WO2009109015A1

WO2009109015A1 - A water supply

Info

Publication number: WO2009109015A1
Application number: PCT/AU2009/000275
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Brendan Flanagan
Original assignee: Rainmax Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2008-03-07
Filing date: 2009-03-09
Publication date: 2009-09-11
Also published as: AU2009200908B1; AU2009208040A1; AU2009208040B2; NZ575386A

Abstract

A water supply and circuit (10) including a mains inlet line (11) and an auxiliary inlet line (12) from a water tank (13) as part of an auxiliary supply system (14) between the two inlet lines and a common outlet at (15). Additional outlets (at (16) and (17) are respectively for exclusive flow of auxiliary water from the auxiliary supply in tank (13) for outdoor use additional outlet (17) is for exclusive flow of water from the mains for drinking water to a dwelling (not shown). The system (14) includes a housing (18), a normally closed solenoid valve (19) and a normally opened solenoid valve (20), a single check valve (21) and a double check valve (22). Control of the solenoids (19) and (20) is through a controller comprising a power supply (23), a tank water low level switch at (24) and (12) volt supply lines at (25) and (26). As long as the low level switch at (24) is closed the normally closed solenoid valve (19) will be open and the normally open solenoid valve (20) will be closed thereby preferentially using the auxiliary supply and conserving the mains.

Description

A WATER SUPPLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to a water supply and in particular but not limited to a domestic water supply where tank water is used to supplement town water.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

In recent years in Australia water restrictions have become commonplace. As a result, rainwater tanks and other forms of water storage are being widely installed to supply extra water for activities that are excluded under the water restrictions. These activities typically include activities external to the home, namely, watering of gardens, washing cars and the like. In some cases increasingly the extra water is now being used for some internal activities as well.

Australian Standard Patent No 2003262296 (Davey Products Pty Ltd) describes refers to rainwater being used as a supplementary supply to mains water and as an essential feature uses an over pressure from the supplementary water (when supplementary water is available) in order to block the flow of mains water to the system and the system preferentially utilises the supplementary water supply. Certified Australian Innovation Patent No 2005101017 (Davey Products Pty Ltd) similarly blocks mains supply and describes as an essential requirement the inclusion of a pump and detection of certain pressure threshold values important to block the mains and drive the pump. Certified Australian Innovation Patent No 2005100775 (Davey Products Pty Ltd) describes the use of rainwater which relies on detection of consumer demand to close a solenoid valve and drive a pump to deliver the rain water. Australian Patent Application No 2006202589 (Silvan H20 Pty Ltd) describes as an essential feature an actuating means for which receives two signals, one concerning demand for water (whether it be mains or supplementary water) and second a signal indicating availability of supplementary water. The resultant signal form the actuating means then drives a pump to deliver the supplementary water. Thus similar to the Davey Products Pty Ltd specifications it relies on the demand for water to regulate the delivery of water from either the mains or the rainwater tank. One main problem with the inventions described in the above patent specifications is their complexity relying essentially on detection of demand and availability of the supplementary supply to manage the delivery of mains or water from the supplementary supply. The present invention operates on a completely different principle by delivering the mains or rainwater without having to separately detect downstream demand and providing a supply circuit including a dedicated drinking water line that enables the use of mains water to be minimised where there is available rainwater. In a preferred form the circuit also provides for outdoor use that can be isolated at all times from the mains to ensure that only water from the available rainwater supply is used outdoors. The above patent specifications were located in a PCT Article 15/5

"International Type Search" carried out by the Australian Patent Office requested on the applicant's provisional application 2008901096 and have been included here as a result of that search but the inclusion here is not to be taken as an admission that the content of these specifications is part of the common general knowledge.

The present invention has a number of objects. A primary object is to provide a means whereby town water or mains water use is minimised where there is an auxiliary source of water that may be used instead, whether the auxiliary source of water be potable or not. A further object is to maximise the amount of available water in the auxiliary supply thereby further minimising the use of town water. Other objects will be apparent from the following description which describes preferred forms of the invention. OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION

In one preferred aspect the present invention resides in a water supply comprising town or mains water, which is typically a supply subject to restrictions, and an auxiliary supply, the water supply having a system for automatically minimising the use of town water where the auxiliary supply has sufficient water to satisfy demand. Where there is insufficient water in the auxiliary supply then town water is used instead. Preferably, there is provided a water supply comprising town or mains water and a separate auxiliary supply, the water supply having a system for minimising the use of town water where the auxiliary supply exceeds a pre-determined minimum level and where there is insufficient water in the auxiliary supply then town water is used instead, the system comprises a mains supply inlet, an auxiliary supply inlet and a common outlet selectively communicating with the mains supply inlet and the auxiliary supply inlet, a valve arrangement delivering water to the common outlet from the auxiliary supply solely on the basis of the level of water available in the auxiliary supply exceeding the pre-determined minimum level.

Preferably, the system comprises a mains supply inlet, an auxiliary supply inlet and a common outlet selectively communicating with the mains supply inlet and the auxiliary supply inlet, valve means delivering water to the common outlet from the auxiliary supply when the level of water available in the auxiliary supply exceeds a pre-determined minimum level.

The auxiliary supply usually has a pump operating automatically in response to downstream demand but as long as there is available auxiliary supply the valves enabling the supply from the auxiliary supply are kept open independent of instantaneous demand.

Preferably, the system also employs at least one additional outlet, namely an auxiliary supply outlet where only auxiliary supply water may flow from that outlet. In another form, it is preferable that the system also employs at least one additional outlet, namely a mains supply outlet where only mains water flows from the mains to that outlet.

More preferably, the system employs two additional outlets, an additional outlet for the mains and an additional outlet for the auxiliary supply where water exclusively flows from the mains and from the auxiliary supply respectively through those outlets.

Typically the system is used in relation to supply of water to a building, typically a home and the common outlet is plumbed to the internal plumbing of the home so that the internal requirements for water may be satisfied by either supply and where there is not enough water in the auxiliary supply, the mains supply is exclusively used through this common outlet.

The additional outlet from the auxiliary supply typically comprises an outlet for external use of water and this is to supply water for the usual requirements of gardening, car washing etcetera and it is typical to use a check valve to prevent water flowing from the mains to the additional outlet for the auxiliary supply. A pump is employed to deliver water from This check valve may be a double check valve also prevents mains water flowing to the auxiliary supply in the event of pump failure or loss of power. The additional outlet for the mains is typically to provide drinking and cooking water and this is usually a direct line from the mains to the kitchen with that direct line being set upstream from a double check valve used for back flow prevention to prevent water from the auxiliary supply entering the mains or the additional outlet. It will be appreciated that the system may be applied to any water supply situation where there are two available water supplies and it is desirable to conserve one of those supplies, particularly for human consumption.

Naturally, the availability of the auxiliary supply has an overall impact on the efficiency of the system. It is therefore preferable that the collection efficiency of the auxiliary supply be maximised. While this may be achieved in many ways, it is preferable to optimise the auxiliary supply catchment. In the case of a building, the catchment is usually a roof and to this end it is preferable to employ diverters to divert storm water run-off during a rain event so that the catchment area may be maximised. Preferably, the diverters are controlled by a time delay upon onset of rain to provide a flush before water is diverted to an auxiliary supply storage, typically a tank.

Typically the valve means in the system is in a preferred embodiment a number of valves including a normally closed solenoid valve downstream of the auxiliary supply and a normally open solenoid valve downstream of the mains supply with the common outlet between them, a controller is used to close the mains solenoid and open the auxiliary solenoid and the controller being rendered active by a low level switch in the auxiliary supply. Check valves prevent the mains supply from flowing between the common outlet to the outlet for the auxiliary supply or to the auxiliary supply itself and to prevent back flow to the mains. The controller may be a simple low level switch and associated power supply where the switch simple closes to provide switching power to the solenoids in an automatic fashion requiring no other intervention. The low level switch maintains a water level sufficient to keep the pump primed.

In another preferred aspect there is provided a water supply circuit comprising a mains water line and an auxiliary water supply line isolated from the mains but sharing a common outlet for non-drinking water and a valve arrangement preferentially delivering water from the auxiliary supply line to the common outlet and a separate mains line for drinking water having its inlet from the mains upstream of the valve.

Typically, the water supply circuit further comprises a further auxiliary water supply line isolated from the mains water line and only being operable to carry water when the valve is delivering waterfrom the auxiliary supply line to the common outlet. Preferably, the circuit is configured such that the common outlet supplies household water for non-drinking requirements and the further auxiliary water supply line supplies water for external household use. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention may be more readily understood and be put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:-

Figure 1 illustrates operation of the invention where an auxiliary supply has sufficient water; and Figure 2 illustrates operation of the invention once the auxiliary supply does not have enough water.

METHOD OF PERFORMANCE

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 there is illustrated a water supply 10 including a mains inlet line 11 and an auxiliary inlet line 12 from in this case a water tank 13. The system 14 between the two inlet lines has a common outlet at 15, an additional outlet at 16 for exclusive flow of auxiliary water from the auxiliary supply 13 and an additional outlet 17 for exclusive flow of water from the mains for drinking water to a dwelling (not shown).

The system 14 includes a housing 18, a normally closed solenoid valve 19 and a normally opened solenoid valve 20, a single check valve or double check valve 21 and a double check valve 22. Control of the solenoids 19 and 20 is through a controller comprising a power supply 23, a tank water low level switch at 24 and 12 volt supply lines at 25 and 26. It will be appreciated that as long as the low level switch at 24 is closed the normally closed solenoid valve 19 will be open and the normally open solenoid valve 20 will be closed thereby preferentially using the auxiliary supply and conserving the mains. Thus where there is a demand for water from any of the outlets 15 or 16, the pump 27, which is a water supply pump switching on in response to demand, will pump water to the outlets 15 and 16 from the auxiliary supply of tank 13. The common outlet

15 supplies water to all the internal requirements of the dwelling apart from drinking water which is supplied along line 17. The line 16 is provided for the external requirements of the dwelling including gardening, car washing etcetera but this is only available while there is enough water in tank 13. Figure 2 illustrates the operation of the system when the low level switch

16 is open. It will be appreciated a float is used and that the low level is set so that the pump 27 is still primed since the water level in the tank 13 is above the level of the pump. In this case the normally closed valve 19 is now closed and the valve 20 from the mains is now open, thus supplying water from the mains for the normal internal activities of the home including the maintenance of drinking water and cooking water along line 17. Demand along line 15 is supplied from the mains. The valve 19 and check valve 21 ensure that there is no supply to the line 16.

The system is failsafe in three important respects namely in the event of power supply failure the system will only operate on mains supply and in the event of there being insufficient auxiliary supply the is no supply to the external line 16, and the pump is always primed.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims. For example, where a tank is used and rainwater is gathered form a roof catchment it is preferable to supply the tank using diverters on any down pipes to block the down pipes in a controlled fashion to selectively divert water to optimise the water flowing to the tank and thereby maximise the available auxiliary supply.

Claims

1. A water supply comprising town or mains water and a separate auxiliary supply, the water supply having a system for minimising the use of town water where the auxiliary supply exceeds a pre-determined minimum level and where there is insufficient water in the auxiliary supply then town water is used instead, the system comprises a mains supply inlet, an auxiliary supply inlet and a common outlet selectively communicating with the mains supply inlet and the auxiliary supply inlet, a valve arrangement delivering water to the common outlet from the auxiliary supply solely on the basis of the level of water available in the auxiliary supply exceeding the pre-determined minimum level.

2. A water supply according to claim 1 wherein the system also employs at least one additional outlet, namely an auxiliary supply outlet where only auxiliary supply water may flow from that outlet.

3. A water supply according to claim 1 wherein the system also employs at least one additional outlet, namely a mains supply outlet where only mains water flows from the mains to that outlet.

4. A water supply according to claim 1 wherein the system employs two additional outlets, an additional outlet for the mains and an additional outlet for the auxiliary supply where water exclusively flows from the mains and from the auxiliary supply respectively through those outlets.

5. A water supply according to claim 1 wherein the system is used in relation to supply of water to a building, typically a home and the common outlet is plumbed to the internal plumbing of the home so that the internal requirements for water may be satisfied by either supply and where there is not enough water in the auxiliary supply, the mains supply is exclusively used through this common outlet.

6. A water supply according to claim 1 wherein the system also employs at least one additional outlet, namely an auxiliary supply outlet where only auxiliary supply water may flow from that outlet, the additional outlet from the auxiliary supply comprises an outlet for external use of water to supply water for the usual requirements of gardening, car washing etcetera and a check valve is employed to prevent water flowing from the mains to the additional outlet for the auxiliary supply and to the auxiliary supply.

7. A water supply according to claim 1 wherein the system also employs at least one additional outlet, namely a mains supply outlet where only mains water flows from the mains to that outlet, the additional outlet for the mains is to provide drinking and cooking water and this is a direct line from the mains to a kitchen outlet with that direct line being set upstream from a double check valve used for back flow prevention to prevent water from the auxiliary supply entering the mains or the additional outlet.

8. A water supply according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary supply is fed from an axillary supply catchment and the collection efficiency of the auxiliary supply is maximised by optimising the auxiliary supply catchment, the catchment comprising a roof having stormwater run-off to stormwater and employing diverters to divert storm water run-off during a rain event so that the catchment area may be maximised.

9. A water supply according to claim 1 wherein the auxiliary supply is fed from an axillary supply catchment and the collection efficiency of the auxiliary supply is maximised by optimising the auxiliary supply catchment, the catchment comprising a roof having stormwater run-off to stormwater and employing diverters to divert storm water run-off during a rain event so that the catchment area may be maximised, the diverters being controlled by a time delay upon onset of rain to provide a flush of the roof catchment before water is diverted to an auxiliary supply storage.

10. A water supply according to claim 1 wherein the valve arrangement in the system is a number of valves including a normally closed solenoid valve downstream of the auxiliary supply and a normally open solenoid valve downstream of the mains supply with the common outlet between them, the system further including a controller used to close the mains solenoid and open the auxiliary solenoid, and the controller being rendered active by a low level switch in the auxiliary supply indicating sufficient supply.

11. A water supply according to claim 1 wherein the valve arrangement in the system is a number of valves including a normally closed solenoid valve downstream of the auxiliary supply and a normally open solenoid valve downstream of the mains supply with the common outlet between them, the system further including a controller used to close the mains solenoid and open the auxiliary solenoid, and the controller being rendered active by a low level switch in the auxiliary supply indicating sufficient supply, the controller being a simple low level switch and associated power supply where the switch closes to provide switching power to the solenoids.

12. A water supply circuit comprising a mains water line and an auxiliary water supply line isolated from the mains but sharing a common outlet for non-drinking water and a valve arrangement preferentially delivering water from the auxiliary supply line to the common outlet and a separate mains line for drinking water having its inlet from the mains upstream of the valve.

13. A water supply circuit according to claim 12 further comprising further auxiliary water supply line isolated from the mains water line and only being operable to carry water when the valve is delivering water from the auxiliary supply line to the common outlet.

14. A water supply circuit according to claim 12 further comprising further auxiliary water supply line isolated from the mains water line and only being operable to carry water when the valve is delivering water from the auxiliary supply line to the common outlet, the common outlet supplying household water for non-drinking requirements and the further auxiliary water supply line supplying water for external household use.