Patent Publication Number: US-2011067769-A1

Title: Waste shower water recycle apparatus

Description:
The present invention relates to apparatus which enables recycling or reuse of waste shower water for filling a toilet cistern. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Strict regulations are in force to keep any potable water supply separate of potential cross-contamination with a grey water supply, such as run-off shower water. However, it is also appreciated that a significant amount of potable water is wasted when a toilet is flushed. There is little or no benefit gained by using potable water to fill a toilet cistern, and run-off waste shower water often carries little in the way of dirt and other particulate matter. 
     The present invention therefore seeks to provide recycle apparatus which enables the reuse of waste shower water to refill or replenish a toilet cistern, whilst meeting domestic and/or international water regulations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided waste shower water recycle apparatus for receiving waste shower water from a shower drain outlet, the apparatus comprising a waste shower water inlet which receives draining waste shower water, a potable water inlet, a drain outlet which is liquidly communicable with a drain, a cistern supply outlet which is connectable to a toilet cistern, flow control means which controls the flow of waste shower water from the waste shower water inlet to the drain outlet and to the cistern supply outlet, and which controls the flow of potable water from the potable water inlet to the cistern supply outlet, and a pump device to move waste shower water from a drain outlet of a shower to the said waste shower water inlet. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a bathroom system comprising a shower having a shower drain outlet, a toilet having a cistern, and waste shower water recycle apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the pump device pumping waste shower water from the shower drain outlet to the waste shower water inlet of the waste shower water recycle apparatus. 
     The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a diagrammatic layout of a bathroom system, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, having a first embodiment of waste shower water recycle apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic layout of a bathroom system, in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, and having a second embodiment of waste shower water recycle apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring firstly to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, there is shown a bathroom system  10  which comprises a shower  12  having a shower tray  14  and run-off waste shower water drain outlet  16  in a base of the shower tray  14 , a toilet  18  having a cistern  20 , and waste shower water recycle apparatus  22 . Although the shower is shown as having a step-in shower tray, the shower may instead have a wet- or tanked-floor typically having a fall to the drain outlet. The fall may be formed by use of an under-surface former. The shower tray may alternatively be a level-entry shower tray. 
     The recycle apparatus  22  includes a recycle module or unit  24  which comprises a hollow feed housing  26  having a waste shower water inlet  28 , a potable water inlet  30 , a drain outlet  32 , and a cistern supply outlet  34 . Liquid flow paths are provided in the feed housing  26  between the waste shower water inlet  28  and the drain outlet  32  and the cistern supply outlet  34 , as well as between the potable water inlet  30  and the cistern supply outlet  34 . A flow control mechanism is also provided in the feed housing  26  for controlling and directing the flow on the flow paths. 
     The flow control mechanism is, for example, pressure operated, thus in this embodiment dispensing with the need for any electrical actuation or electrical energisation. This simplifies installation. If a pressure at the cistern supply outlet  34  is equal to or above a predetermined level, indicating that the cistern  20  is full, a valve such as a check-valve is automatically closed causing the flow path from the waste shower water inlet  28  to divert to the drain outlet  32 . Thus, when the shower  12  is in use, the run-off shower water flows directly to the drain through the feed housing  26 . 
     In the event that the toilet  18  is used whilst the shower  12  is not operational, thus reducing the pressure at the cistern supply outlet  34 , a valve at the potable water inlet  30  opens to allow potable water to flow to the cistern supply outlet  34  and thus refill the cistern  20 . In this case and during flow from the potable water inlet  30 , a further valve may automatically close the drain outlet  32 . 
     On the flow path from the waste shower water inlet  28  to the cistern supply outlet  34 , a cleansing element  36  is preferably supplied. The cleansing element  36  includes a particulate matter filter element  38  and a disinfecting element  40 . The filter element  38  and disinfecting element  40  are preferably provided together as a single replaceable cleansing cartridge  42 . Alternatively, the filter element  38  may be removable for cleaning whilst the disinfecting element  40  may be openable to enable periodic re-dosing. 
     The cleansing element  36  thus enables removal of a majority of hair, skin, dirt and other particulate matter from the flow of waste water from the waste shower water inlet  28  to the cistern supply outlet  34 , and the disinfectant element exposes the said flow of waste water to a chemical agent which destroys, or inhibits the growth of, harmful waterborne organisms or contaminants. 
     Although preferably a single removable and replaceable cartridge, the cleansing element  36  may have a separate filter element and disinfecting element. 
     It is envisaged that the cleansing element will only be located on the flow path between the waste shower water inlet  28  and the cistern supply outlet  34 . The cleansing element is preferably bypassed on the flow path between the potable water inlet  30  and the cistern supply outlet  34 , and between the waste shower water inlet  28  and the drain outlet  32 . 
     To provide sufficient pressure at the cistern supply outlet  34  in order to refill or replenish a toilet  18  cistern  20 , it is advantageous that the recycle apparatus  22  includes a pump device  44 . Beneficially, the shower  12  will already include a pumped waste for the forced movement of draining waste water away from the shower drain outlet  16 . It is thus convenient to provide the feed housing  26  inline and downstream of the pump device  44 . To this end, the waste shower water inlet  28  of the feed housing  26  is connected to a waste water outlet  46  of the pump device  44 . Thus, the pump device  44  is typically independent of and spaced from the feed housing  26 . 
     However, it is possible that the pump device  44  can be provided in or on the feed housing  26 , thereby providing an integral unit for installation in a bathroom area. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a second embodiment of the waste shower water recycle apparatus  22  is shown provided as part of the bathroom system  10 . The features of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, except with the addition of a treated water reservoir  48 . To this end, like references refer to like parts, and further detailed description is omitted. 
     The treated water reservoir  48  is connected to the cistern supply outlet  34  of the feed housing  26 , and includes a treated water inlet  50  and a treated water outlet  52 . The reservoir  48  functions as a supplementary cistern so that, if the toilet  18  is flushed whilst the shower  12  is not being used, the cistern  20  is refilled or replenished by the reservoir  48 . The reservoir  48  is then refilled once the shower  12  is run, via the waste shower water being directed through the feed housing  26  to the cistern supply outlet  34 . 
     Preferably, the reservoir  48  would be automatically drained following a predetermined period, such as two hours, via the feed housing  26  to the drain outlet  32  to prevent undue standing of the grey water. 
     It is possible that a pump device can be provided in the reservoir  48  for drawing water from the feed housing  26 . Additionally or alternatively, a pump device could be retro-fittable inside the cistern  20  again to draw treated water from the feed housing  26  as necessity dictates. These pump devices may be in addition to or as an alternative to the pump device  44  of the shower  12 , mentioned in the first embodiment. 
     In both of the above embodiments, a timer may be included as part of the recycle apparatus  22 , typically being provided within the feed housing  26 . Once the cistern  20  is used, if the shower  12  is then not immediately used thereafter, the refilling of the cistern  20  may be delayed by a period which is preferably selectable by the user. Following this predetermined period, if no waste shower water enters the feed housing  26 , then the flow control mechanism opens the potable water inlet  30  to enable filling of the cistern  20  and/or the reservoir  48  with potable water. 
     In the event that the waste shower water does not fully fill or replenish the cistern  20  and/or reservoir  48 , then after a predetermined period, again preferably settable by the user, the flow control mechanism opens the potable water inlet  30  to complete the filling of the cistern  20  and/or reservoir  48 . 
     In the alternative case, if the cistern  20  and/or reservoir  48  becomes full with grey treated water, the flow control mechanism closes the cistern supply outlet  34  and redirects the flow path to the drain outlet  32 . 
     Preferably, a manual override will also be provided to enable a user to directly activate filling of the cistern  20  and/or reservoir  48  via the potable water inlet  30 . In this case, the flow control mechanism would direct a flow path in the feed housing  26  from the waste shower water inlet  28  straight to the drain outlet  32 , preferably bypassing the cleansing element  36 . 
     Although the flow control mechanism is preferably pressure operated, other flow control means can be envisaged and the use of electrically controllable actuators for opening and closing any or all of the inlets and outlets can be considered. 
     It is thus possible to provide waste shower water recycle apparatus which can receive waste shower water from a shower drain outlet and supply it to a toilet cistern and/or a supplementary cistern reservoir. It is also possible to provide such apparatus which can include a connection to a potable water supply in the event that insufficient grey water is available from the shower. The apparatus also includes a drain connection for direct draining of the waste shower water if the cistern and/or reservoir is full. A flow control mechanism of the apparatus is also preferably mechanical and/or hydraulic without requiring the use of electrical components. The apparatus is also beneficial in that it can be used in conjunction with a shower water drain pump which provides the pumping pressure for filling the cistern and/or reservoir. The apparatus, in this latter case, can thus be retro-fittable downstream of an existing installed shower drain pump. By use of the cleansing element, the required water regulations for the reuse of grey water can be met. 
     The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.