AU2003268574B2 - Apparatus for collection and utilisation of rain water or grey water - Google Patents

Description

1, AUSTRALI A .L- PATENTS ACT 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention title APPARATUS FOR THE COLLECTION AND UTILISATION OF RAIN WATER OR GREY WATER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing known to me.

-1- FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to water saving apparatus. More particularly, although not exclusively it discloses a novel and improved device for the collection and utilisation of rain water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Periodic drought conditions and increasing urban populations are putting increased stress on mains water supplies.

Accordingly it is becoming common for water usage restrictions to be applied during the summer months. These restrict or in severe conditions totally prohibit the use of fixed watering systems in the garden. While some councils allow the installation of roof fed rain water tanks to augment mains water for washing and irrigation such tanks are unsightly, expensive to install and take up valuable space in small urban yards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to ameliorate the aforementioned disadvantages and accordingly a water collection apparatus is disclosed for attachment into a water downpipe from which a section thereof has been deleted to form an upper discharge end spaced above a lower inlet end, the apparatus including a water receptacle with an inflow passage for connection to said upper discharge end and an overflow passsage for connection to said lower inlet end and said inflow and overflow passages being arranged so that in a position of use said receptacle is offset from the downpipe and at least one connection fitting for an outlet conduit from said receptacle.

Preferably the connection fitting is adjustable to vary or terminate flow from said receptacle.

It is further preferred that the inflow and overflow passages are adapted for slidable connection to said downpipe.

It is further preferred that the receptacle is elongated and in a position of use is aligned substantially parallel to said downpipe.

It is further preferred that the apparatus is removable from said downpipe without the aid of tools for cleaning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Currently preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which: figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention which shows the path of water flow, figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention constructed from sheet metal and adapted for fitting into a roof downpipe.

figure 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention assembled from plastic components, and figure 4 is an perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the invention adapted for collecting grey water from a vanity wash basin, laundry tub or shower.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to figure 1 the downpipe 1 may be of conventional circular or rectangular design and extends from a roof gutter 2 down to a stormwater drain (nor shown). A central section of the downpipe has been removed to form a discharge end 3 spaced directly above a lower inlet end 4.

The water collection apparatus with this embodiment is adapted for installation in place of the deleted section. It may comprise an elongated receptacle 5 with inflow and overflow passages 6, 7 which are enlarged and tapered to fit respectively over the discharge end 3 and insert into the lower inlet end 4 of the downpipe. Preferably the vertical dimensions of the apparatus are chosen so that it can be installed by initally sliding the inflow passage upward over the discharge end sufficiently for the overflow passage to clear the inlet end of the downpipe. The apparatus is then aligned so that it can be dropped down into the inlet end to the position shown. This channels the rain water flow from the gutter as shown by arrows A. Removal for cleaning would simply be the reverse of the installation procedure and with the preferred embodiment of the invention should not require any tools.

By virtue of the offset placement of the receptacle 5 it extends downwardly below the level of the overflow passage and preferably parallel to the lower portion of the downpipe.

The apparatus can thus be constructed with increased water -4capacity without taking up additional lateral space by simply extending the depth of the receptacle. There is also a tap and hose fitting 8 installed at or adjacent the bottom of the receptacle.

In use of the apparatus a volume of water 9 would be diverted through a tap and hose to the garden or lawn from the downpipe flow during rainfall. Any excess rain water would continue out through the overflow passage and down into the stormwater drain. The collected water however would flow through to irrigate the garden through a hose, drip nozzles or the like (not shown). It is envisaged that the apparatus would be particularly useful during drought periods when light and otherwise insignificant rainfall could be automatically and continuously collected in the receptacle from large roof catchment areas and then diverted to the garden. It has been estimated that over an average roof area of say 120 M over 100 litres of water may be collected for each 1 mm of rainfall. During times of abundant rainfall the tap 8 could simply be turned off so that the downpipe water would continue through to waste in the normal manner.

With the second, third and fourth embodiments of the invention as shown repectively in figures 2 3 and 4 the main components that correspond in function to those of figure 1 are indentified by the same numbers which however are primed and to distinguish them.

I

The rainwater collection apparatus of figure 2 is constructed from sheet metal components which are riveted together and have rectangular cross-sections approximating that of a standard roof gutter downpipe. There is a conventional garden faucet 8' fitted to the receptacle 5' for connection to a garden hose or the like (not shown). There is also an insert fitted into the inflow end This can initially be slid down into said inflow sufficiently for the apparatus to be fitted into a roof gutter downpipe as described earlier and then partially withdrawn upward so that it extends over the discharge end 3' after the overflow passage 7' has been fitted into the lower outlet Preferably the insert 10 is a sufficiently tight fit in the end 6' to remain in position after the apparatus is fitted without the use of a pin (as with the first embodiment) or other fastener.

The apparatus shown in figure 3 is identical in construction to that of figure 2 except that it is assembled from commercially available rectangular plastic stormwater fittings. In this case the insert 11 is slidable in the same fashion as item 10 of figure 2.

Figure 4 shows the apparatus when constructed from round plastic sewer pipe sections. In this case it is adapted for fitting into the drain of a vanity wash basin, laundry tub, shower or other source of grey water. Domestic grey water from washing could thereby be directed to the garden via a hose (not shown) connected to the faucet -6- SA fifth embodiment of the invention is shown in figures5and6.In this case the rainwater collection apparatus is made up of four sections. Each section is tapered to slip fit together.

SFor easy cleaning the bottom section is detached by slipping it apart from the top section. The apparatus is also provided with nipples 12 for snap-fit hose connectors.

00 IND It will thus be appreciated that this invention at least in Sthe form of the embodiments disclosed provides a novel, -i improved and low cost alternative to conventional rain water tanks. It enables useful amounts of precipitation to be automatically and continuously collected for maintaining a garden during drought conditions without the large expenditure and space required for conventional rain water tanks. Clearly however the examples disclosed are only the currently preferred forms of the invention and a wide variety of modifications may be made which would be apparent to a person skilled in the art. For example the shape.

configuration and capacity of the receptacle may be changed according to installation requirements. Also, while the current embodiments may be constructed from galvanised steel, aluminium or plastic the invention extends to the use of any other suitable material such as fibreglass or rubber. The apparatus may also be moulded as one piece as an alternative to the assembled components of the described embodiments.

Claims (6)

1. 2. The water collection apparatus as claimed in clainm 2 wherein the insert is a sufficiently tight fit in said inflow end to remain in position after installation without the use of a fastening means.
2. 3. The water collection apparatus as claimed in caim i wherein the connector includes a shut-off valve. -8-
3. 4. The water collection apparatus as claimed in claim 1 Swherein said water receptacle when in a position of use is elongated in the vertical direction. sD The water collection apparatus as claimed in claim 1 i wherein said apparatus is constructed from plastic and said 00 NO inflow and overflow passages are rectangular in cross-section to connect into a roof gutter downpipe.
4. 6. The water collection apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said apparatus is constructed from sheel metal and said inflow and overflow passages are rectangular in cross-section to connect into a roof gutter downpipe.
5. 7. The water collection apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inflow and overflow passages are circular in cross-section and said apparatus is adapted for fitting into the drain of a vanity washbasin, laundry tub. shower or other source of grey water.
6. 8. A water collection apparatus substantiasily as described herein with reference to figures 2 and 3. Dated this 23rd day of June, 2006 William Adamson By His Patent Attorney MICHAEL A. TAYLOR -9-