A descaling arrangement

Abstract

A boiler descaling pod and a method of using the same. The pod comprises a primary chamber in which descaling solution can be stored and the chamber has an inlet and an outlet. The descaling pod is provided with a connection mechanism for attachment to an in-line connector of a boiler conduit.

Description

[0001] A Descaling Arrangement

[0002] Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a descaling arrangement for a hot water boiler, and particularly to an “under-sink” hot water boiler for an instant hot water tap.

[0004] Background to the Invention

[0005] In recent years, instant hot water taps, or instant boiling water taps, have become more popular. These systems are often fitted in domestic settings and use a small boiler unit to heat a set amount of water and keep it at the desired temperature for instant dispensing through a tap. The boiler unit is often stored under the sink associated with the tap to which the boiler is connected, and so it is often referred to as an “under-sink boiler”. The boiler unit is normally connected to a mains water feed, which can lead to the build up of calcium carbonate, or limescale, within the boiler unit. This is a particular problem in areas with “hard water”, which is water with a relatively high mineral content.

[0006] One step to reduce the build up of limescale is to include a water filter in the mains water feed line. The filter is in the form of a replaceable cartridge that is releasably attached to an in-line connector, through which the water from the mains feed passes in order to reach the boiler unit. The water passes into, and around, the filter in order to remove some of the calcium carbonate and other minerals from the water supply; however, this only reduces the amount and rate of limescale deposit within the boiler unit, it does not prevent it. Therefore, periodically, the boiler unit requires the removal of the limescale deposits, which is known as “descaling”. The filter cartridge requires replacing every six-months or so, depending upon the water hardness.

[0007] For under-sink boilers, the current method of descaling the unit efficiently is complicated and time-consuming. First, the water supply to the boiler unit is disconnected and the water within the boiler tank is drained therefrom. The boiler is then completely removed from the tap and mains supply and the remaining water is poured out of the boiler. The boiler is then placed onto a surface and descaling solution is poured into the boiler tank. The boiler is then reconnected to the mains supply and to the tap and it is filled with cold water. Once filled, the water in the tank of the boiler is heated to around 80°C to enable the descaling solution to dissolve the limescale. Subsequently, twenty litres of water are flushed through the tank to ensure that the descaler solution is cleared. In a boiler with a high level of limescale, the descaling operation may be required a second time.

[0008] This process can be messy due to the need to completely remove the boiler from the mains supply and the tap, and it can take a long time to remove and reattached the boiler unit. Additionally, the only way to know if the descaling solution has been removed from the system is to taste the water once the process has been completed. If descaling solution is present in the water, the flushing process might be required again.

[0009] The present invention seeks to reduce the complicated way in which the descaling process is undertaken.

[0010] Summary of the Invention

[0011] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a boiler descaling pod, wherein the pod comprises a primary chamber in which descaling solution can be stored, the chamber having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the descaling pod is provided with a connection mechanism for attachment to an in-line connector of a boiler conduit. Thus, the present invention provides a pod for use in descaling a boiler unit, in which the pod has a chamber in which descaling solution is provided, and a connection mechanism. The connection mechanism allows the descaling pod to be connected into an ‘in-line’ connector, which is intended to receive the in-line filter. As a result, the descaling solution can be provided to the boiler unit without the need to detach the boiler from the mains inlet feed and the tap. The tap can then be operated to draw water through the descaling pod and into the boiler unit. Once the descaling liquid is in the boiler tank, the descaling process can be run, and, once complete, the descaling liquid can be drained from the boiler tank. The connection mechanism allows the pod to be releasably connected to the in-line connector.

[0012] The inlet and outlet of the descaling pod allow water to pass through the pod, via the chamber, so that descaling liquid within the chamber is taken into the flow of water entering the boiler unit. As will be understood, the inlet of the descaling pod can connect to the water feed of the in-line connector, and the outlet of the descaling pod can connect to a water feed into a boiler unit. Thus, the pod is connected into the flow of water from the water feed and into the boiler unit.

[0013] The descaling liquid may be coloured, so that any residual descaling liquid is readily identifiable in the water dispensed from the tap to which the boiler unit is connected. This can allow a user to note when the liquid is in the boiler unit and when it has been flushed through.

[0014] In a preferred arrangement, the connection mechanism of the pod is a bayonet fitting and / or a threaded section. The in-line connector will often have a threaded connector in order to receive the filter cartridge and so providing a threaded section will allow the descaling pod to connect to the in-line connector. That said, in some circumstances, it may be useful to provide a different connection mechanism, such as a bayonet or other style of connector. The use of these types of connection mechanisms can allow for the pod to be readily released from the in-line connector without the need for tools. Thus, it can be quickly and easily removed by hand where such a connection mechanism is employed. In one arrangement, the pod is provided with a seal element adjacent the connection mechanism to reduce the risk of water egress when connected to the in-line connector. The seal, preferably an elastomeric O-ring, is compressed during the fitting of the pod into the in-line connector, thereby reduce the risk of water leaking therefrom.

[0015] It is advantageous that the descaling pod is provided with a visual indicator to indicate the amount of descaling solution within the descaling pod. The visual indicator may be a translucent or transparent section on the side of the pod, so that the liquid level within the pod can be monitored. This is particularly useful where the pod can be refilled with descaling liquid to allow a single pod to be used multiple times. Additionally, the pod can be provided with a quantitative scale to show the amount of liquid within the pod. This may be particularly advantageous when filling the pod with an amount descaling solution appropriate for the water hardness and / or for the time elapsed since the boiler was previously descaled. The visual indicator may include a float element that indicates the level of the liquid within the pod.

[0016] In one arrangement, the descaling pod may be provided with a second chamber. The second chamber can be used to supply a further fluid to the boiler unit. The second chamber may be connected to the primary chamber in series or in parallel, depending upon the requirements. Depending on the connection arrangement between the two chambers and the inlet and outlet of the pod, the apertures through which the chambers are in communication with the outlet may be of different diameters or widths to adjust the flow of liquid from the respective chambers. It is envisaged that liquid may be drawn from one or both chambers using Venturi flow.

[0017] One chamber may be provided with a coloured liquid, which is dispensed from that chamber once the liquid from the other chamber has been dispensed. This can serve as an indicator that the descaling liquid has been flushed from the pod. In one arrangement, the user can release the second liquid manually, so that when the descaling process has been undertaken, flushing of the system using the coloured liquid ensures that the descaling liquid has been removed from the boiler and tap arrangement. The pod may comprise a one-way valve to reduce the risk of back-flow into the pod from the boiler unit.

[0018] In the present invention, the pod does not require a power source and the flow of water through the pod, via the in-line connector, can be sufficient to draw the contents of the pod into the boiler unit.

[0019] The present invention extends to a descaling system for a boiler, the system comprising: a boiler having a water inlet conduit, a heating chamber and a water outlet conduit, wherein the water inlet conduit is provided with an in-line connector; and a boiler descaling pod, as described herein, with the pod being releasably connected to the in-line connector.

[0020] Thus, the invention includes a descaling system having a boiler and a descaling pod as set out herein. The system significantly reduces the time and mess involved with descaling such a boiler using current arrangements.

[0021] The present invention further extends to a method of operating a descaling system as set out herein, the method comprising the steps of: connecting a descaling pod to the in-line connector; and operating the boiler to allow liquid to flow through the inlet conduit, through the in-line connector and into the boiler heating chamber.

[0022] In the present method, a user connects a pod to the in-line feed of a boiler unit and then draws liquid into the boiler tank by operating the tap; operating the tap will operate the boiler by drawing water through the boiler tank and out of the tap. By drawing liquid through the tap and into the boiler tank, the descaling liquid can be drawn from the pod and into the tank.

[0023] Preferably, an indicator is used to inform a user that the descaling process is ready to commence, wherein the indicator is at least one of the following steps: dispensing liquid from the water outlet conduit of the boiler for at least a predetermined length of time; noting an indicator on the descaling pod; dispensing liquid from the water outlet conduit of the boiler until coloured solution passes through the outlet conduit of the boiler; and measuring a predetermined volume of liquid dispensed from the outlet conduit of the boiler.

[0024] In order to ensure that the descaling solution is in the boiler tank and ready to be used, it is useful that the method includes a way to indicate that sufficient descaling liquid has left the pod and entered into the tank. Therefore, one or more of the above options may be used.

[0025] Where the descaling liquid is coloured, when coloured liquid is dispensed from the tap, the descaling liquid must be passing through the boiler unit, because the pod is on one side of the boiler and the tap on the other side of the boiler. Thus, at least some of the descaling liquid will be within the boiler tank.

[0026] Monitoring a predetermined amount of water dispensed from the tap will provide an indication as to when the boiler is empty. For example, by dispensing two-and-a-half litres of water from a tank of the same capacity will indicate that the boiler tank has been drained of sufficient water to pull the descaling liquid into the boiler tank. Similarly, knowing the flow rate of the tap, the volume required to empty the boiler tank can be calculated, although it will be appreciated that the flow rate may be reduced due to limescale within the system.

[0027] By observing the amount of descaling solution dispensed from the pod into the tank will also provide an indication of when sufficient descaling product is in the boiler tank.

[0028] Once the descaling liquid is in the boiler tank, the process can take around 30 minutes to properly descale the tank, after which the system can be flushed with water for a predetermined time by operating the boiler. Once the descaling process has been completed, the pod can be disconnected from the inline connector and a filter attached to the in-line connector. This may occur either before flushing the tank through or afterwards.

[0029] Advantageously, the boiler is operated to heat the descaling solution contained within the boiler heating chamber for a predetermined period of time. Whilst the descaling solution may work without the application of heat, it is advantageous to heat most descaling liquids in-situ to get a more effective result in a short time.

[0030] It is preferable that the descaling pod connects to the in-line connector in the same manner as a water filter. In such an embodiment, a filter cartridge can be removed from the inline connector and a descaling pod inserted in its place. Similarly, when the descaling solution is removed from the pod, a filter can, again, be placed into the in-line connector.

[0031] In one arrangement, a first in-line connector can be used for a filter cartridge, and a second in-line connector can be provided for a descaling pod.

[0032] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0033] An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0034] Figure 1 is a diagram showing a descaling pod in accordance with the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 is a diagram of a system with which the descaling pod of Figure 1 can be used; and

[0036] Figures 3 to 6 show the switching of the filter and the descaling pod.

[0037] Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments

[0038] Figures 1 to 6 show a descaling pod 10, which comprises a main chamber section 12, a connection section 14 and an inlet / outlet section 16. The main chamber section 12 contains descaler liquid and the connection section 14 is provided with a male part of a bayonet fitting. Figure 2 shows a tap and boiler system 20, comprising a tap 22, a boiler unit 24 and a filter 26. The tap 22 is provided with a cold-water feed 28 and a hot water feed 30 and the tap has a spout 32 a mixer handle 34 and a boiling water handle 36.

[0039] A cold-water feed 38 connects from the tap 22 to the boiler 24 via an in-line connector 40, with a first section 38a being arranged before the in-line connector 40, and a second section 38b being arranged after the in-line connector 40. The boiler 24 has an inlet 42 and an outlet 44, with the outlet 44 passing back to the tap 22 through conduit 46. Thus, water from the boiler 24 can be drawn into the tap 22 upon operation of the boiling water handle 36. In operating the boiling water handle 36, cold water is drawn from the boiler unit 24 and the water drawn from the boiler 24 is replaced with water drawn through the cold-water feed 38. As the water is supplied to the boiler unit 24 via the cold-water feed 38, it passes through the in-line connector 40. In normal operation a filter cartridge 26 is connected into the in-line connector 40. Thus, water passing to the in-line connector 40 is fed through the filter cartridge 26 in order to remove minerals from the water supply before the water enters into the boiler 24 through the inlet 42.

[0040] To descale the tap and boiler system 20, the filter cartridge 26 is removed from the in-line connector 40 and a descaling pod 10 is inserted into the in-line connector 40, as shown in more detail in figures 3 to 6. For clarity, the in-line connector 40 is shown in these figures without the cold-water feed 38a / 38b. The filter cartridge 26 has a main body 26a and a top section 26b, with the top section 26b being provided with a bayonet connection that engages with a corresponding portion within the in-line connector 40. Thus, to remove the filter cartridge 26, the cartridge 26 is rotated in order to disengage the bayonet connection and the cartridge 26 is then withdrawn from the in-line connector 40.

[0041] The connection section 14 of the descaling pod 10 is placed inside the in-line connector 40 and is rotated to engage the bayonet fitting of the pod 10 with the in-line connector 40. At this stage, the incoming water feed 38a is in fluid communication with the out-going water feed 38b via the chamber 12 of the descaling pod 10. Thus, as water flows through the water feed 38 and into the boiler 24, it will draw the descaling fluid from the chamber 12 of the descaling pod 10. In this particular arrangement, the descaling solution contained in the descaling pod 10 is coloured.

[0042] In order to descale the boiler unit 24, the boiling water tap 36 is operated to draw water from the boiler tank through the tap 22. When the water dispense from the tap 22 changes colour, this indicates that the descaling solution has passed into, and is contained within, the boiler unit 24. Once the descaler solution is in the tank of the boiler 24, the boiler unit 24 can be used to heat the solution for a predetermined period, such as thirty minutes.

[0043] Once the descaling solution has been held in the boiler 24 for the required amount of time, the descaling pod 10 can be removed from the in-line feed 40 and replaced with a filter cartridge 26. Once the filter cartridge 26 is in place in the in-line feed 40, fresh water can be drawn through the boiler 24 and through the tap 22 by operating the boiling water handle 36 on the tap. As the descaling liquid is coloured, when the water flowing from the tap 22 runs clear, there is an indication that the boiler 24 has no more descaling solution therein. The tap 22 is ready to be operated in the normal operational manner once more.

[0044] It may be advantageous to run the tap 22 until the water turns clear again and then for a further period to ensure that the system is completely flushed of the descaling solution.

[0045] The descaling pod may be single use or a reuseable unit. In the case of the latter, there pod may be provided with a first connector for attaching the pod to the in-line connector, and a second connection, which may be a thread, bayonet, push-fit or other mechanism, that allows the user to access the chamber in the pod, so that descaling liquid can be added thereto. Additionally, or alternatively, the chamber may be accessed by way of a sealable aperture. In one arrangement, one of the connectors may be a bayonet fitting, possibly to marry the in-line connector, and the other may be a threaded section.

[0046] It will be appreciated that whilst descaling liquid has been described, the descaling product may be in the form of a solid or a power. Therefore, where “liquid” is used, the term is intended to cover a solid or power that mixes with water to form a liquid or a solution that is used for descaling. In one situation, the pod may be opened and a tablet of descaler inserted, with the pod being filled with water, thereby dissolving the tablet.

[0047] The in-line connector may be adapted to allow water to pass therethrough when no descaling pod is connected thereto, with the flow being directed through the descaling pod when it is connected to the in-line connector.

Claims

Claims1. A boiler descaling pod, wherein the pod comprises a primary chamber in which descaling solution can be stored, the chamber having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the descaling pod is provided with a connection mechanism for attachment to an in-line connector of a boiler conduit, wherein the descaling pod is releasably connectable to the in-line connector via the connection mechanism.

2. A boiler descaling pod according to claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism of the pod is a bayonet fitting and / or a threaded section.

3. A boiler descaling pod according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pod is provided with a seal element adjacent the connection mechanism to reduce the risk of water egress when connected to the in-line connector.

4. A boiler descaling pod according to any preceding claim, wherein the descaling pod is provided with a visual indicator to indicate the amount of descaling solution within the descaling pod.

5. A boiler descaling pod according to any preceding claim, wherein the descaling pod is provided with a second chamber in which coloured solution is stored.

6. A descaling system for a boiler, the system comprising: a boiler having a water inlet conduit, a heating chamber and a water outlet conduit, wherein the water inlet conduit is provided with an in-line connector; wherein a boiler descaling pod according to any preceding claim is releasably connected to the in-line connector.

7. A method of operating a descaling system according to claim 6, the method comprising the steps of: connecting a descaling pod according to any one of claims 1 to 5 to the inline connector; andoperating the boiler to allow liquid to flow through the inlet conduit, through the in-line connector and into the boiler heating chamber.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein an indicator is used to inform a user that the descaling process is ready to commence, wherein the indicator is at least one of the following steps: dispensing liquid from the water outlet conduit of the boiler for at least a predetermined length of time; noting an indicator on the descaling pod; dispensing liquid from the water outlet conduit of the boiler until coloured solution passes through the outlet conduit of the boiler; and measuring a predetermined volume of liquid dispensed from the outlet conduit of the boiler.

9. A method according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the boiler is operated to heat the descaling solution contained within the boiler heating chamber for a predetermined period of time.

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