Kohler Company

Isadore Balan

Kenneth J Sieth

John A Fiumefreddo

Mary J Reid

Thomas A Bonnell

Alan D Bengtson

John M Bloemer

Michael J Kurth

Michael D Steinhardt

Weldon R Kuhn

Robert C Giose

A compact combined heater and pump is disclosed. There is a pump housing forming an internal pump chamber, the housing having both an inlet and an outlet and an opening therethrough. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted in the opening and is driven by a motor located outside the chamber. An impeller is mounted on the drive shaft within the housing and a heater is sandwiched in the chamber between the motor and impeller. Rotation of the shaft can draw liquid in from the inlet, past the heater and through the outlet. A cooling fan attached to the shaft for rotation therewith draws cooling air over control circuitry and then forces the air over the motor.

Combined heater and pump

A fluid valve has a housing formed by first and second halves which combine at mating surfaces to form a cavity with an inlet in the first half and an outlet in the second half. The mating surface of each half includes a notch extending between an outer edge of mating surface and the cavity, and includes an annular recess around the cavity. A pad is formed on each mating surface between the cavity and the annular recess, and has a groove that forms a bushing when the first and second units are connected. A butterfly valve member is located within the cavity and is mounted on a valve stem. The valve stem has an end that rides in the bushing and a portion that passes through the notches in the housing halves. An annular seal fits within the recesses to prevent fluid leakage between the two housing halves and also seals around the valve stem portion. In addition the butterfly valve member engages the seal in a closed state of the valve.

Motor operated butterfly valve with a multi-function seal

A whirlpool tub has a first set of nozzles located to direct water against the back of a bather and a second set of nozzles to direct water against the bather's neck. A controller has different modes of operation in which water is emitted by either one or both sets of nozzles. Separate mechanisms are provided to direct a pulse of water sequentially through different nozzles in each set. This action produces a progression of pulsating water jets that create a massaging effect on the bather's skin. A pillow is placed about the second set of nozzles. A sensor is provided to detect when the pillow is removed and disable water flow through the second set of nozzles.

Hydro-massage tub control system

Growing community of inventors

Mequon, WI, United States of America

Isadore Balan