US 5,522,427 AGranted

Rain water conveyance apparatus

OwnerCharles L. Johnsoninventor

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Abstract

An apparatus for conveying rain water to a point remote from a building wall, comprising a frame mounted trough which is automatically lowered in response to movement of a piston within the frame. The piston moves in response to the weight of water accumulated within the frame, but is delayed until the rising water level actuates a trough release mechanism. Trough deployment is resisted by the lean of the stored trough and springs which are in tension for all trough positions. Water exits the frame through a cylinder port and drains from the remote end of the trough. A trough stabilizer collects a small amount of water at the end of the trough, the weight of the collected water keeping the trough down until water flow from the trough ceases. Small holes allow slow drainage from the trough stabilizer, which eventually allows the springs to return the trough to its upper position. Provisions are made allow accumulation of water to exit the frame without trough deployment.

Claims44

Dependent claims

An apparatus for conveying water from a rain gutter to a point remote from a building wall, which comprises:

(a) a piston having a top;
(b) a frame, the frame having a cylinder for closely receiving the piston and allowing movement of the piston between an upper position and a lower position, the frame further having a cylinder outlet port, the frame further having a water passage for receiving and transporting water such that the water accumulates and bears upon the piston top while the piston is in its upper position;
(c) a trough, the trough having a near end and a remote end, the trough being pivotally attached to the frame for movement between an upper position and a lower position, the trough being attached and oriented such that it receives water from the cylinder outlet port into the trough near end when the trough is in its lower position, the trough being further attached and oriented such that the water drains from the trough near end to the trough remote end when the trough is in its lower position;
(d) trough bias means for biasing the trough to remain in its upper position;
and
(e) a linkage for linking the piston to the trough, the linkage being oriented such that the trough bias means causes a force on the piston in opposition to the force exerted by the water bearing upon the piston, and further such that the piston remains in its upper position until the water force exceeds the trough bias means force, the linkage being further oriented such that downward movement of the piston from its upper position causes downward movement of the trough from its upper position.

3 more elements

An apparatus for conveying liquid from a liquid collection system discharge to a point remote from such discharge, which comprises:

(a) a piston having a top;
(b) a frame, the frame having a top end, the frame further having a cylinder for closely receiving the piston and allowing movement of the piston between an upper position and a lower position, the frame further having a cylinder outlet port, the frame further having a liquid passage for receiving and transporting liquid such that the liquid accumulates and bears upon the piston top while the piston is in its upper position;
(c) a trough, the trough having a near end and a remote end, the trough being pivotally attached to the frame for movement between an upper position and a lower position, the trough being attached and oriented such that it receives liquid from the cylinder outlet port into the trough near end when the trough is in its lower position, the trough being further attached and oriented such that the liquid drains from the trough near end to the trough remote end when the trough is in its lower position;
(d) trough bias means for biasing the trough to remain in its upper position;
and
(e) a linkage for linking the piston to the trough, the linkage being oriented such that the trough bias means causes a force on the piston in opposition to the force exerted by the liquid bearing upon the piston, and further such that the piston remains in its upper position until the liquid force exceeds the trough bias means force, the linkage being further oriented such that downward movement of the piston from its upper position causes downward movement of the trough from its upper position.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.