AU776144B2 - Clear flow gutter & harvester system - Google Patents

Description

THE CLEAR FLOW GUTTER SYSTEM The following statement is a full description of this invention.

This invention relates to improved water flow in gutters and improved water quality for delivery to rain water storage facility.

Most existing gutter systems fill with leaves, which causes the gutter' to overflow. When a water storage facility is used, the leaves discolour the water and small pieces of rotting leaves find their way into the storage facility causing contamination.

The wet leaves in the gutter provide a breeding site for mosquitoes and also shorten the life of the guttering.

In bushfire areas a gutter full of dry leaves is a potential source of fuel at the eaves of a house.

The CLEAR FLOW GUTTER eliminates the collection of leaves in sufficient quantities to cause rusting of the gutter or to be a fire hazard.

This invention overcomes this problem by separating the leaves at point of entry to the gutter.

The CLEAR FLOW WATER HARVESTER, which can be used with existing guttering systems, is a self cleaning filtration with first flush diversion. The idea of first flush diversion is to dump the initial flow of water, which may contain chemical residue from spray drift, and general pollutants that have settled on the roof in dry times.

To assist with understanding this invention, references will be made to the following drawings, which will detail this invention.

DRAWING 1 Shows the main gutter section, item 1. Item 2 is the gutter cover which is a push-on fit to the main gutter item 1.

The gutter cover item 2 is 20mm deep and has 4 holes, 4mm diameter at 40mm centres. The holes permit the inflow of water but exclude any entraneous matter greater than 4 mm diameter. Nearly all leaves are blown away by the wind.

If the water is not to be collected it is taken to ground by a down pipe (not shown).

If the water is to be harvested it flows on to a CLEAR FLOW WATER

HARVESTER,

DRAWING 2 Shows the CLEAR FLOW WATER HARVESTER construction.

It consists of the gutter, item 1 bring water from the roof. Holes are cut in the floor of the gutter, item 1, and matching holes are cut in the water collection pipe, item 3.

Between the gutter, item 1, and the collection pipe, item 3, is fitted a filter screen, item 4. The screen, item 4, is made from a metal fuel grade filter mesh. Any entraneous matter stays on top of the filter screen, item 4. Water passes through the filter screen, item 4, into the sealed water collection pipe, item 3. It should be noted that this system does not collect 100% of available water.

DRAWING 3 Shows how the initial flow of water (first flush) is diverted away from the storage facility enhancing water quality.

The water collection pipe, item 3, passes through a PVC Dump Pipe, item A cap, item 6, is fitted to the top of the Dump Pipe, item 5, and the bottom is buried 300 400 mm into the ground.

A dump aperture, item 7, is made in the bottom of the water collection pipe, item 3, inside the PVC Dump Pipe, item 5. The water collection, pipe, item 2, goes from the PVC Dump Pipe, item 5, into the water storage facility, item 8. The water collection pipe is fuliy sealed at point of entry, item 9, to water facility, item 8.

The initial flow of water flows into the PVC Dump Pipe, item 5, and soaks away into the ground. When the ground is sufficiently water logged to support a column of water only then will water flow into the water storage facility, item 8.

A light shower of rain will put little or no water into the storage facility, it will just wash the roof and guttering.

Once rain ceases the water in the PVC Dump Pipe, item 5, gradually seeps into the ground ready for the next time it rains.

It is realised that the configuration of holes in the cover, item 2, can be changed or replaced with slots and that the cover, item 2, could be crimped, riveted or spot-welded into place.

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Claims (5)

1. A water collection assembly for collecting water from a roof gutter and for diverting an initial flow of water to a dump pipe, the assembly comprising a water collection pipe having a first end and a second end, the first end being in fluid communication with a roof gutter to collect water from the roof gutter, the second end adapted to extend into a water storage tank, and a dump pipe having an upper end area and a lower end, the lower end extending into a ground surface, the upper end area intercepting the water collection pipe such that water passing through the water collection pipe passes into the dump pipe, the construction and arrangement being that an initial flow of water from the roof gutter and through the water collection pipe passes into the dump pipe and fills up the dump pipe and only when the water level in the dump pipe has been raised to that of the level of the water collection pipe, will further water passing through the water collection pipe pass into the water storage tank.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end of the water collection pipe is associated with a filter screen such that water passing from the roof gutter into the water collection pipe is filtered.

3. The assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein S the dump pipe has a diameter of about 150 millimetres.

4. The assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower end of the dump pipe extends between 300-400 millimetres into the ground.

5. A water collection assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. Dated this 16" day of July 2004 0 John Colin Christie By his Patent Attomeys CULLEN CO CULLEN CO, 16/07 2004 FRI 10:25 [TX/RX NO 5659] Z0054-