Patent Application
20150129607
Commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,356,731, titled “Energy Saving Baffle For Water Cooler,” issued Jan. 22, 2013, is incorporated by reference in its entirety into this disclosure, including but not limited to the energy saving baffle disclosure of FIGS. 27-29 and the corresponding text relating to those drawings (14:13-15:32).
The present invention generally relates to water cooler assemblies and liquid dispensing apparatus. More specifically, the invention relates to an energy saving hot water tank used in such assemblies and apparatus.
Using a water cooler assembly with a cold tank on top and a hot tank beneath it has been known for decades. Energy consumption for such past water cooler assemblies has been in the range of about 2 kilowatt-hours/day. EPA regulations effective Jan. 22, 2010 require energy consumption of less than about 1.2 kW-h/day to properly label a product as “Energy Star.” The EPA guidelines can be met by taking steps such as using heavy insulation (such as vacuum-insulated walls for the hot tank) and rerouting water from the bottom of the hot tank.
Energy consumption tests conducted by the present inventors and separately analyzing the cold system, and the hot system, showed that energy consumed by the separate systems was substantially less than the combined system, allowing the present inventors to conclude that the cold/hot system interaction has a substantial impact on energy consumption, perhaps as much as 30%.
The present inventors also found that placing a restrictor in the baffle within the pathway between the cold and hot tanks, as disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,356,731, reduced energy loss to about 1.1 kWh/day). The present inventors also found that using pump-fed rather than gravity systems further reduced energy consumption to about 0.7-0.8 kW-h/day. Pump-fed systems use longer tubing in between the hot and cold tanks, allowing water in this tubing, during an idle stage, to more closely equalize in temperature before it travels to an the adjacent tank, requiring less frequent running of the cold and hot systems, and correspondingly lower energy consumption.
It would be advantageous to design a water cooler assembly and water dispensing apparatus that is more energy efficient than those currently available for gravity-fed systems, and comparable in energy efficiency to pump-fed systems.
The objects mentioned above, as well as other objects, are solved by the present invention, which overcomes disadvantages of prior water cooler assemblies and liquid dispensing apparatus, while providing new advantages not believed associated with such assemblies and apparatus.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a liquid dispensing apparatus is provided, including cold and hot tanks in liquid communication with each other and with a dispensing faucet. A baffle is housed within the cold tank, and separates liquid within the cold tank into two or more regions having differing temperatures. A baffle tube allows liquid within the cold tank adjacent the baffle to move between the cold and hot tanks. Preferably, the baffle tube houses a restrictor, such as a floating restrictor (e.g., a hollow ball) with a specific density less than the specific density of the liquid. In this embodiment, the restrictor normally floats upward within the baffle tube to partially seal against an upper retaining member within the baffle tube and thereby restrict liquid circulation between the hot and cold tanks. Preferably, a non-metal gasket, such as a silicone gasket, forms a thermal barrier between liquid within the baffle tube, the cold tank, and an intake portion of the hot tank.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the hot tank is located below the cold tank, and following liquid discharge from the hot tank, the restrictor is pushed downwardly within the baffle tube, to a lowermost position below a bottom edge of the cold tank, by liquid flowing from the cold tank to replenish the hot tank. The floating restrictor, when at its lowermost range below the bottom edge of the cold tank, may be contained by a non-metal compartment.
The invention may be used with either gravity-driven dispensing systems (e.g., a traditional water cooler using an inverted water bottle), or pump-fed dispensing systems.
In an alternative embodiment, a liquid dispensing apparatus is provided with cold and hot tanks in liquid communication with each other and with a dispensing faucet, and a baffle housed within the cold tank, which separates two or more regions of liquid in the cold tank having differing temperatures. A baffle tube may be used to allow liquid within the cold tank adjacent the baffle to move between the cold and hot tanks. The baffle tube may house a floating restrictor with a specific density less than the specific density of the liquid. The restrictor may normally float upward within the baffle tube to partially seal against an upper retaining member within the baffle tube and thereby restrict liquid circulation between the hot and cold tanks. Preferably, the hot tank is located below the cold tank. Following liquid discharge from the hot tank, the restrictor is pushed downwardly within the baffle tube, to a lowermost position below a bottom edge of the cold tank, by liquid flowing from the cold tank to replenish the hot tank. In this alternative embodiment, the baffle tube may include a baffle stem portion, which may have an inner diameter substantially greater than 10 mm, such as a about 14 mm. The baffle tube may also include a snap-on adaptor which press-fits into a baffle nut which fastens to an intake portion of the hot tank.
The novel features which are characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and attendant advantages thereof, can be better understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Set forth below is a description of what are believed to be the preferred embodiments and/or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to this preferred embodiment are contemplated. Any alternatives or modifications which make insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure, or in result are intended to be covered by the claims of this patent.
Referring first to
The water cooler assembly 10 shown in
Preferably, a restrictor (e.g., a floating ball) moving within a baffle system, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,356,731, is used for energy efficiency purposes (i.e., to control convection losses in the pathway between the hot and cold tanks). Hot tank 117 should also be covered with insulation 118 (
Referring now to
Still referring to
Referring to both alternative embodiments shown in
Referring now to
Referring to the
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Referring to
As a non-limiting example, for explanatory purposes, when floating ball 210 is in its uppermost position, the cold zone temperature may be close to the cold tank temperature of about, for example, 10° C., Similarly, the hot zone temperature may be close to the hot tank temperature of about, for example, 85° C. However, this assumes little or no water exchange. In reality, water can still move up and down so the cold and hot zone temperature separation is not a clear cut line, but rather a band.
Accordingly, by using a plastic hot tank intake thread piece 165, in conjunction with a new, lowered location for restrictor (e.g. floating ball) 210, a straight cold/hot zone separation line is now formed at the bottom of the cold tank, as represented by the opposed arrows on
As noted above,
The above description is not intended to limit the meaning of the words used in the following claims that define the invention. Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be, or will become, apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the foregoing drawings, written description and claims, and persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a variety of other designs still failing within the scope of the following claims may be envisioned and used. For example, consumable liquids other than water, such as but not limited to carbonated beverages, may be dispensed. It is contemplated that these or other future modifications in structure, function or result will exist that are not substantial changes and that all such insubstantial changes in what is claimed are intended to be covered by the claims.
The following terms are used in the claims of the patent as filed and are intended to have their broadest meaning consistent with the requirements of law. Where alternative meanings are possible, the broadest meaning is intended. All words used in the claims are intended to be used in the normal, customary usage of grammar and the English language.
