Pumped Shower Apparatus

Abstract

Pumped shower apparatus ( 10 ) comprises a shower head ( 14 ) for discharging shower water, a showering surface ( 16 ) below the shower head ( 14 ), a drain unit ( 18 ) at the showering surface ( 16 ) for receiving runoff shower water, a pump ( 20 ) for moving water from the drain unit ( 18 ) to a drain ( 22 ), and water-noise monitoring and control apparatus for optimising the speed of the pump ( 20 ) whilst eliminating or reducing water noise from, at or adjacent to the drain unit ( 18 ). The water-noise monitoring and control apparatus includes water-noise monitoring means ( 24, 48 ) for monitoring water noise from, at or adjacent to a drain unit ( 18 ) of the shower installation, and a controller ( 26 ) for automatically controlling a pump ( 20 ) of the shower installation based on an output of the water-noise monitoring means ( 24, 48 ).

1 . Water-noise monitoring and control apparatus for pumped shower apparatus, the water-noise monitoring and control apparatus comprising a water-noise monitoring element to monitor water noise from, at or adjacent to a drain of a shower installation, and a controller which automatically controls a pump of the shower installation based on an output of the water-noise monitoring element. 
     
     
         2 . Water-noise monitoring and control apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the water-noise monitoring element comprises an acoustic sensor positionable at or adjacent to the pumped shower installation. 
     
     
         3 . Water-noise monitoring and control apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the water-noise monitoring element comprises a vibrational sensor positionable at or adjacent to the pumped shower installation. 
     
     
         4 . Water-noise monitoring and control apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the controller includes an analysis circuit whereby an output of the water-noise monitoring element is comparable with pre-stored data to determine a level of water noise. 
     
     
         5 . Water-noise monitoring and control apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the analysis circuit includes a Fast Fourier Transform module. 
     
     
         6 . Water-noise monitoring and control apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the analysis circuit includes fuzzy logic. 
     
     
         7 . Water-noise monitoring and control apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a learning circuit whereby a user inputs a specific pump control based on water noise. 
     
     
         8 . Water-noise monitoring and control apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , the learning circuit including a recorder whereby user-specified data is recordable and storable via the water-noise monitoring element. 
     
     
         9 . Water-noise monitoring and control apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the learning circuit includes a logic controller whereby inputted user-specified data takes precedence over default pre-stored data of the analysis circuit. 
     
     
         10 . Water-noise monitoring and control apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the controller includes feedback control via the water-noise monitoring element, whereby the in use pump is automatically controlled to operate at an optimum or substantially optimum speed. 
     
     
         11 . Water-noise monitoring and control apparatus as claimed in  claims 1 , wherein the water-noise monitoring includes a suction-noise monitoring element, whereby suction noise from the drain of the shower installation is monitorable. 
     
     
         12 . Water-noise monitoring and control apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the water-noise monitoring element includes a water-pooling monitoring element, so that noise from pooling of water on a showering surface at or adjacent to the drain is monitorable. 
     
     
         13 . Water-noise monitoring and control apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the water-pooling monitoring element includes an acoustic sensor, so that pooling based on sound is monitorable. 
     
     
         14 . Water-noise monitoring and control apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the water-pooling monitoring element includes a vibrational sensor, so that pooling based on vibration is monitorable. 
     
     
         15 . Water-noise monitoring and control apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , which is in the form of a kit of parts. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . Pumped shower apparatus comprising a shower head for discharging shower water, a showering surface below the shower head, a drain unit at the showering surface for receiving runoff shower water, a pump for moving water from the drain unit to a drain, and water-noise monitoring and control apparatus comprising a water-noise monitoring element to monitor water noise from, at or adjacent to the said drain unit and a controller which automatically controls the pump based on an output of the water-noise monitoring element, whereby the speed of the pump is optimisable by the controller whilst water noise from, at or adjacent to the drain unit is eliminated or reduced. 
     
     
         18 . Pumped shower apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the water-noise monitoring element is positioned at at least one of a shower control unit of the shower head, at or adjacent to the showering surface, and at or adjacent to the drain unit. 
     
     
         19 . Pumped shower apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , which is in the form of a kit of parts. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)