AU5654200A

AU5654200A - Liquids diverter

Info

Publication number: AU5654200A
Application number: AU56542/00A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Raymond Vella
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-07-11
Filing date: 2000-09-08
Publication date: 2002-01-17

Description

Australia Patents Act 1990 Complete Specification Standard Patent Liquids Diverter

S

55 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: This invention relates to improvements in devices for diverting the flow of liquid and the control of the direction of the liquid flow.

For many applications, the diverting of liquid from its source to a tank or storage vessel requires either a mechanical valve to start and stop the flow, or overflow plumbing to control the liquid, once the tank or storage vessel has reached the desired fill level. One example is for the collection of rain water in a storage tank. The rain water collected from a roof is diverted from the storm water system to the storage tank. Plumbing is then installed from the storage tank overflow to the storm water system to dispose of the S 10 excess water once the tank has filled to capacity. An alternative method is to install a valve to divert the water either to the storage tank or to the storm water system. The valve would be actuated one way to fill the storage tank or actuated the other way to the storm water system once the tank was full. These proposals have the disadvantage requiring overflow plumbing or actuation of a valve. The overflow plumbing requiring additional work which is costly and potentially unsightly. The valve being disadvantaged by its need for actuation, whether it be manual or by means of an electrical device.

These problems are overcome by the present invention, which diverts liquid from a chamber by means of a series of one or more louvers in that chamber, to an outlet level 20 positioned below the full level of the storage tank such that when full, the liquid will spill back through the louvers in the chamber to the inventions overflow outlet, negating the need for a valve or storage tank overflow.

In one form of the invention, the chamber may be a section of PVC that is installed inbetween two sections of down pipe for the collection of rain water. The chamber would contain three louvers, graded and overlapped with vertical spaces between them such that they divert the water to one side of the chamber where it may exit via an outlet. This outlet level would be at the same level as the full level of the storage tank. When the storage tank reaches the full level, the outlet is full of water and the water spills back through the vertical spaces between the louvers and exits via the chambers overflow outlet into the remaining section of down pipe where it was inserted.

To assist with the understanding of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show one form of the invention.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 shows one example of a liquids diverter according to this invention; FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 shows the application of a liquids diverter for the collection of rain 40 water.

Referring to FIG. 1 it can be seen that the liquids diverter device according to this invention comprises a rectangular chamber 1 containing three louvers 2. The louvers 2 are graded, overlapped and vertically spaced such that water entering at the inlet 3 is diverted to the outlet 4. When the outlet 4 is full of water, the water diverted by any of the louvers 2 will spill through the spaces 5 and 6 between the louvers and exit via the chambers overflow outlet 7. The chamber 1 and the louver assembly 2 can be injection moulded as two separate pieces.

50 FIG. 2 shows the liquids diverter device in operation with an empty storage tank. It can be seen that a down pipe 8 has the liquids diversion device 1 between its two sections 9 and The water from the down pipe 8 is diverted by the louvers 2 to the outlet 4 and to the tank 12 via a hose or pipe 13. The storage tank is positioned relative to the liquids diverter such that the storage tanks' full level 14 is at the same level as the top of the liquids diverter's outlet 4.

FIG. 3 shows the liquids diverter device in operation when the storage tank has filled.

When the storage tank reaches its full level 14, the water fills the pipe 13 and the liquids diverter's outlet 4, the water then spills from the liquids diverter's outlet collection area through the vertical spaces 5 and 6 between the louvers and exits the liquids diverter device's overflow outlet 7 to the remaining section of down pipe It will be realised that the liquids diverting device according to this invention is not restricted to the form of chamber or arrangement of louvers shown in this example, but may use any other suitable shape of chamber, arrangement or number or shape of louvers, or allow for differing directions of fluid flow which allows the diverting of liquid to a storage vessel without the means of a actuating valve or over flow plumbing at the storage vessel.

The claims defining the invention are as follows: oo 1. A water diverting device which diverts liquid to a storage tank when the storage tank is not full and allows re-direction of the liquid when the storage tank is full without the requirement for any power, actuating valve or over flow plumbing at the liquid storage tank or vessel.

•o o 2. The liquids diverting device of claim 1 wherein liquid is diverted within a chamber ooo° containing one or more louvers, graded and overlap with vertical spaces between them such that they divert liquid to one area of the chamber where it may exit via an outlet.

3. The liquids diverting device of claim 1 wherein liquid is allowed to flow to an overflow exit, when the outlet of claim 2 is full of liquid, by passing through spaces between the louver or louvers that normally redirect the flow to the outlet of claim 2 when the outlet is not full.

4. The liquids diverting device of claim 1 wherein the liquids diverting device is vertically positioned, such that the outlet of claim 2 is full when the storage tank or vessel is full, to effect its liquid diverting function without the need for any power, actuating valve or overflow plumbing at the storage tank or vessel.

Claims

1. A water diverting device which diverts liquid to a storage tank when the storage tank is not full and allows re-direction of the liquid when the storage tank is full without the requirement for any power, actuating valve or over flow plumbing at the liquid storage tank or vessel.

2. The liquids diverting device of claim 1 wherein liquid is diverted within a chamber containing one or more louvers, graded and overlap with vertical spaces between them such that they divert liquid to one area of the chamber where it may exit via an outlet.

4. The liquids diverting device of claim 1 wherein the liquids diverting device is vertically positioned, such that the outlet of claim 2 is full when the storage tank or vessel is full, to effect its liquid diverting function without the need for any power, actuating valve, or overflow plumbing at the storage tank or vessel. The liquids diverting device of claim 1 wherein the liquids diverting device can be installed directly in line with an existing liquid flow to re-direct liquid when its outlet is not full, or allow the liquid to flow its original path when the outlet is full. Raymond Vella 6 September 2000 o..o S go C. C* C