Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of water saving system and, more particularly, to an automatic controlled system for saving tap water normally wasted as a hot water faucet is opened and the relatively cold water retained in the lines between the water heating system and the faucet is drained.

Background of the invention

In a conventional plumbing system including a water heating system and hot and cold water faucets, it is a well known fact that water is retained in the hot water line between the water heating system and the hot water faucet and that with time, this water cools down. As a result, when one wants hot water, the usual procedure is to open the hot water faucet and to wait while the relatively cold water retained in the hot water line between the water heating system and the faucet is drained. As a result, the water which drains from the faucet until the water becomes hot is wasted.

In the past, this source of wasted water received little attention because water seemed to be a limitless commodity. Specifically, it has been known to use a closed circuit water circulation system activated by means of a continuously operating, electrically driven water pump which circulates the water from the water heating system through the pipe lines and back to the hot water system. With such a closed circuit system, one has instant hot water. Another alternative has been to provide a small coil heater and to incorporate this into the hot water plumbing immediately preceding the hot water tap. This had the effect of heating the water until it became hot by itself. Today, we have become very much aware of the fact that water is not an unlimited commodity. Therefore, the conventional plumbing system which wastes the cold water is no longer acceptable.

It is a primary object of the present invention to produce a water saving system wherein the water in the hot water line is caused to be initially directed to a reservoir by temperature sensitive mechanism which upon sensing the presence of hot water discharges the same through the outlet faucet.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system which is capable of saving tap water.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system for saving tap water normally wasted as a hot water faucet is opened and the cold water retained in the lines between the hot water heating system and the faucet is drained.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a water saving system which is automatically operated.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a water saving system which is easily installed between a hot water line and a hot water faucet.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a water saving system which prevents the creation of scale.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a water saving system which is suitable to operate in different flow pressures. Another object of the present invention is the provision of a water saving system which prevents the flow of water to a hot water faucet until the water reaches a predetermined temperature.

Another object of the invention is to produce a system which automatically flows water from a reservoir and mixes the previously stored water with the heated water from the main supply.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for saving the relatively cold water retained in a hot water line, which comprises: a) a reservoir for collecting said relatively cold water, wherein said reservoir is provided with means for indicating the level of the water in said reservoir; b) at least one electrical valve for causing the filling of said reservoir with said relatively cold water and/or the emptying of said reservoir from said collected water according to the open or close state of each electrical valve; c) a sub-pressure generating mechanism connectable between a consumer outlet line and a water faucet being connected to said hot water line, said mechanism includes an inlet wherein said mechanism is used for bypassing the flow of said cold water, upon opening said water faucet, to said reservoir according to the state of said electrical valve, and for mixing said collected cold water with water received from said hot water line via said electrical valve, whenever the temperature of the received water is above a predetermined threshold value or whenever said reservoir is full; and d) an electronic unit for controlling the operation of said electrical valve, according to the temperature of the water, the pressure of the water and the water level in said reservoir. According to an embodiment of the invention, the means for indicating the water level in the reservoir comprises: a) a floating element located within the interior space of said reservoir, in such a way that the leveling of said floating element is raised or lowered according the amount water stored within said reservoir; b) a magnet located on top of said floating element; and c) one or more magnet switches, each of which is activated according to its proximity to said magnet, wherein at least one magnet switch is attached on the outer surface side of said reservoir and is positioned on the upper end of said reservoir for indicating whenever said reservoir is full, wherein each of said magnet switches is electrically connected to the electronic unit. According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one more magnet switch is attached on the outer surface side of the reservoir and is positioned on the lower end of said reservoir for indicating whenever said reservoir is empty.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the reservoir has a single opening which used both as an inlet and an outlet passage for the relatively cold water, wherein said opening is connected directly to the inlet of the sub-pressure generating mechanism. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the single opening is connected via a water line system (e.g., a splitter) to two electrical valves, wherein the first electrical valve is used for allowing the filling of the reservoir and the second electrical valve is used for allowing the emptying of said reservoir.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the electronic unit comprises: a) a microprocessor for automatically controlling the operation of said system; b) one or more data inputs for receiving water level indication from the first and second magnet switches; c) one or more control outputs for controlling the operation of the electrical valves; d) a temperature sensor for providing data which represents the temperature of the water; e) a pressure sensor for providing data which represents the pressure of the water; f) a switch for turning on/off said system; and g) a power source for supplying electrical power to said system, such as a battery.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the sub-pressure generating mechanism consisting of: a) a movable core for allowing the water to flow to the outlet line whenever the first electrical valve is close; b) a corresponding core housing for covering said movable core, wherein said core housing includes holes which are located around said movable core for suctioning the collected water from the second electrical valve when said second electrical valve is open; c) a spring for forcing said moveable core to return towards its initial position, wherein due to the generation of dynamic pressure on said moveable core by the water flow from the hot water line, a force is being generated on said moveable core and against said spring; as a result a gap is created between said moveable core and said core housing; d) a manifold and a corresponding O-ring for sealing said manifold; e) at least one inlet/outlet line for bypassing the cold water to said reservoir or for receiving the collected water from said reservoir according to the state of the electrical valve(s); and g) sealing elements for sealing sub-pressure generating mechanism.

Preferably, the moveable core having a conical area and the water suctioning holes are located around the conical area of said moveable core.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a plumbing system provided with a system for saving initial water consumption, according to an embodiment of the invention; - Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a sub-pressure generating mechanism of the system for saving initial water consumption in an open position, according to an embodiment of the invention;

- Fig. 3 schematically illustrates the sub-pressure generating mechanism of the system for saving initial water consumption in a closed position, according to an embodiment of the invention;

- Figs 4A and 4B schematically illustrate a sub-pressure generating mechanism, according to another embodiment of the invention; and

- Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a plumbing system provided with a system for saving initial water consumption, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Referring now to the drawings, the present water saving system is adapted to be installed in a conventional plumbing system. A conventional plumbing system usually has a cold water line which is connectable directly to a cold water faucet and to the input of a hot water heater. The output of the hot water heater is connected to a hot water line 15 which is normally connected to a hot water faucet 50. As can be seen in Fig. 1, a sub-pressure generating mechanism, generally designated 10, of the water saving system is connectable between hot water faucet 50 and an outlet water line 16 which leads the water to a consumer, such as the line leading the water to a shower head 17.

The system for saving initial water consumption comprises the sub- pressure generating mechanism 10 which, according to an embodiment of the invention, has a varying cross-sectional passage flow, a reservoir 20 for collecting the relatively cold water received from hot water line 15, two solenoid valves 30 and 31 for filling and emptying reservoir 20 and an electronic unit 40 for controlling the operation of the system. According to other embodiment of the invention, sub-pressure generating mechanism 10 may have other shapes of cross sectional passage flow as shown for example in Figs. 4A and 4B.

Reservoir 20 has a single opening 21 which used both as an inlet and an outlet passage for the water. Opening 21 is connected via water line 27 to two solenoid valves 30 and 31. Reservoir 20 further comprises a floating element 22 located within the interior space of reservoir 20 and it includes a magnet 24 (preferably, magnet 24 is attached on top of element 22), two magnet switch 25 and 26 attached to the outer surface side of reservoir 20 for indicating the water level inside reservoir 20. Magnet switch 25 and 26 are activated (i.e., the switch is in open or closed state) according to the level of magnet 24. When the water level in reservoir 20 is low, magnet 24 gets close to magnet switch 26. When water enters reservoir 20, floating element 22 elevates according to the increased water level, and magnet 24 becomes closer to magnet switch 25. When reservoir 20 is full, then magnet switch 25 is active, and when reservoir 20 is empty magnet switch 26 is active.

Electronic unit 40 comprises microprocessor 41, two "dry" data inputs 42 and 43 for receiving water level indication from magnet switch 25 and 26 respectively, two control outputs 44 and 45 for controlling the operation of solenoid valves 30 and 31 respectively, inputs from a temperature sensor 47 and a pressure sensor 48, a switch 46 for turning the system on/off and a power source for supplying electrical power to the system (e.g., battery 49).

Pressure element 48 acts like a trigger which invokes electronic unit 40 to start its operation, preferably, whenever water start to flow into sub- pressure generating mechanism 10, via inlet 7 (Figs. 2 and 3), from hot water line 15 (i.e., whenever faucet 50 is opened). When opening faucet 50, pressure element 48 senses the water flow and accordingly the system of the present invention starts to operate as follows: electronic unit 40 receives information regarding the water level in reservoir 20 from magnet switch 25 and 26 and the water temperature from sensor 47. In case reservoir 20 is not full yet and the water temperature is relatively low (e.g., a threshold value for the desired water temperature can be set by the user), electronic unit 40 opens solenoid valve 30 which fills reservoir 20 with water flowing from outlet 9 of sub- pressure generating mechanism 10. In such configuration, the water flows only through outlet 9, sub-pressure generating mechanism 10 remains close and the water does not flow to the outlet water line 16. Solenoid valve 30 remains open until at least one of the following events occurs: magnet switch 25 activated by magnet 24 (i.e., the floating element 22 reaches the upper level in reservoir 20) or the water temperature exceeds the threshold value. Whenever at least one of these events occurs, electronic unit 40 closes solenoid valve 30 to prevent the flow of water from outlet 9 into reservoir 20 and opens solenoid valve 31 to permit the flow of water from reservoir 20 into inlet 12 of sub-pressure generating mechanism 10 in such a way that the water from reservoir 20 are mixed with the water flows from hot water line 15. Sub-pressure generating mechanism 10 opens due to the pressure of the water which flow through it to the outlet water line 16.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, sub-pressure generating mechanism 10 comprises movable core 1, a corresponding core housing 2, a spring 4, a manifold 3 and an O-ring for sealing it, an outlet line 5, an inlet line 7 and sealing elements 8. Core housing 2 includes water suctioning holes 11 which are located around the conical area of core 1. Due to the generation of dynamic pressure on core 1 by the water flow, a force is being generated on core 1 against spring 4; as a result a gap 14 is created between conic area of core 1 and the corresponding area of housing 2. Gap 14 is proportional to the flow strength of the water and to the dynamic pressure that the water generates.

An important issue of the present invention is that the movement of spring 4 erodes the scale (if any was generated). As a result, sub-pressure generating mechanism 10 remains free of scale.

The area of gap 14 is calculated in such a way that in the pulling holes 11 a pressure is generated which is lower than the atmospheric pressure (i.e., negative pressure). This negative pressure pulls water from reservoir 20 via inlet 12, and water from hot water line 15 are then mixed with water from reservoir 20. When reservoir 20 becomes empty, electronic unit 40 closes solenoid valve 31. In case water from hot water line 15 continues to flow, solenoid valves 30 and 31 remain close.

The system of the present invention can be activated or deactivated (i.e., on/off state) via switch 46. In case the system is "off (i.e., deactivated), either by switch 46 or alternatively during water consumption (e.g., while taking a shower), the water may become relatively cold (i.e., the temperature of the water may decrease below the threshold value), however, even if the water temperature decreases the water continues to flow regularly to the shower head 17 (i.e., "bypassing" the system). This feature is important, e.g., while taking a shower, when the hot water may run out before the user finished the shower, and the user still wants to continue the shower (without waiting for "new" heated water). This can be done by programming the controller to prevent the filling of the reservoir 20 while the water are already flowing through the shower head 17 although the water temperature is below the predetermined threshold level. ^~ According to an embodiment of the invention, the electronic unit 40 further comprises a timer for automatically deactivating (i.e., turning off) the water saving system of the present invention. The timer is used for saving electrical energy while the water saving system is not in use. Preferably, in case the system is battery operated.

Referring now to Figs 4A and 4B, a sub-pressure generating mechanism

100 is shown in an open and closed position, respectively. Sub-pressure generating mechanism 100 comprises a movable core 101 and its corresponding core housing 102, wherein moveable core 101 is in the form of two cylindrical shapes having different diameter. The other elements of sub-pressure generating mechanism 100 are similar to the elements shown in Figs 2 and 3. The other elements are: a spring 104, a manifold 103 and an O-ring for sealing it, an outlet line 105, an inlet line 107 and sealing elements 108.

Core housing 102 includes water suctioning holes 111 which are located around the cylindrical area of core 101. Due to the generation of dynamic pressure on core 101 by the water flow, a force is being generated on core

101 against spring 104; as a result a gap 114 is created between core 101 and the core housing 102. Gap 114 is proportional to the flow strength of the water and to the dynamic pressure that the water generates.

Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a water saving system, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The output of the hot water heater is connected to a hot water line 15 which is connected to a hot water faucet 50. As can be seen in this figure, the sub-pressure generating mechanism 10 is connectable between hot water faucet 50 and solenoid valve 30 and is also directly connectable to a reservoir 200. The water output of solenoid valve 30 is connected to the outlet water line 16 which leads the water to a consumer, such as the line leading the water to a shower head 17.

According to the embodiment as shown in Fig. 5, the system for saving initial water consumption comprises the sub-pressure generating mechanism 10 which used for filling or emptying reservoir 200, the reservoir 200 for collecting the relatively cold water received from hot water line 15, single solenoid valve 30 for passing the water from sub- pressure generating mechanism 10 to water line 16 (i.e., the water from reservoir 200 and/or from hot water line 15) and an electronic unit 40 for controlling the operation of the system.

Reservoir 200 has a single opening 21 which used both as an inlet and an outlet passage for the water. According to this embodiment, the sub- pressure generating mechanism 10 is connected directly to opening 21 and is located between water line 28 (i.e., the input water received from hot water line 15 through faucet 50) and the single solenoid valve 30 (i.e., the output water line 29). Reservoir 200 comprises a floating element 22 located within the interior space of reservoir 200 and it includes a magnet 24 (preferably, magnet 24 is attached on top of element 22), a magnet switch 25 attached to the outer surface side of reservoir 200 for indicating the water level inside reservoir 200. Magnet switch 25 is activated (i.e., the switch is in open or closed state) according to the level of magnet 24. When water enters reservoir 200, floating element 22 elevates according to the increased water level, and magnet 24 becomes closer to magnet switch 25. When reservoir 200 is full, then magnet switch 25 is active.

Electronic unit 40 comprises microprocessor 41, data input 42 for receiving water level indication from magnet switch 25, a control output 44 for controlling the operation of solenoid valve 30, inputs from a temperature sensor 47 and a pressure sensor 48, a switch 46 for turning the system on/off and a power source for supplying electrical power to the system (e.g., a battery 49).

As described herein before, pressure element 48 acts like a trigger which invokes electronic unit 40 to start its operation, preferably, whenever water start to flow into sub-pressure generating mechanism 10, via water line 28 from hot water line 15 (i.e., whenever faucet 50 is opened).

When opening faucet 50, pressure element 48 senses the water flow and accordingly the system of the present invention starts to operate as follows: electronic unit 40 receives information from magnet switch 25 (whenever reservoir 200 is full) and from sensor 47 (the water temperature). In case reservoir 200 is not full yet and the water temperature is relatively low (e.g., a threshold value for the desired water temperature can be set by the user), electronic unit 40 closes solenoid valve 30, as a result the sub-pressure generating mechanism 10 fills reservoir 200 with water flowing from water hne 28 (i.e., from the input hot water line 15). In such configuration, the water flows only into reservoir 200 via sub-pressure generating mechanism 10 which remains close and the water does not flow to the outlet water line 16.

Solenoid valve 30 remains close until at least one of the following events occurs: magnet switch 25 activated by magnet 24 (i.e., the floating element 22 reaches the upper level in reservoir 200) or the water temperature exceeds the threshold value. Whenever at least one of these events occurs, electronic unit 40 opens solenoid valve 30 to allow the flow of water from reservoir 200 (through solenoid valve 30) into water hne 16 in such a way that water from reservoir 200 are mixed with the water flows from hot water line 15. Sub-pressure generating mechanism 10 opens due to the pressure of the water which flow through it to the outlet water hne 16. The suggested embodiments of present invention provide a water saving system which is capable of saving tap water, as the water in the hot water line (i.e., the water retained in the water line which are usually not warm enough for showering) is caused to be initially directed to a reservoir by temperature sensitive mechanism which upon sensing the presence of hot water discharges the same through the outlet faucet. The system of the present invention allows automatically saving tap water which is normally wasted as the hot water faucet is opened and the cold water retained in the lines between the hot water heating system and the faucet is drained.

While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried into practice with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.