AU2010100740A4

AU2010100740A4 - Pest Proofing for Rainwater Tanks

Info

Publication number: AU2010100740A4
Application number: AU2010100740A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Randall John Crisp
Original assignee: ACTION TANK IND Pty Ltd
Current assignee: ACTION TANK INDUSTRIES Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-07-10
Filing date: 2010-07-09
Publication date: 2010-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 2018-07-09

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: Pest Proofing for Rainwater Tanks Applicant: Action Tank Industries Pty Ltd (ACN 104 453 974) The invention is described in the following statement.

-2 TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to an apparatus for preventing the entry of pests, such as vermin and mosquitoes into rainwater tanks 5 BACKGROUND Residential rainwater tanks are increasingly used in Australia and other dry regions of the world. The use of residential rain water tanks has a number of associated benefits. Rainwater from a house's roof, which would otherwise be directed down drains or spill onto the ground, is collected and stored on site in the rain water tank. The home owner 10 can then use the stored water for gardening, washing cars or other requirements. Since the water is stored on the property there are no distribution losses between the storage point and the discharge point. Most rainwater tanks have an inlet at the top of the tank which is typically a round hole. 15 A guttering outlet, such as a downpipe, is disposed to direct collected water through the rainwater tank inlet. A problem that arises is that pests, such as mosquitoes, vermin, frogs and lizards, may enter the rainwater tank and thereby contaminate the stored water. 20 One approach to overcoming this problem has been to cover the tank inlet with a screen, which generally comprises a fine mesh of metal or fabric, so that water from the downpipe passes through the screen as it enters the rainwater tank for storage. Consequently, mosquitoes, vermin and the like, being too large to pass through the apertures in the mesh, are prevented from entering the rainwater tank. 25 Unfortunately, the use of a screen to prevent the entry of pests into the rainwater tank has associated disadvantages. Over time leaves and similar debris may collect on top of the screen thereby tending to block the mesh. Furthermore a slime may form from the decaying debris that occludes the apertures in the mesh so that the mesh becomes 30 blocked.

-3 It is an object of the present invention to provide a useful alternative for preventing the entry of pests into rainwater tanks. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 5 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an anti-pest valve for preventing entry of pests into a rainwater tank, said valve comprising: a hollow body; an inlet port in communication with an interior of the hollow body; an outlet port in communication with the interior of the hollow body; 10 a float located within the hollow body and arranged to block the outlet port while the hollow body is empty of water and to float free of the outlet port upon water entering the hollow body via the inlet port. Preferably the inlet port includes an inlet pipe that extends outward from the body and is 15 dimensioned for connection to a downpipe. Preferably the outlet port includes an outlet pipe that extends downward from the body and is dimensioned for connection to a rainwater tank inlet. 20 In a preferred embodiment a free end of the outlet pipe is formed with concentric inner and outer walls defining a concentric gap therebetween to engage a tank inlet fitting. Similarly, a free end of the inlet pipe may be formed with a concentric inner and outer walls defining a concentric gap therebetween to engage a downpipe. 25 In a preferred embodiment a throat is formed within the hollow body at the junction of the outlet port and the hollow body upon which the float rests while the hollow body is free of water. The float will preferably be provided in the form of a ball. 30 -4 The hollow body may be capped by a bonnet. It is preferable that the hollow body be formed with a lateral portion on one side to allow the float to move laterally from the outlet port upon water entering the hollow 5 body through the inlet port. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for preventing the ingress of pests into a rainwater tank comprising: a body having an inlet port to receive rainwater and an outlet port to convey rainwater 10 from the body; and an arrangement for closing the outlet port during periods when the body is empty of water and for opening the outlet port during periods when the body is receiving the rainwater. 15 According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a rainwater tank system including an anti-pest valve connected between a rainwater collection system and a rainwater tank wherein the anti-pest valve is arranged to close off entry to the rainwater tank during periods in which no rainwater is collected. 20 Further embodiments, preferred features and variations will be apparent from the following Detailed Description which will make reference to a number of drawings as follows. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 25 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the top, front and left hand side of an anti-pest valve according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the anti-pest valve looking leftward from. Figure 3 is a view of the front of the anti-pest valve. Figure 4 is a view of the underside of the anti-pest valve. 30 Figure 5 is a plan view of the top of the anti-pest valve.

-5 Figure 6 is a view of the left hand side of the anti-pest valve. Figure 7 is a view of the right hand side of the anti-pest valve. Figure 8 is a partially cutaway view of the anti-pest valve shown installed between a downpipe and a rainwater tank during a period in which no rainwater is collected. 5 Figure 9 is a partially cutaway view of the anti-pest valve shown installed between the downpipe and the rainwater tank during a period of rainwater collection. DETAILED DESCRIPTION 10 Referring now to Figure 1, there is depicted a pest prevention valve 2 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The valve includes a hollow body 4, which is preferably formed of a suitable plastic. An inlet port 6 extends out from one side and is integrally formed with the body. The inlet port is dimensioned to receive an outlet from a gutter downpipe for example. To assist in this regard the free end of the 15 inlet port includes concentric inner and outer walls 9 and 7 respectively, which define a concentric gap therebetween to receive a downpipe outlet. An outlet port 8 is integrally formed with the body and extends down from its underside for connection to a rainwater tank. The free end of the outlet port includes concentric 20 inner and outer walls 15 and 13 respectively, which define a concentric gap therebetween to engage an inlet formation of the rainwater tank. A bonnet 10 closes the upper end of body 4. Referring now to Figure 2, which is a cross section through the valve 2, it will be 25 observed that a float in the form of ball 11 is located within body 4. Ball 11 is lighter than water so that in use it floats upon water entering body 4 via inlet port 6. In its resting position, as shown in Figure 2, the ball 11 rests upon a throat 12 formed at the junction of body 4 and outlet port 8. Since the ball 11 has a larger diameter than the inner diameter of either throat 12 or inlet port 6, it is effectively trapped within body 4.

-6 During manufacture, the ball 11 is inserted into body 4 prior to the bonnet 10 being fitted. With reference to Figure 3, it will be noted that the body 4 is not symmetrical but rather 5 extends upward and outward on its right side whereas it extends substantially straight up on its left side. Provision of the right lateral portion allows for the ball 10 to move to the side away from throat 12 upon the body filling with water so that any tendency for the ball to be inadvertently pushed down onto the throat 12 by water incoming through inlet 6 is overcome. 10 Referring now to Figure 8, there is shown a partially cutaway view of the anti-pest valve 2 installed atop a rainwater tank 16 so that valve outlet port 8 is connected to an inlet of tank 16. A downpipe 14 is connected to inlet port 6 (not visible) in order to deliver runoff rainwater to the anti-pest valve 2 and thence to rainwater tank 16. Since 15 the body 4 is empty of water in the view of Figure 8, the internal ball 11 assumes its resting position upon throat 12. Consequently the ball 8 closes throat 12 so that entry of pests such as lizards, frogs, mosquitoes, vermin and the like, through outlet port 8 into tank 16 is barred. 20 Turning now to Figure 9, the installed anti-pest valve 2 is shown in use with rainwater, indicated by vertical arrows, flowing down downpipe 14 into body 4 via inlet port 6 (not shown). As the water flows in it is initially prevented from flowing out through outlet port 8 by the presence of ball 11. Consequently the water level rises so that ball 11 floats out from its position at throat 12 thereby opening outlet port 8 in order that 25 water flows through the outlet port and into the internal storage area of tank 16. In the present specification and claims, the word "comprising" and its related and derivative terms, including "comprises" and "comprise", are to be interpreted in an inclusive sense as including each of the stated integers but without excluding the 30 inclusion of one or more further integers.

-7 In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described 5 comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An anti-pest valve for preventing entry of pests into a rainwater tank, said valve comprising a hollow body, an inlet port in communication with an interior of the hollow body, an outlet port in communication with the interior of the hollow body, and a float located within the hollow body and arranged to block the outlet port while the hollow body is empty of water and to float free of the outlet port upon water entering the hollow body via the inlet port.

2. An anti-pest valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hollow body is formed with a lateral portion on one side to allow the float to move laterally from the outlet port upon water entering the hollow body through the inlet port.

3. An anti-pest valve as claimed in claim I or claim 2 wherein a throat is formed within the hollow body at the junction of the outlet port and the hollow body upon which the float rests while the hollow body is free of water.

4. An apparatus for preventing the entry of pests into a rainwater tank comprising a body having an inlet port to receive rainwater and an outlet port to convey rainwater from the body and an arrangement for closing the outlet port during periods when the body is empty of water and for opening the outlet port during periods when the body is receiving the rainwater.

5. A rainwater tank system including an anti-pest valve for connection to a rainwater collection system and a rainwater tank coupled to an outlet of the anti-pest valve wherein the anti-pest valve is arranged to close off entry to the rainwater tank during periods in which no rainwater is collected.