A DEVICE FOR SAVING WATER AND ENERGY THAT MAY BE APPLIED TO ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS, FOR THE PRODUCTION OF DIFFERENTIATED QUANTITIES OF WATER AT CONSTANT TEMPERATURE

Abstract: The device for saving water and energy according to the present invention comprises means like the electric hydrodeviators (K) and (X), the water level measurer (M), the air return valve (Z), for transforming a common water heater into a water heater for small daily use, with water all at the same constant temperature.

Description: "A DEVICE FOR SAVING WATER AND ENERGY THAT MAY BE APPLIED TO ELECTRIC WATER HEATERS, FOR THE PRODUCTION OF DIFFERENTIATED QUANTITIES OF WATER AT CONSTANT TEMPERATURE" The present invention concerns a device for saving water and energy and that may be applied to electric water heaters, for the production of differentiated quantities of constant temperature water, according to the requests. It is already known that the actual electric water heaters have a continuous hydraulic working so that, following to the outlet of warm water, new cold water is let in that determines a lowering of the temperature of the water. Of course said already existing water heaters show a considerable energy absorption, which is not corresponding to the saving requests, as they imply the heating of the whole liquid mass contained therein, even if only small quantities of warm water are to be used. It is the aim of the present invention to transform a conventional water heater into a water heater also for small daily use, with water quantities all at the same chosen temperature with a consequent saving of water and energy. The aim set forth is reached by means of the device according to the present invention, that is to be inserted between the connections of warm and cold water, existing on the water heaters, and the ducts toward use, mainly consisting of two electric hydrodeviators for closing and opening the water and air flow, and in an electric hydrovalve for opening and closing the water towards a level measurer provided with two minimum and maximum sensors from a water pump and from a small basin for the recollection of the water, so as to fill up the water heater even partially, according to the requests, and thus transforming an electric water heater also into a water heater for the small daily warm water use, adjusting the requested quantity by means of a level measurer. The advantages of the device according to the present invention are many and evident: - by applying the device according to the present invention to an already existing water heater, all the warm water inside said water heater may be used without adding new cold water, that would cool down the already heated water, and all the water is at a constant temperature; - the existing water heater will be transformed in an electric water heater for all small daily use; - as a consequence, a great saving of water and energy is achieved. The present invention will be described more in detail hereinbelow according to the enclosed drawings in which the different use phases are shown. Figure 1 shows a scheme of a device for saving water and energy according to the present invention, that may be applied to electric water heaters for the production of differentiated quantities of constant temperature water. Figure 2 shows the hydraulic scheme of the device according to the present invention, as shown in figure 1. Figures 3 and 4 show the hydraulic schemes of the device according to the present invention in its different functioning phases. The enclosed figures show a device for saving energy and water according to the present invention, inserted between the warm and cold water connections of electric water heaters and the ducts towards use, comprising: - two electric hydrodeviators K and X that have the task of opening and closing the water and air flow, and an electric hydrovalve E for opening and closing the water towards the level measurer M; - a water level measurer M provided with two sensors, L for the minimum and I for the maximum level; - a pump P; - a small basin S for the recollection of the water; - two tubings AF and AC for the warm and the cold water, corresponding to the tubes already existing inside the water heater, with the cold water duct Q and the warm water duct H towards the use; - a means Z for allowing the return of the air into the water heater towards AC and a retaining valve R. The functioning of the device according to the present invention may be described as follows, relating to the enclosed drawings: - when the hydrodeviators K and X are both in a position 1 and the electrovalve E is closed, the water heater works in its usual manner, and the water flow into the water heater is determined through the duct Q by means of the retaining valve R towards AF; in such position the total or partial filling up is obtained according to the needs, or even the functioning of a common water heater; - if the hydrodeviator K is placed in the position 2 and the hydrodeviator X in position 1, as shown in figure 3, and the electrovalve is open, the water quantity requested to be heated is measured by means of the measurer M that operates also sensors I and L, whereby the first sensor has the function of closing the electrovalve E when the water reaches its maximum level so that the water does not flow over the measurer and damage the same; the second sensor L has the task of interrupting the current to the resistance for the heating of the water when the water has reached its minimum level, i.e. before the resistance and the thermostat, for preventing the resistance from burning; - when both the hydrodeviators K and X are in position 2, as shown in figure 4, they automaticaly open the hydrovalve E and the warm water flows out from the water heater towards AF through K, while the pump P automatically starts working increasing the pressure of the water, favouring the water outlet towards H and towards the users Z, and allows the inlet of the air towards AC and into the water heater so that S recollects the eventual water remained in the tube AC, and by means of the air inlet the outlet of the water from tube AF is faciltated, while in this case E has the function of measuring how much warm water is remained. In possible variants of the present invention, said measurer M for the water level may be applied inside or outside of the water heater; it may be electric or electronic, with internal or external sensors, with display or hands, electromechanic or only mechanic, or hydraulic or of any other kind, for the measuring of the water quantity inside the water heater; or also a vertical slit may be provided in the water heater that makes the water level visible from the outside. Also said deviators K and X may be internal or external to the water heater; also they may be of different kind like electric, electronic, computerized, manual, separate or grouped in one single block, as in the bathtub groups having a tap for the warm and cold water and the deviator for the shower, or also in separate blocks, separately operated. Furthermore, said electrodeviators may be replaced by hydrovalves or means used for opening or closing the liquid or water flow, of the manual, mechanical, electric, electronic or computerized kind and of various materials like metal, plastic or mixed, for the same purpose. The electric circuit which is not the object of the present invention, because it is already known to the art, may be realized by means of electric, electronic, manual, computerized deviators, or relais-deviators or deviators that may be programmed by a timer, that all may be eventually incorporated to the hydrodeviator's and hydrovalve's system, or separated from the same. Of course the device according to the present invention may be inserted in water heaters of new realization or, in a variant, it may be separate and applicable, internally or externally, completely or partially, to the already existing water heaters.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device for saving water and energy that may be applied to electric water heaters for the production of differentiated quantities of constant temperature water, of the kind inserted between the connections of the warm and cold water of the electric water heaters and the ducts towards use, characterized in: - two electric hydrodeviators (K) and (X) that have the task of closing and opening the water and air flow, and an electric hydrovalve (E) for opening and closing the water to the level measurer (M); - a level measurer (M) provided with two sensors, (L) for the minimum and (I) for the maximim level; - a pump (P); - a small basin (S) for the recollection of the water; - two tubings (AF) and (AC) for warm and cold water, corresponding to tubes already existing inside the water heater, with the duct (Q) of the cold and the duct (H) of the warm water towards the use; - a means (Z) for allowing the return of the air inside the water heater, towards (AC) and a retaining valve (R). 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the hydrodeviators (K) and (X) are both in position (1) and the electrovalve (E) is closed, the water heater works in its normal manner and the water flow inside the water heater is determined through the duct (Q) by means of a retaining valve (R) towards (AF) in such a way as to obtain the total or partial filling up according to the requests, or the functioning of a common water heater. 3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that if the hydrodeviator (K) is placed in position (2) and the hydrodeviator (X) in position (1) and the electrovalve (E) is open, the requested water quantity to be heated will be measured by the measurer (M), that operates also the sensors (I) and (L), whereby the first has the function of closing the electrovalve (E) when the water reaches its maximum level so that the water does not overflow the measurer or damage the same; the second sensor (L) has the function of interrupting the current to the resistance for heating the water when the water has reached the minimum level, i.e. before the resistance and the thermostat, for preventing the resistance from burning. 4. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that when the hydrodeviators (K) and (X) are both in position (2), as shown in figure 4, they automatically open the electrovalve (E) and the warm water flows out from the water heater towards (AF) through (K), while the pump automaticaly starts working increasing the water pressure, favouring its outlet towards (H) and towards the users (Z), and allows the inlet of air towards (AC) and into the water heater so that (S) may recollect the eventual water remaining in the tube (AC), and together with the inlet of the air the outlet of the water from tube (AF) is facilitated, while in this case (E) has the function of measuring how much water is remained at disposal. 5) A device according to claim 1, characterized in electrodeviators (K) and (X) provided outside the water heater. 6. A device according to claim 1, characterized in electrodeviators (K) and (X) provided inside the water heater. 7) A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrodeviators (K) and (X), inside and/or outside of the water heater, are provided separated or in groups, in one single block or in separated blocks and separately controlled. 8) A device according to claim 1 characterized in electric, electronical, manual or computerized deviators, relais deviators or deviators that may be programmed by a timer, deviators incorporated in a hydrodeviator's and hydrovalve's system, or separate from the same.

Inventors: MOSCATO GIUSEPPE, MOSCATO, GIUSEPPE
Applicants: MOSCATO GIUSEPPE, MOSCATO, GIUSEPPE
Application year: 1993
Main classification: F24H9
IPC codes: F24H9