GB2448496A

GB2448496A - Water recycling system

Info

Publication number: GB2448496A
Application number: GB0707333A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Albert Terence Harwood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-17
Filing date: 2007-04-17
Publication date: 2008-10-22
Also published as: GB0707333D0

Abstract

A water recycling system comprises a waste water capture receptacle (B) that replaces the conventional under sink waste trap, and a siphon adaptor (H) for transferring the water from receptacle (B) to a toilet cistern. The system sequentially preserves a volume of otherwise wasted water and delivers this captured volume for re-use on demand in a water closet flushing cistern or other storage facility.

Description

Page 1 Title Water Salvage System This invention relates to a water

salvage and re-use system.

Background

Water supplied on demand from the water grid is expensive and the volume available becoming less. Populations are expanding creating ever-increasing demands upon the water supply system.

On a daily basis in the domestic area alone, a great deal of supplied fresh water is wasted.

This is also the case in commercial and industrial situations.

For example the hot tap is more often than not left running until hot water emerges, then the sink plug is positioned and cold water is then added to attain a suitable temperature.

Teeth are often cleaned with the water running. Hands are washed under running water Much of the used water in a hand basin is only lightly contaminated and subsequently discarded.

Statement of Invention.

The presented invention proposes a wastewater capture receptacle mounted under the hand-basin that incorporates and replaces the conventional or existing trap.

A connection is made from this receptacle to an adjacent WC cistern.

Each flush of the WC empties this receptacle by force of siphon.

To achieve this, a siphon adaptor, the secondary part of this invention, is placed within the cistern.

The tertiary part of this invention allows the simple installation facility of the siphon adaptor.

This invention has the potential to provide a significant contribution to water saving.

An example of the invention is described in the following pages and can be understood by referring to the accompanying drawings.

Page 2 Advantages Each time the equipped hand-basin is used, water flowing to the conventional waste pipe is caused to flow firstly through the capture receptacle A useful proportion of this otherwise wasted water is stored within the receptacle and any excess is discharged in the normal way to the conventional waste pipe.

The next time the connected WC is flushed the stored water in the receptacle is drawn in to the WC cistern.

The cistern continues to fill until the cistern supply float valve is satisfied Each re-filling of the toilet cistern requires less supplied fresh water to close the cistern valve by virtue of the volume required being made up of fresh mixed with recovered water.

Given that a sink/toilet combination is in use on a daily basis by one or more persons in every household a saving of several thousand of litres of fresh water may be made with this invention installed.

The collective saving on a national basis could be in the order of billions of litres.

This economy is reflected in cost savings to the consumer, cost and delivery volume savings for the water supplier, energy savings in treatment and distribution and importantly, reduced demand on the ecology system providing the source water.

Page 3 Drawings -9 drawings over 7 pages -Figure 1 shows the principle invention part The Water Capture Receptacle B shown in cut-away view -Figure 2 shows a conventional hand-basin trap and waste arrangement (in outline drawing) -Figure 3 shows the invention receptacle B interposed between the basin waste outlet and the waste pipe and the siphon attachment outlet (in outline drawing) -Figure 4 shows a typical and conventional WC cistern ball valve and filling arrangement in a filled state -Figure 5 shows the siphon adaptor part -Figure 6 shows as figur 4 but modified with the invention siphon adaptor part installed in a filling state -Figure 7 shows the invention installation adaptor part -Figure 8 shows installation adaptor part installed -Figure 9 shows the complete arrangement as a schematic Please refer to these drawings when reading the following pages that contain the detailed description of this invention associated claims and variables Page 4

Detailed Description

The principle part (part one of three) -The Water Capture Receptacle The invention receptacle takes the form of a cylinder Fig 1 B closed by means of a removable sediment cap E and seated with an 0' ring (or) at the lower end, the other end being closed and fitted with three integrally moulded tube adaptor extrusions, that is, two large, (a) & (c) and one smaller, (b).

The diameter, length and thus capacity of the cylinder are variable according to domestic, commercial or industrial application. The principle is con!nt whereas the volume of water saved and re-used is therefore variable These tube adaptors represent the following connections: (a) the waste water input from the waste plug on the basin, (c) the waste water output to the existing waste pipe and (b) the siphon pipe attachment.

The inner and outer diameters of (a) & (c) conform to any standard basin waste pipe fittings dimensions By virtue of the internal arrangement of the receptacle a trap is formed, excess wastewater greater than the volume of the receptacle being directed to the existing waste pipe via (c) Whereas Fig 2 shows the existing and conventional trap arrangement, Fig 3 shows the invention water capture receptacle part (B) replacing such existing and conventional trap.

A perforated internal baffle Fig 1 (pb) is located at the minimal water level. It is removable for cleaning after removing the sediment cap E. This baffle (pb) ensures that any detritus (foam, shaving bristle, hair etc) is purged to waste thus ensuring that at any moment the receptacle above the baffle is filled with contaminated (used) but relatively clean water.

An internal trap (it) integral with siphon tube (b) prevents air entering (b) at minimal water level The water capture receptacJe is fixed to the surface convenient to the right or left of a hand basin at a predetermined height relative to the height of the existing or planned waste pipe installation.

With this design there is no risk of odour emanating from the basin plug or of any overflowing of the receptacle other than, that which flows directly to the connected waste pipe. The system will comply with all relevant and current water authority regulations Page 5

Detailed Description continued

2) The Secondary part (part two of three) of the invention -The Siphon Adaptor A siphon pipe Fig.9 (fsp) is routed from Fig 1 (b) to the adjacent WC cistern Fig 6 where it is connected to port (I) of the siphon adaptor part of this invention.

The siphon adaptor part of this invention Fig 5 H consists of a swept T' piece with two equal sized ports to enable installation within the length of, or to entirely replace the Jill and silencer pipe (g) and the third port (i) located in the swept' part of the 1'.

in the water path of this third port (I) is an adjustable flap valve (j) that sets the water flow rate being siphoned from the water capture receptacle B (b) via the venturi (k) A uniflow membrane valve (mv2) is located in the water path before (j) which assists in holding (fsp) in a primed state.

Whereas Fig 4 shows the schematic of a typical WC cistern, in a filled state, fitted with a ball valve (v) (although any other valve style applies), Fig 6 appears essentially the same but in the filling state with the siphon adaptor part of the invention installed in the fill and silencer pipe. (g) On operating the WC flush the cistern empties to the WC bowl in the normal way, but the replenishing fresh water derived from the service supply (sp) flowing via (v) and the fill and silencer pipe (g) Sets U a vacuum at (k) and subsequently a siphon action.

A volume of water stored in the receptacle B is thus siphoned off and led to mix with the incoming fresh replenishment water.

The siphon action ceases once the level of water stored in the receptacle B falls below a predetermined point.

The cistern continues to fill until the valve (v) is satisfied and closes the fresh water supply.

Since the volume of stored water in the receptacle B forms part of the total volume in the cistern required to raise the float or ball to satisfy the valve, incoming fresh water is used to re-fill the cistern.

At no point can there exist a reverse siphon action between the high-pressure house mains water feeding the WC cistern valve and the invention.

This is ensured by positioning the receptacle in relation to the adjacent WC and by the design of the invention maintaining adequate anti-siphon Telief.

The invention parts described in Fig 1 B, Fig 5 II and Fig 7 (the installation adaptor part of the invention described next) can be manufactured in a broad range of corrode-resist materials according to application.

No part of the invented system is subjected to water pressure above one atmosphere so conventional sanitary plastic-ware material will qualify for a volume produced system.

Where there is an advanced requirement the invention receptacle B may be housed within or form an integral part of, a hand basin support column made of ceramic or plastics The receptacle B may also be employed without a siphon connection to a WC, recovered water may be routed to a storage tank elsewhere Page 6

Detailed Description continued

3) The tertiary part -(part three of three) The invention Installation Adaptor Explanation of need Facilitating the entry and positioning of the siphon tube Fig 6 (fsp) may sometimes prove difficult in some cases.

Plastic cisterns with close fitting lids; ceramic cisterns (close coupled or otherwise) are often and usually are supplied with ceramic tops that fit closely to the cistern or the wall upon which they are mounted.

Retrofit insertion of an extra tube, may require either an access hole or some other method to gain permanent entry.

in new cistern production an additional entry hole can be incorporated.

Description

The invention installation part I/A is a T' piece of rigid plastic material that interposes in the cistern overflow tube Figs 7 & 8 (yy) where fitted Of the three ports, two are equal in a diameter that accepts the overflow tube, whereas the third port (the leg of the T') designed as an integral back-to-back connection is of a diameter to accept the siphon tube (fsp) The presence of this connector and associated (fsp) does not impede water flowing through the overflow pipe should valve v fail or the water level in the cistern rise above the overflow point within the cistern.

This T' is designed so as to allow a tube to run from the leg of the 1' internally at point (xfsp), routed up through the overflow tube within the cistern and thence to the invention siphon adaptor part Fig 5 (i) installed to the existing float valve fill/silencer tube (g).

Fig 8 clarifies the water route thus -(fsp) -I/A -(xfsp) -(fsp) -(k) -H (g) The following pages contain -Claims for the invention and constituent parts -Abstract

Claims

Page 7 Claims 1. A water salvage and re-use system for use in Domestic,

Commercial and Industrial applications as described in the Statement of Invention page 1 2. A water salvage and re-use system according to claim 1 that employs a water capture device as described and implied in the Detailed Description part one of three on Page 4 3. A water salvage and re-use system according to claim 2 that employs a siphon adaptor as described and implied in the Detailed Description part two of three on Page 5 4. A water salvage and re-use system according to claim 3 employs an installation adaptor as described and implied in the Detailed Description part three of three on Page 6 5. A water salvage and re-use system according to claim 4 that can be installed related to or connect to any proprietary hand basin or WC cistern and any combination thereof 6. A water salvage and re-use system according to claim S that can be made to accommodate any practical volume of salvaged water storage 7. A water salvage and re-use system according to claim 6 of which any component may be used in stand alone condition or in any combination one with another and in any number at a given installation location 8. A water salvage and re-use system according to claim 7 of which any number of complete or partial systems can be connected or combined to form a greater or larger effective system 9 A water salvage and re-use system according to claim 8 made of any materials or combination of materials available that are fit for purpose as water handling piping storing or distributing fresh or re-used water Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Page Claims 1 An uncomplicated discrete and simply installed, self-cleaning water salvage system comprised of three parts, the principle parts being a water capture vessel and a siphon adaptor connected together by means of a siphon tube and an optional installation adaptor, and requiring no electrical connection or switching controls, pumps, tanks or any structural alterations to install and that may be installed by an owner-handyman with the minimum of tools and instruction.

2 A Water capture vessel as in claim 1 in the form of a vertical cylinder made in such a way that the upper end is closed by an integrally moulded cap of the same material, through which also by integral moulding three rigid pipes are installed, two of a diameter larger than the third.

3 A water capture vessel according to claims 1 & 2 in which the integral rigid pipes protrude from the said upper cap by a distance that enables external pipes or tubes to be connected, the larger two being made to accommodate the water inflow from an existing hand-basin and the subsequent discharge of water that exceeds the capacity of the cylinder to an existing waste pipe the third smaller pipe being made to accommodate attachment of a small bore siphon tube 4 A water capture vessel according to claims 1 & 3 where the diameter and length of the cylinder and thus the capacity in terms of captured water is chosen to accommodate flexibility of useful volume in relation the capacity of the destination cistern or cisterns A water capture vessel according to claims 1 & 4 where internally, within the cylinder the integral three rigid pipes extend in length down toward the bottom of the cylinder, the two larger being longer than the third smaller one. * *.

* * 6 A water capture vessel according to claims 1 & S where the lower end of the cylinder is closed off by means of a removable threaded cap that incorporates a leak proof seal, the cap, seal and cylinder forming a leak proof union arranged so that the two larger rigid internal pipes do not touch the * : internal surface of the cap when it is fully in position on the cylinder. ***

7 A water capture vessel according to claims 1 & 6 where within the cylinder is a circular, convex disc, the outer diameter of which is made so as to be a sliding and intimate fit to the inner diameter of the cylinder and that can be accessed and removed by removal of the removable cap and seal.

8 A water capture vessel according to claims 1 & 7 where the circular, convex disc is pierced with two large holes that are arranged so that the two large internal pipes extending down from the upper cylinder integrally moulded cap, can pass through it as a sliding and intimate fit to a point that is within a short distance from the lower end of the cylinder, and where the remaining surface area of the disc is perforated with a multitude of tiny holes thus representing a filter or baffle.

Claims PAGE ôf 9 A water capture vessel according to claims 1 & 8 where with the disc placed within the lower end of the cylinder and with the two large holes aligning with the related two large pipes, the disc is limited in its travel vertically within the inner wall of the cylinder by a stop-ring integrally moulded in the wall of the cylinder, this limit of travel enabling the disc to be held in place by the removable cap thus a cavity is formed between the lower surface of the disc and the inner surface of the cap in to which the two larger rigid pipes are arranged to protrude, the arrangement forming a water trap.

A water capture vessel according to claims 1 & 9 Where the third and smaller diameter of the internal rigid pipes extending down from the upper cylinder are arranged so that in length it does not touch the upper surface of the filter disc when the disc is in position but is turned back on itself 180 degrees to form a small "U" bend at its extremity, arranged so as to limit the volume of water subsequently removed from the cylinder by the siphon tube to which this small pipe is externally connected and to aid automatic priming of the siphon.

11 A Siphon Adaptor according to claim 1 made as an unequal hollow "T" piece is arranged to have a swept branch of a small internal diameter and the two remaining orifices of a larger internal diameter but equal in size to each other.

A Siphon Adaptor according to claims 1 & 11 constructed in a manner so that the internal diameter of the larger orifices is made to coincide with diameter of the water delivery tube or pipe to be found within any water delivery valve type employed within a Water Closet Cistern, and arranged in-situ so that the equal * ** *., orifices of the siphon adaptor may be placed in the path of incoming fresh water * delivered by any such water delivery valve, and that the branch having a small diameter can accommodate attachment of a siphon tube * : A Siphon Adaptor according to claims 1 &12 arranged so that when installed * either in line with the water delivery pipe or as a substitute for such delivery pipe, incoming fresh water released by the cistern valve is directed to the cistern cavity at a rate of flow according to the supply pressure through the larger bore of the "r' piece, which offers the least path of resistance to the flow, and with the swept * branch of the "T "being arranged in angle and length in relationship to the main body in such a way that a partial vacuum thus set up in the branch bore is made to draw recovered water from the water capture vessel via a siphon tube.

A Siphon Adaptor according to claims 1 & 13 where the length of the swept branch is made long enough to accommodate two adjustable valves placed in the path of the flow of recovered water that is drawn from the water capture vessel via a siphon tube, such valves constructed in the form of a cylinder that is made to * insert into the internal diameter of the swept branch of the "T", effecting optimum flow regulation and non-return function regardless of the pressure or flow rate of the water in the larger bore of the "T".

CLAIMS PACE lb 16 An installation adaptor according to claim 1 where a "T" piece of three equal ports is constructed of suitable material and in a maimer that allows inter-position in line with an existing water overflow pipe of any commercially available size and the branch part to be connected to an external siphon tube of either the same size or one reduced 17 An installation adaptor according to claims I & 15 where the branch of the "T" piece is constructed so as to allow an external connection to a small bore tube in a manner that would allow any fluid in such an attached tube to be transferred to a similar connection in one of the larger bores of the T' thus forming a back-to-back internal small bore connector, witho mixing with or interfering with a flow of different water flowing through the main bore thus allowing captured water to flow jo a W.C cistern cavity and so on to an installed Siphon Adaptor as described in claims ten (10) through fourteen (14), whilst simultaneously allowing overflow of the normal water content, where present, of the W.C. cistern in the opposite direction and to waste. * * * *.. *.**

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