GB2496032A

GB2496032A - Caravan water delivery system and apparatus having two storage tanks

Info

Publication number: GB2496032A
Application number: GB201218432A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul William Stapleton; Paul Neal; Lawrence Samuel Mortimer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-10-24
Filing date: 2012-10-15
Publication date: 2013-05-01
Also published as: GB201118325D0; GB201218432D0

Abstract

A delivery system 10 for the fresh water of a caravan. The system has its own pump 16, 24. A water supply line 12 is provided through which the pump 16, 24 can deliver water from a portable water tank into the caravan. The water supply line 12 includes a primary branch 14 adapted to deliver water from a primary portable water tank, and a secondary branch 22 adapted to deliver water from a secondary portable water tank. The system has a controller 20 connected to the water supply line 12, the controller 20 being adapted to switch the water delivery between the primary water tank and the secondary water tank dependent upon the level of water within the respective tanks. Preferably valves 28, 30 are present which may be non return valves. Optionally float switches 32, 34 may be present.

Description

CARAVAN WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM AND APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

S This invention relates to a delivery system for the fresh water of a caravan.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

io Most caravans do not have a facility for connecting to a mains water supply network. Instead, most caravans have a portable vessel or tank which can be taken to a water outlet, filled with water and then stored either within or adjacent to the caravan. The term "caravan' is used herein to refer generally to touring caravans and motor caravans which utilise portable water tanks.

A submersible pump may be inserted into the tank to pump water along a supply pipe and into the caravan, or the pump may be located within the caravan whereby water is drawn along the suppiy pipe from the water tank. in the former arrangement an electrical supply is provided from the caravan to the submersible pump.

The volume of water which can be stored within the tank is limited by the size of the tank, and also the requirement to carry or otherwise transport the filled tank from the water outlet to the caravan. The portable water tanks which are used with caravans hold at most 60 litres of water, and more typically hold between 25 and 40 litres.

It is a known disadvantage of caravans that the water tank will require regular re-filNng. It is another known disadvantage that the water tank may become empty at inconvenient times, such as for example when the caravan occupant is washing.

The likelihood of the water tank becoming empty at an inconvenient time is increasing due to the increase in the provision of on-board showers in caravans, a caravan occupant being likely to use considerably more water during a shower than when washing in a basin.

Most caravan occupants are aware of this problem and will check that the water tank is sufficiently full before commencing a shower, but that is not a foolproof solution and it remains a widespread concern that the water tank will become empty at an inconvenient time.

In order to increase the water storage capacity for the caravan, some occupants utilise two portable water tanks. Whilst this reduces the likelihood of the occupant needing to re-visit the water outlet part-way through a shower for example, it does not overcome the problem as the occupant may still empty a water tank during io use of a shower and will need to exit the caravan in order to transfer the submersible pump from the empty water tank to the full water tank.

The known submersible pumps receive an electrical supply from the caravan, and operate whenever there is a water demand from the caravan. The submersible is pumps are typically designed to be cooled by their immersion in water. Another known problem for caravan users is that the submersible pump can overheat if the water tank becomes empty. If, for example, a tap is left running or dripping within a caravan the water tank can be emptied relatively quickly, and the pump will continue to operate, with the result that the pump may overheat sufficiently to cause irreparable damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventors have sought to overcome or reduce the problems and disadvantages set out above.

According to the invention there is provided a water delivery system for a caravan, the system having a pump and a water supply line, the pump being adapted to deliver water from a portable water tank along the water supply line and into the caravan, the water supply line including a secondary branch for insertion into a secondary portable water tank, the water delivery system having a controller connected to the water supply line, the controller being adapted to switch the water supply between the water tank and the secondary water tank dependent upon the level of water within the respective tanks.

The present invention therefore provides an automatic back-up for the (primary) water tank, and can automatically switch the water supply from the primary water tank to the secondary water tank as or when the primary water tank becomes empty. The caravan occupant is not required to exit the caravan in order to switch the water supply between the primary and secondary tanks, even if the primary tank becomes empty at an inconvenient time.

Provided that the caravan occupant is diligent in ensuring that the secondary water tank is full whilst the primary water tank is in use, and vice versa, the caravan can have a continuous supply of water.

is In an embodiment utilising submersible pumps, a primary submersible pump is provided for insertion into the (primary) water tank and a secondary submersibie pump is provided for insertion into the secondary water tank, each of the submersible pumps being connected to a respective branch of the water supply line and each of the submersible pumps receiving its electrical supply from the controller, the controller being adapted to switch the electrical power supply between the submersible pumps.

In an embodiment for a caravan having on on-board pump (i.e. the water pump is located within the caravan) the controller can selectively open and close valves in the respective branches of the water supply line, and is preferably actuated by vacuum switches.

Preferably, the controller has means to detect the water level within the water tanks. The controller can therefore switch between the water tanks before a water tank becomes totally empty. This will ensure that there is no interruption in the supply of water along the water supply line, and importantly can ensure that the water level does not drop to a level at which a submersible pump might overheat and become damaged. Desirably, the controller can switch off the pump (or pumps) altogether in the event that both of the water tanks become empty, so that damage to the pumps, especially submersible pumps, is reduced or avoided.

Desirably, the means to detect the water level is a float switch. In embodiments utilising submersible pumps each float switch is preferably carried by a respective submersible pump.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a schematic representation of a part of the water delivery system for a caravan.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The part of the water delivery system 10 which is shown in the drawing comprises a water supply pipe or water supply line 12, 14. The water supply line 12 is connected to a caravan (not shown). In common with many conventional water detivery systems the water supply line 12, 14 is connected to a (primary) submersible pump 16 which is designed to be inserted into a portable water tank (not shown) and immersed in the water within the tank. The pump 16 receives an electrical supply from the caravan (the electrical wires for which run along or within the water supply line 12, 14), and pumps water along the water supply line 12, 14 in response to demand from the caravan.

In the present invention a controller 20 is connected to the water supply line between the parts 12 and 14, the part 14 comprising a primary branch of the water supply line. A secondary branch 22 of the water supply line is also connected to the controller 20. The secondary branch line 22 has a secondary submersible pump 24 which is designed to be inserted into a secondary water tank (also not shown).

The controller 20 has a Y-connector 26 by which both of the branch lines 14 and 22 are connected to the part 12 of the water supply line.

s A valve 28 is located in the primary branch 14 and a valve 30 is located in the secondary branch 22, both of the valves 28, 30 being upstream of the Y-connector 26. The valves 28, 30 are both non-return valves, so as to ensure that water can only flow from a respective water tank to the caravan, and cannot be pumped from the primary water tank to the secondary water tank, or vice versa.

The submersible pumps 16 and 24 have respective float switches 32, 34, which communicate the water level within their respective water tanks to the controller 20.

is When the water delivery system 10 is in operation, each of the submersible pumps 16, 24 is located within its respective water tank and the float switches 32, 34 communicate the respective water levels to the controller 20. The controller 20 is configured initially to actuate the primary pump 16 unless the float switch 32 indicates that the water level in the (primary) water tank is too low, in which case the controller 20 will actuate the secondary pump 24. If both of the float switches 32 and 34 indicate that the water levels in both water tanks are too low neither of the pumps 16, 24 will be actuated. There will be no water flow into the caravan and the occupant will be alerted to re-fill the water tanks.

If there is sufficient water within the primary water tank when a demand signal is received from the caravan, the controller 20 will actuate the primary pump 16.

The valves 28,30 in this embodiment are simple one-way valves so that the valve 28 will automatically open as water is pumped along the primary branch 14, the water flowing through the Y-connector 26, along the part 12 of the water supply pipe, and into the caravan.

When the float switch 32 indicates that the water level within the primary water tank has dropped to a predermined level, the controller switches off the primary pump 16 and switches on the secondary pump 24.

The water level at which the water supply is switched between tanks will be predetermined the system manufacturer. The supply may for example be switched only when a water tank is substantially empty and air is being drawn into the primary branch 14. More typically, the minimum water level will be determined in relation to the pump, for example a level corresponding to the top of the io submersible pump. The system manufacturer will determine the minimum water level dependent upon whether or not the submersible pump must be fully or partially immersed in order not to overheat.

Some time after the water supply has been switched from the primary water tank is to the secondary water tank, the occupant will re-fill the primary water tank. The controller 20 will nevertheless continue to actuate the secondary pump 24 until the water level in the secondary water tank drops to the predetermined level, whereupon the water supply will switch to the primary water tank again.

It is a beneficial feature of this invention that the controller 20 will only actuate the pumps 16 and 24 if there is sufficient water within the respective water tank.

There is therefore much less likelihood of the pumps overheating and possibly failing in use.

It is another beneficial feature that the controller 20 can include indicators to alert the user to the water level within each of the water tanks. Thus, the known portable water tanks are opaque and in order to determine the water level the occupant must remove the lid and look into the water tank. With the present invention, however, the controller can include two sets of indicator lights, one set for each of the water tanks, the indicator lights for the respective water tanks indicating green or red, or perhaps green, orange and red, to alert the occupant to the water level within each of the water tanks. It can be arranged that green indicates a full or partially full water tank, orange indicates an almost empty water tank and red indicates an empty water tank. Since the occupant will not otherwise be aware of the switch between water tanks a visual indicator to indicate that a water tank is empty is a very beneficial feature. Diligent caravan occupants will likely check the visual indicator at least once each day, ready to re-fill a water tank for which the indicator is showing red.

It will be understood that the controller 20, the branches 14 and 22, and the submersible pumps 16 and 24, can be fitted to the end of an existing water supply pipe for a caravan, so that the invention is suitable for retro-fitment to a caravan utilising a single submersible pump (and therefore having an electrical supply to the submersible pump).

Whilst the invention has been described in detail in relation to embodiments having an electrically powered controller 20 and electrically powered submersible is pumps 16, 24, it is also suitable for use with caravans which use an on-board pump. in such embodiments the controller can be battery powered if desired, or preferably can control the valves in the respective water supply lines by way of vacuum switches which communicate with the respective float switches.

The pipes 36a, 36b and 36c which lie alongside the respective parts 12, 14 and 22 of the water supply pipe are sleeves to protect the respective signalling, electrical or vacuum communications to and from the controller 26. In the case of electrically-operated submersible pumps 16, 24, the pipes 36a-c carry electrical wires which provide power to the controller 20 and to the submersible pumps 16 and 24, and also carry signal wires which communicate the water level from the float switches 32, 34 to the controller 20. In the case of non-electrically-powered systems the pipes 36b and 36c communicate air pressure signals issued by the float switches within the primary and secondary water tanks.

Claims

<claim-text>CLAIMS1. A caravan water delivery system, the system having a pump and a water supply line, the pump being adapted to deliver water from a portable water tank along the water supply line and into the caravan, the portable water tank being a primary water tank, the water supply line including a primary branch adapted to deliver water from the primary water tank, the water supply line having a secondary branch adapted to deliver water from a secondary water tank, the system having a controller connected to the water io supply line, the controller being adapted to switch the water delivery between the primary water tank and the secondary water tank dependent upon the level of water within the respective tanks.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A caravan water delivery system according to claim 1 including a primary is submersible pump for insertion into the primary water tank and a secondary submersible pump for insertion into the secondary water tank, the primary submersible pump being connected to the primary branch and the secondary submersible pump being connected to the secondary branch, each of the submersible pumps being electrically connected to the controller, the controller being adapted to actuate a chosen one of the primary and secondary submersibte pumps.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A caravan water delivery system according to claim 2 including a primary float switch and a secondary float switch adapted for insertion into the primary and secondary water tank respectively whereby to determine the water level in each of the tanks.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A caravan water delivery system according to claim 3 in which the output of the float switches is connected to the controller, and the controller is adapted to switch off the primary submersible pump and the secondary submersible pump in the event that the water level within the respective primary water tank or secondary water tank drops to a predetermined level.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A caravan water delivery system according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which a float switch is carried by a respective submersible pump.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A caravan water delivery system according to any one of claims 2-5 in which respective pipes are provided to carry the electrical wires connecting the controller to the caravan, and the electrical wires connecting the submersible pumps to the controller, the pipes running alongside the respective parts of the water supply line.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. A caravan water delivery system according to claim 6 when dependent upon one of claims 3-5, in which the pipes also carry the signal wires communicating the water level from the float switches to the controller.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. A caravan water delivery system according to claim 1 in which the pump is is located within the caravan and acts to draw water along the water supply line into the caravan.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. A caravan water delivery system according to claim 8 having a primary valve within the primary branch of the water supply line and a secondary valve within the secondary branch, in which the controller can selectively open and ctose the primary and secondary valves.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. A caravan water delivery system according to claim 9 in which the valves are actuated by respective vacuum switches.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A caravan water delivery system according to claim 9 or claim 10 in which the controller has means to detect the water level within the primary water tank and within the secondary water tank.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. A caravan water delivery system according to claim 11 including a primary float switch and a secondary float switch adapted for insertion into the primary and secondary water tank respectively.</claim-text> <claim-text>13 A caravan water delivery system according to claim 12 in which pipes are provided to communicate air pressure signals from the float switches to the controller.</claim-text> <claim-text>14. A caravan water delivery system according to any one of claims 1-13 including a visual indicator adapted to indicate the water levels within the primary water tank and the secondary water tank.</claim-text> <claim-text>15. A caravan water delivery system according to claim 14 in which the visual io indicator is adapted to indicate whether the system is delivering water from the primary water tank or from the secondary water tank.</claim-text> <claim-text>16. A caravan water delivery system according to any one of claims 1-15 in which a first non-return valve is fitted to the primary branch, and a second is non-return valve is fitted to the secondary branch.</claim-text> <claim-text>17. A caravan water delivery apparatus for use in a system according to claim 8, the apparatus comprising the water supply line and the controller.</claim-text> <claim-text>18. A caravan water delivery apparatus according to claim 17 including a primary valve within the primary branch of the water supply line and a secondary valve within the secondary branch, the controller being adapted to selectively open and close the primary and secondary valves.</claim-text> <claim-text>19. A caravan water delivery apparatus according to claim 18 having a respective vacuum switch for each of the primary and secondary valves.</claim-text> <claim-text>20. A caravan water delivery apparatus according to any one of claims 17-19 including means to detect the water level within the primary water tank and within the secondary water tank.</claim-text> <claim-text>21. A caravan water delivery apparatus according to claim 20 including a primary float switch and a secondary float switch adapted for insertion into the primary and secondary water tank respectively.</claim-text> <claim-text>22 A caravan water delivery system according to claim 21 including pipes to communicate air pressure signals from the float switches to the controller.</claim-text> <claim-text>23. A caravan water delivery system constructed and arranged substantially as described in relation to the attached drawing.</claim-text>