Abstract:
Instead of disposing gray water with sewage water, a gray water recycling apparatus uses a series of sensors and determines the acceptability of chemical concentrations and temperature of the gray water for use in irrigation purposes so as to ensure the recycled gray water is safe for irrigation. If it is, a three-way valve is positioned to direct the gray water to an irrigation pipe; otherwise, the three-way valve is positioned to direct the water to a public sewage system or septic tank.

Description:
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to an apparatus that diverts gray water from a washing machine to landscape or a sewer drain based on analysis from sensors. 
       II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In many climates around the world, especially those that are arid, water conservation and water recycling are important tools in mitigating the problem of limited fresh water resources. As understood herein, fresh water can be conserved by using household wastewater, known as “gray water”, which can come from household effluent drains. As also understood herein, however, the amount of impurities and turbidity of the gray water can in part affect the type of application and ability for reclamation and gray water&#39;s use in recycling. 
         [0003]    Present principles further recognize the desirability of eliminating costly components such as sump pumps from reclamation systems. It is also desirable according to present principles to reduce the risk of blockage and clogging such as might be encountered in recycling devices that integrate with pre-existing irrigation facilities, such as drip lines, sprinkler heads etc. 
         [0004]    A critical recognition is that gray water may contain harmful constituents that can be toxic to plants, inhibit seed-germination, and destroy the structure of clay soils. Present principles recognize that the identification and removal of substances within gray water can prove to be beneficial in determining whether said gray water is suitable for use in irrigation systems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    As understood herein, there is a need for a method and apparatus that allows a typical household to identify, reclaim, and recycle gray water without expensive remodeling of existing structures, and intensive construction installation. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, in one aspect an apparatus includes an electrically-positioned three way diverter valve having an inlet in fluid communication with an effluent (e.g., gray water) line (e.g., pipe) of a household appliance (e.g., a washing machine), a sewer outlet in fluid communication with a public sewage system, and an irrigation outlet in fluid communication with an irrigation pipe. The three-way diverter valve may have a sewer position wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the sewer outlet and an irrigation position wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the irrigation outlet. In example embodiments the diverter valve is positioned in the effluent pipe substantially at about the same height, e.g., within six to eight vertical inches, as the effluent outlet port of the appliance to minimize stress on a pump motor that may be associated with the appliance. 
         [0007]    At least one sensor senses at least one characteristic of effluent from the household appliance and at least one processor receives signals from the sensor and responsive thereto establishing a position of the three-way valve. At least one characteristic of the effluent may include temperature and/or a predetermined chemical. Additionally, the processor may include receiving and transmitting a signal to and/or from a mobile communication device. The processor may execute logic to receive a signal from the mobile communication device and use the signal from the mobile communication device, along with the signals received from at least one sensor that senses at least one characteristic of effluent from the household appliance, to establish and relay back to the mobile device, e.g., the current status of at least one characteristic of the effluent and/or the position of the three-way valve. The processor may further execute logic to electrically control the position of the three-way valve based on signals received from a mobile communication device. 
         [0008]    Without limitation, a sensor may include a temperature sensor with the irrigation position established responsive to a determination that temperature of the effluent is no more than a threshold temperature. Likewise, a sensor may also include, in addition to or in place of a temperature sensor, a chemical sensor that senses a concentration of a predetermined chemical in the effluent and the irrigation position is established responsive to a determination that the concentration of the predetermined chemical in the effluent is no more than a threshold concentration. The irrigation position may be established responsive to both a determination that the concentration of the predetermined chemical in the effluent is no more than a threshold concentration and also responsive to a determination that temperature of the effluent is no more than a threshold temperature. The predetermined chemical includes chlorine. The threshold concentration includes 200 p.p.m. (parts per million) or approximately 5.25 percent per gallon of effluent. The threshold temperature includes 145 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 62.7 degrees Celsius). 
         [0009]    The apparatus may further include a check valve and/or an anti-siphon valve in the irrigation pipe to permit only one-way flow from the three-way valve through the irrigation pipe and/or include a particulate filter in the irrigation pipe to filter particulate matter in the effluent. The apparatus may also include a volumetric flow meter to display and measure average effluent fluid flow rates, and/or volumetric effluent fluid values for momentary, and/or accumulative (total volume units) usage totals. The household appliance may be a washing machine that includes a pump, which in example embodiments can supply approximately thirty pounds per square inch to thirty five pounds per square inch (30 p.s.i. to 35 p.s.i.) of effluent fluid pressure to a horizontal radius of up to and including one hundred feet. Effluent pressure in an effluent pipe of, e.g., an inch in diameter, may be measured. 
         [0010]    In another aspect, a method includes receiving at least one signal representing a predetermined characteristic of effluent (e.g., gray water) from a household appliance (e.g., a washing machine), and based at least in part on the signal, positioning a valve to divert the effluent to a public sewage system or to an irrigation pipe. The valve may be manually and/or electrically positioned. The predetermined characteristic includes temperature and/or a chemical concentration. The chemical concentration includes a chlorine concentration. The chlorine concentration may have a threshold concentration, which includes 200 p.p.m. (parts per million) or approximately 5.25 percent per gallon of effluent. The temperature may have a threshold temperature, which includes 145 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 62.7 degrees Celsius). 
         [0011]    In another aspect, an assembly includes a three-way valve having an inlet in fluid communication with an effluent (e.g., gray water) line (e.g., pipe) of a household appliance (e.g., a washing machine), a sewer outlet in fluid communication with a public sewage system, and an irrigation outlet in fluid communication with an irrigation pipe. The three-way valve includes having a sewer position wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the sewer outlet and an irrigation position wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the irrigation outlet. The three-way valve may additionally include at least one indicator light having a first visual appearance when the three way valve is in the sewer position and a second visual appearance when the three way valve is in the irrigation position. An indicator light includes a light emitting diode (LED). A first visual appearance may include e.g., a blinking LED, and/or a change in LED color, and/or a change in illuminating light intensity. A second visual appearance may include e.g., a blinking LED, and/or a change in LED color, and/or change in illuminating LED light intensity. 
         [0012]    The assembly may further include at least one sensor sensing at least one characteristic of effluent from the household appliance, and at least one processor receiving signals from the sensor and responsive thereto establishing a position, of the three-way valve. At least one characteristic of the effluent may include temperature and/or a predetermined chemical. Without limitation, a sensor includes a temperature sensor and the irrigation position is established responsive to a determination that temperature of the effluent is no more than a threshold temperature. A sensor may also include, in addition to or in place of a temperature sensor, a chemical sensor that senses a concentration of a predetermined chemical in the effluent and the irrigation position is established responsive to a determination that the concentration of the predetermined chemical in the effluent is no more than a threshold concentration. The irrigation position may be established responsive to both a determination that the concentration of the predetermined chemical in the effluent is no more than a threshold concentration and also responsive to a determination that temperature of the effluent is no more than a threshold temperature. 
         [0013]    The predetermined chemical includes chlorine. The threshold concentration includes 200 p.p.m. (parts per million) or approximately 5.25 percent per gallon of effluent. The threshold temperature includes 145 degrees Fahrenheit or approximately 62.7 degrees Celsius. 
         [0014]    The assembly may further include a check valve and/or an anti-siphon valve in the irrigation pipe to permit only one-way flow from the three-way valve through the irrigation pipe and/or include a particulate filter in the irrigation pipe to filter particulate matter in the effluent. The assembly may also include a volumetric flow meter to display and measure average effluent fluid flow rates, and/or volumetric effluent fluid values for momentary, and/or accumulative (total volume units) usage totals. 
         [0015]    The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing an example system in accordance with present principles; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of logic in accordance with present principles. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0018]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a system is shown, generally designated  10 , which includes a household appliance  12  such as a washing machine, dishwasher (preferably when in a jurisdiction that classifies dishwasher effluent as gray water), or other water-discharging appliance which receives water through an influent pipe  14  from a water source  16  such as a municipal potable water supply. An influent isolation valve  18  may be disposed in the influent pipe  14  to selectively block the influent pipe  14 . 
         [0019]    As shown, the household appliance  12  has a gray water discharge port  12  in fluid communication with an effluent pipe  20 . The effluent pipe  20  is in fluid communication with a three-way diverter valve  22 . In some examples the diverter valve  22  is manually operated, but in the embodiment shown the diverter valve  22  is a solenoid valve that is electrically controlled in accordance with principles discussed further below. In example implementations the diverter valve  22  may be a two-position ball valve the position of which is controlled by an electronic and/or hydraulic solenoid responsive to logic set forth further below. 
         [0020]    With more specificity and as can be appreciated in reference to  FIG. 1 , the diverter valve  22  is movable between a sewer position, in which the discharge of the appliance  12  is in fluid communication with a sewage pipe  24  that leads to a sewage system  26  such as a septic tank or public sewer system, and an irrigation position, in which the discharge of the appliance  12  is in fluid communication with an irrigation pipe  28  for purposes to be shortly disclosed. It is preferred that the diverter valve  22  establish fluid communication between the discharge of the appliance and either the sewage pipe  24  or irrigation pipe  28 , but not both simultaneously, although in some implementations the diverter valve  22  may be configured to maintain an intermediate position between the sewer position and the irrigation position. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  shows that if desired, a flow meter  30  may be disposed in the irrigation pipe  28  to provide an indication of the existence and/or volume of water flow through the pipe  28 . Also, an anti-siphon valve  32  may be disposed in the irrigation pipe  28  downstream of the flow meter  30  to prevent siphoning of fluid through the pipe  28  toward the diverter valve  22 . If desired, a check valve  34  may also be disposed in the irrigation pipe  28  downstream of the anti-siphon valve  32  to ensure that fluid may flow through the pipe  28  only away from the diverter valve  22 . In some embodiments the check valve  34  may be a swing check-valve that can also serve also as a filter to remove particulates that are too large to pass through the check valve. A clear check-valve with a one inch diameter pipe may be used so that lint and/or other debris can be seen. Also, a filter  36  may also be disposed in the irrigation pipe  28  downstream of the check valve  34  to remove particulate matter from fluid flowing therethrough. The order of components in the irrigation pipe  28  is not limiting. 
         [0022]    Downstream of the components in the irrigation pipe  28  is an outlet  38  through which gray water can flow to land surrounding the house in which the appliance  12  is disposed to irrigate the land. While only a single irrigation pipe  28  is shown for clarity it is to be understood that the pipe  28  may be established by multiple pipe segments joined together and may also include branch lines in some examples. 
         [0023]    When the diverter valve  22  is solenoid controlled, the solenoid of the diverter valve  28  receives position signals from a processor  40  accessing instructions contained on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium  41  in accordance with logic discussed further below. Without limitation, the storage medium may be embodied by disk-based or solid state storage. 
         [0024]    The processor  40  with storage medium  41  may be contained in a control panel assembly  42  which may be integrated with the appliance  12  or housed separately therefrom. In any case, the example control panel assembly  42  may include a control switch  44  which is manipulable to activate or deactivate the logic below. When deactivated, the diverter valve  22  can be in the sewer position. 
         [0025]    Additionally, the control panel  42  can include indicator lamps which may be established by light emitting diodes (LED) of various colors. In the embodiment shown, the control panel assembly  42  includes a chemical indicator lamp or display  46  which, when illuminated, indicates that the concentration of a predetermined chemical in the effluent pipe  20  is above (or below) a threshold or which may indicate the numeric concentration. Also, a temperature indicator lamp or display  48  may be provided to indicate temperature of fluid in the pipe  20  or to give a numeric presentation of the temperature. Status lamps  50 ,  52  may also be provided respectively indicating, when illuminated, that the diverter valve  22  is in the sewer and irrigation positions. The lamps shown in  FIG. 1  may also blink or assume differing intensities to indicate various conditions such as overly high temperature in the effluent pipe  20 , overly high chemical concentration in the pipe  20 , etc. 
         [0026]    Completing the description of  FIG. 1 , various sensors may be in fluid communication with the effluent pipe  20  to communicate signals to the processor  40 . In the embodiment shown, a chemical sensor assembly  54  and a temperature sensor assembly  56  are provided which respectively generate signals representative of a chemical concentration and temperature of fluid in the pipe  20 . In one example, the chemical sensor  54  is a chlorine sensor. Additional sensors may be provided if desired. Each sensor assembly  54 ,  56  may include a wired or wireless transmitter that sends signals to the processor  40 . The processor  40  may also communicate with a mobile communication device  58  either wired or wirelessly, e.g., to receive control signals from the communication device  58  such as signals activating present logic, deactivating the logic, illuminating one or more lamps for test, etc. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  shows example logic in accordance with present principles. Responsive to the control switch  44  being turned to the “on” position at block  60 , the logic periodically begins at state  62 . Signals from one or more of the sensors  54 ,  56  are received at block  64 . Recall that the signal from the chemical sensor  54  represents the concentration of a particular chemical or chemicals in the effluent from the appliance  12  and the signal from the temperature sensor  56  represents the fluid temperature of the effluent from the appliance  12 . In example shown, both temperature and chemical composition in the effluent pipe  20  are tested for, it being understood that only one or the other test may be executed in some embodiments. Also, although  FIG. 2  shows that temperature is tested first and then chemical composition, the order of the tests may be reversed. 
         [0028]    Proceeding to decision diamond  66 , it is determined whether the temperature of fluid in the effluent pipe  20  exceeds a predetermined threshold. In an example non-limiting embodiment the threshold is at least fifty degrees Celsius (50° C.) and more preferably is 62° C. Responsive to a determination that temperature is below the threshold, the logic flows to decision diamond  68  wherein it is determined whether the concentration of the predetermined chemical in the effluent pipe  20  exceeds a threshold concentration. In an example embodiment the chemical is chlorine and an example threshold is two hundred parts per million (200 ppm). 
         [0029]    Responsive to a determination that the chemical composition is below the threshold, the logic moves from decision diamond  68  to block  70 , wherein the processor  40  causes the diverter valve  22  to be configured (or to remain configured, if already so positioned) in the irrigation position, such that effluent from the appliance  12  is directed to the irrigation pipe  28 . Proceeding to block  72 , the irrigate lamp  52  is configured (e.g., by keeping it constantly illuminated it or by blinking it on and off) to indicate that the effluent is being directed to landscaping; otherwise, the irrigate lamp is not so configured. 
         [0030]    In contrast, responsive to a determination at decision diamond  66  that the temperature of the effluent exceeds the threshold, the logic moves from decision diamond  66  to block  74  to configure the sewer lamp (e.g., by keeping it constantly illuminated or by blinking it on and off) to indicate that effluent is being directed to the sewage system or septic tank. Likewise, the high temperature lamp  48  is configured (e.g., by keeping it constantly illuminated or by blinking it on and off) to indicate that effluent temperature is too high for irrigation. 
         [0031]    From block  74  the logic proceeds to decision diamond  76 , wherein it is determined whether the concentration of the predetermined chemical in the effluent pipe  20  exceeds the threshold concentration. Positive tests from decision diamonds  76  and  68  cause the logic to flow to block  78 , wherein the high chemical lamp  46  is configured (e.g., by keeping it constantly illuminated or by blinking it on and off) to indicate that chemical concentration in the effluent is too high for irrigation. The logic then moves from block  78  to block  80  to configure (or maintain it configured, if already so positioned) the diverter valve  22  in the sewer position. As mentioned above, the logic of  FIG. 2  can be periodically repeated. 
         [0032]    While the particular GRAY WATER RECYCLING APPARATUS, METHOD, AND ASSEMBLY is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.