AU639864B1

AU639864B1 - Water storage fencing system

Info

Publication number: AU639864B1
Application number: AU30774/92A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Arnold Warren
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-12-05
Filing date: 1992-12-03
Publication date: 1993-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 2012-12-03

Description

P/00/011 2ws', Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 9 8 6

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: R 5TFPE CA/ The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 1 WATER STORAGE FENCING SYSTEM The present invention relates to water storage and, in particular, to a water storage system which utilises water storage tanks which are incorporated into fencing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In urban and suburban areas where water reticulation mains aro available, water is not generally stored by individual householders.

Rain water which falls in these areas is collected by the drainage system and is drained away and no use of the rain water is made by lhe individual householders.

It is known to collect rain water on roofs of buildings and lt direct this collected rain water into storag: tanks. This is generaliv carried out in isolated areas which are not serviced by wvter reticulation mains.

It is believed that the individual householders in those areas serviced by water reticulation mains would collect rain water which falls on their roof if the storage tanks were not as visually obtruslve as existing water tanks.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved water storage system which uses a water storage tank which is incorporated into fencing around a building. Fencing incorporating water storage tanks are also provided.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed water storage apparatus comprising a plurality of generally planar and substantially sequentially arranged water storage tanks formed into a fence structure with said tanks being interconnectea and a water collection means communicating with at least one of said tanks for supplying collected water to said at least one storage tank.

According to another aspect of the present invention there i'; disclosed a fence comprising a plurality of interconnected, generally planar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRANINGS Some embodiments of the present invention will now be descrihd with reference to the drawings in which: -2- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a water storage apparatus of a preferred embodiment, Fig. 2 Is an end view of a tank of the apparatus of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a partial side view illustrating the apparatus installed on an inclined slope, Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but of another embodiment, and Fig. 5 is a cut-away exploded perspective view of a tank of a third embodiment.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The water storage apparatus 1 of the preferred embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 1. The apparatus 1 includes a plurality of generally planar individual water storage tanks 2 which form individual panels of a fence 3 around a building 4. The building 4 has a roof with guttering 6 which is used to collect and drain any rain water 15 landing on the roof 5. The guttering 6 is connected to a downplpe 7 which is connected into a water drainage system (not illustrated), The apparatus 1 alo includes a branch water pipe 8 which S"branches off the downpipe 7. The downpipe 7 has an overflow valve 9 which allows water to continue down the downpipe 7 when the branch water pipe 8 is full.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the water pipe 8 connects into a filter box 11 located on a first one of the individual water storage tanks 2.

The filter box 11 is used to remove any debris from the water prior to its entering into the storage tanks 2. As indicated by arrows in Fg.

1, the water is able to flow between adjacent tanks 2 until all the tanks 2 are full.

The apparatus 1 also includes a pump 12 which is connected to one of the water storage tanks 2, The outlet of the pump 12 is connected to a water pipe 13 which is connected into the normal plumbing system 14 of the building 4 via a valve 15. The water stored in the tanks 2 is thus able to be distributed through the plumbing system 14 to showers, toilets, hose connections and other suitable outlets (not illustrated), If some outlets within the building 4 do rt require to be connected to the pump they can be switched off from the pipe 13 at the valve 15. If the building 4 is connected to a water reticulation mains 16, the valve 15 can be used to switch between the mains 16 or the pipe 13.

3 Illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 is an an embodiment of the individual water storage tanks 2. In this embodiment the tanks 2 are manufactured from folded metal and are able to be set into the ground 21 for self support as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Alternatively, the tanks 2 can be placed on top of the ground 21 and supported by an existing fence if required.

The tanks 2 have an inlet/outlet 17 through which water is able to pass. As illustrated in Fig. 3, a plurality of connecting pipes is used to connect the inlet/outlet 17 of adjacent tanks 2.

A cover strip 19 is used to cover gaps 20 between adjacent tanks 2. The cover strips 19 are illustrated as being partially below the ground 21.

Another embodiment of the tanks 2 is illustrated in Fig. 4. In this embodiment, the tanks 22 are inserted in the ground 21 and have tall connecting end cover strips 23 similar to those as previously :described, but which resembles convential fence posts.

Fig. 5 illustrates a tank 31 of another embodiment. The tank 31 is preferably made from decorative fibrous cement, rolled or embossed metal panels or low weight concrete casings. The tank 31 has a fixed 20 base 32 and a removable top cap 33 which when removed allows access for maintenance. A sheet plastics liner 34 is locatable within the tank 31. The tank 31 also has inlets/outlets 35 which are used to connect between adjacent tanks 31, The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention, and modifical 'ons obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without dept. ring from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Mater storage apparatus comprising a plurality of generally planar and substantially sequentially arranged water storage tanks formed into a fence structure with said tanks being interconnected and a water collection means communicating with at least one of said tanks for supplying collected water to said at least one said tank.

2. A fence comprising a plurality of interconnected, generally planar and substantially sequentially arranged water tanks.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, and having a pump means connected to at least one of said tanks for distri'Jting water in said tanks to a water distribution means.

4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein said tanks are substantially rectangular in cross-section. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein said tanks are partially placed in the ground.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said tanks are supported by an existing fence structure.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein adjacent ones of said water tanks are connected by connecting pipes between inlet/outlet means located at both ends of said tanks when said tanks are installed.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a cover strip is used to cover a gap formed between said adjacent tanks.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 or any one of the claims 3-8 when dependent or, claim 1, wherein said collection means includes a guttering system having at least one downpipe, said downpipe having a branch pipe branching therefrom and connected to said at least one tank Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said collection 'means includes a filter means. 30 11. Apparatus according to claims 9 or 10, wherein said downpipe has aAr overflow valve means located at the junction between said branch pipe and said downpipe.

12. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said pump means is selectively connected to said water distribution means via a valve means. -4a-

13. Water storage apparatus being substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this THIRD day of JUNE 1993 John Arnold Warren Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON ego: o eeoo oo S *4 1. i t' f" 5 ABSTRACT Water storage apparatus comprising a plurality of individual but inyerconnected water tanks forming a fence around a building is disclosrd. The building has a roof with guttering which is used to collect and remove rain water landing on the roof One of the tanks is connected to the guttering (6) by a water pipe A filter box (11) is used to filter the rain water before entering the first tank A water pump (12) pumps water stored in tanks to a water distribution or plumbing system (14) of the building e e e *o e c o