GB2525395A

GB2525395A - A drainage device

Info

Publication number: GB2525395A
Application number: GB1407070.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Germon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-04-22
Filing date: 2014-04-22
Publication date: 2015-10-28
Also published as: GB201407070D0

Abstract

Drain pipes collect water from roofs which often contain detritus. This detritus can block drains. A drainage device 10 is described for reducing the frequency of the blockage of drains by collected detritus, the device comprises a filter 70 and an overflow pipe 50 extending upstream of the filter. The overflow pipe comprises at least one aperture 60 in its sidewall. The device is arranged to fit inside a drain pipe 40 such that the filter extends substantially across the whole cross-sectional area of the pipe at one point to trap detritus 80. The at least one aperture in the pipe allows water collecting upstream of the filter, and substantially unable to pass through the filter due to the collected detritus, passes down the overflow pipe thereby maintaining water flow through the drain pipe.

Description

A drainage device The prese invention relates generally to a drainage device and finds par11car, although not exclusive, utility in trapping moss and leaves to prevent a drain from blocking.

Moss grows on roofs and during periods of rain is often washed off and collects in the gutter. Leaves are also blown into gutters. Drain pipes lead from the gutters to drains located adjacent the foot of the buildings' walls. Theses drains often have a grid to trap the leaves, moss and other detritus. Once the grid becomes clogged with this detritus the water cannot easily pass through the grid leading to water overflowing onto the surrounding ground. Only a relatively small amount of detritus will lead to the grid blocking. Some drain pipes lead directly to underground pipes for connection to a sewer or soak-away. If no grid is present the detritus can lead to blocking of these pipes. it is desirable therefore, to collect this detritus and remove it from the drainage system. One known method prevides gutter covers in the form of a mesh. TTcvever, these covers require clearing especially during autumn which often involves the use of a ladder which is time consuming and potentially dangerous to the worker.

Accordingly, it is desirable to havc art irriproved dcvicc of collceting arid removing the detritus, it is further desirable for the device to collect a relatively large quantity of detritus before it requires emptying such that the frequency of emptying is reduced.

in a first aspect, the invention provides a drainage device for reducing the frequency of the blockage of drains by collected detritus, the device comprising a filter and an overflow pipe extending upstream of the filter, the overflow pipe comprising at least one aperture in its sidewall, the device arranged to fit inside a drain pipe such that the filter extends substantially across the whole cross-sectional area of the pipe at one Point to trap detritus, the at least one aperture in the pipe allowing water collecting upstream of the filter, and substantially unable tci pass through the filter due to the collected detritus, to pass down the overflow pipe thereby maintaining water flow through the drain pipe.

In this regard, the cross-sectional area of the drain pipe may be enlarged or reduced at the point where the filter is located and as such it is the intention that the filter extends substantially across the relevant part of the pipe. which allows water to pass, at the point it is jocated.

Tn use, the detritus collects inside the drain pipe, but the overflow pipe, which extends axiaUv above (and upstream of) the filter, maintains a fluid path for the water to escape through the fiRer.

The do\vnstream end of the overflow pipe may be located adjacent the upstream side of the filter. in other words, the end of the overflow pipe may rest on the filter or just above it. Ajternative]y. the overflow pipe may pass through the filter. Tn this case, the filter may have an aperture within it to permit the overflow pipe to pass TO therethrough.

The at least one aperture may be arranged axially along the sidewall of the overflow pipe. It may take the form of a long slot, or several discrete slots.

Alternatively, or additionally, the at least one aperture may he arranged substantially radially in the sidewall of the overflow pipe. in this regard, the aperture 1 5 may be oriented substantially perpendicu'ar to the hingitudina] axis of the overflow pipe.

The drainage device may comprise an array of apertures aaiged substantially radially in the sidewall of the overflow pipe. in this regard, the apertures may be onetitcd substantially pccni]icuLtr to thc]origitudiria] axis of thu overflow pipe and substantially paralle] to one another.

The drainage device may further comprise a discrete length of drain pipe and at least a coupling means at the upstream end for retro-fitting to an existing drain pipe, the overflo\v pipe being arranged in the discrete length of drain pipe.

The discrete length of drain pipe may further comprise a coupling means at the do\vnstream end. In this way, the discrete length of drain pipe may he inserted into an existing drain pipe after a predetermined length has been removed.

The fi]ter may be arranged either in the downstreani couphng or the discrete ]ength of drain pipe.

The drainage device may further comprise a status indicator, to indicate when the height of detritus collected upstream of the filter has reached a predetermined threshold level.

The status indicator may comprise an aperture in the sidewall of the discrete length of drain pipe, or the upstream coupling.

The status indicator may he 1ffnfllged 21I)Ove the upstream end of the overflow The status indicator may be arranged below the upstream end of the overflow Tn this manner, when water passes down the drain pipe and meets the top of collected detritus at least some of it will pass out through the status indicator, rather than down the overflow pipe indicating that the device needs emptying of collected detritus.

The upstream coupling means may include a sleeve arranged to surround an existing drain pipe upstream of the device with the device in a range of axial positions relative to the existing drain pipe. this allows the discrete length of drain pipe to be slid np the length of existing drain pipe, the downstream coupling then being brought into axial alignment with the existing drain pipe downstream, and then the discrete length being lowered again to connect the downstream coupling with the existing downstream drain pipe with the upstream coupling still being connected to the existing upstream drain pipe. This allows for simple removal and insertion of the device to facilitate installation and emptying, in use.

Ihe filter rilay comprise any one or more of a grid, an array of slots, a mucsli, a fabric, a textile and an array of apertures.

The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention \vill become apparent from the follo\ving detailed description, taken in conjunction xvith the accompanying drawings, \vhich illustrate, by xvay of example. the principles of the invention. this description is given for the sake of example only, xvithout limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

Figure I is a schematic view of a drainage device; and Figure 2 is a schematic view of the drainage device of Figure 1 which requires emptying.

The present invention will be described with respect to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. Each drawing may not include all of the features of the invention and therefore should not necessarily he considered to he an embodiment of the invention. In the dra\vings, the size of some of the elements may he exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative diniensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the irwention.

Furthermore, the tenns first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. it is to be understood that the terms so used are. interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

Tt is to be noticed that the term "comprising" used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. it is thus to he interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the prcscmicc or addition of one or more othcr features, imitcgcrs, stcps or eortiponcnts, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comnprising mneans A and B" should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. it means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B. Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment" or "an aspect" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment or aspect of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment", "in an embodiment", or "in an aspect" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or aspect, but may refer to different embodiments or aspects. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary shill in the art from this

disclosure, in one or more embodiments or aspects.

Similarly, it should he appreciated that in the description various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to he interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Moreover, the description of any individual drawing or aspect should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, \vhile some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

in the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth.

I Iowevcr, it is undcrstood tlat crubodi nents of the i iveritiori rilay be intctised without these specific details. in other instances, well-known methods, structures arid techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of

this description.

in the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter.

coupled \vith an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to he construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred arid the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value arid also to each value lying between said less preferred value arid said intermediate value.

The use of the term "at least one" may mean only one in certain circumstances.

The principles of the invention will now be described by a detailed description of at least one drawing relating to exemplary features of the inveithon. It is clear that other arrangements can he eonhgured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching of the invention, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Tn Figure 1 an e]evationa] cut-away view of a drainage device 10 is shown. An existing drain pipe 20, 30 is shown which has been cut and a section removed such that the device 10 fits between the remaining upstream 30 and downstream sections 20. The existing drain pipe is a standard pipe which may comprise plastics and have various sizes and cross-sectional shapes. For instance it may be 75mm in diameter and circular in cross-section.

The device 10 comprises a length drain pipe 40 within which an overflow pipe 50 is arranged towards a side thereof towards the base of the pipe length 40 a filter 70 is arranged across the cross-sectional area thereof. the overflow pipe 50 is sho\vn passing through the filter 70 such that a relatively short portion extends downstream of the filter 70. It is to he understood that the lower, extreme, end of the overflow pipe 50 may instead stop just above the filter 70.

The overflow pipe 50 comprises an array of slots indicated "60" extending at various heights from one end to the other. These slots allow water to pass through into the bore of the overflow pipe 50. the slots 60 are arranged above one another imd generally face the inner surface of the pipe length 40.

The top (upstream end) of the overflow pipe 50 is shown closed by a wall extending across the open end at an angle of 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the pipe 50. the sloe is oriented such that the lo\ver edge is closer to the centre of the bore of the pipe length 40 and the upper edge is closer to the inner surface of the pipe length 40. By closing the end detritus does not enter it and cause blockages, the slope has been found to encourage detritus falling down the pipe 30 to travel to the filter near the centre of the bore of the pipe length 40 rather than between the overflow pipe and the inner surface of the pipe length 40 where it could block the slots 60.

Tlowever, it is to be understood that the upper end of the overflow pipe sO may be left open and/or not have a sloping (relative tc the longitudinal axis of the pipe. 51J) closing wall.

In use, as detritus is carried down the pipes 30, 40 it is collected above the filter.

As the detritus 80 is wet and often fibrous it acts to block the filter 70 such that water fills up above the uppermost level of the detritus 80. However, water 90, 92 passing down the inside of the pipe 30 may still exit via the slots 60 in the direction of the arrow indicated "94". Once inside the Lore of the overflow pipe SO, the water may pass out below the filter 70 in the direction indicated by the arrow "96" and into the existing pipe and on to the drain.

Tn this way, the detritus will not impede the flow of water down the pipes 30, 40, 20.

The slots 60 are turned to generally face the inner surface of the pipe length 40 so that the detritus does not get caught in them. However, even if this did occur the slots 60 are not large enough to allow the detritus to pass through. The slots are approximately 1 to 3mm in height.

To enable the installation and removal of the device 10 it includes a downstream coupling 100 attached to the downstream end of the pipe length 40. this coupling 100 is attached by means of a relatively wide portion, or socket. 110 into which the downstream end of the pipe length 40 fits. It also includes a relatively narrow porhon, or spigot, 105 which will ht into the top of the existing pipe 20 downstream of the device 10. This coupling may he an off-the-shelf drain pipe connector widely available.

Alternatively, the coupling 100 may be moulded as part of the device 10.

Although the filter 70 is shown arranged inside the pipe length 40 it \vill be appreciated that it could be arrarigcd in the coupling 100.

At the upstream end of the device 10 another coupling 120 is provided. This includes a wide portion or socket, 130 into which the downstream end of the existing pipe 30 fits. It also includes a relatively narrow portion, or spigot, 125 which will fit into the top (or upstream end) of the length of pipe 40. this coupling may again be an off-the-shelf drain pipe connector widely available. Alternatively, the coupling 120 may be moulded as part of the device 10.

The upper relatively wide portion 130 of the upstream coupling 120 has an extended length compared to the relatively wide portion 110 of the downstream coupling 100. During installation, this enables the device 10 to he slid up the existing pipe 30, further than is shown in Figure 1, the downstream spigot 105 then being placed inside the top of the downstream existing pipe 20, and then the whole device 10 being lowered such that the junction of the downstream spigot 100 and socket 110 rests on the top of the existing downstream pipe 20. The upstream socket 130 of the upstream coupling 120 still surrounds the existing upstream pipe 30 such that no leaks occur in use.

To remove the device to empty it the reverse procedure is performed.

Tn Figure 2, the device 10 is shown relatively fuU of detritus 80. Tn this case water 90 passing down the inside of the upstream existing pipe 30 passes 150 into the overflow pipe 50 via one or more slots 60 arranged towards the top thereof. Tt then passes out through the hire of the overflow pipe emerng 160 below the filter 70 to continue down the downstream existing pipe 20.

Additionally, water 170 may pass out of an aperture 140 in the upstreani coupling since the detritus will act to substantially block the filter and the length of pipe above. The water exiting via the aperture 140 provides an indication to the user that TO the device 10 needs emptying as it is visible externally of the device 10 and pipes 20, 30, 40.

Tt will he appreciated that the top of the overflow pipe 50 may also provide access for water 90 flowing do\vn the npstream exisfing pipe 30.

Tt will also he understood that the level of the upper most slot 60 relative to the top of the overflow pipe 50 and the level of the aperture 140 may he set as desired during manufacture such that water only flo\vs out of the aperture 140 when the device is full.

Ilie aperture 140 may he arranged in the side wall of the pipe length 40 rather than the upstream coupling 120 without affecting the performance of the device 10.

Claims

(:LAIMS 1. A drainage device for reducing the frequency of the blockage of drains by collected detritus, the device coniprising a filter and an overflow pipe extending upstream of the biter, the overflow pipe compnstng at least one aperture in its sidewall, the device arranged to fit inside a drain pipe such that the filter extends substantially across the whole cross-sectional area of the pipe at one point to trap detritus, the at least one aperture in the pipe allowing water collecting upstream of the filter, and substantially unable to pass through the filter due to the collected detritus, to pass down the overflow pipe thereby maintaining water flow through the drain pipe.
2. The drainage device of claim 1, wherein the downstream end of the overflow pipe is located adjacent the upstream side of the filter.
3. the drainage device of claim 1, wherein the overfloxv pipe passes through the filter.
4. The drainage device of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one aperture is arranged axially along the sidewall of the overflow pipe.
5. the drainage device of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one aperture is arranged substantially radially in the sidewall of the overflow pipe.
6. The drainage device of claim 5, comprising an array of apertures arranged substantially radially in the sidewall of the overflow pipe.
7. The drainage device of any preceding claim, further comprising a discrete length of drain pipe and at least a coupling means at the npstream end for retro-fitting to an existing drain pipe, the overflow pipe being arranged in the discrete length of drain pipe.
8. The drainage device of claim 7, wherein the discrete length of drain pipe further comprises a coupling means at the downstream end.
9. The drainage device of either one of claims 7 and 8, wherein the filter is arranged either in the downstream coupling or the discrete length of drain pipe.
10. the drainage device of ally preceding claim, further comprising a status indicator, to indicate when the height of derritus collected upsiream of the filter has reached a predetermined threshold level.

ii. The drainage device of claim 10, wherein the status indicator comprises an aperture in the sidewall of the discrete length of drain pipe. or the upstream coupling.12. the drainage device of either one of claims 10 and ii, wherein the status indicator is arranged above the npstream end of the overflow pipe.13. The drainage device of either one of claims 10 and 11, wherein the status indicator is arranged below the upstream end of the overflow pipe.14. The drainage device of any preceding claim, when dependent directly or indirectly on claim 7, wherein the upstream coupling means includes a sleeve arranged to surround an existing drain pipe upstream of the device xvith the device in a range of axial positions relative to the existing drain pipe.15. the drainage device of any preceding claim, wherein the filter comprises any one or more of a grid. an array of slots, a mesh, a fabric, a textile imd an array of apertures.16. Adrainage device substantially as hereinbefore described \vith reference to the acccitnpanying drawings.