WO2007012111A1

WO2007012111A1 - Grey water diverter and drain combined

Info

Publication number: WO2007012111A1
Application number: PCT/AU2006/001032
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bradley Alexander Butler
Original assignee: Bradley Alexander Butler
Priority date: 2005-07-25
Filing date: 2006-07-24
Publication date: 2007-02-01

Abstract

The intention of this invention is to save water as it goes down the drain by incorporating a diverter valve into the top of the drain where it is easy to reach. This grey water diverter is activated by rotating part of the drain (4) like a dial. This action rotates an inner sleeve (1) which has been designed with a cut-away section (3) that in one position aligns with a corresponding outlet or pipe in the drain (2) causing water to be diverted to a grey water system for re-use. In another position the cut-away section (3) does not align with the outlet or pipe and water is directed to the sewer system.

Description

Grey Water Diverter And Drain Combined

Until now the drain in the sink, bath, shower etc. is simply the end of the line for waste water. Once water passes through the drain it is off to be treated as sewer, this water is known as "Grey Water". A lot of grey water is still clean, clean enough to use in the garden, or to flush the toilet.

There are grey water diverters available that give you the option to save that clean water but all are fitted somewhere along the pipe line, meaning you have to have access to the pipes to activate the diversion. This is not easy in the case of baths and showers as the pipes are under the floor.

My invention is a grey water diverter that is activated from above by simply rotating part of the drain, preferably the drain surround. As this is more convenient for the user it would make the idea of grey water collecting and recycling much more appealing.

This grey water diverter drain can be either the flush fitting type for tiled floors or recessed to accomodate a plug, for sinks and baths.

There are currently three variations of the diverter drain to suit the different applications around the home. They are listed here.-.

GWD 1 is designed to replace drains with an ¹¹S" trap

GWD 2 is designed to replace drains without an "S" trap

GWD 3 is designed to replace drains without an "S" trap or can be installed above an existing "S" trap

All three variations consist of an outer pipe that incorporates a junction with one pipe going to the sewer system, and the other going to a grey water storage tank or to a garden irrigation system. All three variations use a close fitting rotatable inner tube or sleeve, which when rotated closes one port and opens another. These could be made with three or more outlets if required. The rotatable drain surround would be suitably designed to be easy to grip by incorporating raised tabs or the like.

It is preffered that the inner sleeve be held horizontally aligned by incorporating a moulded pin or pins and a groove to accomodate these pins.

These diverters would most likely be made of PVC which has become the industry standard for plumbing fittings, however the upper part., the part visable from above, could be made of or trimmed with various metals to match existing bathroom fixtures, ie:chrome plated brass, stainless steel or alloy. It is preferred that the inner sleeve be easy to remove for cleaning. An "O" ring or rubber washer may need to be incorporated. it will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in the form of the embodiment disclosed provides a novel and useful device for recycling grey water. Clearly however the examples described are only the currently preferred forms of the invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made... which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example the shape of the port, the shape and configuration of the inner sleeve or the design of the drain surround may need to be changed according to application or preference.

Currently preferred examples of the invention will now be discribed with reference to the attached drawings.

The first diverter (GWD 1) REFER TO DRAWING 1# consists of a close fitting tube (1 ) that fits with close tolerance inside the throat of the drain (2) This tube or sleeve (1 ) has a port or cut-away section (3) and is rotatable from above by turning the drain surround (4), in one position the drain works as a standard drain and all waste is directed to the waste/sewer plumbing system via the "S" trap (5) as usual. Once rotated the inner sleeves port (3) aligns with an outlet (6) between the high water mark (H) and the low water mark (L) of the "S" trap, in the outer pipe to allow water sitting high in the "S" trap to drain away to a grey water system via outlet (6) before it fills enough to go over the high point of the "S" trap (5) It is prefered that the drain surround (4) is adapted to provide grip, most likely by having raised tabs (7) so as to be easily activated by hand or foot In the case of a plugged drain the choice can be made before or after the plug is removed. It is also prefered that the inner sleeve (1) and outer pipe (2) be kept horizontally aligned by incorporating a moulded pin and accomodating groove (8), It is preferred that the inner sleeve (1) be easy removed for cleaning.

The second diverter (GWD 2) REFER TO DRAWING 2/3 Is designed to be fitted to showers or baths with no "S" trap, iβ: the drain flows directly to the ^US" trap in the bathroom floor.

It consists of a tube or inner sleeve (1 ) with a port or cut-away section (3) which fits with close tolerance into the throat of the drain (2). The drain has in inverted T or ¹T junction at the base. The inner tube is rotated from above by turning the drain surround (4), this moves the cut-away section (3) so as to align with either pipe of the ¹T or "Y" junction to allow the water to flow, whilst the solid part of the tube (S)₁ the part not cut-away, blocks the alternate pipe. Inside the bottom of the drain would preferably be raised slightly (5) so as not to retain water.The angles of the pipes leaving the junction could vary to suit different applications

It is prefered that the drain surround (4) be modified to provide grip, preferably by having raised tabs (6) so as to be easily activated by hand or foot. In the case of a plugged drain the choice can be made before or after the plug is removed.

It is also prefered that the inner sleeve (1 ) and outer pipe (2) be kept horizontally aligned by incorporating a moulded pin and accomodating groove (7), It Is preferred that the inner sleeve (1) be easy removed for cleaning.. The third diverter (GWD 3) REFER TO DRAWING 3/3 is designed to be fitted in showers, baths or sinks above/before the "S" trap. It consists of an inner tube (1) that is "J" shaped to direct the water in a certain direction, it fits with dose tolerance into the throat of the drain (2). The drain has an inverted T¹ or "Y" junction at the base. The inner tube (1) is rotated from above by preferably turning the drain surround (4), this moves the open section (3) so as to direct water down either pipe of the T or "Y" junction, to either a grey water collection system or to the waste/ sewer system via the "S" trap (5) whilst the solid part of the lube (the back of the J) blocks the alternate pipe. The angles of the pipes leaving the junction could vary to suit different application.

It is preferred that the drain surround be modified to provide grip by having raised tabs (6) so as to be easily activated by hand or foot. In the case of a plugged drain the choice can be made before or after the plug is removed. it is also prefered that the inner sleeve (1) and outer pipe (2) be kept horizontally aligned by incorporating a moulded pin and accomodating groove (7), It is preferred that the inner sleeve (1) be easy removed for cleaning..

Claims

The claims that define this Invention are as follows,..

Put simply this is a drain/plug hole that has a grey water diverter built in. From above this drain looks typical of a drain you would see in a bath, shower, sink etc. But on closer inspection one would notice that part of this drain can be rotated to different positions, like a dial. It is currently preferred that the drain surround be utilised as the diat but alternatively another part may become the preferred option.

This dial would have some modification to allow one to grip it and twist it from one position to another, this turns the an inner sleeve within the drain. The inner sleeve is designed to open and close certain pipes or ports within the drain allowing water to flow in a chosen direction to either be saved and reused or sent to the sewer system.

The fact that these grey water divertere can be activated by simply twisting part of the drain/plug hole should provide a novel and useful design improvement separating them from existing grey water diverters. There are currently 3 variations to suit different applications around the home, they differ only by the configuration of the ports or outlet pipes and the design of the inner sleeve to correspond with these.

In example GWDI the inner sleeve has a cut-away side or port and a horizontally opposed solid side, in one position the port aligns with a corresponding port in the drain wait, difecting water through the aligned ports to be collected for reuse, and in another position the ports do not align and water continues on to the sewer system.

In example GWD2 the lower part of the drain forms a junction in the shape of an inverted ¹T' or "Y" The inner sleeve has a cut away side and a solid side horizontally opposed. In one position the solid side blocks one arm of the junction and the cut away allows waste water to flow down the other arm of the junction, in another position the opposite occurs.

In example GWD3 the lower part of the drain forms a junction in the shape of an inverted "T¹ or "Y". The inner sleeve is moulded at the bottom to form a cuved bend to help direct the waste water in the chosen direction. In one position the solid side blocks one arm of the junction and the open side directs waste water down the other arm of the junction, in another position the opposite occurs.