The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 21, 2009
Filed:
May. 22, 2004
David A. Feinleib, Kirkland, WA (US);
R. Alan Burnett, Bellevue, WA (US);
Marianne E. Phillips, Kirkland, WA (US);
David A. Feinleib, Kirkland, WA (US);
R. Alan Burnett, Bellevue, WA (US);
Marianne E. Phillips, Kirkland, WA (US);
Other;
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for predicting the availability of hot water for showering and bathing. One or more parameters corresponding to the operation of a water heater are monitored over time. Data corresponding to the monitored parameters are processed to determine a rate at which hot water is being consumed by the shower/bath and/or other hot water consumers. Based on a hot water consumption rate and determination of a current hot water availability condition, a time at which the temperature of hot water supplied by the water heater is projected to fall below a minimum temperature threshold is determined. In one embodiment, the apparatus include a thermal-modeling computer and a control/monitor interface that is disposed in or proximate to a shower. In one embodiment, the thermal-modeling computer is installed at a water heater and data is transmitted between the thermal-modeling computer and the control/monitor interface via a wireless signal. The techniques also can be used to determine whether an adequate supply of hot water exists for a bath prior to drawing the bath.