Apparatus for saving water

Abstract

Apparatus ( 2 ) for saving water, which apparatus ( 2 ) comprises: (i) separator means ( 4 ) for separating water that is flowing from a water inlet ( 6 ) and that has not been interrupted in flow, from water that is flowing from the water inlet ( 6 ) and that has been interrupted in flow; (ii) first outlet means ( 8 ) for receiving water that has not been interrupted in flow; and (iii) second outlet means ( 10 ) for receiving the water that has been interrupted in flow, and the apparatus ( 2 ) being such that in use it permits the water received by the first outlet means ( 8 ) to be saved from flowing to waste.

1 . Apparatus for saving water, which apparatus comprises:
 (i) separator means for separating water that is flowing from a water inlet and that has not been interrupted in flow, from water that is flowing from the water inlet and that has been interrupted in flow;   (ii) first outlet means for receiving water that has not been interrupted in flow; and   (iii) second outlet means for receiving the water that has been interrupted in flow,   
       and the apparatus being such that in use it permits the water received by the first outlet means to be saved from flowing to waste. 
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the separator means is a water-flow responsive and/or water-pressure responsive separator means. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2  in which the separator means is a spring separator means comprising a spring mechanism, a balance weight separator means comprising a balance weight mechanism, a flexible ball separator means comprising a flexible ball mechanism, a segment separator means comprising a segment mechanism, or an elastic strip separator means comprising an elastic strip mechanism. 
     
     
         4 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the first outlet means is a conduit leading to a first system for receiving the water that has not been interrupted in flow, and in which the second outlet means is a conduit leading to a second system for receiving the water that has been interrupted in flow. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  and for installation in a waste water outlet of a structure, and for separating water that is flowing from a water inlet of the structure to the waste water outlet of the structure and that has not been used by a person, from water that is flowing from the water inlet to the waste water outlet and that has been used by the person, and the apparatus being such that it comprises:
 (i) the first outlet means and which is for the water that has not been used; 
 (ii) first valve means for opening and closing the first outlet means; 
 (iii) the second outlet means and which is for the water that has been used; 
 (iv) second valve means for opening and closing the second outlet means; and 
 (v) the separator means, the separator means being such that it includes diverter means for operating when the first valve means closes the first outlet means to divert the water from the first outlet means to the second outlet means: 
 and the apparatus being such that:
 (a) the first outlet means is for communication with a first system which utilises the water that has not been used, and the second outlet means is for communication with a second system which is separate from the first system and which utilises the water that has been used; 
 (b) in use the water inlet directs the water that has not been used directly towards the first outlet means such that the water that has not been used is able to reach the first outlet means without touching the diverter means or the structure; and 
 (c) in use the water that has not been used and the water that has been used are from the same water inlet whereby wastage of water that has not been used is avoided. 
 
 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  and including third valve means for operating consequent upon a backflow of water that has passed through the first outlet means to cause the first valve means to close. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  in which the first outlet means is a first aperture which is positioned at a top portion of the apparatus, and in which the first outlet means is centrally positioned with respect to a periphery of the apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  in which the first valve means comprises a first float and a second float. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 16  in which the first float comprises first and second parts which pivot with respect to each other to cause the first float to open and shut the first outlet means. 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 16  in which the second float is disc-shaped with a central downwardly depending collar. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 16  and including a control rod, and in which upward movement of the second float causes the control rod to move to a position in which it maintains the first float closed. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  in which the second outlet means is formed between the diverter means and a part of the structure around and adjacent the waste water outlet. 
     
     
         21 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  in which the diverter means is a lid, in which the lid has a downwardly depending skirt portion, in which the first outlet means is in a central body part of the lid, and in which the second valve means is on the skirt portion. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  in which the first valve means is biased by a spring arrangement to the closed position, and in which the spring arrangement is constructed and arranged to enable the first valve means to open against a biasing force of the spring arrangement when the first valve means receives pressure from the water that has not been used. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  and including a central tube portion, in which the diverter means is positioned at a top part of the central tube portion, and in which the central tube portion is slidable up and down in an outer tube portion such that the diverter means is movable into and out of contact with the structure around the waste water outlet. 
     
     
         28 - 30 . (canceled)