Water recycling device

Abstract

A water recycling system utilizes gray water from a gray water source, such as a bathroom sink, to flush a toilet.

1 . A water recycling device, comprising:
 a gray water reservoir disposed to receive and collect gray water from a gray water source;   a toilet water tank including a toilet float valve controlling incoming potable water to said tank:   a pump:   a gray water line in communication with said pump, said gray water reservoir, and said toilet water tank, such that said pump transfers gray water from said gray water reservoir to said toilet water tank through said gray water line;   a pivoting seesaw mechanism mounted in said toilet water tank, said seesaw mechanism including first and second arms mounted so as to pivot together about a pivot point fixed relative to said toilet water tank, wherein said first arm includes a receptacle which receives gray water from said gray water reservoir, and said second arm cooperates with said toilet float valve so that, when said first arm receptacle is filled with water, the weight of the water pivots said second arm into position to maintain said toilet float valve in a closed position: and   a switch that activates said pump in response to the pivoting movement of said pivoting seesaw mechanism.   
   
   
       2 . A water recycling device as recited in  claim 1 , and further comprising a timer control circuit that shuts off said pump after a certain time period. 
   
   
       3 . A water recycling device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said timer control circuit includes means for shutting off said pump after a short time period if said receptacle for receiving gray water is not filled during said short time period and means for allowing said pump to run for a longer time period if said receptacle is filled with gray water during said short time period. 
   
   
       4 . A water recycling device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said switch is a snap-action switch. 
   
   
       5 . A water recycling device as recited in  claim 4 , and further comprising a cam on the pivot point of said seesaw mechanism that contacts said snap-action switch. 
   
   
       6 . A water recycling device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said switch is an infrared switch, including means for detecting the position of said pivoting seesaw mechanism. 
   
   
       7 . A water recycling device as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said timer control circuit includes means for adjusting the length of said longer time period. 
   
   
       8 . A water recycling device as recited in  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a frame defining a left side and a right side, wherein said seesaw mechanism is pivotally attached to said frame;   an elongated bar having a left end and a right end and slidably received by said frame for sliding in the left-to-right direction; and   means for fixing the elongated bar to said frame to prevent said elongated bar from sliding.   
   
   
       9 . A water recycling device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said toilet tank includes a back wall, and further comprising a mounting bracket for hanging said frame on said back wall of said toilet tank, including means for adjusting the height of said seesaw mechanism within said toilet tank. 
   
   
       10 . A water recycling device as recited in  claim 1 , and further comprising a toilet bowl, a hollow bolt, and a nut, wherein said hollow bolt cooperates with said nut to secure said toilet bowl and said toilet tank together and said gray water line passes through said hollow bolt. 
   
   
       11 . A water recycling device, comprising:
 a gray water reservoir disposed to receive and collect gray water from a gray water source;   a toilet, including a toilet water tank defining a potable water inlet;   a toilet float valve which controls the flow of incoming potable water to said tank;   a pump;   a gray water line in communication with said pump, said gray water reservoir, and said toilet water tank, such that said pump transfers gray water from said gray water reservoir to said toilet water tank through said gray water line; and   a timer control circuit electrically connecting said pump to a power supply, and including:
 a first timed relay that is energized in response to flushing said toilet, activating said pump for an initial time period; and 
 a second timed relay that is energized in response to gray water being pumped into said toilet tank during said initial time period, keeping said pump activated for a secondary time period. 
   
   
   
       12 . A water recycling device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said secondary time interval is set to fill said toilet tank to a desired fill level. 
   
   
       13 . A water recycling device, comprising:
 a gray water reservoir disposed to receive and collect gray water from a gray water source;   a toilet including a bowl and a tank, said tank defining a potable water inlet;   a first hollow bolt extending through said tank and said bowl and securing said tank and said bowl together:   a pump; and   a first gray water line in fluid communication with said pump, said gray water reservoir, said hollow bolt, and said tank, such that said pump transfers gray water from said gray water reservoir, through said first gray water line and said hollow bolt, and into said tank.   
   
   
       14 . A water recycling system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said tank has a bottom, said hollow bolt extends through the bottom of said tank, and said first gray water line terminates inside said tank at a height substantially above said bottom. 
   
   
       15 . A water recycling system as recited in  claim 13 , and further comprising:
 a second hollow bolt extending through said tank and said bowl and securing said tank and said bowl together: and   a second gray water line providing fluid communication from said gray water reservoir through said second hollow bolt into said tank.   
   
   
       16 . A water recycling system as recited in  claim 13 , and further comprising:
 a toilet float valve for controlling the flow of water through said potable water inlet; and   a pivoting seesaw mechanism mounted in said toilet water tank and including a first arm including a receptacle and a second arm in communication with said toilet float valve, so that, when said first arm receptacle is filled with water, the weight of the water pivots said second arm into position to maintain said toilet float valve in a closed position; wherein said first gray water line supplies gray water to said receptacle.   
   
   
       17 . A water recycling system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said gray water source is a bathroom sink, and further comprising:
 a drain line from said sink, said drain line splitting into first and second legs, said first leg going to said gray water reservoir and said second leg going to a P-trap and then on to a sewer line; and   a diverter in said drain line, said diverter splitting the water flow from said bathroom sink drain line so that some water flows into each of said first and second legs.   
   
   
       18 . A toilet filling system as recited in  claim 17 , and further comprising a tablet dispenser holding at least one sanitizing tablet, said tablet dispenser in fluid communication with said first leg of said drain line for sanitizing gray water from said sink prior to entering said gray water reservoir. 
   
   
       19 . A method of installing a water saver unit in a toilet tank, comprising the steps of:
 providing a standard toilet tank including left, right, front and rear walls and containing a toilet float valve;   hanging a water saver unit on the back wall of said toilet tank, said water saver unit including a frame and an elongated bar slidably received by said frame for sliding in the left-to-right direction;   moving said water saver unit along the back wall of said toilet tank until the left end of said elongated bar is aligned with the toilet float valve; then   sliding the elongated bar to the right relative to said frame until the right end of said elongated bar abuts the right wall of said toilet tank; and then   fixing the position of said elongated bar relative to said frame.   
   
   
       20 . A method of installing a water saver unit in a toilet tank as recited in  claim 19 , and further comprising the step of adjusting the vertical position of said water saver unit in said tank.