GB2280702A

GB2280702A - Hose watering system

Info

Publication number: GB2280702A
Application number: GB9315572A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Damian Shaw
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-07-28
Filing date: 1993-07-28
Publication date: 1995-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 2013-07-28
Also published as: GB2280702B; GB9315572D0

Abstract

This is a watering system which is able to gain its own supply of rainwater from a roof top source and collect it in a water butt (10). Once collected, a lid (11) with an air pump (16) is placed on to it and is sealed air tight by the use of four clips (12) which are around the top side of the water butt (10). The unit is sealed by a rubber seal (15) which is situated on the underside of the lid (11). The hose (21) with its spray gun (20) is attached to the water butt's tap (14) by a sealing screw on attachment (17) which is on the end of the hose pipe (21). The tap (14) is opened allowing water into the hose (21). The hose gun (20) has a valve which stops the water escaping and is only opened by squeezing the trigger (18). As the unit is now sealed air tight, the air pump is pumped creating pressure inside the water butt (10). A spring valve (13) is situated on the side of the bull which monitors the amount of pressure inside the bull showing a danger red line if too much is created thus releasing it. The spring valve (13) is also needed to release any excess pressure after using the apparatus so the lid can be removed. Once the pressure is built up and the trigger (18) on the hose gun (20) is squeezed the water is forced out in a spray. The fineness or hardness of the spray can be altered by turning the nozzle end (19). <IMAGE>

Description

HOSE WATERING SYSTEM This invention relates to a hose which is free standing and works on pressure built up inside a heavy duty plastic water storage butt, which collects water from a roof top source.

When watering your garden, patio containers, hanging baskets and especially your greenhouse it will cost you money (i.e. all new properties are fitted with a water meter which registers and charges per unit for all mains water used.). With this system rain water can be collected easily and re-used directly, when and where it is needed at no heavy labour or continual cost.

With this invention, a heavy duty plastic water butt is positioned to collect rainwater from the rooftops of your house, greenhouse or outbuilding. The water flows down the downspout of the guttering, through a fine water (in order to prevent unwanted deposits inside the butt, which may block the apparatus), and collects in the water butt below. Water is collected during all times of rainfall and is then stored for when there is a prolonged shortage.

By using the special adaptable lid designed for the butt, with its ar pump, necessary pressilie can be built up inside the butt. A length of hose with a watering gun is fitted to the bottom of the butt's adapted tap. By opening the valve on the gun the pressure is released inside the butt and as a result the water is forced out in a spray. This enables you to water your plants or greenhouse seedlings, just as you would with a conventional hosepipe. A spring air valve is fitted onto the side of the butt to control the pressure built up inside. If too much is generated the valve will be forced to rise, so releasing the extra pressure. This is also needed to release the pressure when you have finished to enable you to remove the lid and air pump.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, fith reference to the accompanying drawings in which: fig. 1 shows in perspective the water butt positioned to collect rainwater fig. 2 illustrates the lid with its rubber seal on the under side and the air pump which goes down through the lid into the water butt.

fig. 3 shows the air pump and the lid from a side angle, illustrating more clearly the air pump and its depth.

fig. 4 shows the hose connector which screws onto the butt tap, with the length of hose, and hose gun, with its adjustable nozzle for fine or stronger jet spraying. The trigger on the hose gun operates the valve which, when squeezed, releases the pressure, causing the water to be sprayed out of the gun's nozzle.

Referring to the drawings: This shows the water butt (10). Once enough water has been collected the lid, as shown in fig. 2, can be sealed onto the butt, using the rubber seal (15), fitting to the top of the butt (11), and being held firmly down by four clips (12). The butt must not be full to the top with water, as an air gap at the top is needed to create the required pressure. The hose end (17), as shown in fig. 4 is then screwed onto the fitment tap (14) which is at the bottom of the butt. Again the tap (14) has a rubber seal between it and the water butt to act as an air seal. At the end of the hose (21) there is a hose gun (20) which has an adustable nozzle end for fine or stronger spray, which is operated by the water gun's trigger (18) which, when squeezed, opens and closes a valve controlling the pressure and therefore the water spray.

Once all the attachments are placed on the butt (10) and the whole unit is sealed by the rubber seals of the various attachments the pump (16) as shown in fig. 3 is pumped up and down to force air into the water butt creating high pressure inside.

A spring operated air valve (13) is fitted to the side of the butt (10) to show the amount of pressure building up inside. As pressure is created the air valve (13) is forced to rise upwards showing a red line if too much pressure is created.

This has a safety feature fitted to it which allows the air out if too much pressure is created. The air valve (13) also has a rubber seal connecting it to the side of the butt (10) to ensure an airtight connection.

When the pressure has been built up by using the pump (16), the valve (13) shows this by rising up to a safe level as the pressure is created. The trigger (18) is squeezed, opening the trigger gun's valve, causing the water to be forced out of the butt (10), down the hose (21) and out through the nozzle end (19). By adjusting the nozzle end (19) a softer or harder spray can be obtained, enabling you to water your plants, seeedlings etc. freely and effortlessly. When the pressure eventually starts to subside, more can be created in the same way to enable you to continue watering.

Claims

1. Water butts can be placed around your home and garden, enabling you to water

all areas by simply attaching the equipment, thus saving water meter costs.

2. Large lengths of garden hosepipe are no longer needed to reach your greenhouse as water can be collected from its roof and sprayed directly inside.

3. This method can be used even in times of a hose pipe ban.

4. By using this system-the greenhouse can be placed anywhore and siting is not dictated by the need for a nearby water source.

5. Energy saving 6. New method of water recycling.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A hose watering system where water is collected via a diverted filtered downpipe into a water butt. The water butt is mobile and can be placed anywhere to collect rainwater for its re-use in the near vicinity.

2. The system recycles and redistributes the collected water by use of a hand operated air pump which is fixed and runs through the removable lid of the water butt. The lid can be fixed in an airtight manner to the top of the water butt. The water butt can now be pressurized as it is an airtight unit. Tie water is redistributed by the use of a garden hose which is fixed to a tap at the base of the butt. The hose has a trigger gun fitted to the end of it, this has a valve inside which opens as the trigger of the gun is squeezed. This opens the valve releasing the pressure built up inside the airtight water butt forcing water out. The butt has a spring operated safety air valve which is released if too much pressure is created allowing any excess to escape safely.

3. A component of the system of claim 2, is a removable lid which fixes to the butt in a manner so as to create an airtight unit so the water butt with its fixed lid can be pressurized.

4. A component of the system of claim 2 and 3 is a hand operated air pump which runs through the removable airtight lid in claim 3. This air pump is hand operated and when pumped creates the air pressurized inside the sealed unit as described in claim 2 and 3.

5. A component of the system of claim 2 is a tap positioned at the base of the water butt which can be opened and closed to release the flow of water from the water butt.

6. A component oZ the system of claim 2 is a hose connection which fits to the tap in claim 5.

7. A component of the system of claim 2 is a valve operating trigger gun which is connected to the end of the hose in claim 6.

8. A component of the system in claim2 and 7 is a valve which is placed in the trigger gun so as the trigger is squeezed the valve opens releasing pressure from the waterbutt and as in claim 2 creating the water to be forced out.

9. A component of the system of claim 2 is a spring operating safety valve fixed to the outside of the top of the waterbutt as in claim 2. This is forced to rise if too much pressure is created inside the airtight unit1 so releasing any excess air pressure which may have been created by the air pump as in claim 4.

The spring valve can also be hand operated to release the pressure so the lid can be removed when its use is finished with. The butt can then be put back into its collecting mode.

10. A hose watering system as described previously and with reference to figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawings.