AU2009200764A1 - A Water Storage System - Google Patents

Description

ORIGINAL AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Standard Patent Invention title: "A WATER STORAGE SYSTEM" Applicant: John Cappelluti The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -2 "A WATER STORAGE SYSTEM" Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for storing water such as collected rainwater. The system is designed particularly although not exclusively for use 5 in a landscaped environment such as a backyard or park. Background to the Invention Changing rainfall patterns and increasing populations have resulted in collection and conservation of water becoming a significant issue. It is becoming more common for households to utilise the roof area to collect 10 rainwater which is stored for household use. Gray water is also often collected and stored for re-use. Given the increase in relatively small sized residential blocks, it is important for storage systems in many areas to be capable of installation in a way which provides a useful storage volume without taking up significant usable space on 15 the block. One known method is the installation of underground tanks. While such tanks can provide adequate volume without taking up any space above ground, installation of below ground tanks requires expensive excavation work. Further, access for maintenance to below ground tanks is limited. The present invention attempts to overcome, at least in part, the 20 abovementioned problems related to water storage. References to prior art in this specification are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be taken as an admission that such prior art is part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere. Summary of the Invention 25 According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a water storage system comprising one or more water storage modules having an internal cavity for storing water, a lower surface and an upper surface wherein, in use, the lower surface is located on or in the ground and the upper surface forms a weight-bearing floor.

-3 Preferably, each water storage module includes a plurality of side walls extending between the upper and lower surfaces, and the upper surface comprises a separate floor structure resting on the side walls in use. In a preferred embodiment, the floor structure is pivotally attached on one edge to 5 one of the side walls. The cavity of each water storage module preferably includes one or more support members in the form of internal walls extending between side walls such that the floor structure rests on the upper edges of the side walls and the internal walls. Openings may be provided in the internal walls such that water 10 may flow between compartments defined by the internal walls. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of water storage modules are connected together and the upper surfaces of the connected water storage modules are formed by a single weight-bearing floor structure. Adjacent connected water storage modules may be provided with apertures such that, when connected, 15 the cavity of each water storage module is in fluid communication with the cavity of adjacent connected water storage modules. Preferably a hollow connection member is provided to pass through aligned apertures in adjacent water storage modules. The hollow connection member in one embodiment comprises a cylindrical conduit having an external thread 20 and locking nuts are provided on each end of the cylindrical conduit to secure adjacent water storage modules together. Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not 25 the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Likewise the word "preferably" or variations such as "preferred", will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the working of the invention. 30 -4 Brief Description of the Drawings The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of several specific embodiments of the water storage system, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in 5 which: Figure la is a top plan view of a first embodiment of a water storage module of the water storage system of the present invention; Figure lb is a top plan view of the water storage module of Figure la with the upper surface removed; 10 Figure 1c is a section view through the line A-A of the water storage module of Figure 1b; Figure 2a is a top plan view similar to Figure lb showing the interconnection of two different sized water storage modules; Figure 2b is a section view through the line B-B of the water storage 15 modules of Figure 2a; Figure 3 is an exploded view of a preferred connector for interconnecting the water storage modules of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a top perspective view of a water storage system comprising the water storage modules of Figures 1 and 2; 20 Figure 5a is a top plan view of a second embodiment of a plurality of water storage modules for the water storage system of the present invention; Figure 5b is a section view through the line C-C of the water storage modules of Figure 5a; 25 Figure 5c is a section view through the line D-D of the water storage modules of Figure 5a; Figure 6a is a top plan view of the water storage modules of Figure 5a with an upper surface installed; -5 Figure 6b is a section view through the line E-E of the water storage modules of Figure 6a; Figure 6c is a section view through the line F-F of the water storage modules of Figure 6a; and, 5 Figure 7 is a top perspective view of a water storage system comprising the water storage modules of Figures 5 and 6; Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments A first preferred embodiment of the water storage system 10 in accordance with the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, comprises one or 10 more water storage modules 12. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a water storage module 12. The water storage module 12 comprises a relatively flat lower surface 14 and a relatively flat upper surface 16. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the upper and lower surfaces 14 and 16 are generally rectangular in shape, in this case a 15 square. The water storage module 12 includes side walls 18 extending between edges of the upper and lower surfaces 14 and 16 such that a cavity 20 is defined between the upper, lower and side walls 14, 16 and 18 for storage of water. The upper surface 16 of the water storage module 12 is constructed to form a 20 weight bearing floor, or part of such a floor if more than one water storage module 12 is interconnected. The upper surface 16 is constructed of any suitable material. The upper surface 16 may, for example, comprise a heavy duty plastic decking material constructed to imitate wooden decking, paving bricks, slabs or other type of outdoor flooring material. 25 The cavity 20 of the water storage module 12 may include a plurality of support members 22. The support members are in the form of internal walls 22 that extend between opposite side walls 18 from the lower surface 14 to the upper surface 16 such that the upper surface 16 rests on the internal walls 22 to increase the weight-bearing strength of the upper surface 16. In the 30 embodiment shown, the support members 22 comprises a first set of internal -6 walls 24 extending between a first pair of opposed side walls 18 and a second perpendicular set of internal walls 26 extending between a second pair of opposed side walls 18. The internal walls 24 and 26 thereby define a rectangular array of compartments 28 within the cavity 20. The internal walls 24 5 and 26 also include openings 30 such that water can flow between the compartments 28. The upper surface 16 is provided as a separate structure such that it can be removed to expose the cavity 20 within the water storage module 12. The upper surface 16 may be hinged on one side to one of the side walls 18 such 10 that it can be pivoted upwards to gain access to the cavity 20 for maintenance. The lower side of the upper surface 16 may be provided with means to seal against the side walls 18 and to insulate the cavity, such as a rubberised layer on the lower side. The water storage system 10 is typically constructed by connecting a plurality 15 water storage modules 12. Side walls 18 of adjacent water storage modules 12 are connected together and the upper surfaces 16 of the water storage modules 12 are formed by a single weight bearing floor structure 32 (see Figure 4). Figure 2 shows an example in which two water storage modules 12 are connected. The water storage modules 12 are typically provided in more 20 than one size such that interconnection of appropriate sized water storage modules 12 will provide a water storage system 10 which extends across the area of ground to be covered by the system 10. In Figure 2, a first water storage module 12a, being half the size of that shown in Figure 1, is connected to a second water storage module 12b, being a quarter of the size of that 25 shown in Figure 1. Adjacent water storage modules 12 are preferably connected such that the cavity 20 of each water storage module 12 is in fluid communication with the cavity 20 of the adjacent water storage module 12. The connection is provided by hollow connection members 34 provided through apertures 36 in the side 30 walls of the water storage modules 12. The apertures 36 in the side walls 18 of adjacent water storage modules 12 are aligned and the hollow connection members 34 are passed through each pair of aligned apertures 36. The hollow -7 connection members 34 each comprise a cylindrical conduit 38 having an external thread. The cylindrical conduit 38 is passed through the apertures 36 and receives a locking nut 40 on each end to secure adjacent water storage modules 12 together. Rubber washers 41 are also provided with the locking 5 nuts 40 to seal around the apertures 36. Water can then flow through the cylindrical conduit 38 from one water storage module 12 to the next. For installation of the water storage system 10, an area of ground is cleared on which the water storage system 10 is located. The area may comprise, for example, a paved outdoor area of a residential block from which the pavers are 10 removed. Water storage modules 12 are then placed over the area of ground and interconnected such that the area is substantially covered with water storage modules 12. Alternatively water storage modules 10 of the water storage system 10 may be installed below ground level in a hole previously excavated for a swimming pool. 15 One or more of the water storage modules 12 is provided with an inlet 42 which is connected to a water supply source, such as a downpipe from the roof of a house. Water flowing from the source therefore fills the water storage modules 12. A pump may be provided for pumping water out of the water storage modules 12 for use. One or more further inlets may be provided to allow water 20 falling on the upper surfaces 16 of the water storage modules 12 to enter the cavities 20. The upper surfaces 16 are formed by a weight-bearing floor structure allowing the upper surface 16 to be used as a normal outdoor area of the block. The floor structure of the water storage modules 12 can simply be pivoted upwards 25 to allow access to the cavity 20 when the water storage modules 12 require cleaning or other maintenance. Figures 5 to 7 illustrate a second embodiment of a water storage system 50 according to the present invention. The water storage system 50 comprises a plurality of rectangular shaped water storage modules 52. Each water storage 30 water module 52 comprises a relatively flat lower surface 54 and a relatively flat upper surface 56. The water storage module 52 includes side walls 58 -8 extending between edges of the upper and lower surfaces 54 and 56 such that a cavity 60 is defined between the upper, lower and side walls 54, 56 and 58 for storage of water. Unlike the first embodiment of the water storage module 12, the water storage module 52 has side walls 58 that extend vertically at a 5 sloping angle so that the lower surface 54 is smaller in area than the upper surface 56. This has the distinct advantage that the storage modules 52, which are all manufactured of the same size, can be nested, one inside the other, during storage and transport. As with the previous embodiment, the upper surface 56 of the water storage 10 module 52 is constructed to form a weight-bearing floor, or part of such a floor if more than one water storage module 52 is interconnected (as shown in Figures 6 and 7. The upper surface 56 may be constructed of any suitable material. The upper surface 56 may, for example, comprise a heavy-duty plastic decking material constructed to imitate wooden decking, paving bricks, 15 concrete slabs, other types of outdoor flooring material or artificial lawn. Each water storage module 52 is approximately 1.2m in length (shown as dimension "a" in Figure 5), approximately 0.8m in width (shown as dimension "d" in Figure 5) and approximately 0.6m in width (shown as dimension "b" in Figure 5). Each water storage module 52 is designed to hold about 550 litres of 20 water. Hence when six modules 52 are arranged in a rectangular array, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the total surface area of the upper surfaces 56 forms a square 2.4m x 2.4m (shown as dimension "c" in Figure 5). The total storage capacity of the water storage system 50 thus formed is approximately 3,300 litres. The storage capacity of the water storage system 50 may be readily 25 increased or decreased by adding or removing water storage modules 52. The water storage modules 52 may be interconnected in a similar fashion to that of the first embodiment 12. Adjacent water storage modules 52 are preferably connected such that the cavity 60 of each water storage module 52 is in fluid communication with the cavity 60 of the adjacent water storage 30 module 52. As with the first embodiment, the connection is provided by hollow connection members 34 provided through apertures 36 in the side walls of the water storage modules 52, and therefore the connection members 34 will not -9 be described again in detail. In this embodiment each storage module is provided with an upper connector 34a and lower connector 34b in corresponding upper and lower apertures 36a and 36b. Because of the sloping side walls 58 of the modules 52, the lower connectors 34b are longer than the 5 upper connectors 34a. Plugs 62 are provided for the apertures 36 where there is no adjoining water storage module. The water storage modules 52 can be manufactured from any suitable material, such as fibreglass, other plastics or resin material, including carbon fibre reinforced material and rotamoulded thermoplastic material. 10 Now that preferred embodiments of the water storage system have been described in detail, it will be apparent that the embodiments provide a number of advantages over the prior art, including the following: (i) The water storage system provides an efficient above or below ground water collecting and storage solution without loss of backyard 15 or ground surface area. (ii) The water storage system can be readily expanded to provide increased water storage capacity. (iii) Each water storage module can be mass-produced and easily stored and transported to site. 20 (iv) The water storage modules provide a stable and sturdy base for the weight-bearing floor structure forming the upper surface. It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, 25 in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention. For example, the manner in which the adjacent modules are interconnected may vary significantly from that illustrated and described. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described.

Claims (14)

1. A water storage system comprising one or more water storage modules, 5 each water storage module having an internal cavity for storing water, a lower surface and an upper surface wherein, in use, the lower surface is located on or in the ground and the upper surface forms a weight-bearing floor.

2. A water storage system according to claim 1, wherein each water storage module includes a plurality of side walls extending between the upper 10 and lower surfaces, and the upper surface comprises a separate floor structure resting on the side walls in use.

3. A water storage system according to claim 2, wherein the floor structure is pivotally attached on one edge to one of the side walls.

4. A water storage system according to any one of the preceding claims, 15 wherein the cavity of each water storage module includes one or more support members extending between side walls such that the upper surface rests on the upper edges of the support members.

5. A water storage system according to claim 4, wherein the support members are in the form of internal walls and openings are provided in the 20 internal walls such that water may flow between compartments defined by the internal walls.

6. A water storage system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of water storage modules are connected such that the upper surfaces of the connected water storage modules form the weight-bearing floor. 25

7. A water storage system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein adjacent connected water storage modules are provided with apertures such that, when connected, the cavity of each water storage module is in fluid communication with the cavity of an adjacent connected water storage module. -11

8. A water storage system according to claim 7, wherein a hollow connection member is provided to pass through aligned apertures in adjacent water storage modules.

9. A water storage system according to claim 8, wherein the hollow 5 connection member comprises a cylindrical elongate conduit having an external thread and wherein locking nuts are provided on each end of the cylindrical conduit to secure adjacent water storage modules together.

10. A water storage module for a water storage system, the water storage module having an internal cavity for storing water, a lower surface and an 10 upper surface wherein, in use, the lower surface is located on or in the ground and the upper surface forms a weight-bearing floor.

11. A water storage module according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality of side walls extending between the upper and lower surfaces, and the upper surface comprises a separate floor structure resting on the side walls in 15 use.

12. A water storage module according to claim 11, wherein the side walls extend vertically at a sloping angle so that the lower surface is smaller in area than the upper surface, and wherein a plurality of the storage modules can be nested, one inside the other, during storage and transport.. 20

13. A water storage system substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

14. A water storage module substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any one or more of the accompanying drawings. 25 Dated this 26 th day of February 2009 John Cappelluti by his Patent Attorneys Janet Stead & Associates