AU782888B2 - Roof downpipe fire plug - Google Patents

Description

1

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant Actual Inventor Rodney George Wade Rodney George Wade Address for Service: CULLEN CO Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street Brisbane QId 4000 Australian Roof Downpipe Fire Plug Invention Title: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it, known to us: 2 ROOF DOWNPIPE FIRE PLUG TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to fire preventative measures for buildings and is particularly concerned with means for enabling roof gutters to be filled with water when fire threatens.

BACKGROUND ART Shut-off valves in downpipes connected to roof gutters are known. They are typically of sophisticated design and are concomitantly expensive.

A more basic design has been known to fail due to distortion and leakage due to the weight of water exerted on it, and in some instances such valves become virtually impossible to open due to the pressure of the head water in the pipe.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a main object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive shut-off valve for downpipes which is not subject to the S. aforementioned problems or at least provides the public with a useful alternative.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will 20 become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ~According to the present invention there is provided a fitting for location in a rainwater downpipe of a building, said fitting comprising a rainwater inlet and a rainwater outlet, a seat adjacent the rainwater outlet for accommodating a removable plug, and access means to the seat to enable the plug to be manually placed and removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Preferably, a connection is provided in the fitting to enable water to be introduced above the plugged seat. The connection can be associated with the access means and is suitably a hose connector with a shut-off valve.

The fitting can assume a wide variety of shapes and configurations. Preferably it is designed to be press-fitted and glued into a section of the downpipe.

A particularly preferred shape is a shape, with the head of the forming the rainwater inlet and outlet. The access means to such a seal is suitably a threaded opening in the leg of the which has a complementary threaded cap with a neoprene or like seal. The hose connector is preferably formed coaxially with the cap.

The seat within the fitting can be a simple ring welded or integrally formed in the side wall of the fitting adjacent to the access means to io facilitate the fitting or removal of the plug. Suitably, the plug is a standard double sealing neoprene rubber plug.

The fitting can be installed in a matter of minutes in a downpipe and is inexpensive.

In use, the access means is opened and the plug manually inserted on the seat. The access means is then closed and the downpipe is filled with water. In the preferred embodiment, fitting is achieved by connecting a hose to the shut-off valve on the cap.

The hose is turned on and then the shut off valve on the cap is turned on. Water fills the downpipe which is connected to the gutter. As the IIII1: 20 downpipe fills, the pressure of the water on the plug increases, thus ensuring a viable seal. The water flows upwards and floods the gutter. When the gutter is full, the shut-off valve on the cap is turned off, the hose is turned off and the hose is disconnected.

A gutter filled with water ensures that burning debris that end up in the gutter will immediately be extinguished, thereby significantly reducing the possibility of the building catching on fire.

Draining of the gutter is effected by simply opening the shut-off valve. After draining the cap can be removed effortlessly as there is no back pressure working against its removal, and the plug can be lifted off its seat.

The fitting can also be used as a diversion valve by simply fitting a hose to the hose connector in the cap and turning the shut-off valve in the cap to the on position. The water from the hose could be used for any number of water conversation measures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a fitting according to the invention located in a typical downpipe, and Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the fitting shown in figure 1.

In both of the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to both of the drawings simultaneously, the fitting comprises an inlet 11, an outlet 12, a seat 13 a plug 14, and access means The fitting 10 is located in a downpipe 16 connected to a gutter 17 of a roof (not shown). The exact location of the fitting within the downpipe will be determined by the site considerations but will in any case be such is to be readily accessible without the need for a ladder or other aid.

The seat 13 is a ring fitted in the outlet region of the fitting and the plug 14 is a standard neoprene rubber plug.

The access mean 15 consists of a threaded end-piece having an associated complementary threaded cap 21 with a coaxially formed hose connector 22. The hose connector 22 includes a shut-off valve to control the flow of water into and of the fitting.

Note: The term "comprise" or variations thereof is used herein to denote the inclusion of a stated integer or integers but not to exclude any other integer or integers, unless in the context or usage an exclusive interpretation of the term is required.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated that modifications and additions thereto may be made without departing from the scope thereof, as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (9)

1. A fitting for location in a rainwater downpipe of a building, said fitting comprising a rainwater inlet and a rainwater outlet, a seat adjacent the rainwater outlet for accommodating a removable plug, and a access means to the seat to enable the plug to be manually placed and removed.

2. A fitting as claimed in claim 1 and including a connector to enable water to be introduced above the plugged seat.

3. A fitting as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connector is associated with the access means.

4. A fitting as claimed in claim 3, wherein the connector is a hose -:connector with a shut off valve.

5. A fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and which has a shaped configuration.

6. A fitting as claimed in claim 5, wherein the access means is a 15 threaded opening in the leg of the which has a complementary threaded cap.

7. A fitting as claimed in claim 5 when appended to claim 4 only, wherein the hose connector is formed coaxially with the cap.

8. A fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein .ooooi 20 the seat is a ring located in the side wall of the fitting adjacent to the access means.

9. A fitting as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the plug is a standard double sealing neoprene rubber plug. A fitting substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 7 day of January 2002 Rodney George Wade By his Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.