Patent Application
20240352714
The present invention relates generally to the field of pipe antifreeze systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pipe antifreeze system for keeping pipes from freezing when outside temperatures drop below freezing. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture.
By way of background, this invention relates to improvements in pipe antifreeze systems. Generally, people who live in cold weather areas may need to leave their water on overnight to prevent their pipes from freezing. Further, some homeowners may be unable to properly identify proper temperature thresholds when they should be leaving their water on overnight. Additionally, waking up to frozen pipes can be frustrating and may require expensive maintenance.
Generally, it is well known that water that is moving does not freeze as easily as water that is not moving. Further, it would be desirable to keep pipes from freezing without the use of heating elements or other heat generating devices. For example, it would be desirable to have an antifreeze system that monitors outside temperature and adjusts the flow of water automatically based on need. Many prior art solutions use complex valves, chemical mixtures, or heating elements to keep pipes from freezing. Further, most antifreeze systems have a risk of fire due to the heating elements or contamination of water using chemical antifreeze solutions. Lastly, current solutions do not monitor outside temperature to determine the need for or severity of frozen pipes.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide users with a system designed to keep water moving to limit the chance of pipes freezing during cold weather. Further, there is a need for a system that ensures a constant flow of water through the pipes to prevent the water from freezing when outdoor temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for a pipe antifreeze system that provides users with a means for keeping pipes from freezing when the outside temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. There is also a long felt need in the art for a pipe antifreeze system that features a thermostat-controlled water valve that automatically turns the flow of water on and off based on outside temperature. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a pipe antifreeze system that does not require heating elements or the use of antifreeze chemicals to keep pipes from freezing. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a system that allows the user to not have to monitor the outside temperature to know if antifreeze activities are needed. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a pipe antifreeze system that prevents any type of damage to the pipes or surrounding environment from water leaking due to burst pipes that have frozen. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a pipe antifreeze system that can be used in any type of pipe system with little changes to the overall function of the pipe system.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a pipe antifreeze system. The system does not require heating elements or chemical antifreeze to keep water from freezing in the pipes. The system bypasses a faucet to prevent it from freezing from the outside temperature. The pipe antifreeze system comprises a thermostat, a solenoid valve, a faucet bypass drain, a ball valve, and a check valve. The thermostat would be connected to a temperature sensing component to measure outside temperature. The thermostat would control the solenoid valve to turn on and off the flow of water based on the outside temperature detected. Thus, when the outside temperature drops below freezing the thermostat would sense the drop and open the solenoid valve to allow the water to flow and decrease the chance of pipes freezing. The system can also be used for all types of faucets and any place where water pipes are present.
In this manner, the pipe antifreeze system of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and provides users with a means to keep pipes from freezing when the outside temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The system uses a thermostat and solenoid valve to allow for the continuous flow of water to prevent freezing. The system can be manufactured with valves and sensors that are well known in the art.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a pipe antifreeze system. The system is a multicomponent system to keep water moving in the pipes of a house to prevent frozen pipes when the weather outside drops below freezing. Overall, the pipe antifreeze system comprises a thermostat, a temperature sensor, a solenoid valve, a ball valve, a check valve, and a bypass drain T-joint. The system is placed in a fluid parallel path to the incoming water supply to the faucet or other water using device. Generally, all components of the pipe antifreeze system are in fluid communication using pipes, hoses, tubes, conduits, or other fluid connection means as is known in the art. In use, the incoming water flows to a T-joint and is allowed to either proceed to the faucet per normal plumbing flow or flows to the normally closed solenoid valve. The solenoid valve prevents the water flow from progressing until an electronic signal from the thermostat is present to open the valve. Specifically, the solenoid valve is in electronic communication with the thermostat, which allows the solenoid valve to open or close. Once the solenoid valve is open, the water flows through the solenoid valve and toward a ball valve. The ball valve regulates the amount of water that can continue to the check valve. The check valve then only allows water to flow in one direction, such that no water can flow in reverse, back to the ball valve and the solenoid valve. Lastly, the water flows through the check valve and into a bypass drain T-joint, which directs the water into the water faucet drain line. The running water then prevents the pipes from freezing.
In one embodiment, the thermostat in use in the pipe antifreeze system is an electronic device that converts electronic signals from the temperature sensor into a temperature reading. The temperature sensor would be placed in an outside ambient location, to sense an outdoor temperature. The temperature sensor can be a negative temperature coefficient thermistor, resistance temperature detector, thermocouple, semiconductor-based sensor, or any other temperature sensing device as is known in the art. The temperature sensor is electronically connected to the thermostat either with a wire connection or a wireless connection. Thus, the temperature sensor is in an ambient environment, that when it drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, it communicates with the thermostat via electronic signals. Once the thermostat receives communication from the temperature sensor, the thermostat then communicates with the solenoid valve to either open the valve or allow it to remain closed, blocking water from flowing.
In one embodiment, the pipe antifreeze system is fluidly connected to the incoming water source to the faucet via a T-joint. The T-joint is placed into the incoming water source conduit or pipe, to allow water to flow in multiple directions at once. Typically, the T-joint is connected to the incoming water pipe using a screw in connection, compression connection, welded connection, or any other suitable connection means known in the art. The T-joint is a fluid conduit that allows water to flow to the faucet or to the solenoid valve through tubes, hoses or pipes, etc. Generally, the T-joint is manufactured from PVC, copper, brass, or any other suitable material known in the art.
In one embodiment, the pipe antifreeze system contains a solenoid valve that is electronically controlled by the thermostat to either allow water to flow through the system or to prevent water from flowing through the system. Generally, the solenoid valve has a conduit for water to flow through and a sliding gate in the center of the conduit. The sliding gate is connected to an electromagnetic coil that when energized moves the gate up and down to open or close the conduit. The solenoid valve is either completely open or closed based on the electric signal coming from the thermostat. In the normally closed position, if there is no electronic signal from the thermostat the solenoid valve is closed and water is prevented from flowing through.
In one embodiment, the pipe antifreeze system contains a thermostat to electronically connect the temperature sensor to the solenoid valve. The thermostat is an electronic control device that allows electronic signals from the temperature sensor to be converted into a temperature reading. The thermostat is connected to the temperature sensor directly with wires or it can be connected to the temperature sensor wirelessly through a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection. When the temperature sensor senses the ambient temperature, it will send the reading to the thermostat to convert the signal to a corresponding temperature reading. If the thermostat receives a reading below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, it will send a signal to the solenoid valve to open and allow water to flow through the pipe antifreeze system.
In one embodiment, the pipe antifreeze system comprises a ball valve. The ball valve restricts the amount of water flow through the pipe antifreeze system. The ball valve can be manually adjusted by the user to allow for more or less flow of water through the pipe antifreeze system. Also, the ball valve can be in electronic communication with the thermostat to allow the ball valve to be more open and allow for more water flow as the temperature drops further below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The electronically controlled ball valve would have an electronic motor that would rotate the ball in the valve to open or restrict the flow of water through the valve. The more flow that the pipes experience, the greater chance that the pipes will not freeze as the temperature drops below freezing.
In one embodiment, the pipe antifreeze system contains a check valve in line between the ball valve and the bypass drain T-joint. The check valve allows fluid to pass from the solenoid valve to the bypass drain T-joint but does not allow water to flow in the opposite direction. The check valve is a fluid conduit with a flap in the center of the conduit. The flap is held closed in the conduit by a spring, that only allows the flap to open in one direction. When water flows from the solenoid valve to the check valve, the flap will be pushed open to allow water to flow to the bypass drain T-joint. If water flows from the bypass drain T-joint to the solenoid valve, the flap would not open and would prevent water from flowing past the flap.
In one embodiment, the pipe antifreeze system allows the flow of water to enter into the faucet drain through a bypass drain T-joint. The bypass drain T-joint is a fluid conduit that is placed into the drain of the faucet, but allows water to enter the drain from multiple directions. The bypass drain T-joint will allow the water to flow from the check valve via a conduit, tube or hose and enter the drain of the faucet. The bypass drain T-joint can be manufactured from PVC, copper, brass, or any other suitable material known in the art.
In use, the pipe antifreeze system is assembled by first installing the system into the incoming water supply of the water using device (i.e., faucet). When the temperature outside the home is below freezing, the temperature sensor will electronically communicate with the thermostat. The thermostat will electronically communicate with the solenoid valve to open and allow water to flow from the incoming supply into the system. The water will flow from the solenoid valve through the ball valve, which has been adjusted by the user to allow the correct flow through the system. The water will then flow from the ball valve to the check valve, which will allow the water to only flow in one direction, (i.e., from the system to the drain). Once the water flows past the check valve, it will flow to the faucet or other device drain through the bypass drain T-joint. When the temperature outside rises above 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature sensor will communicate with the thermostat to close the solenoid valve and prevent water from flowing through the pipe antifreeze system.
In one embodiment, the pipe antifreeze system can be utilized with any suitable faucet, clothes washer, etc., or any other suitable device in the home that requires water, as is known in the art.
In yet another embodiment, the pipe antifreeze system comprises a plurality of indicia.
In yet another embodiment, a method of limiting the chance of pipes freezing during cold weather by allowing water to flow through the pipes is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a pipe antifreeze system comprising a T-joint, a solenoid valve, temperature sensor, thermostat, ball valve, check valve, and a bypass drain T-joint. The method also comprises inserting the T-joint into the incoming water line to allow water to flow into the system. Further, the method comprises a temperature sensor in electronic communication with the thermostat to sense outside ambient temperature. Also, the method comprises the thermostat in electronic communication with the solenoid valve to open and close the valve to either allow water to flow thought the system or not. Further, the method comprises opening the solenoid valve to allow water to flow to the ball valve, which can be adjusted by the user to allow more or less water to flow through the system depending on the outside temperature. Finally, the method comprises allowing the water to flow through a check valve to ensure that water only flows in one direction, into the bypass drain T-joint and into the drain of the water using device (i.e., faucet).
Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, upon reading and understanding the following detailed specification.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there is a long felt need in the art for a pipe antifreeze system that provides users with a means for keeping pipes from freezing when the outside temperatures drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. There is also a long felt need in the art for a pipe antifreeze system that features a thermostat-controlled water valve that automatically turns the flow of water on and off based on outside temperature. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a pipe antifreeze system that does not require heating elements or the use of antifreeze chemicals to keep pipes from freezing. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a system that allows the user to not have to monitor the outside temperature to know if antifreeze activities are needed. Further, there is a long felt need in the art for a pipe antifreeze system that prevents any type of damage to the pipes or surrounding environment from water leaking due to burst pipes that have frozen. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a pipe antifreeze system that can be used in any type of pipe system with little changes to the overall function of the pipe system.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a novel pipe antifreeze system. The pipe antifreeze system comprises a thermostat, a solenoid valve, a faucet bypass drain, a ball valve, and a check valve. The thermostat would be connected to a temperature sensing component to measure outside temperature. The thermostat would control the solenoid valve to turn on and off the flow of water based on the outside temperature detected. Thus, when the outside temperature drops below freezing the thermostat would sense the drop and open the solenoid valve to allow the water to flow and decrease the chance of pipes freezing. The present invention also includes a novel method of limiting the chance of pipes freezing during cold weather by allowing water to flow through the pipes is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a pipe antifreeze system comprising a T-joint, a solenoid valve, temperature sensor, thermostat, ball valve, check valve, and a bypass drain T-joint. The method also comprises inserting the T-joint into the incoming water line to allow water to flow into the system. Further, the method comprises a temperature sensor in electronic communication with the thermostat to sense outside ambient temperature. Also, the method comprises the thermostat in electronic communication with the solenoid valve to open and close the valve to either allow water to flow thought the system or not. Further, the method comprises opening the solenoid valve to allow water to flow to the ball valve, which can be adjusted by the user to allow more or less water to flow through the system depending on the outside temperature. Finally, the method comprises allowing the water to flow through a check valve to ensure that water only flows in one direction, into the bypass drain T-joint and into the drain of the water using device.
Referring initially to the drawings,
Overall, the pipe antifreeze system 100 can be utilized with any suitable faucet, clothes washer, etc., or any other suitable device in the home that requires water, as is known in the art.
In use, the incoming water flows to a T-joint 102 and is allowed to either proceed to the faucet per normal plumbing flow or flows to the normally closed solenoid valve 108. The solenoid valve 108 prevents the water flow from progressing until an electronic signal from the thermostat 104 is present to open the valve 108. Specifically, the solenoid valve 108 is in electronic communication with the thermostat 104, which allows the solenoid valve 108 to open or close. Once the solenoid valve 108 is open, the water flows through the solenoid valve 108 and toward a ball valve 110. The ball valve 110 regulates the amount of water that can continue to the check valve 112. The check valve 112 then only allows water to flow in one direction, such that no water can flow in reverse, back to the ball valve 110 and the solenoid valve 108. Lastly, the water flows through the check valve 112 and into a bypass drain T-joint 114, which directs the water into the water faucet drain line 118. The running water then prevents the pipes 116 from freezing.
Generally, the thermostat 104 in use in the pipe antifreeze system 100 is an electronic device that converts electronic signals from the temperature sensor 106 into a temperature reading. The temperature sensor 106 would be placed in an outside ambient location, to sense an outdoor temperature. The temperature sensor 106 can be a negative temperature coefficient thermistor, resistance temperature detector, thermocouple, semiconductor-based sensor, or any other temperature sensing device as is known in the art. The temperature sensor 106 is electronically connected to the thermostat 104 either with a wire connection or a wireless connection. Thus, the temperature sensor 106 is in an ambient environment, that when it drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, it communicates with the thermostat 104 via electronic signals. Once the thermostat 104 receives communication from the temperature sensor 106, the thermostat 104 then communicates with the solenoid valve 108 to either open the valve or allow it to remain closed, blocking water from flowing.
Further, the pipe antifreeze system 100 is fluidly connected to the incoming water source to the faucet via a T-joint 102. The T-joint 102 is placed into the incoming water source conduit or pipe, to allow water to flow in multiple directions at once. Typically, the T-joint 102 is connected to the incoming water pipe using a screw-in connection, compression connection, welded connection, or any other suitable connection means known in the art. The T-joint 102 is a fluid conduit that allows water to flow to the faucet or to the solenoid valve 108 through tubes, hoses or pipes, etc. Generally, the T-joint 102 is manufactured from PVC, copper, brass, or any other suitable material known in the art.
As disclosed supra, the pipe antifreeze system 100 contains a solenoid valve 108 that is electronically controlled by the thermostat 104 to either allow water to flow through the system 100 or to prevent water from flowing through the system 100. Generally, the solenoid valve 108 has a conduit for water to flow through and a sliding gate 120 in the center of the conduit. The sliding gate 120 is connected to an electromagnetic coil 122 that when energized moves the gate 120 up and down to open or close the conduit. The solenoid valve 108 is either completely open or closed based on the electric signal coming from the thermostat 104. In the normally closed position, if there is no electronic signal from the thermostat 104, the solenoid valve 108 is closed and water is prevented from flowing through.
Accordingly, the pipe antifreeze system 100 contains a thermostat 104 to electronically connect the temperature sensor 106 to the solenoid valve 108. The thermostat 104 is an electronic control device that allows electronic signals from the temperature sensor 106 to be converted into a temperature reading. The thermostat 104 is connected to the temperature sensor 106 directly with wires or it can be connected to the temperature sensor 106 wirelessly through a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection. When the temperature sensor 106 senses the ambient temperature, it will send the reading to the thermostat 104 to convert the signal to a corresponding temperature reading. If the thermostat 104 receives a reading below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, it will send a signal to the solenoid valve 108 to open and allow water to flow through the pipe antifreeze system 100.
Furthermore, the pipe antifreeze system 100 comprises a ball valve 110. The ball valve 110 restricts the amount of water flow through the pipe antifreeze system 100. The ball valve 110 can be manually adjusted by the user to allow for more or less flow of water through the pipe antifreeze system 100. Also, the ball valve 110 can be in electronic communication with the thermostat 104 to allow the ball valve 110 to be more open and allow for more water flow as the temperature drops further below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The electronically controlled ball valve 110 would have an electronic motor 124 that would rotate the ball 126 in the valve 110 to open or restrict the flow of water through the valve 110. The more flow that the pipes 116 experience, the greater chance that the pipes 116 will not freeze as the temperature drops below freezing.
Additionally, the pipe antifreeze system 100 contains a check valve 112 in line between the ball valve 110 and the bypass drain T-joint 114. The check valve 112 allows fluid to pass from the solenoid valve 108 to the bypass drain T-joint 114 but does not allow water to flow in the opposite direction. The check valve 110 is a fluid conduit with a flap 128 in the center of the conduit. The flap 128 is held closed in the conduit by a spring 130, that only allows the flap 128 to open in one direction. When water flows from the solenoid valve 108 to the check valve 110, the flap 128 will be pushed open to allow water to flow to the bypass drain T-joint 114. If water flows from the bypass drain T-joint 114 to the solenoid valve 108, the flap 128 would not open and would prevent water from flowing past the flap 128 in the opposite direction.
Further, the pipe antifreeze system 100 allows the flow of water to enter into the faucet drain 118 through a bypass drain T-joint 114. The bypass drain T-joint 114 is a fluid conduit that is placed into the drain 118 of the faucet, but allows water to enter the drain 118 from multiple directions. The bypass drain T-joint 114 will allow the water to flow from the check valve 112 via a conduit, tube or hose and enter the drain 118 of the faucet. The bypass drain T-joint 114 can be manufactured from PVC, copper, brass, or any other suitable material known in the part.
As shown in
In yet another embodiment, the pipe antifreeze system 100 comprises a plurality of indicia 200. The thermostat 104 or solenoid valve 108 of the system 100 may include advertising, a trademark, or other letters, designs, or characters, printed, painted, stamped, or integrated into the thermostat 104 or solenoid valve 108, or any other indicia 200 as is known in the art. Specifically, any suitable indicia 200 as is known in the art can be included, such as but not limited to, patterns, logos, emblems, images, symbols, designs, letters, words, characters, animals, advertisements, brands, etc., that may or may not be water, freezing, or brand related.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different users may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “pipe antifreeze system”, “antifreeze system” and “system” are interchangeable and refer to the pipe antifreeze system 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, the pipe antifreeze system 100 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the pipe antifreeze system 100 as shown in
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/497,295, which was filed on Apr. 20, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63497295 | Apr 2023 | US |
