Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Cover with surface water receiver at eave or valley – Inwardly of edge
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-27
2003-04-29
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Cover with surface water receiver at eave or valley
Inwardly of edge
C052S012000, C052S061000, C052S062000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06553723
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to a rainwater collection and storage system, and more particularly to a gutterless rainwater harvesting and storage system which allows a controlled percentage of roof run-off to access, via designed slots in steel roof sheeting and a collection system, a series of narrow section (200 to 250 mm wide) tanks, which, in new building construction, can replace conventional solid external walls. The slots in the roof sheeting are dimensioned and shaped to allow optimum water entry, while excluding leaves and gum nuts.
BACKGROUND ART
Water tanks to store roof water are extremely well-known. It is well-known to provide a steel, or plastic, and a generally cylindrical, water tank next to a house with the gutters of the house being connected to the water tank inlet via a down pipe. It is known to have mesh screens or similar devices to keep leaves, twigs, and the like from entering the rainwater tank. These large cylindrical tanks are usually placed next to the house and on a support platform.
It is also known to have mini tanks (typically formed from plastic) positioned against a house wall and under the roof eaves. The mini tank can hold between 200 to 1000 litres of water and, as is common, has a lower tap. Again, a mesh screen and the like can be used to keep leaves and twigs from entering the mini tank. The mini tank is attached to the roof gutter via a down pipe.
One disadvantage with these existing tanks is that they collect water from the roof gutter. The roof gutter is usually clogged with leaves, twigs, dirt, dust and rotting material, and the sieves and screens are not able to remove anything other than the larger twigs and leaves. This means that water in the tank can still contain appreciable undesired residue. This can be alleviated by regular and thorough cleaning of the roof gutters, but this is a job which is not popular with most home owners, inter alia, for safety reasons.
In rural and bush environments, gutters can be a fire hazard through leaf build-up and it is not uncommon for houses in these areas to not have gutters and instead to allow water to fall straight off the edge of the roof. Another disadvantage with gutters is that leaf build-up in the gutters can cause flooding of the eaves through over topping. However, gutterless systems would prevent water from being collected for conventional cylindrical tanks or mini tanks.
Another disadvantage with conventional water tanks is that they are unsightly and are often in the way. While the mini tanks attempt to minimise this disadvantage, these tanks are still quite visible and noticeably bulge from a house wall.
Conventional water tanks are used only to collect and store water for drinking or irrigation purposes. To date, there has been no attempt to utilize the potential heat exchange properties of the water stored within the tank. If the tanks are placed in the sun, the water will slowly warm up, and in theory, can provide a good source of heat during the cooler periods at night. However, conventional tank designs do not take advantage of this property.
The present invention is directed to a rainwater collection and storage system which can collect and store rainwater without requiring the roof gutter. The invention is also directed to a climate management system for a building which uses a series of water tanks.
It is an object of the invention to provide a rainwater collection and storage system which may overcome the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the public with a useful or commercial choice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one form, the invention resides in a rainwater collection and storage system to collect and store roof water, the system comprising water collection slots extending through roof sheets and spaced from the edge of the roof, a manifold or other type of collection means below the roof sheets to collect the water from at least some of the slots, and at least one tank wall to store the collected water, the at least one tank wall having a narrow section to approximate a wall thickness, and typically extending from a ground floor to adjacent the roof.
In another form, the invention resides in a climate management system for a building which comprises a plurality of water tanks spaced about the building and either forming part of the external walls, or in front of the external walls, the water tanks being of narrow section to approximate a wall thickness, the tanks being interconnected by pipe work, pump means to pump water between the tanks, and temperature sensing means to sense the water temperature in the tanks, whereby water can be pumped between tanks to provide climate control to the building.
The rainwater collection and storage system collects water via slots extending through the roof sheeting and therefore does not require a gutter. This can provide cleaner and more hygienic water. The system can be used on roofs which are gutterless, for instance of houses in wooded areas where bush fires are a risk.
The roof sheets are typically metal profiled roof sheets as the collection slots are fairly easily punched or otherwise formed in the sheets. The collection slots are positioned to intercept the water running along at least some portion of the roof. It is envisaged that the slots can extend across the entire roof width, or along discrete portions or zones of the roof.
The collection slots are spaced from the edge of the roof. This may be in order to collect clean water, it being appreciated that at the edge of the roof there can be leaf, twig and other debris build-up. If the roof is supported by a wall, it is preferred that the slots are positioned to be substantially above the wall for reasons which will be described in greater detail below.
A number of collection slots may be provided and the size and shape of the collection slots can vary depending inter alia on the profile of the roof, and the typical annual rainfall in the region. The collection slots may be configured such that in heavy downpours, excess water simply bridges the slot gaps and runs off the edge of the roof. In low rainfall areas, more collection slots may be provided to catch as much water as possible. The shape and size of the slots is preferably such to allow optimum water entry while excluding leaves, twigs, gum nuts and the like.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the collection slots are located in roof insert members and the insert members may be mounted in receiver slots formed in the roof. Typically, the insert members are removably mounted in the receiver slots. An advantage of providing removable insert members is that the density, size and the like of the collection slots may easily be changed if desired by interchanging insert members having collection slots of different sizes etc. Insert members can also be replaced if damaged or irreversibly blocked by a twig or the like. This may be more cost effective than replacing a roof section. Insert members may also be interchanged to optimize rain water collection during dry or wet seasons. The profile (for instance corrugations) provides ridges and valleys with the valleys concentrating the water running off the roof sheets.
The roof insert member can be made from metal or ultra-violet stabilised plastics and comprises a shape consistent with the receiver slot in the roof sheeting surface. The insert member typically has first or upper end and a second or lower end, and in use the first end is located upstream from the second end relative to the normal direction of rainwater flow across the roof. Both ends of the roof insert members typically have a discrete shape so that they may be inserted in one direction only.
Typically, the upper end of the insert member contains a mouth-like slot which, in use, houses an edge of the roof sheeting receiver slot and positively locates the nose or upper end of the insert member. On the lower surface of the insert member at the lower or tail end of the insert member may be located a small tab depending therefrom. This tab typically includes a grippable portion
Friedman Carl D.
Hoffman Wasson & Gitler
Horton Yvonne M.
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