AU597081B2

AU597081B2 - Roof and gutter pollution retainer

Info

Publication number: AU597081B2
Application number: AU75238/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Clifford Murray Crowell
Original assignee: Bowes Kaylene Louisa
Current assignee: Bowes Kaylene Louisa
Priority date: 1986-07-04
Filing date: 1987-07-03
Publication date: 1990-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 2007-07-03
Also published as: AU7523887A

Description

7 Form COMMONvvEALTH OF AUSTRALIA INYDLLAR PATENTS ACT 1952-62 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE! Application Number: Lodged: Class Int, Class Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted, Published: Prior!0tV: Rel&tad Art; TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT CLIFFORD MURRAY CROWELL .ame of Applicant Addrd~s of Applicant:, Actual Inventor: (pa Add ress for Service:, 46 First Street, Price, State of South Australia, Commonwealth of Australia Clifford Murray CROWELL H SAMPo VAtut care olC R.K. MADDERN ASSOCIT PES, 345 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000.

Complete Specification for the lnventort entitled: "ROOF AND GUTTER POLLUT3 O1RM WTh OFFICE 3 J UL 1987 Adelaide The following statement Is a full description of this Invention, Including the best method of performing it known to me,

I

The following inv ntion relates to a roof and gutter pollution retainer, and in particular to a means of receiving the first portion of waterflow from a water collection surface.

When water is collected from run-off from a collection surface, such as rainwater being collected from a house roof, there is a risk that the first portion of water collected will be contaminated by various pollutants deposited on the roof. Such pollutants may compr .e corrosion deposits, rotted leaves, bird and animal droppings, and other pollutants that settle on the S roof. After a relatively short period of time, such pollutants may accumulate such that rainfall will cause the pollutants to be washed from the roof and gutters into the water storage container. This is obviously undesirable, as the water will become tainted, and corrosion of metal components such as guttering down pipes and metal water storage containers will occur.

Therefore, it is an object of this inve'i-nton to provi-d a means whereby the first portion of water flowing from a water collection surface is prevented from entering the main water storage container.

In its broadest form, the invention compr'aes a water collection means for receiving the first portion of waterflow from a water collection surface comprising a tank for receiving the first portion of water, said tank Shaving an inlet, and a means of draining the tank, a valve located in said tank inlat, si valve arranged to opeLate upon the aank fillig Wihan inlet pipe connecting the water collection surface to said tank inlet, and a bypass pipe connecting the inlet pipe to a main water storage container, said valve arranged such that upon operating the water flow is directed to the main water stor e -ontainer.

2 2 i*1 "C ,s 1 ii-j The tank has sufficient capacity such that upon filling, most of the pollutants will have been washed from the water collection surface. This then enables clean unpolluted water to flow into the main water storage container.

SPreferably, the means of draining the tank comprises a restricted opening that allows continuous draining i of the tank. The outflow of water from the drain is not large, and any substantial flow of water from the water collection surface will easily maintain the tank in a full condition, thereby keeping the valve in a closed position.

Preferably, the valve is provided with a floating valve element that floats up against the seal as the water level rises. Alternatively, the valve may comprise a tube that extends into the tank, said tube being t hen OK sl.\ F;c\ ei+ he i ler r 'S Qj arranged such that-ipnn -he wIter 1p 1 in t-h -ank +C s^i\ 1-'cje r< te )e I -e-e\l K ecQC risi-ng abo hnxLhe. e ning of -ho h m- 1 further water flow into the tank is prevented, and the remaining water flow i is caused to flow to the main storage container. The water level rising above the tube effectively operates 0 as a valve.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, but it will be realised that the invention is not constricted or confined to the following Sdescription. The embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. I shows a tank installed on the wall of a house for collection of rainwater from the house roof, wherein the tank is shown with a cut-away view, and FIG. 2 shows a cut-away view of a tank with an alternative valve arrangement.

In this embodiment, the water collection means 3 Ai..

N

i *0 4 0 oo 0 00: comprises a tank 12 with both an inlet 14 and a drain 15. The tank 12 is attached to the wall of a house, at a position intermediate the down pipe from a gutter and a main water storage container.

During a rainfall, the water flows from the water collection surface 16 into the guttering 17 around the roof. From there the water flows via the inlet pipe 18 into the tank 12. It has been found that for an average sized house, a tank having a capacity of approximately 60 litres provides adequate flushing of pollutants from the roof of the house.

0 0 0o -i 0 000 a.

BO

#4

OI

Q O 0 01 0 00 0 0 00S 00 0 The drain 15 comprises an outlet of small diameter.

The outflow of water from the drain is such that during a significant rainfall the flow of water into the tank 12 far exceeds the water flowing from the drain As shown in FIG. 1, as the water level within the tank 12 rises and c--e-(.the inlet pipe, water flow into 20 the tank 12 will be prevented. The inlet pipe extending into the tank effectively operates as a valve 21. Water ovehe O±CkI 4 cCnt<L tcz/ co.r> petscss flowing from the roof i-th :n na :1 via the bypass pipe 19 into the main water storage container This then allows clean water from a washed roof to be collected in the main water storage container As shown in FIG. 2, the valve 21 may comprise a floating valve element 22 which is held captive within a cage 23. As the water level in the tank 12 rises, 30 the floating valve element 22 bears against the inlet pipe 14 which effectively forms a seal, thereby preventing water flow into the tank. Water is then redirected via the bypass pipe into the main water storage container Although the tank 12 may be located in any suitable position, i- is most convenient to attach the tank via 44 i' Vk i; ii_ i I.

I-i brackets 25 to the wall of a building.

The tank 12 is provided with a viewing port 24 which allows inspection of the debris and pollution build-up within the tank 12. To enable proper clearing of such debris and pollution from the tank 12, a removable cover 26 is provided which comprises a screw threaded plastic cap.

10 From a brief conzsideration of the above, it will be obvious that the invention provides a simple and cost effective means of preventing polluted water from being collected from a water collection surface such as the roof oF a house. Not only will cleaner and more pure water be provided, but the prevention of corrosion will greatly extend the life of the various metal components.

Claims

1. A water colletion means for receiving the first portion of waterflow from a water collection surface comprising a tank for receiving the first portion of water, said tank having an inlet, and a means of draining the tank, a valve located in said tank inlet, said valve arranged to operate upon the wator level in said tank or said tank inlet reaching a predetermined level, an inlet pipe connecting the water collection surface to said tank inlet, and a bypass pipe connecting the inlet pipe to a main water storage container, said valve arranged such that upon operating the water flow is directed to the main water «9o o storage container. e o

2. A water collection means according to claim 1 wherein the Svalve comprises a tube that extends into the tank, said tube being arranged such that, when the tank has filled with water, the water level rises up said tube to a predetermined level whereat water flow into the tank is prevented and is caused to flow into the main storage container.

3. A water collection means according to claim 1 wherein the o oo valve is provided with a floating valve element that is arranged to engiage the inlet upon filling of the tank. 2 oe o

4. A water collection means according to claim 2 wherein the valve comprises a floating ball retained within a perforate container, wherein the top portion of the perforate contai,;er comprises a valve seat against which said ball engages to thereby close the valve. j A water collection means according to any of the preceding claims wherein the means of draining the tank comprises an orifice in the base of the tank that allows a continuous restricted outflow of water.

6. A water collection means according to any of the preceding claims wherein the tank is provided with a viewing port, J O 0 0" 9 0 00 9D 0080

7. A water collection means according to any of the preceding claims wherein the tank is further provided with a removable cover to allow clearing of debris and pollution from the tank.

8. A water collection means according to any of the preceding claims wherein the tank is provided with a plurality of brackets to allow securing of the tank to a wall.

9. A water collection means substantially as hereinbefore described with yeference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Dated this 6th day of March, 1990 CLIFFORD MURRAY CROWELL By his Patent Attorneys, R.K. MADDERN ASSOCIATES I o 04O 0 4 o 80 0 o 0 0 4 c;0" 0D 0 0 0 4 ,0* 44 4 44'tI r 4