AU2013205704A1

AU2013205704A1 - Water supply system utilizing collected stored water and mains water supply

Info

Publication number: AU2013205704A1
Application number: AU2013205704A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Antonio Beltrami; David Beltrami; Ugo Beltrami
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-05-07
Filing date: 2013-05-06
Publication date: 2013-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 2033-05-06
Also published as: AU2013205704B2

Abstract

The specification discloses a water supply system (50) including connection means (27) enabling connection of the system (50) to a mains pressure water supply, one or more water collection and storage tank means (16), a water level sensing means (20) to sense water level in said water collection and storage tank means (16) is above a predetermined minimum level, pumping means (17) to pump water from said water collection and storage tank means (16) only when the water level is above the predetermined minimum level, and a valve arrangement (10) for selectably directing water to an end user, said valve arrangement (10) including a first valve means (12) positionable in a first open position and a second closed position, said first valve means (12), when in said closed position permitting water to flow on demand from said water collection and storage tank means (16) to said end user, said first valve means (12) being urged to said closed position by pressure supplied by water delivered by said pump means (17) from said water collection and storage tank means (16), pressurized water from said mains pressure source acting directly on said first valve means (12) to move said first valve means (12) to said open position when pressure on said first valve means (12) from water supplied by said pump means (17) is discontinued, said pressurized water from said mains pressure source also acting to close a further valve means (33) preventing water flow from said mains pressure source of water flowing to said water collection and storage tank means (16). A -4-1 M$~' :Wk'____

Description

1 WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM UTILIZING COLLECTED STORED WATER AND MAINS WATER SUPPLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to improvements in systems for supplementing mains water supply to domestic and commercial buildings with collected water typically in storage tanks or the like. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] In the current climatic environment and increasing water usage requirements, water is becoming an increasingly scarce and expensive commodity. It is therefore more common to install rainwater collection and storage tanks with both new and existing buildings to provide a useful supplement for the conventional mains water supply. As a result, a convenient, simple and inexpensive control device for interfacing mains water supply with a locally collected and stored water supply is desirable. Such systems are known, for example, in Australian innovation patent no. 2008100676 and Australian patent application no. 2010202174. Such interfacing means, apart from operating conveniently, simply and efficiently, need also to prevent water from the locally collected source getting back into the mains supply system to protect that system from possible undesirable contaminants. [0003] The objective of the present invention is to provide a simple and effective interface arrangement that will enable water from a mains supply and from a locally collected water source to be used by a user while protecting the mains source from any possible contamination from the locally collected water source. A still further preferred objective is to provide a less expensive interface arrangement while still remaining effective in use.

2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] According to the present invention, there is provided a valve arrangement for selectably directing water to an end user from either a first continuous mains pressure source of water or a second source of water supplied intermittently from a storage facility by pump means when at least a predetermined minimum level of water exists in said storage facility, said valve arrangement including a first valve means positionable in a first open position and a second closed position, said first valve means, when in said closed position permitting water to flow on demand from said second source to said end user, said first valve means being urged to said closed position by pressure supplied by water delivered by said pump means from said second source, pressurized water from said first continuous mains pressure source acting directly on said first valve means to move said first valve means to said open position when pressure on said first valve means from water supplied by said pump means from said second source is discontinued, said pressurized water from said first continuous pressure source also acting to close a second valve means preventing water flow from said first continuous mains pressure source of water flowing to said second source. [0005] Preferred features of the aforesaid valve arrangements may be as defined in any one of claims 2 to 6 inclusive. The subject matter of these claims is included in the disclosure of this specification by this reference thereto. [0006] In accordance with a still further aspect, the present invention also provides a water supply system including a valve arrangement as defined above, further including a connection means enabling connection to a mains pressure water supply, one or more water storage tank means forming a said second source, a water level sensing means to sense water level in said second source is above a predetermined minimum level, and pumping means to pump water from second source only when said water level is above said minimum level.

3 [0007] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] Fig 1 is a section view through a preferred valve arrangement according to the present invention where the valve arrangement is configured such that the mains water is open and pump is off; [0009] Fig 2 is a section view through the preferred valve arrangement shown in Fig 1 where the mains water is closed and the pump is on; [0010] Fig 3 is a schematic view of a preferred water supply system utilizing a valve arrangement similar to Figs 1 and 2, where the valve is in a non actuated position with mains water being delivered and the pump stopped; and [0011] Fig 4 is a schematic view similar to Fig 3 where the valve is in an actuated position with storage water being delivered and mains water blocked. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0012] Figs 1 and 2 illustrate a preferred valve arrangement 10 having a main first valve 11 with a valve spool 12, a valve seal member 13 and a valve seat 14. Fig 4 illustrates a water supply system 50 including the valve arrangement 10 delivering water 15 from a storage tank 16 via a pump 17 to an end user via line 18. Mains pressure water is delivered via line 19 to the valve arrangement 10. A controller 20 senses water level 21 in the tank 16 via any suitable sensor means (not shown). The controller 20 controls operation of the pump 17. In Fig 4, the mains pressure water from line 19 is blocked by the valve arrangement 10 as further described hereafter. Fig 3 shows the water level 21 in the tank 16 has dropped to a minimum level. This minimum level may be sensed by the sensor means and the controller 20 then discontinues operation of the pump 17. As 4 further described hereafter the valve arrangement, when not receiving water from the tank 16, delivers water from the mains pressure line 19 to the end user via line 18. It of course being understood that demand from an end user is not necessarily continuous and the supply via line 18 whether from the storage tank 16 or the mains supply 19 would normally be discontinuous. [0013] Referring again to Figs 1 and 2, the valve arrangement 10 includes a fitting 23 enabling connection of the valve arrangement 10 to the end user supply line 18. A separate fitting 24 enables connection of the valve arrangement 10 to the controller 20, the pump 17, line 25, manual valve 26, and to the storage tank 16. A still further fitting 27 enables the valve arrangement 10 to be connected to the mains pressure water supply line 19. A short water flow passage 28 allows water flow from the fitting 27 directly to the valve cavity 22 housing the valve spool 12 and directly onto the valve seal member 13. A pair of one way check valves 29, 30 permit water flow along the passage 28 to the valve cavity 22 but not in a reverse direction. A short water flow passage 31 enables water flow from the fitting 24 to a cavity 32 that also leads to the fitting 23. A further one way check valve 33 is positioned in the passage 31 permitting water flow towards the cavity 32 but not in a reverse direction. A short further water flow passage 34 leads from the valve cavity 22 to the cavity 32. Yet another one way check valve 42 is positioned in the passage 34 permitting water flow from the valve cavity 22 to the cavity 32 but not in a reverse direction. [0014] The spool valve 12 of the main first valve 11 includes a piston section 35 with ring seals 36 sealing on a cylindrical section 37, the piston section 35 being capable of sliding in the section 37 as shown in Figs 1 and 2. The valve spool 12 further includes a second piston section 38 with seal means 39 sliding in a second cylinder 40. The second piston section 38 and seal means 39 has a larger diameter than the first piston section 35. A liquid passage 41 connects the passage 31 directly to the outer face of the piston section 38 whereby, when pressure liquid flows in the passage 31, the liquid pressure is conveyed via the passage 41 to the piston section 38 to move the valve spool 12 (downwardly in 5 Figs 1/2 of the drawings) to close the seal member 13 against the valve seat 14 (Fig 2). [0015] Operation of the valve arrangement is as follows. When the storage tank 16 has water above a predetermined minimum level (Fig 4) the controller 20 operates the pump 17 and delivers water from the tank 16 to the valve arrangement 10 via fitting 24. This pressurized water flows via passage 41 to the valve spool 12 to move it to a closed position (Fig 2). At the same time, water is supplied via the passage 31, check valve 33 to the cavity 32 and ultimately the end user via line 18. At the same time, check valve 42 is closed preventing water from the cavity 32 potentially reaching the mains water supply system. Similarly seals 39 and 36 on the valve spool 12 prevents water from the passage 31 reaching the mains water supply system. [0016] When the controller 20 turns the pump 17 off because of low water levels in the tank 16 or for any other reason (e.g. power supply failure), pressure in the passage 31 drops and there is minimal pressure on the valve spool 12 holding the valve member 13 against the seal 14. In this condition, mains pressure water via passage 28 acts directly on the valve member 13 to lift it away from the seal 14 and thereby move the valve spool 12 to the open condition (Fig 1). In this condition, water from passage 28 flows through the valve seat 14 to passage 34, passage 32 and to the end user line 18. The check valve 33 closes to prevent loss of mains pressure water along passage 31. [0017] Modifications of the structures shown in the drawings and described above are possible. For example, fitting 24 might be connected to the mains supply line 19 and the fitting 27 might be connected to the storage water supply (tank 16). Provided the water pressure delivered by pump 17 is in excess of mains water pressure, such an arrangement is possible. The number and position of the check valves 29, 30, 33 and 42 might also be varied.

Claims

1. A valve arrangement for selectably directing water to an end user from either a first continuous mains pressure source of water or a second source of water supplied intermittently from a storage facility by pump means when at least a predetermined minimum level of water exists in said storage facility, said valve arrangement including a first valve means positionable in a first open position and a second closed position, said first valve means, when in said closed position permitting water to flow on demand from said second source to said end user, said first valve means being urged to said closed position by pressure supplied by water delivered by said pump means from said second source, pressurized water from said first continuous mains pressure source acting directly on said first valve means to move said first valve means to said open position when pressure on said first valve means from water supplied by said pump means from said second source is discontinued, said pressurized water from said first continuous pressure source also acting to close a second valve means preventing water flow from said first continuous mains pressure source of water flowing to said second source.

2. A valve arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said second valve means is at least one one way check valve permitting water from said first continuous means pressure source to flow to said end user but preventing water flowing in an opposite direction.

3. A valve arrangement according to claim 2 further including a third valve means being at least one one way check valve, said third valve means permitting water flow from said second source to said end user but preventing water flow in an opposite direction.

4. A valve arrangement according to claim 3 further including a fourth valve means being at least one one way check valve upstream of said first valve means permitting water flow towards said first valve means but preventing water flow in an opposite direction. 7

5. A valve arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4 further including a water flow passage from said first continuous means pressure source to said first valve means to urge said first valve means toward said closed position.

6. A valve arrangement according to claim 5 wherein said first valve means includes seal means preventing water flow from said second source along said water flow passage towards said first continuous mains pressure source.

7. A water supply system including a valve arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 6 further including a connection means enabling connection to a mains pressure water supply, one or more water storage tank means forming a said second source, a water level sensing means to sense water level in said second source is above a predetermined minimum level, and pumping means to pump water from second source only when said water level is above said predetermined minimum level. Ugo Beltrami, David Beltrami and Antonio Beltrami WATERMARK PATENT AND TRADE MARKS ATTORNEYS P35993AUOD