AU2007100328A4

AU2007100328A4 - Water recycling system

Info

Publication number: AU2007100328A4
Application number: AU2007100328A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Wendy Dawn Peters; Rodney Francis Power
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-23
Filing date: 2007-04-23
Publication date: 2007-05-31
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-23

Description

P/00/009A Section 29

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION PATENT

SPECIFICATION

Invention Title: Applicant: WATER RECYCLING

SYSTEM

Rodney Francis Power and Wendy Dawn Peters The invention is described in the following statement: 1 7019 APPARATUS FOR RECYCLING WATER

O

N Field of the Invention This invention relates to an apparatus for recycling water, and more particularly to an apparatus for recycling water in a shower or sink. The invention can be used in applications where there is a drain, such as a shower oo00 and it will be convenient to describe the invention in relation to that exemplary, (Ni 0 but non-limiting, application.

Background of the Invention A large volume of water is used while showering. Minimising water usage is desirable due to environmental considerations and cost. Water use can be minimised by either using less water or by recycling grey water that has been used.

There exist devices for minimising water use by limiting the amount of water used such as a timer on a shower or a shower head with a limited rate of flow. However these devices do not allow for recycling of water. Systems exist that recycle grey water but are costly and difficult to clean and maintain.

The above discussion of background art is included to explain the context of the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any of the documents or other material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge at the priority date of any one of the claims of this specification.

It would be desirable to overcome or at least alleviate one or more problems with prior art water recycling apparatus.

Summary of the Invention One aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for recycling water in a shower including: a holding tank in fluid communication with a primary drain in the base of the shower; a pump within the holding tank; a hose having a first end and second end, the first end connected to the pump and the second end connected to a storage tank; a controller attached to the pump to control operation of the pump; wherein, when the shower is in use, water flowing through the primary drain in the base of the shower and into the holding tank 3 collects in the holding tank until the holding tank reaches a level of capacity Ndetermined by the controller, at which time the pump is activated by the controller and water is pumped from the holding tank through the hose and into the storage tank.

Preferably, the apparatus further includes a discharge mechanism associated with the holding tank, a secondary drain in fluid communication with 00 cthe discharge mechanism; the discharge mechanism being movable between Can engaged state and disengaged state, such that in the engaged state, water is discharged through the holding tank and flows into the secondary drain, and S 10 in the disengaged state, water is retained in the holding tank until the pump is N activated by the controller.

Advantageously, this prevents polluted water (such as when cleaning the shower) entering into the storage tank.

Preferably, the discharge mechanism includes a biased spring within the holding tank and a pin extending out of the base of the shower such that the discharge mechanism can be moved between the engaged state and disengaged state within the shower.

Preferably the holding tank further includes a channel portion extending from the primary drain in the base of the shower to the holding tank in order to direct water into the holding tank.

Preferably, the holding tank includes a filter between the primary drain and the holding tank.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the particularity of the drawings and embodiments does not supersede the generality of the preceding description of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic view of the apparatus for recycling water installed in a shower according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2a is a plan view of the shower base of the shower in Figure 1; 4 Figure 2b is a side cross-sectional view of the shower base of Figure N2a; SFigure 2c is an end cross-sectional view of the shower base of Figure q 2a; and Figure 3 is an end cross-sectional view of the shower base of Figure 2a according to a second embodiment of the invention.

(Ni Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention Throughout the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, N like referenced elements in the figures refer to like elements in the description.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the apparatus 10 for recycling water in a shower including a shower head 11, a shower base 12 and a primary drain 13 in the shower base 12. The shower base 12 includes a holding tank 14 and a pump 16 which is connected to a first end of a hose 17. The second end of the hose 17 is connected to a storage tank 22.

Figure 2a is a plan view of the shower base 12 of the shower in Figure 1. The shower base 12 includes a primary drain 13 which is in fluid communication with a channel portion 15. The channel portion 15 is in fluid communication with the holding tank 14. The holding tank 14 includes a pump 16, attached to a hose 17, and a controller 18 which contrls operation of the pump 16. The holding tank 14 further includes a drain plug 19 for draining the contents of the holding tank 14 as required. A filter 20 is also included between the holding tank 14 and the channel portion 15 in order to filter the water that enters the holding tank 14. The holding tank 14 also includes a cover grate 21 which fits over the holding tank 14 when the apparatus 10 is in use and forms part of the shower base 12.

Figure 2b is a side cross-sectional view of the shower base 12 of Figure 2a which shows the channel portion 15 between the primary drain 13 and the holding tank 14. The channel portion 15 is preferably inclined so as to promote the flow of the water into the holding tank 14.

Figure 2c is an end cross-sectional view of the shower base 12 of Figure 2a; and shows the channel portion 15 and the drain plug 19.

In operation, the apparatus 10 for recycling water is used when (showering such that the water used is recycled by storing the water in a storage tank 22. The water flows from the shower head 11, onto the surface of the shower base 12 and into the primary drain 13. The water then flows into N 5 the channel portion 15 of the holding tank 14. The channel portion 15 is narrow and inclined as can be seen in Figure 2b and 2c in order to direct the (water flow into the holding tank 14. Alternatively, the channel portion 15 may be omitted and the holding tank 14 may be located directly underneath the primary drain 13 so that water can simply flow directly into the holding tank 14.

O 10 As the water flows down the channel portion 15 and into the holding tank 14, it N passes through a filter 20. The filter 20 acts to stop larger particles of dirt and hair.

Water flows into the holding tank 14 and, over time, starts to fill the holding tank 14. The controller 18 which is connected to the pump 16 detects the level of water in the holding tank 14. The controller 18 may be electronic or may be a mechanical float device such as those used in a cistern. When the holding tank 14 reaches a level of capacity determined by the controller 18, the pump 16 is activated and pumps water out of the holding tank 14 into the hose 17 and then into the storage tank 22. Once the level of water falls below the level of capacity determined by the controller 18 the pump 16 is deactivated and water continues to collect in the holding tank 14 until the level of capacity is reached again and the controller 18 activates the pump 16. This cycle repast until the shower is turned off. The pump 16 may be any suitable waterproof pump. The holding tank 14 further includes a drain plug 19 which allows the holding tank 14 to be drained for cleaning or to remove any remaining water which is at a level below the level of capacity for the controller 18 to activate the pump 16.

Figure 3 is an end cross-sectional view of the shower base 12 of Figure 2a further including a discharge mechanism 23 in the holding tank 14 which may be used in conjunction with the drain plug 19 or as an alternative to drain plug 19. The discharge mechanism 23 is connected at a first end to a secondary drain 27 and extends into the shower base 12 at a second end.

The secondary drain 27 is connected to a sewer line [not shown].

Advantageously, the discharge mechanism 23 is operable from within the Nshower. The discharge mechanism 23 is movable between an engaged state and disengaged state. In the engaged state, water is discharged through the holding tank 14 and flows into the secondary drain 27. Advantageously, this N 5 allows cleaning of the shower with chemicals as the water that is contaminated with cleaning chemicals flows through the holding tank 14 and down the 0secondary drain 27 so that contaminated water is not stored in the storage tank 22. In the disengaged state, water is retained in the holding tank 14 as per normal operation described above until the pump 16 is activated by the controller 18 to pump water into the storage tank 22.

NThe discharge mechanism 23 includes a biased spring 25 which is held in place by a retainer 24. A pin 26 extends through the holding tank 14 and into the shower base 12 where it protrudes such that it is able to be engaged.

The discharge mechanism 23 may be engaged by a foot for example.

Engaging the pin 26 further compresses the biased spring 25 and pushes the pin 26 such that one end of the pin is no longer flush with the bottom of the holding tank 14 and it allows water in the holding tank 14 to flow into the secondary drain 27. When the pin is not engaged, it is returned by the biased spring 25 to its disengaged state and water can collect in the holding tank 14.

Claims

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further includes: a discharge mechanism associated with the holding tank, a secondary drain in fluid communication with the discharge mechanism; the discharge mechanism being movable between an engaged state and disengaged state, such that in the engaged state, water is discharged through the holding tank and flows into the secondary drain, and in the disengaged state, water is retained in the holding tank until the pump is activated by the controller.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the discharge mechanism includes a biased spring within the holding tank and a pin extending out of the base of the shower such that the discharge mechanism can be moved between the engaged state and disengaged state within the shower.
4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the holding tank further includes a channel portion extending from the primary drain in the base of the shower to the holding tank in order to direct water into the holding Stank. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the holding S 5 tank includes a filter between the primary drain and the holding tank. 00 C-.