초록 ▼

A water conservation system for use in residential dwellings or other buildings having a hot water distribution system. The system conserves water which is typically wasted by users while waiting for warm water to flow from a hot water faucet. The system provides a recirculating cooled hot water sup

A water conservation system for use in residential dwellings or other buildings having a hot water distribution system. The system conserves water which is typically wasted by users while waiting for warm water to flow from a hot water faucet. The system provides a recirculating cooled hot water supply line from the cooled-off end of a hot water line back to the hot water heater of the hot water distribution system. The system is provided with a plurality of control means to electrically energize the system\s recirculating pump so long as a pressure switch detects that the main water supply is providing sufficient water pressure to the system. In operation the recirculating pump opens a check valve in the recirculating line and closes the check valve in the main water supply line and recirculates the cooled hot water back to the hot water heater for ultimate use. If the main water supply has insufficient pressure, the recirculating cooled hot water system is non-functional.

대표청구항 ▼

An improved water conservation system for use in a dwelling or other building having a pressurized main water supply, a hot water heater, a recirculating cooled hot water supply line, said hot water heater having a cold water inlet side and a hot water outlet side, said inlet side being primarily co

An improved water conservation system for use in a dwelling or other building having a pressurized main water supply, a hot water heater, a recirculating cooled hot water supply line, said hot water heater having a cold water inlet side and a hot water outlet side, said inlet side being primarily connected to said main water supply through a first check valve and secondarily connected to said recirculating cooled hot water supply line by means of a tee connection located upstream of said inlet side and downstream of said first check valve, said hot water outlet side being connected to a plurality of hot water lines which feed hot water outlet faucets at wash basins, sinks or the like, comprising: a second check valve, said second check valve being located in said recirculating cooled hot water supply line upstream of said tee connection; an electrically controlled recirculating centrifugal pump in said recirculating cooled hot water supply line, said pump being located upstream of said second check valve, said pump also being capable of producing water pressure which is sufficient to open said second check valve and close said first check valve when said pump is electrically energized; a hot water faucet tee connection, said hot water faucet tee connection being located in close proximity to said hot water outlet faucets at said wash basins, said hot water faucet tee connection couples said hot water lines feeding said hot water faucets and said recirculating cooled hot water supply line; an in-line temperature gauge in said recirculating cooled hot water supply line, said in-line temperature gauge having a visual numerical temperature value readout and being located in close proximity to said hot water faucet tee connection to better sense the temperature of the water at said hot water outlet faucets; a manually-operated electrical on/off switch connected to an electrical source for controlling discretionary utilization of said water conservation system, said electrical on/off switch being conveniently located at each location of said hot water outlet faucets near said in-line temperature gauge whereby said electrical on/off switch can be manually operated at user\s discretion to energize said recirculating centrifugal pump to recirculate the cooled hot water until said in-line temperature gauge readout indicates that the temperature of the hot water at said hot water faucets has reached a desired temperature; and a pressure switch located upstream and in close proximity of said hot water heater outlet side, said pressure switch sensing the water pressure of the system and said pressure switch electrically wired in series with said electrical on/off switch and said recirculating centrifugal pump for preventing the electrical energizing of said recirculating centrifugal pump by said manual-operated electrical on/off switch if the water pressure from said main water supply has fallen below a predetermined pressure.