GB2266233A

GB2266233A - Domestic bath and the use thereof as a reservoir for a water supply system

Info

Publication number: GB2266233A
Application number: GB9208167A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Walmsley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-04-14
Filing date: 1992-04-14
Publication date: 1993-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-14
Also published as: GB9208167D0; GB2266233B

Abstract

A bath (1) wherein the hollow chamber formed between the base, side panels, end panels and U-shaped upper surface is watertight such that said chamber can be utilised as a reservoir which stores used bath water and other waste water. The reservoir forms pant of a water supply system which uses pump 9 to pass water from the reservoir to, for example, the cistern (7) of a w.c. <IMAGE>

Description

This invention relates to a system whereby used bath, shower and wash water is stored and recycled for the flushing of toilets and/or the supply of used water for drought conditions.

It is common knowledge that many civilised countries, including the U.K., suffer serious droughts despite having reasonably regular rainfall. Every year in this country, some areas experience water shortages in contrast with other areas that enjoy the usual surpluses. The increasing world population implies an escalating demand for fresh water, but rainfall is threatened by the consequences of human interference with nature.

Fresh water will be limited and its conservation imperative.

A readily available but scarcely used conservable water supply is that which drains away from domestic baths, showers and wash basins. The object of my invention is to store this water directly under (and sometimes in) the bath, and make it available without reprocessing for use on demand to flush the toilet(s) and provide for certain emergency needs.

This invention would enable an average family of four to save up to 600/700 litres of drinking water per week, which would otherwise have been irretrievably lost down the soil pipe.

Metered water users could thus save money, water authorities would be less pressurised and national and ultimately global water conservation would be improved.

The present invention specifically provides a bath with a waste water reservoir. This reservoir is preferably an integral part of the bath outer panels, but can also be a separate tank which fits to existing bath installations. The reservoir will be rectangular in proportion to the outer-most edge of the bath, and is constructed so that the bath is completely boxed in when installed. The reservoir will be constructed around the base of the bath so as to permit correct adjustment for water to fall towards the drain hole.

The reservoir will preferably be moulded in rigid plastic or fabricated from another suitable, non-corrosive material. The reservoir will preferably sit on the floor, and the bath will be moulded to provide a space between its base and curved sides and the flat base and sides of the reservoir. This will preferably provide enough storage for at least half of the bath water when the plug is pulled and the water drains into it. To prevent used bath water remaining in the bath, an overflow pipe (connected to the normal main drain/soil pipe) will be provided. The top edge will be set so that water from the bath will spill over it when just below the plug hole of the bath. This overflow will have a conventional water trap "U-bend" to prevent foul air from gaining entry to the bath from the waste-pipe.

However, it is possible that severe drought conditions dictate that all bath water should be used for flushing (and/or alternative uses), and not just the level stored below the bath in the reservoir. In these circumstances, the overflow pipe could be extended by adding a length of pipe equal to the desired height (depth) of water to be retained in the bath. This retained water may be unsightly but it doubles the recycling potential. To cater for this drought-condition mode , the top surface of the bath directly above the overflow should have a detachable panel to access the overflow for modification, clearing of debris and so on.

Another optional supply of used water can be that from the wash basin. If this is positioned close to the bath and on the same level as is usual, the drain pipe can lead to the bath reservoir instead of the waste/soil pipe. This arrangement means that used water from the wash basin will replenish the bath reservoirs and maximise the recycled water content. This option is not feasible for wash basins at a lower floor level than that of the bath.

A feed pipe of similar gauge to the existing fresh water feed pipe will be connected to the reservoirs base underfloor.

This pipe will travel towards the toilet on the same floor or if required an additional pipe will travel from the reservoir to other toilets (for example, downstairs) or an auxilliary connection(tap) for other uses (for example, a watering can for the garden; washing the car; cleaning paths, and so on). A small mains electric water-pump will be connected underfloor to the pipe preferably near the base of the toilet on the same floor.

The pipe from the reservoir will fall towards the pump to gravity prime it. Gravity will feed the downstairs toilet and/or auxilliary connection (if required). Feed pipes will preferably be protected from blockage by removable filters.

The water pump will feed water through a pipe up from below floor level to the toilet cistern. The conventional ball cock will be used to trip a sealed electric switch positioned in line with the ball cock's vertical movement as the water level rises. When tripped the switch will cut out the water pump to halt the water flow until the next flush, when the pump will be activated by the evacuation of the toilets cistern and fall of the ball cock. A gravity fed application would use the conventional ball cock to stem the flow and the existing connection for fresh water feed to this application will be modified to accept both feeds (fresh water and bath water). The existing fresh water supply pipes for each toilet will have simple shut-off taps to stem the flow of fresh water whilst used bath water is available.The mains electric pump will have an isolator switch for this fresh water mode.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1.

Shows a schematic cross section of the whole system.

Fig. 2.

Shows detail of the waste-pipe and drought extension piece.

Fig. 3.

Shows detail of the ball cock cut-off switch.

Referring to Fig. 1., a bath comprises a robust, watertight reservoir 1. which forms the bath's base and side panels.

After taking a bath, a person removes the drain plug and the used soapy water drains out through the plug hole into the reservoir 1. Optionally, after a wash a person removes the wash basin plug and permits water to drain through the redirected pipe to the bath reservoir 1. The overflow 2 maintains a water level below the plug hole by permitting water to spill over it to the normal waste/soil pipe. The overflow 2 can be extended by a pipe 3 to cater for extreme drought conditions. A removable panel 4 in the bath's top surface directly above the overflow provides access to the overflow for modification, and the clearing of the filter 5.

When flushing a toilet on the same floor as the bath, the ball cock 6 in the toilets supply cistern 7 falls with the evacuated flushed water. This causes the electric switch 8 to activate the pump 9. This in turn draws water from the bath reservoir, and pumps it through pipe 10. to the toilet's supply cistern 7.

The filling of the cistern and the subsequent rising of the ball cock ultimately trips the electric switch 8, thus cutting off the pump and water supply until the next flush. An optional feed pipe 11 can be added directly to the bath reservoir or junctioned off the pipe 10 to gravity feed a downstairs toilet and/or a connector (tap) for other uses. A simple fresh water tap 12 and pump isolator switch 13. are provided for use in emergency i.e.

when no used water is available.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown an overflow pipe 2.

The top edge of this pipe is set just below the bottom edge of the bath's plug hole. The overflow pipe 2 directs water from the bath reservoir 1 to the usual main waste /soil pipe until the water level reaches that of the overflow's top edge. At this point the normal operating reserve is reached and maintained.

The overflow pipe 2 has the usual "U-bend" to prevent the back flow of foul air from the waste/soil pipe. In severe drought conditions it may be desirable to save all the used bath water.

In such case, the overflow 2 needs to be increased in height to prevent bath water from escaping. An extension pipe 3 can be pressed into the overflow 2 to maintain a higher bath water level (in the bath). The overflow 2 inside diameter and the extension pipe 3 outside diameter will be dimensioned to provide a watertight, push-fit. A removable panel 4 is provided in the bath's top surface directly above the overflow to access the overflow for modifications etc. The panel 4 will be secured by a quick-release screw/tab mechanism.

Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown a sealed electric switch 8. This activates the water pump when the ball cock 6 falls with the evacuated, flushed water. The rising of the ball cock as used water is pumped up from the bath reservoir causes the electric switch 8 to trip and this stops the pump and flow of water.

Claims

Claims - A water recycling system.

1. A water recycling system comprises a domestic bath with an integral used water reservoir. The reservoir forms the external flat panels which normally box the bath in plus a flat base to complete the open topped, hollow rectangle.

The reservoir is watertight, non-corrosive and robust enough to store water drained from a normal domestic bath.

The available space between the bath's outer curved surface and the reservoir's inner straight base and sides is the storage capacity of the reservoir. This capacity will mean that used water will normally be available for toilet flushing and/or other applications. Used water will come from the bath, over-bath shower and can come from a nearby wash basin.

2. A water recycling system as claimed in claim 1 uses a modifiable overflow to regulate the desired used water level. This level can be below or above the bath plug hole, depending upon demand.

3. A water recycling system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 comprises a detachable panel. This is positioned in the bath's top surface directly above the overflow. The panel orifice is large enough to permit a hand and arm to pass through (to modify the overflow, clear the filter etc). The panel is non-corrosive and watertight when in situ on the bath. The panel will be secured by a quick detachable screw method and tabs.

4. A water recycling system as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 uses underfloor pipes and mains electric pump to replenish the toilet W.C. cistern, drawing used water on demand from the bath reservoir.

5. A water recycling system as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 uses the ball cock in the W.C. cistern to trigger a sealed electric switch. This in turn activates the electric water pump and controls the supply of used water.

6. A water recycling system as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 restricts the use of fresh water for toilet flushing and yet caters for fresh water use when essential.

7. A water recycling system as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 can gravity feed toilets and auxiliary connections on floors lower than the bath reservoir.

8. A water recycling system as claimed in the previous claims can save an average family of four around 600 to 700 litres of fresh water per week, assuming one bath per person per week.