GB2602143A

GB2602143A - Gutter flex 1

Info

Publication number: GB2602143A
Application number: GB2020217.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: O'connor Edward
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2020-12-20
Filing date: 2020-12-20
Publication date: 2022-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 2040-12-20
Also published as: GB202020217D0; GB2602143B

Abstract

A gutter cleaning system comprises a rain gutter 1 to be attached to a building and shaped to hold and guide a slidable gutter liner. It further comprises a flexible gutter liner 4 shaped to fit slidably within the rain gutter. The system further comprises a downpipe 8 positioned to receive the slidable gutter liner in it moving from the gutter into the downpipe. To control the movement of the gutter liner there is a drive mechanism which physically moves the gutter liner and a controller which activates and controls the drive mechanism. Upon activation of the drive mechanism by the controller, the gutter liner is moved from a position in the gutter to a position in the downpipe so that any material or debris 13 on the liner is deposited into the downpipe. Preferably, the liner is resilient to damage and the drive mechanism is a flexible linkage and can be formed as a conveyor belt 7. The drive mechanism can be attached to the liner at or near both ends. Part of the drive mechanism can be contained within a conduit.

Description

GUTTER FLEX CLEANING SYSTEM

This application relates to a system for the cleaning of roof gutters or guttering.

BACKGROUND

Gutters are a common feature of buildings that channel roof rain water into a downpipe. These are most commonly external but sometimes internal in the sense they are integrated into the roof structure.

Gutters however have a problem since along with water they also accumulate unwanted material in the form of dust and material from the roof structure such as fragments of render as well as bio / organic material in the form of leaves or plant life such as weeds and moss which can grow within the gutter (all such material hereafter termed 'debris') Debris is a serious problem because it can block the gutter channel causing water to spill over onto the building which in time can damage brickwork and other parts of the structure.

Gutters can be shielded from falling leaves using grills and grates and the like but the core problems of other debris (organic & otherwise) remain a problem.

For this reason gutters commonly require cleaning on a regular basis; For single story buildings such as a bungalow this can be relatively easy but most buildings are multi story and thus require a ladder or even scaffolding if the blockage is serious; And because gutters tend to run the length of the building this can be time consuming and hazardous work requiring tools and equipment. It can also be expensive and in all cases where a contractor is employed requires payment on a repetitive basis.

In summary -cleaning a gutter is generally a requirement and is commonly difficult and costly.

CURRENT TECHNOLOGY

Apart from manual cleaning there are a number of technologies that are available to clean a gutter; One example is a robotic machine that is placed in the gutter and employs a flail to remove debris; The problem with this method is firstly that the robot must be placed into the gutter manually which means climbing a ladder or the like on high buildings; a second problem is that the debris is thrown into the air and falls down the front or side or rear of the building thereby littering the area. A second example is high pressure hosing from an extended arm; this has the same problem of spreading the debris over the area. A third example is a hoovering arm; this may be effective but clearly requires paying a substantial fee and also organising a company to undertake the work; if further requires a gutter that is accessible from the ground and within reach of the hoover arm; and in all remote cases without the benefit of a camera the work is done blind.

All of these problems are answered by the present invention.

THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention seeks to solve the problem of cleaning a gutter by providing a system for this to be done from a low / ground level in a manner that is simple and efficient.

BENEFITS

The benefits are several; first it makes cleaning convenient which in turn makes it more likely the cleaning will be undertaken more frequently and thereby forestall problems such as clogging; Second it reduces risk and danger from the need to elevate a person to the level of the gutter; Third owners unable to clean their own gutters save money by removing the need to employ a contractor with the equipment needed for such work.

Lastly it removes from the road vehicles which carry contractors who drive to locations where gutter cleaning is needed which in turn reduces CO2 output from fossil fuel burning.

ACCORDING TO THE PRESENT INVENTION

A gutter cleaning system comprising: At least one rain gutter attachable to a building and shaped and arranged to hold and guide a slidable gutter liner; At least one flexible gutter liner shaped and arranged to fit slidably within a compatible rain gutter; At least one downpipe arranged and positioned to receive a slidable gutter liner moving from the gutter into the downpipe; A drive mechanism to move the gutter liner between a position in the gutter to a position in the downpipe and from a position in the downpipe to a position in the gutter; A controller to activate and control the drive mechanism; Wherein: Upon activation of the drive mechanism by a controller the gutter liner is movable from a position in the gutter to a position in the downpipe such that material or debris on the liner may be substantially deposited into the downpipe.

Invention in detail: There is provided a gutter cleaning system comprising at least one rain water gutter shaped and arranged to hold a flexible liner in a manner that allows the liner to move slidably along the gutter; Such manner including the placement of guides or grooves or guide rails or other such methods which restrain the lateral movement of the liner and allow it to slide along the gutter in a stable and controlled fashion; Further comprising: At least one gutter liner shaped to fit within the gutter and be held and guided in slidable movement along the gutter; Such manner including the placement of guides or grooves or guide rails or other such methods which restrain the lateral movement of the liner and allow it to slide along the gutter in a stable and controlled fashion; Such movement being eased and enabled in part by means and methods that reduce friction and drag between the liner and the gutter; such means and methods as a linear corrugated patterning to gutter base and / or liner base to reduce physical contact and drag and a use of materials that have minimum friction; and including further the optional use of lubricant and other such well known means and methods; Such liner being of material and construction as to be resilient to damage and having a degree of flexibility to enable it to traverse and negotiate curves and bends in the gutter and elsewhere within the system.

In addition there is provided: At least one downpipe attached connected or adjacent to the gutter such that rain water and the like can flow from the gutter into the downpipe; Such downpipe being shaped and arranged in accordance with the gutter or gutter profile to allow the gutter liner to slide from the gutter and into and down the body of the downpipe in a controlled manner; Such manner for controlled movement from the gutter into the downpipe of the liner being for example the placement of guides or grooves or guide rails or other such methods which restrain the lateral movement of the liner and allow it to slide down the pipe; Such downpipe also having the option to contain and hold an extended section of gutter or liner or both; such arrangement offering an optional reduction to any impairment of movement from the gutter to the downpipe by way of transition from one to the other by the main body of the liner.

In addition there is provided: A mechanism operable by a controller to initiate and control the sliding movement of the liner so that it may travel from and along the gutter and into and down the downpipe and thereafter travel up the downpipe and along the gutter to its place of origin or wherever the controller may decide.

Such mechanism may include A conveyor belt! line system integral or connected to the gutter that runs beneath the liner and thereafter into and down the downpipe; Such belt or line system may include a method of controlled movement including containment within a conduit; Such conduit being arranged to contain a control line or belt (hereafter termed belt) which connects to each end or near ends of the liner such as to form a linked loop conveyor system; Such system having at least one point-of-return of the loop close to a lower section of the downpipe and positioned to be accessible for control by a controller; Such system having at least one point-of-return of the loop close to the end of the gutter! liner farthest from the downpipe.

Such arrangement of belt creating thereby a linked loop such that movement of the belt may draw the liner from the gutter and into and down the downpipe and when reversed draw the liner up the downpipe and into the gutter.

Such mechanism further including a means to control movement of the belt and attached liner; Such means may include a mechanical or motorised crank mechanism attached to the belt which when turned causes the belt to move; Such crank being situated convenient for a user -for example at the base of the downpipe and accessible to a controller on the ground.

Such crank or crank mechanism being optionally driven and / or controlled by a motor or battery; Power for such a method may be provided by direct electrical power or by other sources such as solar panels; such panels being optionally linked to the driving mechanism of the system.

Such mechanism may include a means to automate the movement of the liner according to a programme; Preferably the system includes A means to disturb any debris and the like which resides on the liner by way of a patterned surface over which the liner travels such that the liner is moved and / or vibrated in a manner that any debris settled on the surface of the liner -for example organic growth -is disturbed and disrupted and therefore easier to shed when the liner enters the downpipe.

Preferably the system includes A cleaning means whereby the liner may be cleaned or brushed or otherwise aided in shedding debris; Such cleaning means including the use of positioned brushes or rakes or scraping blades and the like; And further including the use of varied surface patterning whereby a liner moving over the surface is subject to disturbance which aids the loosening or disruption of debris and organic matter attached to or residing on the surface of the liner; Such cleaning mechanism further including a means to clean the downpipe; such means being variable and including the option to place at the downpipe end of the gutter liner or attached to the belts within the downpipe a brush or scraper or the like that removes debris from within the downpipe via movement of the conveyor mechanism; Such downpipe cleaning means and method being optionally aligned and coordinated in motion and distance so that movement of the gutter liner to remove debris from the liner has the effect of cleaning the downpipe in a manner that addresses the inner face of the downpipe or its central area or both.

Such system as described enabling a controller to cause the liner to slide from a position within the gutter and along the length of the gutter and into the downpipe; and then to reverse and slide up the interior of the downpipe and return to a position in the gutter; Such movement carrying any debris or detritus of unwanted content that has been deposited on the liner while in the gutter to be carried and shed into the downpipe; such process enabling the gutter to remain clear to carry rainwater.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES:

Examples according to the disclosure will now be described with reference to the following figures, in which: FIGURE 1 Shows three views of a section of gutter with integral conduit; with side front and top view.

FIGURE 2 Shows a section of gutter with installed rollers and control belts.

FIGURE 3 Shows a section of gutter liner in three views: front side and top FIGURE 4 Shows a section of gutter with control belts and section of liner attached to the belts.

FIGURE 5 Shows two side views of a section of gutter with control belts and attached section of gutter liner; drawing (a) shows the liner in one position and drawing (b) shows the liner in a second position and the movement between the two positions.

FIGURE 6 Shows a section of downpipe in two forms; (c) represents three views namely front side and top; (d) represents a side view which is transparent.

FIGURE 7 Shows in figure (e) a front and side view of a transparent section of downpipe with a section of gutter -including integral conduit -inserted; shows in figure (f) the same views with the inserted section of gutter made transparent.

S

FIGURE 8 Shows the two figures (e+f) from Figure 7 as (g) + (h) with additional information; Namely the gutter insert is shown with control belts and associated rollers; in addition (h) has a section of gutter liner inserted and held by the belts.

FIGURE 9 Shows three side views of the downpipe (transparent) plus inserted section of gutter (transparent) with control belts plus an inserted section of gutter liner (not transparent); Figure (i) shows the section of liner in first position; figure (j) shows the section of liner in a second position; figure (k) shows the section of liner in a third position; the three figures show in sequence the movement of the section of gutter liner from the first position to the third position; A leaf is shown falling into the gutter and being moved to the vertical section of the downpipe and then shown falling from the downpipe toward a grate.

FIGURE 10 Shows a single side view of the downpipe (transparent) plus inserted section of gutter (transparent) with control belts plus an inserted section of gutter liner (not transparent); with the section of gutter liner in motion and the means to drive that motion in the form of a crank.

FIGURE 11 Shows the same view as F7; with a reduced section of gutter inserted into the downpipe to illustrate a variant of how the gutter and downpipe interconnect.

FIGURE 12 Shows the same view as F10 with movement of the gutter liner from the gutter into the downpipe; but with a reduced section of gutter inserted into the downpipe to illustrate a variant of how the gutter and downpipe interconnect.

FIGURE 13 Shows the same view as F7; with a reduced section of gutter inserted into the downpipe to illustrate a further variant of how the gutter and downpipe interconnect.

FIGURE 14 Shows the same view as F7; with a reduced section of gutter inserted into a alternative head shape of downpipe to illustrate a variant of how the gutter and downpipe interconnect.

FIGURE 15 Shows the same view as F3 of the liner; with the addition of a downpipe scraper added to the head of the liner.

FIGURE 16 Shows an detailed end view of the gutter with gutter liner inserted to show a variant on the means by which the liner is held from lateral movement and supported and guided as it moves and a detailed view of how the belt is contained within the integrated conduit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are set forth below. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention.

In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment.

Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Other objects, features, and aspects of the present invention are disclosed in the following detailed description. It is to be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present discussion is a description of exemplary embodiments only and is not intended as limiting the broader aspects of the present invention, which broader aspects are embodied in the exemplary constructions.

FIGURE 1 Shows an example of a section of gutter; the profile (2) is shaped such that it allows a section of gutter liner to be inserted and enabled to move / slide along the gutter in a controlled manner. The gutter base includes a conduit (3).

FIGURE 2 Shows how the section of gutter (1) may be arranged to hold a movable belt (7) that passes in part through an integrated conduit (3) with rollers (6) at both ends to hold the belts in tension; FIGURE 3 Shows a section of gutter lining; the lining is profiled (5) to fit within the profile of the gutter (F1-1) such that it may be held securely as it moves / slides along the gutter.

FIGURE 4 Shows how the gutter liner (4) fits into the gutter (1) via the guide rails (2/5) and is attached to the belts (4a) to allow it to be moved when the belts (7) move around the rollers (6) FIGURE 5 Show the way the gutter liner (a -4) is moved along the gutter (1) when the belts (7) passing in part through the conduit (3) are rotated across the rollers (6) at both ends of the gutter (1).

FIGURE 6 Shows a profile of a section of downpipe (c-8) and in transparent view (d8) such as may be employed in combination with a gutter when the gutter is inserted into and shaped in accordance with the curve of the downpipe.

FIGURE 7 Shows the section of downpipe in transparent view (e+f) and how a section of gutter (1) with conduit (3) and guides (2) may be inserted into the downpipe to create a pathway for the movement of the gutter liner when inserted.

FIGURE 8 Shows two figures giving the same details of downpipe and gutter as in Figure 7 in side and front view with both in transparent view; F8-g shows the position of a conveyor belt with rollers (6) and belts (7) partly threaded through a conduit (3); F8-h shows the same view and components as in F8-g with the addition of a section of liner (4) attached to the belts to illustrate how the control belts (7) may be contoured with the gutter to fit within the downpipe (8).

FIGURE 9 Shows three views (i)+(j)+(k) of the transparent downpipe (8) with inserted transparent gutter section (1); Shown in each view is shown a liner section (4) attached to the conveyor mechanism with rollers (6) belts (7); The liner section (4) is shown in three positions with arrows (11) showing movement from one position to another; A leaf (13) is shown to fall into the liner (4) in view (i) and in view (j) is shown to be carried with the liner (4) into the downpipe (8); In view (k) the leaf (13) is shown falling from the liner (4) into a representative drain (14) illustrated by arrows (k-11) to illustrate the means by which gutter debris may travel and fall when the system is operating.

FIGURE 10 Shows the same view as Figure 11 (j) with the addition of a crank (9) turning in direction of arrow (12) via a roller (6) turning in direction of arrow (10) to illustrate how the conveyor may be powered and controlled by a user at the base of the downpipe.

FIGURE 11 Shows the same view as F7; with a reduced section of gutter (1) and conduit (3) inserted into the downpipe (8) to illustrate a variant of how the gutter and downpipe interconnect -i.e. a variant on how the gutter section (1) enables transfer of the liner from the gutter to the downpipe.

FIGURE 12 Shows the same view as F10; A transparent section of downpipe (8) has a limited section of gutter (1) inserted with guide rails (2) and a section of gutter liner (4) with guides (5) is shown in movement from the gutter (1) into the downpipe (8) driven by a conveyor belt arrangement (7) travelling around rollers (6) powered by a crank (9) which is revolved (12); illustrating a variant of how the gutter and downpipe interconnect.

FIGURE 13 Shows the same view as F7; with a reduced section of gutter (1) with integrated conduit (3) inserted into a reduced downpipe (8) to illustrate a further variant of how the gutter and downpipe may interconnect or are arranged to enable transfer of a liner.

FIGURE 14 Shows the same view as F7; with a reduced section of gutter (1) with integrated conduit (3) inserted into a downpipe with modified head (8) to illustrate a further variant of how the gutter and downpipe may interconnect or are arranged to enable transfer of a liner.

FIGURE 15 Shows the same view as F3 of the liner (4) with guides (5) in top side and front view; with the addition of a downpipe scraper (13) added to the head of the liner. This positioning allowing the scraper to remove debris from the downpipe when traveling through it in certain configurations.

FIGURE 16 Shows an detailed end view of the gutter (1) with gutter liner (4) inserted to show a variant on the means by which the liner is held; in this case by guides (15) that travel within a conduit (3); and also showing how a bead belt (7) may be contained within a conduit (3). Also shown is a method of reducing friction between the liner (4) and conduit or gutter (3) by way of support rails (14).

Claims

CLAIMS 1.A gutter cleaning system comprising: At least one rain gutter attachable to a building and shaped and arranged to hold and guide a slidable gutter liner; At least one flexible gutter liner shaped and arranged to fit slidably within a compatible rain gutter; At least one downpipe arranged and positioned to liner moving from the gutter into the downpipe; A drive mechanism to move the gutter liner between a position in the gutter to a position in the downpipe and from a position in the downpipe to a position in the gutter; A controller to activate and control the drive mechanism; Wherein: Upon activation of the drive mechanism by a controller the gutter liner is movable from a position in the gutter to a position in the downpipe such that any material or debris on the liner may be deposited into the downpipe. 2.
A gutter cleaning system according to Claim 1 wherein the liner is flexible and resilient to damage.
3. A gutter cleaning system according to Claim 1 wherein the drive mechanism is a flexible linkage.
4. A gutter cleaning system according to Claim 1 wherein the drive mechanism is attached to the gutter liner at or near both ends.
5. A gutter cleaning system according to Claim 1 wherein At least a part of the drive mechanism is contained within a conduit.
6. A gutter cleaning system according to Claim 1 wherein the drive mechanism is formed as a conveyor belt receive a slidable gutter
7. A gutter cleaning system according to Claim 1 wherein the drive mechanism is powered by a crank arrangement
8. A gutter cleaning system according to Claim 1 wherein the crank is motorised.
9. A gutter cleaning system according to Claim 7 wherein the power source for the drive mechanism is a solar panel.
10. A gutter cleaning system according to Claim 1 wherein the gutter liner passes through a cleaning mechanism while in motion between the gutter and downpipe in at least one direction.
11. A gutter cleaning system according to Claim 1 wherein movement of the gutter liner is arranged to assist in cleaning the downpipe
12. A gutter cleaning system according to Claim 1 wherein the system includes a liner lubrication mechanism.