GB2475923A

GB2475923A - A rainwater harvesting system comprising an auxiliary water storage tank and float valve

Info

Publication number: GB2475923A
Application number: GB0921414A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Brittain
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-12-07
Filing date: 2009-12-07
Publication date: 2011-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2029-12-07
Also published as: GB0921414D0; GB2475923B

Abstract

A rainwater harvesting system, comprising one or more supplementary water storage tanks 1 to store and automatically release harvested rainwater. The rainwater is released on activation of a water closet flushing mechanism 7 in preference to a mains water supply 10. When the rainwater is exhausted, ball cock 12 operates and allows the mains water supply to fill the tank 1. The system comprises a filter 4 for filtering the incoming rainwater and may also comprise a releasable observation porthole for maintenance to the stop ball cock 12.

Description

I

RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM TF

The subject of the invention is a rainwater harvesting system, primarily for the economic flushing of water closet toilets, consisting of one or more auxiliary water storage tanks, a rainwater supply pipe, filter chamber, a traditional floating ball stopcock, gravity feed pipe, a mains water supply inlet & a connecting supply pipe to other tanks, the embodiment of which creates a Tandem Flush' water closet system.

The disadvantage of traditional water closets is that they use only potable water. Whilst global environment & economic conditions dictate that purified water is becoming more & more expensive, eco awareness & government legislation, demand that homes of the future become less wasteful of natural resources.

Toilet flushing accounts for 40% of household water consumption which according to environment agency figures, is 200 litres per person per day. 80 litres per person per day, to flush soil waste in a toilet is an unnecessary, illogic waste of purified water.

According to the invention, there is provided a rainwater harvesting system primarily for the economic flushing of toilets, having an inlet pipe which directs rainwater through a filter into 1 or more water storage tanks, a floating ball cock, variably fixed inside the primary water storage tank to a nominated level, which is in turn connected to an existing water closet by a gravity feed pipe. Upon activation of the existing water closet flush mechanism, replacement water, supplied via the primary auxiliary water storage tanks gravity feed pipe, causes the harvested rainwater to descend automatically and preferentially in tandem' with the existing water closet, replacing the flushed water.

Given implementation of the measures described, the primary concept of the invention, is to harvest & use rainwater when available, then return automatically to mains water flushing when supply of rainwater has been exhausted, without the need of human intervention.

A specific embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1. Shows an elevation of the system connected to an existing WC, with supply from a roof gutter.

Figure 2. Illustrates the TANDEM FLUSH' sequence Figure 3. Shows an elevation of the system as described in figure 1, with additional ball cock for controlled rainwater supply from other storage tanks.

FIGURE 1 Figure 1 shows the (1) auxiliary water storage tank, the (2) rainwater inlet I supply pipe, the (3) isolation I maintenance valve, the (4) water filter, the (5) gravity feed outlet, the (6) isolation / maintenance valve, the (7) ball cock mechanism, the ( 8) existing water closet, the (9) isolation / maintenance valve, the (10) mains water supply pipe, the (11) isolation I maintenance valve, the (12) ball cock mechanism, the (13) isolation valve, the (14) tandem tank feed, the (15) tandem water storage tank, the (16) overflow pipe.

The (1) auxiliary rainwater storage tank mounted directly above the (8) existing water closet receives harvested rainwater from the (2) variably sized inlet pipe through the (4) water filter. Filtered water then fills the (1) or more auxiliary water tanks to a maximum level indicated by the (16) over flow pipe. Upon activation of the (8) existing WC flush mechanism, the (7) ball cock therein opens, allowing harvested rainwater in the (1) auxiliary water storage tank to descend into the (8) existing WC, through the (5) gravity feed pipe, to a flush capacity dictated by the (7) ball cock. When all rainwater in the (1) auxiliary water tank has been released to that level designated by the (12) ball cock, further activation of the flush mechanism in the (8) existing WC, actuates the tandem' opening of both the (7 & 12) ball cocks, automatically releasing that final measure of water in the (1) auxiliary water tank into the (8) existing cistern, whilst simultaneously replenishing the (1) auxiliary water tank with mains water, from the (10) mains water supply pipe. With the exception of a mains water supply cut off' or other mal-function conditions, a minimum of 2 flush capacity measures of water will always remain, until further rainfall replenishes the system once more.

Regardless of the number of auxiliary tanks, only one' ball cock mechanism, the (12) is required, in the (1) auxiliary water tank.

FIGURE 2 Figure 2 illustrates the TANDEM FLUSH' sequence of:- 2 (1) Maximum auxiliary tank capacity + one existing WC measure.

2 (2) Final flush measure in the auxiliary tank + one in existing WC.

2 -(3) Existing WC releases the penultimate flush measure, activating sequence 4:- 2 -(4) The existing WC receives the final auxiliary tank measure, activating 5:- 2 -(5) Mains water supply replenishes the auxiliary tank.

2 -(6) Harvested rainwater replenishes auxiliary tank to capacity.

FIGURE 3 Figure 3 shows the system as described in Figure 1, with additional ball cock (17) to enable controlled supply of harvested rainwater from other storage tanks.

Claims

CLAIMS1) A Rainwater Harvesting System comprising of an auxiliary water storage tank (1) with rainwater inlet (2) & water filter (4) linked by the gravity feed pipe 5 to an existing WC, the flushing of which, causes ball cock 7 to open, automatically releasing water from the auxiliary tank (1), in preference to the mains supply (10), to replenish the existing WC cistern.
2) A Rainwater Harvesting System according to claim 1, wherein the ball cock (12) is caused to activate simultaneously & S tandem' with the actuation of ball cock (7) by flushing the existing WC cistern (8), when water levels in the auxiliary tank (1) are defined by ball cock (12) in its closed position.
3) A Rainwater Harvesting System according to claims 1 & 2, wherein the mains water supply (10) is introduced into the system automatically, when water reserves in the auxiliary tank (1) have been exhausted.
4) A Rainwater Harvesting System according to claims 1, 2 & 3, wherein more than one auxiliary water storage tank can be linked in series, by the tandem tank feed pipe (14) 5) A Rainwater Harvesting System according to claims 1, 2, 3 & 4, wherein one or more auxiliary water storage tanks linked in series, are regulated in terms of water supply & levels by only one ball cock (12), in the primary auxiliary tank (1).6) A Rainwater Harvesting System according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5, wherein the Rainwater supply pipe (2) & overflow pipe (16) act as a ventilator & air orifice for the compensation of atmospheric pressure.7) A Rainwater Harvesting System according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 wherein the primary auxiliary water storage tank (1) has a releasable observation porthole for maintenance access to the stop cock (12).8) A Rainwater Harvesting System according to claims 1 to 7 where the ball cock (17) allows controlled release of harvested rainwater from other storage tanks Amendments to the claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1) A Rainwater Harvesting System comprising of an auxiliary water storage tank (1) with rainwater inlet (2) & water filter (4) linked by a gravity feed pipe (5) to an existing water closet, the flushing of which, causes ball cock 7 to open, automatically releasing water from an auxiliary tank (1), in preference to a mains supply (10), to replenish the existing water closet cistern.2) A Rainwater Harvesting System according to claim 1, wherein the ball cock (12) in the auxiliary water tank, is caused to activate simultaneously & in tandem' with the actuation of ball cock (7) of the cistern (8) by flushing the existing water closet cistern (8), when water levels in the auxiliary tank (1) are defined by ball cock (12) in its closed position.3) A Rainwater Harvesting System according to claims 1 & 2, wherein the mains water supply (10) is introduced into the system automatically, when water reserves in the auxiliary tank (1) have been exhausted.4) A Rainwater Harvesting System according to claims 1, 2 & 3, wherein more than one auxiliary water storage tank can be linked in series, by a tandem tank feed pipe (14) 5) A Rainwater Harvesting System according to claims 1, 2, 3 & 4, wherein one or more auxiliary water storage tanks linked in series, are regulated in terms of water supply & levels by only one ball cock (12), in a primary auxiliary tank (1).6) A Rainwater Harvesting System according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5, wherein the Rainwater supply pipe (2) & overflow pipe (16) act as a ventilator & air orifice for the compensation of atmospheric pressure.7) A Rainwater Harvesting System according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 wherein the primary auxiliary water storage tank (1) has a releasable observation porthole for maintenance access to the stop cock (12).8) A Rainwater Harvesting System according to claims I to 7 where a ball cock (17) Situated in the auxiliary water tank, allows controlled release of harvested rainwater from other storage tanks