On-cue hot-water circulator

Abstract

The current invention is an on-cue hot-water circulator. This device and method consists of an electronic control module, a manifold containing a check valve and/or a normally closed solenoid valve, a flow switch, and a high-performance pump (not a typical circulation pump), that is also designed or selected for its ability to allow water to pass through it with little or no restriction, when not operating.

1 . A method for having hot water through a plumbing system to a hot water outlet, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a hot water supply line, a water heater, and a plurality of hot water outlets from said hot water supply line;    having a control module connected to a manifold with a valve, a pump and flow switch;    having said pump and said flow switch connect to the water supply line between the line and the water heater in connection for said water heater; and    having said pump move hot water through said hot water line for a set run time with set time intervals.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  including having said control panel having an adjustment means to change said run time and said interval.  
   
   
       3 . The method in  claim 1  including having said control panel having a display means to display said run time and said interval.  
   
   
       4 . The method in  claim 1  including having a hot water return line connected to said hot water line at one end on said manifold with a valve at the other end.  
   
   
       5 . The method in  claim 4  wherein said manifold with a valve is connected to a T-fitting into the water supply line.  
   
   
       6 . The method in  claim 1  including having the hot water line purged through the cold water line.  
   
   
       7 . The method in  claim 6  wherein said manifold with a valve is between the hot water line and the cold water line.  
   
   
       8 . The method in  claim 1  wherein said flow switch determines if there is no flow of hot water, if there is no flow of hot water said control module will adjust the wait time interval.  
   
   
       9 . The Method in  claim 1  including having a user test to water flow to find the optimum run time and interval time.  
   
   
       10 . The Method in  claim 1  including closing said solenoid valve on a delay to prevent a water-hammer effect.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for saving hot water through a plumbing system through a hot water outlet, comprising of: 
 a hot water supply line, a water heater, and a plurality of hot water outlets from said hot water supply line;    a control module connected to a manifold with a valve, a pump and flow switch;    said pump and said flow switch connect to the water supply line between the line and the water heater in connection for said water heater; and    said pump move hot water through said hot water line for a set run time a at set intervals.    
   
   
       12 . An apparatus of  claim 1  including said control panel having an adjustment means to change said run time and said interval.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus in  claim 1  including said control panel having a display means to display said run time and said interval.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus in  claim 1  including a hot water return line connected to said hot water line at one end on said manifold with a valve at the other end.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus in  claim 4  wherein said manifold with a valve is connected to a T fitting into the water supply line.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus in  claim 1  including having the hot water line purged through the cold water line.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus in  claim 6  wherein said manifold with a valve is between the hot water line and the cold water line.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus in  claim 1  wherein said flow switch determines if there is no flow of hot water, if there is no flow of hot water said control module will adjust the wait time interval.  
   
   
       19 . The Method in  claim 1  including the user testing to water flow to find the optimum run time and interval time.  
   
   
       20 . The Method in  claim 1  including said solenoid valve closing on a delay to prevent a water-hammer effect.