US 5,206,963 AGranted

Apparatus and method for a water-saving shower bath

OwnerDonald E. Wiensinventor

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Abstract

A shower system and a method for receiving and delivering fresh water for a washing operation and also for recirculating the water, comprises a showerhead, a basin, a fresh water inlet, a waste water outlet, a pump means connected to the showerhead and adapted to deliver waste water thereto, and a general valve means. The general valve means has operative connections to the showerhead, to the basin, to the fresh water inlet, and to the waste water outlet. The general valve means has at least three operating positions. In first, second, and third operating positions, respectively, flow connections are made, respectively, between the fresh water inlet and the showerhead; from the basin through the pump to the showerhead; and between the basin and the waste water outlet. Various automatic control features are provided, including overflow control, which is designed to open the waste water outlet after inflow continues beyond a predetermined length of time, and water consumption control which interrupts the inflow when the inflow continues beyond a predetermined length of time.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A shower system adapted to be operated to receive and deliver fresh water for a washing operation and also to recirculate water through the system operation washing, said system comprising:

a. a shower head to discharge water to a washing area;
b. a basin to receive said water from the shower head;
c. a fresh water inlet adapted to be connected to a fresh water source;
d. a waste water outlet line having an upstream end to receive waste water from said basin and a downstream end adapted to carry water from said basin to a waste area;
e. a main valve having operative connections to said shower head, to said fresh water inlet, and to said waste water outlet line;
f. a waste water outlet control valve connected to said waste water outlet line at a waste water shutoff location to control flow of waste water through said waste water outlet line to said waste area;
g. a fresh water supply line connecting said fresh water inlet to said main valve;
h. a shower head supply line leading from said main valve to said shower head, said fresh water supply line forming with said shower head supply line a fresh water supply circuit;
i. a recirculating line having a first end connecting to said waste water outlet line at a location upstream of said shutoff location of the waste water outlet control valve and a second end connected to said main valve, said recirculating line forming with said shower head supply line a recycling circuit;
j. said main valve having at least two operating positions, namely:
i. a first operating position by which a flow connection is made between said fresh water supply line and said shower head supply line to supply fresh water to said shower head;
ii. a second operating position by which a connection is made from said recirculating line to said shower head supply line to recirculate waste water discharged from said shower head;
k. a pump means operatively connected in said recirculating circuit to pump water from said waste water outlet into said shower head;
l. a hot water/cold water mixing control valve connected to said fresh water supply line upstream of said main valve;
whereby with said main valve in its first operating position and said waste water outlet control valve being in its open position, fresh water can be delivered to said shower head to pass out said waste water line to said waste area, and with said main valve in its second operating position and said waste water control valve being in its closed position, said pump means is able to recirculate waste water from said basin to said shower head.

12 more elements

A shower system adapted to be operated to receive and deliver fresh water for a washing operation and also to recirculate water through the system for washing, said system comprising:

a. a shower head to discharge water to a washing area;
b. a basin to receive said water from the shower head;
c. a fresh water inlet adapted to be connected to a fresh water source;
d. a waste water outlet line having an upstream end to receive waste water from said basin and a downstream end adapted to carry water from said basin to a waste area;
e. a main valve having operation connections to said shower head, to said fresh water inlet, and to said waste water outlet line;
f. a waste water outlet control valve connected to said waste water outlet line at a waste water shutoff location to control flow of waste water through said waste water outlet line to said waste area;
g. a fresh water supply line connecting said fresh water inlet to said main valve;
h. a shower head supply line leading from said main valve to said shower head, said fresh water supply line forming with said shower head supply line a fresh water supply circuit;
i. a recirculating line having a first end connecting to said waste water outlet line at a location upstream of said shutoff location of the waste water outlet control valve and a second end connected to said main valve, said recirculating line forming with said shower head supply line a recycling circuit;
j. said main valve having at least two operating positions, namely:
i. a first operating position by which a flow connection is made between said fresh water supply line and said shower head supply line to supply fresh water to said shower head;
ii. a second operating position by which a connection is made from said recirculating line to said shower head supply line to recirculate waste water discharged from said shower head;
iii. a third operating position, in which fresh water is delivered both to said shower head supply line and to said recirculating line, whereby water can be supplied throughout said recirculating circuit prior to operating the system in a recirculating mode of operation;
k. a pump means operatively connected in said recirculating circuit to pump water from said waste water outlet into said shower head;
whereby with said main valve in the first operating position and said waste water outlet control valve being in its open position, fresh water can be delivered to said shower head to pass out said waste water line to said waste area, and with said main valve in its second operating position and said waste water control valve being in its closed position, said pump means is able to recirculate waste water from said basin to said shower head.

12 more elements

A shower system adapted to be operated to receive and deliver fresh water for a washing operation and also to recirculate water through the system for washing, said system comprising:

a. a shower head to discharge water to a washing area;
b. a basin to receive said water from the shower head;
c. a fresh water inlet adapted to be connected to a fresh water source;
d. a waste water outlet line having an upstream end to receive waste water from said basin and a downstream end adapted to carry water from said basin to a waste area;
e. a main valve having operative connections to said shower head, to said fresh water inlet, and to said waste water outlet line;
f. a waste water outlet control valve connected to said waste water outlet line at a waste water shutoff location to control flow of waste water through said waste water outlet line to said waste area;
g. a fresh supply line connecting said fresh water inlet to said main valve;
h. a shower head supply line leading from said main valve to said shower head, said fresh water supply line having forming with said shower head supply line a fresh water supply circuit;
i. a recirculating line having a first end connecting to said waste water outlet line at a location upstream of said shutoff location of the waste water outlet control valve and a second end connected to said main valve, said recirculating line forming with said shower head supply line a recycling circuit;
j. said main valve having at least two operating positions, namely:
i. a first operating position by which a flow connection is made between said fresh water supply line and said shower head supply line to supply fresh water to said shower head;
ii. a second operating position by which a connection is made from said recirculating line to said shower head supply line to recirculate waste water discharged from said shower head;
k. a pump means operatively connected in said recirculating circuit to pump water from said waste water outlet into said shower head;
l. said main valve and said waste water outlet control valve being each separately operated and each being adapted to be manually operated;
whereby said main valve in its first operating position and said waste water outlet control valve being in its open position, fresh water can be delivered to said shower head to pass out said waste water line to said waste area, and with said main valve in its second operating position and said waste water control valve being in its closed position, said pump means is able to recirculate waste water from said basin to said shower head.

12 more elements

A shower system adapted to be operated to receive and deliver fresh water for a washing operation and also to recirculate water through the system for washing, said system comprising:

a. a shower head to discharge water to a washing area;
b. a basin to receive said water from the shower head;
c. a fresh water inlet adapted to be connected to a fresh water source;
d. a waste water outlet line having an upstream end to receive waste water from said basin and a downstream end adapted to carry water from said basin to a waste area;
e. a main valve having operative connections to said shower head, to said fresh water inlet, and to said waste water outlet line;
f. a waste water outlet control valve connected to said waste water outlet line at a waste water shutoff location to control flow of waste water through said waste water outlet line to said waste area;
g. a fresh water supply line connecting said fresh water inlet to said main valve;
h. a shower head supply line leading from said main valve to said shower head, said fresh water supply line forming with said shower head supply line a fresh water supply circuit;
i. a recirculating line having a first end connecting to said waste water outlet line at a location upstream of said shutoff location of the waste water outlet control valve and a second end connected to said main valve, said recirculating line forming with said shower head supply line a recycling circuit;
j. said main valve having at least two operating positions, namely:
i. a first operating position by which a flow connection is made between said fresh water supply line and said shower head supply line to supply fresh water to said shower head;
ii. a second operating position by which a connection is made from said recirculating line to said shower head supply line to recirculate waste water discharged from said shower head;
k. a pump means operatively connected in said recirculating circuit to pump water from said waste water outlet into said shower head;
l. a waste outlet control valve control means to move said waste water outlet control valve between its open and closed position in response to said main valve being in its second operating position with flow of water taking place in both said shower head supply line and said recirculating line, whereby said waste water outlet control valve is closed while waste water is recirculating through said system;
whereby with said main valve in its first operating position and said waste water outlet control valve being in its open position, fresh water can be delivered to said shower head to pass out said waste water line to said waste area, and with said main valve in its second operating position and said waste water control valve being in its closed position, said pump means is able to recirculate waste water from said basin to said shower head.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.