ES1240279U - WATER SAVING SHOWER DEVICE (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Water-saving shower device (1) of the type comprising: - a shower head (2) with its corresponding faucet (20), - a drain (3) arranged in the shower or bathtub; - a water accumulator connected to the drain (3), - a filtration module (5) to retain the impurities of the water coming from the shower prior to its accumulation, arranged in a first conduit (6) that is communicating the drain (3) with the accumulator, and - a second line (12) that is communicating the accumulator with the shower head (2); characterized in that: - the accumulator comprises the tank (4) of a toilet; - further comprising, at least, a first drive pump (7) arranged in the first line (6) to give the water from the shower enough charge to pass through the filtration module (5) and reach the accumulator (4) or to the sprayer (2), and understanding - a controller (8) that is connected to the first pump (7) for commissioning during the shower. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

WATER SAVING SHOWER DEVICE

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shower device with water saving.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, the usual thing when taking a shower is that the water used is lost when the drain is connected (either from a bathtub or from a shower) to the sanitation, and this to the sewer, giving it a single use and consequently and over time, unnecessarily consuming such a precious resource.

To try to alleviate this problem, patent ES2573305 is known, for example, from document PCT / SE2012 / 051430, which describes a device for purifying and recycling shower water which, based on the teaching of other patent documents (US2011225722, US2011225722, US 20110146800, US20100237021, SE469413) describing devices for recycling and water filtration in shower systems, claims a shower that is adapted to function as a recirculation shower with water purification, and also as a normal shower; wherein said device comprises a loop of recirculation of the shower water from the drain to the sprinkler and reusing it, for which it comprises:

-a filter module with a prefilter and a nanofilter, with at least one filter quality sensor adapted to indicate that the filtrate is operating as desired;

-at least one water quality sensor;

-a modified drain to collect the water used and lead it towards the recirculation loop and the filter system, so that the water can be purified and recirculated, or towards the drain; where the device can operate in a recirculation mode that provides water purification and recirculation, until it reaches a predetermined maximum level of contaminants, until one of the sensors detects poor water or filtrate quality and then redirects to the drain and is rejected.

This document also cites the possibility that the water recirculation loop comprises a lung-like tank, to store the water and function as a pressure regulator or equalizer, so that the reasonably constant pressure can be maintained throughout the device.

That is, devices of said water-saving blister are therefore known which comprise: a shower head with its corresponding faucet,

-a drain disposed in a shower or bathtub;

-a water accumulator (the reservoir) connected to the drain in order to accumulate the shower water,

-a filter to retain the impurities of the water coming from the shower prior to its accumulation, arranged in a first line that is communicating the drain with the accumulator, and

-a second conduit that is communicating the accumulator with the shower head, to generate a recirculation loop or reuse of filtered shower water.

This configuration, however, has the following drawbacks:

- it does not allow to give an additional life to the water once it has been contaminated in excess, since it throws it into the sanitation,

-does not estimate or account for reused water,

-does not choose whether to shower with running or recirculated water,

-The filtering system is complicated.

In addition, the quality system control is of a complicated nature, and requires the extra installation of an accumulation tank.

These drawbacks are solved with the use of the device of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The water-saving shower device of the invention is of the type comprising:

-a shower head with its corresponding faucet, which can be provided with a flow reducer if necessary,

-a drain disposed in the shower or bathtub;

-a water accumulator connected to the drain in order to accumulate the water from the shower, and to the sprayer to allow the accumulated water to escape, configuring a loop of reuse of the water from the shower in continuous,

-a water filtration module from the shower, prior to its accumulation, arranged in a first line that is communicating the drain with the accumulator, to retain the impurities, and

-a second conduit that is communicating the accumulator with the shower head, to generate a recirculation loop or reuse of filtered shower water, where, according to the invention:

-the accumulator comprises the tank of a toilet (usually that of the corresponding bathroom), and that allows it to function as a lung or water supply complementary to that coming from the filter, if it is insufficient (for example by progressive clogging of the latter);

- further understanding, at least, a first drive pump arranged in the first line to give the water from the shower enough charge to pass through the filter and reach the accumulator or the sprayer,

-and comprising a controller that is connected to the first pump for operation during the shower.

The controller, in addition to allowing the user to use the shower, allows the control of parameters such as temperature or flow, and can provide data such as the consumption saved. He will be in charge of controlling the opening and closing of valves and the regulation of the pumps for the correct operation of the present invention.

It must be said that the filtration module can be composed of a nanofiltration and / or ultrafiltration stage, and that it will initially be accompanied by another filtering system for the elimination of odor and taste, as well as a first stage of prefiltering.

In this way, the advantage of giving an additional life to the water is obtained once it has no quality - after successive filtration - for use in the shower, being then used in the conventional discharge of the cistern, and also as an additional advantage it comprises the use as an accumulator of an existing tank in any bathroom, such as a toilet cistern.

It is necessary to indicate, that in no case will the user's shower experience be impaired, since the necessary flow will be guaranteed at all times to do so. In addition, it facilitates the replacement of the filters by the user in a simple way, since preferably by having a flowmeter that counts the maximum flow produced by the clogging of the filter, then the need to replace the filter is indicated. There may also be an additional quality control element, but the good point of the device of the invention is that, as water is spent on Very frequently in the toilet, there will almost never be water with poor quality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a first variant of the device of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a second variant of the device of the invention.

Figure 3 shows an enlarged detail of the variant tank of Figure 2.

DESCRIPTION OF A PRACTICAL EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The water-saving shower device (1) of the invention is of the type they comprise (see figs. 1 and 2):

-a shower head (2) with its corresponding faucet (20),

-a drain (3) arranged in the shower or bathtub;

-a water accumulator connected to the drain (3) in order to accumulate the shower water and give it a second life,

- a filtration module (5) to retain the impurities of the water coming from the shower prior to its accumulation, arranged in a first conduit (6) that is communicating the drain (3) with the accumulator, and

-a second conduit (12) that is communicating the accumulator with the shower head (2), where according to the invention:

The accumulator comprises the cistern (4) of a corresponding bathroom toilet, - also comprising, at least, a first drive pump (7) arranged in the first line (6) to give the water from the shower sufficient load to pass through the filtration module (5) and reach the accumulator or sprayer (2), and comprising

-a controller (8) that is connected to the first pump (7) for operation during the shower.

Preferably, the toilet cistern (4) has a first filling level controller (41) (see fig 3) for discharge (for about 3 liters, for example a conventional buoy system, or a solenoid valve and level sensor system ) and a second maximum level controller (42) associated with a selector valve (9) (preferably electrically operated through the controller (8)) arranged in the first line (6), to derive the flow of water from the drain (3) of the shower to the sanitation network When it is completely full. Thus, it is selected between recirculation to the shower / cistern or the discharge of water directly to the sanitation as seen in Figures 1 and 2. This allows segregating the operation of the cistern as such, from its function as a lung for recirculation of water filtered shower In addition, the tank (4) can comprise a branch for maximum filling (43) (return to fig 3), which is connected to the water network (100) and comprises an electrovalve (44) associated with the second level controller ( 42) maximum to allow maximum filling with mains water if necessary.

Ideally, the device (1) comprises a second pump (14) associated with a flow meter (15), and arranged in the second conduit (12), to start operating when the flow in demand falls below a minimum, and for Quantify the recirculated water. This also allows quantifying the water that has been reused.

The device also preferably comprises a water quality sensor (11) (see figs 1 and 2), which is arranged anywhere after the filtration module (5) and associated with the pump (14) (preferably through of the controller (8)) as an additional control. However, whenever the user makes a discharge from the tank, the accumulated water is spent, either clean, used in the shower (filtered), or a mixture of both. In fact, this is one of the most positive aspects of the invention, since it is avoided having retained water of second uses (even if it is filtered). Therefore, the water will always have quality, and when the filter gets clogged, the flow rate will be reduced and the pressure reduced, and the filter will have to be replaced. But in any case, this will be determined preferably by the flowmeter. Therefore, the quality sensor (11) will be, if so determined, how a control measure in case there is any anomaly before the flowmeter indicates the replacement of the filter. The quality sensor may be located next to the filtration module (5), and be a pressure gauge or a pressure switch or other elements. In the event of an anomaly, the user can take a shower with running water through the selector (101) also governed by the controller (8).

In addition, the possible arrangement in the second conduit (12), and preferably, of an instantaneous flow heater (16) or similar heater, for raising the temperature of the water from the tank (4) is provided ) and adapt it to the one needed to take a shower.

Additionally, the invention comprises the provision of a bypass (17) (see fig 2) between the first line (6) and the second line (12), with the corresponding solenoid valve (19), which prevents the passage of water recirculated through the tank (4) in case of exclusive recirculation through the shower, which will be the case when the shower faucet is open, at which time it can even be supplied from the tank (4) if the filtration module ( 5) it does not supply the filtration and recirculation.

Finally, indicate that the filtration module (5) ideally comprises a prefilter (50) and a main filter (51). The main filter (51) deals with a module of nanofiltration and / or ultrafiltration, which will preferably be made of ceramic or polymeric material, and will be in charge without the need of a chemical treatment, of the removal of organic and inorganic matter at very reduced scale to guarantee the necessary quality for human consumption. The prefilter (50) will serve for the retention of hair, sands and other larger elements and thus avoid the rapid clogging of the filter. Likewise, the elimination of smell and taste can also be carried out thanks to the use of a module preferably of active carbon, not shown, for the elimination of smell and taste, if not previously guaranteed.

The selector valve (9) can be arranged at the mains outlet of the siphon canister (99) of the toilet, which is arranged in the first conduit (6). This allows the device to be adapted in existing toilets. This variant is shown in fig 1. At the entrance of the siphon canister (99) additional sanitary gray water toilets are connected, such as the washbasin or the bidet (this configuration is not shown in the figures), so that the water that enters the recovery cycle is even greater, and allows a better achievement of the main objective of the invention: water saving.

Alternatively to the above (see fig. 2), the selector valve (9) may comprise a three-way valve disposed in the first conduit (6), at the exit of which a siphon canister (99) is disposed towards sanitation. as odor closure. Likewise, additional gray water toilets can be connected to the selector valve (9), as in the previous case, for the same purpose (variant not shown in the figures).

Indicate that the faucet (20) is adapted to receive the water branches of the device (cold, hot and recirculation), as seen in the figures. In addition, a siphon canister (99) is ideally arranged at the outlet towards the cleaning of the selector valve (9).

Describing sufficiently the nature of the invention, as well as the manner in which it is carried out in practice, it should be noted that the provisions indicated above and represented in the attached drawings are subject to modifications in detail as long as they do not alter the fundamental principle.

Claims (14)

1. -Water-saving shower device (1) of the type comprising: -a shower head (2) with its corresponding faucet (20), -a drain (3) arranged in the shower or bathtub; -a water accumulator connected to the drain (3), - a filtration module (5) to retain the impurities of the water coming from the shower prior to its accumulation, arranged in a first conduit (6) that is communicating the drain (3) with the accumulator, and -a second conduit (12) that is communicating the accumulator with the shower head (2); characterized by: - the accumulator comprises the tank (4) of a toilet; - also comprising, at least, a first drive pump (7) arranged in the first conduit (6) to give the water from the shower enough charge to pass through the filtration module (5) and reach the accumulator (4) or to the sprayer (2), and understanding -a controller (8) that is connected to the first pump (7) for operation during the shower. 2. - Water-saving shower device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the toilet cistern (4) has a first discharge filling level controller (41) and a second maximum level controller (42) associated with a selector valve (9) arranged in the first line (6), to derive the flow of water from the drain (3) of the shower to the sanitation network (10) when it is completely full. 3. - Water-saving shower device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tank (4) comprises a branch for maximum filling (43) that is connected to the water network (100) and comprises a solenoid valve (44) associated with the second maximum level controller (42) to allow maximum filling with mains water. 4. The device (1) water-saving shower according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a second pump (14) disposed in the second conduit (12) and associated with a flowmeter (15). 5. Device (1) water-saving shower according to claim 4, comprising a sensor quality water (11) associated with the second pump (14) disposed downstream of the module of filtration (5) and associated with the selector valve (9) to derive water to the sanitation network in case the quality after filtering does not reach minimum levels. 6. - Water-saving shower device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second conduit (12) comprises an instantaneous water flow heater (16). 7. The device (1) water-saving shower according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a bypass (17) disposed between the first line (6) and the second conduit (12). 8. - Water-saving shower device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the filtration module (5) comprises a prefilter (50) and a main filter (51). 9. - Water-saving shower device (1) according to claim 8, wherein the main filter (51) comprises a nanofiltration and / or ultrafiltration module of ceramic or polymeric material. 10. - Water-saving shower device (1) according to any of claims 8 or 9, wherein the filtration module (5) comprises an odor and taste elimination filter. 11. - Water-saving shower device (1) according to any of claims 2 to 10, wherein the selector valve (9) is disposed at the mains outlet of the siphon canister (99) of the toilet, which is arranged in the first driving (6). 12. - Water-saving shower device (1) according to claim 11, wherein additional gray water toilets are connected to the entrance of the siphon canister (99). 13. -Water-saving shower device (1) according to any of claims 2 to 10 wherein the selector valve (9) comprises a three-way valve arranged in the first conduit (6), at the exit of which towards the sanitation is arranged a siphonic boat (99). 14.-Water-saving shower device (1) according to claim 13, wherein the valve selector (9) additional gray water toilets are connected to the bathroom.