NZ330057A - Water storage and distribution with first supply, typically rainwater from roof, and second supply, typically mains water, with tank bolted to wall of building - Google Patents

Abstract

Tank 100 is bolted to the side 118 of a building, typically a house by brackets (not shown). It is capable of receiving more preferentially a first supply of water from the roof of the building, and less preferentially, a second supply of water from a supply utility (typically mains supply). Typically, the second supply is only used when the lower level 108 is reached. The arrangement and operation is stated to be able to achieve considerable saving in water supply and disposal.

Description

Patents Form 5.

Patents Act 1953 Complete Specification. intellectual property office of n.z. 1 3 AUG 2001 received COMBINATION WATER STORAGE INSTALLATION Priority document: NZ provisional No. 330057 Priority date: 27th March 1998 We, Adrianus Rudolphus Maria Sas, a Dutch citizen and Janice Margaret Sas a British citizen, both of I/9 Westech Place, Kelston, Auckland, hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: TITLE: COMBINATION WATER STORAGE INSTALLATION TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to plumbing; to multiple-sourced water installations such as for cisterns, and in particular to the provision of a supply capable of selecting from a combination of water sources for particular purposes.

BACKGROUND Toilet cisterns are estimated to consume some 27% to 45% of the total amount of treated water consumed by an average household in New Zealand. An average household uses about 60,250 litres of water a year in toilet flushing, or about 38,500 litres of water a year assuming half-sized flushes. A three-person home uses about 180,000 litres a year altogether. In fact the quality requirements for water required for this purpose are lower than for drinking water, and there is no necessity for water for flushing purposes to be chlorinated, fluoridated, and/or filtered in order to make it reach potable standards.

Furthermore, water is no longer a commodity in limitless supply. Water conservation is a useful practice in any environment; more so when the costs of providing suitably treated water are high, as they may be.

Recently m the Auckland area water supply authorities have been separated from local bodies and citizens have observed the price of water to escalate as an apparently inevitable result, especially because of the practice of estimating the cost of sewage disposal as a function of the amount of water consumed. The present average cost of water, storm-water removal and sewage disposal for a house in Waitakere City is estimated to be about $600 a year, rising to about $960 a year in five year's time.

I 2 7 JUL 2001 I Received C-; <> •; W U V STATEMENT OF INVENTION In a first broad aspect the invention provides a water storage installation for a building, wherein the installation is capable of more preferentially receiving (A) a supply of locally precipitated water obtained under gravity feed from a roof of the building or less preferentially receiving (B) a supply of water from a water supply utility, storing said water, and supplying said water through one or more pipes to a water-consuming apparatus also under gravity feed; the installation including at least one tank having an elongated rectangular shape with a long axis, a depth and a width, mounted on to an exterior surface of an existing wall of the building and below a soffit of the building with the long axis of the tank horizontally inclined, the tank being made of a sheet material, the tank being fitted with a plurality of openings each capable of leading water through an associated conduit, and a plurality of tank mounting brackets each capable of being fixed to an existing wall of the building by means of a transfixing fastener, and when m position capable together of restraining the tank in a desired position.

In a related aspect the invention provides a tank for a water storage installation wherein the length, depth, and width of the tank are selected so as to be capable of economical manufacture from sheets of available sheet metal each having standard dimensions.

Preferably the length of the tank is about 2400 mm, the width of the tank is about 200 mm, the depth of the tank is about 390 mm: the tank having an overlapping seam of about 20 mm: a tank of said dimensions being capable of economical manufacture by folding from a standard 2400 x 1200 mm sheet of coated (galvamsed) steel sheet.

In a further related aspect the openings include at least one "more preferential" inlet for precipitated water, at least one overflow outlet, at least one outlet for water capable of conveying water to a water-consuming apparatus, and at least one "less preferential" inlet for receiving water from the water supply utility.

In a yet further related aspect the "less preferential" inlet is provided with a water level-sensitive valve means capable of permitting entry of water only if the level within the tank is below a minimum level, so that a level of water can be maintained ,NTOFTOoFPRN°£EliTY 2 7 JUL 2001 c -V :• 1 ■ \J v. -- 4 within the tank to at least a minimum level (even during dry weather).

Preferably non-return valve means is fitted in series with the first inlet pipe so that the water mains cannot be contaminated with untreated water in the event of a loss of pressure in the first inlet pipe.

Accordingly, a first inlet to the storage means is capable of bringing in water from a first source through valve means capable of adding water to the storage means if the water level is below a first and lower water level, and a second inlet to the storage means is capable of adding water to the tank from a second source if the water level is below a second and higher water level, so that, if the first supply is an artificial and reliable supply of water, at least some water is available from within the storage means even if the second water supply is absent and the storage means will tend to be replenished from the second water supply as long as water from the second water supply is available.

Preferably the second water level is determined by the position of an overflow outlet In a still further related aspect the openings further include at least one connection to at least one intercommunicating conduit capable of exchanging water between one tank and another tank also fixed to a wall.

Preferably the second source of water includes collection means, comprising selective channelling of water from a guttering or spouting surrounding at least a part of a roof to be fed into the second inlet pipe by means of a rim or sill placed about an existing downpipe, so that unless so much water is present in the guttering or spouting that its level rises above the rim or sill, substantially all the water will flow into the first inlet pipe.

Preferably the invention is capable of providing an alternative supply of water for the flushing of a toilet; the invention comprising the installation of a storage tank at a position above the height of a toilet cistern, the tank being capable of holding enough water to provide for an effective number of flushing operations, and means to carry water from the tank to a toilet cistern inlet.

Alternatively the means is capable of providing an alternative supply of water for at intellectual property office of n.z. 2 7 JUL 2001 V -/ ,,A /A r,-^ - ^ i ' ' * ^ ' < 1 v; ijj / least one household purpose not requiring potable water.

Alternatively the means is capable of providing an alternative supply of water for at least one household purpose requiring potable water.

Preferably the means further provides an inlet filter so that foreign material earned within the water from the roof is at least partially directed to the overflow pipe.

Optionally a plurality of individual water storage means, preferably each at much the same level above the ground as any other, are interconnected by a water exchange means.

Alternatively the invention may be regarded as a water source selector or price optimiser capable of deriving water from a cheap, intermittent source when available and falling back to a more expensive, reliable source if no other source is available.

In a second broad aspect the invention provides an alternative supply of water for purposes such as (but not limited to) the flushing of toilets; the invention comprising the installation of a storage tank at a position above the height of a toilet cistern, the tank being capable of holding enough water to provide for a useful number of flushing operations, coupling a first inlet pipe to the tank capable of leading rain or melt water from a roof surface into the storage tank, so filling the tank up to a level known herein as a second water level, which level is determined by the position of an overflow outlet, and coupling a second inlet pipe to the tank, capable of carrying water from a water supply service to the tank, and means for allowing water from the second inlet pipe to enter the tank if and only if the water level inside the tank is between zero and a first water level, and means to carry water from the tank to a toilet cistern inlet.

In a first related aspect the invention provides means to remove sediment from the tank from time to time.

In a second related aspect the invention provides for more tanks to be mounted beside, and connected to the storage tank in order to supplement the capacity of the storage tank.

OBJECT It is an object of this invention to provide an alternative supply of water for specific intellectual property office of n.7. 2 7 JUL 2001 . / purposes (such as for a toilet cistern) or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES The preferred embodiments to be described and illustrated in this specification are provided purely by way of example and are in no way intended to be limiting as to the spirit or the scope of the invention.

Fig 1: shows an arrangement in cross section of the tank and plumbing according to the invention.

Fig 2: shows details of connections to the guttering/spouting, according to the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Although the preferred embodiment of this invention has been designed with a toilet cistern application in mind, its principles are applicable to any application of water for which rainwater is an acceptable substitute for water obtained from a municipal supply. Indeed, some people hold that rainwater collected from a roof is superior for drinking purposes.

Toilet cisterns are the subject of this embodiment, because cisterns are estimated to consume some 30% to 45% of the total amount of treated water consumed by an average household in Auckland, New Zealand. The reader will be aware that other applications are relevant, such as laundry water mputs, drinking water inputs, and the like.

EXAMPLE 1.

The invention is illustrated in Figs 1 and 2. Referring to Fig 1, which is a sectional view through a house showing the wall 118, the roof 101, spouting 102, and a toilet intellectual property office of n.z. 2 7 JUL 2001 ^ fO) ^ ^ ^ y y 6 I \ f T ' , ' ' 7 117 beneath a toilet cistern 118, a preferably external tank 100 is provided. A preferred tank is substantially totally enclosed and is made from galvanised steel sheet (24 gauge) for reasons of cheapness, durability (estimated at about 25 years) and ease of manufacture. (Alternatives selected from suitable plastics may be used, but the lifetime of plastics under load and in outdoors environments, coupled with the setting-up costs of manufacture, tend to leave galvanised sheeting as the preferred material).

An example tank is typically of 192 litres capacity and one preferred set of dimensions is 2400 mm long, 390 mm deep, and 200 mm outward from the wall on which the tank is to be mounted. Preferably the tank is mounted on an outside wall of a house, because generally we expect that the invention will be added to existing buildings, and preferably it is at a height lower than that of the guttering or spouting from which the rainwater will be drawn, but higher than the cistern or other drain which it is intended to supply. Occasionally, the pressure within the water services pipes may prescribe a lower position than just beneath the soffit of the house. We attempt to avoid any active devices such as pumps, motorised valves, or the like.

Preferably the tank is mounted on four brackets, each made of 30 mm x 30 mm angle steel welded into a "U" shape so that when bolted onto the house wall, the brackets enclose the tank inside the "U" shape. We prefer to line the tank supports (between the bracket and the tank) with butyl rubber as some protection against corrosion. Assuming that a full tank weighs about 200 Kg, then each of twelve bolts holding the tank onto the house wall (inserted into studs) will carry about 17 Kg force. (On installation it is desirable to note the state of the wood of the studs to be used, and take remedial action if required. Borer attacks may weaken the wood). The tank can be painted the same colour as the walls of the house, for example, and is not obtrusive. Preferably the tank includes an inspection plate covering an aperture, in its top surface. The ballcock valve may need servicing from time to time.

Optionally, a level indicator may be provided so that the height of water inside the tank can be seen from outside. This might have a meter type display, or use a float and a pulley to an outside indicator.

One tank of 192 litres holds enough water for 18 full flushes, or about 36 half-size intellectual property office of n.z. 2 7 JUL 2001 8 flushes if the cistern allows a choice. Thus one tank might last an average family for about five days between replenishment by showers of rain. If further storage is required, more tanks can be mounted beside the tank described and connected to it, in order to hold more water.

A first inlet pipe is coupled to the storage tank 100 at an upper surface 104, and leads water from the guttering or spouting 102 into the top of the tank 100. Selective channelling of water into the tank is encouraged by means of a rim or sill 119 placed about the opening leading into any existing downpipe(s) 120, so that unless so much water is present in the guttering or spouting that its level rises above the rim or sill, all the water will flow into the first inlet pipe. It is possible that a downpour may flood the capacity of the inlet pipe to the tank. This arrangement is illustrated in Fig 2, which is a longitudinal cross-section through a portion of guttering. A filter 103 is also preferred at the inlet to the first inlet pipe.

An inlet filter (not shown) is preferably provided in or about the tank as well, so that foreign material such as leaves carried within the water from the roof is at least partially carried to an adjacent overflow pipe. The inlet filter is preferably made from stainless steel gauze. One preferred physical shape has the surface of this filter leading straight to the opening 106 of an overflow pipe leading to a sump 107. The height of the opening 106 determines the maximum water level 105 of the water inside the storage tank. (The line 105 may also represent the position of a filter inside the tank). The water level may fall towards zero with use (on being drained via the outlet 110), but the storage tank then makes use of a fall-back mode of operation in which municipal water from the water services pipes will be used to fill the tank as far as a first water level 108, using a level-sensitive valve such as a ballcock 109. Thus the users of the toilet 117 are not deprived of the ability to flush, even though the water used may be the more expensive municipal treated water if rain has not recently fallen. The first water level 108 would typically represent at least one flush, or perhaps a little more if the effects of accumulated sludge at the bottom of the storage tank 100 are to be considered. This sludge may be cleaned out from time to time, perhaps on removal of the screw union at the base of the filter 110, leading into the intellectual property office of n.z. 2 ? JUL 2001 9 pipe 111. It is a perhaps inevitable disadvantage of using water from an uncontrolled source. Use of a paper layer in the filter at 105 may alleviate this disadvantage.

The ballcock 109 is connected to municipal water piping 114, preferably through a non-return valve 113. This valve is fitted in series with the second inlet pipe so that the water supply service pipe cannot be contaminated with unfiltered water in the event of a loss of pressure in the second inlet pipe. This is often a requirement of water supply services, for situations where a loss of pressure in the source inevitably results in uncontrolled purity water backfilling pipes, as might occur in this case if the level-sensitive valve was faulty, the tank was more full than the level 108, and a fault occurred in the water distribution network.

In this example we have shown a toilet 117 and a toilet cistern 118 (including a level-sensitive valve 112 with a ballcock 116 and a water release mechanism 115 diagrammatically only, because there is no modification required to this part of the system. We have found that the filling time required to fill the cistern 118 by gravity is not unduly longer than the time taken to fill it with directly coupled water from the mains pipe 114 (in the absence of the invention).

In terms of logic equations or method steps, this invention includes: (1) If there is no rainwater, supply the cistern 118 with municipal water via the tank 100. (2) If the water level in the tank 100 is above level 108, do not admit municipal water. (3) If the tank water level is above 105, allow the excess to leave via overflow 106. (4)If the rainfall on the roof exceeds the capacity of the tank inlet, allow the excess to escape via the existing downpipe(s) 120.

VARIATIONS The tank may be mounted inside a ceiling. Access may then be more difficult, and maintenance or inadvertent overflows may result in splashing water onto the ceiling plasterboard of the house. intellectual property office of n.z. 2 7 JUL 2001 received The same exit pipe from the guttering may be shared by the original function and by the inlet to the tank. Adding a second exit from the guttering/spouting is not essential, but may be convenient if, for example, the tank should be placed at a distance from the original downpipe.

The invention can be used to supply water for other purposes where potability is not an issue, such as for gardening or washing clothes, or if the occupants actually prefer rainwater, then it may be used for drinking purposes and in that situation, the people would be able to drink rain water until such time as it runs out, whereupon pipe water runs in as a replacement.

Another alternative is the installation of such a system at a factory or an office, for purposes including but not limited to lavatory cistern supplies.

ADVANTAGES Under present and anticipated costs, the capital investment required to install this invention would be recovered by a household in about two to three years.

By reducing the water demand on the city water network, upgrading of the city services may be delayed, and depletion of dams during drought may also be delayed. The assets for water distribution in Waitakere City are valued at $173 million dollars, for 50,288 homes (1996 census). If every home was equipped with this invention, water savings could be up to about a third.

Passing non-treated water through the toilet may eliminate the build up of scale due to precipitation of contaminants; either artificial or added materials inside the bowl. Non-treated water is beneficial to sewage treatment processes which rely on eutrophication steps using algae (as is presently the case in Auckland).

Finally, it will be appreciated that various alterations and modifications may be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims. intellectual property office of n.z. 2 7 JUL 2001 received

Claims (7)

c~/ *77 r,\ n y 'kjJ ^ We claim:

1. A water storage installation for a building, wherein the installation is capable of more preferentially receiving a first supply of locally precipitated water obtained under gravity feed from a roof of the building and is less preferentially capable of receiving a second supply of water from a water supply utility, storing said water, and supplying said water through at least one conduit to at least one water-consuming apparatus also under gravity feed; the installation including a) at least one tank having an elongated rectangular shape with a long axis, a depth and a width, capable of being mounted on to an exterior surface of an existing wall of the building and below a soffit of the building with the long axis of the tank horizontally inclined, b) the tank being made of a sheet material, c) the tank being fitted with a plurality of openings each capable of leading water through an associated conduit, and d) a plurality of tank mounting brackets each capable of being fixed to an existing wall of the building by means of a fastener, and when in position capable as a group of restraining the tank in a desired position.

2. A tank for a water storage installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length, depth, and width of the tank are selected so as to be capable of economical manufacture from sheets of available sheet metal each having standard dimensions.

3. A tank for a water storage installation as claimed in claim 2, wherein the length of the tank is about 2400 mm, the width of the tank is about 200 mm, the depth of the tank is about 390 mm: the tank having an overlapping seam of about 20 mm: a tank of said dimensions being capable of economical manufacture by folding from a standard 2400 x 1200 mm sheet of coated steel sheet.

4. A tank for a water storage installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the openings include intellectual property office of n.z. 2 7 JUL 2001 received a) at least one "more preferential" inlet for precipitated water, b) at least one overflow outlet, c) at least one outlet for water capable of conveying water to a water-consuming apparatus, and d) at least one "less preferential" inlet for receiving water from the water supply utility

5. A tank for a water storage installation as claimed in claim 4, wherein the "less preferential" inlet is provided with a water level-sensitive valve means capable of permitting entry of water only if the level within the tank is at the time below a minimum level, so that a level of water can be maintained within the tank to at least a minimum level (even during dry weather).

6. A tank for a water storage installation for a building as claimed in claim 4, wherein the openings further include at least one connection to at least one intercommunicating conduit capable of exchanging water between one tank and another tank also fixed to a wall.

7. A water storage installation for a building substantially as described in the accompanying specification with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. Ensor and Associates Attorneys for: Adrianus Rudolphus Maria Sas Janice Margaret Sas intellectual property office of n.z. 2 7 JUL 2001 received