US 4,162,218 A · Water reuse system

Abstract

A used water reuse system includes a gray water holding tank to which gray water is supplied up to a maximum level through a filter and gray water drain line. Gray water sources such as kitchen and bathroom sinks, clothes and dishwashers, tubs and showers, and the like have drains connected through valves to the gray water drain line and to a conventional sewer line. Gray water is transferred, upon demand, from the gray water holding tank to noncritical water use devices, such as a toilet tank, for reuse and subsequent discarding. A sensor detects achievement of a maximum level in the gray water holding tank and causes the valves at the gray water sources to disconnect the latter from the gray water drain line, so as to discard any further gray water from the sources to the sewer line, and also closes a fail-safe valve to preclude flow from the gray water line to the gray water holding tank. Upon reduction of tank water level the sensor reopens the valves. A further sensor notes draining of the tank to a preselected minimum level for admitting fresh water thereto. Means interposed between the sensors, on the one hand, and the gray water valves and valving for the fresh water, on the other hand, respond to a power failure in a fail-safe manner to close such valves.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A water reuse system applicable to a water use system of the type in which water drained from a point of use is normally discarded through a sewer line or the like to which the point of use drain connects, said water reuse system being arranged for supplying water drained from such point of use to a point of reuse, such water reuse system comprising in combination:

a holding tank for storing used water;
means responsive to a demand for water at said point of reuse for transferring water from said holding tank to said point of reuse;
means including a drain conduit for channeling water from said point of use drain alternatively to said drain conduit and to said sewer line, said drain conduit having an outlet connected with said holding tank and an inlet to which said point of use drain is additionally connectible;
valve means interposed in said drain conduit between point of use drain and holding tank, and being responsive to an excessive water level in said holding tank for blocking entry into said holding tank of water draining from said point of use, said valve means comprising a fail-safe valve of remote actuated type interposed in said drain conduit downstream of the point of use drains served by said holding tank, biasing means continuously urging said fail-safe valve to its closed position for blocking entry of used water into said holding tank from said point of use, externally powered valve operator means energized in response to a low water level in said holding tank for overcoming said biasing means and opening said fail-safe valve, said biasing means closing said valve upon failure of said valve operator or failure of external power to said valve operator means to prevent holding tank overflow.

1 more element

a holding tank for storing used water;
means responsive to a demand for water at said point of reuse for transferring water from said holding tank to said point of reuse;
means including a drain conduit for channeling water from said point of use drain alternatively to said drain conduit and to said sewer line, said drain conduit having an outlet connected with said holding tank and an inlet to which said point of use drain is additionally connectible;
valve means interposed in said drain conduit between point of use drain and holding tank, and being responsive to an excessive water level in said holding tank for blocking entry into said holding tank of water draining from said point of use, said valve means comprising several remote actuated valves for several point of use drains to be served by said drain conduit and holding tank, each said remote actuated valve being interposed between its corresponding point of use drain and the common drain conduit, a given said remote actuated valve including a valve member operable to disconnect said drain conduit from said point of use drain adjacent the sewer line connection of the latter.

1 more element

a holding tank for storing used water;
means responsive to a demand for water at said point of reuse for transferring water from said holding tank to said point of reuse;
means including a drain conduit for channeling water from said point of use drain alternatively to said drain conduit and to said sewer line, said drain conduit having an outlet connected with said holding tank and an inlet to which said point of use drain is additionally connectible;
valve means interposed in said drain conduit between point of use drain and holding tank, and being responsive to an excessive water level in said holding tank for blocking entry into said holding tank of water draining from said point of use, said valve means comprising a water level sensing switch in said holding tank and a remote actuated valve of fluid actuated type, said demand responsive means comprising a pressurized water supply line leading from said holding tank to said point of reuse, said valve means further including an electrically controlled valve connected to and controlled by said sensing switch and a fluid pressure line connected to actuate said remote actuated valve and further connected to be pressurized from the pressurized output of said holding tank through said electrically controlled valve.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Water reuse system

Life of this patent

Water reuse system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12