WO2012038568A1 - Water supply system and tap - Google Patents

Water supply system and tap Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2012038568A1
WO2012038568A1 PCT/ES2011/070604 ES2011070604W WO2012038568A1 WO 2012038568 A1 WO2012038568 A1 WO 2012038568A1 ES 2011070604 W ES2011070604 W ES 2011070604W WO 2012038568 A1 WO2012038568 A1 WO 2012038568A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
water
tap
hot water
pump
state
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/ES2011/070604
Other languages
Spanish (es)
French (fr)
Inventor
Said Moukafih
Jesús VILLÉN ALTAMIRANO
Original Assignee
Universidad De Castilla-La Mancha
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Universidad De Castilla-La Mancha filed Critical Universidad De Castilla-La Mancha
Publication of WO2012038568A1 publication Critical patent/WO2012038568A1/en

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
    • E03B—INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER
    • E03B7/00—Water main or service pipe systems
    • E03B7/07—Arrangement of devices, e.g. filters, flow controls, measuring devices, siphons, valves, in the pipe systems
    • E03B7/075—Arrangement of devices for control of pressure or flow rate
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
    • E03B—INSTALLATIONS OR METHODS FOR OBTAINING, COLLECTING, OR DISTRIBUTING WATER
    • E03B7/00—Water main or service pipe systems
    • E03B7/04—Domestic or like local pipe systems
    • E03B7/045—Domestic or like local pipe systems diverting initially cold water in warm water supply
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
    • F24D17/00—Domestic hot-water supply systems
    • F24D17/0078—Recirculation systems
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
    • F24D19/00—Details
    • F24D19/10—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F24D19/1006—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems
    • F24D19/1051—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for water heating systems for domestic hot water

Definitions

  • the invention is encompassed in the field of water supply systems intended to reduce water waste.
  • taps for hot water usually comprise a part that communicates with a hot water pipe that comes from a heating device (for example, a heater where water is heated by an electric device or a gas burner), another part that communicates with a water pipe cold water, and at least one valve associated with at least one control that allows regulating the proportion between cold water and hot water flowing to a tap outlet.
  • a heating device for example, a heater where water is heated by an electric device or a gas burner
  • a valve associated with at least one control that allows regulating the proportion between cold water and hot water flowing to a tap outlet.
  • Water arrives from a cold water supply source, and a part of this cold water is carried to the tap through the cold water line, and another part of this cold water is taken to the heater, where it is heated before passing to the hot water pipe.
  • a problem that conventionally presents this type of installation is that the heater is usually located at a certain distance from the tap. This means that when the user opens the tap to get warm or hot water (requesting, with one or several controls, a suitable mixture between hot and cold water), the hot water takes time to arrive. In the first place, there is usually more or less cold water in the section of the hot water inlet duct that is between the heater and the tap, and, in addition, once the water begins to flow, sometimes it takes time for the heater to Start working at full capacity. This makes the user, before hot water starts to flow out of the tap, have to wait a longer or shorter time. During this time, the user is forced to use the cold water that comes out of the tap (something that does not always interest him) or simply to let this water escape through the drain, something that represents a waste of water.
  • US-A-2009/0266426 describes a water supply system that aims to solve these problems.
  • the document mentions a state of the art that includes a pump under the breast, which the user starts by a button. This pump pumps the water from the hot water line to the cold water line, producing a "recirculation" of cold water. When the recirculated water has been heated and reaches the pump through the hot water line, the pump stops in response to the detection of a water temperature rise, and the user can open the tap and take out hot water. Now, this requires installing a pump in correspondence with each breast.
  • US-A-2009/0266426 proposes an alternative solution based on a pump that is located between the cold water line and the heater.
  • a pump control unit controls the pump to increase the pressure in the hot water line, and the water pressure is maintained at a higher preset level in the hot water line, compared to the water pressure in the cold water pipe
  • the control unit can detect the difference in pressure and water temperature, and by detecting how the difference in pressure changes when the hot and cold water lines are connected, you can control the pump to recirculate water in the pipes until there is water hot available.
  • the system depends on pressure measurements and is generally complex.
  • US-A-2008/0302429 describes a tap with a recirculation system incorporated in the tap itself and which can be controlled by a temperature sensor.
  • a valve is responsible for recirculating said flow of hot water to the cold water supply pipe.
  • the valve allows the discharge of water (already hot enough) to the outside. It is possible that for the correct operation of this device a greater pressure in the hot water supply than in the cold water supply is necessary, but it is not explained how this is achieved.
  • ES-T3-2190088 (EP-B-0981784 translation) describes a system integrated in a tap that serves to prevent water from running out of the tap below a certain setpoint temperature. It is based on the recirculation of hot water to the cold water pipe when the temperature is lower than desired (which is detected by a temperature sensor). Therefore, the system only works properly when the pressure of the hot water pipe is higher than the that presents the cold water pipe. However, this document does not mention the existence of an element (pump) to achieve this pressure difference and only focuses on the elements that the tap itself comprises.
  • the tap also has a pressure sensor that checks if there is the necessary pressure difference between the hot and cold water pipes to inhibit the operation of the recirculation system and allow water to escape in case the pressure difference between Both ducts are insufficient.
  • GB-A-2290857 describes another system to avoid wasting cold water that is in the pipe section immediately before a tap, when the tap is operated by a user.
  • the system works by means of a pressure detector to identify the moment at which the tap is opened. Once this event is detected, a recirculation valve is closed and the operation of a recirculation pump is activated at the same time until the temperature reaches the desired value. When the temperature reaches the desired value, the position of the recirculation valve is changed and the operation of the pump is interrupted.
  • the pump and the valve are physically close and integrated in the same housing (see attached figure).
  • Temperature sensor 26 is separated from the valve-pump assembly.
  • the valve-pump assembly to be effective must be located near the point of consumption.
  • WO-A-2008/123785 describes a system that has a pump and a recirculation valve that changes between two positions, one in which it directs water to the point of consumption (for example a tap) and another position in which it recirculates the water from the hot water pipe to the cold water pipe.
  • the operation of said valve is governed by a control system that can act on the basis of different parameters captured by suitable sensors, for example of temperature.
  • the pump is also connected to the control system and can be put into operation by it when it is necessary to increase the pressure for recirculation to occur.
  • a first aspect of the invention relates to a water supply system, comprising:
  • a tap with a water outlet means that there is at least one outlet; logically, the tap can be provided with additional water outlets;
  • cold water means, for example, room temperature water; in general it is not it is chilled water, although this possibility also fits);
  • a hot water line connected to supply water to the tap from a heater
  • the system may include more than one hot water line, and more than one heater; the term hot water line does not mean that the water in said line always be hot, for example, when there is no water flow in the duct, the water can cool down, that is, the term "hot water duct” denotes that it is a duct intended to transport water that has been heated in the heater; the term heater must be interpreted broadly and includes any device or system configured to heat water, for example, by electric means or by combustion of fossil fuels such as, for example, natural gas; it can also be, for example, a solar thermal water heating system);
  • the pump to increase the water pressure in at least one section of the hot water line to a level above the water pressure in the cold water line, so that when the hot water line is in fluid communication with the cold water line, the water from the hot water line flows into the cold water line
  • the pump may be located in the heater, before the heater, or after the heater, depending on the direction of flow of water to the tap; with this pump or the like, is able to raise the pressure of the water in the hot duct - or at least in a section of the hot water duct, a section close to the cold water duct - above the pressure of the incoming water in the cold water line from its power source, which could be a general water outlet that is also the water power source to the heater; logically, the system can comprise more than one pump, and the pump can to be carried out with any controllable equipment that serves to raise the pressure in the manner indicated); at least a first valve configured to be located, depending on the temperature of the water that reaches the tap through the hot water line, selectively in a first state
  • the system additionally comprises an electronic unit associated with the tap and configured to communicate with the pump (at least, to send some type of signal or command to the pump or to the pump control unit, for activation and / or deactivation of the pump), so that, through said electronic unit, the pump can be controlled remotely (with “remote” means that the pump is located away from the tap, for example, in another room or at a distance greater than, for example, 1 meter, 2 meters, 5 meters, 10 meters or 50 meters) from the tap.
  • remote means that the pump is located away from the tap, for example, in another room or at a distance greater than, for example, 1 meter, 2 meters, 5 meters, 10 meters or 50 meters
  • the pump can be controlled remotely, so it does not need to be running continuously, nor is it necessary that the pump is associated with complex mechanisms that activate and deactivate the pump based on variations in pressure at different points of the system, something that can lead to errors.
  • the electronic unit can be configured to communicate with the pump wirelessly.
  • the electronic unit may be configured to communicate with the pump by radio frequency. This option can facilitate the installation of this system in a house that already has a water installation; since if the electronic unit can control the pump wirelessly, for example, by radiofrequency, the need for wiring is avoided, something that facilitates installation: it is only necessary to install the pump in one part of the circuit, and replace the taps with taps according to the invention, without the need to install signaling cables.
  • the electronic unit and the pump can be configured for the pump to start when a series of conditions associated with the tap status is met. A first of these conditions may be that the first valve is in said first state.
  • the pump for the pump to start, it would be necessary for the first valve to be in the state in which the water that arrives from the heater is diverted to the cold water line. That is, in this embodiment of the invention, the pump only has to be started to increase the pressure if it serves to achieve recirculation; It is not desired that the pump works when hot water is already flowing through the tap outlet.
  • the tap may comprise a flow regulator, and a second of such conditions may be that the flow regulator is in an open state. That is, in order for the pump to start or continue running, it is necessary, in this embodiment of the invention, to request that water flow through the tap. In this way, energy is saved since the pump does not work when water is not being requested.
  • the tap may additionally comprise a temperature regulator, and a third of such conditions may be that the temperature regulator is in a hot water position.
  • Hot water means water that is not cold. That is, a "hot water position" implies that the temperature regulator is positioned so that water is requested from the heater, even if it is to be combined with cold water so that warm water flows out. This third condition serves to prevent the pump from starting when cold water is exclusively requested.
  • the electronic unit may be associated with an electrical circuit that is closed only when, simultaneously,
  • the first valve is in said first state
  • the flow regulator is in an open state
  • the temperature regulator is in a hot water position.
  • the electronic unit and the pump can be configured so that the pump starts when, simultaneously,
  • the first valve is in said first state
  • the flow regulator is in an open state
  • the temperature regulator is in a hot water position. That is, with this configuration, the pump only starts when necessary for the correct functioning of the system, that is, when hot water still does not reach the first valve, even though the user is requesting hot water.
  • the electronic unit and the pump can be configured so that, if the pump is running, the pump stops if it occurs, at least one of the following situations:
  • the temperature regulator is placed in a cold water position.
  • thermoelement to regulate the temperature of the water that comes out of the tap using a temperature control or regulator.
  • the invention is also perfectly applicable to taps in which the user regulates the temperature in other ways, such as, for example, a tap containing a control or regulating system for the cold water flow and a control or regulating system of the hot water flow, which allows to obtain the desired water temperature by regulating the flow rates of hot water and cold water.
  • the invention using this type of faucets could comprise a thermovalve to selectively send the hot water to the cold water line in a first state or to the water outlet in a second state.
  • the tap can comprise a regulator of hot water flow and a regulator of cold water flow, being a second of said conditions that the regulator of hot water flow is in an open state (the first of said conditions would be that the first valve is in said first state).
  • the electronic unit may be associated with an electrical circuit that is closed only when, simultaneously,
  • the first valve is in said first state
  • the hot water flow regulator is in the open state.
  • This embodiment also includes the so-called “single lever” faucets, in which, by operating a lever, the flow of cold water is regulated simultaneously and The hot water one. That is, the reference to a regulator of hot water flow and a regulator of cold water does not exclude the possibility that both regulators are regulated or manipulated by a single common control, which is what happens in the mixer taps.
  • the second condition for the electronic unit to send a signal to the pump to start that is, the condition that the hot water flow regulator is in an open state, basically corresponds to the "single lever" lever is in a position that implies that hot or warm water is being requested.
  • the first valve may be a thermovalve configured to adopt said first state when the temperature of the water arriving from the heater is below a certain threshold, and to adopt said second state when the temperature of the water arriving from the heater is above of said determined threshold. That is, it can be a conventional thermovalve, with or without hysteresis. Likewise, said thermovalve could operate based on a thermoelement arranged in such a way that when the water temperature is lower than the said threshold determined it remains in said first state and that when it expands with the increase of the water temperature, when said temperature is higher at said threshold, change to said second state.
  • the faucet may additionally comprise a non-return valve configured to allow water to flow from the hot water line to the cold water line, through said non-return valve, but not from the cold water line to the water line. Hot water.
  • the non-return valve may be configured to adopt, selectively (and, for example, directly or indirectly depending on the condition of the thermovalve),
  • a first state in which it allows water to flow from the hot water line to a part of the cold water line located further away from the water outlet but not to another part of the cold water line located closer to the water outlet (according to the normal direction of the cold water flow from the water inlet to the tap water outlet) and in which it prevents water from flowing from said part of the cold water line located further away from the water outlet to said part of the cold water pipe located closest to the water outlet;
  • Y a second state in which it prevents water from flowing from the hot water line to the cold water line (for example, to prevent hot water from "recirculating" once hot water begins to arrive from the heater), and in which allows water to flow from said part of the cold water line located further away from the water outlet to said part of the cold water line located closer to the water outlet (i.e., towards the cold water outlet).
  • This configuration can be used to reduce the risk of waste of water.
  • Another aspect of the invention relates to a tap for a water supply system, the tap comprising:
  • a water outlet means that there is at least one outlet; logically, the tap may be provided with additional water outlets;
  • a cold water inlet to receive cold water from a cold water pipe
  • a hot water inlet to receive hot water from a hot water pipe
  • At least one first valve configured to be located, depending on the temperature of the water that reaches the tap through the hot water inlet, selectively in a first state to divert water that comes through the hot water inlet to the cold water line, or in a second state to divert water that comes through the hot water inlet, to the water outlet.
  • the tap further comprises an electronic unit associated with the tap and configured to communicate with a pump.
  • the electronic unit may be configured to communicate with the pump by radio frequency.
  • the faucet may comprise a flow regulator and a temperature regulator, and the electronic unit may be associated with an electrical circuit that is closed only when, simultaneously, the first valve is in said first state, the flow regulator is in a state open, and the temperature regulator is in a hot water position.
  • Figure 1 Shows a schematic view of a system according to a first embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 2.- Shows a schematic view of a tap according to a second embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 3. Shows a detailed schematic view of the tap according to the first embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 1 schematically reflects a first embodiment of the invention, namely a system with a tap (1) with a water outlet (1 1).
  • the tap is connected to a cold water line (2) that supplies cold water to said tap, and a hot water line (3) connected to supply water to the tap from a heater (4).
  • These two ducts are in communication with a general water inlet (10), where the water arrives with a pressure P- ⁇ .
  • a pump (5) which, when it is running, serves to increase the pressure to a pressure P 2 , so that when the pump is running, the pressure P 2 in the Hot water line (3) is higher than the pressure P- ⁇ of the water in the cold water line (2).
  • the pump (5) comprises or is associated with a control unit (51) that serves to control the operation of the pump, in accordance with the signals it receives.
  • the tap (1) therefore receives water from both the hot water pipe (3) and the cold water pipe (2), and comprises two flow regulators, one (9A) for hot water and the other (9B ) for cold water.
  • the tap includes a first valve (6), namely a thermovalve, configured to be located, depending on the temperature of the water that reaches the tap (1) through the hot water line (3), selectively in a first state to divert water that comes to the tap through the hot water line (3) to the cold water line (2), through an anti-valve return (7), or in a second state to divert water that comes to the tap through the hot water line (3), to the water outlet (1 1).
  • a first valve (6) namely a thermovalve, configured to be located, depending on the temperature of the water that reaches the tap (1) through the hot water line (3), selectively in a first state to divert water that comes to the tap through the hot water line (3) to the cold water line (2), through an anti-valve return (7), or in a second state to divert water that comes to the tap through the hot water line (3), to the water outlet (1 1).
  • thermovalve (6) remains in its first state, and if the pump (5) is operating, that is, if it is running, the higher pressure P 2 in the hot water line (3) causes the water to pass through the non-return valve (7), to the cold water line (2). In this way, there is no wear of the water that comes through the hot water line (3), before hot water begins to arrive, that is, with a sufficiently high temperature.
  • thermovalve (6) opens, so that the hot water can pass to the water outlet (1 1).
  • the tap also incorporates an electronic unit (20) configured to communicate, for example, by radio frequency, with the pump (5) or, rather, with the control unit (51) of the pump.
  • the pump can be started only when necessary, that is, when it is necessary to establish a water recirculation.
  • the electronic unit (20) can be configured so that the pump is started or kept running only when, simultaneously, the flow regulator (9A) for hot water is open and, at the same time, the thermovalve ( 6).
  • the electronic unit (20) is a type of "remote control" with which the pump is controlled, or that transmits information that allows the control unit (51) to control the pump (5), depending on the state of the tap.
  • Figure 2 reflects an alternative configuration of the tap (the rest of the system may be the same as in Figure 1, that is, the pump (5) and the heater (4) may be arranged as in Figure 1).
  • the flow regulator (9) with which the total flow that leaves the tap through the outlet (1 1) is regulated.
  • a temperature regulator (8) is provided that regulates the proportion of cold and hot water flowing to the tap from the hot (3) and cold (2) water pipes. That is to say, the temperature regulator (8) is a "mixer" which, according to its position, determines the proportion between cold and hot water that passes to the outlet (1 1) from the hot (3) and cold ( 2), respectively.
  • FIG. 2 shows the electronic unit (20) and a battery (22) for powering it.
  • the electronic unit (20) includes an antenna (not shown) for radio frequency communication with the control unit (51) of the pump (5).
  • an electric circuit (21) is provided in the form of an electric cable that runs through the tap (1) and has three breakpoints, namely, in correspondence with the thermovalve (6), in correspondence with the temperature regulator (8), and in correspondence with the flow regulator (9).
  • This circuit is configured so that it only closes if, simultaneously,
  • thermovalve (6) is in a closed position so that it does not allow the water that comes through the hot water pipe (3) to flow to the outlet (1 1) of the tap, so that said water has to flow to the cold water line (2), by the non-return valve (7);
  • the temperature regulator (8) is in a position that implies that at least some hot water is being requested, so that hot (or at least warm) water comes out of the outlet (1 1);
  • the flow regulator (9) is open, so that the user is requesting that water flow out through the outlet (1 1).
  • the electronic unit (20) can send a status signal or activation and / or stop signals to the pump control unit (51), in function of the tap status, that is, depending on the condition of the thermovalve (6), depending on the status of the temperature regulator (8), and depending on the status of the flow regulator (9), states that are detected by the electrical circuit (21), that is, depending on whether it is "open” or "closed".
  • the "intelligence" of the control system that is to say, the circuits and / or the software that establish the actions to be taken in relation to the pump depending on the detected states, can be incorporated in the pump control unit (51 ) and / or in the electronic unit (20) of the tap itself, according to the preference of the system designer.
  • the electronic unit (20) allows the operation of the pump to be controlled remotely, from the tap and depending on the status of the tap and the temperature of the water that reaches the thermovalve (6). In this way, it can be ensured that the pump is only running when it is really necessary to have a higher pressure P 2 in the hot water line 3, than the pressure P ⁇ in the cold water line, to ensure the recirculation of Water.
  • FIG 3 reflects a little more in detail the faucet according to the first embodiment of the invention. As can be seen, many elements are identical or analogous to those in Figure 2, and bear the same numerical references.
  • the tap comprises a hot water flow regulator (9A) and a cold water flow regulator
  • the electronic unit (20) and the pump (5) are configured to start the pump when two conditions associated with the tap status are met.
  • a first of these conditions is that the first valve (6) is in the first state, that is, that it is in the state to divert water coming to the tap through the hot water line
  • the second condition is that the hot water flow regulator (9A) is in an open state.
  • the electronic unit (20) is associated with an electrical circuit (21) that is closed only when, simultaneously,
  • the hot water flow regulator (9A) is in the open state.
  • the flow regulators (9A, 9B) in Figure 3 have been schematically illustrated as two “controls” configured to be “independently handled", they can also correspond to a “mixer tap” in which both hot water and Cold water is regulated using a single lever.
  • the non-return valve (7) allows water to flow from “A” to “B” in Figure 3, but not from “A” to “C” and also from “B” to “C”.
  • the second state it prevents water from flowing from “A” to “B” but allows it to flow from "B” to “C”, that is, through the "normal path” of cold water to exit 1 1.
  • the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments that have been described but also covers, for example, the variants that can be made by the average person skilled in the art (for example, in terms of the choice of materials, dimensions , components, configuration, etc.), within what follows from the claims.

Abstract

The invention relates to a water supply system comprising a tap, a cold water pipe (2), a hot water pipe, a heater (4) and a pump (5) for increasing the pressure of the water in at least one segment of the hot water pipe (3) to a level above the pressure of the water in the cold water pipe. In addition, the system includes an electronic unit (20) associated with the tap and configured to communicate with the pump (5), such that the pump can be controlled remotely from the tap by means of the electronic unit (20).

Description

SISTEMA DE SUMINISTRO DE AGUA. Y GRIFO.  WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM. AND TAP.
CAMPO TÉCNICO DE LA INVENCIÓN TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
La invención se engloba en el campo de los sistemas de suministro de agua destinados a reducir el desperdicio de agua.  The invention is encompassed in the field of water supply systems intended to reduce water waste.
ANTECEDENTES DE LA INVENCIÓN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Actualmente, en muchas casas, existen grifos de agua para agua caliente. Estos grifos suelen comprender una parte que comunica con un conducto de agua caliente que proviene de un dispositivo calentador (por ejemplo, un calentador donde el agua se calienta mediante un dispositivo eléctrico o un quemador de gas), otra parte que comunica con un conducto de agua fría, y al menos una válvula asociada a al menos un mando que permite regular la proporción entre el agua fría y el agua caliente que fluye hacia una salida del grifo.  Currently, in many houses, there are water taps for hot water. These taps usually comprise a part that communicates with a hot water pipe that comes from a heating device (for example, a heater where water is heated by an electric device or a gas burner), another part that communicates with a water pipe cold water, and at least one valve associated with at least one control that allows regulating the proportion between cold water and hot water flowing to a tap outlet.
El agua llega desde una fuente de suministro de agua fría, y una parte de esta agua fría se lleva hacia el grifo por el conducto de agua fría, y otra parte de esta agua fría se lleva hasta el calentador, donde se calienta antes de pasar al conducto de agua caliente.  Water arrives from a cold water supply source, and a part of this cold water is carried to the tap through the cold water line, and another part of this cold water is taken to the heater, where it is heated before passing to the hot water pipe.
Un problema que convencionalmente presenta este tipo de instalación es que el calentador suele estar situado a una cierta distancia del grifo. Esto hace que cuando el usuario abre el grifo para conseguir agua tibia o caliente (solicitando, con uno o varios mandos, una mezcla adecuada entre agua fría y caliente), el agua caliente tarda en llegar. En primer lugar, suele haber agua más o menos fría en el tramo del conducto de entrada de agua caliente que se encuentra entre el calentador y el grifo, y, además, una vez que el agua empieza a fluir, a veces al calentador tarda en empezar a funcionar a pleno rendimiento. Esto hace que el usuario, antes de que empiece a salir agua caliente por el grifo, tenga que esperar un tiempo más o menos largo. Durante este tiempo, el usuario se ve obligado a usar el agua fría que sale del grifo (algo que no siempre le interesa) o de, simplemente, dejar que esta agua se escape por el desagüe, algo que representa un derroche de agua.  A problem that conventionally presents this type of installation is that the heater is usually located at a certain distance from the tap. This means that when the user opens the tap to get warm or hot water (requesting, with one or several controls, a suitable mixture between hot and cold water), the hot water takes time to arrive. In the first place, there is usually more or less cold water in the section of the hot water inlet duct that is between the heater and the tap, and, in addition, once the water begins to flow, sometimes it takes time for the heater to Start working at full capacity. This makes the user, before hot water starts to flow out of the tap, have to wait a longer or shorter time. During this time, the user is forced to use the cold water that comes out of the tap (something that does not always interest him) or simply to let this water escape through the drain, something that represents a waste of water.
US-A-2009/0266426 describe un sistema de suministro de agua que pretende solucionar estos problemas. El documento menciona un estado de la técnica que incluye una bomba debajo del seno, que el usuario arranca mediante un botón. Esta bomba bombea el agua desde el conducto de agua caliente hasta conducto de agua fría, produciendo una "recirculación" de agua fría. Cuando el agua recirculada se ha calentado y llega a la bomba a través del conducto de agua caliente, la bomba se para como respuesta a la detección de una subida de la temperatura del agua, y el usuario puede abrir el grifo y sacar agua caliente. Ahora bien, esto requiere instalar una bomba en correspondencia con cada seno. US-A-2009/0266426 describes a water supply system that aims to solve these problems. The document mentions a state of the art that includes a pump under the breast, which the user starts by a button. This pump pumps the water from the hot water line to the cold water line, producing a "recirculation" of cold water. When the recirculated water has been heated and reaches the pump through the hot water line, the pump stops in response to the detection of a water temperature rise, and the user can open the tap and take out hot water. Now, this requires installing a pump in correspondence with each breast.
Por lo tanto, US-A-2009/0266426 propone una solución alternativa basada en una bomba que se sitúa entre el conducto de agua fría y el calentador. Una unidad de control de la bomba controla la bomba para aumentar la presión en el conducto de agua caliente, y la presión del agua se mantiene a un nivel prefijado más alto en el conducto de agua caliente, en comparación con la presión del agua en el conducto de agua fría. La unidad de control puede detectar la diferencia en presión y la temperatura del agua, y al detectar como la diferencia en presión cambia cuando los conductos de agua caliente y fría se conectan, puede controlar la bomba para recircular agua en los conductos hasta que haya agua caliente disponible. El sistema depende de mediciones de presiones y es generalmente complejo.  Therefore, US-A-2009/0266426 proposes an alternative solution based on a pump that is located between the cold water line and the heater. A pump control unit controls the pump to increase the pressure in the hot water line, and the water pressure is maintained at a higher preset level in the hot water line, compared to the water pressure in the cold water pipe The control unit can detect the difference in pressure and water temperature, and by detecting how the difference in pressure changes when the hot and cold water lines are connected, you can control the pump to recirculate water in the pipes until there is water hot available. The system depends on pressure measurements and is generally complex.
US-A-2008/0302429 describe un grifo con un sistema de recirculación incorporado en el propio grifo y que puede estar controlado por un sensor de temperatura. Cuando el usuario acciona el mando del grifo pero el suministro de agua caliente que llega a dicho grifo presenta una temperatura inferior a una cierta temperatura de consigna, una válvula se encarga de recircular dicho flujo de agua caliente hacia la tubería de suministro de agua fría. Cuando se alcanza la temperatura de consigna la válvula permite la descarga del agua (ya suficientemente caliente) hacia el exterior. Es posible que para el correcto funcionamiento de este dispositivo sea necesaria una mayor presión en el suministro de agua caliente que en el suministro de agua fría, pero no se explica cómo esto se consigue.  US-A-2008/0302429 describes a tap with a recirculation system incorporated in the tap itself and which can be controlled by a temperature sensor. When the user activates the tap control but the hot water supply that reaches said tap has a temperature below a certain setpoint temperature, a valve is responsible for recirculating said flow of hot water to the cold water supply pipe. When the setpoint temperature is reached, the valve allows the discharge of water (already hot enough) to the outside. It is possible that for the correct operation of this device a greater pressure in the hot water supply than in the cold water supply is necessary, but it is not explained how this is achieved.
ES-T3-2190088 (traducción de EP-B-0981784) describe un sistema integrado en un grifo y que sirve para evitar que salga agua del grifo por debajo de una cierta temperatura de consigna. Se basa en la recirculación del agua caliente hacia la tubería de agua fría cuando la temperatura es inferior a la deseada (lo cual se detecta mediante un sensor de temperatura). Por tanto, el sistema sólo funciona de forma adecuada cuando la presión de la tubería de agua caliente es superior a la que presenta la tubería de agua fría. Sin embargo, este documento no menciona la existencia de un elemento (bomba) para conseguir dicha diferencia de presión y sólo se centra en los elementos que comprende el propio grifo. El grifo también presenta un sensor de presión que comprueba si existe la diferencia de presión necesaria entre las conducciones de agua caliente y de agua fría para inhibir el funcionamiento del sistema de recirculación y permitir la salida de agua en caso de que la diferencia de presión entre ambos conductos sea insuficiente. ES-T3-2190088 (EP-B-0981784 translation) describes a system integrated in a tap that serves to prevent water from running out of the tap below a certain setpoint temperature. It is based on the recirculation of hot water to the cold water pipe when the temperature is lower than desired (which is detected by a temperature sensor). Therefore, the system only works properly when the pressure of the hot water pipe is higher than the that presents the cold water pipe. However, this document does not mention the existence of an element (pump) to achieve this pressure difference and only focuses on the elements that the tap itself comprises. The tap also has a pressure sensor that checks if there is the necessary pressure difference between the hot and cold water pipes to inhibit the operation of the recirculation system and allow water to escape in case the pressure difference between Both ducts are insufficient.
GB-A-2290857 describe otro sistema para evitar el desperdicio del agua fría que se encuentra en el tramo de tubería inmediatamente anterior a un grifo, cuándo el grifo es accionado por parte de un usuario. El sistema funciona mediante un detector de presión para identificar el momento en el que se abre el grifo. Una vez detectado este evento, se cierra una válvula de recirculación y se activa en ese mismo momento el funcionamiento de una bomba de recirculación hasta que la temperatura alcanza el valor deseado. Cuando la temperatura alcanza el valor deseado se cambia la posición de la válvula de recirculación y se interrumpe el funcionamiento de la bomba. La bomba y la válvula se encuentran físicamente próximas e integradas en una misma carcasa (ver figura adjunta). El sensor de temperatura 26 se encuentra separado del conjunto válvula-bomba. El conjunto válvula-bomba para ser efectivo ha de situarse en la proximidad del punto de consumo.  GB-A-2290857 describes another system to avoid wasting cold water that is in the pipe section immediately before a tap, when the tap is operated by a user. The system works by means of a pressure detector to identify the moment at which the tap is opened. Once this event is detected, a recirculation valve is closed and the operation of a recirculation pump is activated at the same time until the temperature reaches the desired value. When the temperature reaches the desired value, the position of the recirculation valve is changed and the operation of the pump is interrupted. The pump and the valve are physically close and integrated in the same housing (see attached figure). Temperature sensor 26 is separated from the valve-pump assembly. The valve-pump assembly to be effective must be located near the point of consumption.
WO-A-2008/123785 describe un sistema que presenta una bomba y una válvula de recirculación que cambia entre dos posiciones, una en la que dirige el agua hacia el punto de consumo (por ejemplo un grifo) y otra posición en la que recircula el agua de la tubería de agua caliente hacia la de agua fría. La actuación de dicha válvula está gobernada por un sistema de control que puede actuar en base a distintos parámetros captados por sensores adecuados, por ejemplo de temperatura. La bomba también está conectada al sistema de control y puede ser puesta en funcionamiento por éste cuando es necesario que aumente la presión para que se produzca la recirculación.  WO-A-2008/123785 describes a system that has a pump and a recirculation valve that changes between two positions, one in which it directs water to the point of consumption (for example a tap) and another position in which it recirculates the water from the hot water pipe to the cold water pipe. The operation of said valve is governed by a control system that can act on the basis of different parameters captured by suitable sensors, for example of temperature. The pump is also connected to the control system and can be put into operation by it when it is necessary to increase the pressure for recirculation to occur.
Es decir, es conocido usar una bomba para recircular agua fría hasta que llegue agua caliente al grifo.  That is, it is known to use a pump to recirculate cold water until hot water reaches the tap.
DESCRIPCIÓN DE LA INVENCIÓN Un primer aspecto de la invención se refiere a un sistema de suministro de agua, que comprende: DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A first aspect of the invention relates to a water supply system, comprising:
un grifo con una salida de agua (con "una salida de agua" se quiere decir que hay al menos una salida; lógicamente, el grifo puede estar dotado de salidas de agua adicionales);  a tap with a water outlet (with "a water outlet" means that there is at least one outlet; logically, the tap can be provided with additional water outlets);
un conducto de agua fría conectado al grifo para suministrar agua fría a dicho grifo (esto no excluye que pueda haber más de un conducto de agua fría; con "agua fría" se entiende, por ejemplo, agua de temperatura ambiente; en general no se trata de agua refrigerada, aunque también cabe esta posibilidad);  a cold water line connected to the tap to supply cold water to said tap (this does not exclude that there may be more than one cold water line; "cold water" means, for example, room temperature water; in general it is not it is chilled water, although this possibility also fits);
un conducto de agua caliente conectado para suministrar agua al grifo desde un calentador (lógicamente, el sistema puede incluir más de un conducto de agua caliente, y más de un calentador; el término conducto de agua caliente no quiere decir que el agua en dicho conducto siempre esté caliente; por ejemplo, cuando no hay flujo de agua en el conducto, el agua se puede enfriar; es decir, el término "conducto de agua caliente" denota que se trata de un conducto destinado a transportar agua que ha sido calentado en el calentador; el término calentador debe interpretarse de forma amplia e incluye cualquier dispositivo o sistema configurado para calentar agua, por ejemplo, por vía eléctrica o por combustión de combustibles fósiles como puede ser, por ejemplo, el gas natural; también puede tratarse de, por ejemplo, un sistema de calentamiento de agua termosolar);  a hot water line connected to supply water to the tap from a heater (logically, the system may include more than one hot water line, and more than one heater; the term hot water line does not mean that the water in said line always be hot, for example, when there is no water flow in the duct, the water can cool down, that is, the term "hot water duct" denotes that it is a duct intended to transport water that has been heated in the heater; the term heater must be interpreted broadly and includes any device or system configured to heat water, for example, by electric means or by combustion of fossil fuels such as, for example, natural gas; it can also be, for example, a solar thermal water heating system);
una bomba para aumentar la presión del agua en al menos un tramo del conducto de agua caliente a un nivel por encima de la presión del agua en el conducto de agua fría, de manera que cuando el conducto de agua caliente está en comunicación fluida con el conducto de agua fría, el agua del conducto de agua caliente fluye hacia el conducto de agua fría (la bomba puede estar situada en el calentador, antes del calentador, o después del calentador, según la dirección de flujo del agua hacia el grifo; con esta bomba o similar, se consigue elevar la presión del agua en el conducto de caliente -o al menos en un tramo del conducto de agua caliente, un tramo próximo al conducto de agua fría- por encima de la presión que tiene el agua que entra en el conducto de agua fría desde su fuente de alimentación, que pude ser una toma de agua general que también es la fuente de alimentación de agua al calentador; lógicamente, el sistema puede comprender más de una bomba, y la bomba puede realizarse con cualquier equipo controlable que sirva para elevar la presión de la manera indicada); al menos una primera válvula configurada para situarse, en función de la temperatura del agua que llega al grifo a través del conducto de agua caliente, selectivamente en un primer estado para desviar agua que viene hacia el grifo a través del conducto de agua caliente hacia el conducto de agua fría, o en un segundo estado para desviar agua que viene hacia el grifo a través del conducto de agua caliente, hacia la salida de agua (con esto no se quiere decir que el estado de la primera válvula exclusivamente dependa de la temperatura; en algunas modalidades de la invención, la válvula también puede responder a cambios en la presión y a otros parámetros del sistema; por otra parte, el término "válvula" no debe entenderse como que necesariamente sea una sola válvula; también puede tratarse de un conjunto más o menos complejo de válvulas, que cumplan la función indicada). a pump to increase the water pressure in at least one section of the hot water line to a level above the water pressure in the cold water line, so that when the hot water line is in fluid communication with the cold water line, the water from the hot water line flows into the cold water line (the pump may be located in the heater, before the heater, or after the heater, depending on the direction of flow of water to the tap; with this pump or the like, is able to raise the pressure of the water in the hot duct - or at least in a section of the hot water duct, a section close to the cold water duct - above the pressure of the incoming water in the cold water line from its power source, which could be a general water outlet that is also the water power source to the heater; logically, the system can comprise more than one pump, and the pump can to be carried out with any controllable equipment that serves to raise the pressure in the manner indicated); at least a first valve configured to be located, depending on the temperature of the water that reaches the tap through the hot water line, selectively in a first state to divert water that comes to the tap through the hot water line to the cold water pipe, or in a second state to divert water that comes to the tap through the hot water pipe, to the water outlet (this does not mean that the state of the first valve depends solely on the temperature In some embodiments of the invention, the valve may also respond to changes in pressure and other system parameters; on the other hand, the term "valve" should not be understood as necessarily being a single valve; it may also be a set more or less complex of valves, which fulfill the indicated function).
De acuerdo con la invención, el sistema comprende adicionalmente una unidad electrónica asociada al grifo y configurada para comunicarse con la bomba (al menos, para mandar algún tipo de señal o comando a la bomba o a la unidad de control de la bomba, para la activación y/o desactivación de la bomba), de manera que, a través de dicha unidad electrónica, la bomba pueda ser controlada a distancia (con "a distancia" se entiende que la bomba está situada alejada del grifo, por ejemplo, en otra habitación o a una distancia superior a, por ejemplo, 1 metro, 2 metros, 5 metros, 10 metros o 50 metros) desde el grifo.  According to the invention, the system additionally comprises an electronic unit associated with the tap and configured to communicate with the pump (at least, to send some type of signal or command to the pump or to the pump control unit, for activation and / or deactivation of the pump), so that, through said electronic unit, the pump can be controlled remotely (with "remote" means that the pump is located away from the tap, for example, in another room or at a distance greater than, for example, 1 meter, 2 meters, 5 meters, 10 meters or 50 meters) from the tap.
De esta manera, la bomba puede ser controlada a distancia, con lo cual no es necesario que esté funcionando de forma continua, y tampoco es necesario que la bomba esté asociada a mecanismos complejos que activan y desactivan la bomba en función de variaciones en la presión en diferentes puntos del sistema, algo que puede dar lugar a errores.  In this way, the pump can be controlled remotely, so it does not need to be running continuously, nor is it necessary that the pump is associated with complex mechanisms that activate and deactivate the pump based on variations in pressure at different points of the system, something that can lead to errors.
La unidad electrónica puede estar configurada para comunicarse con la bomba por vía inalámbrica. Por ejemplo, la unidad electrónica puede estar configurada para comunicarse con la bomba por radiofrecuencia. Esta opción puede facilitar la instalación de este sistema en una casa que ya tiene una instalación de agua; ya que si la unidad electrónica puede controlar la bomba por vía inalámbrica, por ejemplo, por radiofrecuencia, se evita la necesidad de cableado, algo que facilita la instalación: sólo se precisa instalar la bomba en una parte del circuito, y reemplazar los grifos por grifos de acuerdo con la invención, sin necesidad de instalar cables de señalización. La unidad electrónica y la bomba pueden estar configuradas para que la bomba se ponga en marcha cuando se cumple una serie de condiciones asociadas al estado del grifo. Una primera de dichas condiciones puede ser que la primera válvula esté en dicho primer estado. Es decir, para que la bomba se ponga en marcha, sería necesario que la primera válvula esté en el estado en el que el agua que llega desde el calentador se desvíe hacia el conducto de agua fría. Es decir, en esta modalidad de la invención, la bomba sólo tiene que ponerse en marcha para aumentar la presión si ésta sirve para conseguir la recirculación; no se desea que la bomba funcione cuando ya fluye agua caliente por la salida del grifo. The electronic unit can be configured to communicate with the pump wirelessly. For example, the electronic unit may be configured to communicate with the pump by radio frequency. This option can facilitate the installation of this system in a house that already has a water installation; since if the electronic unit can control the pump wirelessly, for example, by radiofrequency, the need for wiring is avoided, something that facilitates installation: it is only necessary to install the pump in one part of the circuit, and replace the taps with taps according to the invention, without the need to install signaling cables. The electronic unit and the pump can be configured for the pump to start when a series of conditions associated with the tap status is met. A first of these conditions may be that the first valve is in said first state. That is, for the pump to start, it would be necessary for the first valve to be in the state in which the water that arrives from the heater is diverted to the cold water line. That is, in this embodiment of the invention, the pump only has to be started to increase the pressure if it serves to achieve recirculation; It is not desired that the pump works when hot water is already flowing through the tap outlet.
El grifo puede comprender un regulador de caudal, y una segunda de dichas condiciones puede ser que el regulador de caudal esté en un estado abierto. Es decir, para que la bomba se ponga en marcha o continúe en marcha es necesario, en esta modalidad de la invención, que se solicite que fluya agua por el grifo. De esta manera, se ahorra energía puesto que la bomba no funciona cuando no se está solicitando agua.  The tap may comprise a flow regulator, and a second of such conditions may be that the flow regulator is in an open state. That is, in order for the pump to start or continue running, it is necessary, in this embodiment of the invention, to request that water flow through the tap. In this way, energy is saved since the pump does not work when water is not being requested.
Además, el grifo puede adicionalmente comprender un regulador de temperatura, y una tercera de dichas condiciones puede ser que el regulador de temperatura esté en una posición de agua caliente. Con agua caliente se entiende agua que no sea fría. Es decir, una "posición de agua caliente" implica que regulador de temperatura se sitúa de manera que se solicita agua desde el calentador, aunque sea para combinarla con agua fría para que salga agua templada. Esta tercera condición sirve para evitar que la bomba se ponga en marcha cuando se solicita exclusivamente agua fría.  In addition, the tap may additionally comprise a temperature regulator, and a third of such conditions may be that the temperature regulator is in a hot water position. Hot water means water that is not cold. That is, a "hot water position" implies that the temperature regulator is positioned so that water is requested from the heater, even if it is to be combined with cold water so that warm water flows out. This third condition serves to prevent the pump from starting when cold water is exclusively requested.
La unidad electrónica puede estar asociada a un circuito eléctrico que esté cerrado únicamente cuando, simultáneamente,  The electronic unit may be associated with an electrical circuit that is closed only when, simultaneously,
la primera válvula está en dicho primer estado,  the first valve is in said first state,
el regulador de caudal está en un estado abierto, y  the flow regulator is in an open state, and
el regulador de temperatura está en una posición de agua caliente.  The temperature regulator is in a hot water position.
La unidad electrónica y la bomba pueden estar configuradas para que la bomba se ponga en marcha cuando, simultáneamente,  The electronic unit and the pump can be configured so that the pump starts when, simultaneously,
la primera válvula está en dicho primer estado,  the first valve is in said first state,
el regulador de caudal está en un estado abierto, y  the flow regulator is in an open state, and
el regulador de temperatura está en una posición de agua caliente. Es decir, con esta configuración, la bomba sólo se pone en marcha cuando es necesario para el correcto funcionamiento del sistema, es decir, cuando todavía no llega agua caliente a la primera válvula, a pesar de que el usuario está solicitando agua caliente. The temperature regulator is in a hot water position. That is, with this configuration, the pump only starts when necessary for the correct functioning of the system, that is, when hot water still does not reach the first valve, even though the user is requesting hot water.
La unidad electrónica y la bomba pueden estar configuradas de manera que, si la bomba está en marcha, la bomba se para si se produce, al menos una de las siguientes situaciones:  The electronic unit and the pump can be configured so that, if the pump is running, the pump stops if it occurs, at least one of the following situations:
- la primera válvula se sitúa en dicho segundo estado;  - the first valve is placed in said second state;
- el regulador de caudal se sitúa en un estado cerrado;  - the flow regulator is in a closed state;
- el regulador de temperatura se sitúa en una posición de agua fría.  - the temperature regulator is placed in a cold water position.
De esta manera, se evita que la bomba siga funcionando cuando ya no hace falta, es decir, cuando ya fluye agua caliente hacia la salida del grifo, o cuando ya no se solicita agua caliente, o cuando ya no se solicita agua de ningún tipo.  This prevents the pump from running when it is no longer needed, that is, when hot water is already flowing to the tap outlet, or when hot water is no longer requested, or when water of any kind is no longer requested. .
Esta explicación corresponde a un tipo de grifo, a veces basado en el empleo de un termoelemento, para regular la temperatura del agua que sale por el grifo mediante un mando o regulador de temperatura. Ahora bien, la invención también es perfectamente aplicable a grifos en los que el usuario regula la temperatura de otros modos, como puede ser, por ejemplo, un grifo que contenga un mando o sistema regulador del caudal de agua fría y un mando o sistema regulador del caudal de agua caliente, que permite obtener la temperatura del agua deseada regulando los caudales de agua caliente y agua fría. Como en los casos anteriores, la invención empleando este tipo de grifos podría comprender una termoválvula para selectivamente enviar el agua caliente hacia el conducto de agua fría en un primer estado o hacia la salida de agua en un segundo estado.  This explanation corresponds to a type of tap, sometimes based on the use of a thermoelement, to regulate the temperature of the water that comes out of the tap using a temperature control or regulator. However, the invention is also perfectly applicable to taps in which the user regulates the temperature in other ways, such as, for example, a tap containing a control or regulating system for the cold water flow and a control or regulating system of the hot water flow, which allows to obtain the desired water temperature by regulating the flow rates of hot water and cold water. As in the previous cases, the invention using this type of faucets could comprise a thermovalve to selectively send the hot water to the cold water line in a first state or to the water outlet in a second state.
Es decir, el grifo puede comprender un regular de caudal de agua caliente y un regulador de caudal de agua fría, siendo una segunda de dichas condiciones que el regulador de caudal de agua caliente esté en un estado abierto (la primera de dichas condiciones sería que la primera válvula esté en dicho primer estado).  That is, the tap can comprise a regulator of hot water flow and a regulator of cold water flow, being a second of said conditions that the regulator of hot water flow is in an open state (the first of said conditions would be that the first valve is in said first state).
En estos casos, de forma análoga a lo que se ha descrito más arriba, la unidad electrónica puede estar asociada a un circuito eléctrico que está cerrado únicamente cuando, simultáneamente,  In these cases, analogously to what has been described above, the electronic unit may be associated with an electrical circuit that is closed only when, simultaneously,
la primera válvula está en dicho primer estado,  the first valve is in said first state,
el regulador de caudal de agua caliente está en el estado abierto.  The hot water flow regulator is in the open state.
Esta realización abarca también los grifos denominados "monomando", en los que accionando una palanca se regula simultáneamente el caudal de agua fría y el de agua caliente. Es decir, la referencia a un regulador de caudal de agua caliente y un regular de agua fría no excluye la posibilidad de que ambos reguladores sean regulados o manipulados mediante un solo mando común, que es lo que ocurre en los grifos monomando. En este caso, la segunda condición para que la unidad electrónica envíe una señal a la bomba para que se ponga en marcha, es decir, la condición de que el regulador de caudal de agua caliente se encuentre en un estado abierto, básicamente corresponde a que la palanca del "monomando" se encuentre en una posición que implica que se esté solicitando agua caliente o templada. This embodiment also includes the so-called "single lever" faucets, in which, by operating a lever, the flow of cold water is regulated simultaneously and The hot water one. That is, the reference to a regulator of hot water flow and a regulator of cold water does not exclude the possibility that both regulators are regulated or manipulated by a single common control, which is what happens in the mixer taps. In this case, the second condition for the electronic unit to send a signal to the pump to start, that is, the condition that the hot water flow regulator is in an open state, basically corresponds to the "single lever" lever is in a position that implies that hot or warm water is being requested.
La primera válvula puede ser una termoválvula configurada para adoptar dicho primer estado cuando la temperatura del agua que llega desde el calentador está por debajo de un umbral determinado, y para adoptar dicho segundo estado cuando la temperatura del agua que llega desde el calentador está por encima de dicho umbral determinado. Es decir, puede tratarse de una termoválvula convencional, con o sin histéresis. Asimismo, dicha termoválvula podría funcionar en base a un termoelemento dispuesto de tal modo que cuando la temperatura del agua sea inferior al citado umbral determinado permanezca en dicho primer estado y que al dilatarse con el aumento de la temperatura del agua, cuando dicha temperatura sea superior a dicho umbral, cambie a dicho segundo estado.  The first valve may be a thermovalve configured to adopt said first state when the temperature of the water arriving from the heater is below a certain threshold, and to adopt said second state when the temperature of the water arriving from the heater is above of said determined threshold. That is, it can be a conventional thermovalve, with or without hysteresis. Likewise, said thermovalve could operate based on a thermoelement arranged in such a way that when the water temperature is lower than the said threshold determined it remains in said first state and that when it expands with the increase of the water temperature, when said temperature is higher at said threshold, change to said second state.
El grifo puede adicionalmente comprender una válvula anti-retorno configurada para permitir que agua fluya desde el conducto de agua caliente hacia el conducto de agua fría, a través de dicha válvula anti-retorno, pero no desde el conducto de agua fría hasta el conducto de agua caliente. La válvula anti-retorno puede estar configurada para adoptar, selectivamente (y, por ejemplo, en función directa o indirecta del estado de la termoválvula),  The faucet may additionally comprise a non-return valve configured to allow water to flow from the hot water line to the cold water line, through said non-return valve, but not from the cold water line to the water line. Hot water. The non-return valve may be configured to adopt, selectively (and, for example, directly or indirectly depending on the condition of the thermovalve),
un primer estado en el que permite que agua fluya desde el conducto de agua caliente hacia una parte del conducto de agua fría situada más alejada de la salida de agua pero no hacia otra parte del conducto de agua fría situada más próxima a la salida de agua (según la dirección normal del flujo de agua fría desde la toma de agua hacia la salida de agua del grifo) y en el que impide que agua fluya desde dicha parte del conducto de agua fría situada más alejada de la salida de agua hacia dicha parte del conducto de agua fría situada más próxima a la salida de agua; y un segundo estado en el que impide que agua fluya desde del conducto de agua caliente hacia el conducto de agua fría (por ejemplo, para evitar que agua caliente se "recircule" una vez que empiece a llegar agua caliente desde el calentador), y en el que permite que agua fluya desde dicha parte del conducto de agua fría situada más alejada de la salida de agua hacia dicha parte del conducto de agua fría situada más próxima a la salida de agua (es decir, hacia la salida de agua fría). a first state in which it allows water to flow from the hot water line to a part of the cold water line located further away from the water outlet but not to another part of the cold water line located closer to the water outlet (according to the normal direction of the cold water flow from the water inlet to the tap water outlet) and in which it prevents water from flowing from said part of the cold water line located further away from the water outlet to said part of the cold water pipe located closest to the water outlet; Y a second state in which it prevents water from flowing from the hot water line to the cold water line (for example, to prevent hot water from "recirculating" once hot water begins to arrive from the heater), and in which allows water to flow from said part of the cold water line located further away from the water outlet to said part of the cold water line located closer to the water outlet (i.e., towards the cold water outlet).
Esta configuración puede servir para reducir el riesgo de despilfarro de agua.  This configuration can be used to reduce the risk of waste of water.
Otro aspecto de la invención se refiere a un grifo para un sistema de suministro de agua, comprendiendo el grifo:  Another aspect of the invention relates to a tap for a water supply system, the tap comprising:
una salida de agua (con "una salida de agua" se quiere decir que hay al menos una salida; lógicamente, el grifo puede estar dotado de salidas de agua adicionales);  a water outlet (with "a water outlet" means that there is at least one outlet; logically, the tap may be provided with additional water outlets);
una entrada de agua fría para recibir agua fría desde un conducto de agua fría;  a cold water inlet to receive cold water from a cold water pipe;
una entrada de agua caliente para recibir agua caliente desde un conducto de agua caliente;  a hot water inlet to receive hot water from a hot water pipe;
al menos una primera válvula configurada para situarse, en función de la temperatura del agua que llega al grifo por la entrada de agua caliente, selectivamente en un primer estado para desviar agua que viene por la entrada de agua caliente hacia el conducto de agua fría, o en un segundo estado para desviar agua que viene por la entrada de agua caliente, hacia la salida de agua.  at least one first valve configured to be located, depending on the temperature of the water that reaches the tap through the hot water inlet, selectively in a first state to divert water that comes through the hot water inlet to the cold water line, or in a second state to divert water that comes through the hot water inlet, to the water outlet.
De acuerdo con este aspecto de la invención, el grifo comprende adicionalmente una unidad electrónica asociada al grifo y configurada para comunicarse con una bomba. La unidad electrónica puede estar configurada para comunicarse con la bomba por radiofrecuencia. El grifo puede comprender un regulador de caudal y un regulador de temperatura, y la unidad electrónica puede estar asociada a un circuito eléctrico que está cerrado únicamente cuando, simultáneamente, la primera válvula está en dicho primer estado, el regulador de caudal está en un estado abierto, y el regulador de temperatura está en una posición de agua caliente. DESCRIPCIÓN DE LAS FIGURAS In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the tap further comprises an electronic unit associated with the tap and configured to communicate with a pump. The electronic unit may be configured to communicate with the pump by radio frequency. The faucet may comprise a flow regulator and a temperature regulator, and the electronic unit may be associated with an electrical circuit that is closed only when, simultaneously, the first valve is in said first state, the flow regulator is in a state open, and the temperature regulator is in a hot water position. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Para complementar la descripción y con objeto de ayudar a una mejor comprensión de las características de la invención, de acuerdo con unos ejemplos preferentes de realización práctica de la misma, se acompaña como parte integrante de la descripción, un juego de figuras en el que con carácter ilustrativo y no limitativo, se ha representado lo siguiente:  To complement the description and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to some preferred examples of practical implementation thereof, a set of figures is attached as an integral part of the description in which Illustrative and non-limiting, the following has been represented:
La figura 1 .- Muestra una vista esquemática de un sistema según una primera realización de la invención.  Figure 1 .- Shows a schematic view of a system according to a first embodiment of the invention.
La figura 2.- Muestra una vista esquemática de un grifo de acuerdo con una segunda realización de la invención.  Figure 2.- Shows a schematic view of a tap according to a second embodiment of the invention.
La figura 3.- Muestra una vista esquemática detallada del grifo de acuerdo con la primera realización de la invención.  Figure 3.- Shows a detailed schematic view of the tap according to the first embodiment of the invention.
REALIZACIONES PREFERENTES DE LA INVENCIÓN PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
La figura 1 refleja esquemáticamente una primera realización de la invención, a saber, un sistema con un grifo (1 ) con una salida (1 1 ) de agua. El grifo está conectado a un conducto de agua fría (2) que suministra agua fría a dicho grifo, y a un conducto de agua caliente (3) conectada para suministrar agua al grifo desde un calentador (4). Estos dos conductos están en comunicación con una entrada general de agua (10), donde el agua llega con una presión P-¡ . Antes de que el agua llegue al calentador, pasa por una bomba (5) que, cuando está en marcha, sirve para aumentar la presión a una presión P2, de manera que cuando la bomba está en marcha, la presión P2 en el conducto de agua caliente (3) es superior a la presión P-¡ del agua en el conducto de agua fría (2). La bomba (5) comprende o está asociada a una unidad de control (51 ) que sirve para controlar el funcionamiento de la bomba, de acuerdo con señales que recibe. Figure 1 schematically reflects a first embodiment of the invention, namely a system with a tap (1) with a water outlet (1 1). The tap is connected to a cold water line (2) that supplies cold water to said tap, and a hot water line (3) connected to supply water to the tap from a heater (4). These two ducts are in communication with a general water inlet (10), where the water arrives with a pressure P-¡. Before the water reaches the heater, it passes through a pump (5) which, when it is running, serves to increase the pressure to a pressure P 2 , so that when the pump is running, the pressure P 2 in the Hot water line (3) is higher than the pressure P-¡of the water in the cold water line (2). The pump (5) comprises or is associated with a control unit (51) that serves to control the operation of the pump, in accordance with the signals it receives.
El grifo (1 ) recibe, por lo tanto, agua tanto del conducto de agua caliente (3) como del conducto de agua fría (2), y comprende dos reguladores de caudal, uno (9A) para el agua caliente y otro (9B) para el agua fría.  The tap (1) therefore receives water from both the hot water pipe (3) and the cold water pipe (2), and comprises two flow regulators, one (9A) for hot water and the other (9B ) for cold water.
Por otra parte, el grifo incluye una primera válvula (6), a saber, una termoválvula, configurada para situarse, en función de la temperatura del agua que llega al grifo (1 ) a través del conducto de agua caliente (3), selectivamente en un primer estado para desviar agua que viene hacia el grifo a través del conducto de agua caliente (3) hacia el conducto de agua fría (2), a través de una válvula anti- retorno (7), o en un segundo estado para desviar agua que viene hacia el grifo a través del conducto de agua caliente (3), hacia la salida de agua (1 1 ). On the other hand, the tap includes a first valve (6), namely a thermovalve, configured to be located, depending on the temperature of the water that reaches the tap (1) through the hot water line (3), selectively in a first state to divert water that comes to the tap through the hot water line (3) to the cold water line (2), through an anti-valve return (7), or in a second state to divert water that comes to the tap through the hot water line (3), to the water outlet (1 1).
De esta manera, si el agua que llega al grifo por el conducto de el agua caliente (3) tiene una temperatura por debajo de un umbral determinado, la termoválvula (6) permanece en su primer estado, y si la bomba (5) está funcionando, es decir, si está en marcha, la presión P2 más elevada en el conducto de agua caliente (3) hace que el agua pase por la válvula anti-retorno (7), al conducto de agua fría (2). De esta manera, no se produce ningún desgaste del agua que viene por el conducto de agua caliente (3), antes de que empiece a llegar agua caliente, es decir, con una temperatura suficientemente elevada. Thus, if the water that reaches the tap through the hot water line (3) has a temperature below a certain threshold, the thermovalve (6) remains in its first state, and if the pump (5) is operating, that is, if it is running, the higher pressure P 2 in the hot water line (3) causes the water to pass through the non-return valve (7), to the cold water line (2). In this way, there is no wear of the water that comes through the hot water line (3), before hot water begins to arrive, that is, with a sufficiently high temperature.
Cuando el agua que llega por el conducto de agua caliente (3) tiene una temperatura por encima de un umbral determinado, la termoválvula (6) se abre, con lo que el agua caliente puede pasar a la salida de agua (1 1 ).  When the water that arrives through the hot water line (3) has a temperature above a certain threshold, the thermovalve (6) opens, so that the hot water can pass to the water outlet (1 1).
A partir de esta información y a la vista de la figura 1 , el experto en la materia puede poner en marcha el sistema.  From this information and in view of figure 1, the person skilled in the art can start up the system.
En este grifo, tal y como se observa en la figura 1 , hay un regulador de caudal (9A) para el agua caliente, y otro regulador de caudal (9B) para el agua fría.  In this tap, as shown in Figure 1, there is a flow regulator (9A) for hot water, and another flow regulator (9B) for cold water.
El grifo incorpora también una unidad electrónica (20) configurada para comunicarse, por ejemplo, por radiofrecuencia, con la bomba (5) o, mejor dicho, con la unidad de control (51 ) de la bomba. De esta manera, se puede poner la bomba en marcha únicamente cuando es necesario, es decir, cuando es preciso establecer una recirculación del agua. Para ello, la unidad electrónica (20) puede estar configurada para que la bomba se ponga o mantenga en marcha únicamente cuando, simultáneamente, está abierto el regulador de caudal (9A) para agua caliente y, a la vez, está cerrada la termoválvula (6). En cuanto se cierre el regulador de caudal para agua caliente (9A) o en cuanto se abra la termoválvula (6), ya no es necesaria ninguna recirculación del agua que viene por el conducto de agua caliente (3) al conducto de agua fría (2), por lo que la bomba (5) puede pararse, aunque puede ser conveniente establecer que la bomba no pare inmediatamente sino sólo después de un cierto tiempo, para evitar que se ponga en marcha repetidamente en el caso de que, por ejemplo, el regulador de caudal (9A) de agua caliente se abre y cierra repetidamente en un intervalo de tiempo breve. Es decir, la unidad electrónica (20) es un tipo de "telemando" con el cual se controla la bomba, o que transmite información que permite que la unidad de control (51 ) controle la bomba (5), en función del estado del grifo. The tap also incorporates an electronic unit (20) configured to communicate, for example, by radio frequency, with the pump (5) or, rather, with the control unit (51) of the pump. In this way, the pump can be started only when necessary, that is, when it is necessary to establish a water recirculation. For this, the electronic unit (20) can be configured so that the pump is started or kept running only when, simultaneously, the flow regulator (9A) for hot water is open and, at the same time, the thermovalve ( 6). As soon as the flow regulator for hot water (9A) is closed or as soon as the thermovalve (6) is opened, no recirculation of the water coming through the hot water line (3) to the cold water line is necessary ( 2), so that the pump (5) can be stopped, although it may be convenient to establish that the pump does not stop immediately but only after a certain time, to prevent it from starting repeatedly if, for example, The hot water flow regulator (9A) opens and closes repeatedly in a short time interval. That is, the electronic unit (20) is a type of "remote control" with which the pump is controlled, or that transmits information that allows the control unit (51) to control the pump (5), depending on the state of the tap.
La figura 2 refleja una configuración alternativa del grifo (el resto del sistema puede ser igual que en la figura 1 , es decir, la bomba (5) y el calentador (4) pueden estar dispuestos como en la figura 1 ). En el caso de la figura 2 hay sólo un regulador de caudal (9), con el que se regula el caudal total que sale del grifo por la salida (1 1 ). Adicionalmente se ha previsto un regulador de temperatura (8) que regula la proporción de agua fría y caliente que fluye hacia el grifo desde los conductos de agua caliente (3) y fría (2). Es decir, el regulador de temperatura (8) es un "mezclador" que, según su posición, determina la proporción entre agua fría y caliente que pasa hacia la salida (1 1 ) desde los conductos de agua caliente (3) y fría (2), respectivamente.  Figure 2 reflects an alternative configuration of the tap (the rest of the system may be the same as in Figure 1, that is, the pump (5) and the heater (4) may be arranged as in Figure 1). In the case of figure 2 there is only one flow regulator (9), with which the total flow that leaves the tap through the outlet (1 1) is regulated. Additionally, a temperature regulator (8) is provided that regulates the proportion of cold and hot water flowing to the tap from the hot (3) and cold (2) water pipes. That is to say, the temperature regulator (8) is a "mixer" which, according to its position, determines the proportion between cold and hot water that passes to the outlet (1 1) from the hot (3) and cold ( 2), respectively.
En la figura 2 se ha ilustrado la unidad electrónica (20) y una batería (22) para la alimentación de la misma. La unidad electrónica (20) incluye una antena (no ilustrada) para la comunicación por radiofrecuencia con la unidad de control (51 ) de la bomba (5).  Figure 2 shows the electronic unit (20) and a battery (22) for powering it. The electronic unit (20) includes an antenna (not shown) for radio frequency communication with the control unit (51) of the pump (5).
En esta realización de la invención, se ha previsto un circuito eléctrico (21 ) en forma de un cable eléctrico que recorre el grifo (1 ) y que tiene tres puntos de interrupción, a saber, en correspondencia con la termoválvula (6), en correspondencia con el regulador de temperatura (8), y en correspondencia con el regulador de caudal (9). Este circuito está configurado de manera que sólo se cierra si, simultáneamente,  In this embodiment of the invention, an electric circuit (21) is provided in the form of an electric cable that runs through the tap (1) and has three breakpoints, namely, in correspondence with the thermovalve (6), in correspondence with the temperature regulator (8), and in correspondence with the flow regulator (9). This circuit is configured so that it only closes if, simultaneously,
- la termoválvula (6) está en posición cerrada de manera que no permite que el agua que viene por el conducto de agua caliente (3) fluya hacia la salida (1 1 ) del grifo, por lo que dicha agua tiene que fluir hacia el conducto de agua fría (2), por la válvula anti-retorno (7);  - the thermovalve (6) is in a closed position so that it does not allow the water that comes through the hot water pipe (3) to flow to the outlet (1 1) of the tap, so that said water has to flow to the cold water line (2), by the non-return valve (7);
- el regulador de temperatura (8) está en una posición que implica que se está solicitando al menos un poco de agua caliente, para que por la salida (1 1 ) salga agua caliente o, al menos, tibia;  - the temperature regulator (8) is in a position that implies that at least some hot water is being requested, so that hot (or at least warm) water comes out of the outlet (1 1);
- el regulador de caudal (9) está abierto, de manera que el usuario está solicitando que salga agua por la salida (1 1 ).  - the flow regulator (9) is open, so that the user is requesting that water flow out through the outlet (1 1).
Por lo tanto, la unidad electrónica (20) puede enviar una señal de estado o señales de activación y/o parada a la unidad de control de la bomba (51 ), en función del estado del grifo, es decir, en función del estado de la termoválvula (6), en función del estado del regulador de temperatura (8), y en función del estado del regulador de caudal (9), estados que se detectan mediante el circuito eléctrico (21 ), es decir, en función de si está "abierto" o "cerrado". La "inteligencia" del sistema de control, es decir, los circuitos y/o el software que establecen las acciones a tomar en relación con la bomba en función de los estados detectados, puede estar incorporada en la unidad de control de la bomba (51 ) y/o en la propia unidad electrónica (20) del grifo, según la preferencia del diseñador del sistema. Therefore, the electronic unit (20) can send a status signal or activation and / or stop signals to the pump control unit (51), in function of the tap status, that is, depending on the condition of the thermovalve (6), depending on the status of the temperature regulator (8), and depending on the status of the flow regulator (9), states that are detected by the electrical circuit (21), that is, depending on whether it is "open" or "closed". The "intelligence" of the control system, that is to say, the circuits and / or the software that establish the actions to be taken in relation to the pump depending on the detected states, can be incorporated in the pump control unit (51 ) and / or in the electronic unit (20) of the tap itself, according to the preference of the system designer.
En ambas realizaciones descritas, la unidad electrónica (20) permite que la operación de la bomba se controle a distancia, desde el grifo y en función del estado del grifo y de la temperatura del agua que llega a la termoválvula (6). De esta manera, se puede asegurar que la bomba sólo esté funcionando cuando realmente es necesario disponer de una presión más alta P2 en el conducto de agua caliente 3, que la presión P^ en el conducto de agua fría, para garantizar la recirculación de agua. In both described embodiments, the electronic unit (20) allows the operation of the pump to be controlled remotely, from the tap and depending on the status of the tap and the temperature of the water that reaches the thermovalve (6). In this way, it can be ensured that the pump is only running when it is really necessary to have a higher pressure P 2 in the hot water line 3, than the pressure P ^ in the cold water line, to ensure the recirculation of Water.
La figura 3 refleja un poco más detalladamente el grifo según la primera realización de la invención. Tal y como se puede observar, muchos elementos son idénticos o análogos a los de la figura 2, y llevan las mismas referencias numéricas.  Figure 3 reflects a little more in detail the faucet according to the first embodiment of the invention. As can be seen, many elements are identical or analogous to those in Figure 2, and bear the same numerical references.
Tal y como ya se mencionó en relación con la figura 1 , el grifo comprende un regulador de caudal de agua caliente (9A) y un regulador de caudal de agua fría As already mentioned in relation to figure 1, the tap comprises a hot water flow regulator (9A) and a cold water flow regulator
(9B). La unidad electrónica (20) y la bomba (5) (no ilustrada en la figura 3) están configuradas para que la bomba se ponga en marcha cuando se cumplen dos condiciones asociadas al estado del grifo. Una primera de dichas condiciones es que la primera válvula (6) esté en el primer estado, es decir, que esté en el estado para desviar agua que viene hacia el grifo a través del conducto de agua caliente(9B). The electronic unit (20) and the pump (5) (not illustrated in Figure 3) are configured to start the pump when two conditions associated with the tap status are met. A first of these conditions is that the first valve (6) is in the first state, that is, that it is in the state to divert water coming to the tap through the hot water line
(3) hacia el conducto de agua fría (2). La segunda condición es que el regulador de caudal de agua caliente (9A) esté en un estado abierto. (3) towards the cold water line (2). The second condition is that the hot water flow regulator (9A) is in an open state.
Por lo tanto, en la realización ilustrada en la figura 3, la unidad electrónica (20) está asociada a un circuito eléctrico (21 ) que está cerrado únicamente cuando, simultáneamente,  Therefore, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the electronic unit (20) is associated with an electrical circuit (21) that is closed only when, simultaneously,
la primera válvula (6) está en dicho primer estado,  the first valve (6) is in said first state,
el regulador de caudal de agua caliente (9A) está en el estado abierto. Aunque los reguladores de caudal (9A, 9B) en la figura 3 se han ilustrado esquemáticamente como dos "mandos" configurados para ser "manipulados de forma independiente", también pueden corresponder a un "grifo monomando" en el que tanto el agua caliente como el agua fría se regulan usando una sola palanca. The hot water flow regulator (9A) is in the open state. Although the flow regulators (9A, 9B) in Figure 3 have been schematically illustrated as two "controls" configured to be "independently handled", they can also correspond to a "mixer tap" in which both hot water and Cold water is regulated using a single lever.
Por otra parte, en la figura 3 se ha ilustrado, esquemáticamente, una posible configuración de la válvula anti-retorno (7). Tal y como se puede observar, esta válvula anti-retorno (7) está configurada para adoptar, selectivamente,  On the other hand, a possible configuration of the non-return valve (7) has been schematically illustrated in Figure 3. As can be seen, this non-return valve (7) is configured to selectively adopt
un primer estado en el que permite que agua fluya desde el conducto de agua caliente (3) hacia una parte (B) del conducto de agua fría situada más alejada de la salida de agua (1 1 ) (y "aguas arriba" visto desde la válvula anti-retorno, si consideramos la dirección de flujo "normal" de agua fría hacia el grifo) pero no hacia otra parte (C) del conducto de agua fría situada más próxima a la salida de agua (1 1 ) ("aguas abajo" desde la válvula anti-retorno) y en el que impide que agua fluya desde dicha parte (B) del conducto de agua fría situada más alejada de la salida de agua (1 1 ) hacia dicha parte (C) del conducto de agua fría situada más próxima a la salida de agua (1 1 ); y  a first state in which it allows water to flow from the hot water line (3) to a part (B) of the cold water line located further away from the water outlet (1 1) (and "upstream" seen from the non-return valve, if we consider the "normal" flow direction of cold water to the tap) but not to another part (C) of the cold water line located closest to the water outlet (1 1) ("waters below "from the non-return valve) and in which it prevents water from flowing from said part (B) of the cold water line located further away from the water outlet (1 1) to said part (C) of the water line cold located closest to the water outlet (1 1); Y
un segundo estado en el que impide que agua fluya desde del conducto de agua caliente (3) hacia el conducto de agua fría, y en el que permite que agua fluya desde dicha parte (B) del conducto de agua fría situada más alejada de la salida de agua (1 1 ) hacia dicha parte (C) del conducto de agua fría situada más próxima a la salida de agua (1 1 ).  a second state in which it prevents water from flowing from the hot water line (3) to the cold water line, and in which it allows water to flow from said part (B) of the cold water line located further away from the water outlet (1 1) to said part (C) of the cold water line located closest to the water outlet (1 1).
Es decir, en el primer estado, la válvula anti-retorno (7) permite que agua fluya desde "A" a "B" en la figura 3, pero no desde "A" a "C" y tampoco desde "B" a "C". En el segundo estado, impide que agua fluya desde "A" a "B" pero permite que fluya desde "B" a "C", es decir, por el "recorrido normal" de agua fría hacia la salida 1 1 .  That is, in the first state, the non-return valve (7) allows water to flow from "A" to "B" in Figure 3, but not from "A" to "C" and also from "B" to "C". In the second state, it prevents water from flowing from "A" to "B" but allows it to flow from "B" to "C", that is, through the "normal path" of cold water to exit 1 1.
En este texto, la palabra "comprende" y sus variantes (como "comprendiendo", etc.) no deben interpretarse de forma excluyente, es decir, no excluyen la posibilidad de que lo descrito incluya otros elementos, pasos etc.  In this text, the word "comprises" and its variants (such as "understanding", etc.) should not be construed as excluding, that is, they do not exclude the possibility that what is described includes other elements, steps, etc.
Por otra parte, la invención no está limitada a las realizaciones concretas que se han descrito sino abarca también, por ejemplo, las variantes que pueden ser realizadas por el experto medio en la materia (por ejemplo, en cuanto a la elección de materiales, dimensiones, componentes, configuración, etc.), dentro de lo que se desprende de las reivindicaciones.  On the other hand, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments that have been described but also covers, for example, the variants that can be made by the average person skilled in the art (for example, in terms of the choice of materials, dimensions , components, configuration, etc.), within what follows from the claims.

Claims

REIVINDICACIONES
1 .- Sistema de suministro de agua, que comprende: 1 .- Water supply system, which includes:
un grifo (1 ) con una salida (1 1 ) de agua; a tap (1) with an outlet (1 1) of water;
un conducto de agua fría (2) conectado al grifo (1 ) para suministrar agua fría a dicho grifo;  a cold water line (2) connected to the tap (1) to supply cold water to said tap;
un conducto de agua caliente (3) conectado para suministrar agua al grifo desde un calentador (4);  a hot water line (3) connected to supply water to the tap from a heater (4);
una bomba (5) para aumentar la presión del agua en al menos un tramo del conducto de agua caliente (3) a un nivel por encima de la presión del agua en el conducto de agua fría (2), de manera que cuando el conducto de agua caliente (3) está en comunicación fluida con el conducto de agua fría (2), el agua del conducto de agua caliente (3) fluye hacia el conducto de agua fría (2);  a pump (5) to increase the water pressure in at least one section of the hot water line (3) at a level above the water pressure in the cold water line (2), so that when the line hot water (3) is in fluid communication with the cold water line (2), the water from the hot water line (3) flows to the cold water line (2);
al menos una primera válvula (6) configurada para situarse, en función de la temperatura del agua que llega al grifo (1 ) a través del conducto de agua caliente at least one first valve (6) configured to be located, depending on the temperature of the water that reaches the tap (1) through the hot water line
(3), selectivamente en un primer estado para desviar agua que viene hacia el grifo a través del conducto de agua caliente (3) hacia el conducto de agua fría (2), o en un segundo estado para desviar agua que viene hacia el grifo a través del conducto de agua caliente (3), hacia la salida de agua (1 1 ); (3), selectively in a first state to divert water that comes to the tap through the hot water pipe (3) to the cold water pipe (2), or in a second state to divert water that comes to the tap through the hot water line (3), to the water outlet (1 1);
caracterizado porque  characterized because
adicionalmente comprende una unidad electrónica (20) asociada al grifo y configurada para comunicarse con la bomba (5), de manera que, a través de dicha unidad electrónica (20), la bomba pueda ser controlada a distancia desde el grifo.  additionally it comprises an electronic unit (20) associated with the tap and configured to communicate with the pump (5), so that, through said electronic unit (20), the pump can be controlled remotely from the tap.
2.- Sistema según la reivindicación 1 , en el que la unidad electrónica (20) está configurada para comunicarse con la bomba por vía inalámbrica. 2. System according to claim 1, wherein the electronic unit (20) is configured to communicate with the pump wirelessly.
3. - Sistema según la reivindicación 2, en el que la unidad electrónica (20) está configurada para comunicarse con la bomba por radiofrecuencia. 3. - System according to claim 2, wherein the electronic unit (20) is configured to communicate with the radio frequency pump.
4. - Sistema según cualquiera de las reivindicaciones anteriores, en el que la unidad electrónica (20) y la bomba (5) están configuradas para que la bomba se ponga en marcha cuando se cumple una serie de condiciones asociadas al estado del grifo. 4. - System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the electronic unit (20) and the pump (5) are configured so that the pump is started when a series of conditions associated with the state of the tap is fulfilled.
5. - Sistema según la reivindicación 4, en el que una primera de dichas condiciones es que la primera válvula (6) esté en dicho primer estado. 5. - System according to claim 4, wherein a first of said conditions is that the first valve (6) is in said first state.
6. - Sistema según la reivindicación 5, en el que el grifo comprende un regular de caudal (9, 9A), siendo una segunda de dichas condiciones que el regulador de caudal esté en un estado abierto. 6. - System according to claim 5, wherein the tap comprises a flow regulator (9, 9A), a second of said conditions being that the flow regulator is in an open state.
7. - Sistema según la reivindicación 6, en el que el grifo adicionalmente comprende un regulador de temperatura (8), siendo una tercera de dichas condiciones que el regulador de temperatura esté en una posición de agua caliente. 7. - System according to claim 6, wherein the tap additionally comprises a temperature regulator (8), a third of said conditions being that the temperature regulator is in a hot water position.
8. - Sistema según la reivindicación 7, en el que la unidad electrónica (20) está asociada a un circuito eléctrico (21 ) que está cerrado únicamente cuando, simultáneamente, 8. - System according to claim 7, wherein the electronic unit (20) is associated with an electrical circuit (21) that is closed only when, simultaneously,
la primera válvula (6) está en dicho primer estado,  the first valve (6) is in said first state,
el regulador de caudal (9, 9A) está en un estado abierto, y  the flow regulator (9, 9A) is in an open state, and
el regulador de temperatura (8) está en una posición de agua caliente.  The temperature regulator (8) is in a hot water position.
9. - Sistema según la reivindicación 7 ó 8, en el que la unidad electrónica (20) y la bomba (5) están configuradas para que la bomba se ponga en marcha cuando, simultáneamente, 9. - System according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the electronic unit (20) and the pump (5) are configured so that the pump is started when, simultaneously,
la primera válvula (6) está en dicho primer estado,  the first valve (6) is in said first state,
el regulador de caudal (9) está en un estado abierto, y  the flow regulator (9) is in an open state, and
el regulador de temperatura (8) está en una posición de agua caliente.  The temperature regulator (8) is in a hot water position.
10. - Sistema según cualquiera de las reivindicaciones 7-9, en el que la unidad electrónica y la bomba están configuradas de manera que, si la bomba está en marcha, la bomba se para si se produce, al menos una de las siguientes situaciones: 10. - System according to any of claims 7-9, wherein the electronic unit and the pump are configured so that, if the pump is running, the pump stops if it occurs, at least one of the following situations :
- la primera válvula (6) se sitúa en dicho segundo estado;  - the first valve (6) is placed in said second state;
- el regulador de caudal (9, 9A) se sitúa en un estado cerrado;  - the flow regulator (9, 9A) is placed in a closed state;
- el regulador de temperatura (8) se sitúa en una posición de agua fría. - the temperature regulator (8) is placed in a cold water position.
1 1 .- Sistema según la reivindicación 5, en el que el grifo comprende un regular de caudal de agua caliente (9A) y un regulador de caudal de agua fría (9B), siendo una segunda de dichas condiciones que el regulador de caudal de agua caliente (9A) esté en un estado abierto. 1 1. System according to claim 5, wherein the tap comprises a regulator of hot water flow (9A) and a regulator of cold water flow (9B), a second of said conditions being that the flow regulator of Hot water (9A) is in an open state.
12.- Sistema según la reivindicación 1 1 , en el que la unidad electrónica (20) está asociada a un circuito eléctrico (21 ) que está cerrado únicamente cuando, simultáneamente, 12. System according to claim 1, wherein the electronic unit (20) is associated with an electrical circuit (21) that is closed only when, simultaneously,
la primera válvula (6) está en dicho primer estado,  the first valve (6) is in said first state,
el regulador de caudal de agua caliente (9A) está en el estado abierto.  The hot water flow regulator (9A) is in the open state.
13. - Sistema según cualquiera de las reivindicaciones anteriores, en el que dicha primera válvula (6) es una termoválvula configurada para adoptar dicho primer estado cuando la temperatura del agua que llega desde el calentador está por debajo de un umbral determinado, y para adoptar dicho segundo estado cuando la temperatura del agua que llega desde el calentador está por encima de dicho umbral determinado. 13. - System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first valve (6) is a thermovalve configured to adopt said first state when the temperature of the water arriving from the heater is below a certain threshold, and to adopt said second state when the temperature of the water arriving from the heater is above said determined threshold.
14. - Sistema según cualquiera de las reivindicaciones anteriores, en el que el grifo adicionalmente comprende una válvula anti-retorno (7) configurada para permitir que agua fluya desde el conducto de agua caliente (3) hacia el conducto de agua fría (2), a través de dicha válvula anti-retorno (7), pero no desde el conducto de agua fría (2) hasta el conducto de agua caliente (3). 14. - System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tap additionally comprises a non-return valve (7) configured to allow water to flow from the hot water line (3) to the cold water line (2) , through said non-return valve (7), but not from the cold water line (2) to the hot water line (3).
15. - Sistema según la reivindicación 14, en el que la válvula anti-retorno (7) está configurada para adoptar, selectivamente, 15. - System according to claim 14, wherein the non-return valve (7) is configured to selectively adopt
un primer estado en el que permite que agua fluya desde el conducto de agua caliente (3) hacia una parte (B) del conducto de agua fría situada más alejada de la salida de agua (1 1 ) pero no hacia otra parte (C) del conducto de agua fría situada más próxima a la salida de agua (1 1 ), y en el que impide que agua fluya desde dicha parte (B) del conducto de agua fría situada más alejada de la salida de agua (1 1 ) hacia dicha parte (C) del conducto de agua fría situada más próxima a la salida de agua (1 1 ); y  a first state in which it allows water to flow from the hot water line (3) to a part (B) of the cold water line located further away from the water outlet (1 1) but not to another part (C) of the cold water line located closest to the water outlet (1 1), and in which it prevents water from flowing from said part (B) of the cold water line located further away from the water outlet (1 1) towards said part (C) of the cold water line located closest to the water outlet (1 1); Y
un segundo estado en el que impide que agua fluya desde del conducto de agua caliente (3) hacia el conducto de agua fría, y en el que permite que agua fluya desde dicha parte (B) del conducto de agua fría situada más alejada de la salida de agua (1 1 ) hacia dicha parte (C) del conducto de agua fría situada más próxima a la salida de agua (1 1 ). a second state in which it prevents water from flowing from the hot water conduit (3) to the cold water conduit, and in which it allows water to flow from said part (B) of the cold water line located furthest from the water outlet (1 1) towards said part (C) of the cold water line located closest to the water outlet (1 1).
16. - Grifo para un sistema de suministro de agua, comprendiendo el grifo: 16. - Tap for a water supply system, including the tap:
una salida (1 1 ) de agua;  a water outlet (1 1);
una entrada de agua fría para recibir agua fría desde un conducto de agua fría (2);  a cold water inlet to receive cold water from a cold water line (2);
una entrada de agua caliente para recibir agua caliente desde un conducto de agua caliente (3);  a hot water inlet to receive hot water from a hot water conduit (3);
al menos una primera válvula (6) configurada para situarse, en función de la temperatura del agua que llega al grifo (1 ) por la entrada de agua caliente, selectivamente en un primer estado para desviar agua que viene por la entrada de agua caliente hacia el conducto de agua fría, o en un segundo estado para desviar agua que viene por la entrada de agua caliente, hacia la salida de agua (1 1 );  at least a first valve (6) configured to be located, depending on the temperature of the water that reaches the tap (1) through the hot water inlet, selectively in a first state to divert water that comes through the hot water inlet to the cold water line, or in a second state to divert water that comes through the hot water inlet, to the water outlet (1 1);
caracterizado porque  characterized because
el grifo adicionalmente comprende una unidad electrónica (20) asociada al grifo y configurada para comunicarse con una bomba (5).  The tap additionally comprises an electronic unit (20) associated with the tap and configured to communicate with a pump (5).
17. - Grifo según la reivindicación 16, en el que la unidad electrónica (20) está configurada para comunicarse con la bomba por radiofrecuencia. 17. - Tap according to claim 16, wherein the electronic unit (20) is configured to communicate with the pump by radiofrequency.
18. - Grifo según la reivindicación 16 ó 17, en el que el grifo comprende un regular de caudal (9) y un regulador de temperatura (8), estando la unidad electrónica (20) asociada a un circuito eléctrico (21 ) que está cerrado únicamente cuando, simultáneamente, la primera válvula (6) está en dicho primer estado, el regulador de caudal (9) está en un estado abierto, y el regulador de temperatura (8) está en una posición de agua caliente. 18. - Tap according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the tap comprises a flow regulator (9) and a temperature regulator (8), the electronic unit (20) being associated with an electrical circuit (21) which is closed only when, simultaneously, the first valve (6) is in said first state, the flow regulator (9) is in an open state, and the temperature regulator (8) is in a hot water position.
PCT/ES2011/070604 2010-09-20 2011-08-26 Water supply system and tap WO2012038568A1 (en)

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ES201031396A ES2378932B1 (en) 2010-09-20 2010-09-20 WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM, AND TAP.

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ES2555499B1 (en) * 2014-05-27 2016-11-30 Métrica6 Ingeniería Y Desarrollos, S.L. WATER SAVING SYSTEM AND OPERATING METHOD OF THE SAME
ES2685218B2 (en) 2017-03-31 2019-05-09 Metrica6 Ingenieria Y Desarrollos S L Domotic control system of a plumbing installation and method of operation to increase the water efficiency of the same.

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