GB2423365A

GB2423365A - A drain blockage warning system

Info

Publication number: GB2423365A
Application number: GB0521453A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard John Wragg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-26
Filing date: 2005-10-21
Publication date: 2006-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2025-10-21
Also published as: GB0501619D0; GB2423365B; GB0521453D0

Abstract

A drain blockage warning system comprises two units, the first unit located within a pipe and comprising a detection device and a transmitter. The second unit is located remote from the pipe and comprises a receiver and a warning device. The system is arranged to detect a rising fluid level in the pipe resulting from a blockage and issue a warning.

Description

DRAIN BLOCKAGE WARNING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to pipes and the detection of blockages.

Conventionally, sewage and drainage pipes lead from a property or drain to a central sewer pipe. The flow of fluid is such that any waste flows away from the property or drain. However, if the sewage pipe becomes partially or completely blocked, water or sewage backs up along the pipe, back towards the property or drain. This can eventually cause the pipe to overflow in the property or through a drain cover into the Street or the like, resulting in unsanitary conditions and causing damage. The blockage then has to be cleared and the damage repaired. Since the drainage pipes are all below ground level there is no visual indication that a pipe is blocked until it is too late and the pipe is overflowing.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a warning system comprising a detection unit arranged to be located within a drainage system, the detection unit comprising a detection device and a transmitter, wherein the system is arranged to detect a rising fluid level in the drainage system and issue a warning.

The system may further comprise a receiver unit located remote from the drainage system, the receiver unit comprising a receiver and a warning device.

The detection device may be located at a predetermined depth in the drainage system and may be arranged to detect a fluid level reaching that predetermined depth.

The detection of a rising fluid level in a pipe or drain before it reaches the surface and overflows and issuing a warning to a property owner or pipe owner enables any blockages to be removed and the problem dealt with before any damage is caused.

The detection device may comprise a magnetic float and a switch. The magnetic float may be arranged to ride up and down a support member and the switch may be located inside the upper end of this support member. The magnetic float may be arranged to rise with the level of the fluid and to trigger the switch when it reaches the predetermined level.

The system may further comprise a processor, which, on switching of the switch, may send a signal to the transmitter. Preferably, the transmitter transmits a signal that is detected by the receiver located remote from the pipe. The receiver may then send a signal to a warning device arranged to produce a warning.

The warning may be any one or more of an audible alarm, a flashing light, a text alert, phone call or any other suitable warning. The alert may be sent to the property owner or issued inside the property or, alternatively or additionally, may be sent direct to the pipe owner or engineers.

The receiver and warning device may both be located inside a property, or at a control centre or other location. Alternatively, the receiver may be located at a base remote from the warning device and may be arranged to send a signal to the warning device. For example, a receiver located inside a property may send a signal to a device such as a mobile phone. In a further embodiment, the second unit comprising the receiver and warning device may be a single portable unit. This enables a property owner, pipe owner or engineer, for example, to be alerted to a blocked pipe wherever they are and attend to the problem as soon as possible.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a warning system according to an embodiment of the invention installed in a typical drainage system; and Figure 2 shows the warning system of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, a typical drainage system comprises a subsidiary sewage drainage pipe 2 leading from a property 4 to a main sewer 6.

Further subsidiary pipes 8 run from the surface level 10 to join subsidiary drainage pipe 2. Waste fluid flows along the pipes in a direction away from the property 4 and surface level 10.

If a blockage occurs either in the main sewer 6, downstream of where the subsidiary pipes 2, 8 join the sewer 6, or in the subsidiary drainage pipes 2, 8, then the flow of waste can be hindered and waste backs up along the pipes 2, 8. Waste continues to back up along the pipes 2, 8 until they overflow, either through the drain cover 12 onto the street or into the property 4 or other building.

A warning system is therefore provided that provides an early warning of the possibility of a pipe 2, 8 overflowing, giving an opportunity to address the problem before damage is caused. The warning system comprises a detection unit 14 and a receiver unit 16, the receiver unit 16 being positioned remote from the detection unit 14. In this embodiment, the detection unit 14 is located in waste pipe 8 at a predetermined depth below surface level 10. The receiver unit 16 is located inside the property 4.

Further details of the warning system are shown in Figure 2. The detector unit 14 of the warning system comprises an annular magnetic float 18 arranged to ride up and down a cylindrical support member 20, a switch 24 located inside the top end of support member 20 which is switched by movement of the magnet 18, a processor 26 connected to the switch 24 and a transmitter 28. The receiver unit 16 of the warning system comprises a receiver 30 arranged to receive signals emitted by the transmitter 28, a second processor 32 connected to the receiver 30 and a warning alarm 34.

The Support member 20 of the detector unit 14 is arranged vertically and its lower end 22 has a wider diameter than the rest of the support member, forming a stop that is wide enough to prevent the magnetic float 18 sliding off the end of the support member 20. If the pipe 8 is not blocked and waste is only flowing down the pipe towards the main sewer 6, then the magnet will rest at the lower end 22 of this support member.

However, if there is a blockage in the pipe 8 or downstream of the pipe 8 in either pipe 2 or the main sewer 6, then this will cause the waste to back up along the pipe 8. As the level of fluid in the pipe 8 rises past the detector, the magnetic float 18 rises up the support member 20.

In this embodiment, the upper end of the float 18 is north and the lower end of the magnet 18 is polarised south. This creates a magnetic field in the vertical direction through the central aperture of the magnet float 18, through which the support member 20 extends. When the level of water in the pipe 8 reaches the lower end of the support member, the float 18 floats on the surface of the water. As the float 18 rises with the level of the waste to be level with the switch 24, the magnetic field closes the switch 24, sending a signal to the processor 26. The processor 26 is connected to a transmitter 28, and is arranged to cause the transmitter to emit a signal on closing of the switch.

The receiver unit 16 of the warning system is located remote from the detector unit 14. For example, in this embodiment, the receiver unit 16 is located inside the property 4. The receiver 30 of the receiver unit 16 receives the signal emitted by the transmitter 28, and inputs it to the processor 32, which is arranged to respond by issuing a signal to the alarm 34 to sound the alarm 34. The alarm alerts the owner of the property that the level of waste in the pipe 8, and therefore also in pipe 2, is rising and is likely to overflow if the blockage is not removed. The early warning enables engineers to attend to the problem before drains overflow and cause damage.

In an alternative embodiment, the receiver unit 16 is arranged to alert the owner of the property 4 and to also send a signal from the processor 32 to the pipe owner or an engineer. The receiver 30 of the receiver unit 16 detects the signal emitted by the transmitter 28 and inputs it to the processor 32. An alarm is sounded inside the property as in the previous embodiment. The processor 32 is also arranged to issue via a transmitter a further signal to be received by a second receiver unit located at another site. In the second receiver unit the signal is received by a receiver and input to a processor. The processor is arranged to issue a signal to an alarm or other warning device to alert the pipe owner or engineer to the blockage. The signal sent from the first receiver unit 16 to the second receiver unit may be a radio frequency signal. Alternatively, a signal may be sent via a telephone connection or over the Internet. The blocked pipes can then be cleared without any delay since this eliminates the step of the property owner contacting an engineer.

Alternatively, the receiver unit 16 may be located entirely at a site of the pipe owner or local engineer. The receiver 30, which is positioned at the desired site, detects the signal emitted by the transmitter 28 and an alarm 34 is sounded. This enables engineers to clear the blocked pipes before a property owner becomes aware of a problem.

It will be appreciated that the warning 34 could be one of many types of alarm. For example, the warning may be an audible alarm or a flashing light. Alternatively, the warning comprises a display on which a message appears as an alert to the presence of a blockage in the pipe 2, 8. The message may also contain information about the blockage, such as the time at which it was detected and, if there are a number of pipes in the vicinity, in which pipe the rising level of waste was first detected.

In a further embodiment, the receiver 30 and processor 32 are located in the property 4 and form a base station. The processor 32 is arranged to issue a signal to a portable warning device. When a rise in the level of waste is detected, a signal is emitted by transmitter 28, which is detected by the receiver 30 at the base. The signal is received by the processor 32, which causes signal to be emitted that is detected by the portable warning device. Alternatively, the processor 32 may be arranged to issue a signal that is sent via a mobile telephone network to a mobile phone. The telephone may ring or alternatively a text message may appear to alert the property or pipe owner or an engineer of the blocked pipe 2, 8. The ring tone of the telephone may be a specific tone or a voice message that an individual can recognise as an alert to the blocked pipe 2,8. Alternatively, the processor 26 of the detector unit 14 may be arranged to cause the transmitter to issue a signal direct to the property owner. For example, the processor 26 may be arranged to cause a signal to be transmitted by the transmitter 28 via a mobile phone network direct to a mobile phone belonging to the property owner or engineer. The use of a portable warning device alerts the property or pipe owner or engineer to the problem immediately and therefore enables the pipes to be cleared as soon as possible before any damage is caused.

In an alternative embodiment, the switch 24 of the detector unit 14 is located at the lower end of the support member 20. In a normal state, the magnetic float 18 will rest at the lower end 22 of the support member, surrounding the switch 24. As the level of waste in the pipe 8 rises, the magnetic float 18 will float on the surface of the waste and rise above the level of the switch 24. Movement of the magnetic field away from the switch causes the switch 24 to close, sending a signal to the processor 26.

The processor 26 then causes the transmitter 28 to emit a signal to be detected by receiver unit 16.

Alternatively, in a further embodiment, the detector unit 14 comprises two switches, located at two different positions along the length of the support member 20. For example, one switch may be position towards the lower end of the support member and a second switch may be positioned at the top of the support member 20. This arrangement enables the detector unit to detect two different levels of waste in the pipe 8. The first switch detects the rising level of fluid and causes a warning to be issued as in previous embodiments of the invention. This first alarm can act as an early warning that the pipe 8 is blocked and that the level of waste is rising. As the level of waste in the pipe 8 rises to the top of the support member 20, the second switch is closed by the magnetic field of the magnetic float 18 and a second warning is issued. The difference in time between the first and second warnings allows the property owner or engineer to calculate the speed at which the waste in the pipe is rising, enabling them to determine how quickly the blockage needs to be cleared before the pipe overflows and causes damage.

Claims

1. A warning system comprising a detection unit arranged to be located within a drainage system, the detection unit comprising a detection device and a transmitter, wherein the system is arranged to detect a rising fluid level in the drainage system and in response to transmit a warning signal.

2. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a receiver unit located remote from the drainage system, the receiver unit comprising a receiver arranged to receive the warning signal and a warning device.

3. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the detection device is located at a predetermined depth in the drainage system.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the detection device is arranged to detect a fluid level reaching a predetermined depth in the drainage system.

5. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the detection device comprises a magnetic float and a switch.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the magnetic float is arranged to rise with the level of the fluid and to switch the switch when it reaches a predetermined level.

7. A system according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the transmitter is arranged to transmit the warning signal on switching of the switch.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the second unit is arranged to receive the transmitted signal and produce a warning in response thereto.

9. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the warning is any one or more of an audible alarm, a flashing light, a text alert, phone call or any other suitable warning.

10. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the warning is arranged to be issued to a property owner inside a property.

11. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the receiver and warning device are both located inside a property.

12. A system according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the receiver is located at a base remote from the warning device and is arranged to send a signal to the warning device.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the warning device is a mobile phone.

14. A system according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the second unit comprising the receiver and warning device is a single portable unit.

15. A method of detecting a blockage in a drainage system, comprising detecting a rising fluid level in the drainage system and transmitting a warning signal in response thereto.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising receiving the transmitted signal and issuing a warning.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the warning is issued inside a property.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the warning is issued directly to a pipe owner or engineer.

19. A blockage warning system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A method of detecting a blockage substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.