Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E03—WATER SUPPLY; SEWERAGE
  • E03C—DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER; SINKS
  • E03C1/00—Domestic plumbing installations for fresh water or waste water; Sinks

Definitions

• the present invention is directed to the field of the necessities of life and particularly to the field of washing and hygiene. It concerns sanitary installations for body washing, cooking, or other non-sanitary washes, for domestic or non-domestic use, as well as onboard, portable or more generally nomadic washing installations using water.
• the present invention relates specifically to a device for reducing the consumption of drinking water or not of a sanitary or non-sanitary washing apparatus to which it is suitable, such as a bathtub, a shower, a sink, a sink, a tub of non-sanitary washing or any type of washing apparatus provided with a drawing accessory, by reusing a portion of the water already drawn by a so-called recirculation process.
• This device is intended for use of water such as washing or rinsing, in which the role of water is firstly to carry out a prolonged spraying and to drain the washing products.
• the water resulting from this use and flowing to an evacuation typically carries a small proportion of debris or various solid residues, as well as foams, traces of detergents and possibly other liquids mixed in small proportions. Thanks to the filtering and the continuous evacuation of these foreign bodies, it is possible to reuse the same water by circulating it in loop in a continuous way, even if this water is not necessarily drinking anymore in the strict sense of the term. However, it remains sufficiently "clean" for the intended use. Circulation in loop being in semi closed circuit and not strictly closed, a continuous addition of sanitary water in variable proportion allows a regular renewal of the water loop.
• This device can be used in kitchen sinks for washing utensils or rinsing fresh food, as well as in bathrooms in bathtubs and showers, and in basins or sinks used for washing clothes , as well as in any type of non-sanitary wash tray, for example in professional installations.
• This device can also be adapted to nomadic sanitary appliances such as those of recreational vehicles, or portable sanitary appliances, camping or field mission. More generally it can be adapted to any washing apparatus using domestic water or not, in order to achieve a saving of this water.
• Many solutions are known for recycling the consumed drinking water. Some include storage in a tank with purification and / or reheat systems, others are designed to recycle water from the toilet tanks. There are also systems to put inside a shower tray, with suction ⁇ in the bottom of the tank, pumping and rejection by an additional showerhead.
• WO2004 / 101902 discloses a shower water recovery system for reinjecting them into the water supply system of the shower.
• This system consists of a drain and a conduit followed by a valve allowing the direction to the sewers by a conduit or to a recovery conduit.
• This conduit further comprises a pump which directs the recovered water to the shower supply circuit through a filter.
• the system positioned at the outlet of the washing device operates in a closed loop using the valve which makes it possible to direct the flow either towards the evacuation or towards the recycling of the water in the shower supply system.
• the water thus recycled is conveyed to the water supply system of the shower using a pump and passes through filtering means and can also be heated before reintroduction.
• This recycled water can therefore completely replace the feed water, which can however be used to regulate the temperature of the recycled water.
• Water can be completely recycled, the means of filtration are necessary and even essential. Also, it is expected to set up at least filtration means before the pump to prevent fouling. However, these filtration means must also be easily accessible to the user so that it can rinse regularly in non-recycle water mode. Therefore, a water recycling system as described herein involves cleaning constraints for the user to ensure the proper operation of this system.
• the device according to the present invention overcomes these disadvantages. Indeed it is modular, adaptable and integrable to any type of washing machine, and includes a continuous filtration and regulation process which separates the water from all the debris, particles or residues that it transports, as well as mosses floating there.
• the water thus filtered can be immediately recirculated without intermediate storage, by pumping at a pressure close to that of the water supply circuit, and by the effect of a mixer or mixer that combines the recirculation water with additional feedwater.
• Level control is carried out autonomously and continuously so that all non-recirculated water is removed with the debris it carries.
• the commissioning of the recirculation pump is independently controlled to respond to all level, flow and pressure situations during the operating cycle.
• the subject of the invention is a device for saving water by recirculation, integrable with a washing apparatus such as a shower, a sink, a sink, a wash tub or the like, of the type comprising means for connection to the discharge of the washing apparatus, by which the washing waste water is collected, characterized in that it comprises a filtration and regulation vessel comprising at least one water inlet connectable by said connection means at the evacuation of the washing apparatus, at least one evacuation water outlet connectable to at least one waste water pipe and at least one so-called suction water outlet, the vessel further comprising at least one filtration means such as a grid, positioned between the water inlet of the tank and a control chamber defined in said tank, so that the flow of water pouring through the water inlet enters said chamber by pouring on this filter means which separates the waste from the water, the volume of the chamber being determined for generating an excess water flow above said filtering means which discharges the waste retained by said filtering means by overflowing out of said chamber to the at least one discharge outlet while a
• the filtration and regulation vessel contributes to the "filtration” which consists in separating in two the flow of wastewater from the sanitary apparatus, on the one hand a volume of water called “clean", . containing no floating or suspended bodies, which is conveyed to the suction pipe and the recirculation circuit and, on the other hand, a so-called “dirty” water volume causing all the debris and foams, which is conveyed to the pipe wastewater.
• the tank plays a second role which is called “regulation”. It consists of ensuring the continuity and quality of the recirculation loop, by preventing any dirty water or air from being drawn in by the recirculation pump. This regulation is ensured by the overflow principle inside the tank, which guarantees that there is always an excess of discharge water with respect to the recirculation flow.
• the operation of the device is transparent to the user of the sanitary apparatus.
• this user may optionally be able to act at any time on a mixing control (mixer, mixer) to vary at will the proportions of reused water and water renewed, according to its washing activity .
• a mixing control mixer, mixer
• no action of the user is strictly necessary, the recirculation and regulation continuously operating autonomously.
• the present device thus performs a recirculation of the water in semi-closed circuit continuously and completely independently, adaptable to any washing device.
• FIG. 1 shows a general view of an embodiment of the device of the invention on a wash tank.
• FIG. 2 and 3 show two cases of adaptation of the device, respectively to a shower and a sink.
• FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the filtration and control tank.
• the device of the invention comprises, as a first feature, a filtration and regulation vessel (7).
• This tank is connected on the one hand to the evacuation (3) of a sanitary wash or not (1), on the other hand to a suction pipe (10) leading to a recirculation pump (11) , and finally to the sewage pipe (9) of the sanitary installation.
• the filtration and regulation vessel (7) contributes to the "filtration” which consists in separating in two the flow of waste water from the sanitary apparatus, on the one hand a volume of water called “clean”, not containing no floating or suspended bodies, which is conveyed to the suction duct (10), on the other hand a volume of water called “dirty” resulting in all debris and foams, which is conveyed to the water pipe used (9).
• cleaning a volume of water
• dirty not containing no floating or suspended bodies
• the tank (7) plays a second role which is called “regulation”.
• D Ensures the continuity and quality of the recirculation loop by preventing dirty water or air from being drawn in by the recirculation pump. This regulation is ensured by the principle of overflow inside the tank, which guarantees that there is always an excess of discharge water with respect to the recirculation flow, as well as by electrical sensors that can act on control of the recirculation pump in the event of an excessive drop in the level of water in the tank.
• the characteristics of the tank participating in the regulation are defined below.
• the device of the invention then comprises a recirculation pump (11), connected on the side of its inlet to the suction pipe (10) coming from the filtration and regulation vessel (7), and on the side of its outlet a recirculation line (12) leading through a filter one end (15) to the mixing device and draw-off (17) of the sanitary installation.
• the recirculation pump (11) is typically an electropump (not shown) which allows both to put the recirculation pipe (12) under a .
• - 7 - pressure close to the domestic water pressure (typically 3 bar), which ensures a flow of water corresponding to the sanitary appliance used.
• a residential installation on a kitchen sink requires a recirculation flow of the order of 0.5 m3 / hour, or 8 liters / minute, while installation on a bath-shower will require a flow rate up to 1 m3 / hour, or about 16 liters / minute.
• an installation in a recreational vehicle or portable shower will have a flow rate lower than 0.5 m3 / hour under a pressure not exceeding 1 bar.
• the recirculation pump is not necessarily an electric pump. According to various embodiments, it may be a pump using another source of energy, or a mechanical or manual pump.
• the start-up and shutdown of the pump are controlled by the level and flow of water at the filtering and regulating vessel (7), via one or more sensors (not shown) preferably electric or electronic and a control circuit (not shown) electrical or electronic, without assistance of the user of the sanitary apparatus.
• the device may include a manual general power switch.
• the following component of the device of the invention is an additional filtration means such as a fine filter (15) installed on the recirculation line (12) upstream of the mixing and drawing device (17). Its role is to protect the proper functioning of mixers and sanitary mixers used for the drawing (17), by retaining the smallest particles that could have been sucked into the recirculation circuit (12) despite the filtration means such as filters , the grids of the filtration tank (7).
• This fine filter (15) is directly accessible to the user and removable without tools, to allow inspection and periodic cleaning.
• FIG. 2 shows the fine filter (15) installed under a shower mixer (17)
• FIG. 3 shows the fine filter (15) installed under the sink (2) facing the door. access.
• the fine filter (15) could be mounted in any other way or possibly removed if the mode of use and the characteristics of the drawers do not require the protection provided by its use.
• the device of the invention comprises a mixing and drawing device (17) for adjustably mixing the recirculating water and cold and hot sanitary water (13) of the sanitary installation.
• This feature allows the user to control the flow of water and its temperature in a conventional manner, as well as to vary if desired the proportion of recirculation water with respect to sanitary water.
• the user of the washing apparatus can thus actuate the mixer control if necessary to vary the recirculation proportion at will.
• the small volume of the filtration tank allows a fast and continuous renewal of the water without excessive consumption.
• the mixing and drawing device (17) consists of a one-piece mixer-mixer with three inputs making it possible to jointly mix the three streams.
• This block comprises one or more control levers or valves to act on each flow. It may possibly be of the so-called "thermostatic" type, the proportion of cold and hot water being adjusted by an internal mechanism.
• hot water and cold water (13) are mixed in a first mixer or mixer (14), and the resulting warm water (16) is then mixed with the flow of water. recirculation water in a second mixer or mixer with two inputs (17) from which the water (18) taken from (19) taken by the user of the sanitary appliance is taken.
• This embodiment allows two types of use, ie an adaptation of the invention to the design of sanitary appliances in which the different controls are clearly separated from each other, or an adaptation to a sanitary device simplified use such as a public shower, or other for which the proportion of recirculation water would be fixed.
• hot and cold water are mixed in a first mixer or mixer, while a single separate tap regulates the flow of recirculating water.
• the two streams of warm water and recirculation are then grouped together by a pipe connection.
• the filtration and regulation vessel (7) comprises a number of internal components responsible for providing the different functions of the vessel.
• the first of these functions is to filter the water coming from the evacuation (3) of the sanitary apparatus.
• the water enters the filtration and regulation vessel (7) via the conduit connection (6) and discharges onto a first filtration means such as a main gate (21).
• the main grid (21) is responsible for retaining all floating waste and significant size, such as hair and hair, textile fibers, vegetable debris and food.
• the water passes through the gate (21) and fills a so-called regulating chamber (23) formed under said grid (21).
• the zone (23) located under the main grid (21) of the filtration tank and called “regulation” chamber also constitutes a “settling chamber”.
• This completely filled settling chamber (23) is dimensioned so that a flow of water is in excess above but in addition the water stays there a sufficient time to allow the settling of heavy debris on the inclined bottom (24) before the water is sucked back through the orifice or suction outlet (26) opening into said control chamber.
• this settling time can be of the order of ten seconds, which corresponds to a settling volume of the order of one liter of water.
• the bottom of the settling chamber consists of an inclined plate (24) to progressively slide the heavy debris, the lower part of the plate (24) being opposite to the at least one suction outlet ( 26) with a view to their evacuation, preferably to a low separation aperture (27) sufficiently remote from the suction port (26) for the debris to congregate therein and to be progressively driven by the overflow water flow (29).
• Another filtration means such as a fine suction grille (25) is arranged in front of each suction orifice or outlet (26). Its function is to retain heavy particles that would be sucked before having had time to settle at the bottom of the tank.
• the regulating function of the filtration and control vessel (7) is ensured by the arrangement of the control bar (22) and by the overflow reserve space (30) left free above the bar. Indeed, the control bar (22) determines the constant water volume of the control chamber in the tank (7) necessary for the operation of the recirculation circuit, regardless of the rate of recirculation. All the flow of water entering the tank (7), which is in excess of the recirculation flow, is thus evacuated over the regulation bar by means of the overflow reserve.
• the user of the sanitary appliance can go to completely close the flow of recirculation water, in which case the entire flow of water entering the tank will be evacuated by the overflow.
• the recirculation circuit produced by the device of the invention is said to be "semi-closed" because only part of the water used is captured in the recirculation circuit while another part is evacuated.
• This regulation is continuous and autonomous since it is carried out continuously by hydrodynamic devices independently of any action of the user.
• FIG. 4 represents by way of example an embodiment of the filtration and regulation vessel (7).
• many variations of embodiment are possible depending on the particular application of the device of the invention, depending on the nature of the appliance to which the device is associated, or depending on the quality of the water and the use that is made of it. All of these variations fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.
• the position, shape and number of the filtering grids as filtering means may vary to suit the characteristics of the drainage water, as a result of the use of the sanitary equipment.
• the inclined bottom and the low separation port may be omitted if they are not necessary to separate and discharge heavy waste.
• the general geometry of the filtration and regulation vessel as shown in FIG. 4 can vary according to particular embodiments, so as to be adapted to the environment of integration with the sanitary apparatus, as to allow a volume of settling chamber more or less important to match the desired recirculation flow.
• a flat shape of thin thickness as shown in Figure 2 is particularly suitable for installation under a shower tray, while a rather vertical shape, high and small width, will be better suited to the installation against the wall that supports a sink.
• the filtration tank may have two or more inlet ducts (6), to be adapted for example to a sink with several tanks.
• the filtering and regulating tank (7) may comprise a plurality of suction orifices (26) and a plurality of suction lines (10) in order to allow a large recirculation flow rate.
• the relative position of the inlet pipe (6), the discharge pipe (8) and the suction port (26) can vary so that the geometry of the tank of filtration is adapted to any type of sanitary appliance, as illustrated by Figures 2 and 3.
• the filtration and regulation vessel (7) can integrate the siphon (4) of the sanitary appliance, as shown in FIG. 3.
• the evacuation (3) of the sanitary device is then connected directly to the inlet (6) of the tank (7), which then contains a siphon (4) integrated either on the side of its inlet or its outlet, and the outlet of the tank is then connected to (8 ) to the evacuation (9) of the appliance health.
• a siphon (4) integrated either on the side of its inlet or its outlet
• the siphon (4) may be located between the outlet of the tank (7) and the evacuation (9) of the installation, rather than the side of the inlet of the tank as illustrated.
• the recirculation pump (11) is preferably electrically controlled via a control circuit (not shown) which controls its switching on and off.
• This control is performed by a preferably electronic housing connected to level or flow rate sensors inserted into the filtration and regulation vessel (7). These sensors allow the control circuit to follow the cycle of use of the sanitary appliance as well as the circulation and the level of the water in the tank.
• the pump is turned on to provide pressurized recirculating water. If during the cycle the user operates the mixing and drawing device (17) so as to close the recirculation flow, the pump remains energized to maintain the recirculation pressure.
• a delay system may be added to cause the pump to stop if no recirculation flow has been made for a given period of time. This can happen if the user of the sanitary installation wishes to use it in a conventional way, without recirculation.
• the water inlet into the tank (7) gradually stops, the level of the water in the tank begins to go down which controls the stop of the pump.
• the tank then ends to empty slowly by gravity. If in use the water level suddenly falls in the filter tank, it causes the pump to stop until the water level in the tank is raised to the overflow level.
• the electronic control circuit thus takes care of the different foreseeable situations.
• the automatic control circuit of the pump can be amply simplified or even eliminated, the user then having the task of activating the recirculation device himself when he wish.
• the control circuit as well as the sensor system can be improved in order to provide a greater level of user comfort.
• the electrical functions can be protected by a general power switch as well as by various electrical protection equipment made necessary by the humid environment as well as by local regulations on insulation and electrical safety that may be required. apply to the intended use.
• a first area of non-domestic adaptation concerns sanitary equipment embedded in land, sea or air vehicles. Examples include caravans and motorhomes, coaches with showers and sinks, commercial trains and aircraft, pleasure boats. These environments are technically characterized on the one hand by the rationing of water, sometimes by the quota of the volume of waste, as well as by resource constraints: the sanitary water supply circuit is at low pressure (approximately 1 bar ), the pipe diameters are reduced, the power supply is at reduced voltage and the available electrical power is low. In addition, these environments are heavily confined which forces to reduce as much as possible the clutter of any equipment. Therefore, the adaptation of the device of the invention to embedded environments will result in specific embodiments, by reduced dimensioning, by different positioning of the components relative to each other. Several of these embodiments are described below.
• the components of the device of the invention described above can be associated in a partially or totally monobloc construction, rather than constituting physically distinct elements as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.
• the pump and the filter tank can be physically associated in a common construction that also integrates the suction duct, which may not be a pipe but rather as a channel or a passage between two areas of construction.
• the fine filter can be integrated in the construction of the pump or the mixing device of the recirculating water with water, sanitary or not.
• the components of the device of the invention can be integrated partially or completely into the construction of the sanitary apparatus itself.
• the filtration tank may be of common construction with the bottom of a sink, the assembly being molded in one piece.
• the device can be integrated by construction to the washing apparatus (1) or it can be integrated with an existing washing apparatus. And the same for all the components of the device. All of these variations fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.
• the above-described components of the present invention may consist of different materials affecting their general shape and their relative disposition.
• the different pipes and fittings can be made of rigid or flexible materials, attached to each other by non-detailed fastening accessories.
• the fixing of the water pipes to the recirculation pump and the material of these pipes can be chosen to damp the vibrations of the pump.
• the filtration and regulation vessel may also be of rigid or flexible construction. All of these variations fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.
• a second non-domestic adaptation area relates to removable and / or portable sanitary equipment.
• individual or collective camping equipment, temporary camp installation equipment, mission or emergency equipment are characterized by the absolute search of lightness as well as by their need to be robust, dismountable and reassemblable easily and quickly.
• the availability of resources is very particular. The water does not come from a supply network but is collected and made available in a tank or container. Electrical energy comes from generators or vehicle batteries. Consequently, the adaptation of the device of the invention to portable uses will result in specific embodiments, by particular material choices, by reduced size and by removable and reassemblable construction methods. Several of these embodiments are described below.
• the various components of the device of the invention can be disconnectable from each other in order to make the device partially or completely removable.
• the connections between the components can be made by interlocking, by screwed or clip-type fasteners or by any type of temporary or removable fastening.
• the components can be interconnected by any means removable or definitive (nesting, screwing, gluing, etc.).
• the filtration and regulation vessel (7) can be provided with an inlet orifice positioned on its upper face and connected directly to a water collecting component (2) of the sanitary installation, in the complete absence of siphon. Its outlet can be provided to pour directly on the ground in the absence of drainage pipe of the sanitary installation.
• the recirculation pump (11) may consist of a hand pump or foot pump or any water pumping device suitable for nomadic situations.
• the electrical control circuit of the pump may be totally non-existent.
• the device for mixing and drawing (17) the recirculation water with the feedwater may consist of a simple connection of water pipes, possibly provided with rudimentary valves.
• the fine filter (15) can be completely deleted.
• the filtration and regulation vessel (7) can be made using a partially or totally flexible envelope, possibly rigidified by an internal structure.
• the tank can be designed to fold partially or completely, the various internal components articulating with each other to position themselves flat on one another in the folded position. All of these variations fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Hydrology & Water Resources (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Filtration Of Liquid (AREA)
• Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
• Domestic Plumbing Installations (AREA)

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• 2006
  • 2006-10-13 FR FR0608979A patent/FR2907145B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2007
  • 2007-10-12 EP EP07858436A patent/EP2087179A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-10-12 WO PCT/FR2007/001673 patent/WO2008046992A2/fr not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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