JP7650598B2 - Tool for preventing clogging of rain gutters and method for preventing clogging of rain gutters - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a tool that eliminates or prevents clogging caused by the accumulation of garbage, dust, sand, mud, etc. near the drainage outlet (water collection section) of a rain gutter.

Rain gutters attached to buildings consist of eaves gutters and valley gutters that are attached along the bottom edge of the roof eaves, and downspouts that run vertically down the building and are attached to the eaves gutters and valley gutters. Leaves, dust, sand, etc. can accumulate in the eaves gutters that run horizontally along the roof, and leaves, sand, and mud can easily accumulate in the drainage outlet (water collection section) that connects to the downspout as rainwater flows, causing the gutters to become clogged.

To prevent this, a configuration is known in which a deposit removal member is provided in part of the eaves gutter or downpipe so that dirt, mud, etc. can be removed midway through the path of the eaves gutter or downpipe. For example, a section of the eaves gutter or downpipe is partially cut out to make it possible to open and close, allowing fallen leaves and other debris that have accumulated in the eaves gutter to fall (see Patent Document 1).

In the case of downspouts, a configuration is known in which a garbage and mud receiving member consisting of a mesh section and a mud receiving section is slidably attached as a component that constitutes part of the downspout to remove accumulated garbage, or a connection section with a supplementary net is provided midway along the downspout, and fallen leaves and the like are removed from the supplementary net by lowering the connection section (see Patent Documents 2 and 3).

Patent No. 3611033 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-268720 Utility Model Registration No. 3118885

Modifying existing gutters to make them removable or replacing them with gutters already equipped with a sediment removal device can be difficult depending on the environment in which the building in which the gutters are installed is used. For example, in the case of buildings installed in public places such as train platform, problems such as restrictions on construction hours, restrictions on building use, and construction obstacles arise.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a tool that can be installed in existing gutters and can effectively eliminate or prevent gutter clogging.

The gutter clogging prevention tool, which is one aspect of the present invention, is a tool for eliminating or preventing clogging in a gutter, and is equipped with a mesh-like or porous member (hereinafter referred to as a deposit removal member) that can be attached to the gutter on or near the drain outlet. When the deposit removal member is attached to the gutter, it can be raised and lowered around the center or both end portions.

Here, "raising and lowering" the sediment removal member includes actions such as axial rotation, bending, and folding, and indicates that it can be moved toward the bottom and upward side of the gutter. In addition, regarding the reticulated or porous nature, the size, number, and dimensions of the holes can be determined to allow sediments such as mud to fall into the drain.

In addition, one aspect of the present invention is a method for preventing gutter clogging, which involves attaching a mesh or porous member (hereinafter referred to as a deposit removal member) that can be raised and lowered around a central portion or both end portions on an axis to the drain outlet of the gutter or near the drain outlet, and repeatedly pulling a pair of elongated flexible members (hereinafter referred to as flexible elongated members) attached to both sides of the central portion of the deposit removal member.

The present invention provides a tool that can be installed in existing gutters and can effectively eliminate or prevent gutter clogging.

This is a diagram showing the configuration of the station building. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a gutter clogging prevention tool. This is a perspective view showing that the gutter clogging prevention tool has been made flat. This is a perspective view showing that the gutter clogging prevention device has a valley shape.

The gutter clogging prevention device of this embodiment will be explained below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows the structure of a station building. The station building 100 (e.g., passenger shed) is a structure with a roof 200 on top of a platform 110, where the roof 200 is gabled and made of slate material with a corrugated cross section. The roof 200 is supported by beams 160 via girders 170, and the beams 160 are supported by columns 150 installed along the platform 110.

The eaves gutter (rain gutter) 120 installed along the eaves of the roof 200 is connected to the downspout 140 via a lower gutter (elbow) 130. In this embodiment, a rain gutter clogging prevention tool 10 that functions as a tool to prevent clogging of the rain gutter is installed at the connection between the eaves gutter 120 and the lower gutter 130. The rain gutter clogging prevention tool 10 will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 2 to 4.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the gutter clogging prevention device 10 installed in the eaves gutter 120. For ease of explanation, only one side 120S of the eaves gutter 120 is shown here.

The gutter clogging prevention tool 10 comprises a mesh-like main body (deposit removal member) 20 and an attachment part 40, and is installed so that the drain outlet 130A formed at the connection part between the gutter 120 and the lower gutter 130 faces the central part. The main body 20 is also installed on the bottom surface 120D of the eaves gutter 120 so that the longitudinal direction of the main body 20 is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the eaves gutter 120. The width of the main body 20 is set to a length corresponding to the width of the bottom surface 120D of the gutter 120.

The central part of the main body 20 is formed by a hinge 42 consisting of an axis 42A and a plate 42B, and mesh parts 22A and 22B of the same size and shape are connected to both sides of the hinge 42. The mesh parts 22A and 22B can each rotate around the axis 42A of the hinge 42, and are symmetrical with respect to the axis 42A here. Both ends of the main body 20 are structured such that plates 24A and 24B are connected to the ends of the mesh parts 22A and 22B, respectively.

The mounting part 40 is a member with a U-shaped cross section that can be fixed to the side surface 120S of the eaves gutter 120, and is fixed (here, by screws) to the eaves gutter 120 so as to cover the side wall of the eaves gutter 120 from above. Note that a mounting part is also arranged facing the other side wall of the eaves gutter 120, not shown in FIG. 2. The main body 20 is fixed by connecting the axis 42A of the hinge 42 to the mounting part 40.

The fixed position of the axis 42A of the hinge 42 is determined at a height a predetermined distance away from the bottom surface 120D of the eaves gutter 120, and is positioned along the width direction of the eaves gutter 120. Therefore, the main body 20 of the gutter clogging prevention device 10 is mountain-shaped with the axis 42A being the apex farthest from the bottom surface 120D of the eaves gutter 120, and the plates 24A, 24B on both ends of the main body 20 contact the bottom surface 120D of the eaves gutter 120.

The main body 20 has expandable springs 50A and 50B that extend in the longitudinal direction of the mesh parts 22A and 22B across the hinge 42, with both ends attached to the mesh. The springs 50A and 50B have the same elastic force and are positioned symmetrically in the width direction of the eaves gutter 120.

A wire (flexible elongated member) consisting of a pair of wires 150A, 150B is attached to the main body 20, and specifically, the ring-shaped ends 151A, 151B of the pair of wires 150 are engaged with the mesh portions 22A, 22B, respectively. The other end 150T (see FIG. 1) of the wire 150 has a connecting structure that allows an operator to pull the pair of wires 150A, 150B simultaneously. For example, an operator can pull the pair of wires 150A, 150B simultaneously with the same force by hooking a rod-shaped member with a hook at its end onto the other end 150T (see FIG. 1) of the wire 150.

Rainwater flowing along the roof 200 or that falls directly into the eaves gutter 120 flows out from the drain outlet 130A formed at the connection between the eaves gutter 120 and the lower gutter 130 into the lower gutter 130. In addition, if debris such as fallen leaves is small enough to pass through the mesh parts 22A and 22B, it flows out from the drain outlet 130A along with the rainwater.

On the other hand, if sand, dust, etc. accumulate around the drain outlet 130A below the main body 20 of the gutter clogging prevention device 10, it may turn to mud due to rain, settle, and become sediment. In this case, even if some rainwater flows through the eaves gutter 120, the sediment itself will not be discharged from the drain outlet 130A. This sediment will be further mixed with sand and debris such as fallen leaves that pass through the mesh parts 22A, 22B, and over time will settle on the bottom surface 120D of the gutter 120.

In this embodiment of the gutter clogging prevention tool 10, the mesh parts 22A and 22B rotate around the axis 42A to prevent deposits from settling. Specifically, when the pair of wires 150A and 150B are pulled by an operator, the plates 24A and 24B at both ends of the main body 20 move away from the bottom surface 120D of the gutter 120.

Then, the mesh portions 22A, 22B move in a direction in which the plates 24A, 24B at both ends of the main body 20 approach each other. In other words, the main body 20 rotates on its axis so that it becomes flat (flat) and then valley-shaped (see Figures 3 and 4). At this time, the springs 50A, 50B function as members (regulating members) that apply an elastic force that resists the axial rotation direction of the mesh portions 22A, 22B.

When the tension on the pair of wires 150A, 150B is stopped, the elastic force of the springs 50A, 50B and its own weight cause the main body 20 to form a mountain shape again and place it on the bottom surface 120D of the gutter 120. By repeating this tension, the mesh parts of the mesh parts 22A, 22B lift up the sediment, shake it off, and slam the sediment down, repeating this process. As a result, the rainwater that had been blocked by the sediment that had accumulated and settled on the bottom surface 120D of the gutter 120 is discharged from the drain 130A. In addition, some of the finely divided and crushed sediment also becomes liquid and can be discharged from the drain outlet 130A.

In this way, in the gutter clogging prevention tool 10 of this embodiment, the mesh parts 22A, 22B provided on both sides of the shaft 42A, which is located in the longitudinal center position of the main body 20 and fixed at the longitudinal center position of the drain outlet 130A of the eaves gutter 120, are axially rotated and raised and lowered. This eliminates or suppresses gutter clogging when sediment blocks the drain outlet 130A and causes gutter clogging, preventing rain from leaking from the gutter. This can prevent a situation from developing into a construction obstruction that may require construction work such as closing off the tracks. It can also be applied to guttering such as eaves gutters and valley gutters installed in buildings other than the platform 110 of a station building.

The mesh size and longitudinal length of the mesh parts 22A and 22B of the main body 20 can be determined to match the width of the bottom surface 120D of the gutter 120, to prevent fallen leaves from falling into the discharge outlet 130A, and to allow for the shaking off of mud and other deposits. The mesh thickness and number of holes can also be set as appropriate. It is also possible to configure the main body 20 from a porous material (for example, a plate with regularly-spaced holes) rather than a mesh.

By installing the main body 20 in a mountain shape, the mesh parts 22A and 22B do not impede the flow of rainwater. On the other hand, by repeatedly deforming the main body 20 into a mountain shape and a valley shape, it is possible to break down the sediments that accumulate not only near 24A and 24B at both ends of the main body 20 but also near the edge of the drain outlet 130A.

The main body 20 is fixed to the side surface 120S of the eaves gutter 120 by the mounting part 40, so workers can install the gutter clogging prevention tool 10 on the eaves gutter 120 without any construction obstructions. In particular, because the shaft 42A of the main body 20 is connected to the mounting part 40, the mesh parts 22A and 22B are installed in a mountain shape by attaching the mounting part 40.

The main body 20 may have a triangular mountain shape when viewed from the side, or a trapezoidal mountain shape when viewed from the side. The main body 20 may also be installed in a valley shape, that is, the plates 24A, 24B at both ends of the main body 20 may be fixed to allow the shaft 42A to move up and down, and the shaft may rotate from the valley shape to the mountain shape. Furthermore, it may be configured to rotate on the shaft from the mountain shape (or from the valley shape) to a flat shape (or a diagonal position halfway into the flat shape).

In this embodiment, the mesh parts 22A and 22B of the main body 20 are configured to rotate around an axis using the hinge 42, but the main body 20 may be configured from an elastic and flexible material and be bent or folded. The center or both ends of the main body 20 may be used as an axis so that both sides can be raised and lowered. The axis 42A may also be fixed offset from the center of the drain outlet 130A.

The worker can pull the pair of wires 150A, 150B from the platform 110 at the same time, so that the sediment that has accumulated around the drain outlet 130A can be broken down and removed evenly. In particular, the pair of wires 150A, 150B are connected to each other and can simultaneously apply the same pulling force, so that the mesh portions 22A, 22B can be rotated around the same axis.

The elongated flexible member that exerts the tensile force may be configured with more than one pair of wires. Also, the mesh portions 22A and 22B may be configured to be operated by something other than wires. For example, an actuator such as a motor may be installed and the mesh portions 22A and 22B may be rotated about an axis by remote control.

In the main body 20 of this embodiment, springs 50A and 50B are attached to the mesh parts 22A and 22B in the longitudinal direction so as to straddle the hinge 42. This allows momentum to be applied to the axial rotation movement of the mesh parts 22A and 22B. Note that a restricting member such as an elastic member other than a spring may also be used to apply a force that resists the movement of the mesh parts 22A and 22B.

In this embodiment, the gutter clogging prevention device is attached to an eaves gutter that does not have a water collection section, but it may also be attached to an eaves gutter or valley gutter that has a water collection section.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 gutter clogging prevention tool 20 main body 22A, 22B mesh part 42 hinge 100 station building 120 eaves gutter 150 wire

Claims (10)

A gutter clogging prevention device that can be attached to a gutter on or near the drain outlet,
A member (hereinafter referred to as a deposit removal member) having a shaft in its central portion and mesh-like or porous portions connected to both sides of the shaft ;
A mounting portion that can be fixed to the rain gutter and is connected to the shaft ,
A gutter clogging prevention device, characterized in that when attached to the gutter, the mesh parts or porous parts on both sides of the shaft are each rotatable around the shaft . 2. The gutter clogging prevention device according to claim 1, characterized in that a plate that contacts the bottom surface of the gutter is connected to each end of the mesh or porous portion on both sides of the shaft . 3. The gutter clogging prevention tool according to claim 1, wherein the deposit removal member is capable of being attached to the gutter in a mountain-shaped state . 4. The gutter clogging prevention tool according to claim 1, wherein the deposit removal member is provided with a regulating member that exerts a resisting force when the mesh portion or the porous portion rotates about its axis . 5. The gutter clogging prevention tool according to claim 4, wherein the regulating member is composed of a spring that straddles the central portion of the deposit removal member and has both ends attached to the mesh portion or porous portion . 6. The gutter clogging prevention device according to claim 1, wherein the attachment portion is capable of being fixed to both side surfaces of the gutter. A gutter clogging prevention device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a pair of elongated flexible members (hereinafter referred to as flexible elongated members) are attached to the mesh or porous portions on both sides of the central portion of the deposit removal member. 8. The gutter clogging prevention device according to claim 7, wherein the pair of flexible elongated members are connected or engaged with each other so as to be capable of exerting a pulling force simultaneously. The gutter clogging prevention device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is attached to the drain outlet of a gutter or near the drain outlet,
a pair of elongated flexible members (hereinafter referred to as flexible elongated members) are attached to the mesh or porous portions on both sides of a central portion of the deposit removal member;
A method for preventing clogging of a gutter , comprising repeatedly pulling the pair of flexible elongated members . The method for preventing clogging of a gutter according to claim 9, further comprising pulling the pair of flexible elongated members simultaneously.

Images