Pumped Shower Draining Device

• US 20100154113A1
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DLP Limited
• Original Assignee: DLP Limited
• Inventors: STIMPSON, Robert William
• Granted Patent: US 8,272,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/613
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/12 Plumbing installations for waste water; Basins or fountains connected thereto drainage devices in floors E03F5/04; Sinks wash-basins not connected to the waste-pipe A47K1/04
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 5/22 Adaptations of pumping plants for lifting sewage wheeled apparatus for emptying sewers or cesspools E03F7/10; pumps, pumping plants, per se F04

Abstract

A pumped shower draining device for shower apparatus, the device comprising a housing having a waste water inlet and a waste water outlet, a pump element provided within or adjacent to the housing which pumps waste water from the waste water inlet to the waste water outlet, a first pump-driving device drivably engaged with the pump element, a second pump-driving device drivably engaged with the pump element, and a controller to control the first and/or second pump-driving devices. The first pump-driving device is hydraulically operable by shower water supplied to a shower head. The second pump-driving device is electrically operable, and the controller controls at least one of the first pump-driving device and second pump-driving device to supplement and/or to be substituted for the other. Shower apparatus having the pumped shower draining device is also provided.

Claims

1. A pumped shower draining device for shower apparatus, the device comprising a housing having a waste water inlet and a waste water outlet, a pump element provided within or adjacent to the housing which pumps waste water from the waste water inlet to the waste water outlet, a first pump-driving device drivably engaged with the pump element, a second pump-driving device drivably engaged with the pump element, and a controller to control the first and/or second pump-driving devices, the first pump-driving device being hydraulically operable by shower water supplied to a shower head, the second pump-driving device being electrically operable, and the controller controlling at least one of the first pump-driving device and second pump-driving device to supplement and/or be substituted for the other.

2. A pumped shower draining device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first pump-driving device primarily drives the pump element, and the second pump-driving device supplementarily drives the pump element.

3. A pumped shower draining device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the controller activates the second pump-driving device when a flow rate of the shower water drops to a predetermined amount.

4. A pumped shower draining device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first pump-driving device includes an impellor drivable by the shower-water supply.

5. A pumped shower draining device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first pump-driving device is solely hydromechanical.

6. A pumped shower draining device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first pump-driving device and the second pump-driving device are separate of each other.

7. A pumped shower draining device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first pump-driving device includes a hydroelectric generator element.

8. A pumped shower draining device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first pump-driving device and the second pump-driving device have a common electric motor.

9. A pumped shower draining device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller includes at least one flow sensor to sense the flow rate of the shower water.

10. A pumped shower draining device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller receives a signal from the first pump-driving device to activate the second pump-driving device.

11. Shower apparatus comprising:

a shower head;

a shower-water supply liquidly communicable with the shower head;

a drain unit; and

a pumped shower draining device including a housing having a waste water inlet and a waste water outlet, a pump element provided within or adjacent to the housing which pumps waste water from the waste water inlet to the waste water outlet, a first pump-driving device drivably engaged with the pump element, a second pump-driving device drivably engaged with the pump element, and a controller to control the first and/or second pump-driving devices, the first pump-driving device being hydraulically operable by shower water supplied to a shower head, the second pump-driving device being electrically operable, and the controller controlling at least one of the first pump-driving device and second pump-driving device to supplement and/or be substituted for the other;

wherein, the first pump-driving device is provided on a flow path upstream of the shower head so as to be operable by the shower water of the shower-water supply.

12. Shower apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a shower water heater, the first pump-driving device being provided upstream thereof.

13. Shower apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the controller monitors a flow rate of the shower water to the shower head, and activates the second pump-driving device when a flow rate of the shower water drops to a predetermined amount.

14. Shower apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the controller monitors a flow rate of waste shower water in, to or from the drain unit, and activates the second pump-driving device when a flow rate of the waste shower water increases to a predetermined amount.

15. Shower apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the controller controls the second pump-driving device to operate simultaneously with the first pump-driving device, such that the first pump-driving device reduces a load on the second pump-driving device.

16. Shower apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in the form of a kit of parts.