GB2295666A

GB2295666A - Shower using waste heat

Info

Publication number: GB2295666A
Application number: GB9521225A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harry Eddington Jackson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-10-19
Filing date: 1995-10-17
Publication date: 1996-06-05
Also published as: GB9521225D0; GB9421320D0

Abstract

In a shower arrangement comprising a shower head and a shower floor pan, a first conduit 1 for supplying water to said shower head and a second conduit 2 for draining waste water from said shower pan, a portion of the first conduit 1 is disposed within the second conduit 2 in heat-exchange relationship for exchange of heat between waste water in the second conduit and water in the first conduit, whereby to heat water in said first conduit. The conduits are coaxial tubes arranged in a spiral. The inner (supply) tube is corrugated to improve heat-exchange and mounted via spiders in the outer tube. <IMAGE>

Description

SHOWER ECONOMISER PREHEATER This invention is concerned with improvements in and relating to shower baths and, more particularly, is concerned with an economiser preheater for use in a shower bath, or a shower bath provided therewith, whereby to economise on the use of heat energy.

Basically, the invention provides a shower arrangement comprising a shower head and a shower floor pan, first conduit means for supplying water to said shower head and second conduit means for draining waste from said shower pan, characterised in that a portion of the first conduit means is disposed within second conduit means in heat-exchange relationship for exchange of heat between waste water in the second conduit and water in the first conduit, whereby to heat water in said first conduit.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second conduits are elongate conduits, the portion wherein said first and second conduits are in heat-exchange relationship being an extended elongate portion, e.g. having a length of from 5 to 10 metres, preferably 6 to 8 metres, whereby to allow for improved heat exchange between the two conduits.

Suitably, the first and second conduits are arranged in heat-exchange relationship in a manner such that said first conduit extends generally coaxially within and along the length of a portion of said second conduit.

The desired length of conduit in heat-relationship with each other can suitably be achieved by arranging the conduits in a serpentine, helical or like elongate curve form. The conduit may, for example, be arranged below the floor pan of the shower or, where the shower head is located above a bath, below that bath.

As will be appreciated water passing from the first conduit to the shower head may be further heated, after preheating in accordance with the invention, by conventional heating means which may, for example, be gas or electrical heating means. Alternatively, a separate supply of hot water may be fed to the shower head, or mixing means preceeding it, for admixture with the preheated (originally cold) water fed in a conduit 1.

In order that the invention may be well understood reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which: The economiser system of the invention has the advantages that it may be retro-fitted to an existing shower installation since it requires no structural alteration to an already existing system.

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section through a shower arrangement in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2 is a section through the line A-B in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary illustration, on an enlarged scale, of the relationship between the first and second conduits; and Fig. 4 illustrates the use of a "spider" to support the first conduit within the second conduit.

As shown in the drawings a shower arrangement comprises a floor pan having a drain hole 5 connected with drain conduit 2 which is arranged in a generally spiral configuration below the floor of the shower pan before being connected to exterior drain plumbing (not shown). Water is supplied to a water heater, and thence to a shower head above the shower pan via a conduit 1 from water supply means not shown; conduit 1 being, for the greater part of its length, coaxially located in conduit 2 so that water flowing through conduit 1 will flow in counter-cu ent relationship to water exiting the shower pan via conduit 2.

The wall of the inner conduit 1 is preferably corrugated in order to maximise its transmission properties, and hence improve heat-exchange. The inner conduit 1 is maintained concentrically within the outer conduit 2 via a number of spiders 3 spaced at intervals along the length of conduit 2. The arms 4 of the spiders 3 have the form of vanes set at an angle to the axis of the pipes, thereby imparting a swirling motion to the waste water and maximising the rate of its heat transfer to the inner conduit 1. The inlets and outlet 6 of the exit conduit 2 are preferably both located at levels sufficient to ensure that the conduit is always full of water (flooded).

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A shower arrangement comprising a shower head and a shower floor pan, first conduit means for supplying water to said shower head and said second conduit means for draining waste water from said shower pan, characterised in that a portion of the first conduit means is disposed within said second conduit means in heat-exchange relationship for exchange of heat between waste water in the second conduit and water in the first conduit, whereby to heat water in said first conduit.

2. A shower arrangement as claimed in claim 1 in which said second conduits are elongate conduits, with the first conduit generally coaxially disposed within said second conduit for a part of the length of the two conduits.

3. A shower arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.