Patent Application
20200080289
The present invention relates to a device intended to equip household installations using hot drinking water in order to temporarily store the water cooled in the pipes connecting the hot water source and its usage point in order to reuse it later as cold water at said usage point or elsewhere, for example for another installation using cold water.
The invention also relates to a compact module incorporating this device and intended to equip a shower, sink, washbasin or any other similar usage point jointly using a hot-water intake and a cold-water intake.
Today, drinking water is a precious resource that must be saved for obvious ecological and economic reasons.
When one uses a household installation using hot drinking water and wishes to obtain hot water, it is common to let the hot water run for a time, until the water that reaches us is at the desired temperature. Indeed, the hot water cools in the pipes, and it is typical to let this cooled water run in the water outlet.
This drinking water is lost, and its quantity is non-negligible.
There is therefore a need for a system intended to recover this cooled drinking water to reuse it usefully, without it being lost.
Known from patent FR 2947615 is a water recovery device in household installations. This device is intended to operate without needing energy other than the pressure already present in the sanitary system. It therefore uses a pressure regulator installed on the cold water pipe upstream from a storage container with pressurized membrane.
This device is not satisfactory, however, since its energy-free operation is based on pressure differentials and in particular depends on different pressures existing in the cold water circuit and in the hot water circuit. The operation of this device is therefore disrupted during pressure variations in the system. Being adjusted for a given pressure, this device no longer works when one of the pressures of the system changes or when the pressure drops over time within the storage container. Its operation is therefore unreliable.
Likewise, this prior device cannot operate if the pressures of the system are low, and only has an optimal operation when the water system is at a high pressure, which generates an increase in the flow rate for the used water and is antagonistic to its primary purpose of saving water.
Furthermore, the prior device requires manual actuation to open and close a bypass tap, which is tedious and is not suitable for daily use where the user quickly ends up leaving the bypass tap closed and no longer uses the device.
Likewise, the prior device causes a permanent pressure difference between the cold water system and the hot water system, which may disrupt the efficiency of the mixers.
Furthermore, the prior device does not provide an effective measuring system for the temperature of the water entering the storage container. As a result, hot water may be introduced therein and be used like cold water, causing a serious malfunction of the mixer and an obvious risk for the users.
Lastly, in the prior device of patent FR 2947615, nothing is intended to ensure that the storage container is completely emptied during emptying thereof. It is thus subject to standing water that may cause health risks for the users.
Known from patent application FR 2956898 A1 is a water economizer device using two sets of solenoid valves. This economizer device is intended to work with a first so-called “high-pressure” circuit at a pressure of between 2 and 7 bars, and a second so-called “low-pressure” circuit at a pressure of between 0 and 2 bars, which represents a technical constraint. It requires a pressure difference created artificially by the addition of a low-pressure circuit and therefore cannot operate at the typical water pressures of household installations. This economizer device also uses a pressure switch and a flow rate detector, expensive and susceptible to failure, which is detrimental to the overall reliability of the economizer device. Furthermore, this economizer device is not fully automated and it is the user who must select the hot water or the cold water upon each use.
Lastly, this economizer device only works with a two-handle mixer-type tap, and is not compatible with a tap of the monobloc mixer type.
The object of the present invention, therefore, is to remedy the disadvantages of the prior art by proposing a new drinking water economizer device.
Another object of the invention aims to provide a drinking water economizer device that is simultaneously reliable, compliant with the existing sanitation standards, independent of the different pressures of the system, completely automated, and compatible with all types of household installations, in particular with monobloc mixer type taps and showers.
An additional object of the invention aims to provide a drinking water economizer that, in case of failure, must further allow the use of the household installations that it equips.
Another object of the invention also aims to provide a drinking water economizer that is compact in order to limit the heat losses of the hot water circuit and to limit its bulk, that is configurable to adapt to the technical specificities of each installation and the needs of each user, and that is inexpensive while in particular limiting the number and the cost of the component means implemented.
The objects assigned to the invention are achieved using a drinking water economizer device intended to be installed between at least one drinking water usage point of a household installation and the hot-water intake Ec and the cold-water intake EF intended to supply this at least one usage point with hot drinking water and cold water, the economizer device being connected to said hot-water intake Ec and cold-water intake EF and also being connected to the at least one usage point by a hot water outlet Sc and a cold water outlet SF that respectively make up a hot-water supply and a cold-water supply for the at least one usage point, the economizer device being characterized in that it comprises:
According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the economizer device further includes a coupling provided between the third valve V3 and the fourth valve V4, on which the storage container VE is connected and on which at least one other household installation can be connected intended to use cold water.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the second valve V2 is closed while the first valve V1 and the third valve V3 are open when the temperature of the water measured by the temperature sensor CT is above a set temperature adjusted and stored in the electronic board, and the second valve V2 is open while the first valve V1 and the third valve V3 are closed when said measured temperature is below said set temperature.
According to an additional exemplary embodiment of the invention, the fourth valve V4 is closed when the pressure inside the first zone of the storage container VE measured by the pressure sensor CP is positive or above a threshold value adjusted and stored in the electronic board, while the fourth valve V4 is open when said measured pressure is nil or below said threshold value.
According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the first valve V1 and the second valve V2 are replaced by a three-way valve V12.
According to another alternative embodiment of the invention, the third valve V3 and the fourth valve V4 are replaced by a three-way valve V34.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the valves are solenoid valves controlled electrically.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the second zone of the storage container VE is placed under a relative pressure of between 0.1 and 6 bars, preferably between 0.2 and 3 bars, and more preferably between 0.3 bars and 1 bar.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the set temperature is chosen between 20° C. and 40° C., preferably between 25° C. and 35° C., and more preferably between 28° C. and 32° C.
According to an additional exemplary embodiment of the invention, the threshold value is preferably chosen between 0 and 2 bars, preferably between 0 and 1 bar, and more preferably between 0 and 0.5 bar.
According to one preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, the first, third and fourth valves V1, V3 and V4 are valves of the type normally open, which allow water to pass when they are not controlled, while the second valve V2 is a valve of the type normally closed, which does not allow water to pass when it is not controlled.
The objects assigned to the invention are also achieved owing to a shower column having a mixer connected to a shower head by a hose and incorporating a drinking water economizer device as described above.
The advantages of the present invention are particularly numerous.
The economizer device makes it possible to reuse the water cooled in the pipes connecting the hot water source and its usage point in order to prevent this water from being lost, thus allowing responsible water consumption. Indeed, when the expansion vessel is filled, the stored cooled water is used as a priority as cold water to supply either said usage point with cold water, or another household installation intended to use cold water.
By its component means, the economizer device can be provided in the form of a compact module intended to equip an existing or new household installation while minimizing its bulk.
These component means being limited in number and in cost, the economizer device is economically advantageous.
Depending on the manner in which it is connected to the household installation that it equips, this stored cooled water can be used as cold water to supply either the cold water usage point of this household installation, or another household installation intended to use cold water.
The economizer device works independently of the pressures within the system and the household installation.
It is reliable and has a fully automated operation owing to its electronic board and its solenoid valves. In case of failure, the economizer device does not bother the normal operation of the household installation that it equips.
By the pressurization of the storage container, the economizer device guarantees the complete emptying of the storage container, which prevents any standing water therein. Likewise, the integrity of the storage container is guaranteed, since the latter is emptied as a priority when its storage zone is pressurized.
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be seen more clearly from the following description, provided with reference to the appended drawings, provided by way of non-limiting examples, in which:
The structurally and functionally identical elements shown in several different figures are assigned the same numerical or alphanumerical reference.
The economizer device (1) according to the present invention is intended to equip the hot drinking water usage point (2) of a household installation, for example a shower column (3), a sink, a washbasin or any other similar usage point jointly using a hot-water intake and a cold-water intake, said usage point (2) typically being equipped with a mixer (4) or any other similar means for mixing hot and cold water.
Such a mixer (4) is preferably a mixer (4) with thermostatic operation.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, the economizer device (1) equips a hot drinking water usage point (2) coupled with a mixer (4) with electronic operation. The latter allows electronic management of the adjustment of the temperature, flow rates and any other configurable and programmable functions on the latter.
According to this example, the economizer device (1) may have a control interface in common with the mixer (4) and its actuation can be done directly from the latter.
In the example shown in
According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
The economizer device (1) is intended to be installed between a hot water source and its usage point (2), for example between the water heater and the mixer (4) of a household installation, and preferably as close as possible to the mixer (4).
The operating principle of the economizer device (1) according to the present invention consists of temporarily storing the water cooled in the pipes connecting the hot water source and its usage point (2) in order to reuse it later as cold water at said usage point (2) or elsewhere, for example for another installation using cold water.
Cooled water refers to the normally hot water coming from the hot water source, but which naturally tends to cool in the pipes when it stagnates. It therefore involves hot water that is at a temperature lower than that of the hot water initially supplied by the hot water source.
According to a embodiment of the invention shown schematically in
According to this embodiment, the economizer device (1) is connected on the hot-water intake EC (7) and on the cold water intake EF (8) upstream from the drinking water usage point (2) of a household installation. It is also connected on the mixer (4) of said drinking water usage point (2), at a hot water outlet SC (9) and a cold water outlet SF (10), thus respectively making up a hot water supply and a cold water supply for this mixer (4).
The economizer device (1) is connected on the hot-water intake EC (7) by a pipe (11) on which a temperature sensor CT (12) is mounted that measures the temperature of the water coming from the hot water source. It is this water that typically cools, in particular when the usage point (2) is several meters away from the hot water source.
Of course, “pipe” here refers to any means making it possible to place elements in fluid communication. This may for example involve copper tubes, PVC tubes, hoses, or any other means known in the plumbing field.
At its other end, said pipe (11) connected on the hot-water intake EC (7) is also connected to a first T intersection (13), connecting it on the one hand to a first valve V1 (14) by a pipe (15) and on the other hand to a second valve V2 (16) by a pipe (17).
At its free end, the first valve V1 (14) is connected to the hot-water outlet SC (9) of the mixer (4) by a pipe (18).
At its free end, the second valve V2 (16) is in turn connected by a pipe (19) to a second T intersection (21), connecting it on the one hand to a storage container VE (21) by a pipe (22) and on the other hand to a non-return device (23) by a pipe (24).
The storage container VE (21) is preferably in the form of an expansion vessel, which comprises a membrane (25) compartmentalizing it into two tight zones relative to one another, namely a first zone (26) in which the pipe (22) emerges and a second pressurized zone (27). The first zone (26) is intended to serve as storage space for the cooled water, while the second zone (27) is pressurized in order to pressurize this stored cooled water over the course of the filling of the storage container VE (21).
The second zone (27) is preferably placed under a relative pressure of between 0.1 and 6 bars, preferably between 0.2 and 3 bars, and more preferably between 0.3 and 1 bar.
The sanitary expansion vessel can for example be pre-inflated in the factory to 0.8 bars in order to be slightly less than that of the hot water system.
This pressurization is for example done by injecting pressurized fluid in the second zone (27), for example by injecting compressed air.
The use of a storage container VE (21) in the form of an expansion vessel advantageously makes it possible to place the first zone (26), used for storage of the cooled water, automatically and progressively under pressure during filling thereof. Thus, the cold water can easily be reinjected into the system to be used for cold water by leaving from where it entered, namely through the pipe (22), by passing through the non-return device (23). The use of the same pipe (22) for the entry and exit of the cooled water in particular makes it possible to simplify the design of the economizer device (1), but also to minimize its bulk and cost, while guaranteeing a reliable operation.
The non-return device (23) is preferably in the form of a check valve. At its free end, the non-return device (23) is connected by a pipe (28) to a third T intersection (29), connecting it on one side to a third valve V3 (30) by a pipe (31) and on the other side to a fourth valve V4 (32) by a pipe (33).
A pressure sensor CP (34) is also intended to measure the water pressure in the first zone (26) of the storage container VE (21). This pressure sensor CP (34) can be provided directly on the storage container VE (21) or can be provided between the storage container VE (21) and the non-return device (23), upstream or downstream from the second T intersection (20).
At its free end, the third valve V3 (30) is connected to the cold-water outlet SF (10) by a pipe (35).
At its free end, the fourth valve V4 (32) is in turn connected to the cold-water inlet EF (8) by a pipe (36).
It will be noted that the valves (14, 16, 30, 32) are preferably solenoid valves that can be controlled electrically. This can also involve any other type of valve whereof the opening and closing can be controlled, for example hydraulically or pneumatically.
The first, third and fourth valves (14, 30, 32) are valves of the type normally open, which allow water to pass when they are not controlled, while the second valve V2 (16) is a valve of the type normally closed, which does not allow water to pass when it is not controlled. Thus, in case of malfunction of the economizer device (1), for example in case of electric current outage, the household installation remains fully functional, as if the economizer device (1) was not present.
According to a embodiment shown in
It will be noted that in
In general, the first valve V1 (14) and the third valve V3 (30) are so-called “safety” valves, because their role is in particular to block the flow of water toward the outlets during the emptying phase of the hot water column that has cooled.
The second valve V2 (16) is a so-called “bypass” valve because its role is in particular to allow the bypass of the hot water circuit toward the storage container VE (21) while waiting for the hot water to have reached a satisfactory temperature to truly be able to be considered hot water and to be used as is at the usage point (2).
The fourth valve V4 (32) is a so-called “priority” valve because its role is in particular to give priority to the water stored in the storage container VE (21) when cold water is requested at the usage point (2) by blocking the arrival of cold water coming from the cold-water intake EF (8), for example when a pressure greater than zero or than the threshold value is measured at the storage container VE (21).
The temperature sensor CT (12) and the pressure sensor CP (34) are connected to an electronic board (39), which in turn is connected to the various valves (14, 16, 30, 32, 37, 38) of the economizer device (1) in order to control them, in particular as a function of the temperature indicated by the temperature sensor CT (12) and/or as a function of the pressure indicated by the pressure sensor CP (34).
Of course, the electronic board (39) controls the opening and closing of the first, second, third and fourth valves (14, 16, 30, 32), and it controls the switching of each of the three-way valves (37, 38).
The electronic board (39) is preferably connected to a first easily accessible button (42) intended to start or stop the economizer device (1).
The electronic board (39) can be intended to be controlled and/or configured remotely, for example by a computer or a smartphone.
It can also be connected to an on-off switch making it possible to activate or deactivate the economizer device (1). In deactivated mode, the economizer device (1) is completely transparent for the installation that it equips, such that the latter can be used conventionally. Thus, when the economizer device (1) is deactivated, the first, third and fourth valves V1, V3, V4 are open, while the second valve V2 is closed.
The electronic board (39) can also include a safety to prevent the storage container VE (21) from filling needlessly, in particular in case of failure of the hot water source (6).
It may for example involve a timer that deactivates the economizer device (1) when the temperature sensor CT (12) has not yet detected hot water after a determine length of time, for example after 2 minutes.
The economizer device (1) can also be intended to be deactivated, at least temporarily, when the storage container VE (21) is completely full.
The electronic board (39) can also include a clock, for example in order to actuate the economizer device (1) at a predetermined time, for example at 7 a.m., with the aim of storing the cold water toward the storage container VE (21) so that the user has hot water right away when he wishes to take a shower upon waking up.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention shown in
Likewise, another casing (41) can also protect the electronic board (39).
It will be noted that the compact nature of the economizer device (1) of the invention indeed appears in these figures.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the pressure sensor CP (34) can be a pressure gauge that measures the water pressure in the first zone (26) of the storage container VE (21) inside or outside the latter. In this case, the pressure sensor CP (34) sends a precise measurement of the pressure to the electronic board (39).
According to this embodiment, the fourth valve V4 (32) is closed when the pressure inside the first zone (26) of the storage container VE (21) measured by the pressure sensor CP (34) is above a threshold value adjusted and stored in the electronic board (39), while the fourth valve V4 (32) is open when said measured pressure is below or equal to said threshold value.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the pressure sensor CP (34) can be a simple pressure-sensing switch or a pressure switch that transmits a signal to the electronic board (39) when it detects a pressure, according to a substantially binary operation.
According to this embodiment, the fourth valve V4 (32) is closed when the pressure sensor CP (34) detects a positive pressure inside the first zone (26) of the storage container VE (21), while the fourth valve V4 (32) is open when the pressure sensor CP (34) no longer detects positive pressure.
A pressure-sensing switch or a pressure switch is less expensive and more reliable than a pressure gauge, but it does not make it possible to indicate an exact pressure value to the electronic board (39) for a configurable control of the economizer device (1) as a function of the water pressure in the first zone (26) of the storage container VE (21) inside or outside the latter.
The operation of the economizer device (1) according to the embodiment shown in
The cold water coming from the cold-water intake EF (8) passes through the third valve V3 (30) and the fourth valve V4 (32) to supply the usage point (2) with drinking water, at the cold-water outlet SF (10). This water circulation occurs owing to the water pressure of the cold water system.
At the third T intersection (29) located between the third valve V3 (30) and the fourth valve V4 (32), this cold water does not move toward the second T intersection (20) in the direction of the storage container VE (21) due to the presence of the non-return device (23) provided here between the second T intersection (20) and the third T intersection (29).
The hot water coming from the hot-water intake EC (7) reaches the first T intersection (13), between the first valve V1 (14) and the second valve V2 (16). Its temperature is measured by the temperature sensor CT (12).
If this temperature is below a set temperature, for example adjusted and stored in the electronic board (39), this cooled water is considered to be cold water. The first valve V1 (14) leading to the drinking water usage point (2) is closed, the third valve V3 (30) is also closed, and the second valve V2 (16) is open, so that the cooled water is steered toward the storage container VE (21). This water circulation occurs owing to the water pressure of the hot water system. The third valve V3 (30) is closed such that no hot or cold water can be used at the drinking water usage point (2).
When the temperature of the hot water coming from the hot-water intake EC (7) is above the set temperature, this water is considered to be hot water. The first valve V1 (14) leading to the drinking water usage point (2) is open, as well as the third valve V3 (30), so that the hot water is steered toward the hot-water outlet SC (9) of the drinking water usage point (2) and the second valve V2 (16) is closed, so that the hot water does not enter the storage container VE (21). This water circulation occurs owing to the water pressure of the hot water system. The third valve V3 (30) is open, such that the drinking water usage point (2) can be used normally to consume hot water and/or cold water.
The set temperature is preferably chosen between 20° C. and 40° C., preferably between 25° C. and 35° C., and more preferably between 28° C. and 32° C. Of course, this set temperature depends on the user's needs and characteristics of the household installation.
When the pressure inside the storage container VE (21) is positive or reaches a threshold value, for example adjusted and stored in the electronic board (39), this cooled water passes through the non-return device (23) to serve as cold water at the drinking water usage point (2). In this case, the fourth valve V4 (32) is closed so that the cooled water stored in the storage container VE (21) supplies the drinking water usage point (2), at the cold water outlet SF (10). This water circulation occurs owing to the pressure of the cooled water stored under pressure in the storage container (21).
When the pressure inside the storage container VE (21) is nil or falls below the threshold value, the fourth valve V4 (32) is opened again so as to supply the cold drinking water usage point (2) with the cold water coming from the cold-water intake EF (8).
The threshold value is preferably chosen between 0 and 2 bars, preferably between 0 and 1 bar, and more preferably between 0 and 0.5 bars. Of course, this pressure threshold value depends on the user's needs and characteristics of the household installation.
The economizer device (1) preferably includes a wall fastening plate (44) for fastening it to the wall when it is mounted within a household installation.
The pipe (11) connected on the hot-water intake EC (7) and the pipe (35) connected on the cold-water intake EF (8) each preferably emerge on said plate (44) with connecting parts (44) suitable for being connected on said intakes (7, 8).
According to another embodiment of the invention, the economizer device (1) can also be embeddable in a wall.
The economizer device (1) of the invention is intended to equip a shower column (3), a sink, a washbasin or any other similar usage point jointly using a hot-water intake and a cold-water intake. As an example, in
According to the embodiment of the invention shown schematically in
In the typical case where a residence has several hot drinking water usage points (2), an individual economizer device (1) can equip each of these usage points (2).
According to the embodiment of the invention shown schematically in
In the case where the stored water cannot be consumed, in particular for legislative reasons, the skilled person may, however, adopt this embodiment of the invention so that the water coming from the shared storage container VE (21) cannot for example be used at the tap of a sink or a wash basin (see
In
According to the embodiment of the invention shown schematically in
The operation of the economizer device (1) according to the embodiment shown in
According to this embodiment, the “hot” part of the device is identical in operation to that of the embodiment shown in
According to this embodiment, the “cold” part of the device is identical in operation to that of the embodiment shown in
The cold water coming from the cold-water intake EF (8) supplies the drinking water usage point (2) by passing through the third valve V3 (30) and the fourth valve V4 (32), at the cold-water outlet SF (10). When the pressure measured by the pressure sensor CP (34) is positive or it reaches the threshold value, the fourth valve V4 (32) is closed such that the water stored in the storage container VE (21) supplies the at least one other household installation (45) with cold water. In this case, the third valve V3 (30) is preferably open such that the cold water can also be reused at the drinking water usage point (2). This water circulation occurs owing to the pressure present in the first zone (26) of the storage container VE (21).
When the pressure inside the storage container VE (21) measured by the pressure sensor CP (34) is nil or below the threshold value, the third valve V3 (30) and the fourth valve V4 (32) are open such that the cold water coming from the cold-water intake EF (8) can supply both the drinking water usage point (2) and the at least one other household installation (45). This water circulation occurs owing to the water pressure of the cold water system.
When the pressure inside the storage container VE (21) measured by the pressure sensor CP (34) is positive or reaches a threshold value adjusted and stored in the electronic board, the third valve V3 (30) is preferably open and the fourth valve V4 (32) is preferably closed, such that the cooled water from the storage container VE (21) passes through the non-return device (23) to serve as cold water at the at least one other household installation (45), here a toilet (46) and a washing machine (47). This water circulation occurs owing to the pressure of the cooled water stored under pressure in the storage container VE (21).
According to the embodiment of the invention shown schematically in
According to this embodiment, the economizer device (1) has a configuration substantially identical to that of the embodiment shown in
According to this embodiment, the economizer device (1) further has a coupling (48) provided between the fourth valve V4 (32) and the non-return device (23) on which the storage container VE (21) is connected and on which the at least one other household installation (45) is connected.
The cold water coming from the cold-water intake EF (8) directly supplies the drinking water usage point (2) at the cold-water outlet SF (10) while passing through the third valve V3 (30) and supplies the at least one other household installation (45) by passing through the fourth valve V4 (32) and the coupling (48). This water circulation occurs owing to the water pressure of the cold water system.
When the pressure measured by the pressure sensor CP (34) is positive or it reaches the threshold value, the fourth valve V4 (32) is closed such that the water stored in the storage container VE (21) supplies the at least one other household installation (45) with cold water by passing through the non-return device (23), then the coupling (48). This water circulation occurs owing to the pressure of the cooled water stored under pressure in the storage container (21).
When the pressure inside the storage container VE (21) measured by the pressure sensor CP (34) is nil or below the threshold value, the fourth valve V4 (32) is open such that the cold water coming from the cold-water intake EF (8) can supply both the drinking water usage point (2) and the at least one other household installation (45). This water circulation occurs owing to the water pressure of the cold water system.
This configuration makes it possible to prioritize the water from the storage container VE (21) to supply the at least one other household installation (45) while prohibiting the use of the water stored in the storage container VE (21) as potable water at a sink or a washbasin.
It will be noted that the economizer device (1) of the invention comprises means that can be used in several ways, in particular depending on the configuration and the nature of the system to which it must be connected. These means are shown schematically in
As previously mentioned and shown in
When a coupling (48) is provided between the third valve V3 (30) and the fourth valve V4 (32) to supply at least one other household installation (45) intended to use cold water, the coupling (48), the third valve V3 (30) and the fourth valve V4 (32) can also be replaced by a four-way valve V′34 (53).
Thus, as an example,
According to one embodiment of the invention, the economizer device (1) can also include a flow reducer (49) upstream or downstream from the mixer, but still upstream from the head shower and the shower head (5). This flow reducer (49) can be mounted on the casing (41). In
The flow reducer (49) is preferably provided in a branch (50), a valve (51) being intended to be able selectively to pass the water into the branch (50) equipped with the flow reducer (49) when it is closed or to make it pass normally when it is open. A second easily accessible button (43) can be intended to actuate the valve (51) in order to activate or deactivate a water saver operation, called “ECO function”, of the economizer device (1).
In general, a flow reducer (49) can be provided both between the cold-water intake EF (8) and the economizer device (1), and between the hot-water intake EC (7) of the economizer device (1).
It is obvious that this description is not limited to the examples explicitly described, but also includes other embodiments and/or implementations. Thus, one described technical characteristic can be replaced by an equivalent technical characteristic without going beyond the scope of the invention, and one described functional step of embodiment of the method can be replaced by an equivalent step without going beyond the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
For example, it will be obvious for the skilled person to adapt the economizer device (1) of the invention in the case of a household installation comprising several hot-water intakes EC (7) and/or several cold-water intakes EF (8).
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1661941 | Dec 2016 | FR | national |
This application is a § 371 filing of PCT application PCT/FR2017/053298 filed on Nov. 30, 2017, which claims priority from French application FR 1661941 filed on Dec. 5, 2016. The disclosures of these applications are included by reference herein in their entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2017/053298 | 11/30/2017 | WO | 00 |
