Suction Roof Drain

Abstract

The suction flat roof drain is deployed on a flat roof between a water accumulating depression on the roof and the edge of the roof. The flat roof drain includes an intake tube section with an open end disposed in the flat roof depression and a raised tube element spaced apart from the open end. The intake tube section is attached, at an end opposite the open end, to a water collector which collects rainfall. The water collector has an open accumulation port, a water collection body part and a one-way flow valve. The one-way flow valve is interposed between the water collection body part and an intake suction port and an output port. The output port of the water collector is attached to one end of an output tube section. The other end of the output tube section hangs over the edge of the roof (or into another drain element). The second or other end of the output tube section operates as a weight activated fluid output which permits water to drain therefrom when water is present at the second end. In operation, rainfall collected in the water collector and causes the one-way flow valve to open which then causes the water in the water collection body to drain through the output tube section off the roof thereby creating a suction in the intake tube section which pulls water from the flat roof depression.

Description

The present invention relates to a suction roof drain for a flat roof which has a water accumulating depression thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sometimes, homes and buildings utilize a flat roof rather than a sloped or angled roof. The flat roof typically has a slight angle which causes rain to flow and drain from the roof top. However, flat roofs also have a tendency to form depressions within which water accumulates. The accumulation of water may cause further deterioration of the roof structure due to the additional weight and potential seepage. Therefore, it is beneficial to have some type of drain to remove water which may accumulate in flat roof depressions.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a suction roof drain for flat roof having a water accumulation depression thereon.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a suction flat roof drain which employs a water collecting device having a volume larger than the volume of water in the roof depression.

It is a further of the present invention to have a suction operative flat roof drain which operates without the need of electrical or other type of power.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The suction flat roof drain is deployed on a flat roof between a water accumulating depression on the roof and the edge of the roof. The flat roof drain includes an intake tube section with an open end disposed in the flat roof depression and a raised tube element spaced apart from the open end. The intake tube section is attached, at an end opposite the open end, to a water collector which collects rainfall. The water collector has an open accumulation port, a water collection body part and a one-way flow valve. The one-way flow valve is interposed between the water collection body part and an intake suction port and an output port. The output port of the water collector is attached to one end of an output tube section. The other end of the output tube section hangs over the edge of the roof (or into another drain element). The second or other end of the output tube section operates as a weight activated fluid output which permits water to drain therefrom when water is present at the second end. In operation, rainfall collected in the water collector and causes the one-way flow valve to open which then causes the water in the water collection body to drain through the output tube section off the roof thereby creating a suction in the intake tube section which pulls water from the flat roof depression.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates the suction flat roof drain on a flat roof.

FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates the operation of the suction flat roof drain when water has accumulated in the water collector.

FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment with a loop hose element which acts as the initial water column accumulator.

FIG. 4 shows a variation of the output drain with a spring element.

DETAILED OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a suction flat roof drain which suctions water from a water accumulating depression on a flat roof.

FIG. 1 shows suction flat roof drain 12 disposed on top surface 14 of flat roof 16. Flat roof 16, in the illustrated embodiment, includes edge 18 and edge flange 20. Suction flat roof drain 12 runs from water accumulating depression 22 on flat roof 16 past edge 18 and flange 20.

In one embodiment, the suction flat roof drain 12 includes an intake tube suction 30, a water collector 40, an output tube section 60. Similar numerals designate similar items in the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 are discussed concurrently herein.

FIG. 2 shows certain operational aspects of the flat roof drain system.

Intake tube section 30 includes an open end 32 disposed in water accumulating depression 22 of flat roof 16. Typically, flat roof 16 is built to have a slight slope as shown by line 8. Dashed line 6 shows the horizontal plane and distance ds between lines 6 and 8 shows the downward slope of the roof. However, due to unknown factors, flat roof 16 has a water accumulating depression 22 which falls below roof surface slope 8. The illustration may exaggerate the depression 22.

Intake tube section 30 includes a raised tube element 34. Raised tube element 34 is spaced away from open tube end 32. The raised tube element 34 can be raised by a stand 36 or other type of structure. The important item is that raised tube element 34 rises above flat roof slope line 8. In the illustrated embodiment, raised tube element 34 is raised a distance r 34. The raised tube element is necessary such that the suction drains water away from depression 22 as discussed later. In another preferred embodiment, stand 36 is not used but tube 34 is looped to form a raised element 34. The loop may be a raised col of tubing.

Water collector 40 includes an intake suction port 42 and an output port 44. Water collector 40 also includes an open accumulation port 46 and a water collection body port 48. Screen 46a is placed over the port 46 to exclude debris therefrom. Water collection body port 48 has an interior defined space V having a predetermined volume. A one-way flow valve 50 is disposed intermediate the water collection body part 48 and the intake and output ports 42, 44. The valve is positioned beneath the collection part 48. In one embodiment, the one way flow valve 50 is configured as a buoyant ball 51 which floats when water, particularly rain water, accumulates in water collection body part 48. Ball 51 sits on a valve seat which prevents flow there through. In certain systems, the ball may be weighted to force a water collection of a pre-set minimum volume before the valve is opened.

Output tube section 60 of flat roof drain 12 has one end fluidly coupled to output port 44 of the water collector 40 and has a second end section 62. The second end section 62 has a flexible or floppy tube end 64 which is a weight activated fluid output. When water is present in terminal end section 64, the end 62 of output tube section 60 moves downward as shown in FIG. 2 thereby causing water 80 to leave end 62. The flexibility of terminal end section 64 is greater than the flexibility of remainder section 66 of output tube section 60. The flexibility of terminal end section 64 is much greater than the flexibility of remainder tube section 66.

In operation, when water accumulates in depression 22, the water also accumulates in water collector 48. When the water accumulates in collector 48, buoyant ball 51 rises thereby lifting the ball 51 from valve seat 53. When the rain stops, and the ball is raised, water flows from water collector 40 and particularly from the volume defined by water collection body part 48 out of the collector body 48 in the direction shown by arrow 82. This causes a suction at input port 42 of the water collector 48. The suction, when it overcomes the water column or height of raised tube element 34, suctions water from depression 22. The suction continues even after ball 51 seats on valve seat 53 (the one-way flow valve closes) since suction in the drain pipe system is caused by water droplets 80 leaving terminal end section 64 and end 62 from output tube section 60. Initially, terminal end section 64, when it fills with water, moves as shown in downward arrow 90 which then permits water 80 to leave the end 62 of the output tube section 60. When the water is drained from depression 22, an air bubble passes from intake port 32 and breaks the suction at raised tube element 34. Only a small amount of water returns to depression 22 from the segment of hose between raised element 34 and tube intake 32.

FIG. 3 is an alternate embodiment with a loop hose element which acts as the initial water column accumulator. Similar numerals designate similar items throughout the drawings. FIG. 3 shows that the raised tube element 34 consists of a hose loop 30a and 30b. The hose loop may be supported by a support mount. See yoke 36 in FIG. 1. The top height of the hose loop 30a, 30b is higher than the ball valve 51 resting on the port at the bottom of accumulation cup 48. To activate the drain in FIG. 3, the water column in accumulator 48 and hose loop 30a, 30b must be higher than at least hose loop 30a, 30b.

FIG. 4 shows a variation of the output drain with a spring element. A ¾ round spring element 91 is fitted beneath the extending hose drain portion 90. The spring element 91 may be metal or resilient plastic material that acts as a spring to raise the drain hose portion 90 after drainage of the system as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 4, that is, from the Drain Position B. Small raised portal 94 defines open drain end 92 at the distal end of hose element 90. When full, the weight of water in hose portion 90 causes drain element 90 to move in direction 95A and, when the system is empty, the weight of the water in hose element 90 diminishes and the spring action of spring element 91 causes the hose drain 90 to move in the direction of arrow 95b.

The output drain tube section 90 is slightly elevated to facilitate accumulation of water in the system. The output tube section 90 is coupled to a spring element 91 to facilitate drainage (Drain Position B) and return to a pre-drain, elevated condition (FIG. 4, upwards position).

The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A suction flat roof drain wherein the flat roof has a water accumulating depression thereon comprising:

an intake tube section with an open end disposed in said flat roof depression, said intake tube section having a raised tube element spaced apart from said open end, and an outlet opposite said open end;

a water collector for collecting rainfall, said water collector having an open accumulation port for collecting said rainfall, a water collection body part which accumulates said rainfall captured by said accumulation port, said water collection body part defining a predetermined volume of water, and said water collector including a one-way flow valve interposed between said water collection body part and a fluidly coupled intake suction port and a fluidly coupled output port, wherein when rainfall is collected by said water collector in said water collection body part, said valve opens; and

an output tube section having a first end fluidly coupled to said output port of said water collector and having a second end which operates as weight activated fluid output for said flat roof drain such that when water is present at said second end of said output tube section, fluid flows first from said water collector and then from said flat roof depression by suction.

2. The suction flat roof drain as claimed in claim 1 including a stand for said raised tube element of said intake tube, said stand interposed between said intake tube section and said flat roof.

3. The suction flat roof drain as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one-way flow valve is a buoyant ball which sits on a valve seat adjacent said fluidly coupled intake suction port and said fluidly coupled output port in the absence of rainfall is collected by said water collector in said water collection body part.

4. The suction flat roof drain as claimed in claim 1 wherein said predetermined volume of water in said water collection body part exceeds a volume of accumulated water in said water accumulating depression of said flat roof.

5. The suction flat roof drain as claimed in claim 1 wherein said output tube section has a terminal end tube section which has a high degree of flexibility as compared with a degree of flexibility of a remainder portion of said output tube section, said remainder portion of said output tube section fluidly coupled to said output port of said water collector and said terminal end tube section flexing downward when said water is present thereat.

6. The suction flat roof drain as claimed in claim 2 wherein said one-way flow valve is a buoyant ball which sits on a valve seat adjacent said fluidly coupled intake suction port and said fluidly coupled output port in the absence of rainfall is collected by said water collector in said water collection body part.

7. The suction flat roof drain as claimed in claim 6 wherein said predetermined volume of water in said water collection body part exceeds a volume of accumulated water in said water accumulating depression of said flat roof.

8. The suction flat roof drain as claimed in claim 7 wherein said output tube section has a terminal end tube section which has a high degree of flexibility as compared with a degree of flexibility of a remainder portion of said output tube section, said remainder portion of said output tube section fluidly coupled to said output port of said water collector and said terminal end tube section flexing downward when said water is present thereat.

9. The suction flat roof drain as claimed in claim 1 wherein said raised tube element is a tube loop.

10. The suction flat roof drain as claimed in claim 1 wherein said output tube section is coupled to a spring element to facilitate drainage and return to a pre-drain, elevated condition.