Rain Gutter Diverter with Flipper Valve and Debris Guard
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rain gutter systems do not effectively utilize rainwater for irrigation under building eaves and lack mechanisms to prevent debris entry and control water diversion.
Innovation Solution
A rain gutter diverter system comprising an outer enclosure, diverter, height adjuster, and ground hose that collects and diverts rainwater from downspouts, featuring a flipper valve for user control and a debris guard to prevent debris entry, with a ground hose for distributing rainwater.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If rainwater is diverted to irrigate ground under eaves, then water utilization efficiency is improved, but control capability over water flow is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a flipper valve mechanism that can dynamically adjust between two states: allowing rainwater to flow into the downspout for irrigation or blocking the flow to redirect water elsewhere. This dynamic switching capability resolves the contradiction by providing user control over the diversion process while maintaining the irrigation function when needed.
2Reliability
If debris guard is added to prevent debris entry, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the downspout system by adding a separate debris guard component at the entrance. This segmentation allows the debris guard to perform the filtering function independently, protecting the main downspout structure from debris while keeping the overall design modular and relatively simple.
3Productivity
If ground hose is used to distribute rainwater, then irrigation effectiveness is improved, but system complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a ground hose as an intermediary component between the downspout and the ground surface. This intermediary element efficiently distributes rainwater across the ground under the eaves, improving irrigation effectiveness while maintaining system simplicity through the use of a standard, easily installed hose component.
Data Source
AI summary
The rain gutter diverter system comprises an outer enclosure, a diverter, a height adjuster, and a ground hose. The outer enclosure extends a downspout. The diverter, located within the outer enclosure, collects and diverts a portion of the rainwater passing through the outer enclosure to a hose aperture on the side of the outer enclosure. A height adjuster coupled to the hose aperture passes the rainwater down to ground level where it enters a ground hose. The ground hose disperses the rainwater along the length of the ground hose. A flipper valve at the top of the diverter allows a user to prevent the diversion of rainwater. A debris guard above the diverter prevents debris from entering the diverter.