Deployable rain catching system

Abstract

The invention consists of an umbrella-like section used in an inverted vertical position as a funnel to receive rain water. The center of this foldable funnel is open and allows the water to flow out. The funnel is positioned over a vertical tubular housing, which has the dual purpose of channeling the water to a cistern, and to serve as the housing for the folded funnel. A mechanism consisting of a system of pulleys, and optionally electric motor, extracts and retracts the funnel as required by either human intervention, or automated logical decisions of a control device, or a combination of both, according to the degree of sophistication desired.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns the collection of rain water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In all areas of the world where water is either scarce or not available from central distribution systems, it is customary to resort to methods of catching rain water before it reaches the ground and runs off Traditional methods are using the roofs of habitations, funneling the water through a system of gutters to a cistern, or building paved areas on suitably sloped ground, also channeling the water to a cistern. All present methods have the following drawbacks: 1) they are open at all times to the accumulation of debris, bird and other animal pollution, thus rendering the water unsuitable for direct consumption, 2) they permanently occupy the land area for the intended purpose, 3) they are using rigid structures, which are unwieldy to handle beyond moderate sizes, and 4) they do not readily lend themselves to automatic unattended operation The present invention offers the deployment of a rain catching surface solely during the occurrence of rain After cessation of rain, the surface is retracted into its housing, which occupies a land area which can be designed in the order of one hundredth of the deployed catching surface. In its standby mode, the system is totally sealed and is impervious to the intrusion of debris of any sort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention consists of an umbrella-like section used in an inverted vertical position as a funnel to receive rain water. The center of this foldable funnel is open and allows the water to flow out. The funnel is positioned over a vertical tubular housing, which has the dual purpose of channeling the water to piping and storage systems which are not part of this invention, and to serve as the housing for the folded funnel. A mechanism consisting of a system of pulleys, and optionally electric motor, extracts and retracts the funnel as required by either human intervention, or automated logical decisions of a control device, or a combination of both, according to the degree of sophistication desired.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is presented in several levels of sophistication:

• 1) The basic device, as a hand operated system.
• 2) The basic device with the addition of a motor drive and a manual control box.
• 3) An automated control unit serving one or a multiplicity of devices as in 2) above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the cross-section of a vertical tube capable of housing a foldable surface in the shape of an inverted umbrella, with said surface omitted from the figure. It shows the mechanism used to extract and retract said foldable surface.

FIG. 2 displays the same cross-section as in FIG. 1 with the addition of an electric motor replacing the manual operation shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the skeleton structure of the foldable surface.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the unfolded surface, and its associated cross-section.

FIG. 5 is a detail of the upper section of the tube, showing a supporting ring for the purpose of facilitating the retraction of the foldable surface.

FIG. 6 shows the cross-section of the tube equipped with the partially deployed skeleton of the foldable structure, and the location of the water outlet.

FIG. 7 shows a control system for a single or a multiplicity of systems, including the various elements that govern the decisions to extract or retract the foldable structure(s), such as photovoltaic panel, storage battery, moisture sensor, anemometer, and control circuitry.

FIG. 8 details the logic of the power and control circuitry in the form of a block diagram.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The system consists essentially of a foldable surface similar to an inverted umbrella with a hole in its center, which acts as a funnel, and a vertical tube capable of housing this funnel in its folded state. The system also comprises the means, manual or automatic, to extract and retract the funnel according to rain conditions. The housing tube serves as the conduit to rainwater towards whatever storage system may be desired.

Reference is made to FIG. 1, which represents the basic mechanism. A vertical tube (1) is equipped with a set of three pulleys: one pulley (3) near the top allows for an outside cable to enter inside the tube and be connected to an element (2) representing diagrammatically the funnel assembly. A second pulley (4) is placed at a distance below the first, and allows the end of another cable to enter the tube as well. The third pulley (5) is entirely inside the tube, and has the function to redirect this second cable to the element (2). With the ends of both cables attached to element (2), pulling on the first cable will raise element (2) within the tube, and pulling on the other cable will lower said element (2).

Reference is made to FIG. 2. Mechanization of the motion is achieved with the addition of an electric motor (6) placed such that the axis of its driving shaft is parallel to the shafts of the two upper pulleys. The two separate cables are now replaced with a single cable, which wraps several times around the driving shaft, which provides the motion by friction.

In either form above, the funnel is identical and is represented in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows the structure of the skeleton supporting the canvas constituting the funnel. It is the detail of the element (2) shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A center shaft (7) supports a number of radial articulated ribs (8), anchored at a fixed location (9) with the purpose of sustaining the canvas surface of FIG. 4, and a number of spreading ribs (10), articulated at both ends, and joining at a ring (I 1), for the purpose of orderly deployment of the canvas surface. Elements (12) guide the structure as it moves through the tube. Element (13) is a circular cover, which seals the tube when the funnel is in its full retracted position.

FIG. 4 shows the top view of the funnel's canvas in the design of a hexagon, as one of many possible designs such as octagon, decagon and other regular patterns. The area (14) of the canvas has the shape of a cylinder, with the purpose of guiding water into the tube below. A view of cross-section a-a (15) shows the fully deployed funnel, designed at its center portion to guide water into the tube.

The funnel assembly articulates, deploys and closes very much in the manner of traditional umbrellas, now long in the public domain, with the new aspect that the assembly relies partly on gravity to close, and that the canvas requires little force to assume its retracted state.

In the illustrated design of a hexagon in FIG. 4, taken as an example, each one-sixth part of the canvas is a panel, for which the angle at the apex is reduced a few degrees from that of a pure equilateral triangle (60 degrees). The resulting assemblage of six such panels yields the desired funnel shape.

FIG. 5 shows a retraction guide mounted on the upper end of the tube. A ring (16) is supported by three members (17), which are attached to the tube (1), the ring being placed at a distance over the top end of the tube, and concentrically to it. The purpose of the ring is to reduce the forces necessary to retract the funnel into the tube at the beginning of its travel.

FIG. 6 shows the relative position of tube, funnel assembly and guide ring in a partially deployed state. In addition it shows a connection (18) at the lower sealed end of the tube for channeling water to a common storage device.

Reference is made to FIGS. 2 and 7. Direct current power is applied at a low voltage to the motor and controlled by the elements of FIG. 7. The electric motor's rotating direction is a function of the polarity of the applied voltage. Travel limit devices are included in the cable driving system so that the distance traveled by the funnel assembly is restricted to the distance between full closure and full deployment. In the semi-automatic operation, manual intervention may decide, using human intelligence, when to apply the voltage, and when to reverse its polarity. In the case of the fully autonomous operation, logical elements, implemented with solid-state circuitry, provide the decisions. These decisions include, but are not limited to, the presence of moisture as reported by a moisture sensor (22), (indicating the presence of raining conditions, or absence thereof, indicating cessation of rain), wind velocity, as measured by element (23), indicating potentially damaging forces, and appropriate delays to retraction, allowing for catching surfaces to dry.

Power to the system is provided by a suitably dimensioned photovoltaic panel (20), which keeps a rechargeable battery {(32) in FIG. 8} readily charged at all times. The battery is housed in enclosure (21). The control circuitry is housed in the enclosure (21) as well. The entire assembly is mounted on a post (19) firmly planted in the ground.

Reference is made to FIG. 8, which shows the control elements involved in decision-making. Rechargeable battery (21), kept charged by photovoltaic cells (20), powers the entire system consisting of the control circuitry and one or more rain catching systems. Sensors (26) produce signals establishing the presence or absence of rain (27), as well as the presence or absence of excessive wind (28). The logic circuitry produces either a signal, based on no wind and delayed no rain (29) which commands a reversing switch (24) to produce power on lines (31) to the rain catching systems in the direction of retraction, or a signal (30), based on the condition of rain and no excessive wind, which commands the reversing switch (24) to produce power to the rain catching systems in the direction of deployment of the surfaces.

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19-A system comprising one or a plurality of units capable of extending a flexible folded surface designed to catch rain water.

20-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface.

21-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and including a control unit comprising a combination, but not limited to, a) a self-sustained power source, such as, but not limited to a solar panel associated with a rechargeable battery, b) moisture detecting elements, c) a wind speed detecting device, d) electronic controls with the intelligence to operate the system.

22-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and said tube of a height as determined by the chosen dimensions of the said rain catching surface, to be vertically mounted on the ground.

23-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally.

24-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube.

25-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel.

26-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in an orderly fashion, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs.

27-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft.

28-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats.

29-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys.

30-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube.

31-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube, and shaft of the funnel structure equipped with a circular cover attached to its top end, and of sufficient diameter to seal the entrance of said tube when the funnel is in its retracted position.

32-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube, and shaft of the funnel structure equipped with a circular cover attached to its top end, and of sufficient diameter to seal the entrance of said tube when the funnel is in its retracted position, said tube comprising means to seal its lower end and provide an outlet of a suitable diameter for water to exit.

33-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube, and shaft of the funnel structure equipped with a circular cover attached to its top end, and of sufficient diameter to seal the entrance of said tube when the funnel is in its retracted position, said tube comprising means to seal its lower end and provide an outlet of a suitable diameter for water to exit, said cables being alternatively actuated by an electromechanical device, under the control of either manual intervention, or a weather detecting electronic system using the detection of moisture and wind speed for the operating and safety aspects.

34-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube, and shaft of the funnel structure equipped with a circular cover attached to its top end, and of sufficient diameter to seal the entrance of said tube when the funnel is in its retracted position, said tube comprising means to seal its lower end and provide an outlet of a suitable diameter for water to exit, said cables being alternatively actuated by an electromechanical device, under the control of either manual intervention, or a weather detecting electronic system using the detection of moisture and wind speed for the operating and safety aspects, such mechanical device consisting of, but not limited to a geared down bi-directional motor operating on low voltage direct current.

35-A system as in claim 19, comprising one or a plurality of units, each capable to completely collapse, fold retract and seal an extended surface within a housing in the form of a tube, said tube to carry the rainwater collected by said surface, and in its operating mode, deploys at its top a flexible surface from inside itself and maintains this surface horizontally, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, and said flexible surface assuming the shape of a funnel that is placed directly over the tube so as to channel water inside said tube, said flexible surface also comprising a rib structure to deploy said flexible surface in the shape of a funnel, said rib structure including, but not limited to, a set of 6 articulated ribs, and 3 or more spreading ribs, said rib structure having its articulated ribs connected at a fixed point on a shaft, and its spreading ribs connected to a ring element around said shaft, said ring being permitted to move freely along said shaft, said entire funnel structure connected to a set of cables terminated in convenient handles, or cable pulls, said cables being permitted to be secured to a set of cleats, said cables guided by a set of pulleys, said tube equipped with a relief ring, placed above the tube at a suitable distance, supported by a number of rigid members attached to the exterior of said tube, and shaft of the funnel structure equipped with a circular cover attached to its top end, and of sufficient diameter to seal the entrance of said tube when the funnel is in its retracted position, said tube comprising means to seal its lower end and provide an outlet of a suitable diameter for water to exit, said cables being alternatively actuated by an electromechanical device, under the control of either manual intervention, or a weather detecting electronic system using the detection of moisture and wind speed for the operating and safety aspects, such mechanical device consisting of, but not limited to a geared down bidirectional motor operating on low voltage direct current, and said electromechanical device equipped with means to limit the travel of a funnel assembly between its fully retracted and fully deployed positions.

36-A system comprising a post supporting power and control devices, the purpose of which is to provide autonomous power and intelligence to operate the system as in claims 19 through 35, said devices comprising a rechargeable battery, a solar panel equipped with photovoltaic cells, a logic controller making decisions based on weather conditions and system status, and electrical connecting means.