Water collection and distribution monitoring system and methods

• US 8,607,377 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
• Original Assignee: Sloan Valve Company
• Inventors: Gutting-Kilzer, Mark, Borg, Dustin, Wang, Xu
• Primary Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US13/298,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20120125443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 466/5, 466/1
• US Class Current: 4/665
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 1/041 Greywater supply systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 2001/045 using household water
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/148 using household water from wash basins or showers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/30 Relating to industrial water supply, e.g. used for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0391 Affecting flow by the addition of material or energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8342 Liquid level responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

Abstract

The invention relates to a grey water reclamation system and methods therefor. Grey water is captured from a source, such as a sink, and stored in a main body containing a pump. The grey water is transported to a flush tank for use with a toilet. The system provides for use of a mixture of fresh water and grey water without interrupting the service to the user. Usage of grey water is maximized without completely eliminating the fresh water as a component that ensures service when grey water is unavailable.

Claims

1. A system for managing grey water collected from a grey water source and regulating the amount of collected grey water and freshwater from a freshwater source provided to a flush tank, comprising:

a main assembly having;

a housing, the housing defining a grey water reservoir and having a water storage inlet;

a consumable assembly at least partially disposed within the housing in fluid communication with the inlet;

a filter assembly at least partially disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the consumable assembly;

a pump cartridge assembly including a pump assembly at least partially disposable in the housing and in fluid communication with the grey water reservoir;

an outlet port configured to deliver pumped water from the grey water reservoir; and

a float sensor for providing information regarding the level of grey water in the reservoir;

a lid water inlet assembly coupled to the main assembly by a grey water transport system, the lid water inlet assembly configured to transfer grey water from the main assembly into the flush tank, the lid water inlet assembly includes a first hollow portion in communication with the main assembly, a lid portion for receiving the first hollow portion and straddling a portion of the flush tank, and a second hollow portion extending from the lid portion into the flush tank; and

a flush tank water level sensor coupled to the main for communicating information regarding the volume of water in the flush tank;

wherein grey water passes from the inlet through the consumable assembly and through the filter assembly before entering the grey water reservoir.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an overflow sensor positioned within the housing and configured to detect when the grey water reservoir is at a predetermined volume of grey water, the overflow sensor in communication with the pump wherein the pump is activated to remove water from the grey water reservoir when the predetermined volume of grey water is sensed.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a flow regulator positioned on the fresh water source, wherein the flow regulator reduces the flow rate of the fresh water to the flush tank and grey water is pumped through the discharge tube to the lid water inlet assembly to mix with the fresh water in the flush tank.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a main assembly tray coupled to an upper housing portion of the housing to define a channel.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the consumable assembly disposed within the channel and the filter in fluid communication with the channel such that grey water flows from the inlet through the channel and the portion of the consumable assembly into the filter assembly.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable pump cartridge cover being engageable with the housing and allowing the pump to be oriented in a plurality of orientations.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the first hollow portion and the second hollow portion are flat.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the first flat hollow portion is parallel with the second flat hollow portion.

6. A method of controlling the supply of grey water from a grey water source and fresh water from a fresh water source for use in flush tank, comprising:

receiving flush tank level information from a flush tank water level sensor regarding the level of water in the flush tank;

determining when a flush event has occurred based upon the flush tank level information;

receiving grey water storage reservoir information from a reservoir level sensor;

determining if grey water is present in a grey water storage reservoir; and

pumping grey water to the flush tank from the storage reservoir if a flush event is determined to have occurred and if grey water is determined to be present;

determining if the flow of freshwater is not restricted by;

upon a flush event being detected, starting a timer;

stopping the timer upon receiving information indicating the flush tank has refilled;

if the elapsed time is less than a predetermined time period, then an indication that the flow regulator is missing is provided

restricting a flow of freshwater to the flush tank.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising a determining if the flush tank is leaking.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising a method of grading the effectiveness of the grey water system, comprising:

determining when a flush event has occurred;

determining if the grey water level is sufficient; and

providing an indication of the effectiveness of the grey water system based upon the sufficiency of the grey water level.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising diverting grey water to a waste line when the grey water reservoir is full.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising receiving storage reservoir overflow information and pumping grey water from the storage reservoir to the flush tank.

11. A system for managing grey water provided to a flush tank comprising:

a main assembly having;

a housing, the housing defining a grey water reservoir and having a water storage inlet;

a pump cartridge assembly including a pump assembly at least partially disposable in the housing and in fluid communication with the grey water reservoir;

an overflow sensor configured to sense when the grey water reservoir is filled above a threshold; and

an outlet port configured to deliver pumped water from the grey water reservoir;

a float sensor for providing information regarding the level of grey water in the reservoir;

a main assembly tray coupled to an upper housing portion of the housing to define a channel;

a lid water inlet assembly coupled to the main assembly by a grey water transport system, the lid water inlet assembly having a first hollow portion in communication with the main assembly, a lid portion for receiving the first hollow portion and straddling a portion of the flush tank, and a second hollow portion extending from the lid portion into the flush tank, the lid water inlet assembly configured to transfer grey water from the main assembly into the flush tank;

a flush tank water level sensor coupled to the main for communicating information regarding the volume of water in the flush tank.

12. The system of claim 11, a consumable assembly at least partially disposed within the housing in fluid communication with the inlet.

13. The system of claim 12, a filter assembly at least partially disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the consumable assembly wherein grey water passes from the inlet through the consumable assembly and through the filter assembly before entering the grey water reservoir.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the consumable assembly disposed within the channel and the filter in fluid communication with the channel such that grey water flows from the inlet through the channel and the portion of the consumable assembly into the filter assembly.