GB2509062A - Roof gutter with purifying particulate and filter - Google Patents

Abstract

A roof gutter 2 comprises a collection channel 4, purification means 6, 8 and subsequent drainage means 10 to permit rainwater that has become contaminated after passing over a rooftop to be purified before entering a mains drainage system, or to be collected for re-use around a property. The purification means comprises a layer of particulate material 6 designed to slow the permeation of water through the roof gutter 2 prior to entering a suitable filter medium 8. This allows for efficient purification of the water. During heavy rainfall, excess water collecting in the collection channel is able to bypass the filter 6, 8 and pass directly into a mains drainage system to prevent flooding. Drainage apertures 20 in a barrier 18 positioned just prior to the entrance of the drainage means allow this to occur.

Description

ROOF CiU'l I FRS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

S The present invention relates to roof gutters thr the coliecth.m and purification of rainwater, and in particular to roof gutters that are used to purify contaminated runwaLer from rooftops beibre it passes into a mains water drainige system Or to a watercourse.

BACK ROUND TO TIlE INVENTION Rainwater failing from the sky is usually collected by a standard interconnected system of gutters and pipes to collect the wter and transfer it to a mains drainage sy. Item, or to store the water for.rc-use at a further point in time. For eampIe, water can be collóoted and stored to Water pints orvegetables in a garden.

The biggest disadvantage with rainwater which falls onto rooftops is that it. eften becomes more contaminated by heavy nieftils, pvliutanL, bacteria and ftiecal deposits that cin he found on 100 fI0, In camparison win Orul nary ± cunwatet falling directly onto the ground. Such rainwater therefore is unsuitable ftu' re-use in a ga.rdening environment or where. imo may come into, direct contact laith it, Further, the passage of such rainwater into a drainage system is inevitable, hut with the diadvantage that the wateris significantly more contaminated when carried to rivers, water courses or to underground aquifers. Purification means at ground. level is.

known from the art Inn is expensive, requires space to implement and is difficult to maintain A solution to the problem is therefore to develop system that could be retrofitted to txlsting drainage., means o,r be jstal1ed chiring new build construction, e.g. roof guttcrs to avid introducing additional measures or appatratus to purinr' rainwater runoff, It would therefore he advantageous to have *a roof guLleT that could he. employed to collect raInwater 1mm rooftops, but that coild Purify the rainwater upon collection prior to it entering a mains drainage system or he diverted far future collection and re-use. it would also he advantageous if the punfication means comprised a mechanism to CTISute thai the raijiwatt.r collqdteçl from aooftops was purified efficiently, and did not c.on-ifromise the. volume of the gutter. It ou.Jd further be advairtiigóOus to have a S system that requires low maintenance, and functions as designed Jar a considerable amount of time. IL would he highly advantageous, if the roof gutter comprised a means to cope with sudden or unexpected downpours of rainwater, such thai tle purification means could b bypassed to allow the waler to pass. dIrectly into a mains drainage system, During storms, it is appreciated that, the need to remove large, volumes of relatively heavy rainwaterfrom roof gutters outweighs the requirements to purify the rainwater that has been collected. Any contamihants present on a rooftop are significantly diluted under such circumstances anyway nnd the need to purii them is not as iniportant Moreover, it is the first rain that fails on the roof after a dry spcll that is likely to pick up tnost of the contarninafion. is

SUMMARY OF ThE INVENTION

Accordingly, the liresent invention provides a roof goUct. comprising a collection channel For receiving and purifying rainwaler, die cohiectjon channel having purification means. and drainage means located downstream of the purification means to remove water from the collection channel, the purifkation means comprising a pmieulate layer arid a -titter layer, wherein, rainwater triust pass through the particulate layer prior to entering the filter layer.

In an emhodinieii't of the inventlon'the collection channe.l is preferably thrmed fr any iqg-lasting and durable material, such as for example but not limited to glass-fibres, reinforced plastic.s pr high-density poiyethylene.s. The collection channel is shaped mid dimensionti such that the purificatien means tills a bAse portion of thç collection channel upstream from the drainage mear.s Thi e.nurö«= that aiy 3) ra1n\atcr cn1cring the oollection channel will permeate under gravity through the purification means and hat tht. olurn of thL colketion channel is not cnmp oimsed It is envisaged that the draniage means may tonipnsc ctfl uitahle form that is &blc o remove, or drain, rainwater from the roof gutter, for example a downpdpe intercqniiecte' with the collection channel. Preferably a. cross-section of the roof g.LtUgr is smaller t the hase portion compared to an ttpper portion of the roof gutter.

Tn. an embodiment of the inventior dw ixrde.ulate niatedal is pteferably irtegula4y shaped, and may he formed from a lightweight material such as eg a lightweight gravel. Such a lightweight gravel woi.ñcl he anticipated to have an average diaincter of between 5 and 10 mm. and a densily in the region of 1.02 kg/rn3. it will. he appreciated by a skifled person fl2it the particulate material need not specifically be io entirely irreguiarl.y shaped A mixture of egrlaly and regularly shaped particulate materials would he sufficient to slow down the pasase of water before it enters the filter layer, and to also hold the filter layef.in place.. The filter layer may preferably he tbrmed from standard fiber materials known in the art, for example, materials selected from ceramic clays, activate I charcoals, zeolites and combinations thereofi incJ a e -elected for then 1os weight, long life and known water punfication propetties. Pi.-.ferahly. the particulatc: material is smaller than tho filter material.

In an embodiment. of the irE.ventiou the purification mcans may t\uthe.r comprise a pluralhy of adsorbent means located upstream from the drainage means. The adsorbent. means aid in the removal of pathogens and hydrocarbons from the rainwatc,r and mity be preferably fbrmed from any suitable materials, such as engineered sponges which remove up to 959/s of hydrocarbons from rainwater. They consist of a proprietary blend of polymers, for exathpte eeLhdoae acetate miNed with fl:uorinated polyhenzoxarnes a;id organosilanca which are oTeoihi!ie sgch that any hydrocarbons become incorporated into the polymer matrix The adsorption of hydrocubon is therefore permanent preennng them from washing off or lesehi ig out of the ponge moter'al during subsequent rainfall bach adothent means may additional y comprsc a dam adjacent a downstream end of the adsorbent means, to slow the flow of the water through the roof gutter therefoie asisting with filtration and. purification of the water In order to aehievc this. it is aitticipated tt each darn may further comprise a plur&ity of drainage apertures to permit a smaL volume of water to pass through.

In an embodiment of the invention ft. is anticipated that the collection channel may preferably be lined by a mesh filter to prevent the particulate layer front entering the drainage means A mesh fiter would aso ensure ti-at large items ot dehrr IJuing into s the collection cbaw.iel, for example lea*s, do hpt Chter and hlqck the drainage meanS.

In an embodiment ot the invention, the root gutter may additioria]ly comprise a barrier located above the m esh iThtn-, The barrier is po5.itionecl to help t:rap and cotleeL rainwater in the roof giitte.r so that ft is directed through the purification means before W passing into the drainage means, In an embodiment of the inVention, the top of the harrier is below the top of the collection channel, whereby excess water can spill over the harrier to the drainage rne'ms In a firthei c'nibodmient of the unention it is anticipated that the bar icr may 1 further comprise a phirality of utainage apertmes above the top of the punIicahn means, This. permits intermediate volumes of excess water to pass directly from a 1 outon Th a mamb dnunage system, and bvpas the puufication means while slowing its'. progress In allow as much as possible to enter the purification means. A skilled person. will. apprcciatc that this will he Ithe.case during heavy or.sudderi downpours 01 rain, eg. during, a swrni, when it would not be preferable for large volumes of water to accumulate in the roof gut'ter or spill over the sides' of the collection channel.

In a further embodiment oIthe invention, a geo-textile membrane preferably lines the base of the roof gutter in otder to cpntin and adsorb contaminants, as well as slowing the passage of water through the collection channel.

The invention as described above solves the problem of filtering rainwater that has beconc contaminated by passage over a. rooftop prior t.o it entering a mains drainage system. In particular, rainwater running straight off the surface of a roof and into a 2o gUtter is. contamInated by thuch higher levola of heavy metals, p&hituiits, bacteria and faceal deposits that are located on rooftops, in cornj4rison with otdinaty tainWater falling diicctly onto the gtound [he layei of particulate matici also enuies that terparmeates ga4u$lly gthe purutlca*n moans suchth tim rainwater is ti*td aS purjfid:effideS3⁄4 t: tbq:qvelnc of su n cg hevy downpoun oIl rain, t: a stknt, e tJti cofl: a Uiihth moans b ThMina dkSy MoftbcáflS cantiel and IS th 6 4Ina ca,, This is thieved b th excess Wider ass1ng Lbkmgh a4diiiønai drainage holes in a barrier located upstream from the drainage meana or spilling over the baMer 4s3 gscn star, speàUlc eitSbetns ot the jnvntion nw deerihed by wy of ennpli and with ref' to the aeenwthflg dtn4pgs ii *i JUte zser&s teaeØ, m jn4icatc,iiJc,parts, tiSirsdCUta,,y&iS *woftheroofgutter F e italtctMtivt *w otihe f:wofrig 1 froip above; FiØt 3: a:iow in g: sttS Sought rocfju* $iottgh tine 4.4 o Figure: 1igwe 4 J a view in cmss-sectipn thmugkth t,udtioatksl Inefs: of me toot guet thit'uh line B-B otpi,:z, Piain,. is a view M ctoss-sectiop through I*he end:of the rout gMttcr through lhae C-C otngure Z and Figure 6 i&i\* shoThgthe rofgi1ttet atta4e4 te; buiMi*& kafàrrjng nqw to the drawings, Figures 1 d2: sbo* the omønentatss øfthe nW' gar, 2,: fle:'xf tte" çonrLses a' collection channel 4 havIng a paiTh"" Eyer 6 aS *:fijt*r lyer S i ed a bat portion of the roof gutter 2. Downstream' from jim ttflep&a àtwint 21$ tó* 4rajpage means 10 such as' a dcnvnpIpe toternuve wAter frbfl' tht øotttcr 2. The cófledon Ø,, npl 4 and 44ige' means 1:0 are both: formed *ö', ti" pw,'nj1ate'iym:61* fi)rm$ frc,.,' liuitwtigbt irregularly *hapod' gra*tSd the mte t& 8 lstmø fr*j* anixws of ceramic clays, u&twated cbarvoals and zeolites Tht mof gutter 2 tIn-they conpnas a numb#r ot,a4or$nt pnge b1S'iZ'fwwcd from céltulosé aettate ndzS with: fluorinated polyhenzoxaines and organosilanes. and, spaced at intervals along the base of the collection channel 4. Figure 1 shows a roof gutter 2 coniprising two adsorbent sponge blocks 12 located iii the base of the collection channel 4 upstream troin the drainage means iO. The adsorhetit sponge blocks 12 arc eornpietly covered by die Iter taicr 8, and Oaeh further comprises a c1.aw 14 adjacent ti dowristrepm end of the adsorhent spolige block 1.2. The darn 14 coniprise plurality o' drt*inag apertures 16. (F i:gue 4) to petini La small volume of water' to pass through. The roof gulLeT 2 also comprises a harrier 18 located ipatrearn from the drainage means 10, which also comprises a plurality of drainage apertures 20 (Figure 5). Both the dam 14 and the harrier 18 are formed from the same high-density polyethylene material used to construct the roof gufter 2 and., drainage rneas 10. A geottiie rienbrame 22 lines the base of the roof gutter 2.

Figure.3 is a view in crossseetion through the roof gutter 2, showing the. particulate 1 layer 6, filter layer 8 and geo--textile membrane 22 lining the collection channel 4.

The roof gutter 2 is shown having a larger crosssecticn at the top of the roof gutter 2 in comp'ari son ith a lower part. More paiticu1r1'y, the top paik of the gutter 2 is in The, form of a wide trough that can cope with' substantial voiun'tOs of water during heavy rainstorms, while' the puntcatiun.means 6, 8 is conuineci to *adistinct trough of small cross--section. fonicd in the lower part of' the gutter 2' in order to minimise its weight.

Figure 4 is a'ytew in cross-section thrpugh the purification mlean's of the roof gutter 2.

The etoss-section show's the particulate layer 6 and filter layer 8, aS welt as the dam 14 located adjacent a downstream end of an adsorbent sponge block 12. The dam 14 i's shown having three. drainage apertures 16, to prevent water pooling b.ehihd the dam 14..

Fjgmuc 5 i.s a view in cross-section through an end. section of the root gutter 2. The 3D barrier 1 8 Jocatc'd at a dovnstream end of the purification means is shown, having six drainage apcrturds 20, as well As a mesh filte 24, The thcsh fiLter 24 lines the base portion of the roof guttet 2 and pic ents the particulate layer 6 arid lifter layer S from enterIng, the drainage means 10. In the event of heavy or sudden storms, rainwater would naturafly accumulate in.thc collection channel. 4 Oi.i such occasions, xainwater that pools behind the harder 18 is permitted to overspill. into the drainage means 10, without pessiug through the particulate layer.6. fitter layer 8 and adsorbent sponge hiocks'12.

Finally, Hgure. 6 SiiO:WS at rOOF gutler 2 Gf the invention attached to the side of a building.

In use, the rain gutter 2 is attached to the side of a building, and positioned underneath the eäes of a roof, such that any surface wattt running off the rooftop is collected in the collection channel 4. Wter entering the collection ebatmel 4 permeates throtigh the particulate layer 6 under gravity towards the fiit&.t layer 8 and adsoihent sponge.

blodks 1 2 to be purified. The irregularly shaped patticidate material 6 slows down the flow of vatc.r thiough it, such that the filter layei 8 is not swamped sith Irirge quantnie of ratn\'atel This allou for effcct]\c purification of the water by the filer Li'ei 8 and adsorbent sponge blocks 12 kftcr passng throagh the fihr la)er 8 and adsorbent spoxige blocks 12, purified witer leates the collection channel 4 via the drainage means 10 located downstream from the purification means. Substantial]y cleaner water is now able to enter a mains drainage sysiem or he collected for re4ise around a property.

During heavy rainfall conditions, excess water collecting in the collection dhannel 4 is able to bypass the particulate layer 6, filter layer 8, eid adsorhetit sponge hloch 12 by passing through the drainage apertures 20 in the harrier 12, Tli exCess \Vater is therefore -free to pass directly into, the drainage means 1.0 to avoid the accumulation of large volumes of water in the roof gutter 2 which would otherwise overspill from the roof gutftt,2