GB2448543A

GB2448543A - Combined rainwater diverter and filter for incorporation into a downpipe

Info

Publication number: GB2448543A
Application number: GB0707657A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Dudley Bacon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-04-20
Filing date: 2007-04-20
Publication date: 2008-10-22
Also published as: GB0707657D0

Abstract

A water diverter (11) for use with a downpipe, has a body (13) connectable at each end to the drain pipe and an intermediate outlet port (22) through which water may be diverted. An annular flange (15) is located downstream of the outlet port (22) to partially block the passage such that water collecting on the flange (15) is diverted through the outlet port (22), and a filter (14) on the flange (15) projects upstream and has a non porous portion (16) adjacent the flange such that water above the non-porous portion (16) passes through the filter.

Description

A combined Diverter and Filter for a Drain Pipe

Field

This invention relates to a combined diverter and water filter particularly for use in the down pipes or drain pipes for rain water gutters.

Background of the Invention

Rain water gutters as used just below the eaves of roofing frequently fill with leaves, silt, moss and other debris which is collected on a roof and then washed into the guttering by the rain water. The silt and leaves may then be washed into the down pipe where the lower portions of the pipe may bebme blocked. This is a particularly bad problem where the down pipe extends directly into an under soil soak-away and any blockage may only be detectd when the pipe is full and water flows out through higher Joints in the pipe, which may cause problems with damp and brickwork.' A known partial solution to the problem is to cover the upper mouth the down pipe, where it links with the gutter, with mesh so as to prevent leaves from entering the down pipe. This does not prevent silt from entering the down pipe to prevent accumulations of silt from building up within the pipe, and requires that maintenance to remove trapped leaves is effected at the guttering which is not always convenient, and may not 2.

always take place when the pipe is blocked, since it is not generally easily observable.

A filter for location within a drain pipe is shown in GB-A- 2368 029 which discloses a guttering down pipe filter comprising a hollow body for connecting into the drain pipe with an internal water filter through which all the water must pass.

Water diverters, for diverting rain water from a drainpipe to a collection container e.g. a water butt, are also known, see for example GB-A-2249 338. The diverter is connectable to the drainpipe and comprises a central cylindrical portion for the through passage of water and outer collection weir from which water can be removed to the collection device.

The present invention comprises a combined diverter and water filter.

Statements of Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a water diverter having a body connectable at each end to a drain pipe, the body having a through passage with an intermediate outlet port through which water may be diverted, an annular flange is located downstream of the outlet port to partially block the passage such that water collecting on the flange is diverted through the outlet port, a filter located on the flange projects upstream and having a non-porous portion adjacent said flange, such that water at a level above the non-porous portion may pass through the filter.

The flange may be provided on the filter and may rest on internal projection(s) on the body.

1.0 The filter may be provided with a second flange located upstream of the outlet port, said flange having apertures or passages therein so that the diverted water is also filtered.

Either or both of the flanges may be formed integrally with the filter as a single plastics moulding.

The filter is preferably a hollow cylindrical body havirg a conical cap at its upstream end to divert water outwards, and a cylindrical sidewall having a plurality of apertures therein.

The body is preferably a cylindrical body comprising upper and lower telescopically inter-engaging body portions, each having one of said couplings formed at its free end. Said couplings in use comprise upper and lower cylindrical couplings which telescopically engage with oppositely extending portions of the down pipe, the lower coupling engaging within the down pipe and including an outer concentric cylindrical skirt which surrounds the adjacent portion of down pipe. This helps mask the otherwise exposed end of the pipe. The outlet port and a hollow spigot are formed bottom body portion. The upper coupling slides over the external surface of the respective portion of down pipe. At least a portion of said body, preferably the lower body portion, may be formed from a transparent material allowing the filter to viewed from outside the assembly. Suitable transparent plastics materials include PET (polyethyleneteraphthallate), polycarbonate, PVC, etc.

Description of the Drawings.

The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.1 is a schematic isometric sectional viewof a filter/diverter assembly according to a first aspect of the present invention, Fig.2 is longitudinal section through a second diverter /filter assembly also according to the present invention, and Fig.3 is side elevation of the filter shown in Fig. 2.

Detailed Description of the Invention

With reference to Fig. 1, there is shown a filter/diverter assembly 11 for use with guttering down pipe or drain pipe of the type used with rain water guttering commonly fitted under the eaves of rooves.

The assembly 11 has a hollow cylindrical body 13 comprising two telescopic parts, an upper cylindrical part 16 which is sealingly slidable within a lower cylindrical part 17.

The upper part 16 has a coupling 18 formed at its upper end which in use sealingly slides over the outer surface of a respective portion of a down pipe.

The lower part 17 has a smaller diameter coupling 21 formed at its lower end which in use slides within a portion of respective down pipe. An internal shoulder 24 is formed within the lower portion between the smaller diameter coupling 21' and the cylindrical lower part 17. An outlet port 22 is provided in the sidewall of the lower part 17 adjacent the shoulder 24 and upstream thereof to allow water to diverted from the assembly 11 to for example a storage container. A hollow spigot 23 is fixed to the outlet port 22 to direct the flow of water away from the assembly 11.

A filter assembly 14 has a base flange 15 which sits on the shoulder 24 within the body 13. The filter 14 is substantially conical with its apex pointing upwards in use and is a coarse filter having apertures 27 therein for the passage of water.

The filter 14 is only suitable for stopping leaves, twigs etc.. The lower portion 16 of the filter 14 adjacent the flange 15 is impervious so that with the annular flange 15 blocking a portion of the flow passage through the assembly, any water collecting on the flange 15 is diverted through the spigot 23.

Any leaves and/or debris collect in the space 26 formed between the filter 14 and the cylindrical sidewalls of the body 13. Since the porous portion of the filter 14 is raised above the flange 15 water wij.i not pass through the assembly until the level of the water exceeds the height of the impervious portion 16. Silt may collect on the flange 15 or may pass through with the diverted water.

The filter 14 and flange 15 base may be formed as a single moulding, or may be assembled from individual parts.

The lower body portion 17 is preferably moulded from a transparent thermoplastic material allowing the state of the filter to be observed from outside of the filter assembly without removal of the assembly from the down pipe. This should prevent un-necessary maintenance and warn of impending blockages With reference now to Figs. 2 & 3, there is shown a second embodiment of the Invention which is substantially similar to the first embodiment so that similar components will be assigned the same reference numbers.

The coupling 21 also includes a radially spaced concentric outer skirt 32 which in use masks an end portion of down pipe 12. An annular seal 33 ( see Fig.2) may be located within the radial space between the skirt 22 and the coupling 21.

A filter 44 is located w1thithe lower part 17 as before and is a thermoplastics moulding comprising a cylindrical body 45 having a conical cap 46 facing upstream and a radial flange 45 at its lower end. The flange 45 in use sits on the shoulder 24 in the lower part 17 as previously described. A second flange 47 is provided on the filter body 45 and is located immediately upstream of the outlet port 22. The flange 47 is provided with a plurality of axial passageways 49 to allow water to flow through the flange 47. The lower portion 48 of the filter body, located between the flanges 45,47 is impervious so that any water passing through the flange 48 is diverted to the outlet port 22.

Apertures 16 are provided in the sidewall of the cylindrical filter body 45. The total of the areas of the apertures in the filter body should exceed the total of the areas of the passages 49 through the flange 47. The conical cap 46 ensures that water falling through the centre of the assembly 11 is dispersed to the walls of the assembly.

It a blockage occurs, or during preventive maintenance, the filter assembly is simply removed from the down pipe and dis-assembled for cleaning.

Claims

Claims 1. A water diverter for a drain pipe having a body connectable

at each end to the drain pipe and having a through passage with an intermediate outlet port through which water may be diverted, a first annular flange located downstream of the outlet port to partially block the passage such that water collecting on the flange is diverted through the outlet port, and a filter located on the flange projects upstream and has a non porous portion adjacent said flange, such that water above the non-porous portion passes through the filter.
2. A diverter as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the flange is provided on the filter and in use rests on internal projection(s) on the body.

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3. A diverter as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the filter is provided with a second flange in use located upstream of the outlet port, said second flange having apertures therein o that diverted water is also filtered.
4. A diverter as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein either or both of the flanges may be formed integrally with the filter as a single plastics moulding.
5. A diverter as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein (0 the filter comprises hollow cylindrical body with a conical cap at its upstream end to divert water outwards, and a cylindrical sidewall having a plurality of apertures therein for the flow of filtered water through the passage.
6. A diverter as claimed in Claim 5 when dependant on Claim 3, wherein the filter body has a larger total aperture area than the total area of apertures in the second flange.
7. A diverter as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the body is a cylindrical body comprising upper and lower telescopically inter-engaging body portions, each having èrfe of said couplings formed at its free end, the outlet port and a hollow spigot therefor are formed in the lower body portion.
8. A diverter as claimed in Claim 7 when dependant upon Claim 2, wherein the first flange sits on an annular shoulder formed on the lower body portion immediately downstream of the outlet port.
9. A thverter as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8, wherein said couplings in use comprise upper and lower cylindrical couplings which telescopically engage with oppositely extending portions of the down pipe, the lower coupling engaging within the down pipe and including an outer concentric cylindrical skirt which surrounds the adjacent portion of down pipe, and the upper coupling slides over the external surface of the respective portion of down pipe.
10. A diverter as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 9, wherein at least a portion of said body is formed from a transparent material allowing the filter to viewed from outside the assembly.
11. A guttering down pipe filter assembly substantially as described herein and with reference to Fig. 1 & 2 or Figs. 1 & 3-4, of the accompanying drawings.