GB1600401A - Lining leaky open drainage channels - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO LINING LEAKY, OPEN DRAINAGE CHANNELS (71) We, SOMA PROTECTIVE COATINGS LIMITED, a British company, of 14 Coppice Mead, Stotfold, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 4JX, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to lining leaky, open drainage channels and especially, but not exclusively, to gutters.

Known gutter systems comprise lengths of guttering joined end-to-end by suitable connecting means generally incorporating or associated with waterproof seals to provide waterproof joints between adjacent lengths of guttering. However, these joints are susceptible to leakage due to, in the case of metallic guttering particularly, corrosion and/or the different coefficients of thermal expansion between the guttering lengths and the connecting means, bolt holes and bolts, and/or the seals. In the case of large gutter systems, such as those used on large buildings, for example the valley-type gutter systems of factory roofs, such leakages cause obvious problems and are very expensive to eliminate, even temporarily. Also, any repair of the joints is not particularly permanent.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the problems and disadvantages associated with known drainage system repair by providing a method of lining a leaky, open drainage channel comprising: a) forming a flexible, waterproof sheet material into the dimensions of at least the inner surfaces of a leaky, open drainage channel to be lined to provide an inner, waterproof liner; b) fitting and shaping the liner into the channel; and c) securing the fitted and shaped liner to the channel.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waterproof lining, when used in performing a method, as defined above, the lining comprising a flexible, waterproof sheet material formed into the dimensions of at least the inner surface of a leaky, open drainage channel to be lined and arranged to be secured in the channel to provide an inner waterproof lining therein.

Preferably the liner is formed from a continuous length of flexible, waterproof sheet material.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a valley-type gutter system employed on a factory roof 1. The original guttering 2 has secured thereto an inner, flexible, waterproof liner 3 made from a continuous length of waterproof sheet material, such as a rubber material sold under the trade name of "HYPALON" or a polyvinyl chloridecoated nylon material sold under the trade name of "SOMASEAL".

The liner 3 may be secured in the original guttering 2 by means of a suitable adhesive or by means of clamps 4 which are located at spaced intervals along the top edge of the guttering with the liner preferably overlapping this edge.

In Figure 2 there is shown a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1, with the roof 1 removed for reasons of clarity, which illustrates the down pipes 5 located along the length of the guttering 2. The liner 3 is provided with short lengths of sleeve 6 made from the material of the liner and extending down into the pipes 5. The sleeves 6 are suitably secured, for example, by adhesive or thermal bonding, to the edges of holes cut in the liner base so that they register with respective pipes 5 when fitted to the guttering 2. The blank end walls of the guttering 2 are also provided with the liner 3.

An important advantage of the present invention is that, with large valley-type factory roofs, the liner 3 can be fitted and shaped inside the existing guttering whilst residual water is present in the guttering, whereas, at present, the guttering must be dried-out before known methods of repair can be employed.

Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides both a method and a waterproof liner which is inexpensive, substantially permanent, simple to apply and highly effective in operation, thereby reducing the need to repair each leak as it occurs in an open drainage channel.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A method of lining a leaky, open drainage channel comprising: a) forming a flexible, waterproof sheet material into the dimensions of at least the inner surface of the channel to provide an inner, waterproof liner; b) fitting and shaping the liner into the channel; and c) securing the fitted and shaped liner to the channel.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liner is secured to the channel by adhesive and/or clamping means.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein free edges of the fitted and shaped liner are clamped to or adjacent a top edge of the channel by said clamping means.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said clamping means comprises U-shaped clamps spaced at intervals along the top edge of the channel.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the free edges of the liner overlap the top edge of the channel.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the liner is provided with lengths of sleeve which communicate with correspondingly-shaped holes in the liner, are secured to the liner at or adjacent the holes and extend into down pipes of the channel when the liner is fitted therein.

7. A method of lining a leaky gutter system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

8. A waterproof liner, when used in performing a method of lining a leaky, open drainage channel, as defined in claim 1, the liner comprising a flexible, waterproof sheet material formed into the dimensions of at least the inner surface of a leaky, open drainage channel to be lined and arranged to be secured in the channel to provide an inner, waterproof liner therein.

9. A waterproof liner as claimed in claim 8, when secured in the channel by means of adhesive and/or clamping means.

10. A waterproof liner as claimed in claim 9, wherein free edges of the liner are clamped to or adjacent an edge of the channel by said clamping means.

11. A waterproof liner as claimed in claim 9 or 10 including U-shaped clamps constituting said clamping means.

12. A waterproof liner as claimed in any of claims 8 to 11 including lengths of sleeve which communicate with respective, corresponding-shaped holes in the liner, which are secured to the liner at or adjacent the holes and which are arranged to extend into down pipes of the channel, in use of the liner.

13. A waterproof liner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A leaky gutter system when lined with a waterproof liner as claimed in any of claims 8 to 13.

15. An open drainage channel incorporating a waterproof liner as claimed in any of claims 8 to 14.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (15)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. they register with respective pipes 5 when fitted to the guttering 2. The blank end walls of the guttering 2 are also provided with the liner 3. An important advantage of the present invention is that, with large valley-type factory roofs, the liner 3 can be fitted and shaped inside the existing guttering whilst residual water is present in the guttering, whereas, at present, the guttering must be dried-out before known methods of repair can be employed. Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides both a method and a waterproof liner which is inexpensive, substantially permanent, simple to apply and highly effective in operation, thereby reducing the need to repair each leak as it occurs in an open drainage channel. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A method of lining a leaky, open drainage channel comprising: a) forming a flexible, waterproof sheet material into the dimensions of at least the inner surface of the channel to provide an inner, waterproof liner; b) fitting and shaping the liner into the channel; and c) securing the fitted and shaped liner to the channel.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the liner is secured to the channel by adhesive and/or clamping means.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein free edges of the fitted and shaped liner are clamped to or adjacent a top edge of the channel by said clamping means.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said clamping means comprises U-shaped clamps spaced at intervals along the top edge of the channel.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the free edges of the liner overlap the top edge of the channel.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the liner is provided with lengths of sleeve which communicate with correspondingly-shaped holes in the liner, are secured to the liner at or adjacent the holes and extend into down pipes of the channel when the liner is fitted therein.

7. A method of lining a leaky gutter system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

8. A waterproof liner, when used in performing a method of lining a leaky, open drainage channel, as defined in claim 1, the liner comprising a flexible, waterproof sheet material formed into the dimensions of at least the inner surface of a leaky, open drainage channel to be lined and arranged to be secured in the channel to provide an inner, waterproof liner therein.

9. A waterproof liner as claimed in claim 8, when secured in the channel by means of adhesive and/or clamping means.

10. A waterproof liner as claimed in claim 9, wherein free edges of the liner are clamped to or adjacent an edge of the channel by said clamping means.

11. A waterproof liner as claimed in claim 9 or 10 including U-shaped clamps constituting said clamping means.

12. A waterproof liner as claimed in any of claims 8 to 11 including lengths of sleeve which communicate with respective, corresponding-shaped holes in the liner, which are secured to the liner at or adjacent the holes and which are arranged to extend into down pipes of the channel, in use of the liner.

13. A waterproof liner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A leaky gutter system when lined with a waterproof liner as claimed in any of claims 8 to 13.

15. An open drainage channel incorporating a waterproof liner as claimed in any of claims 8 to 14.