Patent ID: 12195971

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A gutter valve control system100comprises a main body101comprising an inlet102and an in-line outlet103. The main body101is thus configurable for fluidly connective installation as part of a downpipe104in the manner shown inFIG.1.

The main body101further comprises a main valve105and main valve handle106therefor. The main valve105is operative between the inlet102and the outlet103. Preferably the main valve105defines a channel therethrough having a diameter not less than that of the downpipe104to reduce obstruction of water flow through the downpipe104and/or to avoid trapping debris therein.

The system100further comprises an attachable spigot107comprising a proximal cap108attachable to a proximal port109of the main body101. The proximal port109is openly fluidly connective to the inlet102. Furthermore, the proximal port109has a diameter greater than 7 cm, preferably 10 cm or more to allow sufficient flow of water therefrom and insertion of a hand therethrough.

The spigot107further comprises a distal inlet port110fluidly connected with the proximal cap108. The distal inlet port110is attachable to a water hose in use. In the embodiment shown, the distal inlet port110comprises a quick fit garden hose connector.

The spigot107further comprises a spigot valve111and handle112therefor. The spigot valve111is operative between the distal inlet port110and the proximal cap108.

The system100would be installed on every downpipe104of a gutter system. Each system100may comprise the spigot107. However, in embodiments, only one or a subset of the gutter systems100comprise the spigot107whereas the others comprise a blank cap108(i.e. without a spigot) or no cap108and port109at all.

Cleaning gutters using the system100may comprise installing the main body101in-line in an existing downpipe104in the manner shown inFIG.1. The cross-section of the inlet102and the outlet103match that of the downpipe104which, in the embodiment shown inFIG.1is circular.

In use, the main valve105may be left open (that is with the main valve handle106orientated vertically as is shown inFIG.1) so that water collected by gutters thereabove may flow through the downpipe104in the normal manner. The cap108may be attached to the port109and the spigot valve111kept closed.

Periodically, for gutter cleaning, the main valve105may be closed by turning the handle106through 90°, the spigot valve112opened by turning the spigot valve handle112through 90° and a water hose (not shown) connected to the distal inlet port110. As alluded to above, one or only a subset of valve control systems100may comprise the spigot107.

Water may flow via the water hose and through the spigot107to flood the upper section of the downpipe104and gutters thereabove. Water may be provided until overflow from the gutters is seen.

The gutters and downpipes104may be left flooded for some time to loosen any silt that may have accumulated therein.

The cap108may then be removed to create a rush of water to flow from the port109, wherein the water torrent created thereby assists in washing away and loosening any silt and/or debris collected in the gutters and downpipes104. The cap108may be removed by unscrewing the threading thereof from the threading of the port109.

Once the water has drained, the cap108may be replaced, the spigot valve111closed in the main valve105opened.

This gutter cleaning procedure may be conducted every month for example.

In accordance with a further application, the downpipe valve control system100may be used for flushing silt and/or debris from rainwater tanks. In accordance with this application, as opposed to removing the cap108, the main valve105may be quickly opened after having flooded the downpipes104and gutters thereabove.

The opening of the main valve105creates a sudden torrent of water to flow down the downpipe104into a water tank there underneath which may flush silt and/or debris therefrom.

Preferably the main valve105defines a channel therethrough not being less than the diameter of the downpipe104to maximise the water flow therethrough during this operation. Further preferably, the main valve105comprises a valve to allow unobstructed flow therethrough.

In accordance with a yet further application, the downpipe valve control system100may be used for prevention against ember attack in the event of bushfire.

In accordance with this application, the main valve105may be closed and a garden hose connected to the spigot107to flood the downpipes104and gutters thereabove.

Once the downpipes104and gutters thereabove are flooded, the spigot valve111may be closed by turning the handle112thereof through 90° and the garden hose removed from the distal inlet port110thereby retaining a pool of water within the gutters which would extinguish any embers falling therein.

FIG.2shows the downpipe valve control system100in accordance with a further embodiment. In accordance with this embodiment, the spigot107is mounted parallel with respect to the main valve105from a T-piece113.

A through section114may comprise a proximal end115attachable to the port109. The proximal end115may be permanently attached to the port109. However, in embodiments, the proximal end115may be removed from the port109.

Furthermore, in embodiments, the proximal end115may be attached to the port109at various rotational offsets to adjust the direction of the spigot107. In other words, the spigot107can be orientated from the T-piece113on a plane perpendicular with a longitudinal axis of the downpipe104. For example, the spigot107may be orientated through 90° with respect to the orientation shown inFIG.2if desirous.

The spigot107may yet emanate from the proximal cap108attached to an orthogonal section117of the T-piece113. In other words, the proximal cap108may be removed in the manner described above to create the surge of water.

Furthermore, a distal end116of the through section114of the T-piece113may comprise a further proximal cap118. The further proximal cap118may be removed in the aforedescribed manner create the surge of water.

In further a variation of the embodiment shown inFIG.2, the main valve105may locate upstream of the spigot107, an arrangement especially suited for installations where the downpipe8shown feeds from a number of downpipes into a water tank and wherein one main valve105may be used to charge/fill all of the downpipes with water.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

The term “approximately” or similar as used herein should be construed as being within 10% of the value stated unless otherwise indicated.