Integrated shower system

Abstract

The invention discloses an integrated system which allows recovering part of the heat in the wastewater from a shower, which heat is typically lost through the drain. In this way, the system is made up of a shower tray the drain of which is linked to a valve which is connected, by means of a tube, to the circuit with fluid to be cooled of a horizontal heat exchanger installed under the shower tray. Therefore, the outlet of the heat exchanger is connected to the wastewater discharge system and the circuit with fluid to be heated of the heat exchanger is connected to the circuit with tap water for mixing with the circuit with hot water coming from a water heating system. Likewise, the system of the invention is complemented with structural support elements for the tray and / or the heat exchanger.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Integrated shower system

[0003] FIELD OF THE ART

[0004] The present invention relates to an integrated shower system having the particularity of incorporating a heat exchanger.

[0005] Therefore, the invention is comprised in the field of the construction and remodeling of environments where people can use a shower.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a system which allows an easy integration of elements making up the system to facilitate the installation and proper finishing of a shower tray connected to a heat exchanger, such that it is possible to recover part of the heat in the wastewater from a shower, which heat is typically lost through the drain.

[0007] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In the field of the practical application of the invention, as is known, the latent heat of water used in shower is only partially utilized, such that the water, which is still hot, is lost through the drain without utilizing said residual heat.

[0009] Although there are effective systems to facilitate the installation of a shower tray, the incorporation of a heat exchanger generates new installation difficulties that most installation technicians are unable to resolve, particularly when they handle these elements for the first time.

[0010] Additionally, there are many circumstances in which it may be necessary to install a shower tray, and for each of said circumstances there is a need to choose a specific configuration that allows integrating the exchanger effectively. The wide variety of possibilities, along with the limited familiarity of installation technicians and users with heat exchange systems, define a scenario in which it is more difficult to perform installation without errors and with an optimal esthetic finish. Based on the foregoing, the inventor of the present invention detects the need to provide an energetically competitive shower tray that seeks to recover part of the heat from used water after the user takes a shower and which heat is transferred to clean water, i.e., tap water, which is brought to the inlet of the system for use thereof. Furthermore, in line with the foregoing, the shower tray greatly simplifies the installation process as it is a significantly more complex system than a shower tray in use.

[0011] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The proposed integrated shower system seeks to solve the technical and esthetic problem set forth above based on a simple, but highly effective solution. In this sense, it must be pointed out that the use of perimeter skirts and trims allows the integrated system object of the invention to provide a finish with specific characteristics similar to the shower tray for the purpose of offering a visibly homogenous assembly, for example in terms of color, texture, etc.

[0013] Its main applications are as follows:

[0014] - New construction or remodeling of single-family homes.

[0015] - New construction of projects (housing developments, hotels, residences, etc.)

[0016] - Remodeling of buildings and other collective spaces.

[0017] To that end, based on the conventional structuring of a shower tray per se, which can be conventional, or custom-designed, it has been envisaged to include under the shower tray a series of elements which allow recovering part of the heat from used water after a shower for the purpose of heating clean tap water and therefore reducing the power consumption of the boiler or water heating system used by the shower.

[0018] More specifically, the integrated shower system is made up of a shower tray, the drain of which is linked to a valve which, through a tube, feeds one of the two independent circuits of a heat exchanger, i.e., the circuit with fluid to be cooled, the outlet of the exchanger being connected through the corresponding plumbing elements to the wastewater discharge system.

[0019] Specifically, the typology of a horizontal exchanger, located below the shower tray and independent of the drain valve, has been taken into consideration since it is the easiest solution to adapt to the available space and allows performing a more compact and integrated installation.

[0020] As is conventional, said exchanger includes a second independent circuit, i.e., the circuit with fluid to be heated which absorbs heat from the first circuit and is connected to the circuit with tap water to be heated.

[0021] The hot water that the user uses in the shower tray thereby enters the heat exchanger through the pipe of the drain of the shower tray, such that its residual heat is used to preheat the tap water going through the second circuit, thereby reducing the energy to be supplied to said tap water for it to reach the temperature suitable for the user to take a shower.

[0022] The assembly thus described is complemented with a series of structural support elements, the function of which is to provide integrity to the assembly of the installation, supporting the elements in the operating position thereof and ensuring the correct operation of the entire system.

[0023] Said support elements can be made up of isolated supports (for example, plots), continuous supports (for example, foam plates), or threaded rods. The choice will depend on the characteristics of the installation.

[0024] It should be clarified that the assembly plots or isolated supports are made up of a flat polymeric base adjustable in height (for example, by means of a threaded element of one of the parts forming same) supporting loads for the purpose of housing and leveling any type of flooring or a shower tray thereon, for example.

[0025] The specific aspects of the assembly method depend on the specifications of the element manufacturers (for example, type of adhesive to be used to fix the support elements or height adjustment range of the plots).

[0026] The device thus described can be installed embedded in the floor of the bathroom such that it is flush with the floor, elevated above the floor, or even with the exchanger arranged under the slab.

[0027] Based on the type of installation chosen, the device can be complemented with trimming skirts matching the material and the finishing of the shower tray, allowing a clean and elegant finish in the installation configurations in which the tray is elevated above the floor.

[0028] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] To complement the description that will be made below and for the purpose of helping to better understand the features of the invention according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description in which the following is depicted in an illustrative and non-limiting character:

[0030] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an integrated shower system elaborated according to the object of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 2 shows a partially exploded perspective view of the integrated system of the preceding figure.

[0032] Figure 3 shows a view similar to the view of Figure 2, but in which the different water flows circulating through the installation of the invention are depicted.

[0033] Figure 4 shows a profile and section view of the integrated system of the invention, corresponding to an installation in which the tray is embedded.

[0034] Figure 5 shows a profile and section view of the integrated system of the invention, corresponding to an installation in which the tray is flush.

[0035] Figure 6 shows a profile and section view of the integrated system of the invention, corresponding to an installation in which the tray is elevated.

[0036] Finally, Figure 7 shows a profile and section view of the integrated system of the invention, corresponding to an installation under a slab.

[0037] PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0038] In view of the mentioned figures, it can be seen how the integrated system of the invention comprises a shower tray (1 ) which, as mentioned above, can be conventional or custom- designed, with there being connected to the drain (2) of said tray a valve (3) which is connected, by means of a tube (4), to one of the two independent circuits of a heat exchanger (5), formed in a horizontal heat exchanger, and the outlet (6) of which is connected through the corresponding plumbing elements [(7), (7’)] to the wastewater discharge system (8).

[0039] Concurrently, and according to Figure 3, the second circuit for the circulation of the fluid to be heated of the heat exchanger (5) has been envisaged to be connected to the circuit with tap water (9), specifically to the circuit with cold water intended for mixing with the circuit with hot water (10) coming from the corresponding boiler or water heating system, by means of the corresponding mixer control (17), such that said cold water flow absorbs part of the residual heat of the water used during shower, accessing the mixer control (17) through a water supply pipe (9’), allowing the consumption of hot water coming from the circuit with hot water (10) to be reduced by mixing same with water that is less cold, achieving a flow (11 ) that exits through the shower (13) at the desired temperature with a lower power consumption.

[0040] Given that the heat exchanger (5) is established under the shower tray (1 ), the integrated system is complemented with a series of structural support elements (14), (14’), the function of which is to provide integrity to the assembly of the installation, supporting the elements in the operating position thereof and ensuring the correct operation of the entire system.

[0041] Said support elements can be made up of isolated supports (for example, plots), continuous supports (for example, foam plates), or threaded rods.

[0042] In the chosen embodiment, these elements are formed as isolated supports adjustable in height by means of threading, allowing the housing and leveling of the shower tray resting on said supports.

[0043] According to the embodiment variants of Figures 4 to 7, the shower tray (1 ) can be installed embedded in the floor of the bathroom (Figure 4), flush with said floor (Figure 5), elevated above the floor (Figure 6), or even with the heat exchanger (5) arranged under the slab (12) (Figure 7), without this affecting the essence of the invention.

[0044] Going back to Figures 1 to 3, and as mentioned above, based on the type of chosen installation, the shower tray (1 ) can be complemented with perimeter skirts (15) and trims (16) matching the material and the finishing of the shower tray and offering a clean and elegant finish in the installation configurations in which the tray is elevated.

[0045] The installation thus described is ideal for new installation technicians, as it ensures that the installation thereof is performed based on an assembly of elements that are connected together satisfactorily, taking into account the required dimensions and conditions.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An integrated shower system, characterized in that it is made up of a shower tray (1 ), the drain (2) of which is linked to a valve (3) which is connected, by means of a tube (4), to the circuit with fluid to be cooled of a horizontal heat exchanger (5), installed under the shower tray (1 ), such that the outlet (6) of the heat exchanger (5) is connected through plumbing elements [(7), (7’)] to the wastewater discharge system (8), with the circuit with fluid to be heated of the heat exchanger (5) being envisaged to be connected to the circuit with tap water (9), for mixing with the circuit with hot water (10) coming from the corresponding water heating system through the corresponding mixer control (17), with the particularity that the integrated system is complemented with structural support elements [(14), (14’)] for the tray (1 ) and / or the heat exchanger (5).

2. The integrated shower system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the shower tray (1 ) is complemented with perimeter skirts (15) and trims (16) to be installed elevated above the floor.

3. The integrated shower system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the structural support elements (14) are formed as height-adjustable isolated supports.

4. The integrated shower system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the structural support elements (14) are formed as continuous supports.

5. The integrated shower system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the structural support elements (14’) are formed as threaded rods.

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