GB2545399A

GB2545399A - Recirculating shower system

Info

Publication number: GB2545399A
Application number: GB1521676.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Cassels Alexander
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-12-09
Filing date: 2015-12-09
Publication date: 2017-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2035-12-09
Also published as: GB201521676D0; GB2545399B

Abstract

Recirculating shower system for installation in a vehicle, such as a lorry/truck, which comprises a shower cabinet 105, an upper water storage tank, from which water is drawn, a filter 108 for filtering used shower water, a first pump 109 for pumping filtered water into the water storage tank and a battery unit 102, 103 configured to power the first pump, the battery unit being rechargeable by a vehicle engine. The system may comprise a shower head 115 and a second pump 111 for delivering water from the storage tank to the shower head. The battery unit might comprise a second battery cell 104, configured to power the second pump. The filer unit may include separately replaceable coarse and fine filters. The cabinet may comprise a folding sink unit (206, Fig. 2) mounted to an internal wall. A water heater may be comprised within the water storage tank.

Description

Recirculating Shower System

Technical Field

The present invention relates to recirculating shower systems, and in particular, but not exclusively, recirculating shower systems adapted to be installed in vehicles such as long distance haulage lorries.

Background

Drivers of particular vehicles may find it difficult to reach fixed facilities to have a shower. As a result, it is desirable in some situations to fit particular types of vehicles with small portable showers. However, showers require a large amount of energy to heat the shower water and supply sufficient water pressure to provide an acceptable shower. Further, carrying sufficient water for more than one use of the shower can be impractical. Known solutions, for example used with certain camper vans and caravans, involve connecting a portable shower system to an external power supply for heating and providing pressure, and to an external fresh water supply and a waste water outlet.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a recirculating shower system for installation in a vehicle, comprising: a shower cabinet; a water storage tank, from which water is drawn to shower a user; a filter for filtering used shower water; a first pump for pumping filtered water into the water storage tank; and a battery unit configured to power the first pump, the battery unit being rechargeable by a vehicle engine.

The present invention recognises that certain types of vehicle may be used in a way which makes access to external supplies of water and electricity difficult, but are also used in a way in which regular and extended charging of a battery unit by the vehicle engine occurs. As a result, a recirculating type shower can be used, which is battery driven. This system would not be necessary or possible in a camper van for example, since such a vehicle is regularly hooked up to a mains electricity supply at a campsite (where water is also readily available), and similarly such a vehicle tends to be undriven for extended periods, making the use of batteries unviable. In contrast, a long distance haulage lorry (or similar vehicle) tends to stop at service stations, where electric hook ups and water tend not to be available, but is regularly on the road (with the engine running) for extended periods, resulting in batteries being regularly topped up.

The shower system may comprise a shower head and a second pump for pumping water from the water storage tank through the shower head into the shower cabinet, wherein the battery unit is configured to power the second pump.

The battery unit may comprise two battery cells, at least one battery cell being provided by a rechargeable leisure battery.

The filter may be provided by a fish tank filter. The filter may comprise a coarse filter and a fine filter, the coarse filter and the fine filter being separately replaceable. A sink unit may be mounted to an internal wall of the shower cabinet. The sink unit may comprise a tap which draws water from the water storage tank. The sink unit may be a folding sink unit. A water heater may be mounted within the water storage tank, the battery unit being configured to power the water heater. A drain valve may be provided, for causing water to be released from the cabinet and out of the system to empty the water storage tank. The water storage tank may be replenished with water by directing water into a base of the cabinet to be pumped into the storage tank by the first pump.

The battery unit may be further configured to be charged by solar panels.

Preferably, the recirculating shower system is fitted into the cab of a lorry. In this case, if solar panels are provided these may be mounted on the roof of the cab of the lorry. The cabinet may be mounted behind a seat within the cab, and a splash board may be mounted to the seat, and moveable with the seat between a stowed position in which it extends back into the shower cabinet and a use position in which it inhibits the escape of water from the shower cabinet.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings where like parts are provided with corresponding reference numerals and in which:

Figure 1 provides a schematic diagram of a shower system in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, and

Figure 2 provides a schematic diagram depicting a shower system installed within the cab of vehicle such as a lorry.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 provides a schematic diagram of a shower system 101 in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention. The shower system 101 is particularly appropriate for use in certain settings such as installed in vehicles that spend long periods of time with an engine running, for example haulage vehicles (lorries).

The system 101 includes a battery unit 102 that includes a plurality of recharagble battery cells 103, 104. The battery unit 102 is charged via a charging mechanism (not shown) connectable to an engine (not shown) of a vehicle (for example a lorry). In this way, the battery cells 103, 104 of the battery unit 102 are charged when the engine of the vehicle is running. If the system 101 is installed in a vehicle the engine of which is running for long periods of time, the battery cells 103, 104 will be frequently charged. The battery cells 103, 104 can be provided by any suitable means including so-called “leisure batteries” which, as is known in the art, are batteries specifically designed to be charged from a vehicle engine and specifically designed to provide an electrical output for powering user equipment such as heaters, small cookers, small fridges and so on.

The system includes a shower cabinet 105 within which a person to be showered stands or sits. Water from the shower unit is drained from the shower cabinet 105 via a drain conduit 106 from a base/tray of the shower cabinet into a filtration tank 107. The filtration tank 107 contains a filter 108.

The filter 108 can be provided by any suitable arrangement that can substantially filter used shower water. In certain embodiments this can be provided by a preliminary coarse particle filter and a secondary fine particle filter. Such filters are known for use in other applications, for example cleaning water in fish tanks.

Typically such filters are replaceable. For example, during a period of normal use, such a filter might need replacing after two to three weeks of normal use. Moreover, it has been found that the coarse filter may need to be replaced less frequently that the fine filter, and so the coarse and fine filters are in the present embodiments separately replaceable. Filtered water enters the filtration tank 107 and is then pumped to header tank 108 by a first pump 109 via a pipe 110. The first pump 109 is powered by the battery unit 102.

The header tank 108 includes a water heater 112 mounted within the tank 108 and powered by the battery unit 102. The water heater 112 is controlled by a first manual controller 113 by means of which a user can turn the water heater 112 on and off and, in certain examples, allowing a user to set the temperature to which the water is heated.

The header tank further includes a second pump 111, powered by the battery unit 102. The second pump 111 pumps heated water into the shower cabinet 105 through a shower head 115. The shower head 115 is positioned such that heated water can be directed onto a user in the shower cabinet 105 and as is known in the art, any suitable shower arrangement can be used to achieve this. In certain embodiments the shower head 115 is attached via a flexible hose (not shown). In other embodiments the shower head 115 is pivotable about a fixed point to direct a flow of shower water.

The second pump is controlled by a second manual control 114 by means of which a user can turn the pump 111 on and off. In certain examples, the second manual control 114 may provide further controls, for example enabling a user to select a water pressure setting.

It can thus be appreciated that the shower system 101 described with reference to Figure 1 provides a system in which a shower can be provided in an environment where it would inconvenient or impossible to find fresh water to replenish the shower, and in which access to an external power source is not available.

The shower system 101 explained with reference to Figure 1 finds particular application in settings where a shower is likely to be used relatively infrequently (e.g. no more than once or twice a day) and where there is a ready supply of energy to recharge the batteries. Such settings include haulage lorries which are typically continuously operated for long periods of time and during such periods of time it might typically be inconvenient or impossible to find fresh water to replenish the shower. Further, a haulage lorry might typically only have a single driver therefore the use of the shower would be expected to be infrequent. Further still, as the shower system is only likely to be used by a single person (e.g. the driver of the lorry), whereas it might normally be undesirable for hygiene reasons to use recycled water in a shower (even if filtered), this is less of a concern if the shower is only to be used by a single person.

Further adaptations can be made to the shower system described with reference to Figure 1.

In certain embodiments, a connection to solar panels is added to the battery unit to further supplement charging energy provided by an engine. This could be particularly useful if additional energy from an engine is temporarily unavailable, for example if a haulage lorry is parked for a period of time or the engine is switched off due to a prolonged stationary traffic jam.

In certain embodiments, the shower system is adapted to include further elements for example a foldable sink unit. The sink unit can be adapted to catch water from the shower head if the shower head is in a fixed position. The sink can be more directly filled by the shower head if the shower head is connected via a flexible hose as discussed above, or the sink may be provided with a tap which is plumbed to draw water from the tank 108.

In certain embodiments, the shower system is adapted to integrate into particular cab configurations of particular vehicles. For example, the shower cabinet can be positioned behind a driver’s seat in a cab and a splash board mounted on the back of the seat to protect the seat from water from water from the shower unit when in use.

Eventually the recirculated water from the tank 108 needs to be replaced. In order to achieve this, a drain valve (not shown) can be opened which releases water from either the filtration tank 107, or from the drain conduit 106 (which in this example could for example be implemented as a two-way valve which in one position causes water received in the base/tray of the cabinet to be conveyed to the filtration tank 107 and in another position causes water received in the base/tray of the cabinet to be released from the system, and from the vehicle, for example onto the ground beneath the vehicle). In order that the water within the tank 108 is released in this way, the second pump 111 is switched on to drive water out of the header tank 109 and into the base/tray of the cabinet 105. In an alternative embodiment, a release valve could be provided from the header tank 109 into the cabinet 105, relying on gravity to cause water from the tank to drain into the cabinet 105, rather than relying on the pump 111. It will be appreciated that the water released in this way has been mostly filtered, and thus is “grey water” which can be safely released directly onto the ground rather than requiring disposal down a drain.

Once used water has been released, it is necessary to refill the tank 108 with fresh water. The configuration provided allows this to be easily achieved simply by directing water into the base/tray of the cabinet 105 (for example using a hosepipe, or from a water container), and switching on the first pump 109. The water directed into the base/tray of the cabinet 105 will pass through the drainage conduit 106, into the filtration tank and will be driven by the first pump 109 through the pipe 110 and into the header tank 108. In this way there is no need to provide a separate filling mechanism for the header tank 108. In other words, the first pump 109 has a dual purpose of both recirculating filtered water into the tank 108, and also replenishing the tank 108 with fresh water directed into the base/tray of the cabinet 105.

Similarly, the second pump 111 may have a dual purpose of both directing water through a shower head and onto a user, and also emptying the tank 108 of used water prior to it being replenished with fresh water.

The shower system includes a shower head 201, drainage tray 202 leading to a filtration tank (not shown). The shower system is positioned behind a driver’s seat 203 and a protective shower curtain 204 provided to limit water escaping an open side of the shower cabinet. A control unit 205 includes a water heater and header tank control. A foldable sink 206 is provided. A splash board 207 is mounted to the rear of the seat 203. When the seat 203 is pushed back into a driving position, the splash board 207 extends into the shower unit, out of the way. When the seat 203 is pushed forwards, the splash board 207 is provided in the position shown in Figure 2, to inhibit shower water from splashing the rear of the seat 203 and/or escaping from the shower cabinet.

Claims

1. A recirculating shower system for installation in a vehicle, comprising: a shower cabinet; a water storage tank, from which water is drawn to shower a user; a filter for filtering used shower water; a first pump for pumping filtered water into the water storage tank; and a battery unit configured to power the first pump, the battery unit being rechargeable by a vehicle engine.

2. A recirculating shower system according to claim 1, further comprising a shower head and a second pump for pumping water from the water storage tank through the shower head into the shower cabinet, wherein the battery unit is configured to power the second pump.

3. A recirculating shower system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the battery unit comprises two battery cells, at least one battery cell being provided by a rechargeable leisure battery.

4. A recirculating shower system according to any preceding claim, wherein the filter is provided by a fish tank filter.

5. A recirculating shower system according to any preceding claim, wherein the filter comprises a coarse filter and a fine filter, the coarse filter and the fine filter being separately replaceable.

6. A recirculating shower system according to any preceding claim, comprising a sink unit mounted to an internal wall of the shower cabinet.

7. A recirculating shower system according to claim 6, the sink unit comprising a tap which draws water from the water storage tank.

8. A recirculating shower system according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the sink unit is a folding sink unit.

9. A recirculating shower system according to any preceding claim, comprising a water heater mounted within the water storage tank, the battery unit being configured to power the water heater.

10. A recirculating shower system according to any preceding claim, comprising a drain valve for causing water to be released from the cabinet and out of the system to empty the water storage tank.

11 .A recirculating shower system according to any preceding claim, wherein the water storage tank can be replenished with water by directing water into a base of the cabinet to be pumped into the storage tank by the first pump.

12. A recirculating shower system according to any preceding claim, wherein the battery unit is further configured to be charged by solar panels.

13. A recirculating shower system according to any preceding claim, fitted into the cab of a lorry.

14. A recirculating shower system according to claim 12 and claim 13, wherein the solar panels are mounted on the roof of the cab of the lorry.

15. A recirculating shower system according to claim 13, wherein the cabinet is mounted behind a seat within the cab, and wherein a splash board is mounted to the seat, and moveable with the seat between a stowed position in which it extends back into the shower cabinet and a use position in which it inhibits the escape of water from the shower cabinet.

16. A lorry having a cab, a cab comprising a recirculating shower system according to any preceding claim.

17. A recirculating shower system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A lorry having a recirculating shower system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.