Integrated shower system

Abstract

Integrated shower system The invention relates to an integrated shower system comprising a shower tray (1), the outlet (2) of which is connected to a drain (3) which, by means of a pipe (4), is connected to a circuit of fluid to be cooled of a horizontal heat exchanger (5) installed under the shower tray (1), so that the outlet of the heat exchanger (5) is connected by plumbing elements to a waste water drainage system, a circuit of fluid to be heated of the heat exchanger (5) being connected to a network water circuit for mixing with a hot water circuit of a corresponding water heating system via a corresponding control of a mixer (17), the integrated shower system further comprising structural support elements (14) for the shower tray (1) and / or the heat exchanger (5). Figure to be published with the abstract: Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Integrated shower system Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an integrated shower system which has the particularity of incorporating a heat exchanger.

[0002] The invention therefore falls within the field of construction and renovation of environments in which people can use a shower.

[0003] The objective of the invention is to propose a system allowing easy integration of the elements that compose it to facilitate the installation and correct finishing of a shower tray connected to a heat exchanger, so that it is possible to recover part of the heat from the waste water of the shower, which heat is typically lost in the sewers. CONTEXT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In the practical field of application of the invention, as is known, the latent heat of the water used in the shower is only partially used, so that the still hot water is lost to the sewers without this residual heat being used.

[0005] Although there are effective systems to facilitate the installation of a shower tray, the incorporation of a heat exchanger generates new difficulties in the installation that most installers do not know how to resolve, especially during the first handling of these elements.

[0006] Furthermore, there are a wide variety of circumstances in which it may be necessary to install a shower tray, and for each of them, a specific configuration must be chosen that allows the heat exchanger to be effectively integrated. The wide variety of possibilities, together with the limited familiarity of installers and users with heat exchange systems, define a scenario in which a flawless installation with an optimal aesthetic finish is more difficult.

[0007] In view of the above, the inventor of the present invention has identified the need to provide an energy-competitive shower tray that seeks to recover some of the heat from the water used after the user's shower and the heat of which is transferred to the clean water - from the network - that is brought to the inlet of the system for use. Furthermore, in accordance with the previous comment, this greatly simplifies the installation process, given that it is a much more complex system than a standard shower tray. EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The integrated shower system recommended here solves the technical and aesthetic problem described above by means of a simple but very effective solution. In this respect, it should be noted that the use of skirts and perimeter trims allows the integrated system targeted by the invention to provide a finish with specific characteristics similar to those of the shower tray in order to offer a visibly homogeneous whole, for example in terms of color, texture, etc.

[0009] Its main applications are as follows: - New construction or renovation of individual houses. - New construction projects (housing developments, hotels, residences, etc.) - Renovation of buildings and other collective spaces.

[0010] To do this, starting from the conventional structure of a shower tray itself, which can be conventional or designed for this purpose, it has been planned to include below it a series of elements that allow to recover part of the heat of the water used after the shower to heat the clean water of the network and therefore to reduce the energy consumption of the boiler or the water heating system used by the shower.

[0011] More specifically, the integrated shower system comprises a shower tray, the outlet of which is connected to a drain which, by means of a pipe, is connected to a first circuit (i.e., a circuit of fluid to be cooled) of the two independent circuits of a horizontal heat exchanger installed under the shower tray, so that the outlet of the heat exchanger is connected to a wastewater drainage system via plumbing elements, a circuit of fluid to be heated of the heat exchanger being connected to a network water circuit to be mixed with a hot water circuit of a corresponding water heating system via a corresponding control of a mixer, the integrated shower system further comprising structural support elements for the shower tray and / or the heat exchanger.

[0012] In particular, the horizontal type of heat exchanger was considered, located under the shower tray and independent of the drain, because it is the easiest solution to adapt to the available space and which allows a more compact and integrated installation.

[0013] This exchanger comprises, in a conventional manner, a second independent circuit (namely, the fluid circuit to be heated) which makes it possible to absorb the heat from the first circuit, and which is connected to the water circuit of the network to be heated.

[0014] In this way, the hot water used in the shower tray by the user enters the heat exchanger, which arrives through the shower tray drain pipe, so that its residual heat is used to preheat the mains water which passes through the second circuit, thus reducing the energy needed to bring the network water to the right temperature for the user's shower.

[0015] The assembly thus described is completed by a series of structural support elements, the function of which is to give integrity to the installation as a whole, supporting the elements in their operating position and ensuring the correct operation of the entire system.

[0016] These support elements may consist of point supports (for example, pads), continuous supports (for example, foam plates) or threaded rods. The choice will depend on the characteristics of the installation.

[0017] It should be noted that the point supports or mounting pads may consist of a flat, height-adjustable polymer base (for example by means of a threaded element of one of the parts that compose it) which supports loads in order to accommodate and level, for example, any type of floor covering or a shower tray.

[0018] The specific aspects of the mounting process depend on the specifications of the component manufacturers (e.g., the type of adhesive to be used to secure the support components, or the height adjustment range of the pads).

[0019] The device thus described can be embedded in the bathroom floor, installed flush, installed raised or even with the heat exchanger arranged under the slab.

[0020] Optionally, the shower tray is completed with skirts and perimeter trims for its installation raised above the floor. Depending on the type of installation chosen, the device can thus be completed with finishing skirts matching the material and finish of the shower tray, thus providing a clean and elegant finish in installation configurations in which the shower tray is raised above the floor. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] In order to complete the following description and to help better understand the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical embodiment, a set of drawings is attached to the present description, in which the following elements are illustrated for informational and non-limiting purposes:

[0022] [Fig.l] shows a perspective view of an integrated shower system made in accordance with the subject of the present invention.

[0023] [Fig.2] shows a perspective and partially exploded view of the integrated system of the previous figure.

[0024] [Fig.3] shows a view similar to that of [Fig.2], but in which are represented the different water flows circulating in the installation of the invention.

[0025] [Fig.4] shows a profile and sectional view of the integrated system of the invention, corresponding to an installation in which the receiver is recessed.

[0026] [Fig.5] shows a profile and sectional view of the integrated system of the invention, corresponding to an installation in which the receiver is flush.

[0027] [Fig.6] shows a profile and sectional view of the integrated system of the invention, corresponding to an installation in which the receiver is raised.

[0028] [Fig.7] finally shows a profile and sectional view of the integrated system of the invention, corresponding to an installation under slab. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0029] In view of the figures above, it can be seen that the integrated system of the invention comprises a shower tray 1 which, as indicated above, can be conventional or designed for this purpose, the outlet 2 of which is connected to a plug 3 which, by means of a pipe 4, is connected to a first of the two independent circuits of a heat exchanger 5, materialized by a horizontal heat exchanger, and the outlet 6 of which is connected by the corresponding plumbing elements 7, 7' to the waste water evacuation system 8.

[0030] In parallel, and in accordance with [Fig. 3], the second circuit for circulating the fluid to be heated in the heat exchanger 5 is connected to the network water circuit 9, more precisely to the cold water circuit intended to be mixed with the hot water circuit 10 coming from the boiler or the water heating system in question, by means of the corresponding control of the mixer 17, so that this flow of cold water absorbs part of the residual heat of the water used during the shower, by accessing the control of the mixer 17 through a water supply pipe 9', which makes it possible to reduce the consumption of hot water coming from the hot water circuit 10, since this is mixed with a smaller quantity of cold water, resulting in a flow 11 which leaves through the shower 13 at the desired temperature with lower energy consumption.

[0031] Since the heat exchanger 5 is located under the shower tray 1, the integrated system is completed by a series of structural support elements 14, 14', whose function is to give integrity to the entire installation, supporting the elements in their operating position and ensuring the correct operation of the entire system.

[0032] These support elements may consist of point supports (for example, pads), continuous supports (for example, foam plates) or threaded rods.

[0033] In the chosen embodiment, these elements take the form of point supports adjustable in height by screwing, which makes it possible to receive and level the shower tray which rests on them.

[0034] According to the variants illustrated in Figures 4 to 7, the shower tray 1 can be installed embedded in the bathroom floor ([Fig.4]), flush with the floor ([Fig.5]), raised ([Fig.6]) or even with the heat exchanger 5 under the floor slab 12 ([Fig.7]), without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0035] Returning to Figures 1 to 3, and as mentioned above, depending on the type of installation chosen, the shower tray 1 may be completed with skirts 15 and perimeter trims 16 matching the material and finish of the shower tray, which provide a clean and elegant finish in installation configurations in which the shower tray is raised.

[0036] The installation thus described is ideal for novice installers, as it ensures that the installation is carried out on the basis of a set of elements connected together in a satisfactory manner, taking into account the dimensions and conditions required.

Claims

Claims

1. Integrated shower system, characterized in that it comprises a shower tray (1), the outlet (2) of which is connected to a drain (3) which, by means of a pipe (4), is connected to a circuit of fluid to be cooled of a horizontal heat exchanger (5) installed under the shower tray (1), so that the outlet (6) of the heat exchanger (5) is connected by plumbing elements (7, 7') to a waste water drainage system (8), a circuit of fluid to be heated of the heat exchanger (5) being connected to a network water circuit (9) to be mixed with a hot water circuit (10) of a corresponding water heating system via a corresponding control of a mixer (17), the integrated shower system further comprising structural support elements (14, 14') for the shower tray (1) and / or the heat exchanger (5).

2. Integrated shower system according to claim 1, characterized in that the shower tray (1) is completed with skirts (15) and perimeter trims (16) for its installation raised above the ground.

3. Integrated shower system according to claim 1, characterized in that the structural support elements (14) consist of height-adjustable point supports.

4. Integrated shower system according to claim 1, characterized in that the structural support elements (14) consist of continuous supports.

5. Integrated shower system according to claim 1, characterized in that the structural support elements (14') consist of threaded rods.

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