GB2249338A

GB2249338A - Rainwater diverter for installation in drainpipe

Info

Publication number: GB2249338A
Application number: GB9116903A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Eric Yates
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-08-06
Filing date: 1991-08-06
Publication date: 1992-05-06
Also published as: GB9116903D0

Abstract

A device suitable for use as a rainwater diverter by insertion into a drainpipe comprises a pipelength suitable for replacing or forming a section of a drainpipe and having an internal pipe which creates a reservoir within the device but without completely blocking the drainpipe, and means for the release of water from said reservoir to a point external of the drainpipe. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements Relating to Water Use and Distribution The invention of this patent specification relates to the area of drainage of water. Specifically, but not exclusively, the invention relates to that water which when drained passes through a piping system. The object of the invention provides a system wherein the water, rather than enter the main drainage system, can be distributed to those areas and collection points where it may be used.

At present water which may fall on the roofs of buildings in the form of rain or snow, is collected in guttering which runs along the edge of the said roofs. From the guttering the said drainage water is drained into the main drainage infrastructure below ground via a vertical pipe connecting the guttering to the ground.

This therefore means that this water which is collected from the roof catchment area is lost with no use being made of said water. In todays environment wherein water shortages during the summer months are a common occurence it is becoming increasingly desirable to efficiently use any water which may become available. One area of currently inefficient use of said water is that described above wherein rainwater which falls on a roof is merely drained away without any opportunity to harness the water for use prior to it being lost to the drainage system. This represents a wastage of water which is unnecessary and extremely undesirable in respect of the current water supply problems experienced.

One particular problem which is experienced in the summer months in this country is a hosepipe ban which prevents the watering of plants which are in particular need of water at this time. The ability offered by the current invention to distribute the water to the desired location for use, on, for example, the garden represents a considerable benefit to the user and the environment in general.

While the invention is described as being used on a building drainage system it will be possible to use the device of the invention on any system wherein there is provided a pipe along which the drainage water flows. The invention therefore offers the possiblity of distributing water to areas where its use is required, water which in present circumstances would be drained away with no use being made of the said water.

The aim of the invention therefore is to provide a device whereby water passing along a pipe may be diverted from the said pipe to areas which may require the said water to be used. The invention therefore aims to achieve an efficient use of water which in present circumstances is simply drained away, this efficient use helping to maximise the use made of this limited resource.

The present invention provides a distribution device fitted as an integral part of a pipe wherein at least part of the water passing through said pipe may be held in a reservoir formed within the device, said device providing means for the release of water from said reservoir to points external to the pipe.

The present invention provides a water conservation device in or for a drain pipe which, when in the drain pipe enables, without blocking the drain pipe, diversion of water from the drain pipe to a location other than the drain for use or for storage for subsequent use.

Preferably said device shall be fitted as an integral section of conventional pipework with regular fittings.

Preferably the device shall be fitted to pipework in a vertical position such that the said reservoir therein shall have the open end facing direction of water flow.

Preferably said reservoir shall be formed between the outer pipe of the device and an inner pipe fitted therein said reservoir sealed at one end.

The inner pipe shall act as an overflow to allow water to overflow from the reservoir and enter the conventional water flow.

On the outer pipe of the device there shall be provided at least one outlet.

Preferably said outlet shall be in the form of a nozzle to which it shall be capable to fit piping of solid or flexible form.

Preferably the piping shall be connected to the outlets by easily releasable fittings.

The piping connected to the device shall be capable of supplying water from the reservoir to various areas where water is required.

In one embodiment the device shall be fitted to a buiding roof drainage system and shall provide for the distribution of water draining from the roof.

Preferably the device shall be fitted to existing drainage pipework at a height of 125cm from ground level.

One particular embodiment of the invention shall now be described and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein = Figure 1 illustrates a typical installation and use of the device of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a cross sectional elevation of the device; and Figure 3 illustrates a part sectional plan on A-A of the device as shown in Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings and firstly with reference to Figure 1 there is shown the device 2 of the invention fitted to a typical building drainage system 4. The device 2 incorporates a number of outlets 6 to which are connected a number of distribution pipes 8. The typical building drainage system 4 comprises an interconnected number of gutter lengths 10 leading to the main vertical drain 12 to which there is fitted as an integral part the distribution device 2.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3 there is shown in greater detail the components which are required to form the distribution device 2. The outer wall 14 of the distribution device is formed of a pipe 16 which is typically of similar dimension to the pipework to which the device 2 is to be fitted. Located within the pipe section 16 there is mounted a second pipe 18 of smaller diameter. The annular area 20 formed between the walls of the two pipes is sealed at one end 22 this in effect forming a reservoir area 24. The inner area of the second pipe 18 is open and allows water to pass therethrough typically in the direction 26 indicated.

In outer pipe 16 there is formed an outlet 28 through which water from the reservoir area 24 may pass. The outlet 28 is in the form of a typical pipe connector 30 which will be sealed 32 to prevent water leakage therethrough. To this outlet and a plurality of the same the distribution pipes 8 can be connected. When the outlet is not desired to be used there shall be provided outlet stoppers (not shown) which may be provided to prevent unwanted leakage from the reservoir area through the outlets.

The operation of the device of the illustration commences with the collection in the gutters 10 of water which has fallen on the roof area due to the falling of rain or snow.

As this water drains from the roof so it enters the gutters and hence passes down the vertical drainage pipe 12. When the water reaches the distribution device 2 in the pipe 12 so the water proceeds to pass therethrough until at the end of the device the seals 22 prevent the water from passing further and hence the reservoir area 24 begins to fill. As the reservoir area 24 fills so the outlets 28 may be opened and water from the reservoir can be distributed to those parts of the garden or building which require the water via the distribution pipes 8. If the amount of water passing through the device becomes so great that the reservoir area overflows then surplus water can continue through the drainage system through the second pipe 18 which acts as an overflow.

In an alternative embodiment the reservoir area 24 may be increased in accordance with the amount of water required to be held in storage and the amount of water required to be distributed.

It is envisaged that the distribution device will be particularly effective in domestic gardens however there are other possible uses which include the use of the device 2 on a larger scale in industrial environments.

The device is extremely flexible in the number of uses to which it may be put and with an absence of moving parts is particularly well suited to being used with water. The device is envisaged as being adapted to fit any size of drainage network piping using existing standard pipe sizes and adaptors.

Claims

1. A water conservation device which is provided in or for a drain pipe wherein when the said device is in the drainpipe, the device enables, without blocking the drainpipe, diversion of water from the drain pipe to a location other than the drain for use or for storage for subsequent use, said device comprising a pipe length replacing or forming a section of the drainpipe and having an internal pipe which provides the means preventing blocking of the drainpipe.

2. A water conservation device as in claim 1 wherein said device is fitted as an integral section of conventional pipe work.

3. A water conservation device as in claim 1 wherein said device is fixable to a drain pipe by means of conventional and recognised fitting means.

4. A water conservation device as in any of the preceding claims wherein the device will be fitted into the drain pipe in a vertical position.

5. A water conservation device as in any preceding claim wherein said device acts as a distribution means such that at least part of the water flowing through the drainpipe is held in a reservoir formed within the device, said device providing means for the release of water from said reservoir to points external of the drainpipe.

6. A water conservation device as in claim 5 wherein said reservoir is formed between an outer pipe of the device and an inner pipe fitted therein, said reservoir being sealed at the bottom end thereof.

7. A water conservation device as in claim 6 wherein said inner pipe cavity shall act as an overflow to the reservoir and allow excess water to enter the drainpipe flow.

8. A water conservation device wherein there is provided at least one outlet from the reservoir to allow diversion of water therefrom to be used or stored remote from the drainpipe.

9. A water conservation device as in claim.8 wherein said outlet is in the form of a nozzle to which may be fitted further piping to allow water to be led therefrom.

10. A water conservation device as in any preceding claim wherein said device is fitted to a roof drainage system and shall provide for the distribution of water draining from said roof.

11. A water conservation device as in any preceding claim wherein said device is fitted at a height of 125cm from ground level.

12. A water conservation device as herein described in the accompanying specification and drawings.