Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02652143 2009-02-19
Gre.y Water Recycle
The original idea was to filter bath water so it could be used for a secondaty
purpose.
Potential to pay for itself matxy times over
With an extra large holding tank one could enjoy outdoor summer water
activities when
water restrictions would be in effect
Lessen the load on Water Treatment plants
An ideal solution to dry regions of the country
Could used developed for irrigation
Have not seen any product like this on the market
Water being a natural resource, Environmental Protection
Could be design as another potable source of water
The idea t2ere is to keep the desig'n as simple as poss~bi.e
A f ltemtion unit holding tank and a pump.
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CIPO
CA 02652143 2009-02-19
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Docket No. VI'Z'-122607SAI-7
IlvVENTUR BRUCE DA,NGEItFZELD
GRAY WATER RECYCLING SYSTEM
=ATED APPLICATIQUS
The present invention was first described in a notarized Official Record of
i o Invention ftle+d at the ojMces of Montgomery Patent and Design in
Washitxgton,
Pennsylvania on November 28, 2006. There are no previously filed, nor
currently any co-
pending applications attywhere in the world.
1, Field Qf the I. ention
-Me presettt invention relates generally to a water recycling system and, moro
particularly, to gray water recycling system.
II. Motivation for theInvention
Globally, potable water is becoming increasingly searce. Many areas of the
world
do not have an adequatc or reliable source of potable water. As the world's
population
increases and the available sources of potable water become increasxrtgly
limited,
conservation becomes more important. Current water treatment practice consists
of
routing all wastewater to a wastewater trpatrnent system. Wastewater which
contai,tL9
human waste requires high levels of ftatment in isolation befo.re It can be
reused. Waste
water &om bathtubs andlor showers (also known as "gray water") requires little
treatment. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which lightly
contaminated
gray water can be immediately recycled for reuse. The development of the
invention
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CA 02652143 2009-02-19
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herein described fulfills this need.
The invention as presently conceived discloses a system and method by which
waste (gray) water ftm bathtubs and showers catt be stor.edõ filtered, and
ttiv,rted for
irrigation, washing of vehicles and similar applications. The system utilizes
a separate
drainpipe from the bathtub and shower and gravity routes the gray water
through a
filtration and t,reatment system that is connected to a storage tank. The
treated gray water
is stored in the tank until needed. When needed, a separate supply system
powered
through a pump delivers the water for non-drinking or cooking uses. The pump
is
coattx'olled by pressure switch that would automatically activate when a valve
in the
supply system is opened.
The advantages and features of the present invention will becotne better
tmderstood wlth, mference to the following more detailed descriptiort and
claims taken in
con,junction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are
identified with
like symbols, and in which:
FIG. I is a cut-away view of a gray vtratet' recycli.ng system 10, according
to a.
pref+erred embodiment of the present invention; and,
FIG. 2 is a clos-eup cut-away view oa gray water recycling system 10,
according
to a prc.fened embodiment of the premt invention.
DESCRiPTIVE KE'Y
10 gray water recycling system 34 pressure gauge
20 gray water accumulation 35 power cord
system 40 collection plumbing
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CA 02652143 2009-02-19
`31
21 holding tank 41 outlet plumbing
22 control valves 42 bypass plumbing
23 floor drain 43 treated water plumbing
24 Erst filter 45 spigot valve
30 gray watar treatment system 50 wger source
31 mounting panel 60 building structure
32 pump 65 grade level
33 second filtcr 80 gray water
I_Vy,.,Descr,iption of the Invention
The best mode fbr carrying out the invention is presented in temts of its
preferred
embodiment, herein depicted within Figures I and 2.
1. Detailed Descr. iption of e Figures
The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in teraas of its
prefer+ed
embodiment, herein depicted within FIGS. 1 and 2. However, the invention is
not limited
to the described embodiment, and a person sldIled in the art will appreciate
that many
other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the
basic cottcept
of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of
this
ixavention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the
present invention can
be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only
one particular
configuaation shall be shown and described for purposes of, eXarxty and
disclosure and not
by way of limitation of scope.
The terrns "a" and "an herein do not denote a liznittation of quantity, but
rather
denote the presence of s.t least one of the rEferenced items.
The present invention describes a systezn and method for a gray water
recycling
system (herein described as the i'system,")10, which provides a means for a
system and
metltod by which gray water 80 from bathtubs and showers can be treated 30 and
reused
for non-potable water applications. The gray water 80 is envisioned to be used
for
icrigation, wasbing of vehicles, and similar uses. The system 10 utilizes
collection
REv: 29 January 2008
CA 02652143 2009-02-19
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plumbi;ng 40 from gray water sources 50 such as bathtubs and showers, and
routes the
gray water 80 to a storage tank 21 in a basement area of a building stnlctLue
60. Witen
needed, the gray water 80 is then routed via outlet plumbing 41 through a pump
32 and a
second filtcr 33 delivetkg the gray water 80 via treated water plumbing 43 for
non-
potable water uses.
Referring now to FIG. l, a cut-away view of the system 10, according to the
prefen-rd embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The system 10 as
shown. here
eomprises a gray water accumulation system 20, a gray water treatment systzm
30,
various plutnbing components 40, 41, 42, 43 and an exter,aal spigot valve 45.
The gray
water accumulation system 20 is depicted here utilizing various gray water
sources 50
such as a bathtub drain and an eve spout drain for illusiratxon sake; however,
other
sources of gray water 50 may be utilized such as, but not limited to, sinks,
showers, sump
pumps, ponds, or the like whicb may be used seperately or in any combination
thereof
based upon local gray water 80 availability as well as a user's preference.
The gray water treatment system 30 comprises a plurality of mounted and
plumbed water processing components capable of filtering and pumping said gray
water
80, thereby conditioning and pressurizing said gray water 80 for subsequent
uses such as,
but not limited to, irrigation, watering gardens, watering lawns, washing
cars, and the like
(see FIG. 2).
The system 10 is envisioned to include all plumbing 40, 41, 42, 43 required to
complete an Installation including all piping, fittings, control valves, and
mounting
laardware and fixtures. The system 10 is shown here installed in a normal
13iiildt#T"
structure 60; however, applaoation of thc system 10 may lnclude commercial or
public
dwellings with equal benefit and as such should not be interpi+eted as a
limiting factor of
the system 10,
A spigot valve 45 is depicted here being located thereupon an outer wall of a
building structure 60 providing a poiDt-of-use for a user to consume said gray
water 80. It
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CA 02652143 2009-02-19
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is understood that the system 10 is not limited to a single outdoor spigot 45,
and a person
skilled in the art will appreciate that any number of plumbed spigots 45
located ittternal or
external to the building stnicture 60 may be utilized without devxaiang from
the basic.
concept and as such should not be interpreted as a lim.itang factor of the
system 10. The
spigot 45 is envisioned to be a standard commerciatly available wall-mountable
valve
fixture providing attaohment thereto a common garden hose using a three-
quarter ('/4)
inch wale tlueaded nozzle thereott. It is further envisioned that appropriate
warnings and
securing means may be provided and/or incorporated therein said spigot(s) 45
indicating
and/or controlling intended liunited usage of the gray water supply 80 for
"NON-
POTABLE USE ONLY". The spigot 45 is connected thereto the treated_water
plumbing
43 portion of the system 10.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a close-up cut-away view of the system 10, according
to
the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The system 10
comprises
a gray water accumulation system 20, a gray wate.r treatment system 30, and
various
pluznbing 40, 41, 42, 43.
The M water a.ccumulation system 20 fu:rther comprises a holding tank 21,
bypass plumbing 42, outlet plumbing 41, a plurality of control valves 22, and
a first filter
24. The gray water accunaulation system 30 provides an acctanuiating and
ttiservoir
means to gray water 80 collected from paray water sources 50 via gravity
drainage
therethrough collection plumbing 40 over a period of time. The gray water
accumulation
system 20 also comprises bypass plumbing 42 and an over-flow fluid path
thereto an
existing floor drain 23. The holding tank 21 comprises a round bottom,
plastic, closed-
top, oornmercially available vessel. having a capacity betweett two thousand
(2000) and
four thousand (4000) gallons. The holding tank 21 is depicted here upon a
basement floor
in a normal building structure 60, thereby taking advantage of gravity flow of
gray water
80 and discrete st,orage thereof said holding tanlc 21; however, said holding
tattilc 21 may
be located in any number of locations within a building structure 60 as well
as outdoor
1tEV: 29 Janu9ry 2008
CA 02652143 2009-02-19
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locations, depending on climate conditions, with=equal benefit to the user and
as such
should not be interpreEed as a limiting fa,ctor of the system 10. The holding
tank 21 is
envisioned to be made preferably usiug rugged and impact resistarrt
polyethylene or
equivalent material. The holding tank 21 further coinprises conventional
,plumbing
attacbaxteats thereto collection plumbiug 40, bypass plutttbiztg 42, and
outlet pIumbing 41
which acts as a conduit in fluid conununication with a gray water treatment
system 30.
The ittter.connecting plumbing 40, 41, 42 comprises standard metal or plastic
piping
oomponents further comprising standard fittings such as, but not limited to,
elbows,
unions, tees, "Y"-fitkings, and the like being configured to carry gray water
80. Said
interconnecting plumbing 40 also comprises a plurality of controi valves 22
providing a
directing and isolating ttteans to a flow of gray water 90 as it is delivered
to the holding
tank 21 and subsequently to the gray water treatment system 30 therethrough
outlet
plumbing 41. A pair of control valves 22 is depicted here providing a
directing means to
ssid gray water 80 thereto the holding tank 21 or.through bypass plunzbing 42
such that
the holding tank 21 is bypassed and said gray watar 80 is directed tlxerreto
an existing floor
drain 23 sucb as in the case of a full holding tank 2 1. Said interoonnectirtg
plumbing 40
tiuther comprises a first filter 24 which provides filtration of suspended
particulate
material therefrom the gray water 80 using preferably a replaceable mechanical
cartridge
fllter; however, may provide a rough straining dev'ce, thereby separating out
large
pPUticulate from said gray water flow 80 before it enters the holding tank 21.
The first
filter 33 is also envisioned to provide additional standard features such as
an intenzal flow
bypass circuit enabling filter cartrLdge replacement, an integral bleed valve,
a pressure
gauge 34, and panel mounting fixtures in an expected manner. The control
valves 22, ftt'st
filter 24, and the intet+oannecting plumbing 40, 41, 42 are envisioned to
pxovide any
number of plumbing functions based upon particular installed conflgurations of
the
system 10 and varxous plumbing schcmes and as suoh should not be interpreted
as a
limiting factor of the system 10.
REV: 29 Janaary 2008
CA 02652143 2009-02-19
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The gray water treatment system 30 further compxises a mounting pane131, a
pump 32, a power cord 35, a second filter 33, and a pressure gauge 34. The
gray water
treatmettt system 30 provides a pumping and filtration ndeans to the gmy water
80 to
retnove suspended particulate matter from said gray water 80 so as to prepare
said gtay
water 80 for use in a variety of non-potable applioations such as, but not
limited to,
inripation, watering gardens, watering lawns, washing cars, and the like. The
mounting
panel 31 provides an attachment means to the gray water treatment system 30
thereto. The
mounting pane131 is envisioned to be mounted preferably thereto an adjacent
basement
wall; however, said mounting panel 31 may be mounted thereto any number of
locations
within a buildinig structure 60 providing acaess and maintenance opportunities
such as a
floor-mounted stand, an adjacert laundry room wall, or the like. The mounting
pane131 is
envisioned to be made using sturdy wood or metal materials in a vertical
orientabton
providiug various common attachment hardware and fixtures suitable to mount
the pump
32 and the second filter 33. The pump inlet 32 is connected thereto the outlet
plumbing
portion 41 of the accumulation system 20 and the pump oul;let 32 is connected
thereto the
second filter 33. The pump 32 is envisioned to be a miniature panel roounted 1
I0-volt
impeller or jet pump capable of a nainitnum of sixty (60) PSIG pressttre and a
minimum
pumping capacity of 10 gallons per minute. The pump 32 is envisioned to
provide
standard features such as; but not limited to, a pressure relay switch, an
ON/OPF switch,
and a power cord 35 to supply and energize the pump 32 using I], 0-volt AC
power from
an available household receptacle in an expected manner. The second filter 33
provides
filtration of suspended particulate material there$om the gray water 80 using
preferably
one (1) or more replaceable mechanical filter cartridges. It is furtber
envisioned that the
second filter 33 may be configured with multiple filter cartridges, thereby
providing a
progressive filtering meatts envisioned to result ip water purity ranging from
20 microns
to one (1) micron particle filtration. The second filter 33 is also envisioned
to provide
additional standard features such as an-intexnal flow bypass circuit enabling
filter
xtE'V: 29 JAnuary 2008
CA 02652143 2009-02-19
.$_
cartri.dge replacement, an integral bleed valve, a pressure gauge 34, and
pauel mounting
fixtures in an expected manner. Furthermore, it is envisioned that the
mounting panel 31
may provide a convenient location for vaxious system indicators and
insttwments to aid in
maintaining and tnonitoring the system 10. The mounting pat~,el 31 may provide
instruments such as; but not li.mited to, display iustrmcntation indicating
volume or level
of gray water 80 therein the holding tank 21, a counter indicating
accumulative gallons of
filtered water to aid in periodic ,filter cartridge replacement, and the like.
After passing
through the gray water treatment system 30 said gray water 80 subsequcntly
passes
therethrough the treated water plumbing 43 to one (1) or more point-of-use
spigots 45 as
previously described.
It is envisioned tlaat other stylcs and configurations of the present
invention can be
easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one
particular
configun3tiozt sb.all be shown and described for purposes of clarity and
disclosure and not
by way of limitation of scope.
2. Qparation of the Freeml Embodimetat
The preferr i embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the
common
user in, a simple and eflortless manner with little or no traitxing. After
initial purchase or
acquisition of the system 10, it would be instaIled as indicated in FIG. 1.
The method of installing and utilizing the systepu 10 may be achieved by
performing the foIlowing steps:liiaaing the holding tank 21 in an appropriate
location
preferably a basenaent area of a building structure 60 being in convenient
proximity to
intended water source 50 drain plarnbing; mounting the mounting panel portion
31 of the
gray water treatment system 30 thereto a vertical wall preferably adjacent to
the holding
tank 21; selecting particular gray water sources 50 from which to collect
spent gray water
80 therefrom; modi$ring and re-routing existing collection plumbing 40
associated with
selected gray water sources 50 within a building sbructure 60 thereto an inlet
connection
i2EV; 29 January 2008
CA 02652143 2009-02-19
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thereupon the holding tank 21; fabricating and instailing outlet plumbing 41,
bypass
plumbing 42, and overflow sub-systems using common fittings and control valves
22
based upon a desired plumbing scheme; mount3ng the pump 32 and second filter
33
thereto the mounting panel 31; installing and routing outlet pluaabing 41 from
the holding
tank outlet connection thereto the inlet connection of the gray water
treatment system 30;
installing and routing treated water plumbing 43 from the outlet connection of
the gr$y
water treatment system 30 thereto the spigot(s) 45 as required; connecting the
pump 32 to
a a 10-volt power source using the power cord 35; collecting and accumulating
gray water
80 in the holding tank 21 therefrc-m water sources 50 witblia the building
structure 60
over a period of time; dispensing and consuming treated gray water 80 themfrom
the
spigot(s) 45 as needed for irrigation, washing cars, and the like; and,
beneflting from
reduced water costs as well as improved vvater conservation using the present
invention
10.
An alternative embodiment of the present system 10 comprises solenoid powared
conttol valves 22 within a plumbing scheme 40 which work in conjunction with a
liquid
level sensor therewithin the holding tank 21, thereby providittg automatic
gray water 80
redirection from said holding tank 21 to an existing floor drain 23 once the
holding tank
21 isfull.
Another alternative embodiment of the system 10 comprises a holding tank 21
installation at an above grade 65 location comprising a secondary pump,
associated
controls, and plumbing con}ponents ttecossary to propel gray water 80 from
gray water
sources 50 below said holding tank 21 such as a basement shower or floor dtWn
to the
holding tatik 21 above.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention
have
been presented for puxposes of illustration and description. They are not
intended to be ry'
exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and
obviously many
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The
embodiments
REv: 29 Jenuary 2008
CA 02652143 2009-02-19
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were chosen and described in order to bcst explain the imiracxples of the
inventiou =d Its
practlcal afflicationo4o^thereby ettable others skilled in the ert to best
utilize the
invention and various embodunents with vmioas modifications as nre suited to
the
particular use costtmaplated.
REV: 29 January 2M
