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The present invention is a water heater that can deliver warm or hot water at a steady temperature. A large capacity water heater can be used for domestic hot water. A small capacity heater can be used with attachments for hygienic uses, such as enemas. It contains a drum-shaped tank, a piston that can slide longitudinally inside the tank, a gas or electric heater and thermostat at each end of the tank, a reverse valve with four pipes, and electric components including a cycle regulator. The piston divides the tank into two chambers. The reverse valve has one inlet pipe for cold water, one outlet pipe for heated water, and a pipe connected with each chamber. The electric parts and cycle regulator control the direction of water flow through the reverse valve and the direction of motion of the piston. One chamber contains heated water while the other chamber contains cold water from the cold inlet. When there is demand for heated water, the cycle regulator causes the piston to decrease the size of the chamber containing heated water. This causes the heated water to leave that chamber through the reverse valve. Concurrently, cold water is entering the chamber that it is increasing in size and upon entering the chamber is being heated. This chamber will contain heated water for the next cycle in which the direction of motion of the piston is reversed. There is no mixing or contact between heated water and cold water so that heated water with a steady temperature can be provided. In its use in an enema device, a hose is used to connect the outlet pipe with an enema attachment containing a handgrip, or anal plug, and a nozzle. Other embodiments use a different reverse valve and a water heater tank in which inlet water is heated only on one side of the piston. |
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