The invention to which this application relates is apparatus which is provided for use with a liquid supply system so as to allow different modes of operation of the liquid supply system to be achieved whilst maintaining a supply of the liquid, typically although not exclusively, potable or drinking water, for consumption by the end users of the supply system.

The invention is particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, related to the provision of apparatus including an adaptor for connection as part of the water supply system which is provided to allow the supply of water from a mains water source pipeline to one or more end-users located in, for example, a domestic premises and, in particular, for use at the interface between a pipe which supplies the water to the interior of the building and the pipe of the supply system which connects to the mains water supply.

There is a need in any pipeline supply system to be able to identify and seal leakages, such as relatively small scale background leakage, within water pipes as if no action is take, the leakage is wasteful and can lead to significant financial fines to the company in charge of the supply system. One way of achieving the minimising of leakage is to use intrusive technologies which travel along the interior of the length of pipeline and system which is to be tested. While legislation relating to the provision of drinkable water to premises can vary from country to country, in general the legislation is becoming more stringent and these requirements, in conjunction with complexities in the pipe supply system itself, can often make the use of these intrusive methods, for both data gathering, testing and rehabilitation works to repair the leakage, unacceptable.

In many instances, there is a need to be able to perform the data gathering, repair and other works on the pipes whilst maintaining the water supply to the end user in a form which is safe to use for drinking at all times and thereby ensure that there is no disruption to the end user supply. This can include the ability to perform a flushing and/ or scouring operation on a length of the pipe supply system to the premises which involves the movement of non drinkable water along the length of pipe at relatively high pressure and velocity which is sufficient to allow the cleaning and scouring to be performed.

One such system and method is disclosed in the patent application EP3234436 which allow the curing of a leakage in a pipeline using at least one gel pig and at least one sealant composition, with the at least one gel pig and the at least one sealant composition forming a pig“train” which is adapted to move along the pipe to the region of leakage and then seal the leakage.

A further problem with this form of apparatus is to ensure that the travel of the pig train along the length of pipeline is controlled such that, firstly the leakage repair is successfully achieved and secondly that the pig can be safely removed from the length of pipe and is prevented from entering the water supply network in the premises and/or entering apparatus, such as a washing machine connected to the same.

It can also be required that a scouring of the pipe interior is performed and this is conventionally achieved by passing water along the pipe at a higher pressure than normal and, while this can be effective, it can cause the contamination of other fittings attached to the pipework due to the debris which is dislodged. There is also a requirement to“turn over” the total volume of water in the pipeline twice before the same can be used to supply potable water again and this requirement may be greater, depending on the condition of the pipeline prior to the scouring being performed. These operations are typically performed at night when the demand on the supply network is reduced and also to attempt to avoid excessive disruption due to odour, flavour and / or turbidity which can be caused to the water supply.

At present therefore there is a conflict between the increasing requirements being applied to water service providers to repair leakages in pipes and generally maintain the same to a good standard and, at the same time, to maintain a usable drinkable water supply to the end users provided by water from the supply system

An aim of the present invention is therefore to allow apparatus to be provided and a method of operation to allow both of these conflicting requirements to be achieved simultaneously and with no, or minimum disturbance to the end user. In a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for a piped liquid supply system said apparatus including an adaptor device including a body in which there is provided a first passage having an inlet and an outlet at respective ends of the first passage and a second passage having an inlet and an outlet at respective ends of the second passage and wherein said first and second outlets are provided to allow the supply of liquid therefrom to a common pipe of the liquid supply system connected to the end of the adaptor device at which the outlets are located.

In one embodiment the said common pipe is connected to a supply network to supply the liquid to and within one or more premises.

In one embodiment the said liquid is water and the supply network for the one or more premises is provided to supply water which meets requirements to allow the same to be classed as potable (wholesome) or drinkable water.

Typically the adaptor device is connectable to at least two potable water sources via respective first and second inlets so as to allow the passage of said potable water through one or other of the first and second passages at a particular instant of time.

Typically the said adaptor device can be provided to operate in a first mode in which potable water passes through the same to the common pipe via the first passage or in a second mode in which potable water passes through the same to the common pipe via the second passage.

Typically in the first mode the potable water enters the first passage inlet which is connected to a mains water supply source and in the second mode the potable water enters the second passage inlet which is connected to an auxiliary water supply source.

Typically the auxiliary water supply source is made available and the second mode is used when checking, flushing, scouring and/ or leakage repair is being performed on the mains water supply system and during which time the mains water supply source is sealed off from the inlet to the first passage and therefore the continuity of the potable water supply to the premises during this time is via the supply of the water from the auxiliary source to the inlet of the second passage, through the second passage and from the outlet of the adaptor device.

Typically the provision of the potable water supply to the end user via the second passage can occur simultaneously with the testing and/or remedial works being performed on the pipe of the mains water supply.

In one embodiment the first passage leads to an outlet which is located on a substantially centrally located longitudinal axis of the adaptor device. In one embodiment the inlet is radially offset from the said longitudinal axis at the opposing end of the adaptor body from the outlet and the first passage which extends between the said inlet and outlet is angularly offset to the said longitudinal axis.

In one embodiment the said second passage has an inlet which is radially offset to the longitudinal axis and in one embodiment is on an opposite side from the inlet of the first passage and both inlets are located at one end of the adaptor body. In one embodiment the outlet of the said second passage is annular and located around the outlet of the said first passage.

It should be appreciated that the arrangement described can be reversed for the said first and second passages and their respective inlets and outlets.

Typically the end of the adaptor at which the said outlets of the first and second passage are located is provided with a location head for location with the said common pipe so as to allow both the said outlets to be in fluid communication with the common pipe and thereby supply water thereto when water is supplied to the inlet of the first or second passages.

In one embodiment the end of the adaptor device at which the inlets are provided is of a size so as to allow water supply pipes to be independently connected to respective inlets.

Typically, intermediate the first water source and the said adaptor device there is provided a control means which is movable between open and closed positions and intermediate the second water source and the said adaptor devices there is provided a control means which is movable between open and closed positions. Typically when the control mans for the first water source is open the control means for the second water source is closed and this allows the water to be supplied to and through the adaptor device from the mains water source and when the control means for the first water source is closed and the control means for the second water source is open this allow the water to be supplied to and through the adaptor device from the second water source.

In one embodiment a further liquid supply is provided to be selectively connected to a length of pipework which is to be scoured and said auxiliary supply can be created on site by the filling of a vessel, such as a water tank to a required capacity, say in the range of 5000 to 10000 Litres and then the contents can be discharged along the length of pipeline at a required velocity so as to create a scouring effect along the pipeline.

In one embodiment the said velocity is in the range of 400-1000 L/ min for a 3 to 6 inch diameter pipeline.

In one embodiment the vessel, pump and associated components can be provided as a unit which is transportable so as to allow the same to be moved to the required location for use.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided an adaptor device for use with a water supply system, said adaptor device including a body having first and second ends, and a first passage with an inlet at said first end and an outlet at the said second end and a second passage with an inlet at said first end and an outlet at said second end and wherein said first passage inlet is connected to a first source of water and said second passage inlet is connected to a second source of water, said adaptor device including a mounting head at the said second end to allow the connection of a pipe of the supply network to allow the flow of water into the pipe from the outlet of the first and/ or second passages.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a water supply system, said water supply system including a first source of potable water and a second source of potable water, said sources selectively moved between open and closed conditions, a supply network to allow the provision of said potable water to one or more premises and wherein intermediate the said first and second sources of potable water and the said premises there is provided at least one adaptor device, said device having a first passage with an inlet to allow the connection to and supply of water from the first source and a second passage with an inlet to allow the connection to and supply of water from the second source, said outlets of the said first and second passages of the adaptor device connected to a common pipe to which the adaptor device is connected and said common pipe part of the said supply network for said one or more premises.

In one embodiment the system includes control means to turn on and off the supply of water from the respective sources so that typically water from only one of the sources passes through the adaptor at any given time.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided an auxiliary water supply apparatus for selective connection to a length of pipework which is to be scoured and said auxiliary supply created on site by the filling of a storage vessel with the water and then discharging the contents of the storage vessel along the length of pipeline at a velocity so as to create a scouring effect along the pipeline.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method for the provision of a potable water supply to one or more end user premises, said method comprising the steps of providing a first source of said water and a second source of said water, providing an adaptor device which is connectable to both first and second water sources via respective first and second inlets leading to first and second passages in the adaptor device, providing control means to open and close said first and second water supplies intermediate the sources and the adaptor device to allow the selective provision of water from one of said sources to the adaptor device at a time and wherein the said first and second passages pass through a body of the adaptor device to respective first and second outlets and connecting said adaptor device to a pipe to allow water from either or both of the first and second outlets to flow into and along the said pipe towards the said one or more end user premises.

Specific embodiments of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 illustrates in a schematic manner one embodiment of the invention; and

Figures 2a-c illustrate cross sectional elevation and perspective views along line A- A of the adaptor device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 there is illustrated in a schematic manner apparatus and a system in accordance with the invention and it should be noted that certain components, and in particular the adaptor device 2 are shown in an enlarged form for ease of reference.

The invention is shown in use in relation to a pipe supply system for a premises 4 in the form of a house in which one or more end users of potable or drinking water are located. Leading to and within the house there is provided a conventional water supply network of pipes which provide water to required locations such as bathrooms, kitchen and the like. Typically the supply network includes a supply pipe 6 and a communication pipe 7 which act as the supply connection to the external source of mains water and there is typically also provided a stop tap 8 which allows the isolation of the“normal” source of the water, the mains water supply network 10 provided by a water company, from the supply network in the premises.

An adaptor device 2 provided in accordance with the invention is connected at the point whereby the supply pipe 6 and the communication pipe 7 meet at a downstream end boundary box 12. The boundary box 12 or other control means 21 upstream thereof can be moved between open and closed positions so as to control the provision, or not, of water from the mains water source. Also, in accordance with the invention, the adaptor device, as shown, is connectable to an auxiliary water supply source 16 such as provided from an alternative source, or tank 18. The auxiliary water supply source 16 includes control means 20 to allow the supply of water to be turned on and off.

Thus, at any given time, a potable water supply can be provided to the common pipe 6 from either the first, mains, water supply source 10 or the second, auxiliary, water supply source 16 so that a continuous usable water supply is provided to the premises, even when the mains water supply source 10 may be disconnected due to it being tested, inspected or under repair and during which the supply of water to the adaptor device 2, and hence common pipe 6 is disconnected from the communications pipe 7 and mains supply source 10, as in accordance with the invention, the common pipe 6 is receiving water via the adaptor 2 from the auxiliary source 18 and auxiliary supply pipe 16.

In one embodiment, the adaptor device 2 can also be used to extract non-drinking water from the communication pipe 7 or supply source 10 via an extraction port 14. The extraction port 14 can also be used to insert an intrusive technology into the communication pipe 7 or supply source 10 when the supply pressure can be overcome.

Figures 2a-c illustrate the adaptor device 2 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention in greater detail and show the same in cross section along the centre line AA of the body 22 as shown in Figure 2c, The body 22 has an inlet 24 in connection with a first passage 26 and outlet 28 and the inlet is provided to be connected to the first, mains water source 10 via the communications pipe 7. A further inlet 30 is provided, at the same end of the body as inlet 24 and which is in connection with a second passage 32 and outlet 34. The second inlet 30 is connected to the second, auxiliary water source 16.

Both outlets 28 and 34 are connected at the same end to the common supply pipe 6 at the downstream end of the adaptor device via the locating head 36.

Both inlets 24, 30 are radially offset from the longitudinal axis 38 of the device 2 whilst outlet 28 is arranged on the longitudinal axis 38 and the outlet 34 is formed annularly around the outlet 28.

This allows both outlets 28, 34 to supply or extract water to or from the comm pipe 7 or supply pipe 6 from the respective first and second passages 26, 32, whilst the frustoconical shape of the body 2 ensures that the inlets 24, 30 are sufficiently spaced apart so as to allow the same to be connected separately to the respective water sources 10, 16 and thereby allow water to be obtained from one of the sources whilst the other is closed and thereby allow a continuous supply of potable water to the premises supply network. In certain instances an auxiliary water supply is provided to be selectively connected to a length of pipework which is to be scoured and said auxiliary supply can be created on site by the filling of a vessel, such as a water tank to a required capacity, say in the range of 5000 to 10000 Litres and then the contents can be discharged along the length of pipeline at a required velocity so as to create a scouring effect along the pipeline.

In one embodiment the said velocity is in the range of 400-1000 L/ min for a 3 to 6 inch diameter pipeline.

In one embodiment the vessel, pump and associated components can be provided as a unit which is transportable so as to allow the same to be moved to the required location for use.

The said apparatus is therefore provided to be selectively connected to a length of pipework which is to be scoured and said auxiliary supply created on site by the filling of a storage vessel with the water and then discharging the contents of the storage vessel along the length of pipeline at a velocity so as to create a scouring effect along the pipeline. As long as the storage vessel is filled at a velocity that does not exceed its peak then there should be no water quality issues relating to the source water pipe.

When the storage vessel is full, the contents can be discharged to the target pipeline which is to be scoured via a pump so as to achieved self scouring velocity of the water supply as indicated above and this can be provided for the 2x or greater quantity of water for the pipeline volume without any impact on the surrounding network which can continue to supply water to end users. If the pipeline still requires further flushing then the storage vessel can be filled once again and the process repeated. As the apparatus can be trailer mounted the same can be towed behind an LGV or similar vehicle as typically the storage vessel will be empty during transportation and filled at the site at which the same is to be used to perform the scouring operation.

The water which is flushed from the pipeline can then be tankered away, supplied to the local sewer or reprocessed by a filtration system for return to the network.