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(11) | EP 2 273 015 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A device for reducing the consumption of running water |
| (57) A device for regulating the flow of running water comprising a main body (10) crossed
by a conduit (11) communicating with the outside by means of inlet and outlet openings
(12,13), said main body (10) comprising: a threaded ring nut (14) arranged at said
inlet opening (12) and adapted to be engaged with similar threading of standard type
on the end part of the valve or shower tube; a solenoid valve (15) associated with
said conduit (11); a presence sensor (17); a control module (18) associated with said
solenoid valve (15) and with said presence sensor (17), and adapted to manage the
opening time of the aforesaid solenoid valve (15) according to the detections carried
out by said presence sensor (17); a battery (16) associated with said solenoid valve
(15) and with said control module (18).
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention object of the present application relates to the technical field of devices for regulating the supply of running water for domestic use.
STATE OF THE ART
[0002] The subject of saving and reducing the consumption of water is increasingly topical. Water is a precious commodity which is running out in many parts of the world and therefore it is worth sparing no efforts for responsibly using this important resource without waste.
[0003] Quite often, the convenient availability of running water in the domestic environment such as in public sanitary facilities, shops, etc. brings users to make an improper use thereof. Valves are left open too long and large amounts of water are wasted. This leads to two types of waste, the first is related to an excessive use, with respect to the use which should be made, of the raw material i.e. the water itself (which is even more important where the water originates from tanks with finite capacity and not from the connection to the aqueduct, such as in the case of ships, campers, shelters, etc.); the second is related to using energy in connection with the use of this excess water, which energy is employed to pump, purify and heat it, etc.
[0004] Therefore, the need is apparent for a device which allows the final users to limit wasting water within the domestic environment, and not only, during regular daily activities.
[0005] In addition to saving on the volume of water used, said device should allow the consumption of hot water generated by gas or electric boilers to be reduced and, therefore, savings on the energy normally consumed for heating the excess water used. Said energy saving is considerable as the standard temperature of hot water is normally 45°C, with respect to an average ambient temperature of 20°C, with a 25°C ΔT weighing on the boiler.
[0007] Complete valves of devices to interrupt the flow, both of mechanical and electromechanical type, are currently marketed, which are provided as a first installation in sanitary systems. Devices of this type are widely used, e.g. in sanitary facilities of motorway restaurants or shops. It is apparent however that devices of this type are not applicable to pre-existing systems; therefore the need to have a device for reducing the consumption of running water which may also be used for ongoing installations, remains unfulfilled.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009]
Fig. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention, intended for valves.
Fig. 2 shows a second preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention, intended for shower water dispensers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention relates to the field of devices for limiting the water consumption and the energy related to said consumption. In particular, it relates to devices for limiting the consumption of water for sanitary systems.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The device according to the present invention is adapted to interrupt the flow of water from conventional dispensers such as valves and the like. It is an external separate device, not integral with or integrated within the valve body but adapted to be simply fixed to the valve itself by unscrewing the end part thereof usually comprising the small net or the anti-splash tap nozzle.
[0012] One of the innovative features of the device object of the present invention consists in the possibility of assembling and installing it on systems already being used, with no need for masonry, hydraulic modifications and without requiring the use of assembly tools. In practice, the final user may directly apply it onto the valve in place of the anti-splash tap nozzle or of the small-net diffuser.
[0013] The device object of the present invention is absolutely stand alone and should not be connected to the electrical system during the operation thereof. It is equipped with independent supply and may include a small solar cell to recharge the internal supply battery, so as to avoid the need for external recharging devices.
[0014] With reference to accompanying Figures 1 and 2, the device object of the present invention comprises a main body 10 crossed by a conduit 11 communicating with the outside by means of inlet and outlet openings12,13. Said main body 10 further comprises:
a threaded ring nut 14 arranged at said inlet opening 12 and adapted to be engaged with similar threading of standard type on the end part of the valve;
an anti-splash tap nozzle filter 19 arranged at said outlet opening 13;
a solenoid valve 15, preferably of NC (normally closed) type associated with said conduit 11, preferably activated by a low-voltage, direct-current solenoid;
a presence sensor 17 preferably of optical type (e.g. of proximity infrared or photodiode type);
a control module 18 comprising a small circuit board adapted to perform the functions of: activating said solenoid valve 15 following the signal imparted by the presence sensor 17 and managing the opening time of the aforesaid solenoid valve 15;
a battery 16, preferably of rechargeable type, associated with said solenoid valve 15 and with said control module 18.
[0015] If said battery 16 is of rechargeable type, the device according to the present invention will further comprise a socket adapted to be connected to the outlet pin of an external power supply unit, preferably of AC-DC type, said socket having the electrical contacts connected to the terminals of said battery 16.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said main body 10 further comprises a solar panel comprising a plurality of solar cells and a recharging module of said battery 16, associated with said solar panel and with said battery 16 and adapted to convert the output voltage from said solar panel into a stabilized direct voltage compatible with the recharging voltage of said battery 16.
[0017] The operation of the device according to the present invention is simple. Said device is installed on the valve in place of the anti-splash tap nozzle. If a solenoid valve of NC (normally closed) type is used, said solenoid valve 15 is first closed, whereby water is not dispensed from the outlet opening 13 of said main body 10. When an object approaches - e.g. the user's hand, a toothbrush, a razor, a glass, a dish, etc. - said presence sensor 17 - at an adjustable distance of the order of some centimeters - said sensor 17 sends a signal to said control module 18 which activates said solenoid valve 15; the latter will remain open in the holding position (therefore with very low currents absorbed) for a preset time T, e.g. 5 seconds.
[0018] Said time T having elapsed, the solenoid valve 15 automatically closes again while suspending the supply of water flow dispensed by means of said outlet opening 13.
[0019] The user may thus decide how much flow is to be actually use by simply moving close to or far from the sensor 17.
[0020] Instead, if a solenoid valve of NA (normally open) type is used, said presence sensor 17 is placed at a higher point, e.g. close to the fitting of the valve, so as not to interfere with the positioning of objects or of the user's hands close to the water jet. In this case, dispensing the water is commanded by the user by means of a dedicated movement adapted to interfere with the action field of said presence sensor 17.
[0021] Despite the apparent complexity, which would lead to presume a considerable size, the miniaturization of the components allows practically every valve of conventional type to be assembled. The electrical power absorbed by the solenoid of said solenoid valve 15 is of the order a few watts, with relatively high breakaway starting current but abundantly lower than 1 A.
[0022] Therefore small batteries are sufficient, also given the short cycle time actually performed during a standard day. For this reason, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is particularly advantageous, which comprises the recharging circuit powered by the solar panel, because the ratio of the recharging time to the cycle time is very high, of the order of several hundred times.
[0023] For all those functions in which the arrangement of a continuous water jet is required, the presence sensor 17 may be manually by-passable, e.g. by means of a specific switch placed outside said main body 10. This may be useful both for filling a vessel and for first achieving the water temperature required if greater than the ambient temperature.
[0024] The advantages related to using the device object of the present invention consist in reducing the consumption of both cold and hot running water in existing systems.
[0025] With reference to accompanying Fig. 2, a further preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown, which is adapted to replace the usual shower dispensers, in particular those used in domestic utilities and in sports facilities. The structure of this preferred embodiment of the present invention is similar to that described above. Even in this case, replacing the existing shower body with the new one is sufficient, without the need for intervention by the plumber. Even in this case, the sensor will only make the water run when a part of the body is sufficiently close to and detected by the presence sensor 17.
1. A device for regulating the flow of running water, comprising a main body (10) crossed
by a conduit (11) communicating with the outside by means of inlet and outlet openings
(12,13), said main body (10) comprising: a threaded ring nut (14) arranged at said
inlet opening (12) and adapted to be engaged with similar threading of standard type
on the end part of the valve or shower tube; a solenoid valve (15) associated with
said conduit (11); a presence sensor (17); a control module (18) associated with said
solenoid valve (15) and with said presence sensor (17), and adapted to manage the
opening time of the aforesaid solenoid valve (15) according to the detections carried
out by said presence sensor (17); a battery (16) associated with said solenoid valve
(15) and with said control module (18).
2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said solenoid valve is of the so-called normally closed type and said presence sensor
(17) is placed so as to interfere with the positioning of objects or of the user's
hands close to the water jet.
3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said solenoid valve is of the so-called normally open type and said presence sensor
(17) is placed so as not to interfere with the positioning of objects or of the user's
hands close to the water jet, for the water supply to be commanded by the user by
means of a dedicated movement adapted to interfere with the action field of said presence
sensor (17).
4. A device according to claims 1-3, characterized in that said presence sensor is of the proximity infrared or photodiode type.
5. A device according to claims 1-4, characterized in that said battery (16) is of the rechargeable type.
6. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises a socket adapted to be connected to the outlet pin of an external
power supply unit, said socket having the electrical contacts connected to the terminals
of said battery (16).
7. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that it further comprises a solar panel comprising a plurality of solar cells and a recharging
module of said battery (16), associated with said solar panel and with said battery
(16), and adapted to convert the output voltage from said solar panel into a stabilized
direct voltage compatible with the recharging voltage of said battery (16).
8. A device according to claims 1-7, characterized in that said presence sensor (17) is manually by-passable by means of a specific switch placed
outside said main body (10).
9. A device according to claims 1-8, characterized in that it further comprises an anti-splash tap nozzle filter (19) arranged at said outlet
opening (13).