GB2248262A

GB2248262A - Rainwater diverter

Info

Publication number: GB2248262A
Application number: GB9119349A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norman William Embley
Original assignee: BRINDLEY DAVID BRIAN; BRINDLEY GEOFFREY
Current assignee: BRINDLEY DAVID BRIAN; BRINDLEY GEOFFREY
Priority date: 1990-09-25
Filing date: 1991-09-10
Publication date: 1992-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 2011-09-10
Also published as: GB9020868D0; GB2248262B; GB9119349D0

Abstract

The invention provides a rain water diverter (1.2) for use in a downpipe (5) which diverter comprises a conduit (2) adapted to interfit with an aperture (9) in the downpipe, said conduit terminating in a spoon shaped element (1) adapted to catch falling water and direct the same to the interior bore of the conduit. Preferably the conduit is formed of a plastics material which is sufficiently elastically deformable so as to enter the aperture (9) of the downpipe (5) and to readopt its spoon like shape within the downpipe. The conduit (2) is rotatable in the aperture (9) so that the spoon like member may be rotated to switch on or off the water collection facility. <IMAGE>

Description

LIQUID DIVERTER The present invention relates to a liquid diverter, and particularly to a liquid diverter to be used to divert rainwater to a water butt or other storage tank.

Traditionally the guttering on buildings has been connected to a water butt or other storage tank which has been provided with an overflow facility to drain.

Whereas this is satisfactory in most conditions there are several circumstal1ces in which the limitations to the system are revealed. In the first place during really heavy rain the water butt tends to receive water to a point where the overflow is insufficient to cope with the volume and spillage of water results.

The connection of a water butt to a guttering system and its associated overflow device are essentially immoveable fixtures and are quite costly to procure and install.

Another problem with fixed guttering systems and associated water butts is that changing the system usually requires the assistance of a skilled artisan. It follows that altering the guttering and water storage facilities of a building is not particularly straightforward.

An attempt has been made to address this problem by providing a pre-moulded downpipe unit with a fixed water catching element therein and a conduit extending therefrom for connection to a water storage tank. For this arrangement to be satisfactory, it requires mouldings to be individually matched to any one of a series of possible downpipe profiles and of course, it requires the existing downpipe to be cut, displaced, and re-assembled in order to fit the unit to the system. Furthermore, it is not possible in such systems to switch off the water diverting facility at will.

The present invention seeks to provide a facile means of diverting water flowing down a downpipe to a storage tank which can be readily engaged or disengaged from water collection. The invention also provides an arrangement which can be readily installed in any downpipe merely by boring an aperture through the wall of the downpipe of the correct dimensions and inserting a device in accordance with the present invention. The device may subsequently be withdrawn and the aperture be sealed with a grommet if desired.Accordingly the present invention provides in the first aspect a liquid diverter for use in a downpipe which diverter comprises a conduit adapted to interfit with an aperture in the downpipe. said conduit terminating in a spoon-shaped element adapted to collect liquid flowing in said downpipe direct the same to the interior bore of the conduit.

In a preferred aspect of the invention the conduit interfits with the aperture in the downpipe such that rotation of the conduit also rotates the spoon-shaped element thereby to reduce or stop liquid entering the conduit in use.

The spoon-shaped element is preferably formed of a material which is sufficiently elastically deforlllable as to enter the aperture in the downpipe and thereupon to re-adopt its spoon shape therewithin. Generally, such an elastically deformable material is a plastics sheet material such as polyethylene or a suitable elastically deformable polymer or co-polymer of the type known in the water storage art.

In an arrangement as just described, it is preferred that the spoon-shaped element and the conduit are together constructed and arranged such that when in-situ in the downpipe they resist rotation within the downpipe when they have been disposed in any pre-determined position. This may be arranged by forming the spoon-shaped element in a shape in which a portion thereof, in its natural unfolded state, is in frictional contact with the interior face of the downpipe so that it resists rotation when, for example,it is subject to inadvertent pressure to the exterior, or to a heavy fall of water to the interior of the downpipe.

In a particularly preferred form of the invention, the conduit is formed with a flange portion for contact with the exterior face of the downpipe in use. In such an arrangement the nearest (rear) edges of the spoon-shaped element can be extended rearwardly so that in use they form an interference fit against the interior wall of the conduit adjacent the flange. Simultaneously, or alternatively.

interference fit can be provided by contact of the remote end of the spoon shaped element with the far interior wall of the downpipe.

As stated above, the conduit, in accordance with the present invention, mav be provided with an exterior flange portion for location against the exterior of the downpipe. Preferably, said flange has an operative end face with is angled to the axis of the conduit thereby to allow a liquid such as water to flow downxvaldly through the conduit from the spoon-shaped element. In one preferred embodiment the spoon-shaped element is formed of a one-piece plastic moulding.

However, in another aspect of the invention the spoon-shaped element is formed from a sheet of plastics material which is resiliently deformable. The conduit may then be separately formed of plastics or metal material. The sheet material may have a generally circular or ovoid portion in plan terminating in a T-piecr preferably formed integrally therewith. The free ends of the T-piece may then be secured about the conduit in use whereby the act of securing the ends of the T-piece about the conduit in use also serves to stress the ovoid or circular portion to form the spoon-shaped element according to the present invention.

The diverter in accordance with the present invention may be pre-formed in a section of downpipe with male and/or female connectors in the usual way for positioning within a downpipe in accordance with prior art procedures. More preferably, however, the diverter in accordance with the present invention is adapted for individual positioning in the downpipe per se without requiring the downpipe to be severed for the insertion of a new piece therein.

The invention also comprehends an assembly of a diverter and a downpipe as previously described and a water storage tank. The conduit of the diverter may then be connected by means of a flexible hose, for example, a garden hose. to the tank. Connecting apertures of the tank and the downpipe are then most preferably positioned at or about the same level, whereby in use the diverter ceases to direct water to the tank when the water level in the tank reaches the connection levels. This arrangement obviates the necessity of an overflow arrangement. and since the spoon-shaped element only fills a portion of the interior plan of the downpipe it is possible for storm water to flow over the filled spoon-shaped element down to the drain without a spillage even if rotation of the spoon-shaped element has been omitted.

In a further aspect of the invention. there is provided a method of fitting a water diverter, as here before described, to a downpipe which method comprises forming an aperture in said downpipe of a predetermined diameter, elastically deforming the spoon-shaped element of the diverter and urging said element through said aperture in the downpipe until the element is fully disposed on the downpipe and has recovered its original shape; and rotating the conduit to a predetermined position in which the element recovers a major proportion of any liquid flowing in the downpipe.

Although the foregoing description has been made with regard to the diversion of rainwater in a guttering system, it will be appreciated that the invention is generally applicable to the diversion of any liquid flowing in a downpipe.

The invention will now be described, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 shows an exploded plan view of elements prior to assembly Figure 2 shows a side view in part cross-section of a device in accordance with Figure 1 assembled in-situ, Figure 3 shows a transverse cross-section through a second embodiment in-situ in a downpipe, Figure 4 shows a vertical elevation in part cross-section of the embodiment of Figure 3.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 particularly, a rainwater diverter for manual assembly is provided with a spoon element (1) a conduit (2), a clamp (3). and garden end hose (4).

Turning first to the spoon element (1), there is provided a generally ovoid section (1) terminating at one end in a T-piece (7). This is cut from a sheet of a polyethylene material which is elastically deformable. The conduit (2) is formed of a section of brass, aluminium or plastics material having an interior diameter suitable for mating with the exterior diameter of hose end (4). In one embodiment, the hose end (4) is secured to one end of the conduit (2) by means of being an interference fit or by an adhesive.

The T-piece (7) is then wrapped about the end of the conduit (2) and secured thereupon by means of a clamp (3). The effect of wrapping the T-piece (7) about the circular exterior periphely of the conduit (2) is to form the ovoid element (1) into a spoon shape. The Ovoid section (1) has an overall dimension which is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the downpipe (5). This allows the section to locate in its desired orientation. i.et1y upwardly toward its remote end by contact with the far wall of the downpipe.

The arrangement of Figure 1 is in this particular instance adapted for use with a rainwater downpipe (5) having a 125mm internal diameter. An aperture (9).

(not shown in Figure 2), is formed in the wall of the downpipe (5) having a diameter which is an interference fit with the external diameter of the T-piece (7) when fixed upon the conduit (2), but which is insufficiently large to accommodate the exterior diameter of the grip (12) when in-situ. It follows that the forward face of the grip (12) locates against the exterior periphery of the aperture (9) in the conduit (5).

In use the aperture (9), which is approximately 18mm in dianter. is bored in the side of the water pipe (5) which extends parallel to the wall of the building at a convenient height. The convenient height is generally about 150cm above ground level. The hole is bored slightly upwards at an angle of 100. The diameter of the hole should be such that it allows the device access to the downpipe with a fairly tight fit and hence the diameter should be an interference fit about the exterior of the end portion of the conduit (2) when overlaid by the T-piece (7).

In Figure 2, the plastic grip (12) is folded around the conduit (2) and secured to it by the adjustable clamp (3) as illustrated with the adjustor underneath. The sides of the spoon element (1) are folded one over the other and squeezed between the finger and the thumb and inserted into the aperture (9) bored in the water downpipe (5) upwards at an angle of about 10" until it strikes the back wall of the downpipe (5). The element (1) will at once spring back to its original shape and cover a large portion of the bore of the water pipe (5). Element (1 thus forms a hollow channel sloping towards the entrance of the conduit (2), being tapered (see Figure 2) towards the entrance.

This has the effect of allowing any excess water to bypass the device and also to allow the device to be removed from the downpipe (5) with ease. Whilst in position the element (1) catches any rainwater which falls upon it and diverts it to the conduit (2). A garden or similar hosepipe (4) is inserted onto the other end of the conduit (2) as a close fit and thus the rainwater runs by gravity into the desired storage unit or tank (not shown).

The device can be rotated in the aperture (9) by any amount, for example 9U'', to withdraw the device from use, whereupon the rainwater will bypass the element (1). The device may also be removed completely by counter rotation and squeezing of the element (1) between the finger and thumb and pulling it out.

A rubber grommet (6) can then be inserted the aperture (9) sealing the downpipe (5) which then resumes its normal function.

A further version of the device is described with reference to Figures 3 and 4, in which the device is made of a single piece moulded plastics material. The element (1) being the same general shape, but the conduit (2) and the clamp (3) are dispensed with and replaced with a plastics conduit moulding as seen in Figures 3 and 4. The device still locates correctly in the aperture (9) in the water downpipe (5) and accepts a hose (4) with which it is used.

Specifically, a 125mm downpipe (5) is provided at about 150cm from ground level with an aperture (9), having a diameter of about 18mlll. A combined conduit and spoon-shaped element assembly (1.2) is moulded as a single piece and provided with a conduit portion (2) incorporating at a first end a portion of reduced diameter to accommodate the end of the hose (4), and at a second end a portion of the reduced diameter adjacent the spoon-shaped element (1) to form a flange (10) to lock against the exterior surface of the downpipe (5) adjacent the aperture (9). The flange portion (10) thereby formed is angled to the axis A of the conduit (2) by about 10" so that when the flange is located hard against the exterior of the downpipe (5) the axis A is tilted downwardly by about 10".

In order to retain the conduit (2) in situ, an annular rib (16) may be provided to the interior of the downpipe (5) thereby to lock the arrangement in its operative position. Alternatively, (not shown), the near edges of the spoon element (1) can be extended renardly (i.e. towards the conduit (2) so that in use they engage the inner surface of the downpipe (5) adjacent the conduit (2) thereby locking the conduit (2) into the downpipe (5).

In the particular embodiment shown, this particular function is performed by means of the annular rib (16). The far end of the spoon element (1) contacts at point (14) the far edge of the 125mum downpipe (5) and this also helps retain the device in its correct orientation. It will, of course, be appreciated that the arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4 can be utilised with pipes of a bore larger or smaller than 125mm, Where it is to be used with a pipe of a larger diameter.

free space (15) shown in Figure 3 is merely enlarged and therefore the proportion of water striking the spoon shaped diverter (1) is reduced. Where a diverter is utilised with a downpipe of a smaller diameter. for example 100mm the edge portions of the element (1) may be cut down by shears or other convenient means to accommodate the smaller size. To assist the installation. cut out lines may be printed or moulded upon the face of the spoon-shaped element so that the installer knows where to cut the spoon-shaped element for any given interior size of downpipe.

In use with the device installed in a downpipe (5) as shown in Figures 3 and 4 the spoon-shaped element is rotated to its in use position as shown in Figure 4 by means of positioning an indicator member (11) uppermost thereby causing the spoon-shaped element (1) to adopt its operative condition. Water flowing down the downpipe (5) then strikes the spoon-shaped element (1). flows down the conduit (2) and into the hose pipe (4) secured thereto. If the volume of water within the downpipe (5) is large. spoon element (1) will overflow since the volume of water will be in excess of that which can pass easily under gravity down the aperture of the conduit (2). This water then flows to waste down tlle downpipe (5) in the usual way.

A partial rotation of the conduit (2) relative to the downpipe (5) will still allow a portion of water to flow into the conduit (2), with the majority being sent to waste; this may be appropriate, for example, where limited amounts of water are withdrawn from a water butt to which the pipe (4) is attached in the winter period. Alternatively, indicator (5) may be turned through 900 or more to shed all the water and thereby to effectively 'switch the device offF. It will be appreciated that the conduit (2) as shown in Figures 3 and 4 may be withdrawn by pulling the device back through the aperture (9) with rotation and counter rotation. A grommet (6) as shown in Figure 1 may then be re-inselte(l into the aperture (9) to seal the same.

Where the aperture (9) is substantially co-incident with an aperture in a water butt positioned at a distance from the downpipe (5), it will be appreciated that water will flow from the spoon element (1) via the conduit (2) and the hose t4) to the storage tank (not shown) in the usual way. When the storage tank is full the hose pipe (4) will fill with water and likewise the conduit (2). Further. water falling on the spoon-shaped element (1) will then flow into the free space t without further filling the water butt. Accordingly a separate water butt overflow facility is not required. This allows water butts to be positioned other than for example, without providing a separate overflow facility.

The invention thus relates to a device to divert water from a water downpipe of a building to a storage units.

The water saving device as described herein can be inserted into a water downpipe at any predetermined height. It can be inserted and removed easily or turned on/off at will and may be used to store rainwater for use during periods of drought. When the device has been removed the water downpipe is re-sealed to continue its normal role of directing rainwater to the drains.

Accordingly, in the present invention there is provided a plastics insert which is attached to a short length of alloy or plastics tubing be an adjustable clip. The insert is inserted through a small hole in the side of the water downpipe and is then located inside the bore of the downpipe. the tube being made to fit the hole bored in the water downpipe and the bore of the tube will accept exactly the insertion of a garden or similar hosepipe with which it is to be used.

Claims

1. A liquid flow diverter for use in a downpipe which diverter comprises a conduit, characterised in that the conduit is adapted to interfit with an aperture in the wall of the downpipe, said conduit terminating in a spoon shaped element adapted to collect liquid flowing in said downpipe and to direct the same to the interior bore of the conduit.

2. A diverter according to Claim 1 characterised in that the conduit interfits with the aperture in the downpipe such that rotation of the conduit also rotates the spoon-shaped element thereby to reduce or stop liquid enteling the conduit.

3. A diverter according to Claims 1 or 2 characterised in that the spoon shaped element is formed of a material which is sufficiently elastically deformable as to enter the aperture in the downpipe and to readopt its spoon-like shape within the downpipe.

4. A diverter according to any preceding claim characterised in that the spoon-shaped element and the conduit are together constructed and arranged to resist displacement within the downpipe when in any predetermined position.

5. A diverter according to Claim 4 characterised in that a face of the spoon shaped element is adapted to contact the interior surface of the downpipe and to lock the same against a flange portion of the conduit.

6. A diverter according to any preceding Claim characterised in that the conduit is provided with an exterior flange portion for location against the exterior of the downpipe adjacent to the aperture. said flange having an operative end face which is angled by more than 900 to the axis of the conduit thereby to allow the water to flow downwardly from the spoon shaped element.

7. A diverter according to any preceding Claim wherein the spoon-shaped element and the conduit are formed of a one piece plastics moulding.

8. A diverter according to any of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the spoon-shaped element is formed from a sheet of plastics material which is resilientlv deformable, wherein the conduit is separately formed of a plastics or metal. and wherein said plastics material is circular or ovoid in plan and comprises a T-piece formed integrally therewith; the ends of said T-piece being adapted to be secured about the conduit in use; whereby the act of securing the free ends of the T-piece about the conduit also serves to form the spoon-shaped element from the circular or ovoid cross-section.

9. An assembly of a diverter in a downpipe according to any preceding Claim and a water storage tank, characterised in that the conduit of the divertel is connected by means of a flexible hose to a tank, and wherein the connecting apertures in both the tank and the downpipe are at or about the same level, whereby in use the diverter ceases to direct ftirther amounts of water to the tank when the water level in the tank reaches the connection level.

10. A method of fitting a liquid diverter as defined in Claims 1 and 3 to a downpipe which method comprises forming an aperture in said downpipe of a predetermined diameter, elastically deforming the spoon-shaped element of the diverter and urging said element through the aperture in the downpipe until the element is fully introduced thereinto and has recovered its original shape and rotating the conduit to a predetermined position in which the element recovers a major proportion of the liquid flowing in the downpipe.

11. A method according to Claim 10 characterised in that the conduit is connected by means of a hose to a storage tank and wherein the apertures in the downpipe and the tank are approximately at the same level thereby to prevent overfilling.

12. A diverter substantially as here and before set forth with reference to.

and/or illustrated in any one of Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.