GB2304781A

GB2304781A - Water storage apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2304781A
Application number: GB9617226A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Taylor Mcdonald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-08-23
Filing date: 1996-08-16
Publication date: 1997-03-26
Anticipated expiration: 2016-08-16
Also published as: GB2304781B; GB9517210D0; GB9617226D0

Abstract

A water storage means consists of a tank 7, piping means for connecting said tank to a source of potable water, an electrically-operated valve 10 in said piping means, a water level detecting means 13 in said tank, means to control operation of said valve in response to signals from said detecting means, and outlet means from said tank. The sensor in the tank, or in an overflow pipe therefrom, controls the operation of the valve, via an electrical signal, to open the valve when the water level falls below a predetermined point and to close it when the level rises to a predetermined point. A submerged pump draws water out of the tank for use.

Description

INBOARD WATER STORAGE MEANS FOR TOURING CARAVANS AND THE LIKE This specification relates to touring caravans, boats and the like, having an in-built water storage tank(s), where water is taken either from adjacent mains or from a tank filled manually from a central supply. Water tanks on boats are normally connected to a shore supply and filled in a similar manner via a flexible hose.

Many caravan sites are fitted with a ring main to which caravanners may connect their plumbing system via a flexible hose. A common problem is that the watersupply available is not adequate to meet the requirements of all users at peak periods; the result is that either the pressure is greatly reduced or that no water is available to those near the end of the main. It is known to connect the main on caravan sites to either external or internal water tanks having conventional ball-cock valves to regulate the level in the tanks. Unfortunately, in many modern designs of caravan, the built-in tanks are flat with a shallow depth rather than of a cube or vertical cylindrical shape.Such tanks normally have rounded edges and corners so that it is difficult to fit the float valve very near to the top; thus, in practice, this means that a considerable proportion of the vertical height of the water tank is unusable as it is above the level at which the ballcock closes.

In modern caravans, there is a trend to use the available space as ingeniously as possible and water tanks are often slung underneath the floor. This is good in that it gives a low centre of gravity and potentially a large capacity, but to keep adequate ground clearance, the tank inevitably has to be of shallow depth. A ballcock in such shallow tanks, as explained, means that the amount of water available is limited; often to only about 60% of the nominal tank capacity. This situation can be much worse if the site is not level as the water will run to one end or side of the tank. On sites where water supplies tend to be irregular, for the reasons mentioned above, this means that the occupants will quickly run out of water and be unable to refill their tank until other caravanners have stopped using water and the main is operative again.

There is thus a need for a means to be able to fill, or almost fill, such built-in tanks to give a greater quantity of usable water.

Where ring mains are not provided, caravanners must take water carriers to a central point, fill them and carry (or roll) them back to the caravan. Submersible pumps may then be used to transfer the water from the water carrier to the caravan's internal tank.

According to the invention there is provided a water storage means for use in touring caravans, houseboats or the like, comprising; i. a source of potable water; ii. a built-in water storage tank; iii. a piping means to connect said source of potable water to said water storage tank; iv. an in-line electrically operated valve in said piping means; v. a means to sense the water level in said water storage tank and to produce output signals; vi. a means to control the operation of said electrically operated valve in response to said signals; and vii. a means to remove water from said storage tank.

In a preferred system the source of potable water is the mains and the electrically operable valve is controlled by a solenoid means. The sensor is a level controller which produces a first signal when the water level touches it. As the sensor would be at/near the top of the water storage tank, the signal would be produced when the tank was full.

The signal would be used to activate the solenoid and cause the electrically operated valve to close and shut off the supply of water. When water is removed from the storage tank, preferably by a submerged pump, the fall in the water level activates the level sensor to produce a second signal to re-open the electrically operated valve. The piping means may include both a flexible connection from the source of potable water to the caravan and permanent piping inside the caravan. The means to remove water from the storage tank is preferrably a submerged pump.

According to a first variation of the apparatus of the invention, the means to sense the water level is a level controller.

According to a second variation of the apparatus of the invention, the means to sense the water level is a pressure sensitive device.

When the water storage tank is full, the signal to operate the solenoid is provided by either a level sensor or a pressure sensitive device. These would both operate to produce a first signal when the water level or pressure reached a preset value to cause the solenoid to close the electrically operated valve and produce a second signal when the water level or pressure was less than the preset value, thus causing said electrically operated valve to open.

According to a third variation ofthe apparatus of the invention, the source of water is an external water carrier supplied via a submersible pump and said signals cause said pump to cease and recommence pumping.

Where mains water is not available, water may be collected from a central point in a container and carried to the caravan. A pump is then placed in the container connected by flexible piping, e.g. a hose, to the internal piping in the caravan and the water in container 19 is pumped via the electrically operated valve into the in-built storage tank.

When the tank is full the first signal from the sensor is used both to close the electrically operated valve and to switch off the submerged pump. When water from the built-in tank is used and the level falls, the second signal from the sensor would re-open the electrically operated valve and re-start the submerged pump. A 12 volt battery is the preferred means for operating the electrically operated valve, the submerged pump(s) and the sensors (if required) but other sources of supply, e.g. mains, are equally possible..

For a clearer understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an horizontal elevation of a caravan connected to a mains supply (prior art).

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a first design of the apparatus of the invention connected to a mains supply.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of an alternative design of the apparatus of the invention connected to a mains supply.

Figure 4 is a block diagram of the alternative design of figure 3 shown connected to a water carrier 19.

In this description the same reference numeral is used for the same or similar components filling identical roles.

Referring to Fig. 1, a caravan 1 is shown connected to a water main 2 via a valve 3 and connector 4. A flexible hose 5 takes water from connector 4 to access port 6 where it connects with the caravan's internal plumbing system and fills tank 7 via ball-cock valve 24. From here a submerged pump 15 passes water into the caravan's plumbing system 16 for use 8, 9. As shown, the water level in tank 7 is only about half full due to the shallow shape of the tank (to give the caravan a low centre of gravity) and the use of ballcock valve 24.

Reference to Fig. 2 shows tank 7 in larger size and in particular the rounded edges and corners 7A. Because of these rounded edges, it is impossible to make plumbing connections very near the corners of the tank, hence connection 25 is on the flat part of the side just below the point where the curvature starts. Thus, when a connection and ball-cock are fitted at this point, a considerable portion of the height 7B of tank 7 is above the point where the ball-cock will close and so cannot be filled. As tank 7 is shallow, this means that a considerable proportion of the volume, in some cases over 30%, is unfillable.

Fig. 1 also shows the alternative arrangement of a water carrier 19 connected by a flexible hose SA.

Referring to Fig. 2, hose 5 is connected via access port 6 and piping to electrically operated valve 10, the outlet of which is connected to tank 7 at point 25. A level sensor (indicated by the symbol 'L') is located at the top oftank 7. Valve 10 is operated via any suitable electrical means, for example, a solenoid 11 powered by battery 12. Water enters tank 7 via open valve 10 and the level rises until the water contacts level sensor 13 causing a signal 14 to be sent to solenoid 11 to close valve 10.

A submersible pump 15 is used to supply water to the piping 16 for use. An overflow 17 and drain 18 are also provided.

As water is used 15, 16, the level in tank 7 falls, causing level sensor 13 to operate and signal 14 solenoid 11 to open valve 10. When tank 7 is full, the level sensor 13 acts 14 to close valve 10 as described. If water is unavailable from mains 2 due to demand elsewhere the contents of the tank cannot be replenished until water again becomes available, but the contents of the full tank 7 should be adequate for a considerable number of requirements, e.g. a shower 9 and/or washing, cooking 8. When the water supply is restored, the system will operate as described above to refill tank 7. Sensor 13 and solenoid 11 will be designed to fail safe in the closed position; but should something go wrong, overflow 17 is provided to avoid flooding in the caravan.

In an alternative design, Fig. 3, a pressure sensor 22 (indicated by symbol 'P') is used in place of level sensor 13. This would be preset to operate 14 when tank 7 is full and the water level climbs a short distance up upstand 17A of overflow pipe 17. It will be noted here that the overflow pipe has a higher upstand 1 7A than in Fig. 2, but otherwise the two systems are identical.

Fig. 4 shows the principal of the disclosure illustrated in Fig. 3, but with the use of an external water carrier 19. Here, pressure sensor 22 is connected directly to tank 7 rather than the inlet pipe and two signals are generated. Signal 14 controls solenoid 11 to operate valve 10. Signal 14A controls a switch 23 in the circuit taking power 21 to submerged pump 15A in water carrier 19. A handle 20 is shown on carrier 19 to indicate that it is portable. Here, when water is used 15, 16 from tank 7, sensor 22 registers the decrease in pressure as the level in the up stand of overflow pipe 17 falls and opens valve 10 via signal 14 and closes switch 23 via signal 14A, so that valve 10 and pump 1SA operate at the same time.When tank 7 is frill and water starts to rise in the upstand 1 7A of drain 17, sensor 22 closes 14 valve 10 and opens 1 4A switch 23.

An alternative to pressure sensor 22 would be to put a level sensor 13 in upstand 1 7A (not shown); this would have advantage over the position of sensor 13 in tank 7 where the caravan was not on level ground It is known that a separate stand-alone water storage tank can be provided with a solenoid-operated on/off valve. Such units are portable and are designed to stand beside the caravan. A major problem exists in waterproofing the solenoid and relay against the weather in ways which comply with the health and safety requirements, for example, where children may be playing around with paddling pools, etc. It is also known that such-portable water storage tanks can be allocated spaces inside the caravan or on the towing bracket structure.In either of these locations, the problems of electrical connections are reduced, but, as space is at an extreme premium in a touring caravan, such an option creates as many problems as it solves.

It is important to note with the current disclosure, that the solenoid operating valve is located at the optimum position, e.g. where maintenance may be most conveniently carried out; this is almost always remote from tank 7. Because all the available space on a touring caravan is used so effectively, large shallow water tanks 7, usually slung underneath the chassis, are preferred. Clearly, it would be disadvantageous to place solenoid valve 10 adjacent to tank 7 under caravan 1 where it would be subject to splashing from the road during transit and the high humidity from dew on the grass overnight on a caravan site. In Fig. 2, a length of pipe 26 is shown between valve 10 and the inlet 25 to tank 7. This distance indicates that valve 10 may be remote from tank 7 as described above.

Unlike the portable stand alone unit, or an equivalent unit adapted to fit on or inside the caravan and which is removable when the caravan is sold, the apparatus according to the disclosure is a permanent fixture designed by the manufacturer to fit into the particular confines of that model of his product. As such, the flexibility which the disclosure offers manufacturers, permits the optimum design to be achieved with any given caravan. Clearly, this is not the case where a large rectangular volume has to be set aside for the incorporation ofthe water tank. While the present disclosure flavours the aesthetics of the design, it also favours the stability of the vehicle when being towed, as the weight is low and distributed rather than high, concentrated and, very probably, off-centre. This is another factor which militates against the incorporation of the stand alone type unit into new designs of caravan.

The apparatus of the invention is designed to accept full mains pressure and operate with a solenoid and relay arrangement powered by either battery or mains voltage. As all the connections are internal to the caravan, they can be properly made according to appropriate health and safety practices and not left to the vagaries of amateur electricians or plumbers.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for water storage for use in touring caravans, houseboats or the like, comprising; i. a source of potable water; ii. a built-in water storage tank; iii. a piping means to connect said source of potable water to said water storage tank; iv. an in-line electrically operated valve in said piping means; v. a means to sense the water level in said water storage tank and to produce output signals; vi. a means to control the operation of said electrically operated valve in response to said signals; and vii. a means to remove water from said storage tank.

2. Apparatus for water storage, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said source of potable water is the mains.

3. Apparatus for water storage, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said source iof potable water is a separate container.

4. Apparatus for water storage, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said built-in water storage tank has limited internal height.

5. Apparatus for water storage, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said in-line electrically operated valve can accommodate the full water mains pressure.

6. Apparatus for water storage, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said electrically operated valve fails in the closed position.

7. Apparatus for water storage, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means to sense said water level in said water storage tank is a level sensitive device.

8. Apparatus for water storage, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means to sense said water level in said water storage tank is a pressure sensitive device.

9. Apparatus for water storage, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means to control the operation of said electrically operated valve is a battery.

10. Apparatus for water storage, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means to control the operation of said electrically operated valve is mains electricity, suitably converted, if necessary.

11. Apparatus for water storage, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means to operate said electrically operated valve is a solenoid.

12. Apparatus for water storage, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means to sense the water level in said water storage tank is built into said water storage tank.

13. Apparatus for water storage, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means to sense the water level in said water storage tank is built into an upstand of an overflow pipe from said water storage tank.

14. Apparatus for water storage, as claimed in claims 7 and 8, wherein said output signals from said means to sense said water level in said water storage tank causes said electrically operated valve to open when the water level falls below a predetermined point and causes said electrically operated valve to close when the water rises to a predetermined point.

15. Apparatus for water storage, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means to remove water from said storage tank is a submerged pump.

16. Apparatus for water storage, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said separate water tank is portable.

IP104C