JP2002097678A - Rainwater storage tank - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an eco-friendly rainwater storage tank using a recycled product of waste glass, substantially requiring no installing area and contributable to reducing water resources by effectively using rainwater. SOLUTION: This water storage tank is characterized by filling foaming glass pieces in an impervious sheet by covering a wall surface and a bottom surface of a hole excavated in the ground with the continuous impervious sheet.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a rainwater storage tank. More specifically, the present invention uses a recycled product of waste glass, does not substantially require an installation area, and can effectively utilize rainwater to contribute to saving of water resources. About.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Water is of vital importance to human life. Since ancient times, people living on remote islands have collected rainwater and used it for both drinking and washing. In recent years, as water consumption has increased due to changes in social life, the number of regions that have been chronically drought has increased, and in the metropolitan area and other areas, water intake restrictions are often repeated in summer. Against this background, effective use of rainwater is being reviewed. The effective use of rainwater is beginning to attract attention as emergency water in the event of a disaster, in addition to saving tap water. Even during the Hyogoken-Nanbu Earthquake, drinking water was supplied to individuals relatively early, but restoring the water supply took a long time, and in many areas the daily life was inconvenient. Further, even in normal times, it is useless to use water having the same quality as drinking water for watering a garden, watering a flush toilet, and the like.
For this reason, more and more local governments are encouraging the use of rainwater and setting up subsidies. Conventional rainwater use often collects rainwater falling on the roof of a house in one place and stores it in a water tank. However, the size of the water tank that can be installed in ordinary households is spatially limited, and it has been difficult to store a large amount of rainwater. In addition, there were many cases of hygiene problems such as generation of aquatic organisms such as algae and bow flora. Setting up an underground tank required a lot of money, and it was almost impossible to recover the cost by reducing water bills. For this reason, there has been a demand for a means of using rainwater that can economically and rationally utilize rainwater and contribute to environmental conservation.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention utilizes recycled glass waste, does not require a substantial installation area, and can effectively utilize rainwater to contribute to saving water resources. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use rainwater storage tank.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems The inventors of the present invention have conducted intensive studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, and as a result, excavated a hole in the ground and covered the wall surface and bottom surface with a continuous impermeable sheet. ,
By filling the water-impervious sheet with foam glass pieces,
It has been found that a large-capacity rainwater storage tank which does not substantially require an installation area and has no safety concerns can be economically produced, and based on this finding, the present invention has been completed.
That is, the present invention provides (1) rainwater storage, characterized in that a wall surface and a bottom surface of a hole excavated in the ground are covered with a continuous impermeable sheet, and a foam glass piece is filled in the impermeable sheet. The tank, (2) the rainwater storage tank according to claim 1, which has a plate member between the wall surface and the bottom surface and the water-shielding sheet, and (3) a can body having a rainwater introduction hole at a lower portion on the bottom surface of the water-shielding sheet. 4. The rainwater storage tank according to claim 1, wherein a terminal of a pumping pipe reaching the ground is provided in the can body, (4) the rainwater storage tank according to claim 3, wherein the top surface of the filled foam glass piece is covered with soil. And (5) The rainwater storage tank according to (4), wherein a reinforcing plate is provided between the filled foam glass pieces and the covering soil.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A rainwater storage tank according to the present invention is a tank formed by covering a wall surface and a bottom surface of a hole excavated in the ground with a continuous waterproof sheet, and filling the waterproof sheet with a foam glass piece. It is. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of one embodiment of the rainwater storage tank of the present invention. In the rainwater storage tank of this embodiment, the wall surface and the bottom surface of the hole 1 excavated in the ground are covered with a continuous water-blocking sheet 2, and the water-blocking sheet is filled with foam glass pieces 3. There is no particular limitation on the volume of the hole to be excavated in the ground, and it can be appropriately selected according to the amount of rainwater to be stored. Since the rainwater storage tank filled with the foam glass pieces of the present invention can store about 70% of the rainwater of the hole volume, the hole volume can be calculated using this as a guide. The shape of the rainwater storage tank of the present invention is not particularly limited, and can be arbitrarily selected according to the shape of the site. For example, a cubic shape, a rectangular parallelepiped, a triangular prism, a hexagonal prism, a cylinder, an elliptical cylinder, and the like can be used. be able to. There is no particular limitation on the water-blocking sheet used in the present invention, and a material without water leakage can be appropriately selected and used. Examples of such a material include a plastic sheet such as a vinyl chloride resin, a rubber sheet, a rubber cloth, and the like. The thickness of the material of the water-impermeable sheet is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 5 mm, more preferably 2 to 3 mm. Modified ready-made flexible containers can also be used as waterproof sheets. In the rainwater storage tank of the present invention, since the outside of the impermeable sheet is the soil surface and the inside is filled with foam glass pieces, the water pressure is supported by the soil surface even if the tank is fully filled with rainwater. The waterproof sheet does not require high strength. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the water shielding sheet used in the present invention. The impermeable sheet of the present embodiment,
It can be manufactured by bonding or suturing five rectangular sheets so as not to leak water. For example, vertical 1
Approximately 1.8 kL of rainwater can be stored by using the impermeable sheet of m, 1.8 m in width and 1.4 m in depth.
Since the rainwater storage tank of the present invention is installed underground and is not exposed to sunlight, there is no generation of algae and no bow flutter.

There is no particular limitation on the method for producing the foamed glass piece used in the present invention. For example, a glass foam and a foaming agent are mixed, heated and foamed, and the glass powder is baked to form a lump of foamed glass. You can get a piece. Although there is no particular limitation on the glass powder used, among the collected glass bottles, it is preferable to use a crushed waste glass bottle that cannot be reused as a glass bottle or a cullet due to the color and shape of the glass bottle. it can. Foam glass pieces made from crushed food glass bottles have no risk of elution of harmful substances. Such foamed glass pieces are available from Forest Gunhiro Co., Ltd. as "Super Sol" and "Forestoon".
It is commercially available as Absolute dry density of the foam glass pieces used in the present invention is preferably 0.3~1.2g / cm ^3, more preferably 0.4 to 0.8 g / cm ^3.
When the absolute dry density of the foam glass piece is less than 0.3 g / cm ³ ,
There is a possibility that the strength of the foam glass piece is insufficient, and it becomes difficult to place a heavy object on the rainwater storage tank. When the density of the foam glass piece exceeds 1.2 g / cm ³ , the weight of the foam glass piece handled when constructing the rainwater storage tank increases, and the workability may be reduced. The size of the foam glass piece used in the present invention is preferably such that the distance between the two most distant points on the surface is 10 to 100 mm, and 30 to 80 mm.
mm is more preferable. The distance between the two most distant points on the surface is the distance corresponding to the diameter of a sphere,
In the case of a rectangular parallelepiped, the distance is equivalent to the length of a diagonal line passing through the center of gravity. Since the shape of the foam glass piece is usually indefinite, its size can be expressed by the distance between the two most distant points on the surface. If the distance between the two most distant points on the surface is less than 10 mm, the foam glass pieces may be too densely packed and the storage capacity of rainwater may decrease. When the distance between the two most distant points on the surface exceeds 100 mm, a large load is applied to the contact points between the foam glass pieces, and the foam glass pieces may be damaged.

[0007] In the rainwater storage tank of the present invention, it is preferable to install a plate between the wall surface and the bottom surface of the hole excavated in the ground and the impermeable sheet. If the shape of the rainwater storage tank is cylindrical, a large-diameter pipe material can be used for the wall surface, but if the shape of the rainwater storage tank is a rectangular parallelepiped or the like, a flat plate material can be used. preferable. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a plate material used in the present invention. The plate member of the present embodiment is composed of a set of five flat plates. As shown in FIG. 1, the plate member 4 is installed between the wall surface and the bottom surface of the hole excavated in the ground and the impermeable sheet. Examples of the flat plate material include gypsum board, asbestos cement board, wood wool cement board, and plywood. Among these, plywood that is inexpensive and easy to process can be suitably used. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, each of the five flat plates is completely a single plate, but it is also possible to process standard flat plates and join them together to obtain a plate material used in the present invention. After the rainwater storage tank is completed, only the pressure on the wall or bottom surface is applied to the plate, so the seaming can be performed only by temporary fixing with the minimum strength required for construction. By installing the plate material between the wall surface and the bottom surface and the impermeable sheet, the shape retention of the impermeable sheet is improved, and the possibility of damage due to deformation of the impermeable sheet can be eliminated.

[0008] In the rainwater storage tank of the present invention, it is preferable that a can body having a rainwater introduction hole be provided at a lower portion of the bottom surface of the impermeable sheet, and a terminal of a pumping pipe reaching the ground be provided in the can body. There is no particular limitation on the can body used, for example,
A plastic drum, a stainless steel drum, a steel drum, or the like can be diverted and used. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a can body used in the present invention. The can body of this embodiment has a rainwater introduction hole 5 in the lower part, and a pumping port 6 on the top plate. As shown in FIG. 1, the can 7 is installed on the bottom surface of the impermeable sheet, and the end of a water pump 8 reaching the ground is provided in the can. There is no particular limitation on the pump connected to the water pump, and it can be appropriately selected according to the purpose of use of the rainwater storage tank, the frequency of use, the physical strength of the user, and the like. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the hand pump 9 is connected to the upper end of the water pump, but an electric pump can be connected instead of the hand pump, or a submersible pump is installed in a can body, The switch can be provided on the ground. By installing a can body with a rainwater introduction hole at the bottom on the bottom of the seepage control sheet, and providing the end of the pumping pipe in the can,
Since there is no foam glass piece around the end of the pumping pipe and it is in a state filled with rainwater, it is possible to easily pump water without resistance. When rainwater is drawn out by the pump and the water level in the can falls, the rainwater existing in the gap between the foam glass pieces flows into the can through the rainwater introduction hole. Further, when there is no water present in the gap between the foamed glass pieces, the rainwater absorbed by the foamed glass pieces is gradually released and flows into the can through the rainwater introduction hole. A filter may be provided in the rainwater introduction hole of the can body as needed to prevent intrusion of fine particles and the like.

[0009] In the rainwater storage tank of the present invention, the top surface of the foam glass piece filled in the impermeable sheet can be covered. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the foam glass pieces filled in the water-impervious sheet are covered with a cover soil 10. By covering the top surface of the filled foam glass pieces, for example, when installing a rainwater storage tank in a garden,
The garden can be used as in the case where the rainwater storage tank is not installed, without reducing the area of the garden by the rainwater storage tank by using the upper surface of the rainwater storage tank as a flower bed or a lawn. In the rainwater storage tank of the present invention, a reinforcing plate can be provided between the foam glass piece filled in the water-blocking sheet and the covering soil. The reinforcing plate to be used is not particularly limited, and for example, a wooden flat pallet, a metal flat pallet, a plastic flat pallet, or the like can be used. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a reinforcing plate used in the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the reinforcing plate 11 is provided between the filled foam glass piece and the cover soil. When a reinforcing plate is provided between the filled foam glass piece and the covering soil, the exterior covering, such as a chair or a bench, which places a relatively large load on the small area of the legs, and other heavy objects can be placed on the covering. Even if it is placed, there is no possibility that the foam glass piece is damaged.

When the rainwater storage tank of the present invention is installed near the rain gutter, rainwater falling on the roof can be collected through the rain gutter and supplied directly to the rainwater storage tank. When the rainwater storage tank is separated from the rain gutter, a rainwater conduit using foam glass pieces can be provided from the rain gutter to the rainwater storage tank. A groove is dug in the ground from the gutter to the rainwater storage tank, and the groove is filled with foam glass pieces to form a rainwater conduit. The rainwater flowing from the rain gutter flows into the rainwater storage tank through the gap between the foam glass pieces in the rainwater conduit. By providing a rainwater conduit using foam glass pieces from the rain gutter to the rainwater storage tank, it is possible to reduce the cost of piping work from the rain gutter to the rainwater storage tank. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a rainwater conduit 13 using foam glass pieces is provided from the rain gutter 12 to the rainwater storage tank 1. FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the rainwater conduit is viewed from above. The rainwater conduit using foam glass pieces can be used like other parts of the garden by covering the upper surface with soil. The rainwater storage tank of the present invention can be used not only for storing rainwater, but also for storing relatively clean gray water at home. For example, when rain does not fall for a long period of time, the drainage of a bath or the like can be stored in the rainwater storage tank of the present invention and used for watering a garden or the like. Foam glass pieces used in the present invention, in addition to the ability to retain water,
Since it also has a filtration function and can purify water, relatively clean water can be obtained even if household wastewater is stored.

[0011]

The rainwater storage tank of the present invention can be installed economically because it uses recycled glass waste and does not use structural materials requiring strength. Also,
With substantially no installation area required, a garden or the like can be used as before, and rainwater can be effectively used to contribute to saving water resources.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of one embodiment of a rainwater storage tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a water-blocking sheet used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a plate material used in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a can used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a reinforcing plate used in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drilled in the ground 2 Waterproof sheet 3 Foam glass piece 4 Plate material 5 Rainwater introduction hole 6 Pumping pipe mouth 7 Can body 8 Pumping pipe 9 Hand pump 10 Covering soil 11 Reinforcement plate 12 Rain gutter 13 Rainwater conduit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A rainwater storage tank characterized in that the wall surface and the bottom surface of a hole excavated in the ground are covered with a continuous water-impervious sheet, and the water-impervious sheet is filled with foam glass pieces. 2. The rainwater storage tank according to claim 1, wherein a plate member is provided between the wall surface and the bottom surface and the impermeable sheet. 3. The rainwater storage tank according to claim 1, wherein a can body having a rainwater introduction hole at a lower portion is provided on a bottom surface of the water-impervious sheet, and a terminal of a pumping pipe reaching the ground is provided in the can body. 4. The rainwater storage tank according to claim 3, wherein an upper surface of the filled foam glass piece is covered with soil. 5. The rainwater storage tank according to claim 4, wherein a reinforcing plate is provided between the filled foam glass pieces and the covering soil.