DEBRIS REMOVAL APPARATUS FOR A GUTTER

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to gutters designed to catch run-off water from the rooves of buildings, and the cleaning of those gutters with regard to the normal debris that collects therein. In particular, the present invention relates to apparatus that is capable of removing that debris from such gutters, together with guttering systems that utilise such apparatus.

Background of the Invention

Various attempts have been made to design guards or covers for gutters with the dual (but conflicting) aims of permitting entry of water but preventing entry of debris to the gutter. Such attempts have included the use of flexible barriers, such as mesh, either forced into or clipped into the gutter, and also a variety of rigid barriers. Typically, these types of guards have still though permitted the entry to the gutter of small sized particles of debris, that still cause significant difficulties when collected over periods of time in gutters.

Also, where such gutter guards are the only form of debris prevention utilised, they have been difficult to clean, usually requiring cleaning and maintenance programmes and efforts that are as significant as would be expected to manually clean and maintain an uncovered gutter. Also, they are often difficult and/or time consuming to remove when the gutter itself requires cleaning, or do not permit complete removal, which reduces access to the gutter.

Unfortunately, these difficulties with gutter guards have given rise to a poor reputation for many attempts at developing new gutter guards, and the public have become quite sceptical about the ability of gutter guards to perform their desired function.

An alternative approach is to avoid the use of gutter guards, allow all debris to collect in the gutter, and then to clean the gutter as necessary, which of course was the only alternative available before the advent of gutter guards. Indeed, a wide variety of gutter cleaning tools have been developed, typically for manual use by someone on the roof or standing on a ladder adjacent the gutter.

Whilst effective, these manual tools introduce obvious (and substantial) safety problems. Additionally though, many attempts have been made to develop gutter cleaning tools that may be operated by someone on the ground, usually being hand-held devices requiring extension mechanisms, with a view to providing tools that are safer to operate. These attempts invariably result in tools that are complex and expensive, and which are difficult for a user to operate.

The present invention aims to provide apparatus for removing debris collected in a gutter, which apparatus does not require hand-held operation and which is able to remove from the gutter substantially all of the collected debris. The apparatus should not rely on the presence of a gutter guard of any sort, although may be usable therewith, and is ideally usable with a wide variety of standard gutter configurations.

The discussion of the background to the invention herein is included to explain the context of the present invention. This is not to be taken as an admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge in Australia (or elsewhere) as at the priority date.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides apparatus for removing debris collected in a gutter, the gutter having a channel in which debris collects upon a channel surface. The debris removal apparatus includes a debris plough fixed to a carriage, the carriage being configured to permit travel of the debris plough along the gutter so that, in use, the debris plough moves along the channel

surface to strike debris collected thereon and thereby remove substantially all of that debris from the channel.

The present invention also provides a guttering system that includes a gutter and apparatus for removing debris collected in the gutter, the gutter having a channel in which debris collects upon a channel surface. As above, the debris removal apparatus includes a debris plough fixed to a carriage, the carriage being configured to permit travel of the debris plough along the gutter so that, in use, the debris plough moves along the channel surface to strike debris collected thereon and thereby remove substantially all of that debris from the channel.

The carriage may simply be a drive mechanism that is capable of both supporting the debris plough and powering the debris plough for its travel along the gutter. In this form, the carriage and the debris plough may thus be placed within the channel for operation independently of the channel. However, in another form, the carriage may include both a plough support device and a guide system, where the guide system is configured so as to be either secured to, or be an integral part of, the gutter, ideally being secured to the gutter wholly within the channel and extending along the full length of the gutter (including around corners). In this form, the plough support device will be capable of supporting the debris plough during its travel along the gutter, and, through its engagement with the guide system, will power the debris plough for guided movement along the channel.

By way of explanation, and before describing various preferred aspects of the present invention, the apparatus of the present invention is ideally motorised and able to be operated automatically. In this form, the device will operate regularly over a predetermined period, such as at 4 or 6 hourly intervals during a 24 hour period, utilising the carriage to move the debris plough along (and possibly also back along) a length of gutter to strike and forcibly remove from the gutter substantially all of the debris that has collected therein since the previous pass, by throwing the debris upwards and out of the channel.

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Thus, the combination of the force of the strike on the debris, and the configuration of the debris plough, ideally serve to forcibly remove the struck debris in a manner that might be described as ejecting or discharging the debris from the channel, much like the operation of a snow plough in forcibly throwing snow off and away from a road being ploughed. In this respect, by regular operation of the device (and by commencing operation on a clean gutter), it is envisaged that a relatively low amount of force would be needed to remove the debris, certainly as compared to the force that might be required to clean a dirty gutter with old (and established) debris collected therein.

It should be appreciated that the reference to a debris 'plough' is not to limit the shape and configuration of the plough only to shapes or configurations that may be associated with snow ploughs or other types of ploughs. Indeed, the debris plough need not have a snow plough like shape, but may simply be a cylindrical arm or rod that extends across the upper surface to strike the debris.

Additionally, it must be appreciated that the speed of travel of the debris plough, together with its configuration, may create a turbulent barrier of air ahead of and around the debris plough as it moves along the channel surface of the gutter, causing some debris to be blown out of the channel without having been struck. This will particularly be the case if the debris plough is deliberately provided with aerodynamic design features. With some aerodynamic plough configurations, the turbulence generated may be responsible for removal of a substantial degree of the debris, particularly if the debris (and the channel) is dry and is predominantly leaf material. Therefore, references throughout this specification to the debris plough 'striking' debris are to be read to include the action of this turbulence where appropriate.

Description of the Invention

Turning to a description of the debris plough and its preferred orientation and configuration, a preferred form of debris plough will be capable of striking all of the debris collected in a gutter, across the full width of the channel surface upon

which debris has collected. However, practically, it is unlikely that the full width will be covered and it is unlikely that all debris will be struck (and that all struck debris will be removed from the channel). Therefore, references to these aspects of the invention throughout the specification will be references to a substantial portion of the channel surface being covered by the debris plough and a substantial amount of the debris being removed.

Also, unnecessary difficulties may be encountered if the debris plough is required to keep continuous contact with the channel surface as it moves therealong, such as by it having a leading edge configured so as to be urged against (and slide along) the channel surface during operation. This may also cause unnecessary complexity in the construction of the apparatus. It is thus envisaged that a small gap may be permitted between the debris plough and the channel surface during operation, which will be assumed as further description is provided.

In a preferred form, the debris plough includes a plough body that comprises a leading portion and a throw portion. In a form of the invention where the apparatus is configured to operate in a reciprocating fashion, such as by moving along a gutter in one direction and then returning along the gutter in the reverse direction, the debris plough may be symmetrical and have similarly configured forward and reverse sides. In this form, there will be two leading portions and two throw portions.

In this preferred form, the leading portion of the plough body includes a leading edge that is straight and is generally transverse to the direction of travel (and is thus transverse to the longitudinal axis of the gutter). However, the leading edge may be curved so that the edge itself has a front portion and a rear portion, again defined in terms of the direction of the travel. With a curved leading edge, the curvature may be such as to assist in directing struck debris to be thrown out of the channel, rather than towards the roof of the building.

The throw portion of the plough body is preferably in the general form of an arcuate blade, with a smooth curvature that, in an in-use orientation, extends upwardly away from the upper surface of the channel surface of the gutter, but also that preferably extends outwardly away from the sidewall of the gutter closest to the roof of the building. Such a smoothly curved surface will reduce the impact to the plough body (and will thus reduce damage to it) and is also likely to maximise the 'throw' of the debris plough. Having said that, other configurations are also envisaged, some of which will be described below.

In another form of the debris removal apparatus of the present invention, the debris plough may simply be a cylindrical arm, with a circular cross-section, that extends across the upper surface, such as a rigid tube or rod. Alternatively, the arm may have a square or triangular cross-section. In these forms, the debris plough is unlikely to generate much turbulence, and thus its operation to remove debris is more likely to be entirely due to it striking the debris.

In all forms of the invention described so far, it is preferred that the debris plough be made of a reasonably strong yet lightweight material. Ideally, the material will also be reasonably resistant to corrosion given that it will often be in contact with (or operating within) water. It is envisaged that aluminium or a strong plastic will be preferred materials for the debris plough. Hardened edges or surfaces may also be utilised.

In relation to the carriage of the debris removal apparatus of the present invention, as mentioned above the carriage is preferably located wholly within the channel of the gutter, and extends along the full length of the gutter.

Several different types of carriages will be described below, which ideally will all be mechanisms that are simple to install and are not complex mechanically.

Such carriages are preferably of the type that includes a plough support device and a guide system.

In one form of the present invention, the carriage may include a guide system in the form of a cable guide system. In a simple form, the cable guide system

includes a cable made of a lightweight, flexible and cheap material, such as a nylon or polyethylene (such as is typically used as fishing line), constrained to move within an enclosed or semi-enclosed cable guide-rail. The cable guide- rail will for instance be an elongate member with a constant cross-section that defines an internal cable-receiving channel, such as a c-shaped member or a d- shaped member, which can be easily secured within the channel of the gutter.

Such a cable guide-rail will ideally be somewhat flexible, at least in portions so that those flexible portions can be bent around corners of the gutter. This permits placement of the guide system of the carriage within the channel of a gutter about the entire periphery of a building.

The cable guide-rail will preferably only be semi-enclosed so that the debris plough may somehow be attached to the cable therewithin (such as via a plough drive means as will be described below), to move with the cable when the cable is moved within the guide-rail. This may be achieved simply by providing, for example, an elongate slit down the length of a piece of plastic tubing being used as the guide-rail.

The plough support device of the carriage may be any suitable device or structure that is able to both support the debris plough and to engage the guide system in a manner that provides power and that permits the movement of the debris plough along a gutter. In one form, the plough support device is a bogie having the debris plough secured thereto (or being integral therewith) and having an engaging means for engaging the guide system.

In this respect, although reference is made to a 'bogie', it will be appreciated that such a bogie need not have wheels. While the bogie may certainly be a wheeled device (with any number of wheels), something like a miniaturised (low) train trolley, intended to move along rails in much the same manner as a train trolley, a suitable 'bogie' may be provided simply as the means for engaging the debris plough with the guide system. It may thus simply be a support member. Thus, an embodiment of the invention may utilise a plough

support device that avoids the use of a separate bogie, and simply directly connects a debris plough to a guide system using a support member.

In this form, it is preferred that a single cable runs inside the semi-enclosed guide-rail and is wound on and wound off respective pulleys located at either end of the gutter. By attaching a bogie to the cable adjacent a first one of the pulleys, when the cable winds off that first pulley the bogie travels along the guide-rail away from the first pulley and towards the second pulley. When the bogie nears the second pulley, and thus when the debris plough carried by the bogie (or a plough support member) has travelled the full length of the gutter, the cable stops, leaving the cable wound onto the second pulley and the bogie now adjacent to that second pulley.

This form of the invention then permits the debris plough of the apparatus to reciprocate and provide operation in reverse, where the next pass of the debris plough along the upper surface of the gutter sees the bogie travel (in the same manner) from adjacent the second pulley to the other end of the gutter adjacent the first pulley.

The carriage may thus be a multiple part mechanism that includes, for example, a semi-enclosed guide-rail, a plough support device in the form of a bogie capable of travel along the guide-rail, with or without a support member, and capable of carrying the debris plough in the required location and with the required orientation. Therefore, it will be appreciated that whilst it is said that the carriage preferably extends along the full length of the channel, in this form it is actually the guide-rail that will extend along the full length, such that the plough support device (and the debris plough) are able to themselves travel along that full length.

In the form of the invention that utilises a cable guide system, the power source for the travel of the bogie from the first pulley to the second pulley may be a stored kinetic energy source, such as an energised elastic memory device. Preferably the elastic memory device will be as simple as an elastic band

stretched to capacity and attached to the other end of the cable when the bogie is adjacent the first pulley. By releasing the bogie at that point, the elastic band retracts the cable and causes the bogie to rapidly move towards the second cable. A motor may be provided to then slowly return the bogie to adjacent the first pulley, against the tension of the elastic band (and hence again energising the elastic band), re-setting the carriage for further operation.

However, a variety of suitable power sources may of course be used for the cable guide system. There may be an electric motor provided to operate the cable in the same manner as mentioned above, winding the cable on and off pulleys as required.

Other forms of carriages are also envisaged that do not require the use of a cable guide system. For example, pneumatic operation is also envisaged where the carriage, or more correctly the plough support device, is either directly or indirectly operated by high pressure air, along a suitable guide system (such as a pneumatic guide-rail) in both directions of the gutter.

Also, electronic operation (or a combination of electronic and magnetic means) is envisaged for the carriage, much like the guided arrangements used for slot- car racing toys, where the carriage includes a plough support device having a bogie that includes an electric motor, sliding electric contacts connected to the electric motor mechanically and/or magnetically engaging with, and running along, a guide system in the form of an electronic guide-track (having correspondingly configured continuous electric tracks therein for providing power to the electric motor) mounted within the gutter channel. The ability to easily control the passage of the bogie along, and then back, such an electronic guide-track will, in many situations, make this a more preferred embodiment of the present invention.

It can thus be seen that the debris removal apparatus of the present invention can be easily retrofitted to existing gutters, simply by securing the carriage within the channel of the existing gutter, and may be arranged to extend about

the full periphery of a building. Alternatively, the device of the present invention will of course be able to be provided in situ with new guttering, such as by providing suitably adapted guide systems within one or more walls of the guttering.

The debris removal apparatus of the present invention preferably operates to provide single pass cleaning of a gutter by striking, and throwing out of the channel, any debris collected therein since the previous pass. As mentioned above, the debris removal apparatus may also operate to provide double pass cleaning. Ideally, the apparatus will include suitable timing and control mechanisms to permit operation regularly during the course of a day, and may thus operate every day of the year as required.

Not only will the apparatus act to remove debris from the channel of gutters, it can also advantageously function to assist in creating flow of water to the downspouts of the guttering system. The apparatus is not complex, and can be used with some forms of gutter guard as desired. However, when used with gutter guard, it is envisaged that more passes of the debris plough will be required to ensure removal of the (relatively small sized) debris that will have passed through the gutter guard to collect in the channel. The disadvantage of this may though be outweighed by the advantage of there being less large debris present due to the presence of the gutter guard.

Brief Description of Drawings

The present invention will now be described with reference to various preferred embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the following description is being provided simply to illustrate examples of how the inventive concepts generally described above might be implemented. The following discussion of the preferred embodiments is thus not to limit the generality of the above discussion of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view from the end of apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, in situ within the channel of a gutter;

Figure 2 is a perspective view from the end of apparatus according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view from the end of apparatus according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4a is a perspective view from the end of apparatus according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4b is a schematic partial-section view of the fourth embodiment shown in Figure 4a; and

Figure 4c is a schematic view of the fourth embodiment shown in Figure 4a in use with other control components.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Illustrated in Figure 1 is a gutter 10 having a channel 12 defined by opposed elongate sidewalls (14, 16), an elongate bottom wall 20 and an open top. The bottom wall 20 has a channel surface 18 upon which debris (not shown) collects.

Arranged within the channel 12 is a debris removal apparatus for the removal of the collected debris, which apparatus includes a carriage (generally indicated by the numeral 22, which will be explained below) which has fixed thereto a debris plough 24.

The carriage 22 includes a plough support device in the form of a bogie 28, and a guide system in the form of a cable guide system having a cable guide-rail 26 containing a cable (not shown) constrained within a cable guide 26. The cable guide-rail 26 is shown fixed (such as by the use of a suitable adhesive) to the upper surface 18 of the bottom wall 20 of the gutter 10, ideally at one corner thereof to minimise any obstacles within the channel 12. In this form of the invention, the bogie 28 includes a laterally extending plough support member 29 upon which is secured the debris plough 24. The bogie 28 is secured to, and thus engages with, the cable within guide-rail 26 in a manner so as to permit the bogie 28 to be free to move along the guide-rail 26. Thus, by moving the cable along within the guide-rail 26, the bogie 28, the support member 29, and hence the debris plough 24, also move along the channel 12.

It is an arrangement of this type that provides the 'fixing' of the debris plough 24 to the carriage 22. However, any suitable type of fixing will suffice, whether it be a rigid or flexible fixing, a temporary fixing, a permanent fixing, or a releasable fixing, provided that the appropriate movement of the debris plough 24 along the channel surface 18 is obtained.

In this embodiment, and as briefly mentioned above, the debris plough 24 is able to be moved along the channel 12, and in particular along the channel surface 18 of the gutter 10, to strike any debris that has collected thereupon. For example, a first pulley (not shown) may be provided at or near end A of the gutter, with a second pulley (also not shown) provided at or near end B of the gutter. By providing power to the pulleys, the cable may be moved along (and within) the guide-rail 26 to move the debris plough up and back the channel surface 18.

The debris plough 24 shown in Figure 1 (and indeed also shown in similar forms in Figures 2 and 3) has a plough body that is formed from a leading portion 27 and a throw portion 30. Indeed, given that this debris plough 24 will be used to move up and back the channel, it is symmetrically configured so as to have two leading portions 27 and two throw portions 30 (as shown).

The illustrated debris plough 24 is configured so as to cause the leading portion 27 (which is shown as a straight edge, transverse to the direction of travel of the plough) to slide along the channel surface 18 to strike and dislodge any debris collected on the channel surface 18. The struck debris will either be immediately ejected out of the channel 12 (due to the initial strike) or will be caused to move over the rest of the plough 24 and along the throw portion 30 thereof. Such debris will then contact the arcuate surface of the throw portion, from which it will be forced upwardly and out of the channel 12. The arcuate surface of the throw portion 30 may also create a turbulent boundary layer of air as it moves along the channel surface 18, which boundary layer may itself act to blow some loose debris out of the channel 12.

Illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4a to 4c are three further embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention. In these figures, the configuration of the gutter 10 is the same as has been described in relation to Figure 1 and the same numbering has been used to describe its elements. Also, the debris plough 24 is generally of the same shape as that in Figure 1 and generally functions in the same manner as described above.

However, different carriages are illustrated, and thus the carriage of Figure 2 is referred to generally as carriage 22a, the carriage of Figure 3 is referred to generally as carriage 22b, and the carriage of Figures 4a to 4c is referred to generally as carriage 22c.

The carriage 22a of Figure 2 is shown having a plough support device in the form of a wheeled bogie 28a having an electric motor therein that drives the wheels of the bogie 28a, the bogie 28a engaging with an electric guide-rail 28a by virtue of being mounted magnetically thereto. The bogie 28a is fixed to a support member 29a, which in turn supports the plough 24. The guide-rail 26a has again simply been adhered to the sidewall 14 of the gutter, using a suitable adhesive such as silicone.

The operation of this embodiment is the same as described above for the first embodiment, with the exception that the movement of the debris plough 24 along the channel surface 18 of the gutter 10 is provided by the electromagnetic driven engagement between the wheeled bogie 28a and the electric guide-rail 26a, rather than by virtue of the engagement described above between the bogie 28 and the cable guide system.

The debris removal apparatus of the embodiment of Figure 3 is shown having a carriage 22b that includes a plough support device in the form of a bogie 28b configured to slide along a hollow guide-rail 26b, the cooperative configuration of the bogie 28b and the guide-rail 26b thus providing the engaging means mentioned above. The bogie 28b is provided integrally with the debris plough 24 and thus additionally plays the role of a support member. The body 32 of the bogie 28b is provided with at least a portion thereof being magnetically attractive such that a magnetic insert (not shown) placed within the elongate opening 34 of the hollow guide-rail 26b is able to operatively engage with it due to the magnetic attraction. In this form, by causing the magnetic insert to move along inside the guide-rail 26b, the bogie 28b (and thus the carriage 22b) will also move along the guide-rail 26b, providing the motion generally described above for the debris plough 24.

The magnetic insert is ideally caused to move along the inside of the guide-rail 26b by a burst of air, such as would be provided by connecting a pneumatic supply device thereto. It will be appreciated that by providing a suitable series of interconnected guide-rails 26b about the periphery of a building within the channel of its gutters, and by providing possibly multiple such bogies and ploughs, a series of debris removal actions may be instigated with only one burst of pressurised air.

The carriage 22c of the embodiment shown in Figures 4a to 4c is also shown having a plough support device in the form of a wheeled bogie 40, although in this embodiment with only a single wheel 42 on only one side (the lower side) thereof. The bogie 40 again has an electric motor therein (not shown) that is

located and geared to drive the wheel 42 of the bogie 40. A guide system in the form of a guide-track 44 is provided having a generally c-shaped or d-shaped section (as for the embodiment of Figure 1 ) such that it defines a guide channel 46 within which there are located two continuous conductive tracks 48 that are able to provide power to the electric motor via corresponding sliding electrical contacts 50 that are a part of the bogie 40, when the bogie 40 engages therewith.

In relation to the sliding contacts 50 of the bogie 40, the bogie 40 includes engaging means in the form of a connecting arm 52. The guide-track 44 includes an elongate opening 54 therealong through which the connecting arms

52 of the bogie 40 project to engage the drive means (the bogie 40) with the guide system (the guide-rail 44) to provide guided movement of the bogie 40 along the guide-track 44, and to provide for continuous electrical contact between the sliding contacts 50 and the corresponding conductive tracks 48.

The electric motor may be any type of suitable motor, and for instance may be a direct current stepper motor.

The bogie 40 is also of course secured to a support member 56, which in turn supports the debris plough 24. The guide-track 44 will again simply be adhered to the sidewall of a gutter (not shown), using a suitable adhesive such as silicone.

The operation of this embodiment is the same as described above for the first embodiment, with the exception that the movement of the debris plough 24 along the channel surface of the gutter is provided by the electro-mechanical driven engagement between the wheeled bogie 40 and the guide-track 44, rather than a guided cable system (Figure 1 ), an electro-magnetic system (Figure 2), or a pneumatic system (Figure 3).

Figure 4c generally illustrates the type of electrical control that is envisaged as being suitable for use with the invention described above. That system includes a control means 60 through which the speed and timing of operation of the

debris plough 24 can be set and controlled. A skilled addressee will appreciate that any suitable type of controller could be utilised. Also illustrated is a transformer 62 capable of delivering low voltage power to the conductive tracks 48 of the debris removal apparatus, to power and drive the low voltage electric motor of the bogie 40.

Finally, and as is also evident in Figure 4c, the guide-track is ideally made of a relatively flexible material that permits it to be shaped to extend around corners. This permits the debris removal apparatus to operate around the entire periphery of a dwelling if required.

Before turning to the claims, it will be appreciated that there are other configurations and arrangements, and various modifications and alterations, that could be adopted or made to the embodiments described herein, that are also within the scope of the present invention.