GB2588751A - Vertical store - Google Patents

Abstract

A long vertical pipe 3 which can store rainwater within the drainpipe. The pipe may replace existing rainwater downpipe fitted to built structures such as buildings and homes. Any excess water may be diverted to the water drainage or sewer system through an overflow pipe 7 and a vented drainpipe diverter (19, figure 2, figures page 6/8). The pipe may have a solar powered pump 9 to pump water from the vertical pipe into a separate roof storage tank to allow it to be used for domestic or commercial use. The pipe may have a tap or faucet 10 that allows water to be drawn and used.

Description

VERTICAL STORE

This Invention stores harvested rain water.

There is today a swell of disquiet with regard to waste, pollution, sustainability and the ever rising cost of utilities. Government has driven vigorously to create alternative electricity supply from Solar power, wind power and seeks alternatives to nuclear power generation possibly from hydrogen. The other great pollutant of our time seems to be plastic pollution in our seas and the unknown volume of micro plastics generally in our water supplies which is heavily processed to achieve pot ability, much of which is used to flush toilets, water gardens and plants and supply industrial processes There is a vast supply of more pure water that is generally not collected but is a valuable resource In terms of cost reduction to the building owner / tenant or industrial user! And this is rain water. There are some attempts to harvest rain water, often in underground tank's which is expensive and takes up space in developed areas which is often not practical. Also in housing developments the only chance to harvest rain water is usually with a water butt of some kind, again this is often not practical because of restricted ground space, also hard to access and usually only used to water plants. This natural resource needs to be harnessed and used efficiently and cost effectively before it is returned to the normal waste water cycle. This present invention addresses and satisfies this environmental problem by holding this natural resource in an easy manageable, environmentally sustainable method, this invention is also aesthetically acceptable as exterior drain pipes adorn the elevations of most buildings.

This invention stores water in vertical pipes fitted to the elevation of buildings which substitutes the existing rain water down pipes.

This vertical water store is visually acceptable as it is a substitution of an existing rain water pipe This invention can be manufactured in many sizes to meet the need of a user, it can be disguised as a natural structure like a tree or take the form of architectural pillars and columns it can be built into brick or stone piers on the outside of buildings, or diverted at the eaves inside a building into a verticle store where it might be used to assist with the supply of water to a commercial process that does not require purified water.

This invention is very flexible in its application, it is easy fit on new or existing built structures which have rain water guttering and drain pipes, it can be manufactured and designed to fit the aesthetics of the building or its surrounds.

This invention eliminates the problem that the present water harvesting containers like water buts have as they take up ground space and obstruct passage, where the verticle store is mounted on the wall and does not take any ground space. The vertical store in its smallest form Page. 1/8 Fig 1. can be used as a simple garden water butt and eliminate the use of ground space, also its height position on a wall can make the tap access easier to operate for persons of limited ability, unlike a water butt where the tap is always near the ground This inventions main use is to feed ( by solar driven pump) rain water into a tank in the roof void of a property where it can be plumbed to join the out flowing normal supply to a toilet cistern if the property is using a water tank, or if mains fed by a different configuration This invention reduces demand from the normal utility water supply and saves the user money and also relieves demand on the water companies This invention can be scaled up for industrial buildings and assist with the water demand for some industrial process, or simply assist the water supply to toilet cisterns in office buildings. i.e. A single 60 feet store with a diameter of 30cm will store apx. 1,314 litres (289 Imp. Gals.) on average, a 160 toilet flushes.

This invention can easily be designed into new housing developments and fitted to all newly built property, residential and commercial. However, the biggest application for the vertical water store is that it can be fitted very easily fitted to the massive housing stock and commercial developments of the British Isles, where it rains and where protecting the environment is of concern.

The UK Met Office states.

GLOBAL HEAVY RAINFALL / FLOODS Heavy rainfall over land has increased since 1950 Especially over North America and Europe It is likely that human influences Have contributed to this intensification of heavy precipitation. Annual Annual precipitation averages for the entire UK are 133 days of rain or snow, totalling 885 millimetres (33.7 inches).

The invention will now be described solely by way of extensive example, illustrated on pages Ito 8 Each page will be referenced using drawn Figures where elements of the invention are numbered -20.

Introduction to the List of the elements;

1. Top Cap Design 2. Filter in cap 3. The main body / store.

4. Top closing cap for the centre positioned overflow 5. Top escape entrance to the overflow of the centre positioned overflow 6. Steady structure for the Centre overflow 7. The overflow on each unit 8. Fixing Lugs cast with main body 9. Solar powered pump/electrics housing box 10. Tap and pump riser 11. Sealed screw in base detail for the centre overflow 12. Sealed screw cap flush through fitting cast into body 13. Flat internal plate to create overflows for different design applications 14. Riser pipe to take water to roof storage tanks 15. Solar Panel centre plate for the dual pipe, body layout 16. Pump and electrics position on the dual pipe 17. Dual fed tap on the dual body unit 18. Sealed flushing, fitting position 19. Vented drain pipe diverter for the dual body unit 20. Twin body design overflow, creating large body strengtheners'.

Detailed Description of the figures illustrated on numbered pages using reference numbers to Identify the elements as numbered 1 -20.

Page 1 Fig. 1 Illustrates the basic unit where 3 (the body) is a large pipe Min 20cm -30cm Dia. Avg.

which can be any length / height, the overflow 7. is cast with the body and exits the closed base, as a pipe, which would flow into the existing drain configuration. The open top of the body 3. can have a screw threaded top to fix the cap 1. in position. In the cap 1 there is a full size Dia. filter 2. which can unscrew from 1. for cleaning. The existing drain pipe entering 1. can be closed and sealed as an option to keep semi air tight if required. The body 3. can have a simple tap 10 if being used as a small verticle water store or 10 can have a riser to feed a solar pump if required for pressure pumping. Body 3. is also fitted with a sealed flushing cap U. whose pipe is cast as one in body 3.

Fig 2 Shows a simple open top flat back section which is forming an uncomplicated overflow 7. overflow set below the cap 1. which exits the base as Fig 1. also with tap 10. and flush 12.

Fig 3 Shows an alternative overflow design with a pipe overflow 7. where 13 is blocking the top allowing only the overflow 7. pipe to accept draining excesses.

Fig 4 Shows a complete drawing of the basic unit of the Fig 13. without the cap.

Fig 5 Shows a simple section sketch of a square box shaped body with a corner overflow.

Fig 6 Shows a simple section sketch of the double skinned body 3. employing the strengthened honey comb type drain 7. where the overflow 7. is a series of grooves or small pipes squashed between an inner pipe 3. and an outer pipe 3. where the more solid wall is much stronger allowing greater height and bigger holding capacity to be achieved, more suitable for industrial / office block type buildings. ( see Page 8. Figs. 1 -4).

Page 2.

Illustrates Fig 1. which is a complete standard unit with a centre overflow 7. showing the cap 1. unscrewed with the filter 2. screwed into position. The cap 1 and the body 3. are both threaded to create an air tight seal on the centre overflow configuration. However, this sealed unit is optional, as the basic 2 meter tall unit would have an open cap (see Fig 1. Page 3 /8).

Here Fig I. shows the centre overflow 7. with the fixed diverter cap 4. above the overflow vent 5. . The centre overflow pipe is held at the top by a, " steady" 6. who's detail is illustrated on Page 5/8 at Fig 2., Fig 1. shows the fixing lugs 8 which would be usually at the top middle and bottom of all units up to two meters in length / height, tall larger units would have fixing lugs at 800mm centres.

Fig L shows 9 the electric fittings box position.

Fig L shows 10, the tap and solar pump riser feed.

Fig 1. shows 11, the centre overflow base fixing cast into the base of body 3. (see Page 4/8 Fig 2.).

Fig L shows 12, the position of the sealed flushing aperture pipe cast into the body 3. closed with a sealed cap because of down force pressure Page 3.

Illuistrates the two screw on Caps, Fig I. Illustrates the open top cap where 1. is the cap and 2, is the screw up in place filter, the open top cap is to give easy access to clear any large items like leaves which might come down the drain pipe. Fig 2. Illustrates the screw on Cap which has a rubber washer seal at the drain pipe opening, which should afford a level of protection from small elements going into the body 3. again it has the screw up into place, a full size Diameter filter.

Page 4.

Illustrates the water tight sealing details for the base of the overflow 7. of the centre positioned overflow. Fig. 1. shows the base of the body 3. being thicker than the pipe / body sides of 3. as it is threaded to take the overflow plastic base fitting 11. which is a recessed pipe fitting which accepts a wedge shaped rubber washer Ila and a fibre top washer 1 lb, which will squeeze up under the lip of the thickened base 3. to seal the overflow pipe into position and be water tight under pressure, this treatment of the overflow 7. is only applicable to the centre positioned overflow pipe 7. all other types of the verticle water store described in this patent application are simple side fitting overflows which do not require this treatment as explained on page 4/8 here. see page 1/ 8 for other overflow configurations.

Page 5.

Illustrates the overflow, "steady-for the centre positioned overflow 7. Fig 1. illustrates the side slotted sections which are part of the body 3. or stack into position inside the body 3. to receive the centre bar 6a which is shaped to slot in the top of the overflow below the diverter cap 4. but above vent holes 5. positioned at the top of 7. the point of holding the overflow 7. in a set position is to stop 7. from rotating when un-tightening or fixing the watertight base configuration 11.

Page 6.

Illustrates the twin pipe / body design, basically the same as the basic verticle water store illustrated at 1/8 Fig 1., but with a centre waste pipe where the overflow spills into 7. configured between the two pipe / bodies 3. as illustrated at 6/8 Fig. 4. Fig 2. illustrates the vented diverter cap and the approximate position of the overflow opening 7. in relation the water inflow below the cap and filter 1. & 2., Fig 1. also illustrates the dual base tap 17. the flushing caps 18. the riser (to roof tank) 14. and the solar panel position at 15. and the electrical pumping etc. equipment 16.

Pave 7.

Illustrates the dual skin pipe / body 3. configuration. Fig 4. shows the base of the twin bodies 3. where 20 is illustrating the slit cut or the small multi pipe overflow configuration. Fig. 4. also shows the positions of the electrical housing box 9. ( if required), the tap and pipe riser 10. also the flush through cap 12. Fig. I. & 2. Illustrate how the outer Body 3. and the inner body 3. show clearly an un-obstructed storage area which if cast as one where the overflow 7. is a vented solid part cast with the inner and outer body walls 3., below the cap configuration, 20. will form a much stronger body where a longer! higher body can be constructed ( tall pipe store). this tall unit can be joined and stuck or screwed together.

Page 8.

Illustrated on page 8/8 at Fig's. 1-2-3-4 & 5 shows how versatile the verticle water store can be in shape and finish it also gives an indication of the size of a body that can be achieved. Fig.]. has a oblong or box shape which could be built into a pier of decorated to look like brick or stone, Fig 2. illustrates a flat sided half round body 3. with a tree bark finish and Fig 3. a flat back half round body 3. with an open slit back or side pipe overflow 7. Fig 4. just illustrates how the verticle water store could look architectural and be used to look like a column or indeed a lead pipe finish which might suit listed buildings. finally Fig 5. is a graphic illustrating a basic store in grey pipe against a brick built house.

Claims (6)

1. CLAIMS1. A long verticle pipe with restricted dimensions, which is designed to store rain water in a plastic pipe / tube which varies in length and diameter, it is designed to replaces the existing rainwater drain pipes fitted to built structures in a manner that allows easy access and management of the clean resource for uses in a property which is fitted with guttering and rain water down pipes.
2. 2. A verticle pipe according to claim I. which would substitute any rain water down pipes on a property, a pipe that can vary greatly in size and water store capacity. Not a ground standing water butt which obstructs passage and who's water is rarely used, or an underground tank which again uses ground space, very expensive to fit and requires 240 volt pumps. A verticle pipe/tube fitted to the buildings full or part of its height, which is in line with the flow of water where any excesses in the store divert to the draining system. After the practical use of this un-developed resource it is returned back to the water drainage and sewer system.
3. 3. A verticle pipe water storage product according to claim 1. which can be fitted easily to the existing built environment without disruption to its occupiers
4. 4. A verticle pipe according to claim 2. which can be aesthetically sympathetic to a buildings look or finishes or simulate stnictural or natural elements like trees or columns, using the great flexibility of plastic and its finishes.
5. 5. A verticle pipe according to claim I. which can employ a solar pump to deposit stored rain water into a separate roof space storage tank, or directly, to assist the domestic or commercially built properties water supply to toilet cisterns, or used domestically when pumped as a pressure spray for cleaning
6. 6. A verticle water storage pipe according to I. that will eliminate the use of ground space completely when fitting the verticle rain water storing facility, whether it is being used domestically or in greater scale on commercial buildings, or in commercial process uses, does not rest on the ground or take up ground space areas.