US3023423A - Closet water tempering means - Google Patents

Description

March 6, 1962 R. F. JONES CLOSET WATER TEMPERING MEANS Filed March 29, 1961 Fig.3

Cold Water 1 N VEN TOR E) Attorney:

m J r U m a R Stts The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in simple, practical and economical means, entirely mechanical, which is designed and adapted to deliver tempered water toa water closet flush-tank.

Persons conversant with the state of the art to which the instant invention relates are aware that condensation of moisture on the exterior of a flush tank is highly objectionable in that it promotes the dripping of moisture from the exterior of the tank, wets the floor in proximity to the hopper or bowl and often promotes dampness in ones bathroom. Speaking generally the condition briefly covered is commonly referred to as a flush tank sweating. Manifestly, the problem posed is old and well known, and many and varied solutions, some quiteacceptable, have been offered by inventors seeking to advance the art in this line of endeavor.

An obvious objective in the instant presentation is to undertake a different approach through the medium of a highly simplified structural adaptation which, it is believed, produces a new and useful result of greater efliciency. Briefly, the instant concept has to do with a sweat tank which is generally remote in relation to the flush tank and which is of a construction and a capacity that it conditions the flow of water to the flush tank in a manner to temper the water to room temperature, thus minimizing he likelihood of the flush tank sweating and undesirably dripping water.

More particularly the concept necessitates the adoption and use of a simple sheet material sweat tank. This tank is over feet in height and perhaps of a cross-sectional diameter of about one foot or so. It is supported on a simple stand in ones cellar or other convenient space. It constitutes a water storing and tempering tank. A cold water supply delivery line is communicatively connected to the sweat tank and, in addition, a tempered water conducting line is provided between the sweat tank and the flush tank. The water stored in the sweat tank is gradually subjected to conditioned air in the cellar of other room space. The excess sweat or moisture drains from the exterior of the sweat tank and preferably into a drip pan from which it is carried ofl to a suitable drain or other place of deposit.

More specifically novelty is predicated on a vertically elongated sweat tank of the type generally referred to above characterized by a base or stand, a drip tray or pan on the stand and an upstanding corrugated tank sup ported from the stand above the receptacle portion of the pan. The pan is provided with a drainage pipe which may be suitably connected with a floor drain to a sanitary sewer. The piping providing the aforementioned circulating lines will vary.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference. being bad to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view showing a water closet or toilet flush tank and the improved anti-condensation means piped thereto with the sweat tank appearing in perspective;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale taken on the plane of the line 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a modification with the base or stand removed and the tent 3,llZ3,4Z3 Patented Mar. 6, 1962 tank resting at its bottom on a floor.

In FIGURE 1 the hopper or bowl is denoted at 4 and the flush tank at 6. These two units, generally speaking, may be referred to as conventional in construction. Indeed, it is the conventional flush tank which has long since been recognized as prone to sweating and undesirable moisture dripping particularly in the summertime. The invention comprises a vertically elongated sheet material sweat tank 8. Any properly endorsed non-corrodible metal may be used in constructing this tank. An experimental model has shown that galvanized steel is a. satisfactory metal. The preferred tank should be about 66 inches in height and 12 inches in cross-sectional diameter. This tank is preferably corrugated and provides longitudinal or vertical V-shaped ribs 10 and intervening V- shaped grooves or channels 12. The delivery end of a city water supply pipe 16 is connected communicatively with the tank adjacent to the bottom 18. The numeral 20 designates the tempered Water delivery line which may be of a suitable construction as suggested in FIG. 1, one end 22 thereof being connected communicatively with the tank top 24 and the other end portion 26 being communicatively and operatively joined with the bottom of the flush tank 6. On the assumption that the sweat tank 8 will more likely than not be erected or installed in ones basement it is provided with a suitable stand 28 embodying an appropriate base 30 and a short standard 32 attached to and rising from the base and passing through a central hole in the bottom 32 of a suitable drip pan or tray 34 where it is connected, as at 36,'to the central bottom of the tank. It will be noted in FIG. 2 that the diameter of the drip tray or pan is larger than the outside diameter of the sweat tank in order to satisfactorily trap the moisture which may have accumulated on the tank surfaces. The pan is also provided with a discharge orifice 33 to which a depending disposal pipe 4% is comrnunicatively connected. This pipe 40 may lead to a basement or drain or may be suitably piped into an out-of-doors drain (not shown) in any suitable manner.

The purpose and result of this sweat tank (whether metal, plastic material or the like) is to temper the Water to room temperature before using the water in a water closet in warm weather. This result is accomplished by storing the water in the tank 8 and using the natural warm air in the room (basement) to temper the water. The excess sweat-moisture is drained from the exterior surfaces of the sweat tank to the basement floor drain or to the sanitary soil waste pipe and results in eliminating any sweat moisture on the floor around the bathroom flush tank 6.

With reference now to FIGURE 3 it will be evident that this illustration reveals the fact that it is within the purview of the concept to omit, if desired, the supporting base or stand which is disclosed in FIGURE 1. This would mean constructing the bottom of the tank so that it could, if desired, be flat or of such form that would adapt it to rest on a concrete floor near a floor drain (not shown). Under these circumstances the installation step would be simplified and, in fact, the user would save valuable time and money.

Briefly summarized the invention (considering both FIGURES 1 and 3) involves a construction which is the utmost in simplicity, is wholly free of moving mechanical parts that might give trouble and involve an expenditure of time with a view toward maintaining a satisfactory life for the tank. Further, this invention in practical use necessitates no heating means, requires the use of no hot water, does not have to be turned on and ofi according to seasons and locations. It does not have to restrict water pressure. There is no additional expense concrete or an equivalent after installation such as most frequently comes about in appliances where repair service is often necessary. Then, too, it is within the scope of the concept to actually hook up several water closets on various floors to a single tank installed in the cellar or wherever the installation would be most practical. Finally, this is a type of invention which lends itself to accomplishing the above results and is ready for installation in old houses as well as new houses.

It is believed that careful consideration of the description in conjunction with the views of the drawing and claims will enable the reader to understand the invention and the attending features and advantages. Under the circumstances a more extended description is believed to be unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of component parts may be resorted to in actual practice without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a conventional-type water closet flush-tank, a single wholly closed fully exposed water storing and tempering sweat tank, a cold water supply and delivering line communicatively connected to the bottom portion of said sweat tank, and a tempered Water conducting line between and communicatively connecting the top of said sweat tank with said flush tank, said sweat tank being of substantial height and cross-section and capacity greater than the capacity of the flush-tank and being made of relatively thin non-corrodible sheet material and being of corrugated construction.

2. In combination, a conventional-type water closet flush-tank, a single water storing and tempering sweat tank, said sweat tank being isolated from the flush tank,

closed at its ends, and being of a capacity appreciably 35 greater than the capacity of the flush tank, a cold water supply and delivering line eommunicatively connected to a lower portion of said sweat tank, and a tempered water conducting line between and communicatively connecting the sweat tank with said flush tank, said sweat tank being vertically elongated, corrugated and supported at its bottom on an elevating stand, said stand having a drip pan underlying the bottom of the sweat tank and of a diameter greater than the cross-sectional diameter of said sweat tank.

3. For use in conjunction with a commonly used water closet flush-tank, means for supplying suitably tempered water to the flush-tank comprising, in combination, a floor stand having a drip pan provided with means for draining the receptacle portion of the pan, a fully closed water storing and tempering tank vertically elongated and having its bottom supported from said stand in alignment with the pan, said tank being made of thin but sturdy noncorrodible sheet material, said drip pan being of a diameter greater than the cross-section of that portion of the tank directly above it and being spaced below the bottom of the tank, a pressurized water supply inlet pipe communicatively connected with one side of the tank at a point just above the bottom of the tank, and a tempered water discharge pipe connected to the top of said tank and adapted to conduct the tempered water to the aforementioned fiush tank, said tank being vertically corrugated, about five feet in height and approximately onefoot in diameter to ensure storage of the gallonage needed for adequate performance.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 431,023 Egan June 24, 1890 916,967 Baker Apr. 6, 1909 2,520,346 Swenson Aug. 29, 1950

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