WO2011004044A2

WO2011004044A2 - Equipment for recovering wasted potable water in household installations

Info

Publication number: WO2011004044A2
Application number: PCT/ES2010/070460
Authority: WO
Inventors: Candelas Lopez Alarcon
Original assignee: Candelas Lopez Alarcon
Priority date: 2009-07-06
Filing date: 2010-07-05
Publication date: 2011-01-13
Also published as: WO2011004044A3; ES2350783B1; ES2350783A1

Abstract

The invention relates to equipment for recovering wasted potable water in household installations, said equipment consisting of a tank (2) for storing wasted potable water and a system for selecting water according to temperature, installed behind the water heating system (8) of the installation, for guiding the water towards said tank or towards the hot water faucet (14). The storage element (2) has a regulating valve (3), a buoy (4), a service line directly from the network (5), a waste water service line (6) and an overflow outlet (9). The system for selection according to temperature comprises a flow switch (15), a digital thermostatic probe (16A), and valves comprising solenoids (17 and 18), one (17) of said valves being installed in the pipeline taking the hot water to the faucet (14), and the other (18) at the start of the pipeline that guides the water to the tank (2).

Description

EQUIPMENT FOR THE USE OF WATER POTABLE WATER IN DOMESTIC FACILITIES

D E S C R I P C I Ó N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention, as expressed in the statement of the present specification, refers to equipment for the use of wasted drinking water in domestic installations, contributing to the function to which notable advantages and novelty characteristics are destined, which will be recorded in detail later.

More particularly, the object of the invention is focused on the development of equipment that, consisting of a set of elements coupled to the water installation of a dwelling, aims to take advantage of the wasted drinking cold water in said facilities for obtaining of hot water at the demanded temperature, allowing its use to supply appliances that consume drinking water for washing, such as washing machines and dishwashers as well as, additionally, to supply the consumption of the tank of one or more toilets.

FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

The scope of the invention is part of the technical sector of the industry dedicated to the realization of water installations, particularly those of domestic type in private homes, whether floors, terraced houses detached houses or chalets, in new construction or renovations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, water resources, although renewable, are generally limited, constituting a reality of more or less important consequences according to geographical position, which has led, increasingly, to the development of different systems to optimize the use of water. Water.

However, the materialization of the proposals is conditioned by their economic viability in relation to the percentage of savings that can be achieved, which means that in many cases they are not effective. On the other hand, and as a reference to the state of the art, it should be noted that on the part of the applicant, it is unknown the existence of any other invention that, with the aforementioned objective, presents technical, structural or constitutive characteristics similar to those presented by the equipment here recommended, whose essential objective of saving to optimize the use of water is focused on the use of cold drinking water that is wasted waiting for it to reach the temperature demanded by opening a hot water tap and activating the heater.

Thus, the equipment for the use of wasted drinking water in domestic installations that the present invention proposes is configured as a remarkable novelty in its field, since according to its implementation, and in a restrictive way, they are achieved the objectives pursued by it satisfactorily, the characterizing details that make it possible fully developed below and conveniently included in the final claims accompanying the present specification.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

With conventional plumbing installations, obtaining hot water in a sink, shower-baths, washbasins or bidets, generally, forces to "waste" a huge amount of cold water until it appears heated to the demanded temperature, said quantity being much more pronounced in cold periods such as autumn and winter; water that, being potable and clean, we hopelessly pour it into the general sewage network.

To avoid wasting this amount of drinking water and achieve savings in the total consumption of any home of approximately 20-25%, the invention contemplates the installation of a device, which only requires minor modifications to the different hot water circuits installed in the kitchens and bathrooms of the house, with which we recover the fully potable water accumulated in the pipes between the heater system and their respective exits in the different sanitary components that the house has, as well as the water that, in said process does not reaches the indicated temperature when hot water is demanded (hereinafter "wasted water").

These waters instead of being directed to the network General wastewater drainage, are channeled automatically, taking advantage of the network pressure, and therefore without any economic cost, up to a specific storage tank, which can be installed in attics or so that it is embedded between two beams of the bathroom floor or kitchen hidden in the false ceiling or plaster thereof, ideal places for their functions. This tank, which will preferably be transparent, has the mission of supplying water by gravity or with a small pressure pump to washing machines and / or dishwashers, so that these will normally use these wasted drinking water. Likewise, and optionally, we can use this water in other household tasks, such as house cleaning, or irrigation of plants and gardens, among other utilities. In the event of a water shortage in said tank, by the indicated procedures, the incorporation of a buoy inside is contemplated that will be connected to the direct water intake of the network, guaranteeing a certain amount of water for an effective and permanent service, allowing an important space to accommodate wasted water as soon as it is produced.

On the contrary, due to an excess of accumulation, overflow drains allow the direct elimination of excess water in this reservoir; surplus that, optionally, and by means of the corresponding installation, can be sent to a second waste water storage tank, to be used for the supply of the cisterns of the toilets, such as a tank Nodriza as described in patent No. ⁰ P-200101084, owned by the applicant and related to a "Provision for the reuse of domestic wastewater" in which using the electric pump of the indicated patent, we direct this drinking water mixed with the post-washing water from the washing machines to the storage tank of the same patent to supply the toilets cisterns. "Thus, the object of the invention is to prevent, when the user demands hot water from any tap or outlet of the installation, observe that for several seconds what you receive is cold water, which without being able to avoid it is directed to the sewage network until the hot water appears.These wasted waters are those recovered by the equipment proposed in the present invention, to supply the washing machines and dishwashers with potable water.

The system, since it uses potable water, has the advantage, compared to other water use systems, of being designed to cancel at any time the inconvenience of defective drains, tightness, or rotting of accumulated wasted water, and therefore, It completely rules out the possibility of the existence of odors and the development of bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc., preventing the rejection of users and health authorities in similar systems due to unhygienic practices.

For all this, and already specifically, the recommended equipment comprises, on the one hand, an accumulation tank designed to collect and store waste water every time water is demanded warm to the installation, which has the following elements:

- Regulating valve located inside the tank, not flooded by the water stored in it, connected to a threaded float buoy, single seat, to allow the entry of drinking water from the direct network, and replace the one that is not received of wasted water in certain cases.

- Drinking water connection of the direct network in 15 mm copper pipe. connected to the aforementioned valve regulated by the inner buoy, with discharge into the upper-upper part of the tank, above the maximum level of stored water.

Rush of wasted cold drinking water from the different components before they receive from the water heating system the hot water requested by the user.

110 mm registration cover. in diameter, threaded on the welded male in the upper part of the tank, allowing manual access to it, to replace the valve and inner buoy, also facilitating its absolute cleaning in exceptional cases.

- Upper overflow drain, solved with polyethylene pipe, draining, in a nurse tank, such as the one described in the aforementioned patent P-200101084, which using the electric pump described in it, we direct this drinking water mixed with the water post-washing of the washing machines to the storage tank of the same patent to supply the toilets cisterns. " Conduction of water from the gravity tank or pressure pump, destined to the washing machine and the dishwasher, channeled by 25 mm polyethylene pipe -P-32-. and security keys.

On the other hand, the recommended equipment has a temperature water selector system that is what allows the wasted water to be taken to the accumulation tank or, when it has reached the demanded temperature, to the corresponding tap in which said water has been demanded, being formed by another set of elements, essentially comprising the following: - FLOW SWITCH: whose mission is to detect the change in flow in the pipe caused by the opening or closing of the tap in demand of hot water. It will be in charge, therefore, of ordering the beginning and end of the process, which will be determined respectively by the opening and closing of the aforementioned tap.

DIGITAL THERMOSTAT: whose task will be to measure the temperature of the water coming from any system that is used to heat sanitary water destined to cover the needs of the users of any type of housing. With the authorization of the flow switch, and after selecting a certain temperature, it will transmit an order to the solenoid valve (valve with solenoid), which will depend on whether the instantaneous temperature of the water in the pipe is lower or higher than indicated , to proceed to the opening or closing of the corresponding valve for the exit of the water through the tap or so that it is derived to another pipe. - VALVES WITH SOLENOID, the task of which will be to facilitate the passage of water or obstruct it depending on the order received jointly by the flow switch and the thermostat. The equipment will be equipped with at least two valves with solenoid, one that will have the initial position open and the other whose initial position will be closed. The first one will be installed in the pipe that gives hot water access to the demanding tap and the second one will be located at the beginning of the pipe that will derive the water that has not reached the selected temperature as it passes through the thermostat to the storage tank , to be destined to the use of the utilities or own applications of the house. Once the process is finished and these valves cease to be electrically powered, it will return to its initial position.

- HOUSING HOUSING OF THE ASSEMBLY: The Set will be protected in a PVC box with access to the outside, embedded in the wall or screwed to it by means of the corresponding catches, and whose front will be grid to ventilate the solenoids of the valves thus avoiding their overheating and therefore the defective opening of the valves. All the connections between the copper pipe with the components of said assembly will be by means of flexible connections of dimensions to be determined.

- NOTICE SYSTEM OF INDICATION OF THE PROCESS OF DRINKING WATER WATER: In order to avoid leaving the tap open by mistake, after not flowing the water through it to not reach the selected temperature, we will provide the set with an acoustic signal and / or bright (with LED technology), indicated that the assembly is in operation. These signals would be activated when the valve that gives way to water that does not have the desired temperature as it passes through the thermostat and which is diverted to the tank, and cease it at the moment that said valve closes. The described equipment for the use of wasted drinking water in domestic installations represents, therefore, an innovative structure of structural and constitutive characteristics unknown until now for this purpose, reasons that together with its practical utility, provide it with sufficient foundation to obtain the privilege of exclusivity requested.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, this descriptive report is attached, as an integral part thereof, of a set of drawings, in which with character Illustrative and non-limiting, the following has been represented: Figure number 1.- It shows a schematic representation of the set of elements that make up the equipment for the use of wasted drinking water in domestic facilities object of the invention, showing the disposition of the themselves in the water installation of a house to which it is intended.

Figure number 2.- Shows in greater detail, a schematic sectional view of the accumulation tank and the different elements coupled thereto. Figure number 3.- Shows a schematic representation of the elements that make up the water selection system by temperature.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the numbering adopted, an example of a preferred embodiment of the invention can be observed therein, which comprises the parts and elements indicated and described in detail below.

Thus, as can be seen in these figures, the recommended equipment (1) comprises, on the one hand, a waste water accumulation tank (2) every time hot water is demanded from the installation, which has the following elements :

Regulating valve (3) located inside the tank, not flooded by the water stored in it, connected to a single-seat threaded float (4) to allow the entry of drinking water from the direct network, and supply that which is not received from wasted water in certain cases.

- Drinking water supply from the direct network (5) connected to the aforementioned regulating valve (3), with discharge into the upper-upper part of the tank (2), above the maximum level of the stored water.

Rushing of wasted cold drinking water (6) from the temperature selector water system, connected to the different components before they receive from the water heating system (7) the hot water requested by the user. - Registration cover (8), threaded in the upper part of the tank (2), allowing manual access to it, to replace the regulating valve (3) and the inner buoy (4), also facilitating its absolute cleaning in exceptional cases .

- Overflow drain (9) upper, solved, for example, with polyethylene pipe. Drain that, optionally, can be connected to a second tank for use in the cisterns of toilets, such as the nurse tank described in P-200101084, which makes use of an electric pump directs this drinking water mixed with the post-wash water from washing machines to a storage tank to supply toilets cisterns.

- And conduction of water to service (10), preferably by gravity or pressure pump, destined to the washing machine (11) and / or dishwasher (12), channeled by polyethylene pipe and corresponding safety keys, and can also , have another outlet (13) for use for different uses, such as irrigation, mopping floors, etc.

At the same time, the equipment incorporates a temperature-selectable water system that allows the waste water to be automatically transported to the accumulation tank (2) or to the tap (14) in which the hot water has been demanded, to which said selector system has:

- A flow switch (15) to detect the change of flow in the pipe caused by the opening or closing of the tap (14) in demand of hot water, being in charge of ordering the start and the end of the process, determined respectively by the opening and closing of said tap (14 ).

A thermostat (16), preferably digital, whose task will be to measure the temperature of the water coming from the water heating system (7), which can be constituted by any conventional sanitary water system. With the authorization of the flow switch (15), and after selecting a certain temperature, it will transmit an order to the solenoid valve, which will depend on whether the instantaneous temperature of the water in the pipe is lower or higher than the one indicated, to that the corresponding valve is opened or closed for the water to flow out of the tap (14) or for it to drift into another pipe.

- Two valves with solenoid (17 and 18), to allow the passage of water or obstruct it depending on the order received jointly by the flow switch (15) and the thermostat (16). The equipment will be equipped with at least two valves with solenoid, one that will have the initial position open and the other whose initial position will be closed.

Of these valves with solenoid, the first valve (17) will be installed in the pipe that gives hot water access to the demanding tap (14), whose initial position will be opened, while the second valve (18) will be located at the beginning of the pipe that will derive the water that has not reached the selected temperature as it passes through the thermostat probe (16A) to the accumulation tank (2), this second valve (18) having a closed initial position. Once the process is finished and these valves cease to be electrically powered, they will return to their initial position.

In addition, the described set of elements that make up the temperature water selector system will be housed and protected inside a PVC box (19) with access to the outside, which will be conveniently embedded in the wall or screwed to it. by means of the corresponding catches, and whose front will be of grid to ventilate the solenoids of the valves thus avoiding overheating of the valves and therefore the defective opening of the valves, existing outside it, and conveniently connected to the thermostat probe (16A) , a temperature display and programmer of said thermostat (16B). Additionally, the described temperature water selector system that incorporates the recommended equipment has an operating warning system, formed by an acoustic and / or other light signal (with LED technology) (not shown), for example, for avoid leaving the tap open by mistake, after the water does not flow through it when the selected temperature is not reached, indicating that the assembly is in operation. Said warning system will be activated when the second valve (18) is opened with solenoid, which is the one that gives way to the water that does not have the desired temperature as it passes through the thermostat probe (16A) and that is diverted to the tank ( 2), and cease it at the time that said valve is closed. In summary, then, the equipment for the use of wasted drinking water in domestic facilities proposed by the invention, being applicable to take advantage of wasted drinking water in obtaining hot water at the temperature demanded of a water heating system

(7) conventional, allowing its reuse to supply appliances that consume water for washing, such as washing machines and dishwashers, or for other uses, comprises, at least one tank (2) for accumulation of wasted drinking water that is connected, on the one hand to a temperature water selector system capable of automatically driving waste water to said accumulation tank (2) or to the tap (14) in which the hot water has been demanded, said selector system being installed after the system water heater

(7) of the installation, and on the other hand, said deposit

(2) is connected to a water line for service (10), to the washing machine (11) and / or dishwasher

(12), or other output (13).

Describing sufficiently the nature of the present invention, as well as the way of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to extend its explanation so that any expert in the field understands its scope and the advantages that derive from it, stating that, within its essentiality, it may be implemented in other embodiments that differ in detail from that indicated by way of example, and to which it will also achieve the protection that is sought provided that it is not altered, changed or modified its fundamental principle .

Claims

1.- EQUIPMENT FOR THE USE OF WATER DRINK WASTE IN DOMESTIC FACILITIES, applicable to take advantage of wasted drinking water to obtain hot water at the required temperature to a conventional water heater system (7), allowing its use to supply appliances that they consume water for washing, such as washing machines and dishwashers, or for other uses, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one waste water storage tank (2) that is connected, on the one hand, to a water selector system by temperature suitable for automatically driving waste water to said accumulation tank (2) or to the tap (14) in which hot water has been demanded, said selector system being installed behind the water heating system (7) of the installation, and on the other hand, said tank (2) is connected to a water line for service (10), to the washing machine (11) and / or dishwasher (12), or other outlet (13).

2.- EQUIPMENT FOR THE USE OF WATER

POTABLE WASTE IN DOMESTIC FACILITIES, according to claim 1, characterized in that the tank (2) has a regulating valve (3) connected to a float buoy (4), to allow the entry of drinking water from the direct network ; drinking water supply from the direct network (5) connected to said regulating valve (3); rush of wasted cold drinking water (6) from the temperature selector water system; and overflow drain (9) upper.

3.- EQUIPMENT FOR THE USE OF WATER DRINK WASTE IN DOMESTIC FACILITIES, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized by the fact that the tank (2) also has a registration cover (8), threaded in the part upper tank (2), allowing manual access to it.

4. EQUIPMENT FOR THE USE OF WATER DRINK WASTE IN DOMESTIC FACILITIES, according to claim 1, characterized in that the overflow drain (9) of the tank (2), optionally, is connected to a second tank for use in the cisterns of the toilets.

5. EQUIPMENT FOR THE USE OF WATER DRINK WASTE IN DOMESTIC FACILITIES, according to claim 1, characterized in that the temperature selector water system comprises a flow switch (15) to detect the change of flow in the pipe caused by the opening or closing of the tap (14) in demand of hot water; a thermostat probe (16A), preferably digital, with temperature display and programmer (16B) to measure the temperature of the water from the water heater system (7); two valves with solenoid (17 and 18), to allow the passage of water or obstruct it, the first valve (17) installed in the pipe that gives hot water access to the demanding tap (14), with open position, and the second valve (18) located at the beginning of the pipe that draws water to the accumulation tank (2), with the initial position closed.

6.- EQUIPMENT FOR THE USE OF WATER

POTABLE WASTE IN DOMESTIC FACILITIES, according to claim 1 and 5, characterized in that the temperature water selector system is housed and protected inside a PVC box (19) with access to the outside, embedded in the wall or screwed to it by means of the corresponding catches, and whose front is of grid to ventilate the solenoids of the valves.

7.- EQUIPMENT FOR THE USE OF WATER

POTABLE WASTE IN DOMESTIC FACILITIES, according to claim 1, 5 and 6, characterized in that the temperature selector water system, additionally, has an operating warning system, formed by an acoustic signal and / or another luminous (with LED technology) that is activated when the second valve (18) is opened with solenoid.