Apparatus for the collection of rainwater from a downpipe

Abstract

A pipe of diameter significantly less than that of the downpipe is inserted up from the bottom of the downpipe and extends up the inside of the downpipe. The upper face of this inner tube is sealed so that water does not pour into its end. The wall of the inner tube is perforated so that water can flow into it from the sides as and when the downpipe fills with water to that level. The other end of this tube is in communication with the water butt allowing the water to flow from the downpipe to the water butt until the levels equalize or that in the downpipe falls below the level of said perforations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for the collection of water flowing down a substantially watertight pipe, comprising:
 a substantially watertight bung or boot through which at least one duct passes;   wherein the bung or boot is affixed to a lower end of a substantially vertical watertight pipe thus forming a substantially watertight chamber from a substantially upper surface of the bung or boot and the existing walls of the watertight pipe without significantly increasing the resultant total length of the watertight pipe; and   wherein the apparatus is further characterized in that at least one of the ducts projects upwards within the watertight pipe so as to allow passage of water through a plurality of raised collection holes at a predetermined height within the watertight chamber to a water collection tank or vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein accumulated water is allowed to leak away slowly through an orifice in the bottom of the watertight chamber so as to force a further volume of water to be collected before water again flows to the collection chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of raised collection holes are each arranged beneath an overhanging projection that serves to prevent water from falling vertically down the watertight pipe after entering the duct via the collection holes. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  in which the accumulated water level is constrained from rising above a pre-determined level by providing an overflow path through which excess water flows once the pre-determined level has been reached. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the overflow mechanism is a valve in a wall of the watertight chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the valve is opened by means of a float lifted as the water level in the watertight chamber rises above a threshold level. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the overflow mechanism is provided by one or more openings beginning at the pre-determined level being in communication with the outside of the watertight pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the openings are in the walls of the watertight pipe. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the openings are in a further duct within the watertight pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the seal is achieved by means of a deformable bung or boot inserted into the lower end of the watertight pipe. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the seal is achieved by means of an inflatable collar inside the lower end of the watertight pipe. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the bung or boot is fabricated to facilitate the removal of one or more sections of the bung or boot so as to allow it to fit within a range of cross-sectional sizes and/or shapes of the watertight pipe. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the float is constrained within the upper portion of the duct containing the collection holes. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein separate internal ducts respectively transport water to the collecting tank and provide the overflow path. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the internal ducts are joined together to facilitate insertion into the watertight pipe. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the internal ducts share a common wall for at least a portion of their perimeter. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein access to the watertight chamber is facilitated by way of an opening in the lower section of the watertight chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the access is by way of a hinged flap. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the access is by way of a removable section of wall of the watertight pipe. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the connection between the watertight chamber and the collection tank is made at or above the required fill level of the collection tank. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the seal is achieved by means of an inflatable collar placed completely within the watertight pipe.