GB2512369A

GB2512369A - Water diverter valve

Info

Publication number: GB2512369A
Application number: GB1305693.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert John Aris; Maurice James George Aggas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-27
Filing date: 2013-03-27
Publication date: 2014-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-27
Also published as: GB2512369B; GB201305693D0

Abstract

A water diverter valve 1 comprises a body 3 having a bifurcated water inlet pipe 2, a primary, flow pipe 9 and outlet pipe 10. Within the body 3 there are two shuttle valves 4, 6 that slide to allow their ports either to align with the respective pipes or to seal the respective pipes. Shuttle valve 4 acts as a control shuttle valve driven by static or induced pressure against the action of spring 5. Shuttle valve 6 acts as a diverter shuttle valve against spring 7 driven by a heat sensing device 8. Water inlet pipe 2 is connected to primary flow pipe 9 via port 13 in control shuttle valve 4. Similarly water inlet pipe 2 is interconnected to both primary flow pipe 9 and outlet pipe 10 via port 14, passage 12, port 16 and port 17. Water flowing below the design temperature is diverted to outlet pipe 10 and thence to a conserved water capture system. Once the water reaches design temperature heat sensing device 8 redirects the water to the end user tap. A passage 11 permits pressure equalization on both faces of shuttle valve 6.

Description

Paget of 2

DESCRIPTION

Title' Water Diverter Valve (WDV):

Background

This invention, relates to the field. of waste reduction, within, hot water syems,. although not.exclusively. for that purpose or for that medium alone.

Domestic.andcommercial. hotwater systemsgeneralFy heator store.the water ata..centat location. andLttien.

distribute it to indMdual points of use through a distribution systerm The pipes comprising the distribution system frequently allow previously heatedwater to cool from the design temperature" to a temperature below the design temperature' Such systems-require-the end-users to dIscharge the initial water flow that is below design temperature' into a waste drainage system. This wastage continues until the flowing water reaches the design temperature': Discharging previously heated water into the waste drainage system is doubly expensive incurring both initial water purchase costs plus heating costh,. Suth casts can. accumulate to ahigh. leveL. particularly in commercial systenia If the wasted water is utilised for a secondary purpose, e.g. toilet cistern filling, then savings accrue and the system also becomes more environmentally friendly.

Statement of Invention

To overcome such wastage, the present invention proposes an automatic valve capable of distinguishing between water that is below the-design temperature! and water that has reached design temperature'.

When the water flowing' at the-valve inlet point is below design temperature' the-invention diverts the-water to a conservation' outlet and thence to a collection system (not part of this invention). Once the water reaches design temperature' it automatically stops discha'ging the water to the conservation' outlet and starts-to discharge;thewater to the-outlet connected to-the point of end-user demand Advantages The' automatic-diversion' of water that is-'below"design temperature' to an-alternative' outlet permits collection, or use, of otherwise wasted water without action on the part of the end user.

Existing-wthtersystems can-accommodate-the-WDV at anytirneduringthatsyternslifacycle: New water systems may have the WOV built in from the start Preferably,, the WDV responds to a combination of temperature and loss of static or induced pressure.

Introduction to Drawings

An example of the invention will be described below by referring, to the accompanying drawings: * Figure 1' shows the iDv' assembly with component' reference numbers for use within the descriptive text.

* Figure 2 shows the WIN assembly at the sequence start having no user demand with water within the pipe distribution system under pressure and below design temperature'.

* Figure 3 shows. the WDV assembly-having user demand occurring at a take off point with-water within the pipe distribution system flowing below design temperature'.

* Figure 4 shows the WDV assembly having user demand occ'urring at a take off point with water within the pipe-distribution system flawing at design temperature'.

* Figure 5 shows the WDV assembly when water at-design temperature is available at' the take off point but user demand ceases.

* Figure 6 shows'a typical hot water system -

Detailed Description -

Referring to figure 116 illustrating a cross-sectional view of the assembled' WUV 1 comprising a body 3 having a bifurcated water inlet pipe 2, a primary flow pipe..9 and a conservation. outlet pipe-to-permanently connected to it. Within the body 3 there are two shuttle valves arranged so that they can slide to allow their ports either to align with the primary flow or conservation outlet pipes or alternatively to sear the primary flow or conservation outlet piØes'; Both shuttlè.val.v-es..shau prevent the.passage-of water past their ärnete-yet slide easily. One shuttle valve acts as the control shuttle valve (CSV) 4 driven by static or P age: 2 of 2 induced pressure acting upon one face versus the action of compression spring 5 acting upon the second face. The second shuttle valve:actsasthe diverter shuttle valve (OSV)6 driven-by compression sØring7 acting upon one face versus a heat-sensing. device & acting upon the second face. The water inlet pipe 2 is inter-connected to the primary flow pipe 9 via CSV primary flow port 13 in control shuttle valve 4. Similarly the water inlet pipe2 isinterconnected to both the primaryflow.pipe 9and the conservation-outlet-pipe 10 viaCSV secondary conservation, port 14 and secondary conservation.passage 12, then.the DSV conservation secondary flow port 16 and DSV diverter -17.

The whole..invention shalt be. mae. . into-a. hot water system. deUvery pipe (not part of this. invention). close, to.

the point of use' tap. The water enter b the bifurcated water inlet pipe 2 and discharges through pdmary'flow pipe 9 to the user demand delivery point represented by tap ia (not part of this invention).. In addition the conservation outlet pipalO. shall, be. connected to. an additionaL piped. collection, system or secondary user system (neither being part of this invention).

Referring to figure..2/6 this illustrates, the state where-the-WOY is.inserted into a hot water system as described above, with tap 18 in the closed position and water below design temperature' due to cooling. The water contained iii primary flow pipe 9 vi CSV primary flOw port 1:3-exerts static or induced pressure upon Control Shuttle Valve 4-forcing it to-override the pressure of CSV sprinç. 5. The CSV secondary conservation port 14 moves out of alignment with the bifurôated water inlet pipe 2 and conservation passage 12 and thus water flow through the diverter shuttle valve 6. and conservatIon. outlet. pipe 10 is prevented'..

Referring to figure 3/6, this illustrates tap iBm its open position. Water commences flowing dissipating the static or induced pressure and allowing the CSV compression springS to move CSV 4, such that conservation passage 12 is opened allowing water to-flow through Conservation pipe 10 vie DSV 6; C&V primary bleed port 15 in CSV 4 allows a trickle flow through primary flow pipe 9 to exit tap 18. This state continues while the water flowing is below design' temperature.

Referring to figure 4/6, this illustrates a continuing water flow but with design temperature' attained. The water flowing over Heat Sensing Device (US!)) & causes it to respond and override the pressure of DSV compression spring? thus moving D-SV diverter port 17 from alignment with-conservation outlet pipe 10-to-alignment with primary flow pipe 9. Water then flows to tap 18 via CSV 4 and secondary conservation port 14. The trickle flow also conthues combining with the main flow.

Referring to figure 516, this illustrates tap 16 in the closed position thereby ceasing flow and causing static or induced pressure to-re-instate within the system. Pressure acting upon CSV 4 forces it to override the pressure of CSV cdrnpressiorrspririg 5, moving CSV sendaryconwr',atiór"port 14 out-of alignment with the water inlet pipe 2 and secondary conservation passage 12. The water within the system then cools to below design' temperature causing the Heat Sensing DeviceS to cease operating thus allowing the pressure of DSVcompression spring Tto move DSV shuttle valve 61o align DSVdiverter port 17'with conservation outlet pipe i a The DSV pressure equalising. passage 11 allows pressure to occur on both faces of DSV 6 thereby allowing the DSV compression spring? to function. At-that stage the WSD 1 achieves its start position as described in figure 2/61 Figure 6/6 shows a schematic of a domestic hotwatersystem delivering cold water 19 to a water heater2ü that then feeds a hot water storage tank 21. Upon user demandthrough tap 18'water passes through the WSD 1 either automatically conserving cold. water within, the water capture system. 22. or allowing. hot, water to pass to the end user tap iS.