CA2832531C - System and method for collecting and storing water - Google Patents

Abstract

Examples of a rain harvesting system are disclosed. The system comprises a water container for collecting and storing water. The container has a bottom wall, a top wall and a side wall defining an inner cavity of the container. An inlet port can be formed at an upper portion of the container. A collecting means, such as a guttering system and pipes, can collect rainwater from a roof and can direct the rainwater into the water container through the inlet port. An outlet port can be formed at a lower portion of the container. The outlet port is connected to a distributing means, such as water distributing pipes, to distribute the stored water from the water container to a water outlet, e.g. a toiler flush tank. The system further comprises a wave dampening means placed in the water container to at least partially fill the inner cavity of the container. The wave dampening means are configured to damp any waves generated into the water container while allowing unobstructed flow of the water into and out of the water container. The wave dampening means can be made from low resolution polyether foam.

Description

CA_001MS
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLECTING AND STORING WATER
Technical Field The present invention relates to a system for collecting and storing a water from atmosphere such as a rainwater for use in dwellings in toilet tank or for gardening.
Background of the Invention Rainwater harvesting has been around for a long time and is based on the accumulation and deposition of rainwater in order to be re-used before it reaches the aquifer.
It could be used for watering the gardens, watering livestock, irrigation, etc. Some of rainwater harvesting systems can have a water purification system so that the water can be purified for human consumption. The large amount of water which is consumed by every household doesn't require drinkable water. For example, the rainwater harvesting system can be connected through a separate plumbing network to supply the toilets with water. But when using a water harvesting system in this manner, a backup supply of municipal or well water is necessary to maintain the water supply in case the system is empty, e.g.
during a dry season.
Most of the known rainwater collection systems have a water storage container positioned in the ground and such water is delivered to a water outlet, such as a toilet tank, by pumping either mechanically or manually. In addition, positioning the storage container below ground level means that a suitable hole needs to be excavated for the storage container to be placed into it.
In contrast to the systems of the prior art the present invention relates to a rainwater harvesting and redistribution system in which the storage container is positioned in an elevated area above ground so that the water can flow to the water storage container and the water outlets at least partially under gravity.
Summary In one aspect, a rainwater harvesting system is provided. The system comprises a water container for collecting and storing water. The container has a bottom wall, a top wall and a side wall defining an inner cavity of the container. An inlet port is formed at an upper portion of the container. A collecting means collect rainwater from a building roof and direct the collected rainwater into the water container through the inlet port. An outlet port is formed at a lower portion of the container. The outlet port is connected to a distributing means to distribute the stored water from the water container to a water outlet. The system further comprises a wave dampening means placed in the water container to at least partially fill the inner cavity of the container. The wave dampening means are configured to damp any waves generated into the water container while allowing unobstructed flow of the water into and out of the water container. The wave dampening means can be made from low resolution polyether foam.
In one aspect, the wave dampening means comprise a meshed structure with plurality of interlinked bars. The mashed structure is sized and shaped to be placed into the inner cavity of the container while keeping an area around any ports and/or valves clear.
In another aspect, the wave dampening means comprise a plurality of blocks distributed in the inner cavity of the container. The plurality of blocks are arranged in the inner cavity so that do not block the ports or limit the function of any valves.
In one aspect, the walls of the water container are dark and opaque to prevent microorganism growing in the water stored in the water container.
In yet another aspect a low pressure float valve is provided to allow a distribution of the stored water from the water container to the water outlet such as a toilet flush tank. The valve comprises a housing with an inner bore, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and an inside channel connected to the fluid inlet. The inside channel has a first end in communication with a fluid source and a second end. A valve seat is formed at the second end of the channel at the fluid inlet. A supporting rod extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end is also provided. A float is connected to the first end of the supporting rod.
A plunger is connected to the second end of the rod and the plunger is designed to engage the valve seat closing the fluid inlet when the valve is in closed position. The inside channel, the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are designed to have a larger diameter so that more fluid at low pressure flows and fills the channel and flows through the inner bore of the valve when the valve is in an open position.

-2-CA_001MS
In addition to the aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and study of the following detailed description.
Brief Description of the Drawings Throughout the drawings, reference numbers may be re-used to indicate correspondence between referenced elements. The drawings are provided to illustrate example embodiments described herein and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of various elements and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility.
FIG.1 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a rainwater harvesting system showing a water collection container placed under a roof of a building.
FIG2A is a perspective cross-sectional view of a water collection container showing a wave dampening means positioned inside the container and a water distribution piping system.
FIG2B is a top cross-sectional view of a water collection container of FIG.
2A.
FIG.3 is a side cross-sectional view of a water collection container showing a float valve and its position at various levels of water in the container.
FIG.4A is a side cross-sectional view of a rainwater harvesting system illustrating a filter placed in a water collecting means.
FIG.4B is a detailed cross-sectional view of the filter of FIG. 4A.
FIG. 5 illustrates a low pressure float valve. The top drawing is a top cross-sectional view of the low pressure float valve and the bottom drawing is a side cross-sectional view of the low-pressure float valve taken along section C-C.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a rainwater harvesting system showing a water collection container placed in a side wall.
FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of a toilet flush tank and a piping of a water distribution system.

-3-CA_001MS
Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments The present disclosure describes a rainwater harvesting system for collecting, storing and redistributing rainwater to a water outlets such as water outlets in a bathroom (toilet tank), kitchen (various kitchen appliances), etc. Referring to FIG. 1 an example of the rainwater harvesting system 10 is illustrated. The system 10 can be adapted to fit into an existing dwelling such as a house, a residence building, or an industrial building. As illustrated the rainwater is collected from a roofing area 14 using a guttering system, such as a gutter 2. The collected rainwater is transferred from the gutter 2, through a piping 11, to a water container 12. The container 12 is configured to collect and store the collected rainwater. In the illustrated example the container 12 is placed in an attic space below the roof 14. FIG. 1 shows the container 12 placed in the space between a ceiling 15 and a floor 16 of the roof 14. The position of the container 12 is below the guttering system so that the collected rainwater can flow under gravity through the pipe 11 into the container 12. The container 12 is designed and sized to fit into the available space. It can have a rectangular shape or any other shape and size suitable to fit and secure into the available space. The illustrated container 12 has a rectangular shape with a bottom wall 12a, four side walls 12b and a top wall 12c. However, person skilled in the art would understand that the container 12 can have any other suitable shape. For example, the container 12 can have a cylindrical shape with a bottom wall, a side wall and a top wall. The bottom wall 12a, the side wall(s) 12b and the top wall 12c define an inner cavity 13 of the container 12. The container 12 can be in one piece or multiple pieces joined together to form it.
An inlet port 1 la (see FIG. 3) is formed at an upper portion of the container 12. For example the inlet port 1 la can be formed at the top wall 12c of the container or at the upper part of one of the side wall 12b. The inlet port 1 la is connected to an outlet end of the pipe 11 to allow the rainwater to flow into the container 12. An outlet port 18a (FIG. 3) is formed at a lower portion of the container, e.g. the bottom wall 12a or the lower part of one of the side walls 12b. The outlet port 18a is connected to an inlet end of a water distributing pipe 18 that is used to distribute the stored water from the container 12 to the water outlets, such as for example a flush tank 20.
An overflow port 17a (FIG. 3) connected to an overflow pipe 17 is provided at an upper portion of the container 12 to allow the water to be discharged into a drainage system

-4-CA_001MS
if the container 12 is overfilled. In one embodiment, the overflow port 17a is positioned at the upper portion of the container below the inlet port 1 la (lower vertical position from the bottom wall 12a than the position of the inlet port 11a). The position of the overflow port 17a defines the maximum water capacity of the container 12. In some implementations the overflow pipe 17 can be connected to another additional container 12 and can serve as an input pipe to such additional container 12.
The container 12 can further comprise a float valve 24 connected to a municipal water supply system 25, so that when the water level in the container 12 is below a predetermined level, the valve 24 opens and the container 12 can be filled with municipal (domestic) water. By having the container 12 connected to the municipal water supply system 25 the rainwater harvesting system 10 can maintain distributing water to the water outlets i.e. toilet tank 20, even in the dry seasons. A double check valve 26 can be connected to the municipal water supply 25 to prevent the water from the container 12 to flow back into the system 25.
The system 10 can further comprises an emergency outlet port (not shown) with a valve (not shown) provided at the bottom wall 12a of the water container 12 that can be connected to an emergency piping (not shown), so that when the valve is opened, the container 12 can be quickly emptied through the emergency port and the emergency piping.
Such emergency piping can be connected to a fire sprinkling system to extinguish a fire or can be connected to a drainage system to quickly empty the container 12 for maintenance purposes. A vent 35 can be formed at the top wall 12c of the container 12 for air venting container 12. All of the pipes provided in the system 10 can be rigid or flexible pipes and can be made of any suitable material. The container 12 can further comprise an opening on the top 12c that can be covered with a hatch lid 43. The hatch lid 43 can be tightened by means of a plurality of bolts or can be a self-threaded lid or can be snap fitted into the opening. The lid 43 allows access to the inner cavity 13 of the container 12 for cleaning purposes or repair.
A tray 29 can be installed underneath the container 12 to collect any water leaking from the container 12, in case the container 12 is damaged and leaks. The water collected in the tray 29 can be discharged through a piping 27 into the drainage or sewage system.
In one implementation the piping 27 can be used to fill another container 12 or can be connected to the distributing pipe 18.

-5-Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the system 10 can further comprise a wave dampening means 30 placed in the inner cavity 13 of the container 12. The wave dampening means can damp any waves that can be generated, for example, by earth quake or any other reason and thus can prevent that shock waves are generated within the cavity 13 to impact the container's walls. Such waves, if not prevented, can cause shaking and/or moving of the container 12 that might cause damage of the system 10 or the building structure where such container is placed. The wave dampening means 30 can at least partially fill the inner cavity 13 of the container 12 and can be designed and shaped so that it does not block any of the inlet ports or outlet port and/or obstruct the function of the float valve 24. The wave dampening means 30 can comprise a meshed structure with interlinked bars forming holes 30a so that the flow of the water into and out of the container 12 is not obstructed or limited by it. As can be noticed the meshed structure of the wave dampening means 30 is sized to fill the inner cavity 13 of the container 12 except the area around the float valve 24 (not to obstruct the functioning of the float valve 24). The meshed structure of the dampening means can be made of a low resolution polyether foam or any other suitable material.
As shown in FIG. 2B, the container 12 can further comprise a plurality of ridges (raised strips) 31 arising inwardly from an inner surface of the container's walls 12a, 12b, 12c to further prevent waves impacting the walls and provide a barrier between the meshed structure of the dampening means 30 and the container's walls. In one implementation, a wave dampening means 30 comprise a plurality of blocks made for example of low resolution polyether foam, and distributed in the inner cavity 13 of the container. Such blocks are arranged in the inner cavity so that do not block the flow of the water into and out of the container 12 and/or limit the function of the system 10.
FIG. 3 illustrates a float valve 24 with a float 23 positioned in the container 12. When the container 12 is filled with water, such as for example, in a rain season or following a rain storm, the level of the rainwater collected in the container 12 can be as high as level A just under the overflow port 17a and overflow pipe 17. Any additional water that enters the container overflows through the pipe 17 into a drainage system or into another container. If some of the water in the container 12 is used, for example by using the toilet flush, the level of water inside the container 12 will go down allowing more rainwater to fill the gap below the overflow port 17a. In dry season or when there is not enough precipitation, the level of

6 Date Recue/Date Received 2020-05-07 CA_001MS
water in the container 12 can be low. If the level of the water in the container 12 is lower than a predetermined threshold level such as level E, the float 23 of the float valve 24 sinks down (e.g. from a position C to a position D). When the float 23 goes lower than the position C it triggers opening of the float valve 24 and the municipal water from the municipal water supply 25 starts filling the container 12. The double check valve 26 can be provided to prevent the water inside the container 12 being sucked into the municipal water supply 25.
The container 12 is filled with municipal water to the predetermined threshold (level E) at which point the float valve 24 will close. The volume of water inside the container 12 can stay at level E until the next rain storm fills up the container 12 above level E, e.g. to level A.
During a rainstorm, a rainwater from the roof 14 flows into the water collecting means, e.g. the gutter 2, and then through the piping 11 into the container 12 of the system 10. The rainwater can be stored in the container 12 for any length of time or can be used immediately. A filter 34 (see FIGS. 4A and 4B) can be installed in the gutter 2 at an inlet end of the pipe 11 to remove leaves, sticks and other debris from the rainwater.
For example the filter 34 can be made of a low resolution sponge foam which is resistant to heat, cold and ultra violet (UV) radiation. In one implementation the filter 34 can be a fine wire mesh.
After the rainwater is collected and stored in the container 12, the rainwater flows under gravity through the outlet port 18a and the distributing piping 18 into the flush tank 20.
A low pressure float valve 21 can be used to adjust the level of the water inside the tank 20.
FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the low pressure float valve 21 that has been customize to fill the tank 20 when the pressure of the water is low (no pump is used to pump the water from the container 12 through the distributing pipe 18 and into the tank 20). The low pressure float valve 21 comprises a housing 40 with an inner bore 44, a fluid inlet 42 and a fluid outlet 43.
The valve 21 further comprises a tube defining an inside channel 41. The inside channel has a first end 41a that is in communication with a fluid source, such as for example an output end of the distributing pipe 18. A second end 4 lb of the inside channel 41 is connected to the fluid inlet 42. A valve seat 45 is formed at the fluid inlet 42. For example, the valve seat 45 can be made of any resilient material, such as for example a rubber. A
supporting rod 46 extending longitudinally from a first end (not shown) to a second end (46b) is also provided.
A float 22 (FIG. 1) is connected to the first end of the supporting rod 46. A
plunger 47 is connected to the second end 46b of the rod 46. The plunger 47 is designed to engage the

-7-valve seat 45 closing the fluid inlet 42 when the valve is in closed position.
The valve 21 can further comprise an output fitting 48 connected to the fluid outlet 43 to convey the water to the toilet tank 20. The inside channel 41, the fluid inlet 42 and the fluid outlet 43 are designed to have a larger diameter so that more fluid at low pressure flows and fills the channel and flows through the inner bore 44 of the valve 21. When the tank 20 is full with water the plunger 47 sits tightly at the valve seat 45 and the valve 21 is closed. When the water level in the tank 20 drops down the float 22 goes down as well and the plunger 47 rises up from the valve seat 45 opening the valve 21. Once the water starts filling the tank 20 the float 22 starts raising consequently closing the valve 21 when the water level in the tank reaches to a predetermined level. Following each flush, the stored flushing water, moves through sewage piping and consequently the float 22 goes down and opens the float valve 21.
The water container 12 can rest on its largest side (horizontally) or its shorter side (vertically) depending on the available space in the attic. It can be position above the washroom or any other suitable place in the attic area. In one implementation a plurality of containers 12 can be arranged to increase the capacity of the stored rainwater. In one embodiment the one or more containers 12 can be fixed by using any suitable means to secure the container 12 at a precise fixed position.
FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the system 10 in which the container 12 is installed inside a wall of the building. In this case the chosen wall should be customized to hold the collection vessel accordingly.
The system 10 and water container 12 are protected from outside weather conditions because every component of the system 10 is within the dwelling where such system is installed, so any problems related to stored water being frozen can be avoided. The heat from within the house can keep the temperature of the water above the freezing point. In one implementation the container 12 can be made of a dark opaque material or its walls 12a, 12b, 12c can be painted very dark to prevent light penetrating the inner cavity 13 of the container 12. This can prevent water contamination with microorganisms growing in the stored water.
The system 10 for collecting, storing and distributing rainwater 10 can be configured to fit into the existing water distribution system in the house or building.
If for any reasons the system 10 is out of order and need to be shut down, a valve 70 (FIG. 7) can be closed thus shutting down the system 10 and the water stored in the system 10 through a valve 71

-8-and a piping 72 can be discharged into the drainage or the sewage system. In such case a valve 73 can be opened to connect the toilet tank 20 to the municipal water supply system to fill the flush tank 20 through a piping 74.
Embodiments of a rainwater harvesting system 10 are disclosed. Any of the embodiments of the rainwater harvesting system can be used in residence buildings or industry for use in toilet flush tanks or other application, for gardening, for irrigation. In some implementation, the system 10 can be provided with a purification system so that the purified water can be used for human consumption.
While particular elements, embodiments and applications of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it will be understood, that the scope of the disclosure is not limited thereto, since modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. Thus, for example, in any method or process disclosed herein, the acts or operations making up the method/process may be performed in any suitable sequence and are not necessarily limited to any particular disclosed sequence. Elements and components can be configured or arranged differently, combined, and/or eliminated in various embodiments. The various features and processes described above may be used independently of one another, or may be combined in various ways. All possible combinations and subcombinations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. Reference throughout this disclosure to "some embodiments," "an embodiment," or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, step, process, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in some embodiments," "in an embodiment," or the like, throughout this disclosure are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment and may refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments.
Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, additions, substitutions, equivalents, rearrangements, and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein.
Various aspects and advantages of the embodiments have been described where appropriate. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such aspects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, it should be recognized that the various embodiments may be carried out in a manner that achieves or

-9-CA_001MS
optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other aspects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, "can," "could,"
"might,"
"may," "e.g.," and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without operator input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment. No single feature or group of features is required for or indispensable to any particular embodiment. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and the like are synonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and do not exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations, and so forth. Also, the term "or" is used in its inclusive sense (and not in its exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a list of elements, the term "or" means one, some, or all of the elements in the list.
Conjunctive language such as the phrase "at least one of X, Y and Z," unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at least one of X, at least one of Y and at least one of Z to each be present.
The example calculations, simulations, results, graphs, values, and parameters of the embodiments described herein are intended to illustrate and not to limit the disclosed embodiments. Other embodiments can be configured and/or operated differently than the illustrative examples described herein. Indeed, the novel methods and apparatus described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein.

-10-

Claims (17)

Claims:

1. A system for harvesting rainwater, the system comprising:
- a water container for collecting and storing a water having a bottom wall, a top wall and a side wall defining an inner cavity of the container, the container having an inlet port formed at an upper portion of the container and an outlet port formed at a lower portion of the container, the inlet port being in fluid communication with a collecting means configured to collect and direct a rainwater to the water container through the inlet port, the outlet port being in fluid communication with a distributing means configured to distribute the water from the water container to a water outlet; and - a wave dampening means having a meshed structure with a plurality of interlinked bars defining holes therein between, wherein the meshed structure is placed in the inner cavity of the water container to at least partially fill the inner cavity of the container, the wave dampening means being configured to damp any waves generated into the water container.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of ridges arising inwardly from an inner surface of at least one of the side wall, the top wall and the bottom wall to reduce an impact force of any generated waves applied to the walls of the water container.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the meshed structure being sized and shaped to fill the inner cavity of the container while allowing unobstructed flow of the water into and out of the container.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wave dampening means comprises a plurality of blocks distributed in the inner cavity of the container, the plurality of blocks being arranged in the inner cavity to allow unobstructed flow of the water into and out of the container.

5. The system of claims 3 or 4, wherein the wave dampening means are made of a low resolution polyether foam.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the walls of the water container are dark and opaque to prevent microorganism growing in the water stored in the water container.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an opening formed in the top wall of the container and a lid covering such opening, the lid and the opening providing access to the inner cavity of the container.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising an overflow port formed at an upper portion of the container and an overflow piping connected to the overflow port, the overflow port being position below the input port.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising an additional input port in communication with a municipal water system to provide municipal water into the water container when a level in the water in the container is below a predetermined threshold.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising an emergency system with an additional output port, an emergency valve and an emergency piping in communication with said additional output port, the emergency system being configured to quickly empty the water container by opening the emergency valve.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the emergency piping being connected to a fire sprinkling system.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the collecting means further comprises a filter for filtering debris from the collected rainwater prior it reaches the water container.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the filter is a high resolution foam.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising a tray position under the water container, the tray being sized and designed to capture any water leaking from the water container.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the tray is connected to the distributing means for transferring the leaked water to the water outlets.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the tray is connected to a drainage system for discharging the leaked water out of the harvesting system.

17. The system of claim 1 further comprising an air vent formed at the top of the water container.