Dynamic water recycling shower systems and controls

Abstract

A dynamic shower system comprises a user actuator indicating said user's desire to use recycled water during the shower, a shower head, a drain, a first valve capable of selecting water to be emitted from said shower head from a potable water source or water from a mixture of potable water and recycled water from said drain, and a processor, said processor in communication with said user actuator and said first valve wherein said first valve is capable of being controlled by said processor. The shower system may be capable of dynamically switching between said potable water only and said mixture of potable and recycled water depending upon the certain conditions being detected by said processor.

1 . A shower system that affects water recycling within said shower system for a user, said shower system comprising:
 a shower head, said shower head emitting water;   a potable water pipe, said potable water pipe connected to a potable water source;   a drain for collecting the water emitted from said shower head;   a gray water out pipe, said gray water out pipe connected to said drain;   a recycle water pipe, said recycle water pipe connected to said drain;   a first valve, said first valve accepting as input water from said drain and said first valve capable of directing said drain water to said gray water out pipe or to said recycle shower water pipe and said first valve capable of being controlled by signals from a processor;   a second valve, said second valve accepting as inputs water from said potable water pipe and said recycle water pipe and said second valve capable of mixing water from said potable water pipe and said recycle water pipe, and said second valve in liquid communication with said shower head such that said mixed water is capable of emitting from said shower head and said second valve capable of being controlled by signals from a processor; and   a processor, said processor in communication with said first valve and said second valve and further wherein said processor is capable of controlling the flow of water through said first valve and said second valve to affect a set of operating modes of said shower system.   
     
     
         2 . The shower system of  claim 1  wherein said shower system further comprises:
 a recycle actuator, said actuator being in signal communication with said processor and said actuator being capable of selected by user to indicate user's preference to use recycled water. 
 
     
     
         3 . The shower system of  claim 2  wherein said shower system further comprises:
 a timer, said timer capable of detecting an initial time period after said user selects the use of recycled water; and 
 further wherein said shower system capable of selecting water only from said potable water source to be emitted from said shower head during said initial time period. 
 
     
     
         4 . The shower system of  claim 3  wherein said shower system is capable of selecting a mixture of water from said potable water source and water from said drain after the expiration of said initial time period. 
     
     
         5 . The shower system of  claim 1  wherein said shower system further comprises:
 a sensor, said sensor in communication with said processor and said sensor capable of detecting at least one condition of water quality. 
 
     
     
         6 . The shower system of  claim 5  wherein further:
 said sensor is sensing the water at the drain; and 
 said at least one condition of water quality that sensor is capable of detecting is one of a group, said group comprising: conductivity, pH level and chemical composition. 
 
     
     
         7 . The shower system of  claim 6  wherein said shower system is capable of selecting water only from said potable water source to be emitted from said shower head upon a signal of degraded water quality. 
     
     
         8 . The shower system of  claim 6  wherein said shower system is capable of selecting a mixture of water from said potable water source and water from said drain upon a signal of improved water quality. 
     
     
         9 . The shower system of  claim 6  wherein said shower system further comprises:
 a clean gray water out pipe; 
 a dirty gray water out pipe; 
 a third valve, said third valve capable of being controlled by signals from a processor and wherein said third valve accepting as input water from said gray water out pipe and wherein said third valve outputting water to one of said clean gray water out pipe and said dirty gray water out pipe according to control signals from said processor. 
 
     
     
         10 . The shower system of  claim 9  wherein said third valve outputs water to said clean gray water out pipe if said sensor indicates a condition of acceptable water quality in the drain water. 
     
     
         11 . A method for recycling water in a dynamic shower system, the steps of said method comprising:
 detecting an indication from the user by a processor that said user desires to use recycled water during the shower;   setting an initial condition detectable by said processor such that, until said initial condition is met, water is selected from said potable water source only;   switching to a mixture of potable water and recycled water from said drain after said initial condition is met; and   dynamically switching between said potable water only and said mixture of potable and recycled water depending upon the subsequent conditions being detected by said processor.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said initial condition is at least one of a group, said group comprising: the expiration of an initial time period, an actuation signal from the user and the detection of a condition indicating acceptable water quality. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said subsequent condition is at least one of a group, said group comprising: an actuation signal from the user and the detection of a condition indicating water quality. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 cleaning the recycling water portion of said recycled portion of piping under control from said processor between showers of a set of users. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 selecting water only from potable water only for a desired period of time, after an indication of terminating the shower is received by the processor from the user. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said method further comprises the step of:
 selectively sending water from drain to clean gray out piping according to conditions received by said processor. 
 
     
     
         17 . A shower system that affects water recycling within said shower system for a user, said shower system comprising:
 a bifurcated shower head, said bifurcated shower head emitting water comprising a first chamber and a second chamber;   a potable water pipe, said potable water pipe connected to a potable water source;   a drain for collecting the water emitted from said shower head;   a gray water out pipe, said gray water out pipe connected to said drain;   a recycle water pipe, said recycle water pipe connected to said drain;   a first valve, said first valve accepting as input water from said drain and said first valve capable of directing said drain water to said gray water out pipe or to said recycle shower water pipe and said first valve capable of being controlled by signals from a processor;   a second valve, said second valve accepting as input water from said potable water pipe, said second valve capable of sending water from said potable water pipe to said first chamber of said bifurcated shower head and said second valve capable of being controlled by signals from a processor;   a third valve, said third valve accepting as input water from said recycled water pipe, said third valve capable of sending water from said recycled water pipe to said second chamber of said bifurcated shower head and said third valve capable of being controlled by signals from a processor; and   a processor, said processor in communication with said first valve, said second value and said third valve and further wherein said processor is capable of controlling the flow of water through said first valve, said second valve and said third valve to affect a set of operating modes of said shower system.