Abstract:
A toilet water supply system comprising: a used water reservoir, in addition to a tank of said toilet, for storing used water to be supplied to said toilet tank from a domestic water source; an adequate-water sensor, for sensing whether said reservoir is full; and a water-directing apparatus, for directing water from said used-water source towards said used water reservoir upon sensing that said reservoir is not full, and towards a domestic drain upon sensing that said water reservoir is full, wherein said directing is carried out using a pump and the operation thereof is regulated, wherein said water-directing apparatus, said sensor and said pump being separated from said water reservoir and the capacity of said apparatus being less than about 3 liters, thereby allowing placing said water directing apparatus in an easy accessible location, resulting with convenient maintenance.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of toilets. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for supplying recycled water to a toilet tank. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Water for flushing toilets is estimated to consume about 40% of all domestic water. As such, water economy policies are directed to conserving water for toilet flushing. 
         [0003]    The solutions in this field include water-economic toilet tanks and collection of recycled water. 
         [0004]    The economic toilet tanks still consume fresh water. Collection of recycled water is commonly not economical. 
         [0005]    However, despite this and other solutions introduced, toilets remain significant consumers of fresh water. 
         [0006]    There thus remains a need to provide solutions for the above-mentioned problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide systems and methods for reducing the use of fresh water in toilet apparatus. 
         [0008]    Some embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for introducing used water into toilet apparatus. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a toilet water supply system, comprising: 
         [0010]    a) a used water reservoir, in addition to a tank of a toilet, for storing used water to be supplied to the toilet tank from a used domestic water source; 
         [0011]    b) an adequate-water sensor for sensing whether the reservoir is full; and 
         [0012]    c) a water-directing apparatus (WDA) for directing water from the used-domestic water source towards the used water reservoir upon sensing that the reservoir is not full, and towards a domestic drain upon sensing that the water reservoir is full, wherein the directing is carried out using a pump and the operation thereof is regulated, 
         [0013]    wherein the water-directing apparatus, the sensor and the pump are separated from the water reservoir and the capacity of the apparatus is less than about 3 liters, thereby allowing placing the water directing apparatus in an easy accessible location, resulting with convenient maintenance. 
         [0014]    The water-directing apparatus may comprise: 
         [0015]    a) an inlet for receiving the used water; 
         [0016]    b) a water pump for pumping the received water through a used water outlet to the reservoir; and 
         [0017]    c) a waste outlet for removing excess water upon sensing that the reservoir is full. 
         [0018]    The waste outlet may be located at the top of the WDA, and 
         [0019]    the WDA may comprise: 
         [0020]    i) a service compartment comprising the inlet, the used water outlet and the water pump and a waste-water compartment comprising the waste outlet, 
         [0021]    wherein the compartments may be connected therebetween at a lower end thereof, for having equal levels of water, thereby being adapted to: 
         [0022]    a) lower the equal levels upon activation of the water pump; and 
         [0023]    b) raise the equal levels, for removing the water towards the waste outlet. 
         [0024]    The WDA may further comprise a first water-level sensor, for sensing a certain level (L 3 ) of the equal levels to activate the water pump thereabove. 
         [0025]    The toilet water supply system may further comprise a Schmitt-trigger switch for Schmitt-activating the water pump between two levels (L 2 , L 3 ) of the first level sensor. 
         [0026]    The adequate-water sensor may comprise a pressure switch (not shown) for sensing the water pressure towards the water reservoir. 
         [0027]    According to another embodiment, the adequate-water sensor may comprise a second level sensor for sensing the water level of the reservoir. 
         [0028]    The first water-level sensor may comprise a float or electrode sensors. 
         [0029]    The second water-level sensor may comprise a float or an electrode sensor. 
         [0030]    In another aspect the present invention is directed to a method for supplying water to a toilet, the method comprising the steps of: 
         [0031]    a) receiving used water from a domestic water facility into a water-directing apparatus; 
         [0032]    b) upon sensing by a sensor that a used water reservoir is not full, pumping the received water to the water reservoir; 
         [0033]    c) upon sensing by the sensor that the reservoir is full, directing excess water into a domestic drain, and de-activating the pumping; and 
         [0034]    d) supplying the water of the reservoir to a toilet tank; 
         [0035]    wherein the water-directing apparatus, the sensor and the pump being separated from the water reservoir and the capacity thereof being less than about 3 liters, thereby allowing placing the water directing apparatus in an easy accessible location, resulting with convenient maintenance. 
         [0036]    The step of pumping may further require the step of sensing an adequate level (L 3 ) of the received water. 
         [0037]    The step of sensing that the reservoir is full may comprise sensing pressure of the pumped water. 
         [0038]    According to another embodiment, the step of sensing that the reservoir is full may comprise sensing the level of water at the reservoir. 
         [0039]    The foregoing embodiments of the invention are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems and methods thereof, which are meant to be merely illustrative, and not limiting. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0040]    The invention will now be described in connection with certain embodiments with reference to the following illustrative figures so that it may be more fully understood. 
           [0041]    With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. 
           [0042]    In the drawings: 
           [0043]      FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic illustration showing a toilet water supply system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0044]      FIG. 2A  is a simplified schematic illustration showing a water-directing apparatus at a first step of use, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0045]      FIG. 2B  is a simplified schematic illustration showing a water-directing apparatus at a second step of use, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0046]      FIG. 3  is a simplified schematic illustration showing a water-directing apparatus at a third step of use, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0047]      FIG. 4  is a simplified schematic illustration showing a water-directing apparatus at a fourth step of use, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0048]      FIG. 5  is a simplified schematic illustration showing a water-directing apparatus at a fifth step of use, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0049]      FIG. 6  is a simplified schematic illustration of the water and electric components of the water-directing apparatus of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0050]      FIG. 7  is a simplified schematic illustration of one system using the water-directing apparatus of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0051]      FIG. 8  is a simplified schematic illustration depicting the reservoir of  FIG. 7 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0052]      FIG. 9  is a simplified schematic illustration depicting another reservoir of  FIG. 7 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
       
    
    
       [0053]    It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0054]    The present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of embodiments, which are meant to be descriptive and not limiting. For the sake of brevity, some well-known features, methods, systems, procedures, components, circuits, and so on, are not described in detail. 
         [0055]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which is a simplified schematic illustration showing a toilet water supply system  100 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0056]    System  100  comprises a clean water tank  101 , a used water reservoir  4  which both feed into a toilet tank  6 . The general idea of the system is to use used water  13  from the used water reservoir  4  and only use clean water  109  from the clean water tank when there is no/little water in the used water reservoir. 
         [0057]    An electric control unit  101  comprising at least one visual indicator, comprises communication functions  107  (not shown) for sending and receiving electronic signals to and from reservoir  4 , at least one faucet  20 , a water level sensor  46 ; a tap  103 ; an adequate-water sensor  72 , a one way valve  74  and optionally to other parts of system  100 . 
         [0058]    Electric control unit  101  is constructed and configured to maximize the safe transfer of used water from at least one used water source  12  via system  100  to toilet tank  6 . The steps of the method in which this is performed are described in further detail with respect to  FIGS. 2A-5  hereinbelow. 
         [0059]    Used water  13  is transferred from used water source(s)  12  via a filter  50  to water directing apparatus  2 . The operation of water directing apparatus  2  is described further hereinbelow. When sufficient used water accumulates in water directing apparatus  2 , it is passed to reservoir  4  and then used to fill toilet tank  6 . 
         [0060]    When there is too much used water in water directing apparatus  2 , some/all of it is passed via waste water pipe  64  to a sewage line  108 . 
         [0061]    One advantage of system  100  is that it is constructed and configured to save at least one percent of the clean water domestic supply usage of a domestic dwelling. 
         [0062]    According to further embodiments of the present invention, system  100  is constructed and configured to save at least five percent of the clean water domestic supply usage of a domestic dwelling. 
         [0063]    According to further embodiments of the present invention, system  100  is constructed and configured to save at least ten percent of the clean water domestic supply of a domestic dwelling. 
         [0064]    According to further embodiments of the present invention, system  100  is constructed and configured to save at least twenty percent of the clean water domestic supply usage of a domestic dwelling. 
         [0065]    According to further embodiments of the present invention, system it is constructed and configured to save at least twenty percent of the clean water domestic supply usage of a domestic dwelling. 
         [0066]    According to further embodiments of the present invention, system  100  is constructed and configured to save between 0.1 to 20% the clean water supply usage of a commercial establishment. 
         [0067]    Another advantage of system  100 , is that it is constructed and configured to reduce between 0.1 to 40% of used waste water of a domestic dwelling. 
         [0068]    Another advantage of system  100 , is that it is constructed and configured to reduce between 0.1 to 40% of used waste water of a commercial establishment. 
         [0069]      FIG. 2A  depicts a water-directing apparatus, according to one embodiment of the present invention, at the first step of use. 
         [0070]    A water-directing apparatus (WDA)  2  includes an inlet  58  from an inlet pipe  36  of used water; a waste water outlet  60  removing excess water to a waste-water pipe  64 ; and a used water outlet  62 , which is the outlet of a water pump  44 , raising water to a used water pipe  42 . 
         [0071]    Water-directing apparatus (WDA)  2  includes a service compartment  66  and a waste-water compartment  68 , partitioned by a partition  70 . However, partition  70  does not partition between compartments  68  and  70  below a low level L 1 ; thus, according to the connected vessels law, the level of the water is equal in both compartments. 
         [0072]    At the first step, depicted in  FIG. 1 , the water level is L 2 , which is above level L 1 . 
         [0073]    Water pump  44  in service compartment  66  is controlled by a water level sensor, such as by float  46 , in that compartment. Float  46  turns water pump  44  to off upon reaching level L 2  and below. 
         [0074]    Water pump  44  includes holes  48  around level L 2 ; thus, when water pump  44  is off, according to the connected vessels law, the level of the water in water pump  44  is also L 2 . 
         [0075]    Thus at step  1 , no water exits WDA  2 , neither through waste water outlet  60  nor through used water outlet  62 . 
         [0076]      FIG. 2  depicts the water-directing apparatus of  FIG. 1  at the second step. 
         [0077]    At the second step, used water enters inlet pipe  36 , flows through inlet  58  into service compartment  66 . Upon exceeding level L 3  at compartment  66  (and  68 ), float  46  activates water pump  44 , pressing water through used water outlet  62  towards used water pipe  42 . 
         [0078]      FIG. 3  depicts the water-directing apparatus of  FIG. 1  at the third step. 
         [0079]    A pressure switch (“pressostat”) is a switch that makes or cuts off electrical contact when a certain set pressure has been reached on its input. 
         [0080]    At the third step, the water pumped by water pump  44  presses, upon presence of a block on used water pipe  42 , a pressure switch  72 . Bending of pressure switch  72  turns water pump  44  off. 
         [0081]    According to another embodiment, turning off water pump  44  may be triggered by a float  40  at another site (depicted in  FIG. 7 ), instead of pressure switch  72 , upon being raised by water from used water pipe  42 . 
         [0082]      FIG. 4  depicts the water-directing apparatus of  FIG. 1  at the fourth step. 
         [0083]    A one-way valve  74  may support the pressure switch  72  embodiment. 
         [0084]    One-way valve  74  having a ball  78  which water pump  44  opened at step  2 , may close passage at step  4  by the produced pressure. One-way valve  74  may retain the off state of pressure switch  72  as long as pipe  42  is pressured, avoiding turning water pump  44  on and off alternately. 
         [0085]    One-way valve  74  allows pressure switch  72  to stably turn off water pump  44 . Thus, at step  4  water pump  44  does not pump water out, and the water in water pump  44  sinks back to the level in compartments  66  and  68 . 
         [0086]      FIG. 5  depicts the water-directing apparatus of  FIG. 1  at the fifth step. 
         [0087]    At the fifth step, used water continues entering service compartment  66 . The water level rises both in service compartment  66  and waste-water compartment  68 . Upon exceeding the level of waste-water pipe  64 , the water drains therethrough. 
         [0088]    Thus, at step  5  non-pressured water drains naturally by the connected vessels law, from inlet pipe  36  into waste-water pipe  64 . 
         [0089]      FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of the water and electric components of the water-directing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0090]    Float  46  connects a water level switch  82  upon being raised up to level L 3 , and disconnects water-level switch  82  upon being lowered to level L 2 . 
         [0091]    The term “Schmitt trigger switch” refers herein to a switch which is connected when the input reaches a certain high threshold; and disconnected when the input reaches a certain low threshold; when the input is between the two, the switch retains its last state. 
         [0092]    The term “Schmitt activating” refers herein to activation according to a Schmitt trigger switch. 
         [0093]    Preferably, water-level switch  82  is a Schmitt-trigger switch, meaning that switch  82  retains its last state between levels L 2  and L 3 . 
         [0094]    According to one embodiment, Schmitt-trigger switch  82  includes a stationary contact  88  and a movable contact  80 , which is movable by an arm  90 . Arm  90  includes a high protrusion  84  and a low protrusion  86 . Upon raising float  46  to level L 3 , float  46  raises high protrusion  84 , connecting movable contact  80  to stationary contact  88 . Upon lowering float  46  to level L 2 , float  46  lowers low protrusion  86 , disconnecting movable contact  80  from stationary contact  88 . 
         [0095]    According to one embodiment, pressure switch  72  includes a contact  92  connected to a membrane which disconnects contact  92  from the stationary contact upon water pressure above a certain threshold. 
         [0096]    The electric load  38  of water pump  44  is activated only if both water-level switch  82  and pressure switch  72  are connected, meaning that the water level is above the Schmitt trigger level and that the water pressure is below a threshold. 
         [0097]      FIG. 7  is an application using the water-directing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0098]    Drain water from a shower or any other drain-water source  12  flows under vessel  34  into inlet pipe  36  of WDA  2 . WDA  2  raises some of the water into used water pipe  42  and further into a reservoir  4 . Filling reservoir  4  may be sensed by pressure switch  72  in WDA  2  or by float  40  in reservoir  4 . Upon filling reservoir  4 , WDA  2  stops supplying the shower water to reservoir  4  and drains it to drain  76  through waste-water pipe  64 . 
         [0099]    Since the quantity of bath water commonly consistently exceeds the quantity of toilet water, reservoir  4  may supply the water to toilet tank  6  for toilet  8  through pipe  14  eliminating network water supply. 
         [0100]    According to another embodiment, reservoir  4  and toilet tank  6  are a single tank. Reservoir  4  may include a visual indicator  10  of the water level. Upon indicating high water level, the user is recommended to use the full tank flush selection. 
         [0101]      FIG. 8  depicts the reservoir of  FIG. 7  in detail and according to further embodiments. 
         [0102]    Float  40  in reservoir  4  may be replaced by a high water-level sensor electrode  24  and low water-level sensor electrode  22 , both providing signals to an electronic circuit  26 . 
         [0103]    Visual indicator  10  may include an empty tank indicator  28  and a full tank indicator  30  and additional indicators  32 . 
         [0104]    Reservoir  4  may supply water to other consuming devices, such as depicted by pipe  14  supplying to toilet tank  6  and pipe  16  supplying another consuming device. Each consuming device receives water from reservoir  4  through a faucet  20  and/or through the network water from a faucet  18 . 
         [0105]      FIG. 9  depicts the reservoir of  FIG. 7 , according to another embodiment. 
         [0106]      FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 7 , except that reservoir  4  may be located anywhere, including below toilet tank  6 . An additional water pump  56  pumps water from reservoir  4  to toilet tank  6 . Water pump  56  may be activated upon removal of water from toilet tank  6 , or at any time when toilet tank  6  is not full. 
         [0107]    Actually, the water directing apparatus  2  is a flow control box that controls the used water passage from domestic source(s) like shower  12 , to the water reservoir  4 . 
         [0108]    In order to allow convenient access to the control box, according to a embodiment of the invention the following adaptations are made: (a) the capacity of the water directing apparatus is set to less than about 3 liters, and (b) all the control facilities are disposed in the control box. The result is a “small” control box  2 , which therefore can be installed in a convenient location. 
         [0109]    Technically, some control operations, such as controlling the water level in the reservoir, can be made by placing a float inside the reservoir. However, as the capacity of common flush toilets is between 6 to 17 liters, and since the size of the reservoir should allow a plurality of flushing actions, its size is “big”, which does not allow much freedom in placing the reservoir in a convenient location (actually, the location dictated by the building). However, a control box having a capacity of about 3 liters as in the present invention is “small” enough to allow its placing in a more convenient location. 
         [0110]    In the figures and/or description herein, the following reference numerals have been mentioned:
       numeral  2  denotes a water directing apparatus (WDA) according to one embodiment of the present invention;   numeral  4  denotes a reservoir;   numeral  6  denotes a toilet tank;   numeral  8  denotes a toilet;   numeral  10  denotes a visual indicator of the water level in the reservoir;   numeral  12  denotes a shower or any other water source supplying water for collecting for recycling;   numerals  14   16 ,  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  denote water pipes;   numerals  18 ,  20 , and  103  denote faucets;   numeral  22  denotes a low water-level sensor;   numeral  24  denotes a high water-level sensor;   numeral  26  denotes an electronic circuit;   numeral  28  denotes an empty tank indicator;   numeral  30  denotes a full tank indicator;   numeral  32  denotes an additional indicator, e.g. temperature;   numeral  34  denotes a vessel directing the shower&#39;s water to the drain;   numeral  36  denotes the inlet pipe of the WDA;   numeral  38  denotes the electric load of the water pump;   numeral  40  denotes a float or other level sensor at the reservoir;   numeral  42  denotes the used water pipe of the WDA;   numeral  44  denotes a water pump;   numeral  46  denotes a water level sensor, which may be a float, for sensing the water level in the WDA;   numeral  48  denotes a hole for water entering the water pump;   numeral  50  denotes a water filter;   numeral  52  denotes a toilet water supply system, according to one embodiment of the present invention;   numeral  56  denotes an additional water pump for an embodiment in which the reservoir is located below the toilet tank;   numeral  58  denotes the inlet of the WDA;   numeral  60  denotes the waste outlet of the WDA;   numeral  62  denotes the used water outlet of the WDA;   numeral  64  denotes the waste-water pipe;   numeral  66  denotes a service compartment, which is the compartment of the WDA including the inlet and the used water outlet;   numeral  68  denotes a waste-water compartment;   numeral  70  denotes a partition between the compartments of the WDA;   numeral  71  denotes a pressure switch;   numeral  72  denotes an adequate-water sensor;   numeral  74  denotes a one-way valve;   numeral  76  denotes the drain;   numeral  78  denotes a ball of a one-way valve;   numeral  80  denotes a movable contact of a switch;   numeral  82  denotes a water level switch in the WDA.; according to one embodiment this switch is a Schmitt-trigger switch;   numerals  84  and  86  denote protrusions on the arm of the Schmitt-trigger switch;   numeral  88  denotes a stationary contact of the Schmitt-trigger switch;   numeral  90  denotes an arm of the Schmitt-trigger switch; and   numeral  92  denotes a contact of the pressure switch.       
 
         [0154]    The foregoing description and illustrations of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the above description in any form. 
         [0155]    Any term of the claims that has been defined above, has to be interpreted according to this definition. 
         [0156]    It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details set forth in the description contained herein or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and changes can be applied to the embodiments of the invention as hereinbefore described without departing from its scope, defined in and by the appended claims.