Wait water collection system

Abstract

The wait water collection system provided herein may be used to reducing the amount of water wasted while a shower, for example, warms up. The wait water collection system may include a hot water input carrying hot water to the system. The hot water may or may not be “hot” when delivered by the hot water input and may need to “warm up.” The wait water collection system may include a thermal diverter on a water line where the hot water travels, which may adjust based on whether the temperature of the hot water meets a temperature threshold. If the water does not meet the temperature threshold, then the hot water may be delivered to an expansion vessel. If the water meets or exceeds the temperature threshold, then the hot water may be delivered to a mixer valve for providing the water to a user.

1 . A wait water collection system comprising:
 at least one water input coupled to a water line;   a thermal diverter positioned on the water line, wherein the thermal diverter adjusts based on whether a temperature of water from the at least one water input meets a temperature threshold;   an expansion vessel;   a mixer valve; and   an outlet;   wherein when the temperature of the water meets or exceeds the temperature threshold, the water is directed to the mixer valve; and   wherein when the temperature of the water falls below the temperature threshold, the water is directed to the expansion vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The wait water collection system of  claim 1 , further comprising a venturi for drawing water out of the expansion vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The wait water collection system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor for determining a pressure within the water line. 
     
     
         4 . The wait water collection system of  claim 3 , further comprising an inlet gate valve and a drain gate valve. 
     
     
         5 . The wait water collection system of  claim 4 , wherein when the pressure sensor determines that the pressure is high, the inlet gate valve closes and the drain gate valve opens. 
     
     
         6 . The wait water collection system of  claim 4 , wherein when the pressure sensor determines that the pressure is low, the inlet gate valve opens and the drain gate valve closes. 
     
     
         7 . The wait water collection system of  claim 4 , wherein when the drain gate valve is open, water from the expansion vessel flows directly out of the wait water collection system via the outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The wait water collection system of  claim 4 , wherein when the drain gate valve is closed, water from the expansion vessel flows to the mixer valve. 
     
     
         9 . A wait water collection system comprising:
 a first media input providing a first media to a first media line;   a second media input providing a second media to a second media line;   a thermal diverter positioned on the first media line, wherein the thermal diverter adjusts based on whether a temperature of the first media meets a temperature threshold;   a pressure sensor positioned on the first media line, wherein the pressure sensor determines a pressure within the first media line;   an expansion vessel, wherein when the temperature of the first media falls below the temperature threshold, the thermal diverter causes the first media to flow into the expansion vessel;   a venturi positioned on the second media line, wherein when the first media fills the expansion vessel, the venturi draws the first media out of the expansion vessel into the second media line;   a mixer valve coupled to each of the first media line and the second media line, wherein the first media and the second media mixes into a water output; and   an outlet for providing the water output to a user.   
     
     
         10 . The wait water collection system of  claim 9 , further comprising an inlet gate valve and a drain gate valve. 
     
     
         11 . The wait water collection system of  claim 10 , wherein when the pressure sensor determines that the pressure is high, the inlet gate valve closes and the drain gate valve opens. 
     
     
         12 . The wait water collection system of  claim 10 , wherein when the pressure sensor determines that the pressure is low, the inlet gate valve opens and the drain gate valve closes. 
     
     
         13 . The wait water collection system of  claim 10 , wherein when the drain gate valve is open, the first media from the expansion vessel flows directly out of the wait water collection system via the outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The wait water collection system of  claim 10 , wherein when the drain gate valve is closed, the first media from the expansion vessel flows to the mixer valve via the second media line. 
     
     
         15 . The wait water collection system of  claim 9 , wherein when the temperature of the first media meets or exceeds the temperature threshold, the first media is directed to the mixer valve. 
     
     
         16 . The wait water collection system of  claim 9 , wherein the first media is hot water, and wherein the second media is cold water. 
     
     
         17 . A wait water collection system comprising:
 at least two water inputs coupled to at least two water lines;   a thermal diverter positioned on one of the at least two water lines, wherein the thermal diverter adjusts based on whether a temperature of water from the one of the at least two water inputs meets a temperature threshold; and   an expansion vessel;   wherein when the temperature of the water falls below the temperature threshold, the water is directed to the expansion vessel.   
     
     
         18 . The wait water collection system of  claim 17 , wherein the expansion vessel has a capacity of 6 to 16 liters. 
     
     
         19 . The wait water collection system of  claim 17 , wherein the expansion vessel includes an expansion vessel port for at least one of inputting and outputting water into the expansion vessel. 
     
     
         20 . The wait water collection system of  claim 17 , wherein when a pressure in the wait water collection system is high, a drain gate valve is opened, and water from the expansion vessel flows out of the wait water collection system via an outlet.