GB2303801A

GB2303801A - Filter apparatus for a rainwater downpipe

Info

Publication number: GB2303801A
Application number: GB9515806A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Edward Fletcher
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-08-02
Filing date: 1995-08-02
Publication date: 1997-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 2015-08-02
Also published as: GB9515806D0; GB2303801B

Abstract

A filter apparatus 2 for connecting to a downpipe comprises a tubular body 4, a filter 6, an opening 8 and a removable cover 10. The filter may be removable. The opening may be tapered (24, fig 2) and the cover may have lugs 26, 28 and a lip 22 placing the inside of the cover flush with the inner wall of the body 4, so as to allow for a smoother flow of water inside the passage. The tubular body 4 may be of a rectangular, circular or any other cross-sectional shape depending upon the shape of the downpipe to which it is to be connected, with the cover 10 preferably having the same shape as a segment of a face of the body.

Description

FILTER APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING TO A RAINWATER DOWNPIPE This invention relates to filter apparatus for connecting to a rainwater downpipe.

Rainwater downpipes are provided on buildings to remove rainwater from the buildings when it rains.

The rainwater downpipes traditionally lead to soakaways in the ground. When it rains, the rainwater is fed to the rainwater downpipe by one or more gutters.

These gutters are usually open and leaves and dirt collect in them. The leaves and the dirt tend to get washed down the rainwater downpipe and they are thus conveyed to the soak-away. It often happens that the soak-away then becomes covered with a layer of leaves and dirt. With the passage of time, this layer of leaves and dirt tends to become impermeable to water, which leads to the soak-away being unable to fulfil its purpose. Localised flooding may occur when it rains.

In an attempt to reduce the above mentioned problem, filter apparatus is known for connecting to a rainwater downpipe. The known filter apparatus comprises a tubular body, a filter which is positioned in the body, and an opening in the wall of the body adjacent the filter. When the filter apparatus is clean, it works when to remove leaves and large debris from the rainwater passing down the rainwater downpipe. However, leaves tend to stick to the filter and subsequent water passing down the rainwater downpipe tends to hit the leaves and be reflected through the opening in the wall of the body adjacent the filter. Thus a large amount of water can be lost through the opening and localised flooding can again occur.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided filter apparatus for connecting to a rainwater downpipe, which filter apparatus comprises a tubular body, a filter which is positioned in the body, an opening in a wall of the body adjacent the filter, and a removable cover for the opening.

The cover serves two purposes. Firstly, the cover is able to be removed when it is desired to inspect the filter and/or clean the filter. Secondly, when the cover is in position on the body, it closes the opening in the wall of the body and thus stops loss of water through the opening in the event that the filter should become blocked, for example by leaves. In the event that the filter should be only partially blocked, the water can eventually run through the filter, instead of being simply deflected by the partial blockage on the filter.

The body may be of a square cross sectional shape for fitting to a rainwater downpipe of square cross sectional shape. Alternatively, the body may be of a circular cross sectional shape for fitting to a rainwater downpipe of circular cross sectional shape.

Generally, the body may be of any cross sectional shape for fitting to a rainwater downpipe of a similar cross sectional shape.

Preferably, the filter is a removable filter.

The removable filter may be easier to clean and easier to manufacture than a fixed filter. If desired however the filter may be fixed.

Where the filter is a removable filter, then the filter may rest on an internal bead formed on the inner surface of the body.

The filter will usually be of a shape appropriate to the cross sectional shape of the body. Thus, if the body is of square cross sectional shape, then a filter may be rectangular in plan. If the body is of a circular sectional shape, then the filter may be of an oval shape in plan.

Preferably, the cover is of the same shape as the wall of the body in which the cover fits. Thus, for example, the cover may be a curved cover when the body is of circular cross sectional shape, and the cover may be a flat cover when the body is of a square cross sectional shape.

The apparatus may be one in which the body is of square cross sectional shape, in which the cover is a flat cover, in which the opening tapers in a direction from an upstream end of the apparatus to a downstream end of the apparatus, in which the cover has at least one top lug and at least one bottom lug for clipping inside the body adjacent the opening, and in which the cover has a lip which increases in thickness in the direction of the taper and which lies on the outside of the body adjacent longitudinal sides of the opening.

The filter apparatus will usually be moulded from a plastics material. Any suitable and appropriate plastics material may be employed. The plastics material will usually be the same as the plastics material used for producing existing rainwater downpipes.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is side section through first filter apparatus for connecting to a rainwater downpipe; Figure 2 is a front section of the filter apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a filter used in the filter apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of a removable cover used in the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side view of the cover shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a side section through second filter apparatus for connecting to a rainwater downpipe; Figure 7 is a front section through the filter apparatus shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a plan view of a filter used in the filter apparatus shown in Figure 6; Figure 9 is a plan of a removable cover used in the filter apparatus shown in Figure 6; and Figure 10 is a top plan view of the cover shown in Figure 9.

Referring to Figures 1 - 5, there is shown filter apparatus 2 for connecting to a rainwater downpipe (not shown). The filter apparatus 2 comprises a tubular body 4 and a filter 6 which is positioned in the body 4. An opening 8 is provided in a wall of the body 4 adjacent the filter 6. A removable cover 10 covers the opening 8.

The body 4 is of square cross section for fitting to a rainwater downpipe of square cross section. The cover 10 is a flat cover which is a sealing fit in the opening 8.

The filter 6 is a removable filter. The filter 6 rests on an internal bead 12 formed on the inner surface of the body 4.

As can be seen from Figure 3, the filter 6 is of rectangular shape in plan. The filter 6 has a plurality of slots 14 through which the rainwater passes. Leaves and large debris are retained by bars 16 defining the slots 14.

As can be seen from Figure 5, the cover 10 is a flat cover.

Figure 2 shows how the opening 8 tapers in a direction from an upstream end 18 of the apparatus 2 to a downstream end 20 of the apparatus 2. Figure 4 shows how the cover 10 has a lip 22 which increases in thickness in the direction of the taper. This lip 22 lies on the outside of the body 4 adjacent the longitudinal side 24 of the opening 8.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate how the cover 10 is provided with a single top lug 26 which extends substantially across the entire top portion of the cover 10. The cover 10 has two small bottom lugs 28.

The top lug 26 and the two bottom lugs 28 clip inside the body and lie adjacent the opening 8.

As can be seen from Figures 4 and 5, the cover 10 has a horizontally disposed bar 30 which acts as a handle for inserting and removing the cover 10 in the opening 8.

The filter apparatus 2 shown in Figures 1 - 5 is advantageous in that the filter 6 is able to filter out leaves and large debris that pass through the body 4 and that would thus normally pass through a rainwater downpipe in which the filter apparatus 2 is fitted. If the filer 6 should become blocked, for example by a leaf, then the blockage will tend to deflect water towards the opening 8. This water will however not pass through the opening 8 since the cover 10 will be in position. Assuming that the filter 6 is not completely blocked, the water will thus be able to pass through the filter 6 to an intended soak-away or other predetermined place. Cleaning of the filter 6 is easily effected simply by removing the cover 10 to obtain access to the filter 6.The lugs 26, 28 together with the lip 22 and the tapering opening 8 ensure that the cover 10 seals in the opening 8, with the inside face of the cover 10 lying adjacent the inside wall of the body 4. This is advantageous in that water running down the body 4 tends to run to the outside of the body 4 and the cover 10 thus does not project into the body 4 and cause a restriction to the smooth flow of water through the body 4.

Referring now to Figures 6 - 10, there is shown second filter apparatus 2. Similar parts as in Figures 1 - 5 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding.

In Figures 6 - 10, the body 4 is of circular cross section. The filter 6 is oval in plan. The opening 8 does not taper and the cover 10 is curved.

As can best be seen from Figure 9, the cover 10 has two top lugs 26 and two bottom lugs 28.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected.

Thus, for example, the filter apparatus 2 shown in the drawings is preferably made from unplasticised polyvinyl chloride although other plastics materials may be employed if desired. The filter 6 shown in the drawings is a removable filter but it could be fixed filter. Other numbers and arrangements of lugs 26, 28 or other clipping arrangements may be employed for securing the cover 10 in position.

Claims

1. Filter apparatus for connecting to a rainwater downpipe, which filter apparatus comprises a tubular body, a filter which is positioned in the body, an opening in a wall of the body adjacent the filter, and a removable cover for the opening.

2. Filter apparatus according to claim 1 in which the body is of square cross sectional shape for fitting to a rainwater downpipe of square cross sectional shape.

3. Filter apparatus according to claim 1 in which the body is of a circular cross sectional shape for fitting to a rainwater downpipe of circular cross sectional shape.

4. Filter apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the filter is a removable filter.

5. Filter apparatus according to claim 4 in which the filter rests on an internal bead formed on the inner surface of the body.

6. Filter apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the cover is of the same shape as the wall of the body on which the cover fits.

7. Filter apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the body is of square cross sectional shape, in which the cover is a flat cover, in which the opening tapers in a direction from an upstream end of the apparatus to a downstream end of the apparatus, in which the cover has at least one top lug and at least one bottom lug for clipping inside the body adjacent the opening, and in which the cover has a lip which increases in thickness in the direction of the taper and which lies on the outside of the body adjacent longitudinal sides of the opening.

8. Filter apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and which is moulded from a plastics material.

9. Filter apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.