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US 5,179,969 AGranted
Method and apparatus for free-standing water removal from roof and siphon head therefor
OwnerDavid T. Petersoninventor
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OwnerDavid T. Petersoninventor
Estimating the term…
A roof draining system including a series of portable siphon heads which can be placed anywhere on a flat roof where there is a ponding area that no longer can be drained by any pre-existing water drainage system, a series of upstanding pipes, and a second series of roof top pipes each connected at one end to one of the siphon heads and each connected at an opposite end to one of the upstanding pipes. A control valve structure is connected to the upstanding pipes. The control valve structure has a series of solenoid operated valves each connected to one of the upstanding pipes at one end. Manual discharge valves are each connected at an opposite end of one of the pipe tees. An electrical timer is operatively connected to each of the solenoid operated valves. Siphon pumps are each positioned in line with and operatively connected between one of the solenoid operated valves. The timer is cooperable with solenoid operated valves at timed intervals to cause the solenoid operated valves to open thus permitting city water to pass through the solenoid operated valves and the associated siphon pump, the siphon pumps each having a Venturi jet passageway therein which functions to generate a pressure differential causing roof water to be siphoned from the ponding areas on the roof into the associated upstanding pipe.
For use with a substantially flat horizontal roof having a pressurized city-type water line, the improvement of a roof draining system for draining away water that accumulates on the roof, a series of portable siphon heads which can be placed anywhere on the roof where there is a ponding area that no longer can be drained by any pre-existing water drainage system, the roof draining system including a series of upstanding pipes, a second series of roof top pipes each connected at one end to one of said siphon heads and each connected at an opposite end to one of said upstanding pipes, a control valve structure, the upstanding pipes connected to the control valve structure, the control valve structure involving a series of solenoid operated valves each connected to one of said upstanding pipes at one end, pipe means connected to each of said solenoid operated valves at one end, said pipe means being connectable with the pressurized city type water line, pipe tees each connected at one end to an associated one of said solenoid operated valves, manual discharge valves each connected at an opposite end of one of said pipe tees, an electrical timer operatively connected to each of said solenoid operated valves, siphon pumps each positioned in line with and operatively connected between one of said solenoid operated valves and the associated pipe tee, the timer being cooperable with solenoid operated valves at timed intervals to cause the solenoid operated valves to open thus permitting city water to pass through the solenoid operated valves and the associated siphon pump, the siphon pumps, each having a Venturi jet passageway therein which functions to generate a pressure differential in a region of said pipe tee causing roof water to be siphoned from the ponding areas on the roof into the associated upstanding pipe and then through a discharge valve inlet which flow continues from the roof ponds until the roof ponds are drained dry, said timer being operable at predetermined intervals to automatically shut off said solenoid operated valves after the interval expires.
A method of removing ponds of accumulated water from a flat roof where existing drainage systems are unable to reach new low roof spots lying beneath the ponds that have come into existence after the existing drainage system was installed, moving water drainage siphon heads to each of the ponds, connecting flexible water pipes to each of the siphon heads, connecting the flexible water pipes to a water drainage line, providing a Venturi jet having an orifice of an order of 1/4" in fluid communication with each of the flexible water pipes, and causing pressurized water of an order of 50 P.S.I. to flow into each of the Venturi jets to generate a siphoning action in the flexible water pipes to suck water from each of the ponds to assist in draining of the ponds.
For use with a substantially flat horizontal roof having a pressurized city-type water line, the improvement of a roof draining system for draining away water that accumulates on the roof, a series of portable siphon heads which can be placed anywhere on the roof where there is a ponding area that no longer can be drained by any pre-existing water drainage system, the roof draining system including a series of upstanding pipes, a second series of roof top pipes each connected at one end of said siphon heads and each connected at an opposite end of said upstanding pipes, a control valve structure, the upstanding pipes being connected to the control valve structure, the control valve structure involving a series of solenoid operated valves each connected to one of said upstanding pipes at one end, pipe means connected to each of said solenoid operated valves at one end, said pipe means being connectable with the pressurized city type water line at an opposite end, pipe tees each connected at one end to an associated one of said solenoid operated valves, manual discharge valves each connected at an opposite end of one of said pipe tees, an electrical timer operatively connected to each of said solenoid operated valves, siphons each positioned in line with and operatively connected between one of said solenoid operated valves and the associated pipe tee, the timer being cooperable with solenoid operated valves at timed intervals to cause the solenoid operated valves to open thus permitting city water to pass through the solenoid operated valves and the associated siphons, the siphons each having a Venturi jet passageway therein which functions to generate a pressure differential in a region of said pipe tee causing roof water to be siphoned from the ponding areas on the roof into the associated upstanding pipe and then through a discharge valve inlet which flow continues from the roof ponds until the roof ponds are drained dry, said timer being operable at predetermined intervals to automatically shut off said solenoid operated valves after the interval expires, the siphon heads each being comprised of a soft pliable elastomeric including a relatively flat foot flange adapted to rest flatwise on a roof to be drained, the flange being annular, a dome-shaped head portion centrally located and integrally formed with the relatively flat foot flange, the relatively flat foot flange extending outwardly in a relatively flat plane beyond the head portion and surrounding the head portion in all directions, the head portion being closed on its top side and having an interior cavity, an opening on an underside of the head portion in communication with the cavity for receiving fluids to be siphoned, and a discharge nozzle in fluid receiving communication with said interior cavity and extending radially away from said head portion atop said foot flange, the discharge nozzle being integrally formed with the head portion and the foot flange and being in supported assembly therewith.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.