WO2006102689A1

WO2006102689A1 - Grey water collection and discharge unit

Info

Publication number: WO2006102689A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2006/000001
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Scale Joubert
Original assignee: Mark Scale Joubert
Priority date: 2005-01-12
Filing date: 2006-01-12
Publication date: 2006-09-28

Abstract

A grey water collection and discharge unit (1) comprises a water collection chamber (2) having an inlet (3) for connection to a source of grey water and a discharge outlet (9) for discharging water to a discharge pipe. The unit includes a pump (7) for withdrawing water from the collection chamber and delivering it to the discharge outlet, and strainer means (5) interposed between the inlet and outlet for removing unwanted debris from grey water passing through the unit, in use. The inlet is located in an upper region of the collection chamber with the pump communicating with a lower region thereof. Preferably an overflow outlet (4) is provided from the collection chamber in an upper region thereof. The overflow outlet may be located at a position below the inlet.

Description

GREY WATER COLLECTION AND DISCHARGE UNIT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a grey water collection and discharge unit whereby grey water can be collected, typically at a domestic level, and discharged to a plant watering facility, typically in a garden.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

it has long been the practice in arid regions, or regions experiencing drought conditions, to divert grey water, generally including used bath and shower water, to a garden of the relevant building or dwelling. Typically, a pipe is connected to a drain outlet at a position such as a discharge location into a drainage facility, generally a gulley, and the grey water from the relevant drain outlet is thereby diverted to a garden area.

A simple installation of this nature has various disadvantages, not least of which is the fact that human hair and possibly other solid or semisolid materials become deposited in the garden thereby constituting a source of pollution. There is also the possibility that blockages can occur that could lead to grey water accumulating in the drainage system. There is thus the possibility of the grey water becoming a health hazard and giving off offensive odours should it be retained and any location for an appreciable length of time. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a grey water collection and discharge unit that provides advantages over the simple system outlined above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a grey water collection and discharge unit comprising a water collection chamber having an inlet for connection to a source of grey water and a discharge outlet for discharging water to a discharge pipe, the unit being characterised in that it includes a pump for withdrawing water from the collection chamber and delivering it to the discharge outlet, and in that strainer means are interposed between the inlet and outlet for removing unwanted debris from grey water passing through the unit, in use.

Further features of the invention provide for the inlet to be located in an upper region of the collection chamber with the pump communicating with a lower region thereof; for an overflow outlet to be provided from the collection chamber in an upper region thereof, preferably at a position below the inlet; for the strainer means to be located transversely across the generally horizontal dimension of the collection chamber beneath the inlet and any overflow outlet; for the pump to have a pressure operated, float operated, or conductivity operated switch for automatically energising and deenergising the pump according to selected upper and lower liquid levels within the collection chamber; and for a chemical or photo operated water purification unit to be embodied within the collection chamber.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 as a schematic perspective illustration of one embodiment of grey water collection and discharge unit according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic elevation illustrating the operation of the unit; and,

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation illustrating the operation of the unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In this embodiment of the invention a grey water collection and discharge unit, generally indicated by numeral (1), has a water collection chamber (2) of generally right circular cylindrical shape whereof an upper region has a diametrically directed water inlet (3) for connection to one or more drain outlets from ablution facilities of a dwelling, for example. Directly beneath the water inlet is an overflow outlet (4) also in the upper region of the collection chamber.

Positioned about midway up the height of the collection chamber is a strainer (5), typically in the form of a perforated basket having a perforation size selected to retain solids and semisolids larger than a predetermined size in order to prevent them from being discharged into a garden or the like.

An outlet (6) from the collection chamber is provided in a lower region thereof and this outlet communicates with a low pressure centrifugal pump (7) driven by an electric motor (8) and having a discharge outlet (9) suitable for connection to a delivery pipe such as is indicated by numeral (10). The pump and electric motor are preferably housed in a housing (11) laterally offset from the collection chamber.

Located within the lower region of the collection chamber is an electrical switch (12) that could be any one of a float operated switch; a conductivity operated switch; or a pressure operated switch. The switch is configured to switch on the pump when the collection chamber fills to a predetermined level and to switch off the pump when the water level in the collection chamber falls to a predetermined minimum level.

In order to minimise the amount of residual water within the collection chamber, there is provided a sloping floor (13). Also, the collection chamber has a removable lid (14) that is provided with a vent (15) in order to avoid any pressure build up within the collection chamber.

It will be understood that, for use, the inlet (3) can be connected to one or more drainage pipes (16) that would otherwise discharge, for example, into a gulley (multiple drainage pipes may be interconnected by means of any suitable manifold arrangement). The overflow outlet (4) is connected by means of an overflow pipe (17) to discharge into the normal discharge facility, typically a gulley.

The delivery pipe (10) can be attached to any desired water discharge means for distributing the grey water to required areas of a garden. It is envisaged that low pressure mist sprayers and drip irrigation units may be most appropriate although it is also within the scope of this invention that a high- pressure system be employed.

The capacity of the collection chamber may be varied widely according to circumstances. However, it is preferred that the maximum volume of liquid allowed to be retained with in the collection chamber without energising the pump be relatively low, typically about 1 , 5 litres, in order to minimise the risk of any appreciable buildup of undesirable microbiological species that may tend to develop in the grey water.

It will be understood that numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A grey water collection and discharge unit (1) comprising a water collection chamber (2) having an inlet (3) for connection to a source of grey water and a discharge outlet (9) for discharging water to a discharge pipe, the unit being characterised in that it includes a pump (7) for withdrawing water from the collection chamber and delivering it to the discharge outlet, and in that strainer means (5) are interposed between the inlet and outlet for removing unwanted debris from grey water passing through the unit, in use.

2. A grey water collection and discharge unit as claimed in claim 1 in which the inlet is located in an upper region of the collection chamber with the pump communicating with a lower region thereof.

3. A grey water collection and discharge unit as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2 in which an overflow outlet (4) is provided from the collection chamber in an upper region thereof.

4. A grey water collection and discharge unit as claimed in claim 3 in which the overflow outlet is located at a position below the inlet.

5. A grey water collection and discharge unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the strainer means is located transversely across the generally horizontal dimension of the collection chamber beneath the inlet and any overflow outlet.

6. A grey water collection and discharge unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which for the pump has a pressure operated, float operated, or conductivity operated switch for automatically energising and deenergising the pump according to selected upper and lower liquid levels within the collection chamber.

7. A grey water collection and discharge unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a chemical or photo operated water purification unit is embodied within the collection chamber.