WATER COLLECTOR UNIT

Abstract

 Water collector unit (1) comprising a water barrel (2), wherein on top of the water barrel (2) a water sink (3) is provided. The water sink (3) has a drain (9) into a water storage unit (10) placed inside the water barrel (2), and an upper rim (8) which tapers down to inside the water barrel (2). The water barrel (2) is provided with a weight measurement device (12) for measuring the amount of water received in the water barrel (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a water collector unit comprising a water barrel.

[0002] Water barrels are known and normally placed outdoors to collect rainwater for later use.

[0003] There is however an ever-increasing need to provide a suitable water collector unit for use at airports, because more and more passengers are using metal bottles. These metal bottles are not allowed to pass security in case they are filled with liquid. The metal bottles must then be disposed of or at least emptied. One thing and another gives rise to time-consuming discussion between passengers and security personnel and translates into a negative traveler experience.

[0004] According to the invention it is proposed to provide a water collector unit that comprises a water barrel, with the features of one or more of the appended claims.

[0005] The water collector unit of the invention provides the following advantages:

• Water collector or collectors according to the invention can be placed in a divestment area of the airport, where passengers can empty their metal bottles.
• For the security check the metal bottle with the cap off can be placed in the security tray.
• There is a reduced alarm resolution of metal bottles at recheck.
• The invention provides an increase efficiency recheck process and positive effect on passenger throughput
• Further insight is gained into the fluid quantities and intake times during the day.
• The number of water collectors at the airports can be optimized in relation to fluid tank exchange moments.

[0006] The following features contribute to the realization of the aforementioned advantages of the invention.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the invention a water collector unit comprising a water barrel is proposed, wherein on top of the water barrel a water sink is provided.

[0008] It is preferred that the water sink has a drain into a water storage unit placed inside the water barrel.

[0009] To avoid spillage it is further preferred that the water sink has an upper rim which tapers down to inside the water barrel.

[0010] Preferably the water barrel is provided with a weight measurement device for measuring the amount of water received in the water barrel. With such a measurement device present, multiple options are available to make use of the information that is provided with the measurement device.

[0011] Generally speaking it is then advantageous that the water collector unit is provided with an output device for providing an indication of the amount of water received in the water barrel.

[0012] In one embodiment the output device comprises indicator lamps that are visible from outside the water barrel.

[0013] In another embodiment the output device comprises a battery fed wireless transmitter. This enables for instance:

• Tracking of liquid increments in the water collector unit with timestamps, wherein the collected data is sent to a data server.
• Data monitoring for optimizing container change frequency.
• Data analysis to gain insight into the fluid quantities and intake times during the day.
• Use can be made of a Water Collector App for monitoring and control by a service team.

[0014] In yet another embodiment the output device comprises a loudspeaker.

[0015] Preferably the loudspeaker is connected to a memory to store and provide oral instructions through the loudspeaker.

[0016] It will be clear for the skilled person that the features of the different embodiments as disclosed herein can be used in isolation but also in combination with each other to take full advantage thereof.

[0017] It has been found preferable that inside the water barrel a mounting frame is provided.

[0018] Suitably the weight measurement device is mounted on the mounting frame.

[0019] Suitably further the output device is mounted on the mounting frame.

[0020] It is found beneficial that the output device is mounted on the mounting frame on a side pointing away from the water storage unit. This avoids that the output device may be affected by water that accidentally escapes from the water storage unit.

[0021] Preferably the water collector unit is provided with wheels at its undersides to make easy relocation possible.

[0022] The accompanying drawing, which is incorporated into and forms a part of the specification, illustrates one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention. The drawing is only for the purpose of illustrating one or more embodiments of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention.

[0023] In the drawing:

• figure 1 shows a water collector unit of the invention in a side view;
• figure 2 shows the water collector unit of the invention in a top view;
• figure 3 shows a view from the top inside the water collector unit of the invention; and
• figure 4 shows a side view at the frame build in the water collector unit of the invention.

[0024] Whenever in the figures the same reference numerals are applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.

[0025] Taking reference first to figure 1, it shows a water collector unit 1 according to the invention, which comprises a water barrel 2, wherein on top of the water barrel 2 a water sink 3 is provided. The water barrel 2 can for instance be provided with an advertisement or a written instruction 4: "please empty your metal bottle here" or another appropriate instruction.

[0026] At its underside the unit 1 may have wheels 5. The wheels 5 may be equipped with one or more brakes (not shown).

[0027] The water collector unit 1 is preferably provided with an output device 6 for providing an indication of the amount of water received in the water barrel 2. Suitably the output device 6 may comprise indicator lamps 7 that are visible from outside the water barrel 2. Other options that are feasible will be discussed hereinafter.

[0028] Turning now first to figure 2, it is shown that the water sink has an upper rim 8 which tapers down to inside the water barrel 2.

[0029] In the more detailed view of figure 3 which provides a top view inside the barrel, it is shown that the water sink 3 has a drain 9 into a water storage unit 10 placed inside the water barrel on a frame 11 inside the barrel 2.

[0030] Figure 4 provides a side view at the frame 11 and shows that a weight measurement device 12 is mounted on the frame 11 for measuring the amount of water received in the water barrel 2, i.e. in the water storage unit 10 which is held in the holder 13 for the water storage unit 10 inside the barrel 2.

[0031] In figure 4 several other possibilities are shown for the output device 6, which may be employed together with the indicator lamps 7 that are shown in figure 1, or instead thereof.

[0032] One option is that the output device comprises a battery fed wireless transmitter (not shown), which may be mounted on the frame 11 or elsewhere, for instance on a printed circuit. Preferably the transmitter is a Wi-Fi transmitter for communication with an app.

[0033] It is further feasible that the output device comprises a loudspeaker 14, which is then preferably connected to a memory 15 to store and provide oral instructions to the public through the loudspeaker 14.

[0034] Generally speaking with reference to such output devices which may be mounted on the frame 11, it is desirable that these are placed on a side of the frame 11 which faces away from the water storage unit 10.

[0035] Embodiments of the present invention can include every combination of features that are disclosed herein independently from each other. Although the invention has been discussed in the foregoing with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the invention is not restricted to this particular embodiment which can be varied in many ways without departing from the invention. The discussed exemplary embodiment shall therefore not be used to construe the appended claims strictly in accordance therewith. On the contrary the embodiment is merely intended to explain the wording of the appended claims without intent to limit the claims to this exemplary embodiment. The scope of protection of the invention shall therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims only, wherein a possible ambiguity in the wording of the claims shall be resolved using this exemplary embodiment.

[0036] Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference. Unless specifically stated as being "essential" above, none of the various components or the interrelationship thereof are essential to the operation of the invention. Rather, desirable results can be achieved by substituting various components and/or reconfiguration of their relationships with one another.

Claims

1. Water collector unit (1) comprising a water barrel (2), characterized in that on top of the water barrel (2) a water sink (3) is provided.

2. Water collector unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the water sink (3) has a drain (9) into a water storage unit (10) placed inside the water barrel (2).

3. Water collector unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the water sink (3) has an upper rim (8) which tapers down to inside the water barrel (2).

4. Water collector unit according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the water barrel (2) is provided with a weight measurement device (12) for measuring the amount of water received in the water barrel (2).

5. Water collector unit according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the water collector unit (1) is provided with an output device (6) for providing an indication of the amount of water received in the water barrel (2).

6. Water collector unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the output device (6) comprises indicator lamps (7) that are visible from outside the water barrel (2).

7. Water collector unit according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the output device (6) comprises a battery fed wireless transmitter.

8. Water collector unit according to claim 7, characterized in that the transmitter is a Wi-Fi transmitter for communications with an app.

9. Water collector unit according to any one of claims 5-8, characterized in that the output device (6) comprises a loudspeaker (14).

10. Water collector unit according to claim 9, characterized in that the loudspeaker (14) is connected to a memory (15) to store and provide oral instructions through the loudspeaker (14).

11. Water collector unit according to any one of claims 1-10, characterized in that inside the water barrel (2) is a mounting frame (11).

12. Water collector unit according to claim 4 and claim 11, characterized in that the weight measurement device (12) is mounted on the mounting frame (11).

13. Water collector unit according to any one of claims 5-8, and claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the output device is mounted on the mounting frame (11).

14. Water collector unit according to claim 13, characterized in that the output device is mounted on the mounting frame (11) on a side pointing away from the water storage unit (10).

15. Water collector unit according to any one of claims 1-14, characterized in that the unit (1) has wheels (5) at its underside.

Drawing