Liquid conservation device and a liquid apparatus incorporating the liquid conservation device

A water saving device for use in a hot water system to recover an initial volume of cold water when a hot water tap is turned on, the device comprising:

• a housing defining a primary flow passage having a primary inlet at one end and a primary outlet at an opposed end, the housing also defining a secondary flow passage extending from a secondary inlet that opens into and communicates with the primary flow passage intermediate the primary inlet and primary outlet to a secondary outlet, the primary flow passage thereby comprising an upstream portion that is upstream of the secondary inlet of the secondary flow passage and a downstream portion that is downstream of the secondary inlet of the secondary flow passage;
• a shuttle valve in said primary flow passage movable in a reversible fashion between a normal operating position in which it permits flow through the primary flow passage from the inlet to the primary outlet and a diverting position in which the valve closes off the primary flow passage downstream of the secondary flow passage and directs water into the secondary flow passage, the valve including a thermal actuator for moving the valve from the diverted position to the normal operating position when a temperature of water within the valve reaches or exceeds a set temperature and moving the valve back again when the temperature drops below the set temperature;
• a secondary valve for closing off the secondary flow passage, at least when the flow of water through the primary outlet of the housing is stopped, and opening the secondary flow passage when flow out of the primary outlet and the housing is recommenced, the secondary valve including a valve closure movable between a closed position in which it resists flow through said secondary flow passage and an open position in which it permits flow through the secondary passage, and the secondary valve also including a valve head operatively coupled to the valve closure the valve head being received in a slidable fashion within a chamber formed by the housing which opens into the downstream portion of the primary flow passage, wherein the secondary valve is responsive to the pressure of water in the downstream portion of the primary flow passage to move from the open to the closed position;
• whereby when water flows through the device and the temperature is below the set temperature the shuttle valve is in the diverting position and directs water into the secondary flow passage and the secondary valve is open to permit water to flow out of the secondary outlet, and when the temperature exceeds the set temperature the shuttle valve moves to the normal operating position closing off the secondary flow passage and directing water down the full length of the primary flow passage and out through the primary outlet, and further when the flow of water out of the primary outlet of the housing has ceased the secondary valve is in the closed position shutting off flow through the secondary conduit.