Downspout Debris Trap Segmented Housing Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gutter systems face issues with debris accumulation, leading to clogging of downspouts and underground drainage systems, which can cause damage and overflow, and existing debris traps are difficult to clean and prone to damage during the process.
Innovation Solution
A debris trap device with two opposing removable panels and a trap coupled to the inside of the downspout, allowing for easy access and minimization of debris falling below during cleanout, while maintaining the trap's position and surface area to maximize water flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a removable screen is used to catch debris in downspouts, then debris can be captured, but the screen is difficult to remove and clean without damage
Solution Approach 1:
The debris trap device is divided into separate components: a trap portion with screen and a housing portion. This segmentation allows the screen to remain installed in the downspout while debris is accessed and removed through the housing, eliminating the need to remove the screen for cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing acts as an intermediary structure that provides access to the trap without requiring removal of the screen. The housing can be opened or removed to access debris while the screen remains in place, serving as a mediator between the need for debris removal and screen protection.
2Ease of operation
If the screen is removed from the downspout during cleanout, then debris can be accessed, but the screen is prone to bending and damage
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the screen (attached to the trap) from the access mechanism (housing), the design allows debris access without screen removal. The housing serves as a protective enclosure that can be opened independently of the fragile screen component.
3Productivity
If a funnel-shaped downspout is used to direct water and debris, then water flow is improved, but the size of debris captured is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The trap is positioned laterally within the downspout rather than using a funnel shape that constricts flow. This dimensional change allows the trap to capture debris across the full cross-section of the downspout without limiting water flow through the center of the conduit.
4Ease of manufacture
If the trap surface area is reduced to fit within the downspout, then installation is easier, but debris can fall below the trap during cleanout
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the device into trap and housing portions allows the trap to be sized for optimal debris capture while the housing provides the structural interface for installation. The housing can be removed independently to access debris without compromising trap positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
A debris trap device for diverting rainwater collected from a gutter to the ground and/or into an underground water storage and drainage system. The debris trap device can include a conduit defining a channel and having an inlet opening to receive fluid and debris and an outlet opening to discharge the fluid, a trap having a plurality of apertures extending from a superior surface to an inferior surface, where the trap is located within the channel and coupled to the conduit, a first panel removably coupled to the first wall, and a second panel removably coupled to the second wall.