Water conservation system

• US 5,339,859 A
• Filed: 12/16/1993
• Issued: 08/23/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerald E. Bowman
• Original Assignee: Gerald E. Bowman
• Inventors: Bowman, Gerald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US08/168,529
• Time in Patent Office: 250 Days
• Field of Search: 137/110, 137/337, 137/599.1, 137/606, 137/562, 236/12.12
• US Class Current: 137/337
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 1/04 for domestic or like local supply
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 1/048 Systems for collecting not used fresh water
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 17/00 Domestic hot-water supply systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/13 by varying the mixing ratio of two fluids having different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6497 Hot and cold water system having a connection from the hot to the cold channel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87346 Including mixing feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87684 Valve in each inlet

Abstract

A water conservation system including a thermostatically controlled valve means effectively diverts water from the hot water tank to a storage tank until the temperature or the water therefrom reaches a predetermined temperature. The stored water is then caused to be mixed with the water directed to the cold water conduit initially be pressure in the storage tank and subsequently by siphon action.

Claims

1. A water conservation system comprising:

a source of pressurized water;

a water heating means having an inlet and an outlet;

first conduit means providing communication between said source and the inlet of said water heating means;

an outlet faucet means having a hot water control valve and a cold water control valve;

a water storage tank;

second conduit means providing communication between the outlet of said water heating means and said water storage tank, said second conduit means including temperature sensitive control valve for selectively providing communication between the outlet of said water heating means and the hot water control valve of said outlet faucet means and simultaneously blocking the communication with said water storage tank;

third conduit means providing communication between said source and the cold water control valve of said outlet faucet means, said third conduit means including means for reducing the pressure of the water flowing therein; and

fourth conduit means providing communication between said third conduit means and the interior of said water storage tank;

whereby actuation of the hot water control valve of said outlet faucet means initially establishes communication between the outlet of said water heating means and said water storage tank through said second conduit means, and subsequently establishes communication between the outlet of said water heating means and the hot water control valve of said outlet faucet where the temperature sensitive control valve in said second conduit senses heated water.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the means for reducing the pressure of the water flowing in said third conduit means consists of a pressure reducing valve.