Selectable control energy and water conservation system

• US 6,039,067 A
• Filed: 10/16/1998
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John A. Houlihan
• Original Assignee: John A. Houlihan
• Inventors: Houlihan, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): FOX, JOHN C
• Application Number:
  US09/173,879
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 137/337, 137/565, 137/624.12, 417/12, 417/32
• US Class Current: 137/337
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/04 Domestic or like local pipe systems domestic plumbing E03C1/02
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 7/045 diverting initially cold water in warm water supply
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 17/00 Domestic hot-water supply systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/411 Water saving techniques at user level
• 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 137/86397 With independent valve controller

Abstract

The system is unique in that a structure'"'"'s plumbing lines are effectively routed, to stop energy and water waste, while adding little to construction cost. Water pressure to hot water supply (50) is controlled through a selectable flow control valve (10). A hot water manifold (3) and check valves 42 and 43 produce a dual line connection, between hot water manifold (3) and the hot water use area. In the water saver mode, positioning selectable flow control valve (10) causes pump (4) to draw water from distribution conduit (6), through selectable flow control valve (10), through cold water manifold (12) and solenoid valve (37) to hot water supply (50). Pump (4) causes hot water to fill distribution conduit (6), to the hot water use area. This circulation delivers hot water to replace water standing in the line. Circulation period is determined by controller (22). When selectable flow control valve (10) is positioned to the use mode, supply pressure at cold water conduit (28) is applied through selectable flow control valve (10), then via cold water manifold (12), to hot water supply (50). Positioning selectable flow control valve (10) to the energy saver mode causes, cold water pressure to be interrupted to hot water supply (50) and directed through feedback conduit (72) and conduit (71), to a junction down stream from hot water manifold (3). Supply pressure forces hot water towards open hot water outlet (45), thus all hot water delivered from hot water manifold (3) is utilized.

Claims

1. A plumbing system having a pressurized cold water supply, a hot water supply means, a plurality of cold water outlets, a plurality of hot water outlets, a cold water supply conduit to furnish cold water supply pressure to said hot water supply means, a hot water supply conduit for the purpose of furnishing hot water from said hot water supply means, to said hot water outlets, a main cold water supply conduit for furnishing cold water to said cold water outlets, a water and energy conservation system for supplying hot water on demand, without wasting water down the drain waiting for hot water and for utilizing the hot water delivered from said hot water supply means so that no hot water is left to cool in the plumbing lines, configured so as to be capable of segmentation, for independent operation as a water saver segment only or as an energy saver segment only, comprising in combination:

(a) a power source;

(b) a programmable power controller means, for distributing power to selected components;

(c) a power control means, to apply and interrupt power;

(d) a pump;

(e) a selectable flow control means, for directing and controlling flow;

(f) a flow control unit, comprising a water saver segment including a multi-port cold water manifold, one inlet port of said cold water manifold coupled to a cold water inlet conduit, and having a single outlet port in fluid communication, at a tee junction, with a cold water outlet conduit to said hot water supply means through a back flow control means and with the inlet port of said pump, with the output port of said pump in fluid communication with the inlet of a normally closed-to-flow solenoid valve, and the outlet side of said solenoid valve in fluid communication, with a tee junction, in close proximity to the cold water inlet of said hot water supply means, to direct cold water supply pressure to said hot water supply means, and to direct cold water, circulated by said pump, to said hot water supply means, and;

(g) an energy saver segment, including a multi-port, hot water manifold, an inlet port of said hot water manifold in fluid communication with the outlet of said hot water supply means, and an outlet port of said hot water manifold, in fluid communication with a hot water distribution conduit, to furnish hot water to each use area;

(h) said hot water distribution conduit, with one end in communication with said outlet of said hot water manifold and the opposite end in fluid communication with its associated use area, branching at a tee junction, and coupling a hot water service conduit to said hot water outlet and coupling said distribution conduit, to a hot water inlet port of said selectable flow control means;

(i) said cold water inlet conduit, having one end in fluid communication with said cold water manifold, and the other end in fluid communication, and branching at a tee junction, coupled to a pair of cold water outlet ports, of said selectable flow control means;

(j) said selectable flow control means, with a fixed member having one inlet port in fluid communication with said cold water supply conduit and said hot water inlet port in fluid communication with said hot water distribution conduit and having said pair of cold water outlet ports in fluid communication with said cold water inlet conduit, and having a third outlet port in fluid communication, through a cold water feed-back conduit, to a tee junction in close proximity to said hot water outlet of said hot water manifold and;

(k) said selectable flow control means having a moveable member, having a mechanical activation means attached, for closing and opening said power control means, with an internal flow channel which can be positioned for selectively opening and closing flow paths between input ports and output ports, for the purpose of completing and/or interrupting flow between associated conduits, which are connected to and in fluid communication with said selectable flow control means;

(l) a first back flow control means to limit back flow to said hot water supply means;

(m) a second back flow control means to limit back flow through said cold water feed back conduit;

(n) a third back flow control means to protect said normally closed-to-flow solenoid valve and said pump against any harmful effects of back flow;

(o) a fourth back flow control means to help direct flow during the operation of said pump.

2. A water and energy conservation system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of visual and/or audio signaling means are included for the purpose of alerting the system user to the operating condition of said water and energy conservation system.

3. A water and energy conservation system according to claim 1, where a flow control unit is initially configured for independent operation as an energy saver segment, or a water saver segment, to which the opposite segment may later be conveniently added, thus making up a complete water and energy conservation system.

4. A water and energy conservation system according to claim 1, wherein said selectable flow control means is combined with a temperature and volume control means, to comprise a single device for controlling all aspects of flow, at a use point.

5. A water and energy conservation system according to claim 1, wherein the system may be configured in a manner that makes an activate signal mandatory, before the system will permit hot water to be delivered to any outlet.

6. A water and energy conservation system according to claim 1, having an expanded configuration for installation in a multi unit complex such as motels, hotels, military quarters, college dormitories, or other multiple use point structures.

7. A water and energy conservation system according to claim 1, wherein electrical power is applied by a separate power control means, installed at the use area, which is in electrical continuity with said flow control unit, eliminating said power control means, activated by the positioning of said moveable member of said selectable flow control means.

8. A water and energy conservation system according to claim 1, is configured so that power is controlled by a power control means which may be activated by a remote control means, a radio control means, or both, available through one of several home security systems presently on the market, utilizing programmable command signals that are super imposed on a structure'"'"'s electrical wiring.

9. A water and energy conservation system according to claim 1, where in said selectable flow control means may be configured with one of several interfaces between the moveable member and fixed member, including but not limited to a disk interface, a slide interface, or a cylindrical interface.

10. A water and energy conservation system according to claim 1, wherein said selectable flow control means has its inlet and outlet ports configured to facilitate water conservation by directing water in said hot distribution conduit, to a cold water storage tank, under supply pressure, eliminating the need for said pump and said normally closed-to-flow solenoid valve and wherein the conserved water can be directed to and utilized in another water appliance, irrigation system or used for some other useful purpose.

11. A water and energy conservation system according to claim 1, having an energy saver segment, controlled by a single diverter valve, eliminating the need for a selectable flow control means, where energy conservation is the only goal.

12. A water and energy conservation system according to claim 1, having a water saver segment, controlled by a single diverter valve, eliminating the need for a selectable flow control means, where water conservation is the only goal.

13. A water and energy conservation system according to claim 1, where an array of three separate diverter valves are substituted for said selectable flow control means, where a first diverter valve controls the water saver cycle, a second diverter valve controls the use cycle and a third diverter valve controls the energy saver cycle.

14. A water and energy conservation system according to claim 1, useable in an existing structure, where the expense of retrofitting the structure is acceptable to the user.

15. A water and energy conservation system according to claim 1, configured with an electronic controller compatible with one of several home security systems interfaced with a computer or other programmable remote unit available with such a home security system.