AU753101B2

AU753101B2 - Rainwater product

Info

Publication number: AU753101B2
Application number: AU16699/01A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Antonio Nero
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-01-29
Filing date: 2001-01-29
Publication date: 2002-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 2021-01-29
Also published as: AU1669901A

Description

1~ RAINWATER PRODUCT The present invention generally relates to rainwater utilisation, and more particularly to a rainwater utilisation device for installation in a gutter downpipe or in lieu thereof.

Traditionally, rainwater in city and suburban areas generally falls on roofs and pavement and is channelled though gutters directly into stormwater drains. Rainfall on lawns and vegetation is generally insufficient and/or too infrequent and irregular to sustain growth without supplementary watering from town water supply.

The present invention provides a rainwater utilisation device for use in combination with a downpipe comprising means to receive rainwater, said rainwater receiving means having inlet means adapted to receive rainwater from rainwater collection means through an upper portion of the downpipe, outlet means adapted to distribute rainwater received by the rainwater receiving means and overflow means adapted to discharge surplus rainwater received within the rainwater receiving means through a lower portion of the downpipe, wherein the overflow means is set at a maximum permitted water retention level of the device thereby allowing accumulated water which exceeds this level to pass directly into the lower portion of the downpipe.

Preferably the device, in use, has constantly open outlet means to directly distribute rainwater received within the 2 receiving means to watering means. The watering means may, for example be in the form of a soaking hose, drip irrigation means, sprinkler or other watering nozzles or appliances.

Said inlet means may, for example, be in the form of one inlet port.

Said outlet means may, for example, be in the form of one outlet port.

10 Said overflow means may, for example, be in the form of one overflow port.

~Preferably the device forms part of a downpipe of a roof guttering system.

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The device may be retro-fitted to an existing downpipe. To 15 retro-fit the device, the downpipe may be severed at two ooooo S°spaced apart locations along its length with the severed length of downpipe replaced by the device. In accordance with one embodiment, the device has an inlet port into which the lower end of the remaining upper portion of the downpipe is 20 connected and an opening into which the upper end of the remaining lower portion of the downpipe is threaded. The lower portion extends into the device a predetermined length and functions as overflow means for the device. The upper end of the lower portion of the remaining downpipe is set at a maximum permitted water retention level of the device thus allowing accumulated water which exceeds this level to pass directly into the downpipe drain.

The present invention may thus enable utilisation of the rainwater water flowing through a gutter downpipe and may facilitate the utilisation of the bulk of rainfall collected during light rain, yet only part of the rainfall collected during heavy storms.

Preferably the interface between the lower portion and the opening is sealed to prevent egress of rainwater therebetween. The connection between the inlet port and the upper portion of the downpipe may also be sealed.

Preferably the device is provided with an outlet port disposed at or towards the lower end thereof. The outlet port may be provided with coupling means to connect a hose or pipe to distribute rainwater to desired locations.

The device thus permits unrestricted run off of flash stormwater or ordinary rainwater by directing only a predetermined maximum pressure head of water to desired locations through said outlet means and discharging excess water which would otherwise increase said pressure head through said overflow means directly to a drain.

The outlet may be connected to a cut-off valve or tap.

When the valve is closed the device generally functions as a small retention tank.

However the device is more preferably used without cut-off means to provide more effective watering to plants and vegetation which would otherwise not benefit from flash storms and light showers.

The device provides for utilisation of run off of flash storms 10 or ordinary rainwater from roofs and other surfaces to facilitate more effective watering of vegetation than would otherwise °occur when the device is not installed. The provision of overflow means enables the device to provide rainwater to o oo.

vegetation at a pressure head limited by the height of the overflow port above the outlet port.

*In order to facilitate a better understanding of the nature of the present invention a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which; 20 FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a preferred rainwater utilisation device 1 is installed in a gutter downpipe 5. The device 1 may replace a length of the downpipe severed from a downpipe 8 or may form the inter-connector between a gutter outlet and a drain inlet.

The illustrated rainwater utilisation device 1 comprising means 14 to receive rainwater, said rainwater receiving means 14 having inlet means 3 adapted to receive rainwater 9 from rainwater collection means, such as for example, a outlet from a gutter which collects rainwater from the roof surfaces of a building and generally directs it to a downpipe, outlet means 2 adapted to distribute rainwater received within the rainwater receiving means 14 and overflow means 4 adapted to discharge surplus o rainwater received within the rainwater receiving means 14.

The device is also provided an outlet means 2 near a bottom of the device 1 for guiding rainwater received within the receiving means 14 from the downpipe 8. A hose 15 may be connected to drainage outlet means 2 so that rainwater can flow to specific watering locations.

Said inlet means 3 is in the form of an inlet port.

S: 20 Said outlet means 2 is in the form of one outlet port. Said overflow means 4 is the form of one overflow port.

The device 1 forms part of a downpipe 8 of a roof guttering system. In the illustrated example the device 1 is retrofitted to an existing downpipe 8. To retrofit the device 1, the downpipe

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6 8 is severed at two spaced apart locations along its length with the severed length of downpipe replaced by the device 1.

The device 1 has an inlet port 3 into which the lower end of the remaining upper portion of the downpipe 8 is connected and an opening 11 into which the upper end of the remaining lower portion 4 of the downpipe is threaded. A tubular member 4 extends into the device 1 from said upper end 5 a predetermined length and functions as overflow means 4 for 10 the device 1. The upper end of the lower portion of the tubular member 4 is set at a maximum permitted water •retention level 6 of the device 1 thus allowing accumulated water which exceeds this level 6 to pass directly into the downpipe drain disposed below the lower portion 5 of the downpipe. In other embodiments the overflow means may be in the form of the upper end of the lower portion 5 of the gutter.

The interface between the lower portion 5 and the opening 11 and that between tubular member 4 and the openings 11 is .i 20 20 ~sealed by for example adhesive to prevent egress of rainwater therebetween. The connection between the inlet port 3 and the upper portion of the downpipe 8 may also be sealed. The outlet port 2 is disposed at or towards the lower end of the device 1. The outlet port 2 is connect a hose or pipe 15 to distribute rainwater to desired watering locations.

tlltl: The outlet may be connected to a cut-off valve or tap.

When the valve is closed the device generally functions as a small retention tank. However the device is more preferably constantly open outlet means to directly distribute rainwater received within the receiving means to watering 20 means (not shown) whereby to provide more effective watering to plants and vegetation which would otherwise not benefit from flash storms and light showers.

The device provides for utilisation of run off of flash storms or ordinary rainwater from roofs and other surfaces to facilitate more effective watering of vegetation than would otherwise occur when the device is not installed. The provision of overflow means enables the device to provide rainwater to vegetation at a pressure limited by the height of the overflow means 4 above the outlet port 2.

It is appreciated that when rainfall is heavy, outlet 2 will not be able to direct all the rainwater collected in receiving means 14 to watering means (not shown) and so rainwater will accumulate within the receiving means 14 until it reaches the height of the water retention level 6 then surplus water will pass directly through the cover 7 of the overflow means 4 into the stormwater drain.

Once water passes into overflow means 4 a maximum predetermined pressure head is directed through outlet port 2 to desired locations. The pressure head and flow rate to desired locations is dependent upon the volume of water in the receiving means, the height of the water retention level 6 and the cross-sectional area of the orifice of the outlet port 2.

20 The device 1 is preferably constructed primarily of conventional commercially available rainwater components and may be formed of suitable plastic material to resist corrosion or of other materials such as pre-coated sheet metal. The components of the illustrated device are of plastics material and of cylindrical cross-section to match the cylindrical cross-sectional downpipe 8. The device may be formed of rectangular cross-sectional components to suit rectangular cross-sectional downpipes.

Additionally connectors 10, 11, 12 and 13 may be provided different cross-sectional ends to accommodate respective cross-sectional components.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention 10 described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described without departing from the spirit and ambit of the invention.

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Claims

1. A rainwater utilisation device for use in combination with a downpipe comprising means to receive rainwater, said rainwater receiving means having inlet means adapted to receive rainwater from rainwater collection means through an upper portion of the downpipe, outlet means adapted to distribute rainwater received by the rainwater receiving means and overflow means adapted to discharge surplus rainwater received within the rainwater receiving means through a lower portion of the downpipe, wherein the overflow means is set at a maximum permitted water retention level of the device thereby allowing accumulated water which exceeds :this level to pass directly into the lower portion of the downpipe.

2. A rainwater utilisation device according to claim 1 wherein the device, in use, has constantly open outlet means to directly distribute rainwater received within the receiving means to watering means.

3. A rainwater utilisation device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the inlet means is in the form of one inlet port.

4. A rainwater utilisation device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the outlet means is in the form of one outlet port.

A rainwater utilisation device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the overflow means is in the form of one overflow port.

6. A rainwater utilisation device according to any one of the 11 preceding claims wherein the device forms part of a downpipe of a roof guttering system.

7. A rainwater utilisation device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the device has an inlet port into which a lower end of the upper portion of the downpipe is connected and an opening into which the upper end of the lower portion of the downpipe is threaded so that the lower portion extends into the device a predetermined length and functions as overflow means for the device and the upper end of the lower portion of the remaining downpipe is set at a maximum permitted water retention level of the device thereby allow accumulated water which exceeds this level to pass directly into a downpipe drain.

8. A rainwater utilisation device according to claim 7 wherein the interface between the lower portion and the opening is sealed to prevent egress of rainwater therebetween.

9. A rainwater utilisation device according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the connection between the inlet port and the upper portion of the downpipe is sealed. 00

10. A method of installing a rainwater utilisation device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the device is retro-fitted to an existing downpipe including the steps of severing the downpipe at two spaced apart locations 12 along its length with the severed length of downpipe replaced by the device.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the device has an inlet port into which the lower end of the remaining upper portion of the downpipe is connected and an opening into which the upper end of the remaining lower portion of the downpipe is threaded so that the lower portion extends into the device a predetermined length and functions as overflow means for the device and the upper end of the lower portion of the remaining downpipe is set at a maximum permitted water retention level of the device thus allowing accumulated water which exceeds this level to pass directly into the downpipe drain.

12. A rainwater utilisation device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing.

13. A method of installation of a rainwater utilisation device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawing. Dated this 29 th day of January 2001 ANTONIO NERO