GB2242926A

GB2242926A - Water storage system

Info

Publication number: GB2242926A
Application number: GB9001811A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Kelly; Edward Kelly; Gerald Blaney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-01-26
Filing date: 1990-01-26
Publication date: 1991-10-16
Also published as: GB9001811D0

Abstract

A water storage system wherein guttering (13) of a building (10) is connected via filter means (16) to an inlet of a first low level, storage tank (17). A pump (20) is connected in an outlet pipe (19) leading from the first storage tank (17) to an inlet (24) of a second, high level storage tank (25) for providing a water supply to the building. The pump (20) may comprise an electrically driven pump connected to be actuated by a switch controlled by a water level sensing device (26) in the second storage tank, for example the switch being actuated by a ball valve actuating arm (26) in the second storage tank (25). <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO WATER STORAGE SYSTEMS The invention relates to water storage systems, more particularly, although not exclusively, for use in domestic dwellings to enable the use of rain water for reducing the use of the mains water supply.

With the increase in population and hence dwelling houses, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain adequate supplies of water in reservoirs to satisfy the demand for mains water. Furthermore, with the introduction of metering for each dwelling the cost of water supplied is increasing considerably.

It is an object of the invention to obviate or mitigate these above problems.

According to the invention there is provided a water storage system wherein guttering of a building is connected via filter means, to an inlet of a first low level, storage tank and a pump is connected in an outlet pipe leading from the first storage tank to an inlet of a second, high level storage tank for providing a water supply to the building.

The pump may comprise an electrically driven pump connected to be actuated by a switch controlled by a water level sensing device in the second storage tank, for example the switch being actuated by a ball valve actuating arm in the second storage tank.

The filter means may comprise one or more filters in cartridge form and may be arranged to be replaceably located in a downpipe connecting the guttering to the first storage tank.

Valve means may be located in the inlet to the second storage tank, such valve means having one inlet thereto connected to be fed from the pump, a second inlet thereto connected to be fed from a mains water supply and the outlet therefrom connected to the inlet to the second storage tank, a valve flow control means being arranged to alternatively close either the first or second valve inlets. The valve flow control means may be in the form of a ball or a flap.

The first storage tank may be located at ground level outside the building.

The foregoing and further features of the invention may be more readily understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings; in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of part of a building having a water storage system installed therein; Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of alternative valves, on enlarged scale, for use in the system of Fig. 1, and Figs. 4 and 5 are respective side sectional and perspective views on enlarged scale of a filter arrangement for use in the system of Fig. 1.

Referring now firstly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a vertical cross-sectional view of part of a building 10 with an exterior wall 11 and roof 12. Guttering 13 is located to receive rain water from roof 12 which passes through a mesh cage 14 into a down pipe 15. A filter 16 is located in the down pipe 15 which is connected as an inlet to a first water storage tank 17 located outside building 10.

The tank 17 has an overflow outlet 18 at or adjacent its top and has a lower outlet 19 connected via a pump 20 by a pipe 21 to one inlet of a valve 22. A further inlet of valve 22 is connected via a pipe 23 to a mains water supply and its outlet is connected via a pipe 24 to an inlet of a second water storage tank 25 via a ball valve 26.

In operation of the system rain water falling on roof 12 passes into guttering 13 and into the down pipe 15 with the mesh cage 14 preventing any large objects of debris, such as leaves, entering pipe 15. The water then passes through filter 16 to be collected in storage tank 17. When the level of water in storage tank 25 falls below a predetermined level the ball valve 26 opens and at the same time actuates an electrical switch (not shown) to energise pump 20.

Providing there is water contained in storage tank 17, this is pumped to valve 22 at a pressure sufficient to overcome the mains water pressure and hence causing a flow control member 27,-within valve 22, to close the valve inlet connected to pipe 23. Hence the tank 25 is topped up from tank 17, ball valve 26 closing and de-energising pump 20 when the water level in tank 25 reaches a required height.

Hence whilst there is available, water stored in tank 17 the mains water supply from pipe 23 is not utilised.

The tank 17 is preferably formed of a synthetic plastics material and may be approximately six feet high, two feet diameter of a generally beehive shape for use with a dwelling house. The pipe 21 is preferably of the type usually used beneath ground (U.P.V.C.) for protection against frost and having good flexibility. The pump 20 may be of a type normally utilised to circulate water around a central heating system and will be arranged to be inoperative when the tank 17 is empty.

Figs. 2 and 3 show alternative forms of valve 22, with the Fig. 2 arrangement utilising a ball as the flow control member 27 and the Fig. 3 arrangement utilising a hingedly mounted flap as control member 27.

The filter 16 may comprise a plurality of cartridge filters 28 (Fig. 4) which are located within a ribbed separable outer casing 29 (Fig. 5) for ease of cleaning and/or replacement. The filters 28 would each provide a different degree of filtering with the upper cartridges containing a coarser filtering medium than the lower ones.

Claims

1. A water storage system wherein guttering of a building is connected via filter means, to an inlet of a first low level, storage tank and a pump is connected in an outlet pipe leading from the first storage tank to an inlet of a second, high level storage tank for providing a water supply to the building.

2. A water storage system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pump comprises an electrically driven pump connected to be actuated by a switch controlled by a water level sensing device in the second storage tank.

3. A water storage system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the switch is actuated by a ball valve actuating arm in the second storage tank.

4. A water storage system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the filter means comprise one or more filters in cartridge form.

5. A water storage system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the filter means is/are replaceably located in a downpipe connecting the guttering to the first storage tank.

6. A water storage system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein valve means is located in the inlet to the second storage tank, such valve means having one inlet thereto connected to be fed from the pump, a second inlet thereto connected to be fed from a mains water supply and the outlet therefrom connected to the inlet to the second storage tank, a valve flow control means being arranged to alternatively close either the first or second valve inlets.

7. A water storage system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the valve flow control means is in the form of'a ball or a flap.

8. A water storage system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first storage tank is located at ground level outside the building.

9. A water storage system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.