WO2005056935A1

WO2005056935A1 - Household greywater recycling system

Info

Publication number: WO2005056935A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/004066
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pál ÖKRÖS
Original assignee: Oekroes Pal
Priority date: 2003-12-10
Filing date: 2004-12-10
Publication date: 2005-06-23
Also published as: HUP0304016A2; EP1692348A1; HU0304016D0; WO2005056935B1

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a greywater reusing system for the reuse of household greywater from washing to flush the toilet, consisting of a greywater tank (1) built on top of a front loader washer (30) equipped with a stronger primary water pump (21) and a possibly a secondary water pump (31) controlled by the electronic central unit in harmony with the water sensors (55, 56) and the clean water and greywater valves (A, B, C, D and W, X, Y, Z), water supply pipe (3), greywater pipe (19), flushing conduit (8), flushing valve (7), and in the tank (1) a floating ball (6). The characteristic feature of the invention is that the automatically operating mechanical flushing system can be used independently, or together with the electronic flushing system operated by the electronic control unit of the washer in harmony with the water sensors, valves and pump(s).

Description

Household Greywater Recycling System

The subject of the invention is a greywater reusing system, for the use of washing water to flush the toilet, consisting of a greywater reusing washing machine incorporating an additional greywater tank built in on its top, primary and secondary water pumps operated in harmony with the inlet and outlet valves by the central electronic control unit of the washing machine, greywater pipes, flushing conduits, flushing valve, and in the tank a floating ball.

The traditional overfeed flushing toilet consists of an open tank with a capacity between about 6 to 12 liters, a float valve, and a weighted flushing valve. The pivoted support arm of the float valve closes directly the fill valve, the upper part of the floater is floating on the surface of the water. The disadvantage of those flushing constructions is that they use exclusively potable water, which is becoming more and more valuable and expensive. As the availability of freshwater reserves of the Earth is becoming more and more limited in some areas of the world the need to reuse part of the domestic waste-water has arisen. The waste-water produced by washing machines, in the bath tub and shower is called grey- water, which contains only 1/10th to 1/9^* of the contaminants of "black water", and the greywater does not contain any solid contaminants.

The present invention is based on the (PCT) patent application No. HU0200164 dated 13.12.2002 (claim points 1 to 9 of the present application). The novelty of the invention described in points 1-9 was that it works automatically, and is safe from hygienic point of view, because it filters and disinfects greywater, the greywater can not infiltrate into the clean water supply piping. The system is reusing the water from bath/shower as well as the greywater of the washing machine, by using one or two stronger than standard washing machine water pump(s). The present invention is also based on the patent application No. P0304016 dated 10.12.2003 (claim points 10 to 21) — priority of which is claimed — , the novelty of which is that the greywater tank is incorporated in the washing machine itself, by building it on top of the traditional front loader washer.

The claim point 22 to 30 describe the security measures and devices used for the secure operation of the greywater reusing washer in line with the health safety requirements. The technical novelty introduces the washer pump driven dual flushing harmonized with simultaneous operation of inlet and outlet valves in pairs controlled the by the central electronic control unit of the washer. Due to the use of the additional adjusting buttons the user can determine what water quality can go into the greywater tank of the washer and which water quality should go directly to the toilet. The adjusting selector button (50) determines if the washing water and/or the first and 2^nd rinsing water should go directly to the toilet, or can go into the greywater tank of the washer.

Another selector switch (51) button adjusts the greywater flushing quantity between e.g. 3 and 10 liters. After flushing with greywater, in a separate runm an obligatory clean water flushing follows. A third selector button (52) determines the clean water quantity for rinsing/flushing measuring between for instance 0.5 and 3 liters. The flushing quality and quantity adjusting operator buttons are on the washer. The flushing operator button (53) is placed near the toilet, and is connected to the control unit of the greywater reusing washer.

The following security devices are incorporated in the washer:

1. A sensor (54) indicating if the toilet is in use. All flushing operations are suspended until a person is sitting on the toilet.

2. An overflow sensor indicating if the greywater tank of the washer is filled to capacity and on receipt of the full signal greywater is pumped from the tank into the toilet followed by clean water rinsing flush. 3. After a period of about 24 to 48 hours of unuse of any of the functions of the greywater reusing washer, the greywater is empted from the tank into the toilet.

4. At predefined intervals a control lamp and/or buzzer (54) warns to check the filters and clean them if necessary, and to check if there is enough disinfectant agent in the filter house.

There is a smaller floating buoy operated cleanwater tank of about 3 liters inside the greywater tank to ensure the obligatory rinsing flush with clean water after flushing with greywater.

The aim of the invention is to add new functions to the technical solutions known up to date, and to upgrade the greywater recycling system and incorporate the whole into a greywater reusing washer which is operating automatically, recycles the greywater accumulated within the houshold, furthermore, which is reliable and is in compliance with the prevailing safety regulations and meets the requirements of an eco-civilized modern-convenience.

The washer connected to the bath tub with a greywater suction pipe is provided with a stronger secondary water pump connected to the tank by a secondary greywater drain pipe. There is an in-line water sensing unit mounted before the secondary water pump enabling it to start automatically, and after the drain orifice a non-return valve is mounted into the secondary greywater drain pipe.

In one version, there is a stopping member fixed to the side wall of the tank, determining the position of the floating ball closing the clean water fill valve as well as the ratio of greywater and clean supply water. The primary water pump is connected to the tank by the primary greywater drain pipe, which is also provided with a nonreturn valve. In further possible versions the greywater tube is connected with a greywater valve to the primary greywater drain pipe, and in given cases to the secondary greywater drain pipe. On the outlet of the greywater pipe there are one or more filtering units suitably mounted within the tank. The tank has an air orifice for the compensation of the atmospheric pressure. The tank is provided with an overflow tube connected to the toilet bowl, the diameter of which is greater than that of the greywater pipe.

The operation of the greywater system is fully automatic, thus needs no human intervention whatsoever. In case the large combined tank is overfilled, the greywater surplus flows automatically to the toilet bowl through the overflow tube orm in the control unit operated version is pumped into the toilet bowl. Inasmuch as there is not enough greywater for one flushing, the system provides fresh water supply automatically. It is operating with pumps as well, therefore it is not absolutely necessary to found its operation on gravity free-flow due to dwelling floor differences, and it is using only the grey-water originating within one and the same household.

In the following, the invention is presented in detail on basis of the drawing. Figure 1 shows the longitudinal section of the washer built together with the greywater tank.

Figure 1 shows the 1 tank on top of the washer (30), the 2 greywater valve, the 3 water supply pipe, the 4 fill valve, the 5 shut-off valve, the 6 floating ball, the 7 flushing valve, the 8 flushing conduit, the 9 overflow orifice, the 10 overflow tube, the 13 filtering units, the 14 disinfecting unit, the 15 actuating shaft, the 16 pivoted support arm, the 17 compensating air orifice, the 18 stopping member, and the 19 greywater pipe.

The 1 tank can have various dimensions, the 100 liter size is advantageous. The greywater arriving through the 19 greywater tube is directed through the 13 filtering unit, consisting of a prefilter screen and a finer filter. This filters out possible pieces of hair, and threads or fluffs. The 14 disinfecting unit disinfects the greywater. The treated greywater flows into the 1 tank. Inasmuch as the water quantity exceeds the capacity of the 1 tank, the 1 1 greywater surplus flows tlirough the 9 overflow orifice and the 10 overflow tube and exits the tank tlirough the 8 flushing conduit. The diameter of the 10 overflow tube is identical to or greater than that of the 19 greywater tube. When flushing, by opening the 7 flushing valve the quantity of water necessary for the flushing - about 6 - 7 liters is leaving the tank through the 7 flushing valve and the 8 flushing conduit. The 11 greywater can mix with the 12 supply water. If there is a sufficient quantity of 11 greywater present the location of the 6 floating ball is fixed at the 20 supply water level.

The 6 floating ball comes into action when the 1 tank does not contain 11 greywater, or the water quantity in the 1 tank sinks below the level of about 6 - 7 liters determined by the 18 stopping member. In such a case, the 16 pivoted support arm swings downward, the 15 actuating shaft on its turn opens the 4 fill valve. Fresh 12 supply water flows into the 1 tank through the 3 water supply pipe and the 4 fill valve. The inflowing 12 supply water pushes the 6 floating valve upwards, also moving upwards the 15 actuating shaft, which closes the 4 fill valve. At that moment, the 6 floating ball is at the 20 supply water level. If after that 11 greywater flows into the tank, the 6 floating ball can no more rise upwords, because it bumps into the 18 stopping member, so it remains at the 20 supply water level.

Limiting the upward movment of the 6 floating ball is also possible at the articulating joint where the 16 pivoted support arm is fixed to the 1 tank. In this way, the 12 supply water can flow into the 1 tank only when the water quantity in the 1 tank is below the volume sufficient for one flushing. In the 1 tank the atmospheric pressure and the steady flowing out of the flushing volume is ensured by the 17 compensating air orifice.

The 21 primary water pump is the original water pump of the 30 washing machine. It is required that the power and the lifting height of the 21 primary water pump is increases to exceed those of the pump types presently used in washing machines, in function of the dwelling floor difference and the distance to the 1 tank. The power of the electric centrifugal pumps most widely used in washing machines is about 100 W. The increased power of the 21 primary water pump is between 100 and 400 W, preferably 200 W, its increased water pressure is between 0.4 and 1.0 bar. The 31 secondary water pump incorporated into the 30 washing machine is preferably in the upper segment of the above mentioned power range, preferably 400 W, and its water pressure is between 0.5 and 1 bar. Its power supply in ensured by the power supply of the 30 washing machine, in a way that it is working automatically, and it is completely independent of all the original functions of the 30 washing machine.

The 31 secondary water pump is activated by the 36 water sensor - that can be enabled/disabled by a separate switch -, and it comes into action when water arrives and sensed in the 32 greywater suction pipe. The 36 water sensor is optimally located between the 31 secondary water pump and the 33 suction pipe connection. The 38 non-return valves prevents back-flow of the greywater. The greywater from the 30 washing machine is pumped tlirough the 29 washing space connection, the 28 washing space connecting duct, the 21 primary water pump, the 26 outflow orifice, the 38 non-return valve and the 27 primary greywater drain pipe to the 1 tank. The water supply of the 30 washing machine is also indicated, tlirough the 23 supply pipe connection, the 25 water supply connection, and the 24 solenoid valve. The greywater from the 22 bath tub is drained tlirough the 32 greywater suction pipe, the 33 suction pipe connection, the 36 water sensor, the 34 drain orifice, the 38 non-return valve and the 35 secondary greywater drain pipe into the 1 tank.

Other versions of the present system are also possible, as an example, the 7 flushing activator can be mounted on the 8 flushing conduit in the W.C. on a different floor, and not on the lower part of the 1 tank which 1 tank may be located in the attic, far away from the washer and the toilet. The greywater recycling system of the present invention provides the solution for the automatic recycling of greywater originating in the households from washing machine and the bath tub by reusing the greywater for flushing the toilet.

Claims

Claims I claim:

1. Greywater recycling system, for the economical flushing of toilets, consisting of one WC tank (1), bath tub (22), a washing machine (30) provided with a primary water pump (21), water supply pipe (3), greywater pipe (19), flushing conduit (8), flushing valve (7), and in the tank (1) a floater (6), wherein the floater (6) is fixed by means of a support to the lower part of the tank (1) allowing it to swing in vertical plane, there is a greywater column (11) above the floater (6), and an actuating shaft (15) fixed onto the floater (6), the actuating shaft (15) passing through the greywater column (11) above the floater (6) is connected to the clean water fill valve (4) of the water supply pipe (3)

2. Greywater recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the washing machine (30) being connected to the bath tub (22) with a greywater suction pipe (32) is provided with a secondary water pump (31), which secondary water pump (31), is connected to the tank (1) by means of a secondary greywater drain pipe (35).

3. Greywater recycling system according to claim 2, wherein there is an in-line water sensor (36) mounted before the secondary water pump (31) enabling the secondary water pump (31) to start automatically, and a non-return valve (38) is mounted into the secondary greywater drain pipe (35).

4. Greywater recycling system according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein there is a stopping member (18) fixed to the wall of the tanl (1), determining the uppermost position of the floater (6) closing the clean water fill valve (4) as well as the ratio of greywater (1 1) and clean supply water (12).

5. Greywater recycling system according to any of claim 1 to 4, wherein the primary water pump (21) is connected to the tank (1) by means of the primary greywater drain pipe (27), which primary greywater drain pipe (27) is provided with a non-return valve (38).

6. Greywater recycling system according to any of claim 1 to 5, wherein the greywater tube (19) is connected tlirough the greywater valve (2) to the primary greywater drain pipe (27), and in given cases to the secondary greywater drain pipe (35).

7. Greywater recycling system according to any of claim 1 to 6, wherein on the outlet of the greywater pipe (19) there are one or more filtering units (13) suitably mounted within the tank (1).

8. Greywater recycling system according to any of claim 1 to 7, wherein the tank (1) has a compensating air orifice (17) for the compensation of the atmospheric pressure.

9. Greywater recycling system according to any of claim 1 to 8, wherein the tank (1) is provided with an overflow tube (10), the diameter of which is greater than or equal to that of the greywater pipe (19).

10. Greywater recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the more than one tank (1), is connected to the system.

11. Greywater recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the floater (6) can be of any shape in the tank (1) which floater (6) is on the floater guiding axle (39) provided with a limiting element (40), and which floater (6) is fixed to the bottom of the tank (1) by chain or other filament (41).

12. Greywater recycling system according to any of claim 1 to 8, wherein the tank (1) is built on top of the washer (30) thus forming one and the same body, the primary greywater tube (27) and the secondary greywater tube (35) is inside the body of the washer (30) and the tank (1).

13. Greywater recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the floater (6) is fixed by means of a support to the lower part of the tank

(I) allowing it to swing in vertical plane, there is a greywater column

(I I) above the floater (6), and an actuating shaft (15) fixed onto the floater (6), the actuating shaft (15) passing through the greywater column (11) above the floater (6) is connected to the clean water fill valve (4) of the water supply pipe (3)

14. Greywater recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the water supply pipe (3) has a water spray function after the water fill valve (4) to spray water to the inner sides of the tank (1).

15. Greywater recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the washer (30) is equipped with one water pump (21) having the output of more than 100W having a pressure output of more than 0.4 bar, and connected to a tank (1) by a greywater pipe (19).

16. Greywater recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the washer (30) is equipped with a second water pump (21) connected to a WC flushing tank (1) by a greywater drain pipe (19 or 27 or 35).

17. Greywater recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the greywater suction pipe (32) and the primary greywater drain pipe (27) is equipped with a water diversion Suldi valve diverting the water to the sewage canal, and the top of the housing of the filters (13) is connected by a diverting tube to the overflow tube (9, 10).

18. Greywater recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the washer (30) is equipped with one water pump (21) having the output of 100W to 400 W, having a pressure output of 0.4 to 1 bar, and connected to the bath tub (22), with a greywater suction pipe (32) and also connected to a WC flushing tank (1) by means of a greywater drain pipe (19 or 27 or 35).

19. Greywater recycling system according to claim 1, wherin the single water pump (21) of the washer (30) has three inflow orifices each of which has an electro-magnetic valve before the water pump (21) :

— on the supply pipe (23) the „A" cleanwater inlet valve,

— on the washing space outlet pipe (28b) the "B" washing water inlet valve,

— on the greywater suction pipe (32) the „C" bathing water inlet valve, and the water pump (21) also has two outflow orifices, each of which is provided with an electro-magnetig valve after the water pump (21):

— "X" cleanwater outlet valve on the washing space inlet pipe (28a),

— "Y" greywater outlet valve on the greywater drain pipe (27, 35), which valves can be opened and closed in pairs. The simultaneous opening of "A" and "X" electro-magnetic valves allows the inflow of cleanwater. The simultaneous opening of "B" and "Y" valves allows the outflow of the greywater from washing, and the simultaneous opening of "C" and "Y" allows the drainage of greywater from the bath tub.

20. Greywater recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the washer (30) is equipped with a two-directional water pump (42), which has three orifices before the water pump (42) each of which has an electro-magnetic valve (42) :

— on the supply pipe (23) the „A" cleanwater inlet valve in direct flow operation,

— on the greywater suction pipe (32) the „C" bathing water inlet valve in direct flow operation,

— on the greywater drain pipe (27, 35) the "Z" greywater outlet valve in reverse flow operation, and the two-directional water pump (42) also has two orifices after the two-directional water pump (42), each of which is provided with an electro-magnetig valve:

— "X" cleanwater valve on the washing space connection pipe (28a), which is a cleanwater inlet valve in direct flow operation, and in reverse flow operation "X" valve is grey water drain valve,

— "Y" greywater outlet valve on the greywater drain pipe (27, 35) in direct flow operation; which valves can be opened and closed coupled in pairs. The simultaneous opening of "A" and "X" electro-magnetic valves in direct flow operation allows the inflow of cleanwater. The simultaneous opening of "X" and "Z" valves in reverse flow operation allows the outflow of the greywater from washing, and the simultaneous opening of "C" and "Y" in direct flow operation allows the drainage of greywater from the bath tub.

21. Greywater recycling system according to claim 1, wherein the support arm (16) holding the floater (6) in the tank (1) is connected directly to the clean water fill valve (4) on the clean water supply pipe (3), which clean water supply pipe goes through the greywater column (11) which is above the floater (6) then overhangs above the greywater column (11), and the cleanwater supply orifice (3a) is above the greywater column (11).

22. Greywater recycling system according to claim 1, wherint the toilet dual flushing is actuated by said washer pump(s) with the simultaneous operation of said inlet and outlet valves in pairs, controlled by the central electronic control unit of the washer.

23. Greywater recycling system according to claim 22, wherein there is a sensor mounted near the toilet to detect if the toilet is in use, said sensor is connected to the control unit of the washer, emitting possible signals about toilet occupancy, said possible occupancy signals having suspending effect on flushing activity.

24. Greywater recycling system according to claim 22, wherein there is an overflow sensor mounted within the greywater tank of the washer, said overflow sensor connected to the control unit of the washer, providing possible signal for actuating said pump and water valves to empty the graywater surplus within the greywater tank into the toilet.

25. Greywater recycling system according to claim 22, wherein an adjusting selector button mounted on the washer and connected to the control unit of the washer, said selector button determining that washing water and/or first rinsing water and/or second rinsing water can go into the graywater tank on top of the washer or directed into the toilet.

26. Greywater recycling system according to claim 22, wherein a greywater selector switch button mounted on the washer and connected to the control unit of said washer, said greywater selector switch determining greywater flushing quantity.

27. Greywater recycling system according to claim 22, wherein a cleanwater slushing selector button mounted on said washer and connected to said control unit of the washer, said cleanwater flushing selector button determining the cleanwater quantity to flush with following flushing action by greywater.

28. Greywater recycling system according to claim 22, wherein there is a timer adjusting switch on the washer connected to said control unit of said washer, said timer adjusting switch com ected to a control lamp and buzzer, said timer adjusting switch determining the time period after which said control lamp and buzzer is activated reminding to check filters and disinfecting agent in the filtering-disinfecting unit.

29. Greywater recycling system according to claim 22, wherein there is a flush activating unit mounted near the toilet, said flush activating unit connected to the control unit of said washer, said flush activating unit consisting of two activator, one for smaller and the other one for larger quantity of greywater flushing.

30. Greywater recycling system according to claim 22, wherein the top of the greywater tank built on top of said washer is a removable lid enabling easy access to the inside of said tank and to its mechanical and electronic components for the purpose of easy maintenance.