AU2004100811A4

AU2004100811A4 - Shower water saving device

Info

Publication number: AU2004100811A4
Application number: AU2004100811A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Don Dwyer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-02
Filing date: 2004-09-27
Publication date: 2004-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2012-09-27
Also published as: AU2004100811B4

Description

EDITORIAL NOTE There are 9 pages of description including the cover page.

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT SHOWER WATER SAVING DEVICE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it by me: SHOWER WATER SAVING DEVICE SBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SWater shortages, whether caused by drought or increased water usage, are common in many ricountries. The need for devices which reduce water and energy consumption is manifest.

SThere have been numerous proposed constructions of shower water saving devices designed to 00 o restrict the amount of water used in showers. These devices are commonly referred to as 'flow regulators' and reduce and concentrate the flow of water through the shower rose per unit of time.

o) A principal disadvantage of these devices is that they do not restrict the overall time each user Ni spends in the shower. Another disadvantage of these devices is that they do not allow ani adequate flow of water for the user to enjoy a satisfying shower. This invention is designed to provide a more user-friendly way of restricting water usage in the shower. It primarily restricts the amount of time the user can spend in the shower without restricting the natural flow of the water. However, it can be used in conjunction with 'flow regulators'.

Given the prevalent need for water restrictions in many countries, the device will assist: (i) governments to ensure that water restrictions are complied with; and (ii) residential home owners and occupants to comply with government imposed water restrictions.

The invention will benefit residential home users, especially parents who become aggrieved by the amount of time their children spend in the shower without concern for the amount of water, energy and money they are dissipating.

The invention will also provide particular benefit to people who own venues where showers are used by clientele or the public. Such venues include hotels, motels, gymnasiums, clubs, youth hostels, hostels for tourists, and natural resource departments. The invention will enable such organisations, as well as the average household user, to save money on water and gas/electricity consumption.

Since the device can be activated by push-button, it will also assist people who have difficulty turning taps due to manual dexterity disabilities, such as arthritis.

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ci 00 0 0 0 0 ci PRIOR ART RESULTS FROM INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT From having obtained an international search report, the inventor/applicant is aware of the following patents: 4,921,209 A (MOINEAU) 1 May 1990 4,867,189 A (MOINEAU) 19 September 1989 203 02 724 U I (TOURIST CONCEPT GMBH) 18 June 2003 We note that the third patent has been granted in Germany and has not been translated into English.

The content of the first and second and patents are to a large extent a replica of one another and otherwise the same in substance. As such, we refer to the second and third patents as the "US Patent".

The differences between the present invention and the US Patent are set out below: Difference 1: Difference 2: Difference 3: Difference 4: The US Patent uses two mechanical timers (which are like clocks or garden timers).

The present invention does not use mechanical timers, because this function can be programmed into the programmable logic controller (PLC) The function of the LCD Panel in the present invention is only to show the time remaining for which the PLC has been programmed to allow the water to flow through the solenoid valve The US Patent uses physical relay boards to operate its solenoids whereas the present invention does not use such relays.

The present invention uses a proprietary solenoid valve to control water flow, which can be sourced from many manufacturers. The US Patent, on the contrary, is built exclusively around the "one off' purpose-built valve with dual solenoids.

Therefore, the US Patent could not work without a major change to the operating system.

The present invention consists of an all solid state control the PLC) and relies on its functions taking place through the commands received from an integrated circuit, whereas the US Patent relies on numerous relays and timers to carry out its functions.

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ci Difference 5: Difference 6: The present invention offers the user the option of being able to change the duration for which water is allowed to flow through the solenoid valve By using a key in the override keyhole the user can select between four programs which are programmed into the PLC The four programs allow water to flow through the solenoid valve for periods of 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 7 minutes (or for a specific period as otherwise programmed) or without time restriction.

In the case of the US Patent, it appears that the period of water use is predetermined and fixed at the time of manufacture. As such, if the period of water use was to be changed, it would require a technician to carry out the change.

The present invention uses a visible LCD panel to show the amount of time remaining by way of a digital clock countdown, whereas the US Patent uses an alarm bell to provide an audible warning shortly before the flow of water is to cease.

The dimensions of the present invention are 152 x 74 x 44.5 (H x W x D in m~m).

It is estimated that the dimensions of the US Patent would be approximately 450 x 180 x 200.

The present invention will cost between $50-$60 to manufacture. It is estimated that the US Patent would cost between $250-$500 to manufacture.

The present invention is designed so it can be installed between a standard shower wall mounting a inch BSP male nipple) and a shower arm connection a 1/2 inch BSP female nipple) (15) refer to Figure 3. However, the US Patent does not claim this and appears to be too bulky to allow it to be possible.

Difference 7: Difference 8: Difference 9: BRIEF DESCRWPTION OF INVENTION o This invention relates to a shower water saving device which is primarily operated by a s:L programmable logic controller which is programmed to allow water to flow through a CA steam rated solenoid valve for a programmed period of time. When the solenoid valve is not Senergised, the plunger in the valve body of the solenoid valve remains blocked and thus does not allow water to flow through the valve body.

00 The device is designed so it can be sold as a complete unit and is easy to install between a standard oshower wall mounting a 'A inch BSP male nipple) and a shower arm connection a 'A inch BSP female nipple) Due to the minimal number of parts used, the invention can be 0manufactured and sold at an affordable retail price and installed by an average handyman without the need of a plumber.

It is envisaged that the device will be sold with fixed time limits of either three, four or five minutes. The flow of water is activated by a push-button which when pressed allows the shower to flow for the programmed amount of time. After the time limit has been reached and the flow of water has ceased, the PLC is programmed to disallow the reset button to energise the solenoid valve for a specific period of time (it is envisaged that a suitable period of time would be approximately 2 minutes). This feature acts as a disincentive for users who seek to continue their shower after the programmed time has lapsed. The device is also designed so water cannot flow through the valve body of the solenoid valve if a cunning user removes the 12 volt battery pack (1 1).

The settings of the device can be altered by inserting and turning a master key in the override keyhole which allows for four different program options. The four programs allow water to flow through the solenoid valve for a period of 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 7 minutes (or for a specific period as otherwise programmed) or without time restriction. The flow of water without restriction is achieved by the PLC being programmed to allow the solenoid valve to remain permanently energised. This allows the device to be flexible for its users, which will include business proprietors, staff members and home users.

When the solenoid valve is energised, the amount of time for which it will remain energised (and permit the flow of water through the valve body) is displayed on the LCD panel This allows the user to adequately prepare for the end of their shower.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 0 0 FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a front view of the present invention;

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CO FIGURE 3 is a side view of the present invention; CI FIGURE 4 is the plan view (or aerial view) of the present invention.

SAll figures contain number references which correspond to the same parts.

00 c, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION o It is the principal object of the present invention to create a complete device which is easy to install C) between a shower wall mounting and a shower fitting (15) to provide a time limitation on the flow (1) CA of water through the shower rose per user. It comprises well-known devices of prior art, the most notable being a solenoid valve a PLC and a Liquid Crystal Display panel ("LCD panel") Solenoid valves are well known devices used to control the flow of fluid. They consist essentially 00 of a valve body comprising inlets and outlets for the flow of fluid and a wire coil with a moveable o plunger that sits against the wire coil. When current is applied tothwieclaatuin magnetic field is created which acts upon the plunger whose resulting motion actuates the valve.

Another specific characteristic of solenoid valves is whether the valve body is open or closed when the wire coil is not energised. The valve body of the solenoid valve used for this invention must be closed when it is not energised, so that when the wire coil is energised water flows through the valve body and when it is not energised (and if the battery pack (11) is removed) the flow of water is blocked.

The type of solenoid valve used must be steam rated to allow for the flow of hot water through the valve body, (ii) able to allow 4 bar in water pressure and (iii) small enough to allow it to fit within the moulded housing cover PLCs and LCD panels (or LED Timers) are both well known devices of prior art and there is no need to explain the functionality of these devices in this specification. Suffice to say that a PLC: is an electronic device generally run on a low voltage charge; (ii) designed to initiate a signal either on being switched on or when it receives a signal from some other external device; (iii) has a series of input signals and a series of output signals which can vary from a few to a hundred; and (iv) can be programmed to perform a series of functions. A standard PLC is required for this invention one which could be used for all other functions from switching on a pizza oven to staffing up a pump).

Shower wall mountings commonly consist of inch British Standard Pipe male nipples (otherwise known as BSP male-thread nipples), to which shower fittings (15) are connected. This invention connects to the shower wall mounting by way of a 1/2 inch BSP female nipple The inlet of the valve body of the solenoid valve is connected to the %/2inch BSP female nipple (1) and the outlet of the valve body is connected to a 2inch BSP male nipple The most suitable material from which the nipples (1 14) are commonly made is brass, which is applicable to this ~tinvention. The shower filling (15) connects to the 'A inch BSP male nipple (14) in the same way it o would connedt to the shower wall mounting if this invention was not installed.

CA A wire coil is a standard feature inside a solenoid valve and this is the means for providing N- an electric current to make the plunger inside the wire coil move downward to allow the flow of the water through the valve body of the solenoid valve When the solenoid valve is not energised when electricity is not fed to the wire coil the plunger inside the solenoid valve 00 remains in a position so as to completely block the flow of water through the valve body. The __electrical current which feds the wire coil comes from the PLC which is connected to the 12 o volt battery pack If the battery pack (11) is removed, the Solenoid valve cannot be N- energised and the valve body of the solenoid valve remains blocked (note if any users remove the 12 volt battery pack then the flow of water through the valve body will remain blocked).

The PLC is connected to the following parts by way of hard-wiring: 0 solenoid valve (4) LCD panel (7) reset button (9) override keyhole (8) 12 volt battery pack (11) The PLC is powered by a 12 volt battery pack (11) and is programmed to, upon the pressing of the reset button make the solenoid valve allow the flow of the water through the valve body of the solenoid valve for a specific amount of time.

The 12 volt battery pack (11) has a removable panel (12) on the bottom of the housing cover held in place by a fixing screw The panel is removable to allow the batteries (11) to be changed when required. When in place the removable panel (12) must adequately mate with the housing cover (10) so as to prevent moisture entering the device and affecting the electrical circuits.

The PLC is programmed to allow the following: *whenever the reset button is pressed (except as set out below) to energise the wire coil inside the solenoid valve and thus make the plunger unblock the valve body of the solenoid valve for a specific amount of time ("the time period"), so as to allow water to flow through it during this time.

the wire coil inside the solenoid valve to not be energised for an appropriate duration of time directly after it has been previously energised.

a the time period to be 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 7 minutes or indefinite as selected by way of the $:L4 override keyhole. For the latter, the PLC is programmed to allow the wire coil inside (1) CO the solenoid valve to remain energised and therefore allow water to flow through the Ni valve body of the solenoid valve without restriction. The override keyhole is to be locked by way of a circular key, or another type of suitable key, which makes it difficult to pick the lock.

o0 to display on the LCD panel the amount of time remaining for which water will flow 0 through the valve body of the solenoid valve 0 0 Ni It is envisaged that when the present invention is manufactured the PLC will be replaced by a standard microchip and that the PLC will be used to program each microchip. The reason for this is that a microchip is less expensive than a PLC yet just as effective as a PLC with regard to this invention.

A rubber gasket is used to prevent fluid leaks between the two mating surfaces of the moulded backing plate and the moulded housing cover The moulded backing plate and the moulded housing cover (10) must be made out of water protective materials, such as high density propylene (HDPE) or zinc casting, to prevent water affecting the materials they are designed to cover.

Drawings, are enclosed to assist with the understanding the invention.

Claims

2. The shower water saving device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a Liquid Crystal Display panel ("LCD panel") is hard-wired to said PLC, the said PLC programmed to allow said LCD panel to show the remaining time for which said solenoid valve will be energised.
3. The shower water saving device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing cover is made of high density polyethylene.
4. The shower water saving device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing cover is made of zinc casting. The shower water saving device as claimed in claim 1 wherein an override keyhole is hard-wired to the said PLC, the said PLC programmed to activate the said solenoid valve for periods of 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 7 minutes (or other specific time as programmed) or indefinite duration upon the selection of such program by way of a key in the said Soverride keyhole. CC 6. The shower water saving device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said PLC is replaced by a CI microchip, the microchip being programmed by said PLC which does not form part of the device. 00 7. The shower water saving device as claimed in claim 1 comprising of different connection fittings, to replace the inch BSP female nipple and inch BSP male o nipple, should this be required.
8. The shower water saving device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the power is supplied from a mains step down transformer, instead of the said battery pack.
9. The shower water saving device designed to limit water usage in a shower according to a programmed time substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. SEPTEMBER 2004