Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks
  • E03C1/12—Plumbing installations for waste water; Basins or fountains connected thereto; Sinks
  • E03C1/26—Object-catching inserts or similar devices for waste pipes or outlets
  • E03C1/266—Arrangement of disintegrating apparatus in waste pipes or outlets; Disintegrating apparatus specially adapted for installation in waste pipes or outlets
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03B—INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER
  • E03B1/00—Methods or layout of installations for water supply
  • E03B1/04—Methods or layout of installations for water supply for domestic or like local supply
  • E03B1/041—Greywater supply systems
  • E03B1/042—Details thereof, e.g. valves or pumps
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03B—INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER
  • E03B1/00—Methods or layout of installations for water supply
  • E03B1/04—Methods or layout of installations for water supply for domestic or like local supply

Definitions

• This invention relates to a waste water control system and to diverter valves for use in controlling waste water for recycling purposes.
• mains-supplied water The primary purpose of mains-supplied water is for human consumption, the water for such purpose needing to be of potable quality.
• non-foul domestic waste water sometimes referred to as "grey" water
• grey water can be re-used for secondary purposes include the supply of lavatory cisterns, water to irrigate the garden and laundry or washing-up purposes. Not all such waste is necessarily suitable for these purposes, however, and hence there is a need for a water-control system which can selectively allow waste water either to flow direct to the main drainage system or alternatively to a storage tank for eventual re-use to supply a secondary demand.
• a non-foul domestic waste water control system comprises a storage tank including means for supply of secondary demand outlets and inlet pipework for non- foul domestic waste water, the inlet pipework including selective diverter valve and pump means and the storage tank including level-sensing means operatively connected to said pump means, whereby waste water in use is selectively directed to said pump means and pumped to said storage tank or passed to mains drainage if said storage tank is full as detected by said level- sensing means.
• the outlet from the pump means is preferably connected to a storage or holding tank for supply of secondary water demand outlets.
• the storage or holding tank preferably includes level-sensing means operatively connected to said pump means to inactivate the pump means when the storage tank is full.
• the outlet from the pump means may be connected direct to secondary water demand outlets rather than indirect via the storage or holding tank.
• the pump chamber of the diverter valve and pump assembly preferably also includes level sensing means such as a float switch operatively connected to said pump means, whereby the pump means does not switch on until the pump chamber is full of water.
• level sensing means such as a float switch operatively connected to said pump means, whereby the pump means does not switch on until the pump chamber is full of water.
• the inlet of the pump means includes filter means to prevent any solid material suspended in the water from entering the pump means.
• the valve means comprises a valve chamber including an inlet port and outlet ports leading respectively to the water outlet means and the pump chamber, and a valve member comprising a flap or plate which is pivotably mounted for movement between positions in sealing engagement with one or other of said ports.
• the valve member comprises a rotatably-mounted cylinder having passageways formed therein, the cylinder being mounted for axial rotation in a housing defining said inlet and outlet ports for movement between positions in which one or other of said outlet ports is open and the other is closed, said inlet port remaining open in either said position.
• the water outlet means preferably includes an air vent to prevent any entrapped air from creating an airlock and preventing flow of water through the outlet means.
• the air vent is combined with the overflow means.
• the capacity of the pump means should be sufficient to enable the outlet water to be supplied at a rate which is approximately that of the inlet, so that the pump chamber neither becomes emptied despite continuing inflow of water nor is oversupplied despite continuing outflow of water, resulting in excess water running to waste through the overflow means.
• Two or more pumps may be provided to boost the outlet capacity; the pumps may be selectively actuated according to the inflow rate.
• the pump outlets may be connected to a common outlet pipe via suitable manifold means .
• the pump means are preferably powered by a low voltage direct current electricity supply which may be provided from the mains supply via a suitable voltage conversion device such as a step-down transformer, or by a rechargeable power pack.
• a suitable voltage conversion device such as a step-down transformer, or by a rechargeable power pack.
• the storage tank which is preferably roof-mounted to allow gravity supply to the secondary demand outlets, may be provided with a back-up mains water supply via a float-operated control valve.
• the control valve may be mounted at the upper end of a bracket attached to the sidewall of the tank, the float being connected to the control valve via a cranked operating member having a vertically-disposed portion and the bracket preferably including a horizontally-extending lower arm having a slotted outer end, the vertical portion of the operating member passing through and being guided for axial movement in the slot, whereby the mains inlet pipe is held above the top of the tank sidewall .
• a bracket constitutes another aspect of the present invention.
• Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of one embodiment of a diverter valve and pump
• Figure 2 is a plan view in diagrammatic form of another embodiment of a diverter valve and pump
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of the diverter valve and pump of figure 2.
• Figure 4 is a fragmentary section of a storage tank equipped with a bracket supporting a mains-water float control valve.
• the diverter valve and pump is shown generally at 10 and consists of a body 11 defining a pump chamber 12, an inlet stub 13 for domestic non-foul waste water and an outlet chamber 14 terminating in an outlet stub 15.
• the inlet stub is connected to an inlet pipe 16 via a connector 17 and the outlet stub is connected to a drainage outlet pipe 18 via a similar connector 19.
• Pumps 20, 21 and associated filters 22, 23 are retained in the pump chamber by an aperture plate 24 secured to the body 11 by screws (not shown) .
• the interior of the body includes a cylindrical seating 25 for a cylindrical valve member 26, held in place by annular end retainers 26a.
• the seating 25 is cut away to provide an inlet aperture 27, an outlet aperture 28 communicating with the outlet chamber 14 and a further outlet aperture 29 including a baffle plate 30 communicating with the pump chamber 12.
• An aperture 31 is also provided in the internal wall 32 separating the outlet chamber 14 from the pump chamber 12.
• the valve member 26 is rotatably carried within the seating 25, rotation being activated by control knobs (not shown) carried axially of the valve member and externally of the body 11.
• the valve member 26 is formed with a central diametral through-passage 33 and a radial passage 34 at 90° to and connecting with the passage 33.
• passages 33 and 34 place the inlet stub in communication with the pump chamber; rotation of the valve member 26 by 90° in a clockwise direction will place the inlet stub in communication with the outlet chamber via passage 33, passage 34 being closed by the upper part of the cylindrical seating 25.
• a flap valve 35 is hinged to the internal wall 32 within the outlet chamber 14 for movement between a position where it closes aperture 31 and an open position in which one-way flow is permitted from pump chamber 12 into outlet chamber 14.
• the pump motors are powered by a 12 volt direct current supply and are connected via a level or float switch (not shown) in the pump chamber, whereby they are activated automatically when the pump chamber 12 is filled with waste water, the valve member 26 having been previously set in the position shown. Waste water is thus pumped to a storage tank also equipped with a level switch electrically connected to the pumps to switch them off when the storage tank is full. Unless the valve member 26 is then set to pass incoming waste water from the inlet stub direct to the outlet chamber 14, which may be effected either manually or automatically, water will continue to flow into the pump chamber, which will overflow by the water pressure causing the flap valve 35 to open thus permitting water to flow to the outlet chamber 14 and thence to waste.
• a level or float switch not shown
• FIG 2 a similar apparatus to that described with reference to Figure 1 is shown but the cylinder valve 36 has its axis of rotation vertical whereby the operating lever is on the top of the housing, as shown in Figure 3. With the cylinder valve arranged vertically, flow into the pump chamber is laterally - directed.
• the inlet stub is indicated 37, the outlet chamber 38, the pumps 39, 40 the float switch 41 and a combined air vent/overflow aperture 42.
• the pump housing has a removable upper member 43 from the ends of which extend the inlet stub 37 and the outlet stub 44.
• the cylinder valve is manually operated by means of lever 45 pivotally caused in a recess 46 formed in the upper member 43, which may be reversed if it is desired to have the lever extending to and operated from the other side.
• the pumps 39, 40 are connected to a manifold 47 for connection to pipework to the storage tank.
• the side of the storage tank is indicated 48 and an "L" bracket member 49 is removably attached thereto by means of screw clamp 50.
• the vertical limb of the bracket 49 carries the mains water inlet pipe 51 and a valve assembly 52 operated by an actuating lever 53 attached to which is a float 54.
• the lever 53 has a horizontal portion 55 and a vertical portion 56; the latter is slidingly received in a guide slot formed in the outer end of the horizonal limb of the bracket 49.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Sewage (AREA)
• Domestic Plumbing Installations (AREA)
• Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=10795718

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (11)

• 1996
  • 1996-06-21 GB GBGB9613106.5A patent/GB9613106D0/en active Pending
• 1997
  • 1997-06-23 KR KR1019980710450A patent/KR20000022052A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1997-06-23 EP EP97927299A patent/EP0904470A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1997-06-23 AU AU31848/97A patent/AU3184897A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-06-23 CN CN97196751A patent/CN1228133A/zh active Pending
  • 1997-06-23 CA CA002241443A patent/CA2241443A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-06-23 WO PCT/GB1997/001689 patent/WO1997049874A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1997-06-23 JP JP10502542A patent/JP2000513056A/ja active Pending
  • 1997-06-23 AP APAP/P/1999/001437A patent/AP9901437A0/en unknown
  • 1997-06-23 IL IL12767097A patent/IL127670A0/xx unknown

Patent Citations (11)

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