AU687630B2

AU687630B2 - Downpipe rainwater head

Info

Publication number: AU687630B2
Application number: AU34253/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Rodney George Wade
Original assignee: Rain Harvesting Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Rain Harvesting Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1994-10-14
Filing date: 1995-10-16
Publication date: 1998-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 2015-10-16
Also published as: AU3425395A

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: RODNEY GEORGE WADE Rodney George Wade CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 240 Queen Street, Brisbane, Qld. 4000, Australia.

DOWNPIPE RAINWATER HEAD a Details of Associated Provisional Applications: Nos. PM8778 a *5* a C. 0 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us I I II II I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a device for use in association with roof gutters and downpipes for the purpose of removing leaves, vermin, debris and other solid material from rainwater as it flows through an opening in the floor of the gutter into the downpipe.

The device also functions to prevent insects, particularly mosquitoes, from entering the downpipe and from being carried to a water storage location where they could breed.

The most effective device currently available on the market for achieving these ends is the "leaf free gutter and downpipe rain head" sold under the registered trade mark LEAF EATER and which is the subject of International Patent Application No. PCT/AU93/00154 filed 7 April 1993 to the present inventor. This device comprises a compartment which fits on the upper end of a downpipe having an upwardly inclined screen arranged at an angle of between 200 and 450, an adjacent underlying secondary screen with smaller openings, and a separate V.horizontal tertiary screen which has openings sufficient e to exclude the ingress of mosquitoes. Rainwater carrying debris passes through a preformed opening in a roof gutter onto the first inclined screen where the majority eo 25 of the debris is separated while the rainwater passes on Sthrough the compartment, and to a water storage via the secondary and tertiary screens.

The main disadvantage of this device is that •the screen inclination of the main screen can not be 30 adjusted to meet the variation in rainfall in different rain fall areas, with the result that in high rainfall areas, splashing of rainwater away from the downpipe can occur. Further, because the primary screen lies in a o e :flat plane, there is a tendency for leaves and other debris to cling to the surface of the screen due to water tension and to not be washed away.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION Although these can be relatively minor disadvantages, it is desirable to have a device which is 100% problem free. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device which has all the advantages of the previously mentioned LEAF EATER® device but which does not have any of the above-specified disadvantages thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a device for separating debris and other such material from rainwater as it flows into a downpipe from a roof gutter and for simultaneously preventing the ingress of mosquitoes into the downpipe, said device comprising a compartment adapted for fitting to the upper end of a downpipe directly beneath a pre-formed opening in the bottom wall of a roof gutter, said compartment having an upwardly facing inlet for rainwater with entrained debris, a downwardly opening outlet for screened rainwater, an opening in a sidewall through which debris can pass, a primary screen located between the said inlet and the said outlet, and a secondary screen located below the primary screen, the said primary screen being inclined and curved so as to form an elliptical radius of curvature such that debris entrained in the rainwater is stopped by the screen and ejected by the flow of rainwater through the opening in the sidewall, the location of the upper region of the primary screen being repositionable so as to change the said o elliptical radius, and wherein the secondary screen is arranged in a substantially horizontal plane and has 30 openings which are of such a size as to prevent mosquitoes passing therethrough.

By having an elliptical radius, the majority of the debris such as leaves; and tvwigs which comes into contact with the primary screen is effectively prevented from being held on the screen by water surface tension as there is no uniplanar region on the screen which would enable this to occur. This overcomes the problem of the existing rainwater head in which debris can cling to the 4 flat planar surface of the primary screen and thereby deflect the rainwater away from the device.

Further, by enabling a variation in the elliptical radius of curvature of the primary screen, the shedding of debris such as leaves can be maximised according to the rainfall. Thus, it has been found that in periods of light rainfall or in light rainfall areas of temperate climates, a smaller elliptical radius of curvature is more efficient for shedding debris than a larger elliptical radius. Conversely, in periods of heavy rainfall or in heavy rainfall areas such as in the sub-tropical and tropical climates, a larger elliptical radius of curvature is more efficient for shedding debris than a smaller elliptical radius of curvature.

The term "elliptical radius of curvature" in the context of the present invention is intended to mean the radius of curvature of the primary screen when viewed edge-on along that edge which extends from the top or inlet region of the device toward the lower or outlet region of the device. Generally, very large elliptical radii, that is, radii which extend for significant i "distances, are found to be the most suitable.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that to enable a variation in the elliptical radius of 25 curvature of the screen, the screen will have a predetermined degree of inbuilt resilient flexibility.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The primary screen is typically angled so that ethe majority of rainwater and debris hits the screen as it falls from the gutter at between about 450 and 6,.

This angle is skewed towards 450 for light rainfalls and towards 600 for high rainfalls by notching the upper edge of the primary screen upwards or downwards while oooo maintaining the bottom edge of the screen in a fixed location, in the manner hereinafter described. The screen can be manufactured from a range of' non-corrosive materials such as plastics material, metal, composites, or a combination thereof. Powder coated galvanised iron stranded screens are preferred as they enable the maximisation of the open spaces in the screening surface while simultaneously breaking any water capillarity in the openings. Preferred sizes for tie openings in the primary screen are between about 4x4mm and 9x9mm, most preferably about 6x6mm. Preferably, the primary screen is rectangular in configuration and is angled inwardly at its lower edge to enable retention within the compartment as hereinafter described.

The secondary screen can be manufactured from a similar range of materials to the primary screen.

Preferably, however, it is manufactured from welded or wire woven stainless steel, zincalum, galvanised steel, brass, copper or fibreglass. The mesh size can typically be 0.9x0.9mm and can include an appropriate support framework to enable retention of shape and ease of placement. A particularly preferred framework comprises a rectangle of plastics material in which the screen is embedded during the production thereof. Finger extensions are provided on opposing edges of the :....framework to enable the secondary screen to be placed in, *and removed from, a recess which snugly holds the oo secondary screen when it is press-fitted therein, The compartment preferably has a substantially eeoc 25 box-like configuration with an inclined lower wall which tapers toward the secondary screen and further tapers below the secondary screen into the discharge shute. The compartment can be fixed in position to the fascia which supports the gutter, or to the wall of the adjacent 30 building, by screws, pop rivets or the like.

The primary screen locates between the front o lower edge of the compartment and the rear upper edge.

S. Means are provided in the rear upper edge to enable the 0**o locating screen to be moved relative thereto. Such means 0 can comprise lugs, ridges or like proturburences against which the upper edge of the screen is urged. Such lugs or the like are arranged in horizontal rows and the elliptical radius of curvature of the primary screen is varied by notching the screen up or down over the lugs to thereby increase or decrease the distance between the top and lower edges of the primary screen. The front lower edge of the compartment preferably has a channel defined inwardly thereof by one or more low walls to enable the angled lower edge of the primary screen to be securely located in place without deflection during use.

The term "upper end of the downpipe" as referred to in the statement of invention and claims, means an upwardly opening end which may be at the top of the downpipe or at any location between the top and bottom, which has been formed by removing an intermediate section of the downpipe to leave one part with an upwardly opening end and another with a downwardly opening end. That is, the device may be located in any region of the downpipe but for maximum effectiveness it should be located adjacent to the gutter at the top end.

The reason for this is that a large size outlet can be made in the gutter, which can be bigger than the diameter of the downpipe, to enable extra large objects such as twigs, dead birds and other such large items to pass out of the gutter, which would not fit into a conventionally sized downpipe. The large size outlet in the gutter will suitably include a pop, or downwardly depending walled 0..e 0 25 insert, which directs the water and debris into the separating device. The pop has the dual function of also ensuring that the water and debris passing between the o o gutter and separating device is not blown away from the separating device in windy locations. This device S 30 directs the flow of the water and debris onto the screen 99*9 in a specific location so as to maximise the screening 9 process. In other words, it directs the water and debris primarily to the top region of the screen.

As an alternative to the pop, a section of the gutter could be cut and folded to produce a downwardly depending flap which functions similarly to the pop.

A discharge shute is suitably included in the lower portion of the compartment to direct the screened

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water into the upper end of the downpipe. The discharge shute is preferably shaped and tapered so as to wedge into the downpipe to facilitate placement. To this end, it will have a conical or pyramidal shape depending on whether the downpipe is circular or rectangular in crosssection.

In use, because water and debris has unimpeded exit from the gutter, all debris flows onto the primary separator screen and most of the debris washes out onto the ground. Smaller particles are trapped in the secondary screen. The device thus permits all water and small and large debris including vermin to exit the roof gutter, thus reducing flooding due to overflowing blocked gutters, fire due to dried leaves, and health hazards due to dead vermin such as birds. The device is, moreover, substantially self cleaning due to the elliptical curvature of the primary screen very little maintenance ever being required, and it can be used in high and low rainfall regions to maximum effectiveness.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying eeo drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a separating •o 25 device according to the present invention, in situ; and 99oe* Figure 2 is an end-on elevation of the device depicted in Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In both of the drawings, like reference .999. 30 numerals refer to like parts.

999* The device is generally depicted at 10. It comprises a compartment which is open at its top end 11 and along one front-facing side 12. The bottom section boo• of the compartment has an inclined lower base wall 13 which opens into a discharge shute 14. The discharge shute in turn fits into the upper end of a downpipe The compartment is fixed to a fascia plate 16 of the building with appropriate fixing pins and is

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located directly beneath the gutter 17. A pop 18 is positioned directly above the compartment and surrounds an opening 19 in the gutter.

The primary screen 20 consists of a rectangular mesh having 6X6mm openings. The mesh is curved upwardly so as to have a relatively large radius of curvature.

The screen is held in place by lugs 21 on the upper rear surface of the container and a channel region 22 formed between a front lip 23 of the container and an internal series of stops 24.

The primary screen is manufactured from powder coated galvanised wire and is flexible between its top and bottom edges to enable it to be slipped between three settings on the lugs 21 to thereby alter the radius of curvature of the screen for different flow rates of rainwater.

The secondary screen 25 consists of a 0.9x0.9mm stainless steel mesh supported in a moulded plastics framework 26 in a horizontal position. The framework is press-fitted into a recess formed in the bottom interior of the compartment. Finger extensions 27 are provided on the framework to enable ready placement and removal of *o the screen.

In use, rainwater and debris washes through the eeee 25 opening 19 in the gutter 17 onto the primary screen where the flow of debris is interrupted and washed to the exterior of the compartment. Water and any fine debris oee passes to the secondary screen 25 which removes the fines in suspension. The secondary screen also functions to o 30 prevent the ingress of mosquitoes into the water as it passes down the downpipe 15 for collection in a storage tank.

By virtue of the ability to change the curvature of the primary screen, the screen can be set-up for high or low rainfall areas to thereby maximise the degree of debris separation and water collection.

Further, the radius of curvature in the primary screen ensures that no debris is retained on the screen due to capillarity or like processes.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the invention, many modifications and variations may be made thereto by persons skilled in the art without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

o 0 S «a o r

Claims

1. A device for separating debris and other such material from rainwater as it flows into a downpipe from a roof gutter and for simultaneously preventing the ingress of mosquitoes into the downpipe, said device comprising a compartment adapted for fitting to the upper end of a downpipe directly beneath a pre-formed opening in the bottom wall of a roof gutter, said compartment, in use, having an upwardly facing inlet for rainwater with entrai:.zd debris, a downwardly opening outlet for screened rainwater, an opening in a sidewall through which debris can pass, a primary screen located between the said inlet and the said outlet, and a secondary screen located below the primary screen, the said primary screen being inclined and curved so as to form an essentially elliptical radius of curvature such that debris entrained in the rainwater is stopped by the screen and ejected by the flow of rainwater through the opening in the sidewall, the location of the upper region of the primary sc:,een being repositionable so as to change the elliptical radius of curvature, and wherein the secondary screen is arranged in a substantially horizontal plane and has openings which are of such a size as to prevent mosquitoes passing therethrough. 25

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the primary screen is angled with respect to the downward flow of rainwater so that the majority of rainwater and debris contacts the screen at an angle of between 450 and 600 30

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the primary screen has a mesh size of 6x6mm and S the secondary screen has a mesh size of 0.9x0.9mm.

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, c wherein the primary screen is substantially rectangular in configuration and locates between the front lower edge of the compartment and the rear upper edge of the compartment, there being a plurality of vertically spaced lugs on said upper rear edge of the compartment against i j L ii separate ones of which the upper edge of the screen can e urged to vary the elliptical radius of curvature of the primary screen.

A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the secondary screen is supported by a rectangular frame of plastics material, which frame is press-fitted into a recess formed in the bottom section of the compartment.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the secondary screen can be removed from the recess with the aid of finger extensions formed on opposing edges of the framework.

7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the compartment has a substantially box- like configuration with an inclined lower wall which tapers toward the secondary screen and which further tapers below the secondary screen toward the downwardly facing outlet.

8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding 20 claims and including a discharge shute formed about the downwardly opening outlet.

9. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the upwardly facing inlet includes a downwardly depending walled insert which directs the S. 25 rainwater and entrained debris onto the primary screen. S:

10. A device for separating debris and other such material from rainwater as it flows into a downpipe from -a roof gutter and for simultaneously preventing the ingress of mosquitoes into the downpipe, said device being constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 16th day of October 1995 RODNEY GEORGE WADE By his Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO. I~- ABSTRACT A device for separating debris and other such material from rainwater as it flows into a downpipe from a roof gutter and for simultaneously preventing the ingress of mosquitoes into the downpipe. The device comprises a compartment (10) adapted for fitting to the upper end of a downpipe (15) directly beneath a pre- formed opening in the bottom wall of a roof gutter (17). The compartment, has an upwardly facing inlet (11) for rainwater with entrained debris, a downwardly opening outlet (14) for screened rainwater, an opening in a sidewall (12) through which debris can pass, a primary screen (20) located between the inlet and the outlet, and S. 15 a secondary screen (25) located below the primary screen. The primary screen is inclined and curved so as to form an elliptical radius of curvature such that debris entrained in the rainwater is stopped by the screen and ejected by the flow of rainwater through the opening in the sidewall. The location of the upper region of the primary screen is repositionable so as to change the elliptical radius of curvature, and the secondary screen o is arranged in a substantially horizontal plane and has openings which are of such a size as to prevent 25 mosquitoes passing therethrough. -IL