AU715503B2

AU715503B2 - Easyflow rainwater filter

Info

Publication number: AU715503B2
Application number: AU62089/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kimberley John O'Malley
Original assignee: KIMBERLEY JOHN O MALLEY
Current assignee: KIMBERLEY JOHN O MALLEY
Priority date: 1995-08-17
Filing date: 1996-08-14
Publication date: 2000-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 2016-08-14
Also published as: AU6208996A

Description

AUSTRALIA

_t U2. WE Q Patents. Act 1990 Oiginal Complete. Sp eictio Standard Patent.

P/0010 1 Regulation 3~2 Invention Title T he folloiwing statement is a fulldescription of this iventiont, including the best method of prfrming known to me:a.

_II

-1-

TITLE

Rain Water Filter FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention is in the field of filters for rain water and more particularly in the field of filters for rain water that are fed by gravity.

BACKGROUND ART Rain water that runs off from a building's roof is often collected in a local storage tank for later domestic use. As the rain water runs off a building's roof, it is often contaminated by debris. Thus it is desirable to clean the rain water before it is stored so as to remove this debris.

However, it often the case that particles are suspended in the rain water. It is desirable to remove these particles before storage. This may be achieved by a multi-stage filtering process.

With a multi-stage filtering process, cleaning of the various filtering stages may 15 be required in order for the filter to remove debris and suspended particles in an o °efficient manner. In particular, where a filter stage is clogged with debris and particles, greater pressure may be required in order for the rain water to pass through it.

Where a rain water filter is gravity fed, it is difficult to adjust the pressure of the water passing through the filter. Accordingly, the filter stages should be cleaned regularly if the filter is to operate in an optimal manner.

Australian patent No. 597081 discloses a rain water collection system. It operates under the force of gravity and diverts a first portion of rain water flowing from a building's roof into a discard tank. Once the discard tank is full, the remainder of the water flow is diverted into a collection tank.

p 25 remainder of the water flow is diverted into a collection tank.

-2- The collection apparatus does not incorporate in a filter stage an so does not require regular cleaning. However, as it does not included a filter stage it does not eliminate suspended solids from the collected rain water.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a filter apparatus for a rain water collection system that operates under the force of gravity to remove at least some of the solids suspended in the collected rain water. Providing such a filter apparatus with reduced cleaning requirements is an alternate object.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a filter apparatus for filtering rain water said apparatus adapted to operate under gravitational force and comprising at least one filtration stage having an inlet, an outlet and a drain; said drain having a restricted opening compared to said inlet and being located on a level below said outlet; said drain being continuously open whereby providing, during filtration of rain water a restricted rain water flow 15 compared to said inlet.

Preferably the inlet is located on a level below the outlet. Preferably, said outlet further comprises a first and a second opening; the second opening providing in °9* use restricted rain water flow compared to said first opening; said second opening being located at a level below said first opening and said first opening 20 being connected to said second opening by means of at least one conduit whereby, in use, a first portion of said rain water flows into said conduit and fills said conduit to the level of said first opening whereupon at least a portion said rain water flows out of said first opening.

Preferably said inlet further comprises an inlet reservoir for in use storing said rain water; said inlet reservoir adapted to communicate said rain water with said filtration stage and said drain. Preferably said inlet reservoir further comprises a baffle. Preferably said filter further comprising an overflow reservoir adapted to A receive, in use, rain water overflow from said inlet reservoir. Preferably said 2a overflow reservoir is further adapted to receive, in use, rain water from said drain and/or from said second opening.

Preferably said filter further comprises a second filter stage that is located intermediate said outlet and said first and second openings; said second filter locating an inlet in communication with said outlet of said first filtration stage and said second filtration stage locating an inlet to said conduit. Preferably said inlet to said conduit is located at a level that is below said second filtration stage whereby in use said rain water is fed from said outlet of said first stage to said inlet of said conduit under force of gravity. Preferably said second filtration stage is a charcoal filter.

Preferably said inlet reservoir, said first filtration stage and said second filtration stage are laterally spaced apart.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION .A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of 15 example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1, shows a perspective view of a water filter in accordance with the invention; **a Figure 2, shows a front view of the water filter; Figure 3, shows a rear view; Figure 4, shows a schematic view of the water flow in the device; Figures 5a to 5d show, respectively, a side view, a top view, reverse side view and a bottom view; -2b Figures 6a to 6f shows, respectively, adjustable stopper plate in open and closed position, a perspective view of stopper plate, sectional view of two dividers and base of charcoal chamber, a sectional view; Figure 7a to 7d show, respectively, perforated cylinder with covered cloth, perspective view of baffle, side view of charcoal basket with perforated plate raised and an end view of charcoal basket with perforated plate raised; Figure 8 shows front view of the rainhead; Figure 9 shows side view of the rainhead.

e S a •*o *oQ iR o *oo• -3- REFERRING NOW TO THE DRAWINGS THERE IS SHOWN A FILTER SYSTEM ENCLOSED IN A CONTAINER WHICH IS ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED AGAINST THE WALL OF A WATER RESERVOIR WITH THE CONTAINER POSITIONED PARTLY ABOVE THE RESERVOIR.

THE

WATER SUPPLY IS CONVEYED FROM A CONVENTIONAL HOUSE GUTTERING SYSTEM BY

PIPING.

IN THIS EMBODIMENT, THE CONTAINER IS SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR

AND

HAS A HEIGHT OF 190mm, A WIDTH OF 46 0mm AND A DEPTH, FRONT TO BACK, OF 110mm. IT WILL BE UNDERSTOOD THAT DIFFERENT SIZES AND SHAPES OF CONTAINER MAY BE PROVIDED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE INVENTION. THE CONTAINER 1 IS SECURED TO THE TOP OF THE RESERVOIR WITH ONE BRACKET 22 AND SCREWED, AT THE OPPOSITE END TO THAT OF THE OUTLET PIPE 8. THE OUTLET PIPE PROTRUDING

INTO

THE RESERVOIR 23 HOLDS FILTER FIRM ON THE TOP THERE SITS A REMOVABLE LID 2 WITH GAUZE 3 AND AN INLET OPENING 4 TO THE FLOATATION CHAMBER 10 BELOW. THE GAUZE 3 ON LID TURNS DOWN AT END TO CLOSE GAP FROM OVERFLOW 5 OF THE CONTAINER 1. BETWEEN THE CONTAINER 1 AND THE REMOVABLE LID 2 SITS AN ADJUSTABLE STOPPER PLATE 24 WITH TWO POSITIONS, OPEN 25 AND CLOSED 26.

THE FLOTATION CHAMBER 10 HAS A REMOVABLE BAFFLE 11 AND AN OVERFLOW 5. THE DIVIDER 12, OPEN AT BASE, BETWEEN FLOATATION CHAMBER 10 AND FILTER CHAMBER 13 HAS AN OPENING AT THE BASE. THE FILTER CHAMBER 13 HAS A 20 PERFORATED CYLINDER 14 COVERED WITH CLOTH ALONG ITS LENGTH AND OVER ONE .END WHICH SITS AGAINST DIVIDER 12. THE OPEN END SITS AGAINST DIVIDER WHICH HAS AN OPENING 27 WITH LIP 28. DIVIDER LIP 28 SPILLS WATER ONTO PERFORATED REMOVABLE PLATE 20 WHICH SITS ON TOP OF REMOVABLE MESH BASKET 18 CONTAINING CHARCOAL. THIS BASKET SITS IN CHARCOAL CHAMBER 16 ON BRAKETS 17 WITH LIFTING BOLTS POSITIONED 19. AT THE BASE OF THE CHARCOAL CHAMBER IS -4- A GAUZE 21 TO THE OUTLET PIPE 8 AND THE DRAIN COLLECTION CHAMBER 29. AT THE BASE OF THE FLOATATION CHAMBER 10 AND DRAIN COLLECTION CHAMBER 29 ARE DRAIN HOLES 6. THE TWO DRAIN HOLES 6 AND THE OVERFLOW 5 ALL DISCHARGE IN TO A RAINHEAD 30 WHICH HAS SQUARE OUTLET 31.

THE SUPPLY PIPE 9 DELIVERS WATER ONTO THE GAUZE 3 ON THE REMOVABLE LID 2. WATER AND PARTICLES SMALLER THAN 1mm PASS UNDER GAUZE AND FALL THROUGH OPENING 4 INTO FLOTATION CHAMBER 10. FLOATATION CHAMBER 10 FILLS FILTER CHAMBER THROUGH OPENING AT BASE OF DIVIDER 12. THE WATER PASSES INTO CENTRE OF PERFORATED CYLINDER 14, WHICH IS COVERED WITH CLOTH, TO THE LEVEL OF OPENING IN DIVIDER 15 AND DISCHARGES OVER DIVIDE OPENING LIP 28.

FROM THE DIVIDE OPENING LIP 28 THE WATER PASSES ONTO A PERFORATED PLATE DOWN THROUGH THE BASKET 18 WHICH CONTAINS CHARCOAL. THE MAJORITY OF WATER PASSES INTO OUTLET PIPE 21. THE DRAIN COLLECTOR CHAMBER WILL CONTINUALLY TAKE A SMALL AMOUNT OF WATER DUE TO OPEN DRAIN 6. THE DRAIN COLLECTOR 15 CHAMBER 29 COLLECTS THE FIRST AND THE LAST WATER TO PASS OVER CHARCOAL DURING ONE FLOW CYCLE.

THE FLOATATION CHAMBER 10 AND FILTER CHAMBER 13 CONTINUALLY DISCHARGE WHEN WATER IS PASSING THROUGH, BUT ONCE WATER FLOW CEASES, ALL WATER INCLUDING THAT IN THE PERFORATED CYLINDER 14 FLOWS OUT OF DRAIN 6, THUS 20 GIVING A REVERSE FLUSH OF THE PERFORATED CYLINDER 14. IF THE CLOTH ON THE PERFORATED CYLINDER 14 BLOCKS THE FLOW OF WATER THE FLOATATION CHAMBER AND FILTER CHAMBER 13 DISCHARGE BY WAY OF THE OVERFLOW 5. WATER FROM THE TWO DRAINS 6 AND THE OVERFLOW 5 ARE COLLECTED BY THE RAINHEAD 30 WITH OUTLET 31. A STANDARD PIPE MAY BE ATTACHED TO THE RAINHEAD OUTLET TO ASSIST WITH DISPOSAL.

MOVING ADJUSTABLE STOPPER PLATE 24 TO THE CLOSED POSITION 26 DIVERTS ALL WATER TO THE OVERFLOW POSITION AND INTO THE RAINHEAD. ACCORDINGLY, FIRST RAINS AND WATER FROM WASHING ROOFS AND GUTTERS CAN BE DISCARDED.

ALL GAUZE IS 1mm OR SMALLER AND MADE OF MATERIALS COMPATIBLE WITH POTABLE WATER. REMOVABLE PARTS ARE LID, STOPPER PLATE, BAFFLE, PERFORATED CYLINDER AND BASKET CONTAINING CHARCOAL INCLUDING THE PERFORATED PLATE ON THE BASKET.

o* o

Claims

1. Filter apparatus for filtering rain water said apparatus adapted to operate under gravitational force and comprising at least one filtration stage having an inlet, an outlet and a drain; said drain having a restricted opening compared to said inlet and being located on a level below said outlet; said drain being continuously open whereby providing during filtration of rain water a restricted rain water flow compared to said inlet.

2. Filter apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inlet is located on a level below said outlet.

3. Filter apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said outlet further comprises a first and a second opening; the second opening providing in use restricted rain water flow compared to said first opening; said second ata opening being located at a level below said first opening and said first °opening being connected to said second opening by means of at least one conduit whereby in use a first portion of said rain water flows into said conduit Sand fills said conduit to the level of said first opening whereupon at least a portion said rain water flows out of said first opening. a.~ 7o Filter apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said inlet o: ~further comprises an inlet reservoir for in use storing said rain water; said inlet reservoir adapted to communicate said rain water with said filtration stage and said drain. Sa Filter apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said inlet reservoir further comprises a baffle.

6. Filter apparatus as claimed in any one of claim 4 or 5, further comprising an overflow reservoir adapted to receive, in use, rain water overflow from said inlet reservoir.

7. Filter apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said overflow reservoir is further adapted to receive, in use, rain water from said drain and/or from said second opening.

8. Filter apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a second filter stage is located intermediate said outlet and said first and second openings; said second filter locating an inlet in communication with said outlet of said first filtration stage and said second filtration stage locating an inlet to said conduit.

9. Filter apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said inlet to said conduit is located at a level that is below said second filtration stage whereby in use said rain water is fed from said outlet of said first stage to said inlet of said conduit under force of gravity.

10. Filter apparatus as claimed in any one claims 8 or 9, wherein said second filtration stage is a charcoal filter. 15 11. Filter apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein said inlet reservoir, said first filtration stage and said second filtration stage are laterally spaced apart. Dated this Eighteenth day of November 1999. o Kimberley John O'Malley Applicant Wray Associates Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant