Drain-water recycling

Abstract

Systems and methods for recycling drain water, which exists substantially at atmospheric pressure, are presented. The systems and methods employ a venturi restriction, inserted into a water line, for creating a low-pressure zone in the water line, and feeding the drain water to the water line at the location of the low-pressure zone, thus causing the drain water to be drawn into the water line.

1 . A system for recycling drain water, comprising: 
 a water line, substantially at a first pressure;    a venturi restriction, mounted on said water line, for creating a zone of a second pressure, substantially below said first pressure;    an opening in said water line, substantially at said zone of said second pressure, for allowing water from a drain water source to be drawn into said water line, substantially at said zone of said second pressure; and    said drain water source, at a third pressure, substantially below said first pressure, but substantially above said second pressure.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , and further including a one-way valve, between said drain water source and said water line, allowing flow into said water line only.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , and further including a drain-water feed line, for connecting said drain water source with said water line.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , and further including: 
 another water line, substantially at said first pressure;    another venturi restriction, mounted on said another water line, for creating another zone of said second pressure, substantially below said first pressure; and    another opening in said another water line, substantially at said another zone of said second pressure, for allowing water from said drain water source to be drawn into said another water line, substantially at said another zone of said second pressure.    
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , and further including another one-way valve, between said drain water source and said another water line, allowing flow into said another water line only.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4 , and further including another drain-water feed line, for connecting said drain water source with said another water line.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said water line and said another water line operate in series.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said water line and said another water line operate in parallel.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said system includes a water engine, and said water line is an inlet to said water engine.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said system includes a water engine, and said drain water source is an outlet of said water engine.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said system includes a water engine, and said drain water source is a water-storage tank, fed by an outlet of said water engine.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said drain water source is a water-storage tank.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said system includes a watering hose, and said water line leads to said watering hose.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said system includes a watering hose, and said water line is said watering hose.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said system includes a watering hose, designed for automatic rewinding by a water engine.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said water line is an inlet to said water engine.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said drain water source is an outlet of said water engine.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said drain water source is a water-storage tank, fed by an outlet of said water engine.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said drain water source is a water-storage tank.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said water line leads to said watering hose.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein said water line is said watering hose.  
   
   
       22 . A method for recycling drain water, comprising: 
 providing a system for recycling drain water, said system including a water line, substantially at a first pressure;    inserting a venturi restriction to said water line, for creating a zone of a second pressure, substantially below said first pressure, on said water line;    providing a drain water source, at a third pressure, substantially below said first pressure, but substantially above said second pressure; and    providing communication between said drain water source and said water line, substantially at said zone of said second pressure, to allow said drain water to be drawn into said water line.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , and further including a one-way valve, between said drain water source and said water line, allowing flow into said water line only.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22 , and further including a drain-water feed line, for connecting said drain water source with said water line.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22 , and further including: 
 another water line, substantially at said first pressure;    another venturi restriction, mounted on said another water line, for creating another zone of said second pressure, substantially below said first pressure; and    another opening in said another water line, substantially at said another zone of said second pressure, for allowing water from said drain water source to be drawn into said another water line, substantially at said another zone of said second pressure.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , and further including another one-way valve, between said drain water source and said another water line, allowing flow into said another water line only.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , and further including another drain-water feed line, for connecting said drain water source with said another water line.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said water line and said another water line operate in series.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein said water line and said another water line operate in parallel.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said system includes a water engine, and said water line is an inlet to said water engine.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said system includes a water engine, and said drain water source is an outlet of said water engine.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said system includes a water engine, and said drain water source is a water-storage tank, fed by an outlet of said water engine.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said drain water source is a water-storage tank.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said system includes a watering hose, and said water line leads to said watering hose.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said system includes a watering hose, and said water line is said watering hose.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said system includes a watering hose, designed for automatic rewinding by a water engine.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said water line is an inlet to said water engine.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said drain water source is an outlet of said water engine.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said drain water source is a water-storage tank, fed by an outlet of said water engine.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said drain water source is a water-storage tank.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said water line leads to said watering hose.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said water line is said watering hose.