GB2228068A - Hot water supply by remote control - Google Patents

Abstract

Water supply to a basin, bath or sink is designed to provide water at that point of use at the desired temperature without any wastage. Hot and cold water is fed to a thermostatically set mixer tap 1, hot and cold supplies being separated by the use of a plunger control 14 in the centre of the knob for cold only. The outer rim of the knob is rotated for hot water; cold is blended at the thermostat to achieve the pre-set temperature. Hot, pressurised water arrives at the thermostat at cylinder temperature via a previously empty feed pipe 2, this water being pumped from the cylinder 11 into a chamber 10 housed in the top of the cylinder. The first 5 degrees of turn of the tap trips a switch operating a slide valve 13 to close the waste. The next 5 degrees movement sends a radio signal to open a valve 6 which in turn operates the pump 7. The last 5 degree turn enables switch 3 and sends a similar signal to close the valve, which in turn deactivates the pump. Returning the tap to zero re-sets switches 3 and 2 and trips the slide valve switch in reverse to release the slide valve over the waste, to empty the water. <IMAGE>

Description

HOT WATER TAP SUPPLY IMPROVEMENT BY REMOTE CONTROL Introduction This idea was conceived because of the urgent need to conserve both heat and water.

Modern technology is now available to help the Water Authorities to achieve this aim. These Authorities may in future meter all domestic supplies and it is therefore vital that there should be no wastage in the home.

At the same time domestic heating fuel bills absorb a large proportion of the average household expenditure. Whereas there has been great effort made to reduce heat loss through ceilings, walls and doors, no attempts have been made to minimise heat los through water waste when filling wash basin and sinks.

In filling the wash basin, the average householder leaves the plug out of the wash basin and runs the water until it reach the required temperature. Tests have proved that there is an average loss of one to one and a half pints of water plus heat flowing directly into the drainage system.

If this loss is measured by the number of occupant in the house multiplied by the number of times the hot water tap is used, and then multiplied by the number of the population the wastage of both heat and water is colossal. In addition we should also consider the vast amount of heating and water wasted by this process in industrial and commercial premises . and Public services such as schools and hospitals.

The development of this invention has coincided with rovlrlg public awareness about the limited natural resources available to provide such heat, and more seriously, the Greenhouse effect. The regular use of this invention can make some small but important contribution to curtailing the growth of these problems In addition to its ability to minimise water and heat loses in the way described, further cold water waste can be avoided by use of a spring loaded plunger type knob incorporated into the system.

The invention has the advantages of one control for both systems which work independently of each other, and therefore do not infringe the Water Authorities regulations.

1. Specifications NOTE !! All measurements are flexible The construction of a copper cylinder of a thick gauge or strength to withstand a pressure that would be required internally. (Figure 2.10) Its size would be approximately 3/4 diameter size of the Main Hot Water Supply Cylinder, which is a standard fitting in most existing hot water systems, and one foot long, approximately.

This smaller cylinder named as the Pressure Chamber should have provision for the following in its manufacture:-a flat removeable cover with a Seal Flange on its underside with holes drilled and the corresponding opening should be strengthened by a flange with drilled holes to receive the fixing screws.

Two or more valve outlet holes for the supply pipes in the top section and an opening for pressurised water from a pump in the lower half via a non return valve. Four inches from the top of the Pressure Chamber Cylinder a circular sealing flange should be sweated, or fixed around its circumference.

A circular opening should be cut on the top of the Hot Water Supply Cylinder of the diameter size of the Pressure Chamber, plus or minus, and strengthened around its edge with a flange, drilled and tapped, to receive the bolts or screws of the Sealing Flange on the Pressure Chamber Cylinder plus gasket/sealing compound. Obviously, a prefabricated cylinder is a better option than trying to modify an existing one.

The Pressure Chamber Cylinder would be lowered into the Hot Water Supply Chamber up to the level of the Sealing Flange leaving approximately eight inches of chamber inside. with a gay or space between the inner wall of the supply cylinder and the outer wall of the Pressure Cylinder for circulation of hot water, around its perimeter.

A pump (Figure 2.7) of about two and a half P S I or of the capacity for the pressure required for the scheme. This would be mounted or located at the top section of the Hot Water Supply Cylinder at an approximate level of the non returnable water valve inlet in the Pressure Cylinder. The Pump would only be in operation whilst hot water is drawn off. If it was found, however, that the pressure required for circulation interfered with efficiency of the Outlet Valves operated by the Remote Control, a Resticter Plate, internally placed at the approximate level of the Sealing Flange, could be installed.

THE REMOTE CONTROL UNIT (Figure 3.5) location hot water cylinder by radio or by other remote control apparatus.

The Water Valves (Figures 2.6 and 3.6) (Remote Controlled) two purpose - Venting and Water Control.

Sliding Valve (Figure 1.13) (Sealing Waste Outlet) by Remote Control. .7) Pressure ump (Pressure Chamber) In use only when Water Valve is operating. ss Pressure Chamber Expansion pipe connection to the cylinder expansion pipe (Figure 2.9).

The Remote Control Tap (Figure 1.1) at the point of use to be fed by hot and cold water (mixer) and thermclstatirwally controlled.

A possible small panel to house electronics needed for the Remote Control working to be fitted in the adjacent area with Neon Indicator for amount of water required (optional).

NOTE All items above needed for the idea would require specialist knowledge, therefore fuller information is not available at this stage.

ADDENDUM Points to note for the successful working of the idea At all times, the supply pipes from the Hot Water Supply Cylinder to the place of use (basin etc) are empty, only when the Remote Hot Water Control Tap is operating is there any water in the pipeline, and whatever position of the dial for flow, the pipe always remains in the open position.

Advantage - less pipes to freeze up There will be a slight delay of nearly maximum temperature Hot water to the point of use A one hundred per cent saving of water that would have gone into the waste pipes under normal conditions of use can be brought about by the automatic sealing of the Waste Pipe by a Slide Valve operated by the Remote Control Tap by the first degrees of turn, located on the Waste Outlet below the basin.

The Control Tap could also house a separate Control for the Cold Water.

A spring loaded plunger type of knob in its centre, working independently of the Control Tap, thus both hot and cold water filling of the basin etc could be achieved by one action and one tap.

HOT WATER TAP IMPROVEMENT CONTROL SYSTEM - No 1 DRAWING IDEA FOR IMPROVEMENT BY REMOTE CONTROL NOTES FIRST DEGREE OF MOVEMENT ON OUTER HOT WATER CONTROL OPERATES THE WASTE SLIDING VALVE. THIS WOULD,BE FITTED UNDER THE WASTE OUTLET OF BASIN BETWEEN THE OVERFLOW OULET.

HOT AND COLD WATER CONTROLS COULD BE ENTIRELY SEPARATE OTHER, HOT WATER BEING THERMOSTATIC CONTROLLED.

F g Ei EACH NOTES FIRST DEGREE OF MOVEMENT ON OUTER HOT WATER CONTROL OPERATES THE WASTE SLIDING VALVE.

THIS WOULD BE FITTED UNDER THE WASTE OUTLET OF BASIN BETWEEN THE OVERFLOW OUTLET.

HOT AND COLD WATER CONTROLS COULD BE ENTIRELY SEPARATE FROM EACH OTHER HOT WATER BEING THERMOSTATIC CONTROLLED.

REMOTE CONTROLLED OUTLET VALVE (TWO MOVEMENTS) VALVE PERFORMS TWO FUNCTIONS - MOVEMENT OF SHAFT 180o 1. VENT OPEN, HOT WATER CLOSED - MOVEMENT OF SHAFT 1800 2. HOT WATER OPEN, VENT CLOSED - COMPLETE MOVEMENT 3600 3.* VENT CHAMBER COMPLETELY SEALED OFF FROM WATER SUPPLY NOTE WHEN THE HOT WATER SUPPLY IS OPEN THE PRESSURE PUMP IS IN OPERATION * A SINGLE SEALED VENT CHAMBER IS COMMON TO ALL OUTLETS MOTIVE POWER ELECTRICITY, ELECTRONICS, SIGNALS CONTROLLED BY A VALVE IT IS INTENDED, IF A PATENT IS GRANTED, TO NAME MY INVENTION 'THE AQUATRONICS PLUMBING SYSTEM'

Claims (21)

HOT WATER TAP SUPPLY IMPROVEMENT BY REMOTE CONTROL Claims I Claim the Patent Rights for the following features incorporated in my Invention because of their unique design and construction.

1. The Pressure Chamber with its built-in compartment in its lower half, with expansion relief valve, and its separate outlets of pressurised hot water to the water valves.

2. An Electronically Remote Control Water Valve Unit mounted in, on, or adjacent to the Pressure Chamber.

3. An Electronic Control Tap F1C4 with fitted Rheostat with the following qualities embodied: a. a measured quantity of hot water over-ride (timed opening and shutting of valves); b. a variable flow of hot water (deviations in strength of Signal by Rheostat); c. operating the Waste Slide Valve; d. Thermostatic Control; e. an independent Cold Water Control housed in its centre.

These five achievements being accomplished via an Electronic Panel fitted with Switches and indicators adjacent to the Control Tap.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. Apparatus for controlling the ingress and egress of water into and out of a bath, basin or like receptacle through an associated drain and water faucet, comprising plugging means for plugging the drain, regulating means for regulating water flow from the faucet and a single control means for controlling the actuation of both the plugging and regulating means.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, arranged to be capable of causing a drain to be plugged and a contemporaneous flow of water through a faucet.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, arranged to be capable of causing a drain to be plugged and thereafter allowing water to flow through a faucet.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, arranged to be capable of causing a drain to be unplugged while preventing water from flowing through a faucet.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1-4, wherein the control means comprises a manually operable control member, movable to allow the selection of any one of the following conditions: (a) drain open and faucet closed; (b) drain closed and facuet closed; (c) drain closed and facuet open and; (d) drain closed and facuet closed.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein, when condition (c) is selected, further movement of the control member actuates the regulating means to adjust the water flow rate from a faucet.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein, the plugging means comprises a solenoid actuated valve.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the solenoid valve is electrically connected to the control means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the plugging means comprises a valve arranged to be located between the junction of an overflow pipe with the drain, and the receptacle.

10. Flow control apparatus for use in a domestic water system comprising a water source, an outlet remote from the water source and a water conduit extending between the source and the outlet; the apparatus comprising valve means, for regulating the flow of water along such a conduit from such a source to such an outlet, and control means for controlling the valve means, wherein the valve means is remote from the control means and the latter is in the vicinity of the outlet.

11. Flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the control means communicates with the valve means through the medium of an electrically conducting element.

12. Flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the control means communicates with the valve means via radio frequency transmissions.

13. Flow control apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10-12, comprising a plurality of valve means, each arranged for regulating the flow of water from a water source to one of a plurality of outlets, and a plurality of control means, each being located in the vicinity of one of said outlets, and arranged to communicate with the valve means which controls the flow of water to that outlet.

14. Flow control apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10-13, further comprising a cistern, located between the water source and the valve means, which cistern comprises a main chamber, a pressure chamber and pumping means, the arrangement being such that the water source is connected to the main chamber, which is connected via the pumping means to the pressure chamber and the pressure chamber communicates with the conduit or conduits through the valve means, the pump means being actuated for.forcing water under pressure into the pressure chamber and hence out through a valve means, only when at least one valve means is open.

15. Flow control apparatus as claimed in claim 14 further comprising a closable vent communicating between the pressure chamber and the main chamber.

16. Flow control apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10-15 wherein the valve means is located adjacent to the water source or the cistern.

17. Flow control apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10-16, wherein the control means comprises apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1-9.

18. A water system including flow control apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10-17 wherein each valve means is located such that when it is closed the conduit extending from that valve means to an outlet empties through the associated outlet.

19. Apparatus for controlling the ingress and egress of water into and out of a bath, basin or like receptacle, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

20. Flow control apparatus for use in a domestic type water system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A water system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.