AU2003203990B2 - Concealed tanks for the collection and storage of rainwater - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: RONALD HUGH FITZPATRICK RONALD HUGH FITZPATRICK SANDERCOCK COWIE ASSOCIATES 69 ROBINSON

STREET

DANDENONG VIC 3175 CONCEALED TANKS FOR THE COLLECTION AND STORAGE OF RAINWATER Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): Australian Provisional Application No. PS2103 Filed: 6 t May, 2002 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 2003

-OS

2 ,A:\43fitzpatiiki cfile wpd, I -la- TITLE: CONCEALED TANKS FOR THE COLLECTION AND STORAGE OF RAINWATER FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns integral, concealed rainwater collection systems for buildings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In areas of low or uncertain rainfall and rural locations which do not have town water, supply, water collection and storage must be provided for the occupants and their 2003-05-02,A:1443fitzpamck.capwpd,

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-2livestock. Tanks may be incorporated into the structure of a house, for example box like concrete tanks may form the deck of a dwelling but it is also usual for the tank to be free standing and separate from the dwelling. Such tanks are fed from a roof collection system of gutters and pipes. Water is lifted from the tank by an electric pump and is distributed throughout the dwelling throughout pipework.

Mains supply may be supplemented by wastewater which is used for toilet flushing or rainwater collected in a tank purchased forjust this purpose and arranged to feed a toilet cistern. The tanks offered for supplementary storage means are commonly cylindrical and most town properties do not have the space to accommodate them. If they are put in the garden they are commonly above ground and very noticeable thereby reducing property value in spite of the water storage advantage. If tanks are incorporated into the roof space, there must be compliance with building codes and the need for load bearing walls rather than partition walls may put constraints on the design of the building.

In this specification, dwelling means the building having water using appliances and includes buildings where people work and public utilities such as bus and rail stations, churches and public toilets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a water storage system for a dwelling, comprising a water storage tank supportable at eaves height which defines the soffit profile and fascia profile of the roof and means to support the tank using the structure of the building, the tank being connectable directly or indirectly to the water distribution of the dwelling.

Preferably the means to support the tank includes suspension means connectable to the roof timbers. In this way, at least some of the mass of the tank is supportable by the suspension means.

The suspension means may support a gutter and the gutter may have an outlet which feeds rainwater to the tank. The suspension means may be a bracket capable of connection to a rafter and a wall stud. Preferably, the cistern using multiple suspension means and the suspension means also provides mounts for a gutter.

2003 0 50 2 ,A:\443fitzpaick.capwpd,2 The tank may be box like with a depth of 175-200mm. The tank may be made of sheet metal with an upper edge flange capable of abutting a wall stud and capable of accepting a fastener. Alternatively, the tank may be a blow moulding with ports for connection to side by side tanks. The tank may have a port for connection to the dwelling appliances which are situated above the sediment level of the tank. The cistern may be retrofitted to a building, but will more usually be designed for incorporation during construction.

The cisterns may utilise ground supported tanks located inside the building, for example occupying spaces between the piers of garage walls. The cistern is designed to eliminate fascia and soffit components but this is optional and the installation may include these components so as to conceal the tank entirely.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a section through the eaves area of a brick veneer house.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same eaves area as Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan of a blow moulded tank.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS Referring now to Figure 1, the wall studs 2 support the roof trusses 4. The brick wall 6 is 115mm thick and reaches eaves height. Rafter 8 normally extends lower than shown to support a fascia board to which the gutter fixings are attached and the soffit panels.

In Figure 1, the rafter is shortened as shown so that the end clears stainless steel tank The tank is 600mm wide, 175mm deep and 3000mm long. The tank sits on the top of the brick wall 16 and is further supported by galvanised steel bracket 14 at rafter spacings. The bracket is secured to stud 2 by a screw 16 and to the rafter by screws 18.

Tank 12 is fabricated with a flange 20 along the upper edge. This flange takes screw 22.

200 3 -05-02,A:\443fitpazrick cap wpd,3 -4- The tanks outlet 24 is connected to the house plumbing. Inlet 26 admits rainwater from a gutter 28 through elbow 30. Bracket 14 has a vertical leg 32 which gutter 28 is secured by a countersunk screw and a nut (not shown). The metal tank is powder coated as is the gutter. If the tank is made from standard size stock sheets it is more practical to close the body with a lid 34. A breather 36 allows orderly filling and emptying. Colourbond T M steel is suitable for the tank body. The ends are secured to the body using a rolled joint and the internal seams are given a continuous bead of silicone sealer through the lid opening. Inlet 26 has a wire gauze filter (not shown) for preventing the entry of mosquitos.

In use, the tanks are butted together along a side of a house as shown in Figure 2. Each tank has an inlet and begins to fill only when the gutter fills to the level of the elbow In Figure 3, the blow moulded tank (600 x 175 x 1260mm) is made of uv resistant outdoor grade polyethylene. Ribs 40 stiffen the wall of the tank. The tank polymer may be coloured to give a reflective quality so that it may act as an eaves liner thereby dispensing with eaves, panels or soffits. In a non-illustrated version, the bracket has fixings to support soffit and fascia panels.

Each metre run of tank holds about 1001.

I have found the advantages of the above embodiment to be:- 1. The horizontal lower tank face may double as the soffit and the outer vertical face of the tank may double as a fascia.

2. The tank is sealed at a height which gives useful head for supplying the water appliances in the building.

3. In a brick veneer or concrete panel construction, the tank may be additionally supported on the masonry.

It is to be understood that the word "comprising" as used throughout the specification is 2003 02A 1443 fitzick. cap.wpd4 to be interpreted in its inclusive form, ie. use of the word "comprising" does not exclude the addition of other elements.

It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

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Claims (9)

1. A water storage system for a dwelling comprising a water storage tank supportable at eaves height which defines the soffit profile and fascia profile of the roof and means to support the tank using the structure of the building, the tank being connectable directly or indirectly to the water distribution of the dwelling.

2. A water storage system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the means to support the tank includes suspension means connectable to the roof timbers, whereby at least some of the mass of the tank is supported by the suspension means.

3. A water storage system as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the suspension means supports a gutter and the gutter has an outlet which feeds rainwater to the tank.

4. A water storage system as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the suspension means is a bracket capable of connection to a rafter and a wall stud.

A water storage system as claimed in Claim 4, wherein there are multiple suspension means and the suspension means provide mounts for a gutter.

6. A water storage system as claimed in any one of Claims 1-5, wherein the tank is box like with a depth of 175-200mm.

7. A water storage system as claimed in anyone of Claims 1-6, wherein the tank is made of sheet metal with an upper edge flange capable of abutting a wall stud and accepting a fastener.

8. A water storage system as claimed in any one of Claims 1-7, wherein the tank is a blow moulding with ports for connection to side by side tanks.

9. A water storage system as claimed in any one of Claims 1-8, wherein the tank has a port for connection to the dwelling water using appliances which are situated

2007-04-23.Z \Specifications\faizpatrick p rpd,6 above the sediment level of the tank. A water storage system substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 and 2 or modified by Figure 3. 11. Multiple tanks as claimed in Claim 1, when connected in a dwelling to a source of water to be stored and to the water using appliances of the dwelling. 12. A dwelling with an integrally installed system as claimed in any one of Claims 1-9. 13. A kit of parts for the water storage system of a dwelling comprising one or more water storage tanks which define the soffit profile and fascia profile of the roof when supported at eaves height, multiple supports for eaves mounting of the tank or tanks, a gutter for collection of rainwater, pipes, pipe connectors and pipe fasteners. 2007-04-23.Z\Spcifications\fitzpatrick.capwpd,7