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US4697614A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Water conservation system

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-09-10
•
Granted: 1987-10-06
•
Expires: 2005-09-10
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Abstract

Abstract The discharge ends of hot and cold water pipes are provided with valved outlets discharging into a common single water outlet and a by-pass pipe communicates the hot and cold water pipes upstream from but reasonably closely adjacent the hot and cold water outlets. A water accumulator is communicated with a mid-length portion of the by-pass pipe, a remotely operable flow-control valve is serially connected in the by-pass pipe intermediate the accumulator and the hot water pipe and an adjustable pressure regulator is serially connected in the cold water pipe closely upstream from the by-pass pipe.

Inventors

  • 👤 Debora L. Powers
  • 👤 John G. Powers
  • 👤 Eugene L. Rogina

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 20:07
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24D; F24D17/00; E; E03; E03B; E03B11/00; E03B11/02; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/6416; Y10T137/6497

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 159 words
A water conservation system for use in a water useage location in which valved hot and cold water outlets are located and wherein the outlet ends of hot and cold water supply lines of substantially the same pressure are operatively connected to said outlets, said system including a by-pass line with respective ends communicating said hot and cold water supply lines upstream from but reasonably adjacent said outlets, a remotely operable flow-control valve serially connected in said by-pass line with water accumulator means, said water accumulator means communicated with the interior of said by-pass line on the side of said control valve adjacent said cold water line, and a pressure regulator connected in said cold water line upstream from the point of communication of said by-pass line with said cold water line and operative to limit the pressure in said cold water line downstream from said pressure regulator to a pressure at least somewhat below the first mentioned pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 159 words
A water conservation system for use in a water useage location in which valved hot and cold water outlets are located and wherein the outlet ends of hot and cold water supply lines of substantially the same pressure are operatively connected to said outlets, said system including a by-pass line with respective ends communicating said hot and cold water supply lines upstream from but reasonably adjacent said outlets, a remotely operable flow-control valve serially connected in said by-pass line with water accumulator means, said water accumulator means communicated with the interior of said by-pass line on the side of said control valve adjacent said cold water line, and a pressure regulator connected in said cold water line upstream from the point of communication of said by-pass line with said cold water line and operative to limit the pressure in said cold water line downstream from said pressure regulator to a pressure at least somewhat below the first mentioned pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said flow-control valve comprises a solenoid actuated valve, and an actuator for said solenoid actuated valve located adjacent said valved hot water outlet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said pressure regulator comprises an adjustable pressure regulator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said hot and cold water outlets open into a single water outlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said flow-control valve comprises a solenoid actuated valve, and an actuator for said solenoid actuated valve located adjacent said valved hot water outlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said pressure regulator comprises an adjustable pressure regulator.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1010052A Cited
US1522120A Cited
US2832695A Cited
US2842155A Cited
US3511280A Cited
US3604456A Cited
US3741195A Cited
US4160461A Cited
US4201518A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-10-05 1991-04-06 1991-10-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-10-05 1995-04-06 1995-10-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-10-05 1999-04-06 1999-10-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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