SE2150712A1 - A pipe system, apparatus and method for saving water - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus (100) for connecting to a piping system comprising at least one outlet (WC-ALT1) and two inlets and at least three water pipes (104, 105, 106) in connection with each other placed inside the apparatus (100), wherein two (104, 105) of the at least three water pipes have an end at each inlet for connecting to a hot water supply (HW) and a cold water supply (CW) respectively, and at least one water pipe is an outlet water pipe (106) having an end at the outlet for connecting via an external pipe to a WC-tank, the outlet water pipe (106) is connected to the cold water pipe (105) by means of a check valve (101) and/or a differential pressure control valve , and connected to the hot water pipe (104) by means of a thermal control device (102) having blocking means to prevent water at above a predetermined temperature from entering into the outlet water pipe (106), wherein water which is entered into the outlet water pipe (106) is conducted via the external pipe to the WC-tank.

Description

1 A pipe system, apparatus and method for saving water TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus, a system and a method for saving water and electrical energy when hot water is used in faucets or showers. Specifically, it is related to the field of supplying water economically in a plumbing or piping system. BACKGROUND ln a standard piping system, there is a hot water supply and a cold water supply connected to a faucet or a shower either via a standard mixing device or directly. Generally, a user of any of these washing facilities allows water that is not sufficiently hot to run down in the drain unused. There have been attempts to improve this waste of water by using this water in WC-tanks but the systems were not optimised for these attempts. Some attempts involve adding a WC pipe between a WC-toilet and a faucet. The problem with such a configuration is that the WC-pipe becomes hot when water passes from the hot water pipe to the WC- toilet and remains there until cooled down. The heat dissipation is costly and unnecessary.

Other problems could be for instance that a user using washing facilities will previously need to feel the water with his/her skin to determine whether the water is sufficiently warm or not. This may be a problem for a user with sensitive skin or similar. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION By deviating from the above-mentioned logical and widely accessible way of solving the problem, makes the constitution ofthe present disclosure both unique and relevant. The present disclosure meets all the criteria listed above.

The present disclosure overcome all the above-mentioned problems by using an apparatus for connecting to a piping system comprising at least one outlet, WC-ALT1, and two inlets and at least three water pipes in connection with each other placed inside the apparatus, wherein two of the at least three water pipes have an end at each inlet for connecting to a hot water supply, HW, and a cold water supply, CW respectively, and at least one water pipe 2 is an outlet water pipe having an end at the outlet for connecting via an external pipe to a WC-tank, wherein the outlet water pipe is at one side connected to the cold water pipe by means of a check valve and/or a differential pressure control valve, which its open/closed position is relative to the level of water pressure in the outlet water pipe, and at the other side, the outlet water pipe is connected to the hot water pipe by means of a thermal control device having blocking means to prevent water at above a predetermined temperature from entering into the outlet water pipe wherein water which is entered into the outlet water pipe is conducted via the external pipe to the WC-tank.

The advantage of using the claimed apparatus is to improve the hot water response time for the user of a washing facility such as faucet of a washbasin or shower. This is achieved by diverting hot water that it is no longer hot but cooled to a WC-pipe to fill up a WC-tank. The user will benefit of such apparatus because it will increase his/her comfort when water existing the faucet or shower has the desired temperature so no waiting time for hot water is needed and no involuntary cold shower is taken. ln addition, water is saved which is desired in terms of economy and/or water availability.

Another advantage ofthe apparatus is that it does not require a return pipe which is normally needed in a HWC-system having an electric pump. The cooled water from the hot water pipe of the piping system will be conducted away and there is no need to reheat it. ln other words, no electric pump is needed which consumes electricity and no unnecessary heat dissipation occurs in the piping system as it occurs in the return pipe ofthe HWC- system.

Further, the simplicity of using only a check valve is that it carries out two functions of which the first is to act as a non-return valve and the second is to perform an automatic difference pressure by pressing on the ball inside the valve to help keeping the check valve shut. lf there is a need to increase the difference pressure control, then a differential pressure control valve may be added, which will provide an obstruction when the pressure difference between the hot and cold water pipes ofthe apparatus is over a pressure limit in the outlet Watef.

Further, the thermal control device may be a thermal shut off valve. The thermal control device allows controlling the water that enters into the at least one outlet leading to the 3 water closet by detecting the temperature. This device allows conducting hot water which is being cooled for a time to the WC-tank instead of exiting in the drain via a faucet or shower.

Further, the hot water supply may be a hot water pipe connected to a heater or a pipe connected to a hot water circulation, HWC, system. This is depending on the installed water system. lfthe shower or faucet is connected to a heater via a hot water pipe, then the apparatus is inserted between the faucet/shower and the heater. However, ifthe shower/faucet is connected to a hot water circulation system, then the apparatus is connected between the HWC- system and the faucet/shower. The advantage of using the claimed apparatus is that no circulation pump is needed even when using a HWC-system.

Further, the predetermined temperature that is needed to close the thermal shut off valve may be between 25-30 degrees Celsius, preferably 25-27 degrees Celsius and more preferably 25 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, the water is no longer considered cold for a user and may enter the faucet or shower directly or by a mixing device.

Further, the apparatus may comprise a thermo-electric-generator connected to the hot and cold water pipes and a LED-diode-circuit. The LED-diode will indicate by lightning the diode that the water of the water facilities has an adequate temperature, i.e. not too cold, for a normal user. ln fact, this indicates that the hot water pipe is emptied of cooled water and is conducting hot water again to the mixing device or directly to the faucet/shower.

Further, the apparatus may comprise two additional outlets, at which another hot water pipe end and another cold water pipe end are respectively placed; each outlet is configured to be connected to a connector of a faucet or a shower. The additional outlets may be connected to a faucet or a shower via a mixing device or to the faucet and/or shower directly.

Further, the apparatus may comprise a mixing water device for mixing cold water and hot water from each of the inlet water pipes of the apparatus, wherein an outlet of the mixing water device is connected to the hot water pipe and an inlet of the mixing water device is connected to the cold water pipe. The advantage of integrating a mixing device into the apparatus is that no additional mixing device is needed.

Further, there is also provided a mixing device for mixing hot and cold water to be dispensed via a faucet or shower comprising any of the claimed apparatus, wherein cold and hot water from each of the inlet water pipes of the apparatus is mixed in the mixing device and one of the inlet water pipes is connected to a respective hot/cold water pipe of the mixing device. The advantage of such a mixing device is that any standard mixing device may be modified in order to integrate the claimed apparatus without integrated mixing device into the mixing device.

There is further provided a piping system comprising at least the claimed apparatus without integrated mixing device connected to a mixing water device of at least one shower and/or at least one faucet or at least one apparatus with an integrated mixing device alt. vice versa; and at least one WC-pipe connected to at least one WC-tank, wherein the inlets of the at least one apparatus are connected to the hot and the cold water pipes of the mixing water device respectively and the at least one outlet ofthe apparatus is connected to the at least one WC-pipe.

The advantage of this piping system is that each apparatus may be connected to a WC-tank and faucet and/or shower. I\/|any apparatuses may be connected at the same time and all of them contribute to filling up the WC-tank. This facilitates the saving of water that a user may dispense in one day.

There is also provided a method of saving water when using the claimed piping system, wherein the method comprises the steps of emptying the at least one WC-tank, entering water below a predetermined temperature from the hot water pipe into the outlet water pipe of the at least one apparatus, in response to the pressure difference between the hot water pipe and the cold water pipe, until the water is blocked by the thermal control device; upon detecting a lower water pressure in the outlet water pipe, the check valve inside the at least one apparatus opens and allows water travelling from the cold water pipe into the outlet water pipe; - conducting constantly water of the outlet water pipe via the at least one WC-pipe to the at least one WC-tank until said tank is full; -repeating the above steps without emptying the WC-tank before every use of a washing facility.

The claimed method is aimed at avoiding that the user wastes water while waiting for the hot water out of the faucet or the shower in a very simple way thanks to the use of any of the claimed apparatus. DESRICPTION OF FIGURES ln the following, the disclosure will be described in further detail with references to the exemplary apparatus, method and systems in the drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view ofthe apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view ofthe apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a piping system according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A shows a perspective view of a piping system using the apparatus of any of the embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5B shows an isometric view of the apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a method using any ofthe embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a piping system provided with a HWC-system according to a further em bodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a sketch of a mixing device according to a further embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT The apparatus, mixing device, method and piping system for saving water will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which 6 various examples are shown. The accompanying drawings are schematic and Simplified for clarity and they merely show details, which are essential to the understanding of the invention, while other details have been left out. The appended patent claims may be embodied in different forms not shown in the accompanying drawings and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein. Rather, these examples are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the appended patent claims to those skilled in the art.

The term "user" is used for the sake of simplicity and refers to any person having the apparatus installed and making use of it.

As seen in FIG. 1, there is provided an apparatus 100 according to an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure for connecting to a piping system comprising a casing 103 for protecting the apparatus and three water pipes 104, 105, 106 interconnected with each other inside the casing 103 of the apparatus 100. The apparatus 100 comprises two inlets and at least one outlet. Specifically in this embodiment, the apparatus 100 is designed with three outlets alternative four outlets, which two of them are used for the hot and cold water respectively and the third and/or four are used for connecting an external WC-pipe. The first and second water pipes 104, 105 are configured to transfer hot alternative cold water from its water supply HW or CW to the outlets for the hot and cold water respectively in order to be connected to connectors, i.e. an inlet of an external hot water pipe and an inlet of an external cold water pipe respectively. The external hot and cold water pipes may be leading directly to a washing facility, such as a shower or a water faucet of a sink, a washbasin or a bath tub or via an external mixing device, which mixes hot and cold water to dispense warm water at a temperature generally not higher than 60 degrees Celsius via the faucet or the shower.

The third water pipe is an outlet water pipe 106 (marked in dashed lines) which at one side is connected to the cold water pipe 105 (marked as a thin line) by means of a check valve or a non-return valve 101, which allows the flow of water only in one direction and has an open/closed position being relative to the level of water pressure in the outlet water pipe 106. An automatic difference pressure of the check valve 101, which in this case is a ball check valve, is performed by the pressure of a spring-loaded ball to help keep 7 the check valve shut. Other types of check valves may also be used. For instance, the check valve may be replaced or complemented by a differential pressure control valve or similar. lf complemented, the check valve will be placed next to or within a near distance of a differential pressure control valve (not shown), which reacts to pressure variations and provides an obstruction when the pressure difference between the hot water pipe 104 and the cold water pipe 105 is over a predetermined pressure limit in the outlet water pipe 106.

At the other side, the outlet water pipe 106 is connected to the hot water pipe 104 (marked as a thick line) by means of a thermal control device 102 having blocking means to prevent water at above a predetermined temperature from entering into the outlet water pipe 106.

The outlet water pipe 106 has also an end at the third outlet WC-ALT 1, closer to the cold water pipe, and at an alternative or additional fourth outlet WC-ALT 2, closer to the hot water pipe, for connecting to an external pipe so the water which is entered into the outlet water pipe 106 is conducted via the external pipe to the WC-tank. The use of the third and/or fourth outlet is depending on how the piping system is installed and regardless of choice the efficiency of the apparatus should not be affected.

At the inlets, an end of the hot water pipe 104 and an end of the cold water pipe 105 are arranged to be connected to a hot water supply HW and a cold water supply CW respectively. The hot water supply HW may be an external hot water pipe connected to a heater or a hot water pipe connected to a hot water circulation system HWC.

The thermal control device 102 connected to the hot water pipe 104 may be a thermal shut-off valve TSV, a high sample temperature safety shut-off valve HST or any other thermal element having blocking means to shut off the valve when a predetermined temperature is detected. The predetermined temperature may vary between 25-30 degrees Celsius, preferably 25-27 degrees Celsius and more preferably 25 degrees Celsius. For instance, when the faucet or shower is not in use, hot water may be remained in the hot water pipe 104 for a long time. The hot water cools then down to a temperature less than 30 degrees and the thermal control device opens up, which allows the cooled water travelling to the outlet water pipe 106. The flow of the cooled water creates inside the 8 outlet water pipe 106 a high water pressure preventing cold water from the cold water pipe 105 to pass through the check valve 101. At some point, the cooled water will run out of the outlet water pipe 106 and only hot water will flow in the hot water pipe 204. The thermal control device detects the increase in temperature of the water and shuts then off or blocks the passage leaving the outlet water pipe 106 with a sudden low water pressure. The check valve 101 and/or the differential pressure valve subsequently opens up due to the high pressure from the cold water pipe 205 an allows the flow of cold water travelling from the cold water pipe 105 via the outlet WC-ALT1 and/or WC-ALT2 to an external WC-pipe connected to a WC-tank until the WC-tank is full.

When the WC-tank is full no more water will be conducted to the WC-tank so a user may be encouraged to flash the WC before using the washing facilities. The first water to be entered into the outlet water pipe 106 and out to the WC-tank is coming from the hot water pipe 104 to be consequently replaced by cold water from the cold water pipe 105. The advantage of allowing water from the hot water pipe 104 to the outlet water pipe 106 prior to water from the cold water pipe 105 is to first empty the hot water pipe from cooled water so the user does not need to wait for the hot water when showering or washing his/her hands. ln Fig. 2, there is provided an example of a second embodiment according to the present disclosure. The apparatus 200 comprises a mixing water device 207, such as a mixer tap or similar for mixing cold water and hot water from each of the inlet water pipes 204, 205 of the apparatus 200. The hot water pipe 204 is marked as a thick line and the cold water pipe 205 is marked as a thin line. The apparatus 200 has two outlets of which one is part of the mixing device 207 connected to a faucet or shower 209, 212 and the other outlet is connected to the WC-tank 208. The mixing device has two inlets for receiving water HW, CW from each inlet water pipe 204, 205 and two outlets, of which one is connected to any of the inlet water pipes 204, 205. This exemplifying embodiment shows that one of the outlets of the mixing device 207 is connected to the inlet cold water pipe 205. However, the outlet may be connected to the inlet hot water pipe 204 instead. The second outlet is the dispenser of the faucet 209 or shower 212. The inlet cold water pipe 205 is connected to the outlet water pipe 206, marked in dashed lines, via a check valve 201 for controlling the entrance of cold water into the outlet water pipe 206. After flushing the WC or 9 emptying the WC-tank 208, the cold water CW from the cold water pump 205 is immediately prevented from flowing into the outlet water pipe 206 by the check valve 201, so water which does not exceed a predetermined temperature from the hot water pipe 204 enters the outlet water pipe 206 via a thermal control device 202. The water of the outlet water pipe 206 is continuously conducted to an external pipe connected to a WC-tank 208 until the WC-tank is full.

FIG. 3 depicts an example of the third embodiment of the present disclosure. The apparatus 100, 200 may further comprise a LED-diode circuit 311 with a LED-diode and a thermo-electric-generator, TEG, 310, also called Seebeck generator, which is a solid state device for converting heat flux directly into electrical energy. The LED-diode circuit 311 may be replaced by a Halogen-circuit having a Halogen light bulb or any other lightning circuit.

The TEG 310 is connected to the hot and cold water pipes 304, 305 to detect the temperature difference or heat flux between the water pipes 304, 305 and convert it to electric energy. The temperature of the water may be 55 -60°C in the hot water pipe 204 and 5-7 °C in the cold water pipe 205 depending on the heat source. The electric energy converted by the TEG is sufficient for switch on the LED-diode in the LED-circuit 311. The LED-diode of the LED-diode circuit 311 lights then up in order to indicate to the user of the water facilities, such as a faucet or a shower, that there is hot water in the hot water pipe 304. ln case of two apparatuses are used at the same time, i.e. one in the shower and the other in the washbasin, the LED-diode light signal for each apparatus will switch on independently of each other when hot water is ready. The TEG and the LED-diode circuit may be inside the casing 303 of the apparatus 300 as depicted in FIG. 3 or may be placed outside directly attached to the water supply pipes or connected to in other ways.

As shown in previous embodiments, the check valve 301 and the thermal control device 302 are controlling the entrance of water into the outlet water pipe 306. ln F|G.4, there is provided a piping system 413 according an example of the present disclosure. The piping system shows three different alternatives of using any of the claimed apparatus 100, 300, 400. For simplicity, only the apparatus 400 will be mentioned in relation to this figure. The three alternatives may be used at the same time in different rooms such as different apartments or floors and are provided with a common mixing device 407. Other possibilities are also possible, for instance that the mixing device is built inside the apparatus 400 or that the apparatus 400 is integrated into a modified standard mixing device.

The first alternative Alt. 1 depicts a part of the piping system 413 comprising only one apparatus 400, wherein the inlets ofthe apparatus 400 are connected to the hot HW and cold water pipes CW of the mixing device 407. Two outlets of the apparatus 400 are connected to the faucet 409a. For simplicity, we have depicted the mixed hot and cold water as being hot water, i.e. with a thick line. However, this mixed water should exceed the temperature of 30 degrees Celsius so the thermal control device 102 does not remain open at all times leading all mixed water to the WC-tank 408a. Another configuration of the piping system 413 would be to use the apparatus 200, which comprises an integrated mixing device 207 and replace the mixing device 407 with a direct hot HW and cold water CW supply. A third possibility would be to use in each alternative a mixing device which inside comprises the apparatus 100, 300, 400. Many other configurations are possible as well as the combination of any or all of the three mentioned possibilities.

Further, the cooled water from the outlet water pipe 106, 206, 306 of the apparatus 400 is connected to an external pipe (marked in dash lines) leading to the WC-tank 408a. The shower 412a does not make use ofthe apparatus 400 ofthe present invention.

The second alternative Alt.2 has a similar configuration as Alt. 1 but the apparatus 400 is connected to the shower 412b instead of being connected to the faucet 409b. The cooled water is now travelling from the apparatus 400 to the WC-tank 408b via the external pipe marked in dashed lines.

The third Alt. 3 shows the possibility of making use of two apparatuses 400 at the same time. The first apparatus delivers cooled water from the faucet 409c to the WC-tank 408c, whilst the second apparatus delivers cooled water from the shower 412c. ln Fig. 5A, there is provided another example of a piping system 513 of the present disclosure comprising the apparatus 100, 200, 300, 400 (not visible) and external pipes connected from the faucet B1 and the bath tub B2 to the WC-tank A. The piping system 11 513 may also comprise several apparatus 100, 200, 300, 400, each connected to different parts of the piping system. Furthermore, each apparatus 100, 300, 400 may be connected to a mixing water device 407 of the shower or bath tub B2 or of the faucet B1. Since the apparatus 200 already includes an integrated mixing device, no external mixing water device is connected or needed. One or more outlets of each apparatus 100, 200, 300, 400 are connected to the WC-tank A via one or several WC-pipes, to fill up the WC-tank first with the cooled water from the hot water pipe 105, 205, 305, 405 and then with the cold water from the cold water pipe 104, 204, 304, 404. The inlets of each apparatus 100, 200, 300, 400 are connected to the hot and the cold water pipes of the internal or external mixing water device respectively. ln the isometric view of FIG. 5B, there is provided an exemplifying apparatus of 100, 300, 400 with the casing 503 open. As shown, inside the casing 503, there are three water pipes interconnected with each other. The hot water pipe 504, depicted in a dark colour, is connected to the outlet water pipe 506 via a thermal control device 502 and the cold water pipe 505, depicted in a light colour, is connected to the outlet water pipe 506 via a check valve 502. ln F|G.6, there is provided a method of saving water when using the piping system 513 or any other system making use of the apparatus 100, 200, 300, 400. The method comprises the steps of first emptying a WC-tank by for instance a user 620. lt is also possible that more than one WC-tank is connected to a facet or a shower. However, not all the WC- tanks need to be emptied at the same time; instead they may be emptied sequentially. The second step 630 is to allow water below a predetermined temperature entering into the outlet water pipe 106, 206, 306, 406 of the at least one apparatus 100, 200, 300, 400 until the cooled water is blocked via blocking means inside the thermal control device 102, 202, 302, 402; The third step 640 is that upon detecting a lower water pressure in the outlet water pipe 106, 206, 306, 406, the check valve 101, 201, 301, 401 inside the at least one apparatus 100,200, 300, 400 opens up and allows water travelling from the cold water pipe 105, 205, 305, 405 into the outlet water pipe 106, 206, 306, 406; The fourth step 650 is to conduct water of the outlet water pipe 106, 206, 306, 406 constantly via the at least one WC-pipe to the at least one WC-tank until said WC-tank is full. The number of WC- pipes varies in proportion to the number of WC-tanks in order to conduct water to the 12 correct WC-tank in a simple manner. The last step 660 involves repeating the above mentioned four steps before every use of a fa ucet and/or a shower. ln FIG. 7, there is provided an example of another piping system 713 of the present disclosure comprising hot water-, HW, pipes, cold water-, CW, pipes, a WC-pipe, and hot water circulation- HWC, pipes. The piping system 713 connects a three-floor building together. The HWC-pipes 714, marked in dash-double-dotted lines, circulates around each floor in the building without the need of a pump and are connected to the HW-pipe for receiving re-circulated hot water from the shower 712a, 712b, 712c or from the faucets 709a, 709b, 709c. The apparatus 700 receives the re-circulated hot water from the HWC- pipe via a T-fitting having an HWC-pipe inlet and an HWC-pipe outlet, provided that the water is above a predetermined temperature, and it is conducted through the WC-pipe to the WC-tank 708a, 708b, 708c. When there is no cooled water in the apparatus, the WC- pipe is filled with cold water. The HWC-pipe outlet of the T-fitting may transport via the part of the HWC-pipe 715, re-circulated hot water to a circulation pump. This part 715 of the HWC-pipe 714 is no longer needed when using the apparatus 700 so does not form part ofthe system 713.

As an example of the functionality of the piping system 713, it is assumed that the WC- tank 708a, is not emptied and that the re-circulated water in the HWC-pipe 714 will not be able to go into the apparatus 700 of the top floor. The re-circulated water will then travel to the apparatus of the second floor or first floor whichever is available. ln other words, if a user is flushing the WC in the second floor, the user of the third floor will have hot water (not cooled) even if the WC-tank of the same floor is not emptied. The same applies for the other floors. ln F|G.7, each apparatus 700 is drawn as being far from the faucets or showers. However, this is only a schematic drawing and each apparatus may be connected next to the faucet or shower in order to optimise the system 713. ln addition, the apparatus 700 may be an apparatus which has a mixing device integrated as shown in FIG. 2 or the mixing devices used in the faucets 709a, 709b, 709c or showers 712a, 712b, 712c may include the apparatus 700. However, if the apparatus 700 is an integrated one or a mixing device 13 comprising the apparatus 700, the piping system 713 needs to be modified so the HW- pipe is connected to the apparatus 700 or the mixing device.

Whichever type of apparatus is used in the pipe system 713, the apparatus 700 is connected to the WC-pipe, marked in dashed lines, conducting coo|ed water to the WC- tank 708a, 708b, 708c. ln FIG. 8, there is provided an example of a mixing device 807 according to the present disclosure for mixing hot and cold water to be dispensed via a faucet 809 or shower 812. The mixing device comprises two knobs at each side for regulating the temperature and the water force and one knob on the front to switch on or offthe passage to the shower.

The mixing device 807 comprises the apparatus 100, 300, 400 wherein cold CW and hot water HW from each of the inlet water pipes 804, 805 of the apparatus 100, 300, 400 is mixed in the mixing device 807 to be dispensed by the faucet 809 or the shower 812. ln addition, one of the inlet water pipes 804, 805 is connected to a hot/cold water pipe of the mixing device respectively. lt is possible to modify a standard mixing device to be adapted to the apparatus 100, 300, 400 by adding an additional outlet next to the already existing two inlets. Some standard mixing devices have four inlets of which two are placed on the bottom ofthe mixing device and the two others are placed on the top of the mixing device. The user may then select which connection is preferable according to the position of the pipes. ln this case, the mixing device is modified by adding one outlet on the top and one outlet on the bottom.

As previously shown in the apparatus 100, 300, 400, a check valve or non-return valve 801 and a thermal control device 802 are also provided to conduct first coo|ed water and then cold water in the outlet water pipe 806 to the WC-tank via the WC-pipe.

Whilst the invention has been described with respect to illustrative embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the apparatus and means herein described without departing from the scope and the teaching of the invention. Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered merely exemplary and the invention or disclosure is not to be limited except as specified in the attached claims.

Claims (10)

Claims

1. An apparatus (100) for connecting to a faucet or shower of a piping system comprising at least one outlet (WC-ALT1) and two inlets and at least three water pipes (104, 105, 106) in connection with each other placed inside the apparatus (100), wherein two (104, 105) ofthe at least three water pipes have an end at each inlet for connecting to a hot water supply (HW) and a cold water supply (CW) respectively, and at least one water pipe is an outlet water pipe (106) having an end at the outlet for connecting via an external pipe to a WC-tank, characterized in that the outlet water pipe (106) is at one side connected to the cold water pipe (105) by means of a check valve (101) and/or a differential pressure control valve, which its open/closed position is relative to the level of water pressure in the outlet water pipe (106), and at the other side, the outlet water pipe (106) is connected to the hot water pipe (104) by means of a thermal control device (102) having blocking means to prevent water at above a predetermined temperature from entering into the outlet water pipe (106), wherein water which is entered into the outlet water pipe (106) is conducted via the external pipe to the WC-tank.

2. . The apparatus (100) according to claim 1, wherein the thermal control device (102) is a thermal shut off valve.

3. . The apparatus (100) according to any of previous claims, wherein the hot water supply is a hot water pipe connected to a heater or a hot water pipe connected to a hot water circulation system (HWC).

4. . The apparatus (100) according to any of previous claims, wherein the predetermined temperature is between 25-30 degrees Celsius, preferably 25-27 degrees Celsius and more preferably 25 degrees Celsius.

5. . The apparatus (100) according to any of previous claims, wherein the apparatus (100) further comprises a thermo-electric-generator (310) connected to the hot and cold water pipes and a LED-diode-circuit (311).

6. . The apparatus (100) according to any of previous claims, wherein the apparatus (100) comprises two additional outlets, at which another hot water pipe end and another cold water pipe end are respectively placed, each additional outlet is configured to be connected to a connector of a faucet or a shower.

7. . The apparatus (200) according to any of previous claims, further comprising a mixing water device (207) for mixing cold water and hot water from each of the in|et water pipes (204, 205) of the apparatus (200), wherein an outlet ofthe mixing water device is connected to one of the in|et water pipe (204, 205) and in|ets of the mixing water device are connected to the in|et cold water pipe (205) and to the in|et hot water pipe (204) respectively.

8. . A piping system comprising: - at least one apparatus according to any of claims 1-6 connected to a mixing water device (407) of at least one shower and/or at least one faucet or at least one apparatus according to claim 7 or 10, and - at least one WC-pipe connected to at least one WC-tank, wherein the in|ets of the at least one apparatus are connected to the hot and the cold water pipes of the mixing water device respectively and the at least one outlet of the apparatus is connected to the at least one WC-pipe.

9. . A method of saving water when using a piping system according to claim 8, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) emptying at least one WC-tank (A), b) entering water below a predetermined temperature from the hot water pipe (105) into the outlet water pipe (106) ofthe at least one apparatus (100), in response to the pressure difference between the hot water pipe (105) and the cold water pipe (104), until the water is blocked by the thermal control device (102); c) upon detecting a lower water pressure in the outlet water pipe(106) , the check valve (101) inside the at least one apparatus (100) opens and allows water travelling from the cold water pipe (105) into the outlet water pipe (106); 16 d) conducting constantly water of the outlet water pipe (106) via the at least one WC- pipe to the at least one WC-tank until said tank is full; e) repeating the steps a)-d) before every use of a washingfacility(B1, B2)

10. A mixing device 807 for mixing hot and cold water to be dispensed via a faucet or 5 shower comprising the apparatus according to any of claims 1-8, wherein cold and hot water from each ofthe inlet water pipes (804, 805) ofthe apparatus is mixed in the mixing device and one ofthe inlet water pipes (804, 805) is connected to a hot/cold water pipe of the mixing device respectively.