SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WATER HARVESTING AND RECYCLING

• US 20110174706A1
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Austin Russell
• Original Assignee: Austin Russell
• Inventors: Russell, Austin
• Granted Patent: US 9,832,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/170.01
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/00 Watering gardens, fields, sports grounds or the like special apparatus or adaptations for fertilising-liquids A01C23/00; nozzles or outlets, spraying apparatus B05B
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/68 by addition of specified substances, e.g. trace elements, for ameliorating potable water medicinal water A61K
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/42 Liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 1/04 for domestic or like local supply

Abstract

This disclosure describes a system for recycling and reusing water from sprinkler systems to water or irrigate a yard or an area of land. The system includes a water reclamation tank that stores water captured from beneath the area of land. When it is time to water the area of land, the sprinkler system draws water from the water reclamation tank. A portion of this water is then recaptured and supplied back to the water reclamation tank for further storage until the next time the sprinkler system is activated. This cyclical process occurs repeatedly and enables a significant reduction in the amount of freshly supplied water used to maintain the area of land.

Claims

1. A fluid reclamation apparatus comprising:

an intake drain located substantially under an area of land;

a fluid tank;

a fluid mover; and

a fluid distribution apparatus;

wherein;

the intake drain is configured to guide fluid toward the fluid tank;

the fluid mover is configured to move a volume of fluid from the fluid tank and through the fluid distribution apparatus; and

the fluid distribution apparatus is configured to provide the volume of fluid to the area of land above the intake drain.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises water.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid mover comprises a pump.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intake drain receives a portion of the volume of fluid and guides the portion of the volume of fluid into the fluid tank.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the intake drain is semi-permeable and a second portion of the volume of fluid moves into a volume of land under the intake drain.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intake drain comprises one or more inclined surfaces located substantially under the area of land.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least one of the inclined surfaces is formed of a layer of a first material and a layer of a second material different from the first material.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more inclined surfaces are located under the area of land and span a second area in a plane substantially parallel to the upper surface of the area of land, and the second area is no larger than the area of land.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the intake drain further comprises one or more support structures that assist in bearing the weight of material above the intake drain.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the intake drain comprises at least one intake pipe having a first end connected to the fluid tank, and wherein the at least one intake pipe is configured to provide fluid to the fluid tank.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intake drain comprises a fluid filter apparatus to restrict the entry of first matter into the fluid tank.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first matter comprises one or more of first particles.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first matter comprises one or more of first chemicals.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fluid treatment apparatus to change the composition of the fluid.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a fluid treatment apparatus, wherein the fluid treatment apparatus causes the fluid to include one or more of second particles.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a fluid treatment apparatus, wherein the fluid treatment apparatus causes the fluid to include one or more of second chemicals.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the change in the composition of the fluid is based on exposing at least some of the fluid to energy emitted as waves.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fluid source apparatus that directs fluid from a source other than the intake drain into the fluid tank.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a processor-based management system including a user interface, wherein a selectable option provided by the user interface generates a first signal, and wherein, in response to the first signal, the processor-based management system activates the fluid mover.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the user interface is generated by data transmitted to a web browser.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a second intake drain located substantially under a second area of land;

a second fluid tank;

a second fluid mover; and

a second fluid distribution apparatus;

and wherein;

the second fluid mover is configured to move a second volume of fluid from the second fluid tank and through the second fluid distribution apparatus; and

the second fluid distribution apparatus is configured to provide the second volume of fluid to the second area of land, and wherein a selectable option provided by the user interface generates a second signal, and wherein, in response to the second signal, the processor-based management system activates the second fluid mover.

22. A method for reducing water usage, the method comprising:

receiving a first volume of water at a water tank from a water drainage system that includes a funnel located under an area of land;

receiving an electronic irrigation signal from a sprinkler management system; and

in response to the irrigation signal, automatically generating a pump signal to activate pumping a second volume of water from the water tank to a water distribution apparatus to irrigate the area of land above the funnel.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the water drainage system includes a plurality of funnels, and the first volume of water is received based on water flow through one or more of the funnels.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the water distribution apparatus includes a water flow path provided between at least two of the plurality of funnels.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising applying an additive to at least one of the first or second volumes of water.

26. A method for reducing water usage, the method comprising:

receiving a first volume of water at a water tank from a water drainage system that includes a funnel located under an area of land;

receiving an electronic water level signal from a first sensor, the electronic water level signal representative of a sensed volume of water in the water tank; and

based at least in part on the sensed volume of water, automatically generating a fill signal to activate adding water to the water tank from a source other than the water drainage system.

27. A method for reducing water usage, the method comprising:

receiving a first volume of water at a water tank from a water drainage system that includes a funnel located under an area of land;

receiving an electronic water level signal from a first sensor, the electronic water level signal representative of a sensed volume of water in the water tank; and

based at least in part on the sensed volume of water, automatically generating a pump signal to activate pumping of water from the water tank to a water distribution apparatus to irrigate the area of land above the funnel.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving an electronic flow signal from a second sensor, the electronic flow signal representative of a sensed level of water flow through a water flow path in the water drainage system; and

based at least in part on the sensed level of water flow, automatically generating a stop signal to deactivate the pumping of the water.

29. A method for reducing water usage, the method comprising:

receiving a first volume of water at a water tank from a water drainage system that includes a funnel located under an area of land;

receiving an electronic moisture signal from a first sensor, the electronic moisture signal representative of a sensed level of moisture of the area of land;

based at least in part on the sensed level of moisture, automatically generating a pump signal to activate pumping of water from the water tank to a water distribution apparatus to irrigate the area of land above the funnel.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

receiving an electronic flow signal from a second sensor, the electronic flow signal representative of a sensed level of water flow through a water flow path in the water drainage system; and

based at least in part on the sensed level of water flow, automatically generating a stop signal to deactivate the pumping of the water.

31. A system for managing fluid usage, the system comprising:

a fluid reclamation apparatus comprising;

an intake drain located substantially under an area of land;

a fluid tank;

a fluid mover;

a fluid distribution apparatus; and

at least one sensor generating an electronic signal indicative of information pertinent to the operation of the fluid reclamation apparatus;

wherein;

the intake drain is configured to guide fluid toward the fluid tank;

the fluid mover is configured to move a volume of fluid from the fluid tank and through the fluid distribution apparatus; and

the fluid distribution apparatus is configured to provide the volume of fluid to the area of land above the intake drain;

a sprinkler management system configured to manage the fluid reclamation apparatus, the sprinkler management system implemented in computer hardware, and the sprinkler management system comprising;

a user interface configured to receive user preferences from a user; and

a sensor and control engine configured to operate the fluid reclamation apparatus based on user preferences and sensor signals.

32. A method for managing irrigation systems, the method comprising:

receiving first irrigation status data representative of at least one irrigation performance characteristic of a first irrigation system that comprises a first drain structure below a first area of land to guide water into a first tank and also comprises a first pump to transport water from the first tank to irrigate the first area of land; and

using the first irrigation status data to generate first displayable status data on a display screen of a processor-based control device, the first displayable status data indicative of the at least one irrigation performance characteristic of the first irrigation system.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the first displayable status data comprise a graphical image illustrating a representation of one or more components of the first irrigation system and also illustrating an operating condition of at least one of the one or more components of the first irrigation system.

34. The method of claim 32, the method further comprising:

receiving second irrigation status data representative of at least one irrigation performance characteristic of a second irrigation system that comprises a second drain structure below a second area of land to guide water into a second tank and also comprises a second pump to transport water from the second tank to irrigate the second area of land; and

using the second irrigation status data to generate second displayable status data on the display screen, the second displayable status data indicative of the at least one irrigation performance characteristic of the second irrigation system.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

receiving from a first user at a user interface of the processor-based control device an irrigation modification request to modify irrigation system settings for the first irrigation system;

determining based on user identification data for the first user that the first user is authorized to execute the irrigation modification request;

presenting to the first user at the user interface a present value of each of a plurality of irrigation system settings; and

accepting from the first user at the user interface a new value in place of the present value for at least one of the plurality of irrigation system settings.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

storing the first irrigation status data in an irrigation system database;

storing the second irrigation status data in the irrigation system database;

accessing the first and second irrigation status data from the irrigation system database; and

based on the accessed first and second irrigation status data, automatically presenting on the display screen one or more recommended modifications to the irrigation system settings of the first irrigation system.