GB2248390A - Shower unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-contained shower unit has a reservoir 10 in the base beneath the shower tray (2) and a pump 15 to pump water from the reservoir to the shower spray head 5. Water from the tray (2) passes from the drain outlet (3) to a sump 9, from where it is pumped via filters 22 to the reservoir 10. The reservoir contains a baffle 11 to divide it into hot- and cold-water sections. the hot-water section 13 containing an electric heater 14. A mixer valve 18 thus permits the desired spray temperature to be selected. <IMAGE>

Description

SHOWER UNIT This invention relates to a shower unit.

Although the use of showers can effect a substantial saving in water and energy relative to bathing, there is increasing concern for the need to conserve both energy and water, with moves to meter the use of water and charge for the amount consumed.

Accordingly, the present invention is concerned with a shower unit in which at least some of the water used is recycled.

The invention provides a shower unit comprising a shower tray having a waste water outlet, a shower head mounted above the tray for spraying water downwardly on to the tray, and means for returning to the shower head at least some of the water passing through the waste water outlet.

Preferably the shower unit comprises a reservoir beneath the shower tray for receiving water passing through the waste water outlet, and a pump for pumping water from the reservoir to the shower head. A mixing means may be provided for controlling the relative supply of hot and cold water to the shower head, and the reservoir may contain a baffle defining hot and cold water regions, the hot water region containing heating means, and the pump being arranged to supply water separately from the hot and cold water regions of the reservoir to the mixing means.

In a preferred embodiment, a sump is provided below the waste water outlet for receiving waste water, and a pump urges water from the sump through filtration means into the reservoir. Control means, preferably comprising a three-position float switch, may detect the level of water in the sump and operate the pump according to the level detected. The heating means may comprise a thermostatically-controlled electric heating element. The reservoir may have means for introducing fresh water into it, and a drain for emptying.

A chiller may be included to operate when the coldest position is selected for the control means.

The shower unit of the invention can be entirely self-contained, requiring only an electricity supply, for example via a supply lead plugged into a mains supply socket, and may therefore be used where drainage and water supply are not readily available. The shower unit conserves water and requires less electricity than a conventional electric shower, since some of the input energy is retained in the recycled water. Additionally, the temperature to which the water is heated can be kept lower than in conventional hot water systems, for example about 40"C, thus contributing to the saving in electricity and reducing problems of scaling of the heating element in hard water areas.

Reference is made to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shower unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of the shower unit shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a top plan view, partially sectioned, of the unit illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

The shower unit comprises a base 1 upon which is provided a shower tray 2 having a waste water outlet 3 provided with a coarse filter, which can have both washable and replaceable filter elements, in one corner thereof. The tray 2 has a rear panel 4 extending upwardly therefrom to provide a support for a shower head 5 and associated pipework and controls, to be described in more detail hereinafter.

The unit may be provided with side panels 6 and 7 extending forwardly from the rear panel 4 and with a door 8 to form a cubicle, so that the unit may be free-standing as shown in Figure 1, or it may be located against a wall, or in a recess between a pair of walls, in the manner conventional for known showers.

The base 1 is formed as a water tank divided into two separate compartments. A first of the compartments 9 occupies a minor proportion of the tank and receives water from the tray 2 via the outlet 3. The second compartment 10 is of substantially larger capacity, for example of the order of 135 litres, and contains a baffle 11 extending downwardly from the roof of the tank towards the bottom of the tank, but leaving a gap under the baffle so that water can pass between the two sections of the compartment defined by the baffle. The two sections of the compartment 10 are unequal in size, a first, the cold-water section 12, being of substantially greater capacity than the second, the hot-water section 13.The hot-water section 13 is provided with a thermostatically-controlled electric immersion heater 14, for example of 1.5 kW power rating, to heat the water to approximately 44"C (110 F). A low level float switch 14a prevents operation of the heater 14 if insufficient water is present.

A self-priming shower pump 15 draws water separately from the two sections 12 and 13 of the compartment 10 through pipes 16 and 17, whose relative flow rates are controlled by a mixer valve 18, and delivers the water at the desired temperature to the shower head 5. A chiller 19 is also provided to chill the water, if necessary, when the coldest setting of the mixer valve 18 is selected. The chiller 19 operates with electrical power and uses a conventional refrigeration cycle.

Water collected by the shower tray 2 and passed via the outlet 3 to the first compartment 9 of the tank is returned to the second compartment 10 by a self-priming scavenging pump 20 whose operation is controlled by a 3-position float switch 21 in the compartment 9 to ensure that the water level in the compartment is maintained below a first predetermined level, but that the pump is not operated when the level is below a second predetermined level. The pump 20 draws the water from the compartment 9 and urges it through a two-stage filtration unit 22 employing replaceable cartridge filters. The cleaned water from the filtration unit 22 is returned to the main compartment 10 via return pipe 23.

The water tank is provided with a hidden gravity drain 24, for emptying in the case of breakdown or to facilitate moving the unit to a new position.

A thermostat and time clock 25 is incorporated into the control circuit for the immersion heater 14 to permit the water to be pre-heated to a selected temperature at a selected time or times. A sight-glass and topping-up point 26 is provided in the shower tray 2. This positioning ensures that any spillage will pass into the tank via the waste outlet 3. This will be returned to the main compartment 10 when the unit is next supplied with electrical power.

To allow for easier emptying, a switch attached to the shower head 5 can be turned and a hosed attached to enable the water to be pumped out.

A light 27 may be fitted to the unit, and control of the shower pump 15 may be by means of a rotary or other switch 28 within the cubicle. Operation ol the light may also be controlled by the switch 28, for example a first position of the switch turning on the light 27 and a second position also turning on the pump 15.

The shower unit of the invention is suitably constructed as separate components to be supplied in "flat pack" form for self assembly by the purchaser. It will be appreciated that it is suitable for installation in locations where the provision of a conventional shower, with its requirements for water supply and drainage, would not be possible, or would be inconvenient.

Claims (12)

1. A shower unit comprising a shower tray having a waste water outlet, a shower head mounted above the tray for spraying water downwardly on to the tray, and means for returning to the shower head at least some of the water passing through the waste water outlet.

2. A shower unit according to Claim 1, comprising a reservoir beneath the shower tray for receiving water passing through the waste water outlet, and a pump for pumping water from the reservoir to the shower head.

3. A shower unit according to Claim 2, comprising mixing means for controlling the relative supply of hot and cold water to the shower head, and wherein the reservoir contains a baffle defining hot and cold water regions, the hot water region containing heating means, and the pump is arranged to supply water separately from the hot and cold water regions of the reservoir to the mixing means.

4. A shower unit according to Claim 3, comprising a sump below the waste water outlet for receiving waste water, filtration means, and a pump for urging water from the sump through the filtration means and into the reservoir.

5. A shower unit according to Claim 4, comprising control means for detecting the level of water in the sump and operating the pump-according to the level detected.

6. A shower unit according to Claim 5, wherein the control means comprise a three-position float switch.

7. A shower unit according to any of Claims 3 to 6, wherein the heating means comprises a thermostatically-controlled electric heating element.

8. A shower unit according to any of Claims 2 to 7, comprising means for introducing fresh water to the reservoir.

9. A shower unit according to any of Claims 2 to 8, comprising drainage means for draining the reservoir.

10. A shower unit according to any preceding claim, comprising chilling means selectively operable to chill the water supplied to the shower head.

11. A shower unit according to Claim 10, wherein operation of the chilling means is controlled by the control means.

12. A shower unit, substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.