AU2015100859A4 - Ember supression junction - Google Patents

Abstract

H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCCJZC\7482346_I.docx- 19/02/2015 -9 A junction with an input and output to connect to respective upper and lower portions of a drainpipe associated with the gutter, the junction having a port adapted for connection to a 5 hose or mains supply and a valve that is moveable from a first position where flow is permitted through both the input and output and down the drainpipe, to a second position where the output and lower portion of the drainpipe are isolated and water is allowed to flow through the junction, between the port and the input.

Description

H:\jzc\Interwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\JZC\7482346_I.docx- 19/02/2015 EMBER SUPRESSION JUNCTION Field 5 This invention relates to the field of ember suppression in roof gutters. Background Roof gutters regularly accumulate leaf litter and dry debris that is prone to catching on fire 10 during ember attack, if embers from a fire are blown in to the gutters. The fire can then readily spread into the roof and other structure of a building. Object 15 The present invention seeks to provide a solution for filling a gutter with water such as to reduce the chance of an ember generated fire in the gutter and/or to assist with cleaning debris out of the gutter. Summary 20 In accordance with the invention there is provided a junction with an input and output to connect to respective upper and lower portions of a drainpipe associated with the gutter, the junction having a port adapted for connection to a hose or mains supply and a valve that is moveable from a first position where flow is permitted through both the input and 25 output and down the drainpipe, to a second position where the output and lower portion of the drainpipe are isolated and water is allowed to flow through the junction, between the port and the input. In one embodiment, the junction allows water to travel from the port up to the gutter in 30 order to flood the gutter and suppress ember attack.

H:\jzc\Interwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\JZC\7482346_I.docx- 19/02/2015 -2 In one embodiment, the junction allows water from the gutter to be diverted away from the drainpipe and through the port for collection. In one embodiment, the junction includes a valve housing and the port is integrally formed 5 with the housing. In one embodiment, the port has a coupling for connection to a mains supply pipe or hose fitting. 10 In one embodiment, the coupling is sized for a snap-connect hose fitting. In one embodiment, the coupling is in the form of an internal thread of the port. In another embodiment, the coupling is in the form of an external thread of the port. 15 In one embodiment, the housing, inlet and outlet, and the port and thread are integrally formed from moulded plastics. In one embodiment, the junction includes a side actuator that rotates in order to move the 20 valve inside the housing between the first and second positions. In another aspect, there is provided an assembly including a gutter, a drainpipe and a junction, as described above, connected into the drainpipe. 25 In one embodiment, the assembly includes a hose or mains supply pipe connected to the port of the assembly. Brief Description of the Drawings 30 The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCCJZC\7482346_I.docx- 19/02/2015 -3 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a junction with a valve in a first position; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the junction with the valve in a second position; 5 Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the junction connected into a drainpipe and a hose positioned to connect to the junction; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the hose connection to the junction; and 10 Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a gutter with the junction connected into the drainpipe. Detailed Description 15 Referring firstly to Figure 1, a junction 1 includes a generally cylindrical housing 2, an inlet 3 and an outlet 4. A side actuator 5 is mounted to the housing 2 to rotate a valve (not shown) enclosed within the housing 2. 20 The actuator 5 includes a dial 6 and an external collar 7 that is screw threaded onto the housing 2 to mount the actuator 5 in place. In the position shown, the actuator 5 is in a first condition where the dial 6 is in an up and down orientation, with arrows 8 indicating the valve is in a corresponding first position, 25 where flow is permitted through the junction 1 between the inlet 3 and outlet 4. A port 9 is positioned in a wall 10 of the housing 2 and projects generally horizontally. The port 9 has a coupling 11 which in this case is an internal thread 12 although an external thread or other form of coupling may be employed, as required. 30 The housing 2, the inlet 3, the outlet 4 and the port 9 are preferably integrally formed from H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCCJZC\7482346_I.docx- 19/02/2015 -4 moulded plastics, as is the thread 12 so that the junction 2 can be easily manufactured and installed as a single unit. Referring to Figure 2, the junction 1 is shown with the dial 6 in a horizontal orientation, 5 which corresponds to the internal valve being rotated to a second position where the outlet 4 is isolated from the inlet 3 and the port 9 is instead in fluid communication with the inlet 3. Turning now to Figure 3, the junction 1 is shown coupled into a drainpipe 13 so that the 10 inlet 3 connects to an upper portion 14 of the pipe 13 and the outlet 4 connects to a lower portion 15 of the pipe 13. A snap-connect hose fitting 16 is screwed into the port 9. The hose fitting 16 includes a spigot 17 with a reduced diameter throat 18 and a seal 19 for sealing snap engagement with 15 a standard connector 20 of a garden hose 21. A mains supply pipe (not shown) can instead be used in place of the hose 21, if required, and a different fitting can be swapped into the port for attachment to the mains supply pipe, as needed. 20 In Figure 3, the actuator 5 is in the first position, where the port 9 is isolated from the inlet 3 and the inlet 3 and outlet 4 are in fluid communication so any flow through the junction 1 passes directly from the upper portion 14 to the lower portion 15 of the drainpipe 13, bypassing the port 9. 25 Figure 4 shows the hose 21 connected to the fitting 16. The actuator 5 is still in the first position so that the valve blocks any water flow into the junction 1 from the port 9. When water pressure is applied to the hose 21 and the valve is turned to the second position, water will flow through the hose 21 and up through the outlet 3. 30 Referring to Figure 5, an assembly 22 is shown as including the junction 1, drainpipe 13 H:\jzc\Interwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\JZC\7482346_I.docx- 19/02/2015 -5 and gutter 23. Again, the actuator 5 is shown in a first position where water from the gutter 23 is allowed to flow down the upper portion 14, through the junction 1 and out the lower portion 15 of the drainpipe 13. If a threat of ember attack is present, the actuator 5 can be moved to the second position whereby water can flow out of the hose 21, through the 5 junction 1 and inlet 3, and up through the upper portion 14 of the pipe 13, to flood the gutter 23 and suppress any ember initiated fires in the gutter. An alternative use of the junction 1 is to save rainwater to a water storage (not shown). In that case, the actuator 5 can be left in the second position so that any water collected by the 10 gutter 23 can be redirected by the hose 21 from the drainpipe 13 to the storage. The assembly 22 is preferably configured so that the junction 1 is close to a ground surface to allow for easy access and safe operation without needing a ladder or the like. Further, the assembly 22 can include an additional valve component such as a stop cock for 15 controlling water flow from the hose or mains, or a screw type connector that can be opened and closed, in order to allow water to be selectively trapped in the gutter 23 after being filled through the hose 21 or mains supply. This can thereby allow the hose 21 to be disconnected and moved, while retaining water in the gutter for the purpose of either reducing ember attack or allowing the gutter to be scrubbed to clear and loosen debris 20 which can then exit the gutter when the valve component is opened to allow water to flow down the drainpipe or through an alternate opening in junction 1. The junction has been described by way of non-limiting example only and many modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of 25 the invention.

H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCCJZC\7482346_I.docx- 19/02/2015 -6 List of Parts 1. Junction 2. Housing 5 3. Inlet 4. Outlet 5. Actuator 6. Dial 7. Collar 10 8. Arrows 9. Port 10. Wall 11. Coupling 12. Thread 15 13. Drainpipe 14. Upper portion 15. Lower portion 16. Fitting 17. Spigot 20 18. Throat 19. Seal 20. Connector 21. Hose 22. Assembly 25 23. Gutter

Claims (12)

1. A junction with an input and output to connect to respective upper and lower portions of a drainpipe associated with the gutter, the junction having a port adapted for 5 connection to a hose or mains supply and a valve that is moveable from a first position where flow is permitted through both the input and output and down the drainpipe, to a second position where the output and lower portion of the drainpipe are isolated and water is allowed to flow through the junction, between the port and the input. 10

2. The junction of claim 1, wherein the junction allows water to travel from the port up to the gutter in order to flood the gutter and suppress ember attack.

3. The junction of claim 1 or 2, wherein the junction allows water from the gutter to be diverted away from the drainpipe and through the port for collection. 15

4. The junction of any one of claims 1 to 3, further including a valve housing and the port is integrally formed with the housing.

5. The junction of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the port has a coupling 20 for connection to a mains supply pipe or hose fitting.

6. The junction of claim 5, wherein the coupling is sized for a snap-connect hose fitting. 25

7. The junction of claim 6, wherein the coupling is in the form of an internal thread of the port.

8. The junction of claim 6, wherein the coupling is in the form of an external thread of the port. 30

9. The junction of claim 7 or 8, wherein the housing, inlet and outlet, the port and the H:\jzc\Intrwovn\NRPortbl\DCCJZC\7482346_I.docx- 19/02/2015 thread are integrally formed from moulded plastics.

10. The junction of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the junction further includes a side actuator that rotates in order to move the valve inside the housing between 5 the first and second positions.

11. An assembly including a gutter, a drainpipe and a junction, as described above, connected into the drainpipe. 10

12. The assembly of claim 11 further including a hose or mains supply pipe connected to the port of the assembly.