Rainwater collection system

Abstract

Rainwater collection system, mountable in or on a building-bound rainwater collection and disposal system, each of which has at least --- a gutter extending essentially horizontally (1), --- a rainwater drainage outlet (2) arranged on this --- a rainwater downpipe (5) connected to this, extending essentially vertically, --- a ground outlet (6) located in the lower part of the rainwater downpipe and equipped with a branch device (6.1), --- an earth stub connecting this to the subsoil (7) as well as --- one functionally connectable to the downpipe (5) rainwater collection tank (11) includes, characterized by the fact that --- the rainwater collection system -- an inlet funnel (3), which can be inserted into the discharge nozzle (2) while maintaining a substantially annular flow (3.1) relative to the downpipe inner wall (5.1) and has at least one inlet (3.2) directed towards the roof gutter (1) and an outlet (3.3) directed into the downpipe (5), -- an elongated collection water pipe (4), which is designed as a functionally separate conduit element from the downpipe, which is functionally connectable to the outlet (3.3), can be received at a distance from the downpipe (5) to the inner wall (5.1) thereof, can be freely stored in it and extends to the bottom nozzle (6), -- the branching device as a branch piece (6.1) which can be attached to the bottom nozzle (6) in a sealing manner and which receives at least the end of the collection water line (4) via a branch opening (6.1) and is designed to divert the collection water line (4) to the collection tank (11), -- a collection water supply and return device (8,9,12, 12.1) which can be led into and out of the rainwater collection tank (11) between branch piece (6.1) and the branch piece (6.1), -- as well as -- a level adjustment device (12) for the collection water return that can be connected to the collection water supply and return system (8,9) ----- includes ----- wherein the branch piece (6.1) separately from the passage of the collecting water pipe (4) has a receptacle (12.1) for the end of the return device (12) and forms a return connection to the bottom nozzle (6).

Description

Subject of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a rainwater collection system, mountable in or on a building-bound rainwater collection and disposal system, which comprises at least --- a gutter extending essentially horizontally, --- a rainwater drainage nozzle arranged on this, --- a rainwater downpipe connected to it and extending essentially vertically, --- a rainwater downpipe located in the lower part of the downpipe, with a --- Bottom socket equipped with branch device or opening, --- a ground socket connecting it to the ground and --- includes a rainwater collection container that can be functionally connected to the downpipe. State of the art

[0002] Building-based rainwater collection and disposal systems are well known and are designed to collect rainwater runoff from roofs via the roof covering and gutters and store it for further use, particularly for watering the garden. For this purpose, water collection elements are connected to the downpipe connected to the gutter.

[0003] There are various widely used designs of water collection elements of common design: 1. The downpipe is opened by drilling a hole. A flexible collecting element is inserted into the downpipe. The water collected in the collecting element is then drained out through the hole. 2. The downpipe is completely severed, and a collection element is inserted into the separation point. The rainwater is directed into the collection tank. Once the maximum fill level is reached, the overflow is directed into the downpipe.

[0004] In order to make the most of natural forces, such as water pressure, in such common systems for collecting rainwater for predominantly horticultural purposes, various proposals are known.

[0005] For example, DE 35 26 936 A1 shows a rainwater storage tank that operates according to the water tower principle and features a remote-controlled filling mechanism. Several collection tanks are installed directly below the gutter, and the diverted rainwater is stored in these tanks. To support the heavy weight of the filled collection tanks, they must be anchored to the gutter and / or house wall. Furthermore, the collection tanks are only accessible with tools, such as a ladder, for maintenance, cleaning, and repair purposes.

[0006] A rainwater collection and extraction system known from DE 43 27 317 C1 shows a device for pressure equalization during direct extraction from a rainwater collector with a drainage hose attached directly to the collector. The collection tank is located directly in the downpipe. A vent hose provided for this purpose extends between the drainage section of the downpipe and the extraction pipe from the collection tank into the latter and is intended to ensure pressure equalization and prevent blockages during water extraction with the drainage hose. This device is not suitable for collection tanks located separately from the downpipe.

[0007] Furthermore, DE 296 11 052 discloses a rain collector with an overflow return, with which overflowing water is drained away by means of an outlet below the inlet connection.

[0008] Both of these latter publications depict rainwater collection systems that are installed into an existing downpipe, which must first be severed and thus mechanically interfering with the system. This, in turn, requires a rather complex, technically demanding, and skillful process and can easily lead to mechanical instability in the system. Task

[0009] The invention is based on the object of creating a rainwater collection system of the type described above with an additional installable system that enables connection to a rainwater collection tank without mechanical downpipe processing by drilling, cutting or the like, as well as a filling level adjustment of the collected water level in the collection tank. Inventive solution

[0010] This object is achieved according to the invention in that an additionally installable rainwater collection system -- an inlet funnel which can be inserted into the discharge nozzle while maintaining a substantially annular flow relative to the inner wall of the downpipe and which has at least one inlet directed towards the gutter and one outlet directed into the downpipe, -- an elongated collecting water pipe, which is designed as a pipe element functionally separate from the downpipe, which is operatively connectable to the outlet, can be accommodated at a distance from the downpipe to the inner wall of the same, can be freely stored therein and extends to the bottom nozzle, -- the branching device is designed as a branch piece which can be attached sealingly to the base socket and which receives at least the end of the collecting water pipe via a branch opening and diverts the collecting water pipe to the collecting tank, -- a collecting water supply and return device arranged between the branch piece and the rainwater collection tank so that it can be led into and out of the latter, as well as -- a fill level adjustment device for the collected water return flow that can be connected to the collected water supply and return flow device, wherein the branch piece, separate from the passage of the collecting water pipe, has a receptacle for the end of the return device and forms a return connection to the base nozzle. Advantages of the invention

[0011] The invention creates a way to install a system that allows for a free choice of location and height of the collection tank into a rainwater collection system normally located on a house, which typically includes at least a gutter, downpipe, ground or underground outlet, and a connected collection tank, without compromising the mechanical stability of the system. In other words, the system is independent of the installation position and height of the collection tank and allows for 100% rainwater collection.

[0012] There is no need to modify the existing downpipe by drilling or cutting, which significantly reduces the time required for installation; most importantly, the downpipe remains mechanically stable.

[0013] The fill level is very easy to adjust, allowing for variable, demand-oriented volume adjustment. It can be directly inspected, for example, through a transparent water pipe.

[0014] Due to its high discharge point and the resulting static pressure, it is possible to feed into several collection tanks that can be set up independently of each other.

[0015] The individual components required for the implementation of the rainwater collection system according to the invention, which make up the additionally installable rainwater collection system, can be easily prefabricated and, if necessary, offered as a kit. With normal home builders' skills, the installation does not even require the hiring of professional craftsmen. Further developments of the invention

[0016] Based on these fundamental properties of the inventive concept, various further developments are possible and can lead to further advantages in installation and / or use when the inventive concept is applied: To enable easy insertion of the inlet nozzle into the existing, conventional rainwater collection system equipped with a funnel-shaped outlet on the gutter, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inlet nozzle in the rainwater outlet nozzle can be designed in a conical, funnel-shaped manner. This results in a form-fitting, simple installation. To enable rapid installation with non-conical outlet nozzles, in a further embodiment of the invention, the inlet nozzle can preferably be designed in a ring-shaped, circumferential manner and with a U-shaped cross-section in the rainwater outlet nozzle.

[0017] The most compact arrangement of the system is advantageously achieved by providing for the ability to mount the collection water flow and return device in the base area of ​​the rainwater collection tank.

[0018] Depending on the properties or characteristics of the collection system to be equipped on site, especially with regard to the shape, material, and dimensions, particularly the diameter and / or length of the existing downpipe, the collection water line to be inserted into it can be flexible, hose-shaped or preformed and tubular, following the path of the downpipe. For an easily manageable and structurally simple collection water return line to the branch piece, separate from the collection water supply line, a water-conducting T-piece can be arranged in the fill level adjustment device. This can advantageously be made of appropriately cut pipe sections assembled together to form a single assembly.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fill level adjustment device for the collected water return can be configured to extend beyond the maximum fill level between the base area of ​​the collection container. This provides an arrangement that is both easy to construct and easy to handle in use for desired changes in the collection container volume across its entire height. For these purposes, this fill level adjustment device (12) can advantageously be configured as a flexibly height-adjustable hose (12.2).

[0020] Advantageously, a freely operable valve can also be provided in the area of ​​the collection tank inlet and outlet of the collection water supply and return system. This allows for short-term access to the tank contents in the event of, for example, unintentional malfunctions and, if necessary, rapid, complete emptying of the tank manually. Representation of the invention using drawings

[0021] In the following, embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the attached schematic drawings. Fig. 1 shows a vertical section through a rainwater collection system designed according to the invention and connected to an existing gutter on a house and a rainwater barrel present there; Fig. 2A the representation of a detail of a Fig. 1 modified transition from a gutter to a rainwater downpipe in vertical section; and Fig. 2B the detail of the Fig. 2A in horizontal section IIB - IIB. More detailed explanation of the illustrated embodiments

[0022] The Fig. The rainwater collection system shown in Figure 1, designed according to the invention, is based on a conventional rain or roof gutter 1 attached to the roof edge of a house. This is normally slightly inclined to the horizontal to ensure rapid drainage of rainwater hitting the roof. In order to direct this rainwater over the height of the house to the ground and possibly into a drainage shaft or to collect it separately, a water outlet is provided at a low point of the gutter 1. This consists of an outlet opening 1.1 arranged in the base of the gutter and a rainwater drainage (or discharge) nozzle 2, which preferably surrounds this outlet in a sealed manner and is supported by the gutter and can be a conventional hanging nozzle or similar.

[0023] Located in this discharge nozzle 2 is an inlet funnel 3.1, which is loosely mounted and not tightly sealed to the wall of the nozzle, but rather spaced apart by a defined gap. In the simplest case, this is conical and has an upper funnel opening 3.2 below the outlet opening 1.1 and a lower funnel opening 3.3. The upper funnel opening 3.2 is larger than the outlet opening 1.1 of the gutter. A collecting water line 4, which can be designed as a hose or, if necessary, a shaped pipe, is connected to the lower funnel opening 3.3. The collecting water line 4 can be designed as a hose or pipe system and is dimensioned such that it can be loosely suspended in a conventional downpipe 5, which is also provided on site, i.e. can be easily accommodated by it. The latter flows into a floor socket 6, which is also provided on site for such downpipes, without any mechanical modification or separation being necessary.This in turn is connected to an earth socket 7, which is also usually provided on site, for the purpose of draining the water from the downpipe 5 into the ground-side drainage system.

[0024] The bottom nozzle 6 is also usually designed as a T-piece with a branch opening 6.1 for the purpose of access to the drainage system, e.g. in case of blockages.

[0025] The collection water line 4 located in the downpipe 5 is routed through the branch opening 6.1 in the base socket 6 to a T-piece 9 of a return device and is sealed to the latter. In addition to the T-piece 9, it includes a connecting hose 8 coupled to it, which in turn is connected to a conventional collection container 11, e.g., in the form of a rain barrel, via a three-way inlet and outlet valve 10, as well as an adjustment device 12 for the fill level and overflow.

[0026] This adjustment device 12 is provided to conveniently adjust and change the (maximum desired) fill level in the collection tank 11 and to prevent uncontrolled outflow of the collected water from the tank 11. Such variable height adjustment is indicated here only schematically at 12.2 in various positions using dot-dash lines. With its help, the fill level in the collection tank 11 can be adjusted according to the principle of communicating tubes, for example, using a flexible hose bend. The hose bend opens with a discharge opening 12.1 in the T-piece with branch opening 6.1 on the base nozzle 6.

[0027] The Fig. The arrangement shown in Figure 1 works as follows: Rainwater flowing through gutter 1 is collected by the drainage nozzle 2, into which it flows through the outlet opening 1.1, and is then directed almost entirely into the inlet funnel 3.1 via the upper funnel opening 3.2, which is larger than the upper funnel opening. It is fed through the lower funnel opening 3.3 into the collection water line 4 connected to the funnel 3.1. Due to static pressure, it is forced through the line toward the collection tank 11 and ultimately into it. This occurs via the T-piece 9 connected to the line 4, the connecting hose 8, and the three-way feed and discharge valve 10.

[0028] To prevent the rainwater introduced into the collection tank 11 from exceeding the maximum height of the collection tank 11 and flowing out uncontrollably, the fill level adjustment device and the overflow 12 are connected to the T-piece 9 of the return line. Using this arrangement, the fill level in the collection tank 11 is adjusted, as described above, according to the principle of communicating pipes by adjusting the flexible overflow bend (schematically indicated by dot-dashed lines).

[0029] If the set filling level in the collecting tank 11 is reached and exceeded, excess water is pushed back via the discharge opening 12.1 and branch opening 6.1 due to the higher pressure of the water in the tank 11 and flows into the ground via the ground socket 7.

[0030] In the event of a system malfunction and consequently a possible blockage of the collection water line 4, the rainwater collected in the inlet funnel 3.1 exits via the upper funnel opening 3.2 and flows through the sufficiently dimensioned spaces between the inlet funnel 3.1 and the rainwater drainage or hanging nozzle 2 directly and without subsequent collection into the rainwater downpipe 5.

[0031] Fig. 2 shows an optional embodiment for the practically 100% collection of the rainwater collected through the gutter 1 via the rainwater drainage or hanging nozzle 2.

[0032] In this embodiment, an annular L-profile part 3.6 is inserted, preferably glued, into the lower region of the downwardly tapered discharge nozzle 2. This serves as a connection to the downpipe 5 and, together with the inner wall of the nozzle 2, forms a circumferential U-shaped channel 3.5 with an opening 3.51 and suitable, freely selectable means for connecting the collecting water pipe 4. Such connection means can be provided in the form of a suitable plug-in, clamp-in, or other form-fitting and / or force-fitting arrangement, depending on the given conditions.

[0033] The annular L-profile part 3.6 defines an internal overflow passage 3.7 for collected water not collected by pipe 4. Such a situation can occur particularly due to blockage and / or excessive water flow from gutter 1. The water not collected by pipe 4 is directed via downpipe 5 directly to the bottom-side nozzle 6, 7.

[0034] In order to collect as much water as possible from line 4 and thus, how to Fig. 1, to the collecting container 11, on the one hand the cross section / diameter of the discharge nozzle 2 is larger than the outlet opening 1.1 of the gutter 1. On the other hand the gutter 3.5 ends with its overflow passage 3.7 at a distance below the gutter 1 and thus below the outlet opening 1.1, the cross section or diameter of which is in turn considerably larger than that of the overflow passage 3.7, but substantially smaller than that of the opening 3.51 of the surrounding U-shaped gutter 3.5.

[0035] After all, the rainwater led from the gutter 1 through the outlet opening 1.1 runs for the most part in the discharge nozzle 2 into the surrounding U-shaped gutter 3.5 and flows from there into the connected collection water pipe 4 and further in the manner described above into the collection container 11. Drawings and list of reference symbolsList of reference symbols 1 gutter 1.1 Exit opening 2 discharge / hanging nozzles 2.1 Overflow clearance 3 inlet funnels 3.1 Flow 3.2 Inlet; upper funnel opening 3.3 Outlet; lower funnel opening 3.5 U-shaped gutter 3.51 Opening 3.6 L-shaped profile part 3.7 Overflow passage 4 Collective water line 5 Rainwater downpipe 5.1 Downpipe inner wall 6 floor sockets 6.1 Branching device (opening, attachment) 7 ground sockets 8 connecting hose 9 T-piece of the return device 10 3-way supply and discharge valve 11 collection containers 11.1 Withdrawal device 12 Level adjustment device and overflow 12.1 Drainage opening in the floor socket 12.2 variable height adjustment QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 35 26 936 A1

[0005] DE 43 27 317 C1

[0006] DE 296 11 052

[0007]

Claims

[1] Rainwater collection system, mountable in or on a building-bound rainwater collection and disposal system, each of which has at least --- a substantially horizontally extending gutter (1), --- a rainwater drainage nozzle (2) arranged thereon, --- a rainwater downpipe (5) connected to the latter and extending essentially vertically, --- a bottom nozzle (6) arranged in the lower part of the rainwater downpipe and equipped with a branch device (6.1), --- an earth socket connecting it to the ground (7) as well as --- a functionally connectable with the downpipe (5) rainwater collection tank (11), characterized by , that --- the rainwater collection system -- an inlet funnel (3), which can be inserted into the discharge nozzle (2) while leaving a substantially annular flow (3.1) relative to the downpipe inner wall (5.1) and has at least one inlet (3.2) directed towards the gutter (1) and one outlet (3.3) directed into the downpipe (5), -- an elongated collecting water pipe (4), which is designed as a line element functionally separate from the downpipe, which can be operatively connected to the outlet (3.3), can be received at a distance from the downpipe (5) to the inner wall (5.1) thereof, can be freely stored therein and is designed to extend to the bottom nozzle (6), -- the branching device is designed as a branch piece (6.1) which can be sealingly attached to the base nozzle (6) and which receives at least the end of the collecting water pipe (4) via a branch opening (6.1) and diverts the collecting water pipe (4) to the collecting tank (11), -- a collecting water supply and return device (8, 9, 12, 12.1) which can be led into and out of the rainwater collection tank (11) between the branch piece (6.1) and the latter, -- as well as -- a filling level adjustment device (12) for the collected water return, which can be connected to the collected water supply and return device (8,9) ----- includes, ----- wherein the branch piece (6.1) has a receptacle (12.1) for the end of the return device (12) separately from the passage of the collecting water line (4) and forms a return flow connection to the base nozzle (6). [2] Rainwater collection system according to claim 1, characterized by that the inlet nozzle (3) in the rainwater drainage nozzle (2) is conical-funnel-shaped. [3] Rainwater collection system according to claim 1, characterized bythat the inlet nozzle (3) is ring-shaped and has a U-shaped cross-section in the rainwater drainage nozzle (2). [4] Rainwater collection system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the collection water flow and return device (8,9,12, 12.1) can be mounted in the bottom area of ​​the rainwater collection tank (11). [5] Rainwater collection system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the collecting water line (4) is flexible and hose-shaped. [6] Rainwater collection system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the collecting water pipe (4) is pre-shaped and tubular in accordance with the course of the downpipe (5). [7] Rainwater collection system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized bythat a water-conducting T-piece (9) is arranged in the fill level adjustment device (9, 12, 12.1) for the purpose of collecting water return (12, 12.1), separate from the collecting water supply line (8) to the branch piece (6.1). [8] Rainwater collection system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the filling level adjustment device (12) for the collected water return between the bottom area of ​​the collecting container is designed to extend over the maximum filling level. [9] Rainwater collection system according to claim 8, characterized by that the filling level adjustment device (12) is designed as a flexibly height-adjustable hose (12.2). [10] Rainwater collection system according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that in the area of ​​the collecting tank inlet or outlet of the collecting water flow and return device (8,9,12, 12.1) a valve (10) which can be freely operated from the outside is provided on this.

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