GB2283048A

GB2283048A - Water supply system

Info

Publication number: GB2283048A
Application number: GB9420371A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Allan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-10-20
Filing date: 1994-10-10
Publication date: 1995-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2014-10-10
Also published as: GB9321665D0; GB2283048B; GB9420371D0

Abstract

A water supply system suitable for use in a domestic or commercial building, comprises a first supply line serving both a collection tank and a first set of outlets, said collection tank, and a second supply line supplying water from said tank to a second set of outlets.

Description

"Fluid supply apparatus" This invention relates especially but not essentially to a fluid supply apparatus for supplying fluid to a domestic or commercial building.

An example of a fluid supply apparatus of this invention is one that is included in a water supply system which sources water from a mains supply in addition to tank water obtained from rain water, river water or the like. Furthermore, the invention includes a modification of existing plumbing systems in domestic or commercial buildings to enable combined use of treated mains water and collected water.

In the specification collected fluid shall refer to tank fluid which has been collected from any means, including rain water, river water, recycled water and any other means of collecting fluid of any type whether naturally occurring or otherwise.

In this invention it is appreciated that in many areas there is careful regulation of mains water supplied to domestic or commercial buildings to ensure that the water meets the purity and cleanliness standards set by regulatory bodies. The water supplied must be suitable for human consumption. Other regulations may be in operation to regulate the supply of other fluids to domestic or commercial buildings.

Furthermore, in the above example, in many areas supply of water has now been privatised and accordingly there is an associated direct cost to the consumer.

In the invention it is also appreciated that fluids such as water are a naturally occurring commodity which is readily accessible from the environment. Moreover, it is possible to use certain aspects of the environment for example a roof of a building, the peculiarities of a particular landscape and various other means for catching fluids and thereafter storing same in a tank. The resulting stored fluid may not meet any particular regulations which may exist for that particular fluid in the respective area relating to the integrity of the fluid for its particular use: in the above example water must be suitable for human consumption. However, generally such fluid may be suitable for any other domestic or commercial requirements which in the case of the fluid being water may include for example gardening, heating, cleaning and so on.

An object of the invention is to combine the use of mains fluid of a relatively high quality with collected fluid of a lower quality for many other domestic or commercial requirements.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a fluid supply apparatus for use in a domestic or a commercial building comprising a main fluid supply connected by a first supply line to a first set of fluid outlets, a collection tank containing collected fluid and a second supply line supplying fluid from said collection tank to a second set of fluid outlets.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a fluid supply apparatus for use in a domestic or commercial building comprising a main fluid supply connected by a first supply line to a first set of fluid outlets, a storage tank receiving collected fluid from a collection tank, the storage tank communicating with the second supply line, the second supply line supplying fluid from said storage tank to a second set of fluid outlets.

Preferably, a sterilising means is included to promote sterile conditions in the collected fluid.

Preferably, the sterilising means is provided by ultraviolet irradiation of the collected fluid.

Preferably, the collection tank is provided with an inlet for replenishing the collection tank and a fluid level sensor, the sensor actuating replenishing of the collection tank through said inlet from the main fluid supply when the fluid in the collection tank is below a predetermined level.

In one embodiment the fluid level sensor may include a ball-cock arrangement at said inlet.

Preferably, the storage tank has an inlet for replenishing the storage tank and a fluid level sensor, the sensor actuating replenishing of the storage tank through said inlet from the collection tank when the fluid in the storage tank is below a predetermined level.

In a further embodiment the fluid level sensor in the storage tank may include a float in communication with a float switch which actuates a pump, the pump driving fluid from the collection tank to the storage tank.

Preferably, an overflow outlet is provided in the respective tanks.

Preferably, each replenishing inlet of the respective tanks is above the respective overflow outlet. This arrangement prevents fluid in the respective tanks being back-syphoned through said replenishing inlets when fluid levels in the respective tanks are high.

Preferably, the first supply line and the second supply line are connected, an air space being provided at the connection to prevent mixing of the fluid from the main fluid supply with the collected fluid.

Preferably, the collected fluid is filtered before entering the second supply line.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a fluid supply apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention; Fig. 2 illustrates the use of a roof as a catchment area for catching and supplying collected water to a storage tank in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a schematic of a fluid supply apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 a fluid supply apparatus 1 has a main fluid supply 13 for supplying fluid to the apparatus 1 through a supply line 3. Flow of the fluid from the main supply 13 through the supply line 3 is regulated by a main valve 2. Branching away from the supply line 3 are lines 4 and 16 which respectively supply outlets 5 and 15. The outlet 5 dispenses fluid from the main fluid supply line 13. The quality of the fluid from the main supply line 13 may be of relatively high quality and in an example where the apparatus 1 is used to supply water for domestic use, the outlet 5 may be a kitchen sink tap outlet or a bathroom tap outlet.

The valves 6 and 7 regulate the flow of fluid through the remaining part of the supply line 3. The supply line 3 terminates at a collection tank 8 at an inlet 9 which communicates with a ball-cock valve (not shown) and the flow of fluid through the inlet 9 is controlled by a valve 11 and the ball-cock valve.

In use, the collection tank 8 is placed in a suitable location for collecting fluid and the flow of the collected fluid through the supply line 3 occurs through an outlet 10 and a line 20 which communicates with the supply line 3. A valve 12 in the line 20 is provided to control the flow of collected fluid through the line 20.

In use the valves 6, 7, 11 and 12 are selectively manipulated so that the collected fluid supplies outlets 15 via the supply line 16. In the aforementioned example where the fluid supply apparatus 1 supplies water for domestic use these outlets are adapted to supply water of relative low quality and suitable for cleaning, gardening or heating purposes.

When the level of fluid in the collection tank 8 falls below a predetermined level the collection tank 8 may be replenished with fluid from the main fluid supply line 1 by selectively manipulating values 2, 6, 7, 12 and 11. This is done by closing the valve 12, opening the valve 11 and initially closing valves 7 and 6. The valve 6 is provided with a drain off vent and when valves 6 and 7 are closed, water between these valves drains away to leave an air space. The valve 2 is then opened along with valves 6 and 7 to allow the main fluid supply to enter the collection tank 8 via the inlet 9. When the fluid in the collection tank 8 rises to a predetermined level, the ball-cock valve (not shown) prevents the flow of fluid into the collection tank 8 via the inlet 9.

The air space is created between valves 7 and 6 to prevent fluid from the main fluid supply mixing with the collected fluid. This ensures that the quality of the fluid in the main supply is not compromised by the collected fluid.

Fig. 2 shows a fluid supply apparatus 28 in domestic use according to the second aspect of the invention.

In this embodiment a collection tank 30 receives rain water from a gutter 32 via a drain pipe 34. A storage tank 36 is situated in the attic of a building 28 and the collected water from the collection tank 30 is pumped via a pump 38 to the storage tank 36 with the collected water being filtered by a filter 40.

A float switch 42 is provided such that when the level of the water in the storage tank 36 is at a predetermined level the float 44 actuates the float switch and the float switch causes the pump 38 to cease pumping the collected water into the storage tank 36.

Any excess water being received by the collection tank 30 leaves the collection tank 30 via an overflow pipe 46 which is in communication with a drain 48. Although not shown in Fig. 2 the collected water in the storage tank 36 is used for domestic purposes in combination with the main water supply as described in Fig. 1 and the replenishing of the collection tank 30 with the water from the main water supply is performed in the same manner.

The fluid supply apparatus of Fig. 2 has been further modified in the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 where a collection tank 50 receives collected water via a pipe 52. The collection tank 50 is provided with an ultraviolet ray tube 90 which irradiates the water collected in the collection tank 50 to promote sterilisation of the collected water. At a top side of the collection tank 50 there is an inlet 53 for a supply line 54. The supply line 54 is in communication with a mains water supply line 56. In this embodiment mains water entering the main supply line 56 is monitored by a meter 58 and regulated by a valve 60.

The inlet 53 of the supply line 54 into the collection tank 50 communicates with a ball-cock valve 62. This arrangement allows mains water to flow into the collection tank 50 when the water in the collection tank 50 falls below a predetermined level thereby maintaining water levels within the collection tank 50.

Any excess water in the collection tank 50 leaves the collection tank 50 by an overflow pipe 64. The overflow pipe 64 is situated at a lower position at a side of the collection tank 50 than the inlet 53. This prevents collected water in the collection tank 50 being back-syphoned into the supply line 54. As described for the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 water in the collection tank 50 is pumped by a pump 66 to a storage tank 68, which is suitably in an attic of a building, via a line 70 and as water passes from the collection tank 50 to the storage tank 68 the water is filtered by a filter 72. The pump 66 is actuated by a float switch 74 and pumps collected water into the storage tank 68 when the water in the storage tank 68 falls below a predetermined level which is determined by the position of a float 76 indicating that water in the storage tank 68 requires replenishing.When the desired water level is reached the float switch 74 causes the pump to cease operation.

Excess water in the storage tank 68 leaves the storage tank 68 via an overflow pipe 78. The overflow pipe 78 is at a lower level on a side of the tank 68 than the inlet into the storage tank 68 for the line 70 so that water in the storage tank 68 does not become backsyphoned into line 70.

The water in the storage tank 68 is supplied to a hot water cylinder in a supply line 80 and a supply line 82 from the storage tank 68 supplies cold water to outlets within the building where the standard of the water is not required to be of relative high quality such as WC systems, washing machines, central heating systems, garden hoses etc. The supply line 82 communicates with the main supply line 56 at a junction 84 which has an arrangement providing a 100% air space preventing mixing of water from the storage tank with water supplied by the main supply line 56. Water of relative high quality is provided by the main supply line 56 to other outlets in the building where water of higher quality is required, for example, kitchen taps and bathroom taps.

Advantages of the fluid supply apparatus described in each of the above embodiments is that it provides a means for making available for use collected fluid of relative low quality and fluid of a higher quality supplied to a building via a main fluid supply line, thereby reducing the quantity of fluid used from the main supply. In areas where main water is supplied to a domestic or commercial building and is metered this arrangement would greatly reduce the costs incurred by the consumer. The apparatus also provides a means for improving the quality of the collected fluid and to prevent contamination of the main fluid supply with the collected fluid. This ensures that the quality of the fluid from the main fluid supply is not compromised and also partially treats the collected fluid to improve its quality. The apparatus is easy to install and does not require any other know-how than already known in this field.

Claims

1. A fluid supply apparatus for use in a domestic or commercial building comprising a main fluid supply connected by a first supply line to a first set of fluid outlets, a collection tank containing collected fluid and a second supply line supplying fluid from said collection tank to a second set of fluid outlets.

2. A fluid supply apparatus for use in a domestic or commercial building comprising a main fluid supply connected by a first supply line to a first set of fluid outlets, a storage tank receiving collected fluid from a collection tank, the storage tank communicating with a second supply line, the second supply line supplying fluid from said storage tank to a second set of fluid outlets.

3. An apparatus according to Claims 1 or 2 wherein a sterilising means is included to promote sterile conditions in the collected fluid.

4. An apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the sterilising means is provided by ultraviolet irradiation of the collected fluid.

5. An apparatus according to Claims 1 or 2 wherein the collection tank is provided with an inlet for replenishing the collection tank and a fluid level sensor, the sensor actuating replenishing of the collection tank through said inlet from the main fluid supply when the fluid in the collection tank is below a predetermined level.

6. An apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the storage tank has an inlet for replenishing the storage tank and a fluid level sensor, the sensor actuating replenishing of the storage tank through said inlet from the collection tank when the fluid in the storage tank is below a predetermined level.

7. An apparatus according to any of the preceding Claims wherein an overflow outlet is provided in the respective tanks.

8. An apparatus according to Claims 5 or 6 and 7 wherein each replenishing inlet of the respective tanks is above the respective overflow outlet.

9. An apparatus according to Claims 1 or 2 wherein the first supply line and the second supply line are connected, an air space being provided at the connection to prevent mixing of the fluid from the main fluid supply with the collected fluid.

10. An apparatus according to Claims 1 or 2 wherein the collected fluid is filtered before entering the second supply line.

11. An apparatus as substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.