Outdoor Drain Filter With Diverter for Debris Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing outdoor ground and floor drains with perforated or slotted top covers quickly clog with debris, requiring frequent maintenance and leading to flooding and potential property damage, as current solutions like mesh or screen materials also clog rapidly and fail to prevent water ingress.
Innovation Solution
An outdoor drain filter (ODF) with increased open surface area and a diverter mechanism that allows water to flow into the drain once the filtration system is clogged, preventing flooding by directing water through a lateral pipe and elbow configuration when the maximum water level is reached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a perforated or slotted top drain cover is used to allow water passage while preventing debris, then debris clogging is reduced, but the drain cover quickly clogs with debris such as grass clippings, leaves, mud and twigs
Solution Approach 1:
The drain cover is divided into multiple sections with different functions: a first drain cover section with larger openings for initial debris filtration, and a second drain cover section with smaller openings for finer filtration. This segmentation allows the system to handle different sizes of debris effectively while maintaining water flow, extending the time before complete clogging occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the drain cover have different opening sizes and configurations. The first section has larger openings optimized for catching large debris, while the second section has smaller openings for finer particles. This local quality variation optimizes the overall performance by addressing different clogging scenarios in different locations of the same drain cover.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If mesh or screen materials are placed on top of the drain cover to prevent clogging, then debris prevention is improved, but the materials actually cause more rapid clogging
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using fine mesh or screen materials that clog rapidly, the invention changes the parameter of opening size to be larger in the first drain cover section. This parameter change allows debris to be caught by the cover structure itself rather than accumulating on fine mesh, significantly extending the time before complete obstruction occurs while still preventing debris from entering the drain.
3Ease of operation
If conical or cylindrical mesh filters are used to reduce clogging, then maintenance frequency is reduced, but they ultimately become completely clogged and allow water into the basement
Solution Approach 1:
The alarm system is activated in advance when water reaches a predetermined level, providing early warning before the drain becomes completely obstructed. This preliminary action allows homeowners to take corrective measures before flooding occurs, maintaining reliability even when the filter eventually clogs and requires maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The alarm system provides continuous feedback about water levels to the homeowner. When water accumulates to a critical level, the alarm signals that the drain may be approaching complete obstruction, enabling timely maintenance intervention before the system fails completely and allows basement flooding.
4Productivity
If the drain cover open surface area is increased to reduce clogging, then water flow capacity is improved, but debris capture capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The drain cover is segmented into two functional zones: the first section with larger openings that maintains high water flow capacity, and the second section with smaller openings that provides enhanced debris capture. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve both objectives - maintaining productivity while reducing harmful debris passage into the drain system.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention described herein is that of an outdoor drain filter useful for maintaining the operability of an outdoor drain despite the accumulation of debris that would otherwise obstruct the outdoor drain, resulting in flood prevention of surrounding areas. The outdoor drain filter of the present invention is placed above and around an existing outdoor drain or may be integral with a drain cover or drain reservoir. The outdoor drain filter comprises upper and side filtration means allowing the free flow of water therethrough. The outdoor drain filter further comprises a diverter comprising at least one air vent and at least one lateral pipe that defines a maximum water level to which water will accumulate around the outdoor drain before being diverted into the drain through the diverter. The outdoor drain filter may a manufactured unit or of modular construction.