ES1266215U - ELECTRONIC SHOWER SYSTEM TO REDUCE WATER AND ENERGY CONSUMPTION (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Water-saving electronic shower system (1) comprising an electro-hydraulic regulation box (2) connected to a power source (7), to a cold water inlet (17), to a water inlet hot (18) and to a plurality of water outlets; where the electro-hydraulic regulation box (2) comprises: - a control circuit (3); - a temperature regulating valve (4) of the cold water inlet (17) and the hot water inlet (18), - a temperature sensor (5) connected to the outlet of the temperature regulating valve (4); and - a selector valve (6) of the plurality of water outlets, connected between the outlet of the temperature sensor (5) and the plurality of water outlets, where the control circuit is electrically connected at least with the temperature regulating valve (4), the temperature sensor (5) and the selector valve (6) of the plurality of water outlets; characterized in that the system (1) further comprises: - a recirculation conduit (26) connected between a first outlet of the plurality of water outlets and the cold water inlet (17); and - a circulating element (19) inserted in the recirculation duct (26) and connected to the control circuit (3); where the control circuit (3) is further configured to enable only the first outlet of the plurality of water outlets and activate the circulator element (19) as long as the temperature sensor detects a temperature below a preset level and, once the detected temperature is higher than said preset level, close the first outlet and enable a second outlet of the plurality of water outlets and stop said circulating element (19). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

WATER CONSUMPTION REDUCING ELECTRONIC SHOWER SYSTEM AND

ENERGY

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, as expressed in the wording of this specification, refers to a water consumption reducing system for a shower installation with electronic control that allows the user to activate the recirculation of cold water during the acclimatization process. at the desired temperature.

It finds special application in the field of the thermostatic and conventional faucet industry.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, the management of the planet's water resources is a matter of vital importance. Not only in regions with scarce of these resources, but a responsible and efficient consumption of water is essential in a global environment.

The commitment of the faucet industry with the sustainability of the planet pushes to offer water saving solutions as an additional functionality that allows users to enjoy the same comforts, but without spending unnecessary water.

Usually, in the moments before a shower, the user keeps the tap open to let the water run during the process of acclimating the water to the desired temperature, which may even lead to several minutes of wasting water at a rate of about 10-20 liters per minute. This loss of water is especially useless, in the sense that it is not used for anything or brings any benefit to the user, but at the same time, the user with a traditional shower system has no other option.

In the current state of the art, some sanitary installations for showers with water saving systems are known, but generally they are presented as complex systems that require a multitude of additional elements and profound modifications in the plumbing installation by specialized personnel, which in practice makes it very difficult that they can be carried out at reasonable costs and efforts. .

Therefore, the state of the art lacks simple, safe, efficient water and energy saving solutions that can be carried out in the installation of an electronic shower of the type disclosed in utility model U201530978 without major modifications. plumbing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the aforementioned problems by means of a water and energy consumption reduction system that, based on recirculation techniques, allows the user to save water during the temperature acclimatization process prior to a shower.

For this, the present invention refers to an electronic shower system with reduction of water consumption that comprises an electro-hydraulic regulation box connected to a power source, a cold water inlet, a hot water inlet and a plurality of water outlets; where the electro-hydraulic regulation box comprises: a control circuit; a temperature regulating valve for the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet; a temperature sensor connected to the outlet of the temperature regulating valve; and a selector valve of the plurality of water outlets, connected between the outlet of the temperature sensor and the plurality of water outlets, where the control circuit is electrically connected at least with the temperature regulating valve, the temperature sensor and the selector valve for the plurality of water outlets; characterized in that the system further comprises: a recirculation conduit connected between a first outlet of the plurality of water outlets and the cold water inlet; and a circulating element inserted in the recirculation conduit and connected to the control circuit; where the control circuit (3) is further configured to enable only the first outlet of the plurality of water outlets and activate the circulator element (19) while the temperature sensor detects a temperature below a preset level and, once the detected temperature is higher than said preset level, close the first outlet and enable a second outlet of the plurality of water outlets.

Thus, advantageously, the cold water that would be wasted during the acclimatization process to the desired temperature is recovered through the recirculation conduit and is sent towards the cold water inlet. Only when the control circuit detects the desired temperature level, the second output is enabled to start the shower.

In a first embodiment, the second outlet of the plurality of water outlets is selected from the following set: a sprinkler, a hand shower, a waterfall, and jets. In a second embodiment, the second outlet comprises not only the above possibilities, but also a combination thereof through the selector valve.

The water outlet selector valve is contemplated to comprise solenoids, each solenoid arranged for the corresponding water outlet; where the control circuit is configured to close the solenoid of the first output upon detecting through the temperature sensor a temperature equal to or greater than the preset level. Thus, the recirculation circuit is advantageously closed and the entire flow is available for the user's shower, once the pre-established temperature has been reached. Additionally, it is contemplated that the control circuit is further configured to close the solenoid of the second output upon detecting through the temperature sensor a temperature lower than the preset level. Thus, advantageously, a total saving of water is achieved during the acclimatization process to the set temperature, since until said temperature is reached all the outlets are closed except for the outlet to the recirculation circuit.

In one embodiment, the recirculation conduit comprises a non-return valve, sandwiched between the cold water inlet and the circulating element.

In one embodiment, the circulator element is an electric drive pump.

Additionally, according to a particular embodiment, the present invention comprises a control light device electrically connected to the control circuit, wherein said control light device comprises: a user interface; an On / Off button to turn the system on or off; a positive temperature control button that allows to increase the set temperature level; a negative temperature regulation button that allows to decrease the set temperature level; a selector button for the water outlet through the sprayer; a selector button for the water outlet through the hand shower; and a selector button for the water saving system, which allows recirculation.

It is contemplated in one of the embodiments that the luminous control device is configured to emit a signal when the control circuit detects that the temperature sensor registers a temperature equal to or greater than the established temperature threshold. Thus, the user is advantageously informed that the water temperature has already reached the preset temperature level and can proceed with the shower by selecting the desired water outlet. Meanwhile, the water outlet is kept closed to save water and energy consumption.

In one embodiment of the invention, before closing the water outlet waiting for the user to decide to start the shower, once the desired temperature is reached in the system, the control circuit enables the water outlet selected by the user by a short period of time, for example five seconds, to temper the outlet pipe and improve user comfort and sensations. Thus, in one of the embodiments, the control circuit is configured to, once the established temperature threshold has been reached, enable the second outlet of the plurality of water outlets for a preset time and, once the preset time has been exceeded, close the second exit.

Additionally, according to one of the embodiments of the invention, the control circuit comprises a memory configured to store the set temperature level, preferably 38 degrees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

To complete the description and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, this specification is accompanied, as an integral part thereof, by a set of drawings where, with an illustrative and non-limiting nature, it has been represented the next:

Figures 1A, 1B, 1C .- Show, in sequence, the recirculation process of an embodiment, until the water reaches temperature and is diverted through one of the two possible water outlets of this embodiment.

Figure 2 .- Shows a view of the connection of the components included in the electro-hydraulic regulation box with three possible outlets for water and one for recirculation.

Figure 3 .- Shows a view of the luminous control device, including the ECO mode or water saving mode activation / deactivation button. Temperature control buttons and selectors of possible water outlets.

Below is a list of the different elements represented in the figures that make up the invention:

1. Consumption reducing electronic shower system.

2. Electro-hydraulic regulation box.

3. Control circuit.

4. Temperature regulating valve.

5. Temperature sensor.

6. Selector valve for the water outlet.

7. Power supply.

8. Luminous control device.

9. Screen.

10. On / Off button.

11. Positive temperature regulation button.

12. Negative temperature regulation button.

13. Water outlet selector button through the sprinkler.

14. ECO system on / off button.

15. Water outlet selector button for the hand shower.

16. Water outlet selector button through the waterfall or jets.

17. Cold water inlet.

18. Hot water inlet.

19. Circulating element.

20. Sprinkler.

21. Hand shower.

22. Waterfall or jets.

23. Temperature regulating valve motor.

24. Solenoids.

25: Check valve

26. Recirculation duct

27. Heating system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a novel water and energy saving system in a hot water shower installation with electronic control. The main water saving functionality is achieved by incorporating and managing a recirculation system for the cold water remaining in the hot water pipe to the cold water pipe, during the acclimatization process to the selected temperature. It essentially consists of a return bypass to the cold water inlet, with the particularity that the present invention uses a water outlet dedicated exclusively to this recirculation function, so that the water is driven by a pump towards the water inlet. cold water, meanwhile the temperature sensor does not inform the electronic control circuit that hot water is already arriving, in which case the control circuit orders the recirculation circuit to close and finally diverts the water at the desired temperature to the water outlets selected for start the shower.

In the succession of Figures 1A, 1B, and 1C , an embodiment of the present invention is shown in detail in the electro-hydraulic regulation box and the recirculation process. The scenario is that a user who intends to use the shower with hot water has started the process of acclimatizing the water.

In Figure 1A , the water flowing through the hot water inlet 18 is initially cold. Therefore, this flow is diverted to the outlet dedicated exclusively to recirculation, where a circulating element 19 is arranged, for example an electric drive pump, which conducts this flow of water to the cold water inlet 17 through a recirculation conduit. 26 , such as a hose. The intervention of pump 19 causes the normal direction of the water through the cold water inlet to be reversed and be reintroduced into the heating system 27 .

In figure 1B , the water supplied by the hot water inlet 18 has already reached the desired temperature for use, so the system proceeds to close the recirculation outlet, which stops diverting more water from the inlet. of hot water 18, proceeding to disconnect the system with the consequent saving of energy.

Finally, in Figure 1C , with the water in the desired temperature conditions, the system enables a water outlet 20, from among the two possible water outlets 20, 21 of this embodiment, although other embodiments may be provided with another number , through which the water begins to come out at the set temperature. At this time the recirculation outlet is kept closed.

In an embodiment of the invention, shown in figure 2 , the electronic water saving shower system comprises an electro-hydraulic regulation box 2 connected to a power supply 7 , to a cold water inlet 17 , to an inlet hot water 18 and to a plurality of water outlets; where the electro-hydraulic regulation box 2 comprises: a control circuit 3 ; a temperature regulating valve 4 of the cold water inlet 17 and of the hot water inlet 18; a temperature sensor 5 connected to the outlet of the temperature regulating valve 4 ; and a selector valve 6 of the plurality of water outlets, connected between the outlet of the temperature sensor 5 and the plurality of water outlets.

Furthermore, the recirculation circuit of the system comprises a recirculation conduit 26 connected between a first outlet of the plurality of water outlets and the cold water inlet 17 ; a circulator element 19 inserted in the recirculation conduit 26 and connected with the control circuit 3 and a non-return valve 25 in the recirculation conduit . Thus, when the water temperature is below the preset level, the control circuit opens the recirculation circuit to divert the water to the cold water inlet until the desired temperature is reached at the hot water inlet.

The number of water outlets would be seen from one implementation to another depending on the options that are wanted to be offered between a water outlet through a sprinkler 20 , a hand shower 21 , a waterfall or some jets 22 or others, but there is always a additional dedicated output exclusively to recirculation.

The outlet selector valve 6 comprises, in this embodiment represented in figure 2, four solenoids 24 , one arranged for each of the outlets 19, 20, 21, 22. The solenoids are electronically connected to the control circuit 3 , the which is programmed to open and close said solenoids 24 depending on the desired temperature, the current water temperature and the chosen output. Specifically, the control circuit 3 orders the solenoid of the first output 19 to open / close by detecting through the temperature sensor 5 a temperature lower / higher respectively than the preset level. At the same time, it orders the rest of the solenoids to close while the temperature sensor 5 continues to detect a temperature lower than the preset level and, only once the preset level has been reached, it orders to open the selected outlet to start the shower and stop the circulating element 19 with consequent energy savings.

The system of the present invention exchanges information with the user through the light control device 8 shown in figure 3. Said light device is electrically connected to the control circuit 3 and can be installed in an area accessible by the user from the shower. . It includes a user interface, an On / Off button 10 to turn the system on or off 1 , a positive temperature regulation button 11 that allows increasing the set temperature level, a negative temperature regulation button 12 that allows decreasing the level set temperature, a selector button 13 for the water outlet through the sprinkler 20 , a selector button 15 for the water outlet through the hand shower 21 , a selector button 16 for the water outlet through the waterfall or jets 22 and an "ECO" selector button 14 of the water saving system, which enables recirculation to be deactivated, since it is preferably activated by default.

Therefore, the process for the user is simple, since the system comes by default with the "ECO" function or mode activated so that once the shower is activated, it goes into recirculation until the hot water reaches the area of the temperature sensor 5.

Meanwhile, the control circuit 3 keeps the solenoids 24 of all the outlets closed except for the solenoid of the outlet dedicated exclusively to recirculation, which diverts the water to the cold water inlet through the drive pump. When the temperature is the one that the user has set on the luminous device 8 by means of the keypad 11, 12 , which has been stored in a memory, the control circuit 3 orders the closing of the dedicated solenoid and end recirculation. The light control device 8 then emits a signal, which can be light, acoustic or a combination of both, to inform the user that the temperature has been reached and he can start showering. Finally, the user selects the desired water outlet on the button panel 13, 15, 16 of the luminous device 8 and the shower can begin.

During the time between the water reaching the comfort temperature and the user manually starting the shower, the system keeps the water outlet closed to save water and energy consumption. However, in order to provide better sensations and comfort to the user, the control circuit enables the water output selected by the user for a period of time of about five seconds, enough to temper the output pipe and guarantee a flow rate of homogeneous temperature water from the start of the shower.

An algorithm can be implemented in the control circuit to detect continued use of the shower. Thus, by establishing a minimum period of time between showers, recirculation can be avoided when that minimum established time has not been reached and thus avoid the corresponding energy expenditure.

The expressions used "connected", "electrically connected" or "electronically connected" do not necessarily imply that two elements are directly connected without intermediate elements, but can refer to elements connected through other elements or can refer to elements directly connected.

The present invention should not be limited to the embodiment described herein. Other configurations can be made by those skilled in the art in light of the present description. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is defined by the following claims.

1

Claims (12)

1 . Electronic water saving shower system (1) comprising an electro-hydraulic regulation box (2) connected to a power source (7), to a cold water inlet (17), to a hot water inlet ( 18) and to a plurality of water outlets; where the electro-hydraulic regulation box (2) comprises: - a control circuit (3); - a temperature regulating valve (4) of the cold water inlet (17) and the hot water inlet (18), - a temperature sensor (5) connected to the outlet of the temperature regulating valve (4); Y - a selector valve (6) of the plurality of water outlets, connected between the outlet of the temperature sensor (5) and the plurality of water outlets, where the control circuit is electrically connected to at least the temperature regulating valve (4), the temperature sensor (5) and the selector valve (6) of the plurality of water outlets; characterized in that the system (1) also comprises: - a recirculation conduit (26) connected between a first outlet of the plurality of water outlets and the cold water inlet (17); Y - a circulator element (19) inserted in the recirculation duct (26) and connected to the control circuit (3); where the control circuit (3) is further configured to enable only the first outlet of the plurality of water outlets and activate the circulator element (19) while the temperature sensor detects a temperature below a preset level and, once the detected temperature is higher than said preset level, close the first outlet and enable a second outlet of the plurality of water outlets and stop said circulating element (19). 2 . System according to claim 1 where the second outlet of the plurality of water outlets is selected from the following set: a sprinkler (20), a hand shower (21), a waterfall and some jets (22). 3 . System according to claim 1, where the water outlet selector valve (6) is configured to select the second water outlet between the sprinkler (20), the hand shower (21), the waterfall, the jets (22 ) and combination of the above. 4 . System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the water outlet selector valve (6) comprises solenoids (24), each solenoid (24) arranged for the corresponding water outlet; where the control circuit (3) is configured to close the solenoid of the first output upon detecting through the temperature sensor (5) a temperature equal to or greater than the preset level. 5 . System according to claim 4, where the control circuit (3) is further configured to close the solenoid of the second output upon detecting through the temperature sensor (5) a temperature lower than the preset level. 6 . System according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a non-return valve (25) inserted in the recirculation conduit (26) between the cold water inlet (17) and the circulating element (19). 7 . System according to any of the preceding claims where the circulating element is an electric drive pump. 8 . System according to claim 2, further comprising a control light device (8) electrically connected to the control circuit (3), wherein said control light device (8) comprises: - a user interface - an On / Off button (10) to turn the system on or off (1), - a positive temperature regulation button (11) that allows increasing the set temperature level, - a negative temperature adjustment button (12) that allows to decrease the set temperature level, - a selector button (13) for the water outlet through the sprinkler (20), - a selector button (15) for the water outlet through the hand shower (21), and - a selector button (14) of the water saving system, which allows recirculation. 9 . System according to claim 8 where the luminous control device (8) is further configured to emit a signal when the control circuit (3) detects that the temperature sensor (5) registers a temperature equal to or greater than the temperature threshold settled down. 10 . System according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the luminous control device (8) also comprises a selector button (16) for the water outlet through the waterfall or jets (22). 11 . System according to any of the preceding claims, where the control circuit (3) comprises a memory configured to store the established temperature level. 12 . System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control circuit (3) is further configured to, once the established temperature threshold has been reached, enable the second outlet of the plurality of water outlets for a preset time and, once after the preset time, close the second output. 1