Autonomous rainwater recovery and storage installation

Abstract

Title: Autonomous rainwater collection and storage installation Autonomous rainwater collection and storage installation, comprising a parallelepiped frame (1) with uprights (11) and crosspieces (12) forming a raised support (13) receiving the tank (2) and carrying an inclined cover (3), forming a rainwater collection surface, equipped with a gutter (51) connected by a pipe (52) to the inlet of the tank (2). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Autonomous installation for the recovery and storage of rainwater FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an autonomous installation for recovering and storing rainwater. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] There are many known types of rainwater storage tanks, generally installed as a bypass next to a roof drain and which can be connected to this drain by a bypass installed on the drain.

[0003] However, these installations are associated with a roof and are not autonomous.

[0004] PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The aim of the present invention is to develop a rainwater recovery and storage installation which is autonomous and can be installed at any location.

[0006] DISCLOSURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to an autonomous installation for the recovery and storage of rainwater, characterized in that it comprises a parallelepiped frame forming a raised cage intended to receive a tank, four uprights connected by crosspieces and side members forming: a base at the ends of the uprights, a base above the ends, a raised support constituting the underside of the cage, a framework connecting the top of the uprights and carrying a cover forming a collector surface inclined towards one side of the frame bordered by a gutter equipped with a pipe opening above the cage.

[0008] This autonomous installation can be placed anywhere, independently of a roof, for example, in a pasture to provide water to livestock.

[0009] This installation is easily moved with, for example, a forklift truck which grips under the chassis, to move the installation to the appropriate location all the more so since according to an advantageous characteristic, the base comprises two inverted U-shaped profiles connecting the front and rear crosspieces of the base and forming supports to receive the two teeth of a forklift fork to transport or move the chassis.

[0010] This structure not only stiffens the installation, but also makes it easier to pick up and transport the installation.

[0011] According to another characteristic, the intermediate support comprises crosspieces front and rear and side members on the sides, formed by angles delimiting the surface receiving the tank and intermediate side members connecting the crosspieces and completing the support surface of the tank.

[0012] According to another advantageous characteristic, the section inside the parallelepiped chassis is greater than the section of a pallet, which makes it possible to simply complete the chassis with a tank consisting of a palletized tank constituting in itself a rigid assembly.

[0013] According to another characteristic, the uprights are angles which facilitate the production of the chassis and reduce the bulk, in particular in the case of a tank consisting of a non-palletized tank closely framed by the angles of the uprights.

[0014] According to an advantageous characteristic, the cover is composed of a main surface in the section of the frame and bordered by lateral or rear extensions, connected to a common gutter communicating with the inlet of the tank.

[0015] This increased collecting surface recovers a greater quantity of rainwater than that recovered by the collecting surface alone above the chassis.

[0016] In addition and if necessary, the tank can also be filled from a tanker vehicle to ensure the necessary distribution of water, for example, for livestock in the event of a prolonged absence of rain.

[0017] According to another advantageous characteristic, the installation comprises at least two twinned chassis whose gutters are connected by two pipes opening into a common pipe or directly connected by a distribution pipe to two inlet pipes respectively to one and the other of the tanks of the two chassis. This multiplies the capacity of the installation and its autonomy, when filling with rain, or when filling intermediately from tanker vehicles.

[0018] According to another characteristic of the invention, the installation comprises at least two frames whose tank outlets are freely connected to a connecting pipe provided with a common outlet tap downstream of the two tank outlets. This free connection between the lower parts of the tanks makes it possible to balance the levels by the principle of communicating vessels. This balancing is independent of the arrival of rainwater in one or other of the two tanks if one of the connections were blocked or reduced by the size of the pipe.

[0019] According to another characteristic, the cover and its extensions are made of corrugated, ribbed sheets or photovoltaic panels. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] The present invention will be described hereinafter in more detail with the aid of embodiments of a stand-alone installation shown in the accompanying drawings. in which:

[0021] [Fig.l] perspective view of a chassis of an autonomous recovery and storage installation,

[0022] [Fig.2] front and side views of the chassis,

[0023] [Fig.3] stand-alone installation with the chassis of [Fig.l],

[0024] [Fig.4] perspective view of another embodiment,

[0025] [Fig.5] perspective view of an installation with an increased water collecting surface,

[0026] [Fig.6] perspective view of another embodiment of an installation,

[0027] [Fig.7] perspective view of an installation with two twinned frames,

[0028] [Fig.8] diagram of an embodiment of a twin-frame installation according to the invention.

[0029] DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0030] According to [Fig.l], the invention relates to an autonomous installation for the recovery and storage of rainwater composed of a frame 1 formed of uprights 11 and crosspieces 12 with a base 2 and a raised support 3 of a raised cage CS to receive a tank.

[0031] Under the raised support 3, the chassis 1 delimits a technical volume VT with the base 2 at a certain height from the ground to leave an access gap IT allowing the passage of the teeth of a forklift fork to transport or move the chassis 1 with or without a tank.

[0032] The structure 1 is surmounted by a rigid frame 4 formed of crosspieces and side members carrying a cover 5 providing a water collecting surface, inclined towards a gutter 51 connected by a pipe 52 opening above the inlet of the tank in the top of the chassis.

[0033] In more detail, according to figures 1 and 2, the chassis 1 is a parallelepiped forming the raised cage CS to receive a palletized or non-palletized tank and preferably occupying the entire rectangular or square section of the parallelepiped. The raised cage CS receives the tank 6, preferably removable.

[0034] The four uprights 10 connected by crosspieces 11 and the side members 12 form a base with the ends 101 of the uprights. These ends can be provided with support surfaces 102 to fix to the ground or prevent the uprights from sinking under the effect of the load of the tank filled with water, especially if the installation is on soft ground and not on a solid, concreted surface.

[0035] The base 2 is completed by two profiles 21 in the shape of an inverted U to have support surfaces, bordered laterally and constituting two channels receiving the fork teeth of a forklift to hold the chassis 1 well on the teeth especially if the transport is done on uneven ground, for its installation, for example, in a pasture.

[0036] According to a variant, the two profiles 21 can be provided under the raised support 3 or the base with the profiles 21 can be provided in place of the raised support as shown in [Fig.6] which is a simplified version.

[0037] According to parts A and B of [Fig.2], the frame 4 is composed of a front cross member 11-1 connected to a rear cross member 11-2 by two side members 12-1 thus forming a rectangular frame carrying an intermediate cross member 11-3, for example, at mid-length of the side members 12-1.

[0038] At the rear, the frame 4 is completed by the extension 103 of the two rear uprights 10. These extensions are connected by another crosspiece 11-4 in the upper part to support the cover 5.

[0039] The frame 4 thus constitutes a non-deformable three-dimensional assembly which, secured to the top of the parallelepiped formed by the uprights and the other crosspieces and side members, makes the chassis non-deformable.

[0040] The gutter 51 is fixed to the front cross member 11-1 of the frame 4 and the pipe 52 connecting the gutter 51 above the location of the tank in the raised cage CS is supported by the intermediate cross member 11-3.

[0041] The pipe 52 is formed of elbows and sleeves allowing it to be easily installed between the gutter 51 and the inlet of the tank. The pipe 52 is equipped with a filter 521 which can be easily removed to collect any debris not retained on the grid or in the gutter, for example, leaves which risk partially blocking the pipe, or passing into the tank and polluting the water.

[0042] [Fig. 3] shows the installation 100 whose chassis 1 is equipped with a tank 6 comprising a cubic tank 61, encircled by a frame 611 and installed securely on a pallet 62 whose sides delimit the channels 621 for the passage of the fork teeth. The crosspieces 12 delimiting the pair of sides of the raised support 3 are angle irons whose spacing corresponds to the dimension of the pallet 62 so that the latter is held by the support 3 and does not risk slipping during its transport under the effect of an occasional thrust exerted on the tank 61.

[0043] In the lower part, the tank 2 is provided with a distribution outlet 7 shown schematically. This is, for example, an outlet with a tap provided with a nozzle allowing the connection of a pipe or used as such.

[0044] The top of the tank 6 under the frame 4 is clear to facilitate access to the connecting pipe 52 and possible intervention on it or on its connection to the gutter 51 or to the filter 521.

[0045] The assembly of the uprights 10, crosspieces 11 and side members 12 is stiffened at the various junctions by gussets or non-point assembly surfaces which could be likened to joints. The assembly is also stiffened by the frame 4 covering the uprights 10 by its triangular section ([Fig.2], part B) connecting the pairs of front or rear uprights 10 and blocking the connection against the side members and the uprights by the hypotenuse-shaped spacer which constitutes the cover 5 between the front facade constituted by the two front uprights 10 connected by the front crosspieces 11 and the rear back constituted by the two rear uprights 10 and the crosspieces 11 which connect them.

[0046] The front AV / rear AR orientation is indicated in part B of [Fig.2] without requiring particular suffixes for the references of the uprights 10 and the crosspieces 11 concerned. Ultimately, the stiffening of the chassis 1 achieved by the frame 4 and the cover 5 forming the hypotenuse, simplifies the assembly of the chassis 1 and is sufficient to stiffen it.

[0047] The collecting surface constituted by the cover 5 is a corrugated, rigid surface, made of sheet metal or plastic material.

[0048] According to a variant, the collecting surface is constituted by a solar panel connected to electronic / electrical equipment installed in the technical volume VT and making it possible to store electricity to power equipment such as lighting or a pump or a valve system for distributing water.

[0049] [Fig.4] shows an installation 200 with a tank 6 composed of a non-palletized tank 61, installed tightly in the cage CS of the chassis 1 which replaces the strapping of the tank as in the previous example.

[0050] The assembly of the chassis 1 is done in this case directly on the tank 61, and the handling of the installation 200 integrating the tank 61 is done only by using the base 2 receiving the teeth of a fork.

[0051] [Fig.5] shows a variant 300 of the installation 200 of [Fig.4]. This variant is characterized by a development of the cover 5 forming the main cover 5a completed by lateral extensions 5b and rear extensions 5c; the front delimited by the gutter 51 remains free and directly accessible.

[0052] The extensions 5b,c are installed on supports not shown in detail pro running along the crosspieces of the frame 4, for example, telescopic elements which are stored in the chassis 1 in the transport position.

[0053] The collecting surfaces of the extensions 5b,c may be elements connected by hinges to the cover 5 or to the frame 4 to fold up.

[0054] To avoid deformations and lifting under the effect of gusts of wind, the ends of the extensions 5b,c are connected by stays to the frame 1, which does not make the assembly heavier but stiffens it since it is held by the load represented by the volume of water in the reservoir 6. This increased collecting surface which represents (n) times the collecting surface of the base of the cover 5 thus multiplies, by this coefficient (n), the total level of rain likely to be collected.

[0055] The reservoir 6 can also be used as a storage volume supplied with a mobile tank as needed, for example, for the water needed to feed livestock on a pasture equipped with the autonomous installation 100. The waterers supplied from the reservoir 6 are not shown; they can be, for example, individual cups with a valve which the animals access, triggering the distribution of water themselves by pressing on the valve.

[0056] The increased collecting surface also has the advantage of protecting the tank 6 against the sun, which is all the more interesting since this surface can be composed of solar panels supplying batteries combined with the chassis 1.

[0057] [Fig.6] shows the simplified version 400 of the chassis whose raised support 3 is combined with the base 2 with the two profiles 21. The crosspieces 11 and the side members 12 are connected to the uprights 10 by gussets 103 stiffening the junctions. The uprights 10 and the crosspieces 11 and the side members 12 can also constitute frames receiving panels not shown closing certain sides of the chassis.

[0058] [Fig.7] shows another embodiment of a self-contained installation 500 composed of two twinned frames 1a,b, to double the capacity. These two juxtaposed frames 1a,b are assembled together to form an assembly bordered by a common gutter 51 or by two gutter parts 5la,b each with a separate pipe 52a,b connecting the gutter to the supply inlet of the tanks 6a,b.

[0059] [Fig.8] shows the diagram of a combination of two frames 1a,b connected to a combined pipe 52 receiving water from the common gutter 51 or from two separate gutters or gutter parts 5la,b. The combined pipe 52 comprises outlets 52la,b connected to a junction pipe 522 which receives the water to direct it to a distribution pipe 523 connected to the inlet of each of the tanks 6a,b by an inlet pipe 524a,b. The junction pipe 522 can be equipped with a removable filter.

[0060] Connecting the outlets of the tanks 61a, 61b in series also facilitates filling from a mobile tank, then simply connected to the common outlet and functioning as a supply inlet.

[0061] According to a variant not shown, the gutter 51 is covered by a grid which retains the leaves, preventing the gutters from becoming blocked and the water in the tanks from being polluted.

[0062] For similar reasons, the pipe 52 comprises, as already indicated, a removable filter 521 accessible under the bottom of the collecting surface and which retains coarse particles; this removable filter is cleaned periodically.

[0063] The two distribution outlets 7la,b of the two tanks 6la,b are connected to a common pipe 72 provided with a single distribution tap 53.

[0064] This open communication in the lower part of the tanks 61a,b makes it possible to automatically balance the level of the two tanks 6a,b and to compensate for any differences filling references related to the partial obstruction of a pipe or part of a gutter 51.

[0065] This parallel connection of the inlets of the tanks 6la,b, and its combination with a parallel assembly of the outlets 5la,b upstream of the common tap 73 balances the filling of the tanks by the principle of communicating vessels. The installation of two or more frames la,b,... to have a collecting surface increased by complementary surfaces like those described above, thus increases the collection of rainwater. The combination of the tanks also makes it possible to increase stability with respect to animals which could lean against the installation.

[0066] NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

[0067] 100 Single-frame stand-alone installation

[0068] 200 Single-frame stand-alone installation

[0069] 300 Two-frame stand-alone installation

[0070] 1 Chassis

[0071] 10 Amount

[0072] 101 Extension forming the base

[0073] 102 Support surfaces

[0074] 103 Extension of the amount forming the frame

[0075] 11 Crossing

[0076] 11-1 Intermediate crosspiece

[0077] 12 Side rail

[0078] 12-1 Frame beam

[0079] 13 Intermediate spar

[0080] 2 Base

[0081] 21 Returned U-shaped profile

[0082] 3 Raised support

[0083] 4 Framework

[0084] 5 Cover

[0085] 5a Main cover

[0086] 5b Lateral extension

[0087] 5c Rear extension

[0088] 51 Gutter

[0089] 5la,b Gutter parts

[0090] 52 Driving

[0091] 52la,b Exits

[0092] 522 Common conduct

[0093] 523 Distribution line

[0094] 524a,b Inlet pipe

[0095]

[0096] 6 Tank 61 Tank

[0097] 611 Frame

[0098] 62 Pallet

[0099] 621 Fork tooth channel

[0100] 63 Fork tooth channel

[0101] 7 Distribution

[0102] 7a,b Tank outlets

[0103]

[0104]

[0105]

[0106] 72 Connecting pipe 73 Outlet tap AR Rear AV Front / front

[0107] CS Raised cage

[0108] IT Access interval

[0109] VT Technical volume

Claims

Claims

1. Autonomous rainwater recovery and storage installation, characterized in that it comprises - a parallelepiped frame (11) forming a raised cage (CS) intended to receive a tank (6), - four uprights (10) connected by crosspieces (11) and side members (12, 13) forming: * a base at the ends (101) of the uprights, * a raised support (3) constituting the underside of the cage (CS), * a frame (4) connecting the top of the uprights (10) and carrying a cover (5) forming a collecting surface inclined towards one side of the frame (1) bordered by a gutter (51) equipped with a pipe (52) opening above the cage (CS), * a base (2) above the ends (101).

2. Autonomous rainwater recovery and storage installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the uprights (10) are connected to the base (2) above the ends (101) under the raised support (3) and forming a technical volume (VT).

3. Self-contained installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the base (2) or the raised support (3) comprises two profiles (21) in the shape of an inverted U connecting the front and rear crosspieces (11) and forming supports for receiving the two teeth of a forklift fork for transporting or moving the chassis (1).

4. Self-contained installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the raised support (3) comprises front and rear crosspieces (11) and side members (12) on the sides, formed by angles delimiting the surface receiving the tank (61) of the reservoir (6) and intermediate side members (13) connecting the crosspieces (11) and completing the support surface of the tank (61).

5. Autonomous installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal section of the parallelepiped frame is greater than the section of a pallet.

6. Autonomous installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the uprights (10) are angles.

7. Autonomous installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover is composed of a main cover (5a) at the section of the frame (1) and bordered by lateral or rear extensions (5b, c), connected to a gutter (51) itself connected to the inlet of the tank (6).

8. Autonomous installation according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two frames (la, b) whose gutters (5la, b) are connected by two pipes (52la, b) opening into a common pipe (52) connected by a distribution pipe (523) to two inlet pipes (524a, b) connected respectively to one and the other inlet of the tanks (61a, b) of the two frames (la, b).

9. Autonomous installation according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two frames (la, b) whose outlets (71a, b) of the tanks (61a, b) are freely connected to a connecting pipe (72) provided with a common outlet tap (73) downstream of the two outlets of the tanks (61a, b).

10. Autonomous rainwater recovery and storage installation according to claim 7, characterized in that the cover (5) and the extensions (5a, b, c) are made of ribbed corrugated sheets or photovoltaic panels.

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