AU761253B2

AU761253B2 - Drainage means

Info

Publication number: AU761253B2
Application number: AU56003/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Phillip James Knowler
Original assignee: Marley New Zealand Ltd
Current assignee: Marley New Zealand Ltd
Priority date: 1998-11-11
Filing date: 1999-10-22
Publication date: 2003-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 2019-10-22
Also published as: AU5600399A

Description

51117 P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: PHILLIP JAMES KNOWLER Actual Inventor: PHILLIP JAMES KNOWLER Address for Service: COLLISON CO., 117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: DRAINAGE MEANS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: ooo o o *oo *o go g* *gent* best method of performing it known to us: -1-A This invention relates to drainage means. In particular, at least one preferred form of the invention relates to a filter box for use with roof drainage systems.

A problem in the context of roof drainage is that debris can build up and cause blockage or contamination of the associated roof drainage system.

Such debris can include tree leaves, sticks, bird droppings, dead birds, dirt, etc. The problem can be pronounced in rural areas where it is common to obtain a supply of drinking or washing water from rain water passing through the roof drainage system of a house. It is accordingly an object of at least one form of the present invention to provide means which goes at least some way towards addressing the above problem.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided drainage means, 15 comprising an inlet, an outlet, a debris opening, and filter means between the inlet and the outlet, the drainage means being formed such that when it is in use rain water from a roof drainage system can enter the drainage means via the inlet and drop to an inclined part of the filter means which is S: at an angle of approximately 55 degrees to approximately 75 degrees with 20 respect to the horizontal and fall through the filter means to exit the drainage means via the outlet, and wherein debris from the rain water too large to pass through the filter means is caused to slide over the filter means by virtue of the inclined part such that the debris exits the drainage means by way of the debris opening.

Preferably the drainage means comprises drip means adjacent the debris opening arranged to cause water which does not pass through the filter means after passing through the inlet to drip downwards away from the drainage means so that it does not track along an underneath of the drainage means.

Preferably a first part of the filter means is substantially inclined between the inlet and the outlet, and a second part of the filter means is substantially horizontal or is substantially less inclined between the inlet and the outlet when the drainage means is in a normal in-use orientation, the second part of the filter means providing water with more easy access through the filter means than the first part of the filter means.

Preferably the first part of the filter means is angled at approximately S degrees to approximately 75 degrees with respect to the horizontal. More preferably the first part of the filter means is angled at approximately degrees to approximately 70 degrees with respect to the horizontal. Most 15 preferably the first part of the filter means is angled at 65 degrees with respect to the horizontal.

In some forms of the invention the filter means may have an underside associated with a drip maker arrangement, the drip maker arrangement 20 presenting a barrier which substantially prevents water from adopting a filter means blocking flow path along the underside of the filter means.

Preferably the second part of the filter means is between the first part of the filter means and the debris outlet.

Some preferred forms of the invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a side cross section view of a rain water box filter, Figure 2 is a rear view of the box filter, and Figure 3 is a plan view of the box filter.

With reference to figure 1, the box filter is formed to fit into the roof down pipe or roof guttering of a house or building. The box filter has an inlet 1 for receiving rain water draining from a roof guttering, and an outlet 2 for directing water to a down pipe. As shown, the inlet 1 is at the top of the S• box filter, and the outlet 2 is at the bottom of the box filter. A debris opening 3 is positioned in the front of the box filter between the inlet 1 and the outlet 2.

15 As also shown in figure 1, the box filter has a filter means 4 adjacent the debris opening 3 between the inlet 1 and the outlet 2. Preferably the filter means has a pore or mesh size of between approximately 0.08 mm and Sapproximately 1.5 mm. The filter means 4 has an inclined first part 5 and a substantially horizontal second part 6. Preferably the first part 5 of the filter 20 means is angled at approximately 55-75 degrees with respect to the horizontal, and the second part 6 of the filter means is substantially horizontal. Desirably the angle of the first part of the filter means 5 is approximately 65 degrees to the horizontal. The first and second parts and 6 may be formed from a single length of mesh or gauze filter material, or may each comprise a separate length of mesh or gauze filter material.

Other filter types may be substituted if desired.

With further reference to figure 1, the box filter has a downwardly angled drip edge 7 adjacent the debris opening 3. With reference to figure 3, the box filter has shelf like protrusions 8 in its interior to provide seats for locating and supporting the filter means 4. Turning to figure 2, the box filter also has rear flange plates 9 to enable it to be secured to the outside wall or fascia of a house or building.

When the box filter is in use it is secured to the outside of a house or building so that the inlet 1 is fitted to roof guttering and the outlet 2 is fitted 10 to a roof down pipe. Rain water from the roof of the house or building Stravels along the guttering and enters the box filter by way of the inlet 1.

The rain water then drops onto the inclined first part 5 of the filter means 4.

Most of the rain water drops through the inclined first part 5 of the filter means 4 and is filtered thereby. However, due to the incline of the first part 15 5, in certain conditions some of the rain water may tend to run down along the upper surface of the first part 5. The second part 6 of the filter means at least substantially prevents such water from flowing out of the box filter Sthrough the debris opening 3. This is because the second part 6 is substantially horizontal, and hence water running down along the top of the 20 first part 5 is easily able to drop through the second part 6 to be filtered thereby. The drip edge 7 assists any small amounts of water escaping through the debris opening 3 to form drips and drop to the ground, rather than run along the underside 8a of the box filter. More particularly, the drip edge 7 is downwardly angled, and serves to direct debris and water escaping from the debris opening 3 away from the house or building. As will be appreciated, water or debris escaping from the debris opening 3 may cause staining of the house or building if able to contact the house or building.

As rain water passes through the box filter into the down pipe, the filter means serves to filter out debris in the water. The debris are able to run along the top of the first part 5 of the filter means and exit the box filter by way of the debris opening 3. This is facilitated by the angle of the first part in association with gravity. Water running down along the top of the first part 5 also assists in moving debris out of the debris opening 3. If a small amount of debris collects on the second part 6 of the filter means then the debris will eventually be expelled out of the debris opening 3 by water and additional debris pushing against it. Preferably the box filter is formed with .oo. high side walls adjacent each side of the second part 6 of the filter means.

This assists in moving a possible debris buildup on the second part 6 of the filter means as water is prevented from spilling over the sides of the second part 6. More particularly, the side walls serve to channel water and debris in 15 the direction of the debris opening 3.

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S. Preferably the filter means 4 can be readily removed for replacement or cleaning, and may be formed from a suitable gauze or perforated metallic sheet material.

Optionally the box filter may be formed so that it can be cut adjacent the inlet 1 at a position as indicated by reference number la. This enables the box filter to be readily installed in applications where there is relatively little work space. However, it is preferred that the box filter be maintained with a drop of at least 50 mm between the inlet 1 and the filter means"4.

The box filter may be formed, at least in part, from any suitable material, for example plastics or metallic substances, or combinations thereof.

In some embodiments of the invention the second part 6 of the filter means may be dispensed with, so that the filter means 4 is substantially continuously inclined between the inlet 1 and the debris opening 3. The structure of the box filter may be modified to facilitate this. In such embodiments the angle of the filter means is preferably 65 degrees with respect to the horizontal.

In the invention the use of a filter means 4 with at least a water receiving part angled at approximately 55 to approximately 75 degrees, and most preferably 65 degrees, with respect to the horizontal is most advantageous.

This is because if the filter means 4 is angled too steeply then it can be difficult for water to pass therethrough. If the angle is not steep enough then debris may not be able to move from the box filter via the debris outlet, 15 and this can lead to blockage of box filter.

With reference to figure 1, the filter means 4 is optionally joined or otherwise associated with a "drip maker arrangement" comprising a series of bars 10 extending horizontally across the filter means 4. The bars present a 20 barrier to water which may tend to run downwards along the underside of the filter means. As water runs downwards along the underside of the filter means it contacts the bars 10 and forms drips which then fall vertically towards the outlet 2. In this way the bars 10 prevent any significant flow of water along the underside of the filter means which could effectively block or significantly hinder additional water from falling through the filter means.

While some forms of the invention have been described by way of example, it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

S

215

Claims

1. Drainage means, comprising an inlet, an outlet, a debris opening, and filter means between the inlet and the outlet, the filter means having an inclined first part when the filter means is in use and also having a second part which is substantially horizontal or substantially less inclined than the first part when the filter means is in use, the second part of the filter means providing water with substantially more easy access through the filter means than the first part of the filter means, the drainage means being formed such that when it is in use rain water from a roof drainage system can enter the drainage means via the inlet and drop to the first part of the filter means wherein the first part of the filter means is at an angle of substantially 55 degrees to substantially 75 degrees with respect to the horizontal and fall through the filter means to exit the drainage means via the outlet, and wherein debris from the rain water too large to pass through the filter means is caused to slide over the filter means by virtue of the inclined first part such that the debris exits the drainage means by way of the debris opening.

2. Drainage means according to claim 1, wherein said inclined first part of the filter means is. at an angle of substantially 60 degrees to substantially degrees with respect to the horizontal when the drainage means is in a normal in use orientation.

3. Drainage means according to claim 1, wherein said inclined first part of the filter means is at an angle of substantially 65 degrees with respect to the horizontal when the drainage means is in a normal in use orientation.

4. Drainage means according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising 25 drip means adjacent the debris opening arranged to cause water which does not pass through the filter means after passing through the inlet to drip downwards away from the drainage means so that it does not track along an underneath of the drainage means.

5. Drainage means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 00. 30 second part of the filter means is between the first part of the filter means and o. the debris outlet. 9

6. Drainage means according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filter means has an underside associated with a drip maker arrangement, the drip maker arrangement presenting a barrier which substantially prevents water from adopting a filter means blocking flow path along the underside of the filter means.

7. Drainage means according to claim 7, wherein the drip maker arrangement comprises a series of bars extending across the underside of the filter means.

8. Drainage means substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated the 6th March, 2003 PHILLIP JAMES KNOWLER ,satent Attor d LISON CO e*ooo *o *oe o*e *eee ee *o o oo" *••go *o oo oooo *o •go•* *oo *o