EP2247798B1 - Usable water usage device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for the use of tap water, the temperature of which is increased by a switched on after opening a dispensing valve heater.

In addition, the invention relates to a device for the use of tap water, the temperature of which is increased by a switched on after opening a dispensing valve heater.

In view of the ever-increasing demand for water supply in terms of the quantity and quality of the water to be consumed, and the development of new water sources behind this demand, water prices are constantly rising. The call to open up new water sources is becoming ever more urgent. In doing so, the utilization of already tapped water by means of multiple uses becomes more and more evident in the field of view.

When recycling already used water, considerable problems arise. These are triggered by the fact that significant conversion measures must be made isonbesondere in the bathrooms. In the process, a large number of new pipes and pipes have to be laid so that expensive installation work has to be carried out. In many cases, extensive renovation work must be carried out on a house.

From document US 6,098,213-A a device is known which leads the cold water to a buffer to be used for toilet flushing.

Object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method in a first aspect, can be saved with the tap water. In a second aspect, it is an object of the invention to provide a device with which the method according to the invention can be carried out.

This object is achieved in its first aspect by a method having the features of claim 1.

Background of the invention is the observation that according to the prior art, first cold water from the currently open Wasserzapfventil, which may be located on a sink, flows, even if the hot water pipe was opened. When brushing your teeth or similar As a rule, the user waits above the washbasin until the outflowing water has reached a minimum temperature. Until reaching the minimum temperature gets the cold tap water unused into the drain. This for brushing teeth, washing o.Ä. too cold, but clean tap water is erfingdungsgemäß collected in an intermediate container and preferably fed to another use.

After reaching a desired minimum temperature, an inflow to the intermediate container is closed and opens the drain for the tap water. The warm tap water is used for brushing, washing or similar. used and pollutes it and must the drain, which is preferably completed to a sewer system, fed.

In this method, only slightly contaminated hot water is temporarily stored in the intermediate container. This water has been carelessly introduced into a drain, and that until such time as after the opening of a hot water valve the water flowing out of the faucet had reached a temperature that is desired by the user. Highly qualified drinking water is wasted By collecting this water in the intermediate tank, this slightly polluted service water can be used for purposes that would normally require fresh water to be tapped. The storage in the intermediate container can be carried out easily, since the stored water has pure drinking water quality and therefore produces no odor nuisance

The process is largely automatic. The users of the cached water can quickly adapt to the process steps with their washing and bathing habits. The savings of valuable drinking water lead to a quick amortization of necessary plant components.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the water collected in the intermediate container is fed to a rinsing container of a water rinse. This washing container is actuated in the usual way, without the user being aware of the origin of the rinse water. The intermediate container is dimensioned large enough so that enough water is available for flushing a toilet for regular use

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the level is monitored in the intermediate container. In this way it is achieved that the intermediate container up can be filled to the limit of its capacity with tap water, which is introduced, for example, for flushing the toilet in the washing. On the other hand, there is no fear that an upper level of the intermediate container is exceeded, so that there is a risk that the water will flood the surrounding bathroom. Before this overfilling occurs, a valve is opened to a sequence from which the water flowing to the intermediate container is discharged into a sewage system.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention tap water is fed from a network of water into the intermediate container falls below a lower level in the intermediate container and at the same time emptying of the washing. From this, the fed tap water enters the washing container, so that it is never found without rinsing water.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, all functions of the inflow of tap water are centrally controlled. For this purpose, a relatively small control device is already sufficient, which is installed inside the bath room and is usually controlled fully automatically. Only in the event of a failure of the controller does an operator-controllable controller intervene in the event of an emergency. This can intervene with the aid of the central control in the course of the entire process and in this way, even in the event of a disturbance to ensure a smooth flow of a rinse.

The object is achieved in its second aspect by a device having the features of claim 10.

In the tap water inflow of a water tap valve, which may be arranged above a washbasin, a temperature measuring device is provided. The temperature measuring device acts on a control unit for a guide device with its measured values. The control unit switches the guide to the outflow when a measured minimum temperature is exceeded by the inflow to the intermediate container.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide device has a check valve which can be controlled by the control unit in a drain pipe of the drain. In the flow direction in front of the Spenventil a flange for the inflow to the intermediate container is arranged by closing the check valve is formed automatically by the outgoing tap water from a dynamic pressure before it, through which the tap water is fed into the inflow to the intermediate container.

After reaching the minimum temperature measured by the temperature measuring device, the control unit opens the shut-off valve and the toothbrushing, washing or the like. used and thus polluted tap water is directed into the drain.

For separate hot and cold water supply lines, the temperature measuring device is conveniently located at the hot water inlet It can be combined there with a flow measuring device.

In a cost-effective design, the guide is designed as a piece of pipe with a check valve with an outgoing from the mounted in the state of the ground pipe side wall flange for the inflow.

The device favors their installation in terms of their functional design and ease of use. Therefore, many water users will take advantage of this device and thus reduce the consumption of drinking water. The device makes no great demands on its user, who knows the possibility to save water with the help of the device.

With such a device, the use of tap water designed particularly cost, since components are used in the device, which can be purchased as standard and mounted in an easy way. The resulting device changes the appearance of the bathroom only insignificantly, since it can be installed in a small space and can be accommodated conveniently in existing facilities of the bathroom, for example, in a provided below a sink bathroom cabinet. Since this is arranged below the washbasin, an intermediate container provided in this can be filled by the expiring due to its gravity water.

With regard to the device, a pump for conveying the water is arranged between the intermediate container and the washing container. This pump is designed as an underwater pump, so that it can be accommodated within the intermediate container and thus requires no additional installation space requirement. These pumps are very robust and perform their services without significant interference.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, level sensors for controlling a water drainage from the intermediate container are provided in the washing container. Accordingly, if the water level drops below a certain mark in the rinsing container, this causes the underwater pump to be activated so that it can pump water from the intermediate container into the rinsing container.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, level sensors are provided in the intermediate container, which activate a control for the inflow of tap water to the intermediate container with emptied intermediate container. If in a remote case not enough tap water has flowed into the tundish before switching the water flow, so in an emergency and the intermediate container can be refilled by direct coupling to a water network. In this way, there is always enough water to supply the rinsing container in the intermediate container.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the control for the inflow of tap water is designed as a float switch. Such float switches are known from a variety of washing containers and have a high level of development. In this way, the refilling of the intermediate container is equipped with a high level of operational safety.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the float switch is normally mechanically locked to the tap water supply. In this way it is prevented that water is introduced from the water network in the intermediate container at an early stage, without any need occurring. However, the lock is controlled by a servomotor that is only turned on when there is a need for flushing water in both the purge bin and the tundish.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, manual intervention is possible in the central control of the device. Should malfunctions occur during automatic control processes, these can be easily eliminated by manual intervention. In this case, light-emitting diodes are provided according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention for displaying the switching positions of the check valve.

Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is exemplified.

Fig. 1:

eine schematische Darstellung eines Waschbeckens mit einem Rohrstück mit Flansch und Sperrventil vor dem Abfluss und

Fig. 2:

eine schematische Darstellung einer Anlage zur Nutzung von Leitungswasser.

Showing:

Fig. 1:

a schematic representation of a washbasin with a piece of pipe with flange and check valve before the drain and

Fig. 2:

a schematic representation of a plant for the use of tap water.

A method of using tap water is first determined by an in Fig. 2 illustrated service water utilization device 2 explained. With the help of this service water use device 2, service water is supplied from a washbasin 1 a toilet flushing 46 for reuse The washbasin 1 is connected via a piece of pipe with flange 5 with a sewer line 4. The sewer line 4 has a check valve 6, which can be opened and closed by means of a servomotor 8. The flange 5 is connected to a hose 22. The hose 22 opens into an intermediate container 26, in which service water can be temporarily stored. In this case, the flange 5 is provided for the hose 22 so that hot water can enter the hose 22 only due to an accumulating in the sewer line 4 back pressure. Thus, if the sewer line 4 is closed when the shut-off valve 6 is closed, a dynamic pressure is formed in front of the shut-off valve 6 which is discharged via the hose 22 in the direction of the intermediate container 26.

The control of the servomotor 8, with which the check valve 6 is actuated, takes place with the aid of a temperature sensor 14 which is provided in the region of a warm water flow entering the wash basin 1. This hot water inflow is detected by a flow monitor 12, which is provided in the region of a hot water shut-off valve 10. In this hot water stopcock 10, the water flow from a commercial water heater, which is not shown. This has a heater with which the water heater leaving the water heater is heated when a provided on the sink 1 hot water tap 58 is opened. After opening the hot water tap 58, the heater not shown also not shown water heater is automatically turned on by the forming through the hot water heater hot water flow This begins the heating of the tap water flow, but a desired temperature only after a certain Lead time reached until the heater, not shown unfolds the heat energy required to heat the tap water.

Fig. 2 shows the device according to the invention in a side view. In this case, a pipe section with flange 5 is installed in the conventional drain pipe. The pipe section branches in the sewer line 4 in a public sewer system and in a outgoing from the flange 5 hose 22 to the intermediate container 26th

During this time of heating the check valve 6 keeps the sewer line 4 closed, so that in the pipe section 5, the back pressure can build up, which is derived via the tube 22 into the buffer 26. Only after the temperature sensor 14 detects the heating of the water flow and has generated a corresponding signal, the servo motor 8 is controlled by means of the signal, so that he can open the sewer line 4, from which the process water can flow into a wastewater discharge, not shown. As a result, the back pressure in the sewer line 4 is reduced and thus the tube 22 separated from the other water supply.

With the servo motor 8, the flow monitor 12 and the temperature sensor 14, a control unit 16 is connected by lines not shown, which may have, for example, a microprocessor, not shown. This control unit 16 is housed in a watertight or splash-proof housing 18. The supply of the control unit 16 is carried out from a power grid, not shown.

In addition, the sink 1 is provided with a cold water supply. This can be controlled together with the hot water supply via a Einhebelmischarmatur 60, which flows into the cold water from a Kaltwasserwandabsperrhahn 36. With this also a pressure line 20 is connected, via which a float switch 32 is connected to the cold water supply. This float switch 32 is arranged in the intermediate container 26 and serves, if appropriate, to fill up the intermediate container 26 if, in a remote exceptional case, not enough water enters the intermediate container 26 via the hose 22. By the pressure line 20, the intermediate container 26 is filled with cold water when the float switch 32 opens the access from the pressure line 20 to the intermediate container 26. As a rule, however, the intermediate container 26 is filled via the hose 22, so that the float switch 32 does not have to come into action for refilling the intermediate container 26. During this time the float switch 32 is mechanically blocked by a servomotor 34. Only when the water level in the intermediate container 26 has largely dropped and a subsequent delivery of water from the hose 22 is not expected to a sufficient extent, the servo motor 34 is driven via lines not shown. The necessary control commands are generated in the control unit 16, which is connected via control lines, not shown, with the servo motor 34.

In the intermediate container 26, an array of level sensors 28 is provided to determine its level. This measures the respective fill level at three different fill levels, namely a maximum, a medium and a minimum fill level. The level sensors 28 are connected via lines not shown to the control unit 16. Depending on the level of the level measured by the level sensors 28 water is fed into the latch 26 at the lowest level or prevented at the maximum level another feed of water.

Furthermore, a submersible pump 30 is provided in the intermediate container 26, which is connected by means of a hose 42 with a cistern 46 of a toilet 47. Water is fed from the buffer 26 into the cistern 46 via the hose 42. As a result, the level in the buffer 26 decreases, so that recently water from the sewer line 4 is introduced via the tube 22 in the buffer 26. The sewer line 4 is closed by the check valve 6. The submersible pump 30 is connected via lines not shown to the control unit 16. The hose 42 is provided with a check valve 40, in order to prevent, if necessary, that a return flow from the cistern 46 into the buffer 26 takes place. Both the hose 42 and the intermediate container 26 can be laid under plaster. However, it is also conceivable to accommodate the intermediate container in a vanity unit. The hose 42 can be laid together with the said control lines in a standard cable channel.

In the cistern 46, similar to the buffer 26, an array of level sensors 44 is provided. This is also connected via control lines, not shown, with the control unit 16. The level sensors 44 signal a maximum, a middle and a minimum level in the cistern 46. If a minimum level of the level sensor 44 are detected, the submersible pump 30 is controlled by the control unit 16, so that this water from the Catch 26 can claim in the cistern 46. However, if at this time in the buffer 26, a minimum level of the level sensor 28 are reported, the servo motor 34 is controlled at the float switch 32 via the control unit 16. This raises the blockade of the float switch 32 so that now via the pressure line 20 directly from the Kaltwasserwandabsperrhahn 36 water from the water network in the latch 26 and from this via the submersible pump 30 is fed into the cistern 46.

Finally, above the wash basin 1, an operating unit 52 is arranged, which has a sensor button 48 "shut-off valve on" and a sensor button 50 "check valve off", by means of which the sewer line 4 can be manually locked or opened, with two LED 54, 56 the current state Show. For this purpose, the operating unit 52 is connected via lines, likewise not shown, to the control unit 16.

If, after opening the hot water tap valve 58, water flows into the washbasin 1, the flow detector 12 detects the water flow. However, as long as the water does not yet have the temperature suitable for use, the temperature sensor 14 controls the control unit 16. This causes the servomotor 8 to close the check valve 6. Due to the resulting in the sewer line 4 back pressure, the water is pressed out of the connecting the sewer line 4 with the hose 22 flange 5 and flows through the tube 22 into the intermediate container 26th

• die gewünschte Wassertemperatur von bspw. 22°C wurde erreicht und vom Temperatursensor 14 gemessen,
• es fließt kein Wasser mehr durch die Warmwasserleitung (Warmwasserhahn wurde geschlossen),
• der Fültstandsmelder 28 meldet maximalen Füllstand im Zwischenbehälter 26,
• Sensortaster 50 "Sperrventil Aus" wurde betätigt,
• es wurde bei manueller Bedienung eine Zeitüberwachung (z.B. 3 Minuten) überschritten, oder -es ist ein Störfall eingetreten.

The check valve 6 is only opened by the servomotor 8 when one of the following conditions is present:

• the desired water temperature of, for example, 22 ° C. was reached and measured by the temperature sensor 14,
• no water flows through the hot water pipe (hot water tap has been closed),
• the level detector 28 reports maximum level in the intermediate container 26,
• Sensor button 50 "shut-off valve off" was pressed,
• manual monitoring has exceeded a time limit (eg 3 minutes) or -a fault has occurred.

When the check valve 6 is closed, the intermediate container 26 is filled until a maximum level is reached, this being detected by means of the level sensor 28.

Alternatively, it is possible to manually open or close the check valve 6 by means of the sensor key 48, 50, e.g. with closed Spenventil 6 little polluted cleaning water on the sink 1 also fill in the intermediate container 26 or wash his hands with cold water and also feed this little polluted water to the intermediate container 26. The current switching states of the LEDs 54, 56 are displayed. The closed state of the check valve 6 is also monitored over time. After about 3 minutes, the check valve 6 is automatically opened when an actuation of the sensor button 50 "check valve off" is not done.

If, after actuation of the toilet flush the level sensor 44 detects that no maximum degree of filling is present in the cistern 46, 30 water is pumped from the intermediate container 26 through the hose 42 into the cistern 46 by means of the submersible pump until the maximum filling level is reached or the intermediate container 26 empty is.

When the tundish 26 is empty, depending on the level of the cistern 46, the following occurs: A half-full cistern 46 is quite sufficient for flushing. Therefore, as long as no minimum level is detected in the cistern 46, the servomotor 34 is not turned on, the arm of the float switch 32, depending on the level in the intermediate container 26 holds at the top. After turning on the servomotor 34 this makes a 90 °. Rotation, thereby releasing the arm, so that the float falls down and allows an inflow of cold water through the pressure line 20. The servo motor 34 remains turned on until the water level has risen to the middle level. Then the float switch 32 stops the water flow. The servomotor 34 is therefore only switched on when the minimum filling level is not reached both in the intermediate container 26 and in the cistern 46.

Further, upon reaching the middle level of the intermediate container 26, the servo motor 34 is turned off again and its lever arm locks the arm of the float switch 32. The submersible pump 30 is running again as soon as a minimum level in the intermediate container 26 is reached and promotes water in the cistern 46, to in the washing container 46, a medium level is reached, so that even before triggering a toilet flush hot water in the intermediate container 26 can be collected.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

sink

2

Water utilization device

4

sewer

5

flange

6

check valve

8th

servomotor

10

Warmwasserwandabsperrhahn

12

flow Switch

14

temperature sensor

16

control unit

18

casing

20

pressure line

22

tube

24

check valve

26

cache

28

level sensors

30

submersible pump

32

float switch

34

servomotor

36

Kaltwasserwandabsperrhahn

38

filter

40

check valve

42

tube

44

level sensors

46

cistern

47

Toilet

48

Sensor button "Shut-off valve on"

50

Sensor pushbutton "shutoff valve off"

52

operating unit

54

LED "display" shut-off valve on "

56

LED "display" shut-off valve off "

58

Hot water tap

60

A mixing faucet

Claims (15)

1. A method of using tap water intended for an outflow (4), in that a water-dispensing valve (58) is opened and the temperature of the tap water flowing out of the water-dispensing valve (58) is increased by a heating means, characterized in that the increasing temperature of the tap water is measured with a temperature-measuring device (14) and the tap water flowing out of the water-dispensing valve (58) is first conveyed into an intermediate tank (26) by way of a supply (22, 24, 38), and the outflow (4) for the tap water is opened as soon as the tap water flowing out of the water-dispensing valve (58) has reached a minimum temperature and the supply (22, 24, 38) to the intermediate tank (26) is interrupted.
2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that as a result of the outflow (4) being closed by means of a stop valve (6) a dynamic pressure is built up upstream of the stop valve (6) and the tap water flowing out of the water-dispensing valve (58) is conveyed by the dynamic pressure built up upstream of the stop valve (6) into the supply (22, 24, 38) by way of a flange (5) arranged upstream of the stop valve (6) in the direction of flow of the flow of water.
3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tap water collected in the intermediate tank (26) is conveyed to a consumer.
4. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the tap water collected in the intermediate tank (26) is conveyed to a cistern (46) of a water-flushing system.
5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the filling level in the intermediate tank (26) is monitored.
6. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that, when an upper filling level is exceeded, water continuing to flow in is fed into the outflow (4).
7. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, when a lower filling level in the cistern (46) is not reached, water is conveyed out of the intermediate tank (26) into the cistern (46).
8. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that, when a lower filling level in the intermediate tank (26) is not reached and when the cistern (46) is emptied at the same time, tap water is fed from a water-supply system (20, 32, 36) into the intermediate tank (26).
9. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that all the functions of the supply of tap water are controlled centrally.
10. A device for using tap water intended for an outflow (4) in order to carry out a method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, with a water-dispenser valve (58) and with a tap-water supply for the water-dispenser valve (58) and a heating means which is arranged in the tap-water supply, by which the temperature of the tap water flowing out of the water-dispenser valve (58) is capable of being increased,
    characterized by an outflow (4), an intermediate tank (26)
    with a supply (22, 24, 38), a guiding device (5, 6, 8) arranged downstream of the water-dispenser valve (58) in the direction of flow of the tap water for the tap water flowing out of the water-dispenser valve (58) selectively into the outflow (4) or by way of supply (22, 24, 38) into an intermediate tank (26), and a control unit (16) and a temperature-measuring device (14) for the tap water in the tap-water supply, whereupon the control unit (16) acts
    upon the measurement values of the temperature-measuring device (14), and when a minimum temperature is exceeded
    the guiding device (5, 6, 8) guides the flow of water from
    the supply (22, 24, 38) into the intermediate tank (26) to the outflow (4).
11. A device according to claim 10, characterized in that the guiding device (5, 6, 8) comprises a stop valve (6) capable of being controlled by the control unit (16) and a flange (5) arranged upstream of the stop valve (6) in the direction of flow for the supply (22, 24, 38).
12. A device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by an intermediate tank (26) and in that a pump (30) for conveying the water out of the intermediate tank (26) into a cistern (46) of a flush toilet is arranged in the intermediate tank.
13. A device according to claim 12, characterized in that a filling-level sensor (44) for controlling a flow of water passing from the intermediate tank (26) into the cistern (46) is provided in the cistern (46).
14. A device according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that a filling-level sensor (28) is provided in the intermediate tank (26), which activates a control means for the supply of tap water to the intermediate tank (26) when the intermediate tank (26) is emptied.
15. A device according to claim 10, characterized in that the control unit (16) is capable of being operated manually.

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