AU622644B2

AU622644B2 - Filter means for guttering

Info

Publication number: AU622644B2
Application number: AU29569/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Craig Ian Poulton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-02-02
Filing date: 1989-02-02
Publication date: 1992-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 2009-02-02
Also published as: AU2956989A

Description

I

r i 622644 S0 H P L E T E SPECIFICATION FOR OFFICE USE Application Number: Lodged: Class Int. Class ic -i I:i i:, ii i; :I :ii i I i i r Fi Complete Specification Lodped: Accepted: Published: Priority; Related Art: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT t t Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor/s: Address for Service: CRAIG IAN POULTON 44A Halls Parade, Mitcham, Victoria, 3132 Craig Ian Poulton SMITH SHELSTON BEADLE 207 Riversdale Road Box 410) Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia Complete Specification for the invention entitled: FILTER MEANS FOR GUTTRING The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 1~ Page 1 Our Ref: JC:JH 2 This invention relates to filter means for guttering, and in particular relates to apparatus for removing from rainwater material which is liable to clog downpipes or other conduits.

There is, with guttering, an inherent problem of leaves and other debris fouling gutter outlets or clogging downpipes. This results in the gutter overflowing, and in water being left lying in a gutter after rain, with the prospect of damage occurring to guttering.

There have been many p,'oposed solutions to this problem, from meshes laid over the entire length of guttering, to redesigned guttering with a curved surface to e0 direct rainwater into the gutter proper whilst preventing S the ingress of debris.

I 15 In AU-A-58434/86, an inclined screen is placed across the downpipe of a gu-itering arrangement. Rainwater is intended to exit the gutter, impinge upon the screen and pass through the apertures therein, whilst leaves and other debris collect thereon, blowing away or being manually 20 removed when they have dried.

Such an arrangement suffers from the disadvantage that i rainwater flow from the gutter outlet is likely to splash away from the screen, and may also be diverted by debris adhering to the screen, because the arrangement is only open to the air on one side. In such a case the total system for removing rainwater from roofs would break down.

The present invention provides a filter arrangement 92 1 3 for guttering, said guttering having an opening adapted to serve as an outlet, said filter arrangement including a screen arrangement adapted to have impinging upon it water flowing through said opening, said water being capable of carrying debris, said screen arrangement including at least two angled screens or screen being adapted to allow the passage of water therethrough, but not permitting the passage of debris of a predetermined size therethrough, i said screens or screen being located to allow air flow i 10 therearound.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a partially broken-away perspective view of 15 a first embodiment of a filter arrangement for guttering' Fig. 2 is a lateral vertical section through the arrangement of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the arrangement of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a filter arrangement for guttering; and 92 V cspe.25/poulton 92 1 v 0 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 00 0 9 0 00 10 0 0 0 o oo 11 oo a .00 12 0 00 13 .0.0 14 00 0 0 0t 17 18 0 "0 19 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 4 Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a filter arrangement for guttering.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown part of a length of conventional guttering 10. In the base 12 of the length 10 is an opening 14.

Below opening 14, a throat 16 is formed by four inwardly inclined walls 18,20,22 and 24, which provide a slightly restricted outlet 26.

A rear plate 28 is located behind wall 18, and extends downwards. As particularly shown in Fig. 3, the width of the plate increases slightly from the level of throat 26.

A skirt 30 extends from plate 28 around throat 16 to plate 28.

Secured to plate 28 is a screen arrangement 32, which includes triangular inclined screens 34,36 and 38. The base of screen arrangement 32 is attached to a funnel arrangement 40 which consists of three inwardly inclined walls 42,44 and 46. The lower ends of walls 42,44,46 end in vertical flanges, which with flange 48 on the base of plate 28, seat in a downpipe, the top of which is shown as The materials of the throat 16, plate 28 and screen arrangement may be selected from those appropriate. For metal guttering, the material used may also be metal, formed and/or connected by conventional means. For guttering of plastics material, plastics material may be used.

The type and size of the apertures/mesh of the screens 34,36,38 may be selected to trap debris of the type peculiar to a certain area. The aperture/mesh size may be different for one or all of the screens.

890202,!jcspe.013,poulton.spe, 1 The arrangement of Fig. 1 operates as follows.

2 Rainwater flowing along gutter 10 falls through eperture 14.

3 Throat 16 concentrates the flow of weter through 4 aperture 14, focusing it through outlet 26 1''oon screen arrangement 32. In this way, there is unlikely to be any 6 flow not impinging upon the screen arrangement 3", 7 Water will pass through screens 34 and/or 36 and/or 38, 8 whilst debris of a predetermined size will not pass through.

9 Some heavier items will roll off the screens under the influence of gravity, whilst others will be dislodged by the 11 water Impinging on the arrangement. As the screen 12 arrangement is open to the air on three sides, when water 13 flow from outlet 26 ceases, debris on screens 34,36 and 38 1 14 will quickly dry and will be removed by gravity or air i15 movement.

jji 16 Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment cf filter arrangement; 17 features common with the embodiment of Fig. 1 use identical 18 reference numerals.

19 In the embodiment of Fig. 4, downpipe 50 is connected to fi 20 opening 14. Two angled screens 52 and 54 are located in 21 downpipe 50. Respective cut-out portions (56,58) of 22 downpipe 50 allow debris falling on screens 52 and 54 to jc 23 fall therefrom or be blown therefrom. The general comments 24 made about the components of Fig. 1, also apply to Fig. 4.

fig. 5 shows a third embodiment of a filter arrangement for 26 guttering. Features identical with these of the Fig. 1 27 embodiment are denoted by identical reference numerals.

28 In the embodiment of Fig. 5, opening 14 in gutter base 29 12 is circular, and has a circular flange 60 extending down 890202,!jcspe.013,poulton.spe, -6 1 from the periphery thereof to form an outlet 62.

2 A cross-member 64 within flange 60 supports the apex of 3 a conical screen 66, the base of which is secured to a flared 4 or frusto-conical top portion 68 of circular downpipe In operation, rainwater flowing along gutter 10 falls 6 through opening 14, and is directed by outlet 62 onto screen 7 66. Water will pass through the apertures/mesh of screen 8 66, but debris of a predetermined size will be trapped by 9 the screen. The debris will be removed as described in o 10 connection with Fig. 1, although it should be noted that S 11 screen 66 is open on all sides. The general comments made i S 12 in relation to the Fig. 1 embodiment also apply to the Fig.

13 5 embodiment.

1 14 It can be seen that the present invention provides a 15 novel and effective way of preventing debris from fouling 16 gutter outlets.

17 The claims form part of the disclosure of this 18 specification.

t t 890202,!jcspe.013,poulton.spe,

Claims

1. A filter arrangement for guttering, said guttering having an opening adapted to serve as an outlet, said filter arrangement including a screen arrangement adapted to have impinging upon it water flowing through said opening, said water being capable of carrying debris, said screen arrangement including at least two angled screens or screen being adapted to allow the passage of water therethrough, but not permitting the passage of debris of a predetermined size therethrough, said screens or screen being located to allow air flow therearound.

2. A filter arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said screen arrangement includes two or three angled screens.

3. A filter arrangement according to claim 2, further including a throat extending downwards from said copening, said throat having inwardly-extending walls, said throat acting to direct water flowing through said opening to said screen arrangement. i 20

4. A filter arrangement according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein there are three triangular angled screens forming, with a solid backing plate structure, substantially a right 'pyramidal shape.

A filter arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said screen arrangement includes two angled screens located in a downpipe, said downpipe having cut-out portions to facilitate said flow of air. 92 1 '1 io ~L, ii; -8

6. A filter arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said screen arrangement includes a conical screen, wherein said opening is circular, and wherein said openings provided with a circular flange extending down from the periphery of said opening.

7. A filter arrangement for guttering, substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, 4 or 5 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 20 January 1992 CARTER SMITH BEADLE Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: CRAIG IAN POULTON o e a j cspe.25/poulton 92 1