WASTE WATER CONTROL SYSTEM

Abstract: A non-foul domestic waste water control system comprises a storage tank including means for supply of secondary demand outlets and inlet pipework for non-foul domestic waste water, in which the inlet pipework includes selective diverter valve and pump means and the storage tank includes level-sensing means operatively connected to said pump means, whereby waste water in use is selectively directed to said pump means and pumped to said storage tank or passed to mains drainage if said storage tank is full as detected by said level-sensing means. The invention also includes a diverter valve and pump assembly for use in a non-foul domestic waste water control system, the assembly comprising a housing defining water inlet means and water outlet means and a pump chamber including pump means, the housing including valve means to selectively direct water from the inlet means either to the outlet means or to the pump chamber, overflow means being provided between the pump chamber and water outlet means. The storage tank may have a mains back-up supply the valve for which is mounted on a bracket above the tank wall, the float being connected to the valve via a vertical operating arm to prevent cross-contamination of the mains supply with waste water.

Description: WASTE WATER CONTROL SYSTEM This invention relates to a waste water control system and to diverter valves for use in controlling waste water for recycling purposes. It is becoming increasingly recognised even in countries with a traditional temperate climate that water is not an infinitely-available commodity; global climate patterns appear to be changing and in some areas of the United Kingdom there has been a dramatic drop in the amount of rainfall, with the result that consumers are being asked to take measures to limit their water consumption, thereby to conserve supplies. The primary purpose of mains-supplied water is for human consumption, the water for such purpose needing to be of potable quality. However, it is recognised that non-foul domestic waste water, sometimes referred to as "grey" water, can be re-used for secondary purposes include the supply of lavatory cisterns, water to irrigate the garden and laundry or washing-up purposes. Not all such waste is necessarily suitable for these purposes, however, and hence there is a need for a water-control system which can selectively allow waste water either to flow direct to the main drainage system or alternatively to a storage tank for eventual re-use to supply a secondary demand. According to one aspect of the present invention, a non-foul domestic waste water control system comprises a storage tank including means for supply of secondary demand outlets and inlet pipework for non- foul domestic waste water, the inlet pipework including selective diverter valve and pump means and the storage tank including level-sensing means operatively connected to said pump means, whereby waste water in use is selectively directed to said pump means and pumped to said storage tank or passed to mains drainage if said storage tank is full as detected by said level- sensing means. According to another aspect of the invention, a diverter valve and pump assembly for use in a non-foul domestic waste water control system comprises a housing defining water inlet means and water outlet means and a pump chamber including pump means, the housing including valve means to selectively direct water from the inlet means either to the outlet means or to the pump chamber, overflow means being provided between the pump chamber and water outlet means. In use, the outlet from the pump means is preferably connected to a storage or holding tank for supply of secondary water demand outlets. The storage or holding tank preferably includes level-sensing means operatively connected to said pump means to inactivate the pump means when the storage tank is full. However, the outlet from the pump means may be connected direct to secondary water demand outlets rather than indirect via the storage or holding tank. The pump chamber of the diverter valve and pump assembly preferably also includes level sensing means such as a float switch operatively connected to said pump means, whereby the pump means does not switch on until the pump chamber is full of water. Preferably the inlet of the pump means includes filter means to prevent any solid material suspended in the water from entering the pump means. In one embodiment, the valve means comprises a valve chamber including an inlet port and outlet ports leading respectively to the water outlet means and the pump chamber, and a valve member comprising a flap or plate which is pivotably mounted for movement between positions in sealing engagement with one or other of said ports. Preferably, however, the valve member comprises a rotatably-mounted cylinder having passageways formed therein, the cylinder being mounted for axial rotation in a housing defining said inlet and outlet ports for movement between positions in which one or other of said outlet ports is open and the other is closed, said inlet port remaining open in either said position. The water outlet means preferably includes an air vent to prevent any entrapped air from creating an airlock and preventing flow of water through the outlet means. Conveniently, the air vent is combined with the overflow means. The capacity of the pump means should be sufficient to enable the outlet water to be supplied at a rate which is approximately that of the inlet, so that the pump chamber neither becomes emptied despite continuing inflow of water nor is oversupplied despite continuing outflow of water, resulting in excess water running to waste through the overflow means. Two or more pumps may be provided to boost the outlet capacity; the pumps may be selectively actuated according to the inflow rate. The pump outlets may be connected to a common outlet pipe via suitable manifold means . The pump means are preferably powered by a low voltage direct current electricity supply which may be provided from the mains supply via a suitable voltage conversion device such as a step-down transformer, or by a rechargeable power pack. The storage tank, which is preferably roof-mounted to allow gravity supply to the secondary demand outlets, may be provided with a back-up mains water supply via a float-operated control valve. To prevent any risk of the waste water contaminating the mains supply, the control valve may be mounted at the upper end of a bracket attached to the sidewall of the tank, the float being connected to the control valve via a cranked operating member having a vertically-disposed portion and the bracket preferably including a horizontally-extending lower arm having a slotted outer end, the vertical portion of the operating member passing through and being guided for axial movement in the slot, whereby the mains inlet pipe is held above the top of the tank sidewall . Such a bracket constitutes another aspect of the present invention. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of one embodiment of a diverter valve and pump; Figure 2 is a plan view in diagrammatic form of another embodiment of a diverter valve and pump; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the diverter valve and pump of figure 2; and Figure 4 is a fragmentary section of a storage tank equipped with a bracket supporting a mains-water float control valve. Referring first to Figure 1, the diverter valve and pump is shown generally at 10 and consists of a body 11 defining a pump chamber 12, an inlet stub 13 for domestic non-foul waste water and an outlet chamber 14 terminating in an outlet stub 15. The inlet stub is connected to an inlet pipe 16 via a connector 17 and the outlet stub is connected to a drainage outlet pipe 18 via a similar connector 19. Pumps 20, 21 and associated filters 22, 23 are retained in the pump chamber by an aperture plate 24 secured to the body 11 by screws (not shown) . The interior of the body includes a cylindrical seating 25 for a cylindrical valve member 26, held in place by annular end retainers 26a. In the central zone of the apparatus, the seating 25 is cut away to provide an inlet aperture 27, an outlet aperture 28 communicating with the outlet chamber 14 and a further outlet aperture 29 including a baffle plate 30 communicating with the pump chamber 12. An aperture 31 is also provided in the internal wall 32 separating the outlet chamber 14 from the pump chamber 12. The valve member 26 is rotatably carried within the seating 25, rotation being activated by control knobs (not shown) carried axially of the valve member and externally of the body 11. The valve member 26 is formed with a central diametral through-passage 33 and a radial passage 34 at 90° to and connecting with the passage 33. In the position shown, the passages 33 and 34 place the inlet stub in communication with the pump chamber; rotation of the valve member 26 by 90° in a clockwise direction will place the inlet stub in communication with the outlet chamber via passage 33, passage 34 being closed by the upper part of the cylindrical seating 25. A flap valve 35 is hinged to the internal wall 32 within the outlet chamber 14 for movement between a position where it closes aperture 31 and an open position in which one-way flow is permitted from pump chamber 12 into outlet chamber 14. The pump motors are powered by a 12 volt direct current supply and are connected via a level or float switch (not shown) in the pump chamber, whereby they are activated automatically when the pump chamber 12 is filled with waste water, the valve member 26 having been previously set in the position shown. Waste water is thus pumped to a storage tank also equipped with a level switch electrically connected to the pumps to switch them off when the storage tank is full. Unless the valve member 26 is then set to pass incoming waste water from the inlet stub direct to the outlet chamber 14, which may be effected either manually or automatically, water will continue to flow into the pump chamber, which will overflow by the water pressure causing the flap valve 35 to open thus permitting water to flow to the outlet chamber 14 and thence to waste. Referring now to Figure 2, a similar apparatus to that described with reference to Figure 1 is shown but the cylinder valve 36 has its axis of rotation vertical whereby the operating lever is on the top of the housing, as shown in Figure 3. With the cylinder valve arranged vertically, flow into the pump chamber is laterally - directed. In Figure 2, the inlet stub is indicated 37, the outlet chamber 38, the pumps 39, 40 the float switch 41 and a combined air vent/overflow aperture 42. With reference to Figure 3, the pump housing has a removable upper member 43 from the ends of which extend the inlet stub 37 and the outlet stub 44. The cylinder valve is manually operated by means of lever 45 pivotally caused in a recess 46 formed in the upper member 43, which may be reversed if it is desired to have the lever extending to and operated from the other side. The pumps 39, 40 are connected to a manifold 47 for connection to pipework to the storage tank. Referring to Figure 4, the side of the storage tank is indicated 48 and an "L" bracket member 49 is removably attached thereto by means of screw clamp 50. The vertical limb of the bracket 49 carries the mains water inlet pipe 51 and a valve assembly 52 operated by an actuating lever 53 attached to which is a float 54. The lever 53 has a horizontal portion 55 and a vertical portion 56; the latter is slidingly received in a guide slot formed in the outer end of the horizonal limb of the bracket 49. The use of the bracket to support the mains water inlet and valve assembly above the wall of the storage tank results in the mains supply being separated from the water in the tank by a vertical air break so that cross contamination cannot occur.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A non-foul domestic waste water control system, the system comprising a storage tank including means for supply of secondary demand outlets and inlet pipework for non-foul domestic waste water, in which the inlet pipework includes selective diverter valve and pump means and the storage tank includes level-sensing means operatively connected to said pump means, whereby waste water in use is selectively directed to said pump means and pumped to said storage tank or passed to mains drainage if said storage tank is full as detected by said 1eve1-sensing means. 2. A system according to claim 1, in which the storage or holding tank includes level-sensing means operatively connected to said pump means to inactivate the pump means when the storage tank is full. 3. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the storage tank is provided with a back-up mains water supply via a float-operated control valve. 4. A diverter valve and pump assembly for use in a non-foul domestic waste water control system, the assembly comprising a housing defining water inlet means and water outlet means and a pump chamber including pump means, the housing including valve means to selectively direct water from the inlet means either to the outlet means or to the pump chamber, overflow means being provided between the pump chamber and water outlet means . 5. A diverter valve and pump assembly according to claim 4, in which the pump chambers includes level sensing means operatively connected to said pump means. 6. A diverter valve and pump assembly according to claim 4 or claim 5, in which the inlet of the pump means includes filter means to prevent any solid material suspended in the water from entering the pump means . 7. A diverter valve and pump assembly according to any of claims 4 to 6, in which the valve means comprises a valve chamber including an inlet port and outlet ports leading respectively to the water outlet means and the pump chamber, and a valve member which is pivotably mounted for movement between positions in sealing engagement with one or other of said outlet ports. 8. A diverter valve and pump assembly according the claim 7, in which the valve member comprises a rotatably-mounted cylinder having passageways formed therein, the cylinder being mounted for axial rotation in a housing defining said inlet and outlet ports for movement between positions in which one or other of said outlet ports is open and the other is closed, said inlet port remaining open in either said position. 9. A diverter valve and pump assembly according to any of claims 4 to 8, in which the water outlet means includes an air vent. 10. A diverter valve and pump assembly according to any of claims 4 to 9 in which the pump means comprises two or more pumps, optionally selectively actuated according to the inflow rate. 11. A diverter valve and pump assembly according to any of claims 4 to 10 in which the pump means are powered by a low voltage direct current electricity supply which may be provided from the mains supply via a suitable voltage conversion device. 12. A bracket and float - operated mains water control valve in combination, in which the control valve is mounted at the upper end of the bracket attached to the sidewall of a water storage tank, the float being connected to the control valve via a cranked operating member having a vertically- disposed portion and the bracket including a horizontally-extending lower arm having a slotted outer end, the vertical portion of the operating member passing through and being guided for axial movement in the slot, whereby the mains inlet pipe is held above the top of the tank sidewall.

Inventors: BURTON MICHAEL JOHN, BURTON, MICHAEL, JOHN
Applicants: BURTON MICHAEL J, BURTON, MICHAEL, JOHN
Application year: 1997
Main classification: E03C
IPC codes: E03B1, E03C1