Air Inductor for Gutter Downspout

Abstract

An air induction device is provided for mounting to a downspout to induce the flow of air in the downspout. The air induction device comprises a tubular member that is sealingly fitted through the downspout such that it provides fluid communication between the atmosphere and the interior of the downspout. The air induction device is preferably mounted on an upwardly facing surface of the downspout and at a location where the downspout is extending angularly downward or at a bend in the downspout, thereby orienting the tubular member at an upwardly extending oblique angle relative to the downspout.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/608,812, filed on Mar. 9, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to gravitational draining systems, and more particularly, to devices that prevent clogging of downspouts.

2. Description of the Related Art

Gutters are mounted along the edges of roofs to collect water running off of the roof's surfaces. The gutters are mounted such that they direct the water, via gravity, towards a downspout which extends downwardly from the gutter and serves as a pathway to the ground/storm sewer/french drain for the water.

While leaves, twigs, silt, and other debris will sometimes create clogs in a downspout, in times of particularly heavy rain a clog can occur as a result of too much water entering the downspout at once and preventing the flow of air through the downspout. If the flow of air is restricted, the water will back up the downspout creating a clog.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object and advantage of the present invention to provide a device for supplying air into the downspout in order to prevent a hydrolock due to the lack of airflow.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious, and in part appear hereinafter.

In accordance with the foregoing objects and advantages, the present invention provides an air induction device to be mounted to a downspout to induce the flow of air in a downspout. The air induction device comprises a tubular member that is sealingly fitted through the downspout such that it provides fluid communication between the atmosphere and the interior of the downspout. The air induction device is preferably mounted on an upwardly facing surface of the downspout and at a location where the downspout is extending angularly downward or at a bend in the downspout, thereby orienting the tubular member at an upwardly extending oblique angle relative to the downspout.

Although the air induction device in and of itself will provide for the flow of air into the downspout by virtue of water running through the downspout, thereby creating a pressure differential between the atmosphere and the fluid pathway created by the tubular member, a fan or blower could also be mounted within the tubular member to draw air into the downspout. The fan could be powered, for example, by a solar cell, battery, or piezoelectric energy harvesting device that could be actuated via the wind.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the device mounted on a straight run of downspout;

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation view of the air induction device mounted on an interior bend of downspout;

FIG. 3 is a partial side elevation view of the air induction device mounted on an exterior bend of downspout; and

FIG. 4 is a view of an alternate embodiment of the air induction device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIG. 1 an air induction device, designated generally by reference numeral 10, mounted to a downspout 12 having an inner channel 24, and having a bore formed therethrough 26 in fluid communication with inner channel 24 and the outside air 28. Downspout 12 interconnects gutter 14 to a storm sewer/french drain/day lighting pipe or simply to the ground for purposes of carrying rain water and snow that runs off roof 16 and into gutter 14. It should be recognized by those of skill in the art that while the primary application of the present invention is for gutters used in home and commercial rain drainage systems, the present invention can be used with any gravitational drain systems, such as those employed on bridges, schools, factories, and apartments, including inside gravitational drain systems.

In FIG. 1, air induction device 10 is mounted to the upwardly facing surface of a diagonally extending, straight run of downspout 12, such as the portion extending along diagonal X-X of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, air induction device 10 is mounted to the upwardly facing surface of an elbow 18, and more precisely to the interior angle of elbow 18. In FIG. 3, air induction device 10 is mounted to the upwardly facing surface of an elbow 18, and more precisely to the exterior angle of elbow 18. The present invention may be thus used with any gravity drain having a lateral extending between elbows on an angle causing the speed of the rain inside to increase, thereby providing suction and preventing hydrolocking when used with air induction device 10.

In each instance, air induction device 10 is mounted along an axis Y-Y that is perpendicular to the axis of the downsput 12 or the tangent T-T of the elbow 14, and also to the upwardly facing surface 30 of a non-vertically oriented run of downspout 12/elbow 18 to ensure that there is space between the water running through the downspout and the air induction device 10 due to the need for the running water to create a slight pressure differential between the open space within downspout 12/elbow 18 and the atmosphere. This pressure differential creates air flow from the atmosphere, through air induction device 10 and into downspout 12/elbow 18. By continuously supplying a flow of air into downspout 12/elbow 18, even in times of heavy rainfall, a hydrolocked condition will not occur within the downspout, and thus creating a backflow of rain water into and over the gutters 14.

With reference to FIG. 4, air induction device 10 may be equipped with a fan/blower 20 that is powered by way of a power source 22. Power source 22 may be any conventional type of low energy power source, such as a solar cell, piezoelectric energy harvester (such as one that utilizes vibrations caused by wind to create and store energy), or a battery. In the event the rush of rain water through downspout 12 is not sufficient to induce the flow of air through air induction device 10 and into downspout 12, fan/blower 20 can provide the means for inducing the introduction of air into downspout 12.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preventing hydrolocking in a gravitational drainage system, comprising:

a downspout including a portion having an interior channel for carrying liquids along a non-vertical axis and an upwardly facing exterior surface; and

an air inductor having a bore extending along a longitudinal axis therethrough, wherein the air inductor is interconnected to the upwardly facing exterior surface of said portion to provide fluid communication between the interior channel of said portion and any ambient air.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said portion comprises a straight run.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said air inductor is interconnected to straight run so that the non-vertical axis is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said portion comprises an elbow joint having an upwardly facing interior angle forming a non-vertical tangent.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said air inductor is interconnected to the elbow joint so that said non-vertical tangent is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said portion comprises an elbow joint having an upwardly facing exterior angle forming a non-vertical tangent.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said air inductor is interconnected to the elbow joint so that said non-vertical tangent is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said air inductor further comprises a blower positioned to force said air surrounding said downspout through the bore of said air inductor and into the interior channel of said portion of said downspout.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said power source is selected from the group consisting of a solar cell, a piezoelectric energy harvester, and a battery.

10. A method of preventing hydrolocking in a gravitational drainage system including a downspout having a portion that forms interior channel extending along a non-vertical axis and that includes an upwardly facing exterior surface, comprising the steps of:

attaching an air inductor having a bore extending therethrough to said portion so that said interior channel is in fluid communication with any ambient via said bore; and

allowing said air surrounding said downspout to flow into the interior channel when a fluid is flowing through said downspout.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said portion comprises a straight run.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said air inductor is interconnected to straight run so that the non-vertical axis is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said portion comprises an elbow joint having an upwardly facing interior angle forming a non-vertical tangent.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said air inductor is interconnected to the elbow joint so that said non-vertical tangent is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said portion comprises an elbow joint having an upwardly facing exterior angle forming a non-vertical tangent.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said air inductor is interconnected to the elbow joint so that said non-vertical tangent is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of allowing said air surrounding said downspout to flow into the interior channel comprising actively blowing said air into said downspout by using a blower positioned in said air inductor to force said air surrounding said downspout through the bore of said air inductor and into said interior channel of said portion of said downspout.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said blower is interconnected to a power source.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said power source is selected from the group consisting of a solar cell, a piezoelectric energy harvester, and a battery.