Underground water reservoir

• US 5,234,286 A
• Filed: 01/08/1992
• Issued: 08/10/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth Wagner
• Original Assignee: Kenneth Wagner
• Inventors: Wagner, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor, Dennis L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RICCI, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US07/817,790
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 137/256, 137/357, 137/386, 137/391, 137/398, 137/399, 137/565, 137/578, 137/579, 220/4.12, 220/4.13, 220/4.24, 220/4.26, 220/669, 405/36, 405/52, 405/53-55
• US Class Current: 405/53
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/76 for use underground manholes, inspection openings, covers therefor B65D90/105; special vessels for collecting or storing rain-water for use in the household E03B3/03; cesspools E03F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 11/02 for domestic or like local water supply
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 3/03 Special vessels for collecting or storing rain-water for use in the household, e.g. water-butts containers for storage, in general, B65D
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/00 Water conservation; Efficient water supply; Efficient water use
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/108 Rainwater harvesting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6969 Buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86067 Fluid sump

Abstract

An underground water storage reservoir has a molded tank of attachable upper and lower bodies, the bodies being of common geometry nestable for storage and transportation prior to installation, the installed reservoir co-acting with a precipitation receiving roof of a building, water inlet, conduits, valve and overflow, controllable pump and a sump to utilize water from the reservoir.

Claims

1. An reservoir for underground water storage associated with a building having a roof receiving precipitation comprising:

a structurally reinforced tank being elongate and shallow, and being constructed of two attachable upper and lower bodies;

a water inlet feeding water into the tank;

a conduit transmitting water from the roof to the inlet;

valve selectively controlling water entry into the tank;

an automatically actuated overflow associated with the valve for directing water away from the reservoir when the valve is to so control the water;

a pump integrally housed on the reservoir in a compartment, said compartment being accessible to the surface;

an outlet conduit associated with the pump for directing retained water to a selected location;

a first control for selectively operating the pump, being located remote from the reservoir in the building;

a second control associated with the first control to deselect said first control when inadequate water for pumping is in the reservoir;

a sump integrally formed in the lower body for trapping sediment;

said upper and lower bodies being of a common geometry so as to be formed from the same molds and adapted for nesting in one another prior to assembly for use.

2. The reservoir of claim 1 further comprising:

each of said bodies having a flanged perimeter adapted for sealing with and mechanically fastening to the other body.

3. The reservoir of claim 2 further comprising:

each of said bodies having a substantially planar panel remote from and parallel to the plane of said perimeter;

a platform being spaced from said panel;

said spaced platform being supported by a continuous web thereby forming a continuous water tight surface of said panel, platform and web;

said platform forming a pump support when in the top body and a sump when in the lower body.

4. The reservoir of claim 3 and said overflow further comprising a float operated valve which closes the entry into the tank and redirecting said flow to an overflow pipe;

said overflow pipe directing said overflow water to a place remote from said reservoir for drainage.

5. The reservoir of claim 4 and said second control comprising a low water cut-off switch which renders the pump inoperative when there is insufficient water in the tank.

6. The reservoir of claim 5 and said structurally reinforced tank further comprising a plurality of molded hollow ribs composed of a series of webs molded in the surface of said bodies;

said perimeters having first and second sides and first and second end portions;

said ribs extending from said perimeter over said panels from said first side to said second side.

7. The reservoir of claim 6 and said outlet conduit being adapted to direct water flow from the reservoir to a selected location being one of a tap inside the building, a tap outside the building or an irrigation device.

8. A liquid storage reservoir for a building comprising:

means for holding said liquid until needed having walls, floor panel and top panel, and being reinforced for structural integrity when buried below grade level in proximity to said building;

means for collecting meteorological precipitation on the building and directing the liquid from the building to the reservoir;

means for controlling the inlet of liquid into the reservoir to automatically selectively flow the liquid into one of the reservoir or an overflow network;

means for removing the liquid from the reservoir being a pump with an intake and an outlet, the outlet directing flow to a desired location, and having a low water sensor including a cut-off to stop the pump;

means for distributing said liquid for use to one of either the interior or exterior of said building; and

said means for holding further comprising an elongate and shallow envelope of substantially rigid sheet material formed with arcuate corner joining said walls and panels, and being reinforced by molding substantially "U" section ribs as portions of said sheet and having an integrally molded shape forming a platform and sump wherein said shape forms the platform when in said top panel and forms the sump when in the bottom panel.

9. The reservoir of claim 8 and said means for holding further comprising a plurality of commonly shaped sections forming at least a top and a bottom, being adapted to nest one within another for transport and for joinder at a perimetrical flange to form the reservoir.

10. The reservoir of claim 9 said means for controlling inlet of liquid further comprising:

a valve for stopping liquid flow into said means for holding, being controlled by a liquid level sensitive actuator so as to stop said flow when the means for holding is substantially full;

a overflow port in the inlet conduit being associated with the valve in such a manner as to direct the flow to the overflow network when the liquid flow into the means for holding is stopped;

said overflow network dispensing said remote from said means for holding so as to minimize erosion thereunder.

11. The reservoir of claim 10, said means for removing the liquid further comprising:

a remotely operateable pump having a switch located in the building;

said pump being mounted on said platform integrally molded in said envelope and being raised above the panel;

said pump further being contained within a housing;

said reservoir being placed below grade level in association with said building;

said housing projecting to said grade level to provide service access to said pump.

12. The reservoir of claim 11 said means for distributing said liquid further comprising:

a filter and faucet contained within the building being adapted to provide potable water in said building.

13. The reservoir of claim 11 and said means for distributing said liquid further comprising:

an irrigation apparatus for distribution of stored water to a selected portion of said grade level by operatively activating said means for removing the liquid.

14. A water storage reservoir in association with a building comprising:

a roof and gutter system on said building directing precipitation flow to a downspout;

an underground storage tank molded from a pair of top and bottom shapes of substantially identical geometry, said tank having an inlet and an outlet;

said tank being a substantially shallow shape having arcuate ends and sides above a floor panel and below a top panel and further having a plurality of reinforcing ribs supporting said shape when buried below grade level;

an intake conduit directing flow from said downspout to said inlet;

a float valve associated with said inlet for opening said inlet when the water level is below a first level and closing said inlet when said water level is at a second level;

an overflow network distributing flow from said inlet conduit away from said tank when said valve is closed;

a pump associated with said outlet having a pump inlet pipe for raising water from said tank to said pump and having an outlet conduit directing said flow from said pump to a desired location in association with said building;

said pump being mounted on a platform integrally formed in and raised above said top panel and said pump inlet pipe extending to and terminating in close association with an integrally formed sump formed in and extending below said bottom panel;

said sump and said platform being molded in said bodies so that said bodies may be inverted when disassembled for transport and may be produced from the same molds.

15. The reservoir of claim 14 and said tank top and bottom shapes each having a continuous perimetrical flange adapted for mating with the corresponding flange of the other.

16. The reservoir of claim 15 and said top and bottom shapes being of a molded sheet material molded to a form having adequate draw for removal from a mold and also of a form adapted to nest inside one another for transportation when in a disassembled condition.