Thermostatic shower tap with management of wasted cold water

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermostatic shower tap with management of wasted cold water, similar in terms of appearance, installation and functions to a conventional thermostatic shower tap that includes a water outlet and which, by the connection thereof to a usage circuit and a hot water management device, allows the water to enter cold when the tap is opened and to be wasted. The device comprises a discriminator that diverts the cold water entering through the hot water line to an outlet line to make use of the cold water. Once water enters hot, the water is diverted to a line that carries same to a temperature management cartridge and the shower water begins to exit at a comfortable temperature, preventing water wastage.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Thermostatic shower faucet with waste cold water management

[0003] Description

[0004] This descriptive report refers to a thermostatic shower faucet with a conventional appearance, use, and installation, but with a different water management system. It incorporates a novel device upstream of the mixing cartridge that manages the water contained in the hot water supply line. This device, being part of the product assembly, is designed to divert cold water from the hot water supply circuit to an alternative route for reuse. In combination with the shower mixing cartridge itself, this prevents both hot and cold water from being wasted by having it flow through the shower until the hot water reaches or is close to the user's desired temperature.

[0005] From now on, if we refer to a thermostatic tap without further specification, it is understood that we are referring to a thermostatic tap for showers.

[0006] Background of the invention

[0007] The concern about saving domestic water is a growing concern among consumers in recent years. Some prior art developments on this topic are discussed below.

[0008] Document ES1073773U describes a water-saving system for use in a domestic water installation, comprising a temperature-sensitive valve connected to the hot water pipe. When the tap is opened, the water flows to the valve, and if it is not hot enough, it is diverted. When the water reaches the desired temperature, the valve closes, and the water is directed to a separate tap, independent of the water-saving system, and from there to the shower or sink outlet. This document only describes the management of water flowing through the hot water line; there is no mention of water flowing through the cold water line, and therefore no mention of its interaction with the taps.US patent 6032687A discloses a domestic installation for supplying hot and cold water to a shower, bathtub, or similar fixture. The installation comprises a water supply pipe that branches into two lines, one leading to a water heater and the other to the other sanitary fixtures, including the shower faucet. A flow control element, a thermostatically controlled valve, is located in the outlet branch of the water heater. If the water temperature is not adequate, it is diverted to an auxiliary tank. Once the desired temperature is reached, the hot water is redirected through the inlet pipe to the shower faucet, which is independent of the hot water flow control system.

[0009] Finally, document US2020284000A1 refers to a water-saving system consisting of a diverter valve with three inlet / outlet points, connected on one side to the installation's water inlet and on the other two to water outlets; one leads to a domestic water outlet and the other to an auxiliary tank. The valve includes a thermostatic element that, depending on the set temperature, allows water to flow either to the domestic outlet or to the auxiliary tank until the desired temperature is reached.

[0010] All of these inventions describe devices connected to a water line that divert, in a system external and independent of the shower faucet, the still-cold water to an auxiliary storage tank until the water reaches the desired temperature. However, none of them consider the possibility of this water management device being incorporated into the faucet itself and forming part of a thermostatic shower or bathtub faucet unit, integrated into the unit's operation, as is the case here. Consequently, this faucet also incorporates a cold water outlet for connection to a storage circuit. This invention, described below, represents a significant innovation and advancement in the management and utilization of domestic water.

[0011] Description of the invention

[0012] The device described below is a conventional thermostatic shower faucet with a novel internal configuration. It incorporates a water management device located before the shower water temperature control cartridge, which is programmed and controlled by the user to maintain their preferred temperature. This new water management device, integrated into the thermostatic shower faucet, aims to prevent water waste during each shower while waiting for the water to reach a comfortable temperature. The amount of water wasted in each shower for this reason is a minimum of 5 to 7 liters.

[0013] To understand the nature of this invention, the following paragraph describes the operation of a conventional thermostatic shower faucet. This invention adds to and complements the operation of a cartridge commonly used for temperature control. It is an entirely new device for managing the opening, closing, and temperature detection processes, incorporated into the thermostatic faucet. This device allows for the reuse of water wasted before showering begins, without altering the product's appearance, use, or installation. It includes an additional water outlet, giving the user the option to reuse water that is usually wasted. This water can be directed to a circuit, a storage tank, or used directly, at the user's discretion or as required by local regulations.The recovered water comes out with mains pressure, not without pressure like greywater. This difference means that the water recovered by our system can be sent to any point in the house, even at heights, and can be stored in pressure tanks, taking advantage of its own pressure.

[0014] A conventional thermostatic shower faucet consists of a temperature control cartridge that acts as a mixer for hot and cold water, which the user programs to a specific temperature. Following this cartridge is a selector with water outlet shut-off functions. This selector closes the water flow and, if necessary, depending on the shower faucet installed, diverts the water to one or more outlets, typically a showerhead and / or hand shower. The conventional thermostatic shower faucet is connected to two water inlets, one cold and one hot, which lead directly to the shower water temperature control cartridge via a system of filters and non-return valves. These filters and non-return valves are important because the temperature control cartridge mechanism only mixes the water, and in doing so, it also connects the hot and cold water pressures, which are usually not the same. Therefore, the non-return valves prevent mixing in the water supply circuits.

[0015] When you turn on the shower, and because the ambient temperature is usually lower than the desired water temperature, the temperature control cartridge only allows the hot water that is still cold to pass through. Therefore, the cartridge's main function is to regulate the shower water temperature by retaining the cold water from the cold circuit and allowing the hot water, still cold, to pass through until it reaches a sufficiently hot temperature to mix with the cold water. This waiting period before the shower is when water is wasted. The mixing process begins when the cartridge detects that the hot water is rising and requires cold water to reach the user's selected temperature. It is at this point that the mixture of hot and cold water reaches the programmed temperature, and this mixing is controlled by the cartridge.From this point, the user can begin showering. It is important to note that, in order for the water to reach the desired temperature, a minimum of 5 to 7 liters of water have been wasted per shower.

[0016] In this invention, a conventional thermostatic faucet, as described in the previous paragraph, has its opening, closing, and distribution system removed from the cartridge. In this new faucet, the opening and closing mechanisms are located before the user-programmed shower water temperature control cartridge. This cartridge acts as a mechanism for simultaneously opening and closing the hot and cold water inlets. The faucet assembly also includes a hot water discriminator to manage the incoming cold water when the faucet is turned on, as well as an outlet for this hot water. These new elements, together with the shower water temperature control cartridge, form a unit that constitutes the water management device before the shower water temperature control cartridge.

[0017] Thus, the thermostatic shower faucet with waste cold water management, the subject of this invention, is configured as a single unit, similar in appearance and installation to a traditional faucet. This single unit consists of the following connections: a connection to a hot water supply, a connection to a cold water supply, a connection to a water line for reuse, directed to the point in the installation required by the user for its use, and at least one outlet connection, or in the case of multiple outlets, a connection to a diverter or water outlet selector system, which may be integrated into the faucet unit itself, as is customary.

[0018] This single unit consists of interconnected devices that allow for the separate circulation of hot and cold water, managing its reuse or mixing it at the user's selected temperature. These devices include: a mechanism for the simultaneous opening and closing of hot and cold water upstream of the hot water separator; a hot water separator responsible for managing the hot water and diverting the still-cold water to a reuse circuit; a shower water temperature control cartridge that regulates the user's selected temperature; and a water outlet selector system, which may include an indicator light to inform the user that water is flowing to the outlet connected to a reuse circuit.

[0019] The hot water management device, a new addition to a traditional thermostatic faucet, works as follows. This device incorporates a mechanism for the simultaneous and independent opening of both the cold and hot water inlets. When this simultaneous opening mechanism is activated, allowing both cold and hot water to flow, the cold water goes directly to the shower water temperature control cartridge, where it is held until the hot water arrives, just as in a traditional faucet. Meanwhile, the hot water entering through the hot water inlet is directed to an internal mechanism within the water management device called a discriminator. This hot water discriminator has a temperature control or selector, which can be adjusted by the user or even disabled.While the hot water is cold, the outlet to the shower water temperature control cartridge is closed, and the water is diverted to the main water outlet for use in another circuit, for reuse, recirculation, or any other use permitted by the installation or chosen by the user. When the water reaches the selected temperature, the outlet to the shower water temperature control cartridge opens, directing the now-hot water to the cartridge and closing the outlet to the reuse circuit. This is achieved by a heat-sensitive element, which expands when the water is hot and, thanks to a spring, returns to a smaller size when the water is cold. This heat-sensitive element is commonly used in many thermostatic applications and devices.

[0020] Since the water reaching the shower temperature control cartridge is already hot or heating up, it also opens the flow of cold water. The hot and cold water mix, and the water coming out of the showerhead or hand shower is at the user's chosen temperature without having to wait for the water to reach that temperature and the associated water waste. During this water management process, the user perceives that, although they have turned on the tap, no water comes out, and when it finally does, it is already at the selected temperature because the shower temperature control cartridge has also blocked the cold water.

[0021] The hot water management device may include an "on" or operating indicator to inform the user that the device is functioning and that the hot water, even though it hasn't yet reached the selected temperature, is circulating to the reuse point. This indicator can take several forms. It could be a minimal trickle of water to indicate that water is reaching the tap and that the system is managing the still-cold hot water. Alternatively, it could be illuminated, and in this case, it would have a power source to activate any type of warning signal triggered by the flow of water to the reuse outlet.The importance of this indicator—whether it's a trickle of water, an LED light, an acoustic signal, or any other solution that indicates correct operation—is that while the still-cold hot water is being heated, it is diverted to the outlet for reuse. This prevents the user from perceiving that something is wrong because, despite having "turned on the tap," the water doesn't come out of the showerhead or hand shower because the cold water is being retained by the temperature control cartridge while waiting for the hot water to arrive.

[0022] Another feature of this invention is that the faucet assembly can be wall-mounted or surface-mounted, both with an appearance, structure, and installation virtually identical to that of conventional faucets. The wall-mounted faucet has three protruding handles: a push-button handle for simultaneous opening and closing, which includes an access point for the hot water temperature regulator; a handle for regulating the water outlet temperature; and a handle for managing the multiple water outlets. The surface-mounted faucet has a single push-button handle for simultaneous opening and closing, with an access point for the hot water temperature regulator, which can be operated as a push button; a handle for regulating the outlet temperature; and a selector for the hand shower or rain shower.The only difference from a shower column is the concealed or visible pipe or inlet for channeling reusable water to a tank or any other location for which the installation is designed to be connected to the faucet. The handles of both recessed and wall-mounted faucets may have an LED indicator in a position clearly visible to the user.

[0023] It's possible, especially with freestanding faucets, to not connect this outlet to anything and simply let the cold water flow into the shower area, drain, or sewer line for one reason: without flow-restricting elements like shower heads or sprayers, the cold water flows out much faster, reducing the waiting time for your shower to almost nothing. While this isn't the ideal purpose of this invention, and assuming the usual water waste, this system, setting aside the concept of sustainability, would offer this novel and inventive feature: faster access to the shower because the cold water is evacuated from the hot water circuit much more quickly.

[0024] All information relating to examples or modes of embodiment forms part of the description of the invention.

[0025] Description of the figures

[0026] To better understand the object of the present invention, the attached drawings depict a preferred practical embodiment thereof.

[0027] Figure 1 shows a front view of block (1a) of a recessed thermostatic tap.

[0028] Figure 2a shows a front view of block (1b) of a wall-mounted thermostatic shower faucet.

[0029] Figure 2b shows a top view of block (1b) of a wall-mounted thermostatic shower faucet.

[0030] Figure 3 shows a section of the hot water discriminator (11) with the cold water outlet (17) open and the hot water outlet (18) closed.

[0031] Figure 4 shows a section of the hot water discriminator (11) with the cold water outlet (17) closed and the hot water outlet (18) open.

[0032] Figure 5 shows the complete concealed thermostatic tap. Figure 6 shows the wall-mounted shower tap.

[0033] Preferred embodiment of the invention

[0034] The device, which is the subject of the present invention, is shown in Figure 1 as the block (1a) of the recessed wall-mounted thermostatic faucet. To the left of the figure is the water management device (2), located before the shower water temperature control cartridge (3), which is situated in the center of the figure. Both are connected by a cold water line (10) and a hot water line (14). The water management device (2) consists of a hot water inlet connection (5), a cold water inlet connection (6), and a water outlet connection (7) to a reuse circuit.In addition to these water inlets and outlets, this water management device (2) has a simultaneous opening and closing mechanism (8) for cold and hot water which functions as a push button in this representation which at the same time opens the passage of cold water to the cold water path (10) to the shower water temperature control cartridge (3) where as described it is retained and the hot water enters the block (1a) through the hot water path (9) which directs it to the hot water discriminator (11).

[0035] The hot water discriminator (11) is a vital component for the water management device to function correctly, as it is responsible for diverting cold water from the inlet (9) to the outlet (13) for reuse by the user. As it flows through the outlet (13), the cold water activates an electric generator connected to a visual indicator (12), an audible indicator (as shown in this representation), or some other type of indicator that informs the user that everything is working properly. When hot water begins to enter through the inlet, the hot water discriminator (11) diverts the water through the hot water line (14) to the temperature control cartridge (3), where the cold water is held.

[0036] The shower water temperature control cartridge (3), upon receiving hot water, opens the cold water passage, mixes it to the temperature selected by the user and directs it through a mixed water passage (15) to a water outlet selector device (4) which directs it to one of the multiple shower outlets (16a, 16b, 16c).

[0037] The device, which is the subject of the present invention, is shown in Figure 2a as block (1b), a version of a wall-mounted outdoor thermostatic tap. The design of this type of tap is more compact, and consequently, the essential components described in the previous figure are arranged differently in this block (1b) without affecting the essential operating characteristics of this thermostatic tap with cold water waste management. Block (1b) has a connection to a cold water inlet (6) and a connection to a hot water inlet (5), located on the rear face and shown in Figure 2b, and a water outlet connection (7) for connection, if the user so chooses, to a reuse circuit.

[0038] A simultaneous opening mechanism (8) allows cold and hot water to enter the block (1b). Cold water flows directly through the cold water line (10) to the temperature control cartridge (3), where it is retained. Hot water flows through the hot water line (9) to the hot water discriminator (11). If the hot water is cold, the discriminator diverts it to the water outlet line (13), which activates a current generator to trigger any type of alarm. When hot water enters, the hot water discriminator (11) diverts it through the hot water line (14) to the temperature control cartridge (3). The temperature control cartridge (3) mixes the cold and hot water to the user-selected temperature, and this mixed water flows through the mixed water line (15) to the shower outlet selector (16a, 16b).

[0039] The device, which is the subject of the present invention, is shown in Figure 2b, showing the actual position of the connection to a cold water line (6) and a connection to a hot water line (5) on the back of the block (1b).

[0040] The device, which is the subject of the present invention, is shown in Figure 3, illustrating how the hot water discriminator (11) works. While receiving cold water inside through the hot water passage (9), it keeps a hot water outlet (18) closed thanks to the spring (28) and opens a cold water outlet (17) which, through an internal cold water passage (19), is directed to the water outlet passage (13).

[0041] The device, which is the subject of the present invention, is shown in Figure 4, illustrating how the hot water discriminator (11) works. When this hot water discriminator (11) receives hot water through the hot water pipe (9) inside, thanks to the expansion of the heat-sensitive element (29), it opens the hot water outlet (18) and closes the cold water outlet (17). The water, through an internal hot water pipe (20), is directed to the hot water outlet (14) and then to the temperature control cartridge (3). Figure 5 illustrates how the built-in faucet, which is very similar to a conventional built-in thermostatic faucet without a water management device (2), appears to be the subject of the present invention.A connection to a cold water supply (6) and a connection to a hot water supply (5) are clearly visible, as well as a connection to a water main (7) so that the user can connect it to a water distribution system if desired. The simultaneous opening lever (21a), which activates the simultaneous opening and closing mechanism for hot and cold water (8), is shown here as a push button. Its front face has an access point or opening (24) that allows access to a temperature regulator for the discriminator (11). The central lever (22a) regulates the water outlet temperature, and the selector lever (23) directs the water to one of the shower outlets (16a, 16c).

[0042] The device, the subject of the present invention, is illustrated in Figure 6, showing the appearance of the wall-mounted faucet, which is very similar to that of a conventional thermostatic faucet without a water management device (2). The compact unit (1b) has two handles: the simultaneous opening handle (21b), which has an opening (24) on its front face that allows access to a temperature regulator of the hot water discriminator (11), and the handle (22b) for regulating the water outlet temperature. A selector (25) directs the water to one of the outlets: a hand shower (26) or a spray head (27).

[0043] A person skilled in the technique will easily understand that they can combine features of different embodiments with features of other possible embodiments, provided that such a combination is technically possible.

Claims

CLAIMS, 1 - Thermostatic shower faucet with waste cold water management comprising a block (1a, 1b) consisting of; -a connection to a hot water supply (5), -a connection to a cold water supply (6), -at least one water outlet connection for shower use (16), -a user-programmed shower water temperature control cartridge (3), -a selector system (4) for shower water outlets, characterized in that it incorporates into said block (1a, 1b) a hot water management device (2), prior to the temperature control cartridge (3), responsible for diverting the still cold water to a utilization circuit and which in turn comprises; -a simultaneous opening and closing mechanism (8) for the cold water inlet and the hot water inlet, -a hot water discriminator (11) with a temperature programmer that diverts the water entering through the hot water line (9) when it is cold, to a water outlet line (13) and when it enters hot, diverts it to a hot water line (14) to the temperature control cartridge (3), - a gear indicator (12), -a connection to a water conduit (7) for its use. 2 - Thermostatic shower faucet with management of wasted cold water, according to claim 1, characterized in that the simultaneous opening and closing mechanism (8) is activated by pressure. 3 - Thermostatic shower faucet with management of wasted cold water, according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating indicator (12) is an LED light point powered by a current generator that is activated by the passage of water through the outlet (13). 4 - Thermostatic shower faucet with management of wasted cold water, according to claim 1, 3 characterized in that the operating indicator (12) is an acoustic signal powered by a current generator that is activated by the passage of water through the outlet channel (13). 5 - Thermostatic shower faucet with management of wasted cold water, according to claim 1, 3 and 4 characterized in that the operating indicator (12) is a trickle of water that comes out of one of the water outlets (16). 6 - Thermostatic shower faucet with management of wasted cold water, according to previous claims, characterized in that the simultaneous opening handle (21a, 21b) that activates the simultaneous opening and closing mechanism (8) has an orifice (24) that allows access to the temperature programmer of the hot water discriminator (11).

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