GB2503054A

GB2503054A - Leak collector especially for buildings

Info

Publication number: GB2503054A
Application number: GB201217601A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Pooja Joglekar
Original assignee: MIHIR JOGELKAR
Current assignee: MIHIR JOGELKAR
Priority date: 2012-06-11
Filing date: 2012-10-02
Publication date: 2013-12-18
Also published as: GB201217601D0; GB201210174D0

Abstract

An apparatus for capturing fluid from a leak is described. The apparatus comprises a sheet member, the sheet member defining a leak facing surface adapted to receive fluid from a leak, and having an orifice or aperture. The apparatus further comprises an attachment means for attaching the sheet member to at least one surface adjacent the leak, such as a ceiling, and an outlet device adapted to be located in, around or adjacent to the sheet member orifice. The outlet is adapted, under the effect of gravity, to deform the sheet member such that, in use, fluid from the leak flows along the leak facing surface towards the sheet member orifice. The sheet may be of flexible, transparent material and the orifice may be defined by the sheet member, the orifice edges being reinforced. The attachment means may be provided by tacky material, tape or fixing elements. The outlet device may include a receptacle and conduit.

Description

Leak Capture Apparatus

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for capturing fluid from a leak.

Background to the Invention

Leaks in domestic or industrial buildings can cause damage ranging from cosmetic damage to structural damage to the building itself.

When leaks first appear, particularly if they are relatively small, it is normal practice to place a bucket or other vessel on the surface immediately below the leak. Such a solution is only temporary and has drawbacks. One such drawback is the leak often occurs in a place where it is inconvenient to place a bucket directly beneath. Generally speaking, minor leaks are often noticed because of foot traffic passing beneath and placing a bucket in such a position will cause an obstruction and hinder the flow of people passing beneath the leak.

Another drawback of using a bucket to capture dripping water is splashing may occur as the fluid from the leak falls into the bucket, particularly if the leak is a significant height above the bucket.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for capturing fluid from a leak, the apparatus comprising: a sheet member, the sheet member defining a leak facing surface adapted to receive fluid from a leak, the sheet member, in use, further defining a sheet member orifice in the leak facing surface; an attachment means for attaching the sheet member, in use, to at least one surface adjacent the leak; and an outlet device adapted to be located in, around or adjacent to the sheet member orifice, the outlet device being adapted, under the effect of gravity, to deform the sheet member such that, in use, fluid from the leak flows along the leak facing surface towards the sheet member orifice.

In at least one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus can be positioned around the leak to capture fluid flowing from the leak. The weight of the outlet device creates a low point on the sheet member at the sheet member orifice allowing the fluid to be diverted away from the leak site.

The sheet member may be flexible.

Particularly, the sheet member may comprise a polymeric material.

In some embodiments, the sheet member may be transparent.

The orifice may be defined by the sheet member.

The sheet member may comprise an edge adapted to define the orifice.

The orifice edge may be reinforced.

The apparatus may comprise a reinforcement means adapted to reinforce the orifice edge.

The reinforcement means may surround the orifice. The reinforcement means may be adhered to the sheet member. Particularly, the reinforcement means may be adhered to a sheet member surface. The reinforcement means may be adhered to the leak facing surface of the sheet member. In other embodiments the reinforcement means may be adhered to a surface opposite the leak facing surface. The reinforcement means may be created during a manufacturing process. The reinforcement means may be integral with the sheet member.

Alternatively or additionally, the sheet member may comprise a thicker or stronger portion adapted to define the orifice edge.

The orifice may be at least partially created during a manufacturing process. Creating the orifice during a manufacturing process and allows the orifice to be located in a predetermined position on the sheet member. The orifice may be preformed entirely during a manufacturing process. Where the orifice is only partially created, the manufacturing process may create a weakness in the sheet member to allow an orifice to be created during assembly of the apparatus. In some embodiments, a plurality of partially created orifices may be created during a manufacturing process. In these embodiments, the partially created orifices are watertight. Alternatively or additionally, the orifice may be at least partially created by attachment of the outlet device to the sheet member.

Alternatively, in other embodiments, attachment of outlet device creates the orifice.

This arrangement gives the user flexibility to select the most suitable location for the outlet. If the outlet device is sufficiently heavily, the user can create a low point on the sheet member which is not necessarily the lowest point created by the centre of giavity of the liquid collected from the leak and retained within an unpunctured sheet member.

The attachment means may be provided to attach the leak facing surface to a surface surrounding the leak.

The attachment means may be adapted to secure at least a portion of the leak facing surface to at least one surface surrounding the leak.

In some embodiments the attachment means may be adapted to provide a substantially continuous attachment to the surface surrounding the leak. In this way the apparatus can be fully supported around the leak.

The attachment means may be adapted to secure the apparatus to surfaces which are perpendicular. In some instances, leaks occur at intersections between ceilings and walls. In such a situation, the ability to attach the apparatus to both ceilings, walls, lintels, beams and other such structural features whether positioned horizontally, vertically or at an angle to the horizontal provides the user with the ability to fully surround leak and capture the liquid flowing through the leak.

The attachment means may comprise a tacky material.

The attachment means may comprise an adhesive applied to the sheet member.

Additionally or alternatively the attachment means may comprise a tape applied to the sheet member.

Alternatively or additionally, the attachment means may comprise fixing mechanisms and, in particular embodiments, mechanical fixing mechanisms.

The fixing mechanisms may include hooks, loops, eyelets, drawstrings or any suitable mechanical fixing mechanism.

The attachment means may be positioned around the perimeter of the sheet member.

The attachment means may further be adapted to attach one sheet member to another sheet member. Such an arrangement permits multiple sheet member is to be used to divert a leak in larger distance than would otherwise be possible.

In some embodiments the attachment means may be continuous. An example of this would be a length of double sided tape extending around the perimeter of the sheet member.

In alternative embodiments, the attachment means may comprise a number of distinct units. An example of this would be a number of double sided tape sections extending around the perimeter. In such an arrangement, the user can select individual or particular sections of the sheet member to adhere to the surface surrounding the leak. This provides additional utility in that may be desirable not to adhere to a particular surface because of, for example, a surface feature which the user may be concerned suffer damage.

In a preferred embodiment, the attachment means are fixed with respect to the sheet member.

In certain embodiments, however, the attachment means may be movable. The user may have the opportunity to place attachment means a particular locations where extra adherence to the surface is required. In some embodiments of the attachment means may be separate from the sheet member, the user being able to adhere the attachment means to the sheet member as and when required.

In further embodiments a combination of fixed and movable or subsequently adhereable attachment means may be provided.

The outlet device may be secureable the sheet member leak facing surface.

In alternative embodiments, the outlet device may be secureable to a sheet member second surface, the second surface being opposite the leak facing surface.

The apparatus may comprise a securing means for securing the sheet member to the outlet device. The securing means may secure the sheet member to an external surface of the outlet device.

The outlet device may pass through the orifice.

In such an embodiment, the securing means may sandwich a portion of the sheet member against the outlet device.

In alternative embodiments, the outlet device may be adapted to receive a portion of the sheet member. In such an embodiment, the securing means may secure an outlet device internal surface to the sheet member.

The outlet device, in use, may be in fluid communication with a receptacle. The receptacle may be used for catching the leak fluid.

The outlet device may further comprise a conduit adapted to provide the fluid communication between the outlet device the receptacle. The conduit may be a flexible pipe or any suitable means of transferring fluid.

In other embodiments the receptacle may be suspended from the outlet device.

Suspending the receptacle from the outlet device suitable to use, for example, when there is a low flow rate as the weight of the receptacle may be too heavy for the sheet member.

However it is of utility where the existence of pipes, for example, may be unsightly and present a trip hazard.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of capturing fluid from a leak the method comprising the steps of: attaching a sheet member defining a leak facing surface to at least one surface adjacent the leak such that fluid from the leak flows along the leak facing surface towards a sheet member orifice defined in the sheet member orifice due to an outlet device being located in, around or adjacent to the sheet member orifice deforming the sheet member under the effect of gravity.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of an apparatus for capturing the fluid from the leak according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a close-up side view of the outlet device, orifice and receptacle of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the sheet member of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a close-up side view of the outlet device and orifice of the sheet member of Figure 1 attached to a hose Figure 5 is a side view of an outlet device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a side view of an outlet device according to a third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 is a plan view of the outlet device of Figure 6; Figure 8 comprising Figure 8A, 8B and 80 are a series of side views of the outlet device of Figures 4 and 5 showing the outlet device being connected to a sheet member; and Figure 9 is a plan view of first and second sheet member is according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Reference is first made to Figure 1, a side view of an apparatus, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, the capturing fluid 16 from a leak 18, and FFigure 2, a close-up side view of part of the apparatus of Figure 1.

The apparatus 10 comprises a sheet member 12, the sheet member 12 defining a leak facing surface 14 adapted to receive fluid 16 from a pipe leak 18 which has dripped from a pipe 19 and through a ceiling 21. The sheet member 12 comprises a flexible, transparent material. Particularly the sheet member 12 comprises polythene.

The fluid capturing apparatus 10 further comprises an attachment means 24 (not visible on Figure 1 but shown more clearly on Figure 3, and discussed in due course) and an outlet device 20 adapted to be located in, around or adjacent to a sheet member orifice 22 (Figure 2) such that, in use, fluid 16 from the leak 18 flows towards the sheet member orifice 22.

As shown in Figure 1, the weight of the outlet device 20 has weighed the sheet member 12 down such that fluid from the leak 18 flows towards the sheet member orifice 22.

However, in this particular sheet 12, the weight of the outlet device 20 is essential for the fluid to flow to the orifice 22 because the orifice 22 is not located centrally on the sheet member 12 and, as such, without the presence of the outlet device 20, the orifice 22 would not lie on the centre of gravity 23 of the fluid 16 captured by the leak facing surface 14.

This arrangement permits the flow of the fluid 18 to be controlled to an outlet position chosen by the installer of the apparatus 10. This allows the fluid 18 to be managed to a safe place from the outlet device 20 using, for example, hoses (not shown) and buckets. By being able to control the position of the orifice 22 using the outlet device 20, for example, fluid can be flowed from an elevated position over a walkway to a safe position to one side of the walkway by diverting the fluid to an orifice 22 positioned over the side of the walkway rather than the over walkway itself.

In the example shown in Figure 1, the sheet member outlet device 20 feeds the fluid 16 from the sheet member orifice 22 directly into a bag 26.

Referring to FigureFigure 2, a close-up side view of the outlet device 20, the orifice 22 and the bag 26, it can be seen that the outlet device 20 passes through the orifice 22 in the sheet member 12, the outlet device 20 being in the form of a tapered tube which forms a tight fit with the orifice 22. To secure the arrangement! the sheet member 12 is attached to the outlet device 20 by means of a first elastic band 28, the elastic band 28 sandwiching the sheet member 12 to the outlet device 20 adjacent the orifice 22. Similarly the bag 26 is a clamped to the lower end 30 of the outlet device 20 by a second elastic band 32. The weight of the bag 26 further adds to the gravitational pull around the orifice 22 to ensure flow of fluid 16 from the leak 18 to the orifice 22.

Referring now to Figure 3, the attachment means 24 of the apparatus 10 of Figure 1 can be seen on a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1. The attachment means 24 are a strip of double sided tape 40 attached to the leak facing side 14 of the sheet member 12.

The orifice 22 is also visible on Figure 3 and is preformed in the sheet member 12 during manufacture.

The installation of the apparatus 10 of the first embodiment will now be described.

Upon discovery of the leak 18, the outlet device is pushed through the orifice 22 and secured by the first elastic band 28. The apparatus 10 is then fixed to the ceiling 21 around the leak 18 by the double sided tape attachment means 24. The bag 26 is then attached to the outlet device lower end 30 by the second elastic band 32.

Referring to Figure 4, an alternative method of capturing the fluid 16 from the outlet device 20 is shown. If the flow of fluid 16 is relatively intense, the bag 26 may become too heavy for the apparatus 10. The bag 26, in the example shown in Figure 4, is replaced with a tube 36 attached to the outlet device lower end 30. This tube 36 then feeds to bucket or some of the receptacle (not shown) on a supported location such as the floor. The ability to attach a tube or a hose 36 to the outlet device 20 allows for even greater diversion of the fluid 16 flowing from the leak 18 away from the position directly beneath the leak 18.

Referring to Figure 5, a side view of part of an apparatus 110 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, there is shown, particularly, an alternative outlet device 120. The outlet device 120 comprises an inner tapered core 120A and an outer tapered clamp 120B, the external surface 150 of the core 120A and the internal surface 152 of the clamp 1 20B being complementary to allow the sheet member 112 to be clamped between the core 120A and the clamp 120B in the vicinity of the orifice 122.

A further embodiment of the outlet device 220 is shown in Figures 6 and 7, side and plan views of an outlet device 220 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The outlet device 220 of the third embodiment is intended to be used with a sheet member without a preformed orifice.

The outlet device 220 includes an outlet support 256 and a spike 258, the outlet support 256 and the spike 258 being releasably connectable by means of a threaded connection 260. The support 256 has a flat upper surface 262 covered with an adhesive tape 264.

The outlet device 220 of the third embodiment is used as shown in Figures 8A to 8C.

Referring firstly to Figure 8A the outlet device support 256 is brought up to the desired location to create an orifice 220 and stuck to an underside 268 of the sheet member 212.

The spike 258 is send threaded into the support 256 until the spike pin 270 pierces the sheet member 212 creating an orifice.

Reference is finally made to Figure 9, a plan view of an apparatus 410 for capturing fluid from a leak according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the apparatus 410 comprises a first and a second sheet members 412A and 412B. These sheet members 412 are smaller than the sheet member 12 of the first embodiment. However, if the user desires to transfer the flow of fluid 416 over the same distance (from the letter "X" to the orifice 422) as was covered in the first embodiment, this can be achieved by joining the first and second sheet members 412 together. The sheet members 412 are joined by the attachment means 424 on the leak facing surface 414 of the second sheet member 412 being adhered to the underside 468 of the first sheet member 412. It will be noted that the attachment means 424 on both of the sheet member is 412 in this fourth embodiment are smaller, discrete units of double sided tape 440 as opposed to the long lengths of tape 440 shown on the sheet member 12 of the first embodiment (Figure 3).

The sheet members 412 of the fourth embodiment also include fixing eyelets 441 at each corner to permit the sheet members 412 to be fixed using a different method such as being roped to a suitable support structure or being hung on hooks, for example.

Various modifications and improvements may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, more than one outlet may be provided in a single sheet to provide an overflow should, for example, the intensity and volume of liquid flowing from the leak unexpectedly increase in volume.

Claims

Claims 1. An apparatus for capturing fluid from a leak, the apparatus comprising: a sheet member, the sheet member defining a leak facing surface adapted to receive fluid from a leak, the sheet member, in use, further defining a sheet member orifice in the leak facing surface; an attachment means for attaching the sheet member, in use, to at least one surface adjacent the leak; and an outlet device adapted to be located in, around or adjacent to the sheet member orifice, the outlet device being adapted! under the effect of gravity, to deform the sheet member such that, in use, fluid from the leak flows along the leak facing surface towards the sheet member orifice.
2 The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sheet member is flexible.
3 The apparatus of either of claims 2 or 3, wherein the sheet member is transparent.
4 The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the orifice is defined by the sheet member.
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sheet member comprises an edge adapted to define the orifice.
6 The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the orifice edge is reinforced.
7 The apparatus of either of claims 5 or 6, wherein apparatus comprises a reinforcement means adapted to reinforce the orifice edge.
8 The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the reinforcement means is integral with the sheet member.
9 The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the orifice is at least partially created during a manufacturing process.
10 The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of partially created orifices are created during a manufacturing process.
11 The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the orifice is at least partially created by attachment of the outlet device to the sheet member.
12 The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the attachment means is provided to attach the leak facing surface to a surface surrounding the leak.
13 The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the attachment means is adapted to secure at least a portion of the leak facing surface to at least one surface surrounding the leak.
14 The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the attachment means is adapted to provide a substantially continuous attachment to the surface surrounding the leak.
The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the attachment means comprises a tacky material.
16 The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the attachment means comprises a tape applied to the sheet member.
17 The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the attachment means comprises fixing mechanisms.
18 The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the attachment means is positioned around the perimeter of the sheet member.
19 The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the attachment means is continuous.
The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 18, wherein the attachment means may comprise a number of distinct units.
21 The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the outlet device is secureable to the sheet member leak facing surface.
22 The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 20, wherein the outlet device is secureable to a sheet member second surface, the second surface being opposite the leak facing surface.
23 The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the outlet device passes through the orifice.
24 The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises a securing means for securing the sheet member to the outlet device.
The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the securing means sandwich a portion of the sheet member against the outlet device.
26 The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the outlet device is adapted to receive a portion of the sheet member.
27 The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the securin9 means secure an outlet device internal surface to the sheet member.
28 The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein, in use, the apparatus is in fluid communication with a receptacle.
29 The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the outlet device further comprises a conduit adapted to provide the fluid communication between the outlet device the receptacle.
30 The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the conduit is a flexible pipe or any suitable means of transferring fluid.
31 The apparatus of any of claims 28 or 29, wherein the receptacle is suspended from the outlet device.
32 A method of capturing fluid from a leak the method comprising the steps of: attaching a sheet member defining a leak facing surface to at least one surface adjacent the leak such that fluid from the leak flows along the leak facing surface towards a sheet member orifice defined in the sheet member orifice due to an outlet device being located in, around or adjacent to the sheet member orifice deforming the sheet member under the effect of gravity.