a heat exchange relationship;   driving with the pump a fluid circuit between the water heater, the heater core, and the holding tank; and   activating with the control circuit the pump and the water heater when a temperature in the holding tank drops below a predetermined threshold temperature.   
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein the hydro-furnace includes a room thermostat coupled with the control circuit that measures a room temperature and enables a user to set a desired room temperature, the method comprising activating with the control circuit the pump and the blower when the room temperature drops below the desired room temperature regardless of an operating status of the water heater.