GB2334746A - Rainwater saver - Google Patents

Abstract

A rainwater saving device fitted into the drainage system either in place of a gutter running outlet or drainpipe rainwater head. Rainwater is automatically passed through a filter (18) into a pipe (16) to a storage vessel. The pipe is not obtrusive and if necessary can be hidden from view behind the fascia board while the storage vessel can be placed anywhere so long as it is below the device. Excess rainwater passes via an overflow (20) into the drainpipe (14) to the conventional drain. In so doing it removes any floating debris such as leaves and helps to clean the filter and gutter.

Description

RAINWATER SAVER This invention relates to a device inserted into the rainwater collection system on buildings to draw off and save rainwater for later use such as for irrigation, gardening and other non-potable domestic applications.

Rainwater is usually collected from the roofs of buildings through a system of gutters and pipes with the sole intent of disposing of it away from the building through drains or soakaways. If it is required to save water it can bedirected to a tank or barrel for collection and later use. In such cases it is usually necessary to either place the tank directly adjacent to the drain which may be inconvenient or obtrusive or pipe the water from a device fitted into the downpipe. Spillage through overfilling may be unacceptable. If the storage vessel is placed distant from the collec tion point for reasons of convenience of use or appearance then the connecting pipes may be objectionably obtrusive as with existing devices they cannot be readily hidden from view.

According to the present invention there is provided a water saving device which collects water directly from the roof guttering before it enters the main downpipe. The external appearance of the device can be the same as that of standard rainwater goods. It can be fitted to the fascia board which supports the guttering, either incorporated into the gutter as a gutter running outlet or placed immediately below as a drainpipe rainwater head, depending on design and need. A collection pipe can then be run from the device to the storage vessel placed where required and can preferably be hidden from view behind the fascia board thereby eliminating problems of appearance and inconvenience of storage position and operation. Incorporated in the device is filtration to prevent debris entering the storage vessel and means of removing that debris through overflow into the normal drainage system.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows in elevation the device assembled in a conventional rainwater collection system.

Figure 2 shows in section and elevation the construction of the device used directly with gutters.

Figure 3 shows an alternative option for use with outflow pipes.

Referring to the drawing the water saving device comprises a casing 10 shaped at points of connection with other rainwater goods to give conventional connection to gutters at 12 and downpipes at 14. A pipe 16 is fitted into the base of the casing to take water to the storage vessel. The pipe extends up through the casing. It is either perforated to provide a filter 18 with a significant surface area or such a filter is fitted to the inlet of the pipe as a removable element within the casing to ensure that leaves and other rubbish do not enter the storage vessel. The downpipe element extends up into the casing to a level 20 such that it acts as an overflow for water which cannot pass to the water collection vessel either because the vessel is full or the volume flow exceeds the capacity of the pipe to that vessel to cope. In either case flow into the down pipe carries any floating debris such as leaves into the discharge system and assists in self cleansing the filter 18 through flow of water past but not through it.

Water entering the collection pipe 16 can be routed through any suitable pipe 22 to the storage vessel. This will preferably be a sealed unit so that when full any additional water will be diverted back to the downpipe and into the drainage system thus operating the self cleaning function of the system. If for improved appearance the pipe 22 should be out of view it can be routed behind the fascia board 24.

Claims (7)

1. CLAIMS 1. A device for collecting and storing rainwater runoff from roofs of buildings comprising a collection unit fitted into the top of the downpipe of existing drainage systems whether gutter or outflow pipe fed and incorporating a feed pipe channelling collected water to containers and an overflow to divert excess water into the drainpipe to the conventional drain.
2. 2. A device according to claim 1 which incorporates standard shapes, seals and fittings to enable it to fit into a gutter and drainage system in direct replacement for any standard gutter running outlet.
3. 3. A device according to claim 1 which incorporates standard shapes, seals and fittings to enable it to fit into a drainage system in direct replacement for any standard drainpipe rainwater head.
4. 4. A device according to any of the preceding claims in which the outlet to the feed pipe incorporates a filter.
5. 5. A device according to any of the preceding claims in which the outlet to the feedpipe is positioned to allow the feedpipe to be passed through the fascia board and thereby unobtrusively fastened behind it to remotely positioned containers.
6. 6, A device according to any of the preceding claims characterised by the use of sealed containers such that all excess water passes via the overflow into the drainpipe to the conventional drain.
7. 7. A rainwater collection device substantially as herein described and illustrated in accompanying drawings.