ITAN20100053A1 - DOMESTIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OF WATER OR ALTERNATIVE DRINKS. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

accompanying a patent application for an industrial invention entitled:

"DOMESTIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OF WATER OR ALTERNATIVE BEVERAGESâ €.

TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

The present patent application for industrial invention relates to a domestic water or alternative beverage distribution system. Hereinafter, the term alternative drinks means any drink other than tap water, such as refined water, cold and / or sparkling refined water, or even a drink other than water.

In general, in order to have a supply source of refined water, sparkling water or a carbonated drink (the latter coming from special drums) it is necessary to have a supply tap and a dedicated piping system.

Domestic distribution systems for refined / carbonated water or drinks are known. In known systems it is necessary to install an auxiliary tap, drilling the sink surface and then connecting a certain number of pipes and fittings.

However, these domestic water or beverage distribution systems have not had a wide diffusion due to the need to intervene with irreversible changes on the kitchen furniture and due to the relative complexity of installation and electrical and hydraulic connection of the system.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the known art, providing a domestic distribution system for alternative water or beverages that is practical, efficient, easy to install and easy to use for the user.

These objects are achieved in accordance with the invention, with the characteristics listed in the attached independent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments appear from the dependent claims.

The domestic water or alternative beverage distribution system (1) comprising:

- a source of drinks, e

- a selection unit suitable to be placed under a sink or washbasin.

The beverage source can be a water refining system, a water refrigeration / carbonation system or even a soft drink tank.

The selection unit includes:

- a main conduit with an inlet connected to a mains water supply pipe and an outlet connected to an existing faucet / mixer,

- a valve, normally open, arranged in the main duct and able to be closed by the user when he wishes to dispense a drink, to prevent the flow of mains water,

- a secondary duct provided with an inlet (40) connected to said beverage source and an outlet connected to said main duct, downstream of said valve, and

- a non-return valve arranged in said secondary duct, which opens by pressure gradient, so as to allow the passage of said beverage, when the valve is closed and the tap is open.

The inventive effort on which the realization of the device is based is the opportunity to have a supply of a liquid other than mains water available, from the normal pre-existing tap.

The system according to the invention makes available the dispensing of any liquid / drink directly from the pre-existing tap set up for supplying mains water.

In order to be installed, the system according to the invention does not require any intervention (if not minimally) on the pre-existing hydraulic circuit, and is also able to use the existing tap or mixer for dispensing the alternative drink. A set of food-grade polyethylene pipes is the only connection needed. These pipes are small in size, very flexible and are easily cut to size allowing for easy and very clean installations.

Furthermore, in the case of water refining systems, with the system according to the invention, it is possible to easily make adjustments that allow to predetermine the salt content (and therefore the â € œlightnessâ €) of the water produced.

It is very important to underline that the system according to the invention can be used for the dispensing of any carbonated or still beverage, coming from a predisposed accumulation or osmosis system capable of producing refined water.

Further characteristics of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description that follows, referring to a purely exemplary and therefore non-limiting embodiment thereof, illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the distribution system according to the invention connected to a reverse osmosis water refiner;

Fig. 2 is a part of the block diagram of Fig. 1, during operation at rest;

Fig. 3 is a block diagram like Fig. 2, during the dispensing of refined water;

Fig. 4 is a block diagram like Fig. 2, during the washing phase;

Fig. 5 is a block diagram like Fig. 2, during the regulation of the water salinity;

Fig. 6 is a block diagram like Fig. 1, in which a water chiller / carbonator has also been connected; And

Fig. 7 is a block diagram of the distribution system according to the invention connected to a source of a drink other than water.

With the aid of the Figures, the domestic distribution system for alternative water or beverages is described, according to the invention, indicated as a whole with the reference number (1).

For now, with reference to Fig. 1, the dispensing system (1) comprises two distinct units: a selection unit (2) and a functional remote control (9).

The selection unit (2) is a device that must be installed in the sink and whose main task is to manage the choice of the drink that can be dispensed from a pre-existing tap / mixer (32).

As shown in Fig. 1, the selection unit (2) can be connected to a water refiner (100), such as a reverse osmosis system to refine the water from the mains. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 7, the selection unit (2) can be connected to a source (300) of a drink other than water.

Returning to Fig. 1, the osmosis system (100) is known per se and therefore is not explained in detail. The osmosis system (100) can be placed under the sink or in the base of the kitchen. As is known, the osmosis system (100) foresees an outlet (101) of the refined water, an inlet (102) of the mains water and an outlet (103) of the concentrated salt water obtained from the process osmotic.

The osmosis system (100) can include a refrigeration system and / or a carbonator system to obtain chilled and / or sparkling refined water. Clearly, as shown in Fig. 6, an independent refrigeration and / or carbonating system (200) can be arranged downstream of the osmotic system (100).

The functional remote control (9) is a bidirectional protocol remote control system; that is, it is equipped with a transmitter for transmitting control signals to the selection unit (2) and a receiver for receiving control signals from the selection unit (2). The remote control (9), in addition to allowing the user to choose the type of drink to be dispensed from the existing tap / mixer (32), is able to provide information, alarms and requests for attention relating to the operation of the osmosis system (100).

By way of example, the remote control (9) has three keys (A, B, C) with respective signaling LEDs (LA, LB, LC), to select, for example, the supply of refined water, chilled refined water, sparkling refined water . It also features acoustic alarms (90) and light alarms (91).

The selection unit (2) comprises a main conduit (3) having an inlet (30) and an outlet (31). The inlet (30) of the main pipe is connected to a water supply pipe coming from the water mains. The outlet (31) of the main line is connected to a pre-existing faucet / mixer (32) on the kitchen sink.

A pressure switch (P1), a solenoid valve (EV1) and a sensor or probe (S1) are arranged in the main duct (3) starting from the inlet (30). The pressure switch (P1) detects the pressure of the fluid inside the duct (3). The solenoid valve (EV1) opens or closes the flow within the duct (3). The sensor (S1) detects parameters indicative of the quality of the water that is delivered to the outlet (31) of the main pipe.

The solenoid valve (EV1) is activated via the remote control (9). The pressure switch (P1) and the sensor (S1) are designed to send command signals to the control unit of the selection unit (2) and to the remote control (9).

The selection unit (2) comprises three secondary ducts: a first secondary duct (4), a second secondary duct (5) and a third secondary duct (6). The first secondary conduit (4) is provided with an inlet (40) connected, by means of a pipe (T1), to the refined water outlet (101) of the osmotic system (100). The second secondary pipe (5) is provided with an outlet (50) connected, by means of a pipe (T2), to the water inlet (101) of the osmotic system (100). The third secondary pipe (6) has an inlet (60) connected, by means of a pipe (T3), to the concentrated water outlet (101) of the osmotic system (100).

In the three secondary ducts (4, 5, 6) there are respective non-return valves (NR1, NR2, NR3) which allow flow in one direction only, i.e. from bottom to top, with reference to the figure, when exceeded a certain pressure gradient.

A first connection duct (7) connects the main duct (3) to the second secondary duct (5). The first connection pipe (7) starts from the main pipe (3), upstream of the solenoid valve (EV1) and connects to the secondary pipe (5), upstream of the non-return valve (NR2).

A second solenoid valve (EV2) is located in the connection duct (7).

A second connection pipe (8) connects the outlets of the two non-return valves (NR1, NR2) of the first two secondary pipes (4, 5) to the main pipe (3), downstream of the solenoid valve (EV1). In the connection duct (8) there is a mixing valve (MIX) intended to integrate the water produced by reverse osmosis with untreated water in order to adjust the conductivity to the desired level. It is operated by a knob (M) that can be manually operated by the user when setting the selection unit (2).

The third secondary pipe (6) has an outlet (61), downstream of the non-return valve (NR3), which is connected to the sink drain.

The operation of the delivery system (1) according to the invention is described below.

With reference to Fig. 2, when the selection unit (2) is at rest, it allows regular and unchanged operation of the washbasin / sink hydraulic system.

In the rest condition the solenoid valve (EV1) is open and the solenoid valve (EV2) is closed. Then, when the user opens the tap / mixer (32), the water coming from the water mains enters the inlet (30) of the main pipe (3) (arrow direction F1), passes through the valve (EV1) which is open and comes out from the outlet (31) of the main duct (arrow direction F2), in order to be dispensed from the tap (32). The solenoid valve (EV2) is closed, so the water cannot flow into the secondary pipe (5). The non-return valves (NR1, NR2) are also closed due to pressure differential, so the water cannot flow into the secondary pipes (4, 5).

To obtain refined water from the tap / mixer (32) it is necessary to press the button (A) of the functional remote control (9).

Pressing the key (A) causes the transmission of a command signal to the selection unit (2) which prepares itself for dispensing the refined water, closing the solenoid valve (EV1). The selection unit (2) sends, via radio, a command signal â € œReady to dispenseâ € towards the bidirectional remote control receiver (9), on which the LED (LA) relative to the button (A) lights up steadily previously pressed.

At this point the selection unit (9) awaits the opening of the tap / mixer (32). When the tap (32) is opened, the second pressure switch (P2) is disarmed and sends a command signal which indicates to the control board of the selection unit (2) that the tap (32) is open. If within a preset time (for example 15 seconds) the tap (32) is not opened, the selection unit (2) returns the valve (EV1) to its original (open) position and transmits a bidirectional remote control (9) command signal â € œEnd ready to dispenseâ €, causing the LED (LA) to go out and putting the whole system on hold.

If, on the other hand, the tap / mixer (32) is opened within the preset time, the selection unit (2) activates the reverse osmosis system (100) by opening the second solenoid valve (EV2) and turning on the pressurization pump of the system. reverse osmosis (100).

As shown in Fig. 3, the raw water from the network enters the inlet (30) of the main duct (arrow direction F1), flows into the connection duct (7) (arrow direction F2), passes through the solenoid valve (EV2 ), flows into the duct (5) (arrow direction F3) and exits from the outlet (50) (arrow direction F4) to feed the osmotic system (100). Note that the non-return valve (NR2) is closed, so the raw water does not go into the second connection pipe (8). The non-return valve (NR2) is closed thanks to the pressure gradient generated by the suction of the osmotic system pump.

The refined water coming from the osmotic system (100) returns to the selector unit (2) entering the inlet (40) (direction arrow X1), flows into the secondary pipe (4), passes through the non-return valve ( NR1) (open due to pressure gradient), and exits from the outlet (31) of the main duct (direction arrow X2) which is connected to the cock (32).

As soon as the reverse osmosis system (100) is started, there will still be non-refined water inside the pipeline and the osmotic exchange system, for this reason the selection unit (2) will send a signal to the bidirectional remote control (9) command â € œStart productionâ €. In this phase, the remote control (9) will continue to show the LED (A) lit steadily, indicating that the water is not yet in the set quality range.

During this phase a water quality check is carried out through the sensor (S1). If the sensor (S1) detects a water quality that is lower than a preset threshold value, the sensor (S1) sends control signals to generate maintenance or alarm messages (with relative system block).

After a predetermined time interval (for example 4 seconds) from the transmission of the "Start Production" command signal, the selection unit (2) sends to the remote control (9) a subsequent â € œPopulation allowedâ € command signal which will place the LED (LA) on the remote control with intermittent lighting, indicating the correct quality of the water supplied. On the selection unit (2) and / or on the remote control (9) a buzzer will emit a double beep to emphasize this condition.

The production and supply of refined water will continue as long as the tap (32) remains open.

During its operation, the osmotic system (100) produces water with a high salt concentration which is expelled towards the drain, passing through the secondary duct (6) and the non-return valve (NR3) which opens due to a pressure gradient.

When the cock (32) is closed, the second pressure switch (P2) will reset due to the pressure increase on the outlet line, thus indicating the end of delivery request to the control board of the selection unit (2). At this point, the control board will turn off the LED (LA) in the remote control (9), by sending a special command signal for â € œEnd of dispensingâ €.

Then the control board reopen the first solenoid valve (EV1) and turn off the osmotic system pressurization pump (100). The non-return valve (NR1) will close to re-establish the pressure gradient.

The second solenoid valve (EV2) is actually kept open again, for a set time (for example about 15 seconds), in order to carry out a final washing of the osmotic membranes of the osmotic system (100). The same washing is carried out every 12 hours of inactivity of the machine.

The washing waste water follows the following path: the water coming from the network enters the inlet (30) of the main duct (3) (arrow direction F1), flows into the first connection duct (7), passes through the second solenoid valve (EV2) and exits from the outlet (50) of the second secondary duct (50) (direction of arrow F2) to wash the osmotic membranes. The water coming from the osmotic system (100) enters the inlet (60) of the third secondary pipe (6) (arrow direction F3), passes through the non-return valve (NR3) and leaves the outlet (61) of the third pipe auxiliary (direction of arrow F4) connected to the sink drain.

At the end of the wash, the system will close the valve (EV2) and reposition itself in â € œwaitingâ €, waiting for a new dispensing command.

Pressing the `` Cold refined water '' (B) and `` Cold and sparkling water '' (C) keys, in the selection unit (2), determines, in the selection unit (2), an operation completely identical to that described above, with only the the difference is that auxiliary codes are also sent for an additional unit (200) (Fig. 6) responsible for cooling and carbonating the refined water produced with the reverse osmosis system. Clearly the refrigeration / carbonation unit (200) must be equipped with a special radio receiver.

Advantageously, the probe sensor (S1) is a conductivity meter with three thresholds for measuring the residual salt concentration in the refined water. In this way, by acting on the knob (M) of the bypass valve (MIX), it is possible to mix a desired quantity of mains water with the refined water until the desired residual salinity is obtained, which is signaled by the sensor (S1).

During the operation of the osmosis system (100), a small amount of water with original saline content is mixed with the refined water. The water from the network follows the following path: water inlet (30) (arrow F1), connection pipe (arrow F2), valve (EV2), connection pipe (5) (arrow F3), non-return valve (NR2 ), and mixing valve (MIX) (arrow F4).

The adjustment of the valve (MIX) is carried out when the selection unit (2) is installed, but it can also be changed during the normal life of the selection unit (2). The measurement sensor (S1) allows for continuous diagnostics of the entire distribution system (1), highlighting any malfunctions. For this purpose there is a buzzer and a specific luminous indication on the selection unit (2) and on the bidirectional remote control (9).

The bidirectional remote control (9) is also equipped with a specific maintenance LED (91) (also replicated on the selection unit (2)) which indicates, when lit, the need to replace the micrometric filter or the membranes in the system. reverse osmosis (100).

Clearly, instead of the remote control (9), the selection unit (2) can be provided with a control panel acting as a user interface.

Fig. 7 illustrates a variant of the distribution system (1) in which the water refining device (100) is replaced by a source of a soft drink (300) which is connected to the inlet (40) of the first secondary duct (4). The source (300) can be a reservoir that is filled by the user. The tank (300) is equipped with a dispensing valve that can be controlled by the remote control (9).

In this case, the secondary ducts (5, 6) and the connecting ducts (7, 8) can be omitted. Then the outlet of the non-return valve (NR1) is connected directly to the outlet (31) of the main pipe.

Numerous variations and modifications of detail can be made to the present embodiments of the invention, within the reach of a person skilled in the art, however falling within the scope of the invention expressed by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1) Domestic water or alternative beverage distribution system (1) comprising: - a source of drinks (100; 200; 300), e - a selection unit (2) suitable to be positioned under a sink or washbasin; said selection unit (2) comprising: - a main pipe (3) equipped with an inlet (30) connected to a mains water supply pipe and an outlet (31) connected to an existing tap / mixer (32), - a valve (EV1), normally open, arranged in the main duct (3) and able to be closed by the user when he wishes to dispense a drink, to prevent the flow of mains water, - a secondary duct (4) provided with an inlet (40) connected to said beverage source (100; 200; 300) and an outlet connected to said main duct (3) downstream of said valve (EV1), and - a non-return valve (NR1) arranged in said secondary pipe (4) which opens by pressure gradient so as to allow the passage of said beverage, when the valve (EV1) is closed and the tap (32) is open. 2) System (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said beverage source is a water refiner (100) adapted to refine the water coming from the network; said water refiner (100) comprising: - an outlet of refined water (101) connected to said inlet (40) of the secondary conduit, - an inlet of water to be refined (102), e - an outlet of water with a high salt concentration (103), called selection unit (2) comprising: - a second secondary conduit (5) connected, by means of a connection conduit (7), to said main conduit (3) upstream of the valve (EV1) and provided with an outlet connected to said inlet of water to be refined (102) the water refiner (100), - a second valve (EV2), normally closed, arranged in said connection duct (7) and able to be opened by the user when the operation of said water refiner (100) is enabled, - a third conduit (6) provided with an inlet (60) connected to the concentrated water outlet (103) of the water refiner (100) and an outlet (61) connected to a pre-existing drain pipe of the sink, And - a non-return valve (NR3) arranged in said third secondary duct (6) which opens by pressure gradient so as to allow the passage of said concentrated water, when a pump of said water refiner (100) is operating . 3) System (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises: - a second connection duct (8) which puts the first secondary duct (4) and the second secondary duct (5) in communication with the main duct (3) downstream of said first valve (EV1), so as to be able to mix the drink with tap water, - a non-return valve (NR2) arranged in said second secondary duct (5) which opens by pressure gradient so as to allow a quantity of mains water to pass through to be mixed with the drink, and - a mixing valve (MIX) arranged in the second connection duct (8) and gradually activated by the operator in order to regulate the quantity of mains water to be mixed with the drink. 4) System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a sensor (S1) arranged in said main duct (3) downstream of said first valve (EV1) able to detect the water quality and supply signals indicative of the quality of the water. 5) System (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said sensor (S1) is a conductivity meter suitable for measuring the salt concentration of the water. 6) System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a pressure switch (P1) arranged in said main duct (3), upstream of said valve (EV1). 7) System (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a pressure switch (P2) arranged in said second connection duct (8). 8) System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a bidirectional remote control (9) able to send commands to the solenoid valves (EV1, EV2) of the selection unit and to receive commands from sensors (S1) and pressure switches (P1, P2) of the selection unit. 9) System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said source of drink comprises a refrigerating / carbonating device (200) for obtaining chilled / sparkling water. 10) System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said drink source comprises a tank (300) which is filled with a drink.