WO2008067616A1

WO2008067616A1 - Change- over flow system

Info

Publication number: WO2008067616A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/001897
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jon Robert Scott; Andrew Anthony Richards
Original assignee: Black Adda Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-12-08
Filing date: 2007-12-10
Publication date: 2008-06-12
Also published as: AU2007329196A1

Abstract

A method of changing a flow of water into a domestic appliance or service utility (17, 22, 29) which includes the steps of (i) providing a building mains water and tank water in two separate flow systems (13, 13A, 15, 15A) to the domestic appliance or service facility and (ii) converting flow of water to the domestic appliance or service facility from mains water to tank water or vice versa.

Description

CHANGE-OVER FLOW SYSTEM

This invention relates to a change-over flow system in relation to supply of liquid such as water to a dwelling or other building which has a plurality of service facilities or domestic appliances requiring use of water which may include water closets, washing machines, dishwashers, sinks, taps or irrigation apparatus.

Hitherto mains water was supplied to the dwelling for use by the tenant or owner having regard to the service facilities discussed above. However, the use of mains water was expensive and also used up sparse supplies of water from dams, rivers or lakes in times of severe drought. To overcome this problem rainwater tanks were installed by the owner or tenant of the dwelling whereby rainwater could be used instead of mains water for watering the garden or for irrigation purposes.

Reference may be made to one conventional rainwater supply system known as RAIN REVIVA described at www.rainreviva.com.au which has a main storage sac located under an existing house or deck. In this location the storage sac is located in an area that can collect all the roof water by diverting all the downpipes which are connected to the guttering system to a common pipe which communicates with the storage sac. The RAIN REVIVA system has a diversion pipe and swing arm that is installed into a stormwater pipe, allowing the total of the rain flow to be diverted to the water sac until it is full. When the maximum capacity of the water sac is reached, the swing arm progressively moves upwards until the water flow returns back to the normal stormwater outflow point. This means that flooding is avoided. There may also be provided a flow circuit which connects the storage sac or tank with the domestic appliances or service facilities discussed above. The flow circuit includes a pump for pumping the water in the storage sac to the domestic appliances or service facilities. While the RAIN REVIVA system is satisfactory for some purposes, it is to be appreciated that the flow circuit between the domestic appliances and storage sac is independent of the supply of mains water and installation would be relatively expensive especially to an existing dwelling.

Reference also may be made to US Patent 6,941 ,702 wherein there is described a rainwater collection and dispensation system which includes a gutter, a tank support member adapted to rest upon the ground and being disposed beneath a portion of a gutter and a tank securely and removably supported upon the tank support member. There is also provided a drainage spout interconnecting the gutter and the tank for draining rainwater from the gutter into the tank. There is also described a rainwater dispensing assembly including an overflow pipe member being disposed through a wall of the tank. The tank is also provided with rainwater dispensing pipe members each having a spigot and adjacent valve for connection to a water sprinkler and to a toilet tank through a diversion valve or to another water line. The foregoing prior art is representative of rainwater collection and distribution systems which are always independent of a mains water flow system. This is a result of local authorities or councils which frame regulations concerning mains water flow systems and rainwater tank flow systems such that any impurities or contaminants from the rainwater tank flow system cannot gain access to the mains water flow systems for fear of contamination.

To overcome this problem, the present invention has been developed so that there is provided a mains water flow system and a rainfall tank flow system which are provided in parallel or separate flow circuits to a building whereby it is possible to change over a flow into a particular domestic appliance or service facility from the mains system to the rainwater tank flow system so as to decrease the use of mains water and thereby reduce costs.

The invention therefore provides in one aspect a method of changing a flow of water into a domestic appliance or service utility which includes the following steps:

(i) providing to a building mains water and tank water in two separate flow systems to a domestic appliance or service facility; and

(ii) converting flow of water to the domestic appliance or service facility from mains water to tank water or vice versa.

In step (i) the flow of mains water into a building will occur in conventional fashion wherein water may be supplied from the mains in either a direct flow system where mains water is supplied directly to all taps and WCs or an indirect system which is more common in modern buildings wherein the mains water flow is supplied directly to a kitchen sink or to an outside tap and all other water supply is from a storage cistern. The mains water comes into the building or domestic dwelling or house, branches off to supply the kitchen, and rises to the storage cistern. From here the other appliances are fed under gravity pressure caused by the height of the cistern above the other appliances. It is to be understood that the present invention applies to both the direct and indirect flow systems. The supply of tank water is also preferably from a rainwater tank which is in flow communication with gutters and downpipes where all rainfall is stored in the tank and pumped to each appliance or service facility as is required. There are also provided flow valves in a flow circuit which interconnects each appliance or service facility and it will be appreciated that the flow of mains water is independent of the flow of tank water.

However, in a preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided a switching valve in a conduit which is in direct flow communication with a plurality of domestic appliances or service facilities or to each domestic appliance or service facility. The conduit is provided with a switching valve and is in flow communication with each of the mains water flow circuit and the tank flow circuit so as to convert or change over the water flow from the mains water flow circuit or the tank water flow circuit as may be required. This has the advantage of reducing substantially the use of mains water and the relevant cost of mains water.

The switching valve as described hereinafter may be provided with a pair of inlet ports and a pair of outlet ports or alternatively may be provided with a pair of inlet ports and a single outlet port. When the switching valve has a pair of outlet ports the valve may be manually pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically operated (for example using a solenoid) so as to move a valve member in a valve housing so as to convert flow of mains water into the appliance or service facility to tank water or vice versa. The movement required may be linear or rotation. With this type of switching valve the valve member may be provided with a pair of flow passages or a single flow passage to facilitate flow from a particular inlet port to a particular outlet port.

When use is made of a switching valve having a single outlet port the valve member may be rotatably moved within the valve housing and this may be carried out manually or by automatic operation if required.

The domestic appliances discussed above include dishwashers, washing machines, irrigation systems and the like and the service facilities include swimming pools, WCs, showers, sinks and the like. Reference may be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the attached drawings wherein:

FIG 1 represents schematic drawings of one embodiment of a circuit employing the change over flow system of the invention which employs a pair of switching valves;

FIG 2 represents another embodiment of a circuit employing the change over flow system of the invention which employs a single switching valve;

FIGS 3 to 4 represent another embodiment similar to that shown in FIG 2 but using an alternative switching valve;

FIG 5 shows one example of a switching valve for use in the circuit of FIG 1 or FIGS 2 to 3; FIG 6 represents another example of a switching valve for use in the circuits of FIG 1 or FIGS 2 to 3.

FIG 7 represents a view of a different type of switching valve to the switching valve shown in FIGS 5 to 6;

FIGS 8 to 9 represent one type of manual override assembly for use in the invention; and

FIGS 10 to 11 represent another type of manual override assembly for use in the invention.

In FIG 1 there is provided a circuit 10 of the change overflow system of the invention. There is provided a tank 11 of water which may correspond to a rainwater tank which is connected to a building such as a domestic dwelling or house 12 through conduit 13. There is also provided a flow valve

14 and pump (not shown). There is also provided conduit 15 for mains water for domestic dwelling 12. It will be noted that both conduits 13 and 15 are independent of each other and that conduit 15 passes through a switching valve 16 where tank water can gain access to WC 17. Switching valve 16 has an outlet flow conduit 18 for connection to WC 17 and is also provided with another inlet flow conduit 19 which communicates with tank water flow conduit 13 at 20. Flow conduit 15 is also provided with a branch conduit 21 which provides mains water to washing machine or washing tub 22. Again there is provided a further switching valve 16A which is in fluid communication with both flow conduit 13 and flow conduit 21 which enables washing machine or laundry tub 22 to be supplied with either tank water or mains water. Valve 16 has a similar function and enables WC 17 to be supplied with either mains water or tank water as may be required by the user.

It will be appreciated that the change overflow system of the invention can be provided with multiple switching valves for supplying tank water or mains water to other domestic facilities such as bathroom showers, bathroom sinks, or kitchen facilities such as wash basins or dishwashers. Usually there will be one switching valve for each facility.

In FIG 2 there is provided another embodiment of the change over flow system of the invention wherein there is provided circuit 1OA having rainwater tank 11A filled with rainwater 9 and associated conduit 13A connecting rainwater tank 11A with switching valve 22. There is also provided pump 23 as well as pressure sensor or actuator 24 for actuation of valve 22. Thus, instead of a manual control for switching valve 22 there may be employed a pressure actuator which may be electrically operated such as by use of a solenoid. Mains water flows through check valve 25 in conduit 15A to switching valve 22 as shown and then may flow through outlet conduit 26 when the switching valve 22 allows flow through mains water inlet conduit 15A and subsequently through outlet conduit 26. Outlet conduit 26 is connected to outlet conduit 28 for tank water which is in fluid communication with switching valve 22. Conduit 28 is in fluid communication with WC 29 having a conventional float valve assembly 30.

It will be appreciated that FIG 2 shows a flow pattern where tank water may flow through switching valve 22 as shown by the arrows in bold outline and valve 22 is closed to flow of mains water through conduit 15A.

FIG 3 shows an alternative arrangement to that shown in FIG 2 and shows that switching valve 22 operates upon the water pressure in line 13A being above a prescribed valve, e.g., above 450 Kpa. This is indicated by air line 32 showing flow of air indicated by arrow 33 wherein piston 34 is actuated to move to the position shown retracted within cylinder 35 to facilitate flow of water through conduits 13A and 28 as shown by the arrows in bold outline. However, when the air pressure drops below 450 Kpa as shown in FIG 4 this causes movement of piston 34 outwardly from cylinder 35 to thereby close off outlet conduit 28 so that mains water only can flow through valve 22 from conduit 15A to outlet conduit 26 as shown in FIG 4. This is shown by the substantially reduced amount of water 9, in rainwater tank 11 , compared with that shown in FIG 3.

FIGS 5 to 6 show the actual construction of a switching valve 22 suitable for use in the circuit 1OA and this will include cylinder or barrel 35, piston 34, air conduit 32, spring 38, spring retainer 39, piston head 40, outlet port 28A, outlet conduit 28, inlet port 41 , inlet conduit 13A, outlet port 26A, outlet conduit 26 and inlet port 42, as well as inlet conduit 15A. There is also provided openings 43 and 44 in piston head 40 which when moved as shown will close off outlet conduit 26 in the case of FIG 5 or outlet conduit 28 in the case of FIG 6. In FIG 5 the air pressure will overcome the bias of spring 38 which therefore shows piston 34 in a retracted position showing flow of tank water through conduit 13A, inlet port 41 , opening 43, outlet port 28A and outlet conduit 28. In FIG 6, however, upon little or no air pressure in air conduit 32 the spring 38 will be subject to its normal outward bias from cylinder 35 and those close off outlet conduit 28 as shown facilitating flow of mains water through conduit 15A, inlet port 42, opening 44, outlet port 26A and finally through outlet conduit 26.

Reference may be made to another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG 7 wherein in place of the pressure actuated switching valve 22 shown in FIGS 5 to 6 reference may be made to an alternatively switching valve 45 which may be used as valves 16 or 16A on the embodiment of FIG 1. Thus, switching valve 45 may be provided with handle 46 having stem 47 integral with valve member 48 which is movable in valve housing 49 as shown. Valve member 48 is provided with a single flow port 50 which allows flow of water from conduit 19 into the interior 51 of valve member 48 and out through outlet port 52 as shown by the arrows in bold outline. When valve member 48 is rotated by handle 46 this will close off conduit 19 and allow flow from conduit 15.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the change over flow system of the invention is simple in design and construction and offers substantial benefits in reducing reliance upon supply of mains water.

In FIGS 8 to 9 reference is made to a manual override assembly 60 in regard to the switching valve 22 shown in FIGS 5 to 6 wherein manual override assembly 60 includes operating lever 61 having a disc or ball 62 which engages with an adjacent end 63 of spindle or piston head 40 to retain spindle 40 in the position shown in FIG 5 and FIG 8. There is also shown sungear 61A and pinion gear 62A attached to support 63A. Lever 61 is pivotally attached to sungear 61 at 59. Teeth 57 of sungear 61 A mesh with teeth 58 of pinion gear 62A. Lever 61 may then be moved to the position shown in FIG 9 by the operation of pinion gear 62 and sungear 61. By the inclusion of manual override assembly 60 therefore flow of water through switching valve 22 may be retained so that mains water only flows through conduit 26 or tank water only flows through conduit 28. There is also shown toggle lock 64 for maintaining lever 61 in the position shown in FIG 8 or FIG 9.

There is also shown another manual override assembly shown in FIGS 10 to 11 wherein manual override assembly 66 is shown having operating lever 67, ball or disc 68, pivot point 69, control lever 70 and pivot point 74. In a retracted position disc or ball 68 retains piston head or spindle 40 in the position shown in FIG 5 and in an extended position disc or ball 68 retains piston head or spindle 40 in the position shown in FIG 6. There is also shown toggle lock 72. Lever 70 is pivotally mounted on support 73 at 74.

It will also be appreciated that manual override assembly 60 or 66 does not have to be manually controlled and this can be done electrically in the case of a solenoid or initiated case of a suitable drive such as an electric motor, hydraulic driver or pneumatic drive. It will also be apparent that FIGS 8 to 9 and 10 to 11 represent only examples of override assemblies that may be used in the invention so as to maintain the switching valve in a desired flow position, i.e. tank water and/or mains water.

Claims

1. A method of changing a flow of water into a domestic appliance or service utility which includes the following steps:

(i) providing to a building mains water and tank water in two separate flow systems to the domestic appliance or service facility; and

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tank water is supplied from a rainwater tank which is in flow communication with gutter(s) and downpipes of the building where all rainfall is stored in the rainwater tank and pumped to each appliance or service utility as is required.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein there is provided a switching valve in a conduit which is in flow communication with a plurality of domestic appliances or service utilities or to each domestic appliance or service utility wherein actuation of the switching valve changes water flow from a mains water flow circuit to a tank water flow circuit or vice versa.

4. A change over flow system as claimed in claim 3, wherein there is provided a switching valve for each domestic appliance or service utility.

5. A change over flow system as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the switching valve is provided with a pair of inlet ports and a pair of outlet ports.

6. A change over flow system as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the switching valve is provided with a pair of inlet ports and a single outlet port.

7. A change over flow system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the switching valve has a valve member which is moveable in a linear direction.

8. A change over flow system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the switching valve has a valve member which is rotatable.

9. A change over flow system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the valve member is operated by change in pressure.

10. A change over flow system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the valve member is manually operated.

11. A change over flow system as claimed in any one of claims 5, 7 or 9, wherein the valve member has an opening or a flow groove which facilitates flow through the valve when a respective inlet port and a respective outlet port are aligned with each other.

12. A change over flow system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the valve member is biased to facilitate flow of tank water through the valve.

13. A change over flow system as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the switching valve is provided with a manual override assembly to maintain the switching valve in a position allowing flow of tank water through the switching valve.

14. A change over flow system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said switching valve has an operating lever, which abuts an adjacent valve member which operating lever is pivotally supported externally of the switching valve and moveable to shift the valve member to a position allowing flow of mains water through the valve when required.

15. A change over flow system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the operating lever is pivotally supported on a gear member which meshes with an adjacent gear to cause pivotal movement of the operating lever.