Process and device for collecting rainwater

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Turning now to FIGS.
1 and 2, the preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention is diagrammatically set forth and generally indicated by the letter X.
The device is comprised primarily of a main chamber or vessel 10 situated between upper and lower portions of a down spout or drain pipe which portions are respectively indicated at 14 and 15.
The vessel is provided with an inlet end 2 and a discharge end 3 which, respectively, fit together with pipe sections 14 and 15 so that rainwater can be received from pipe section 14 and discharged into pipe section 15.
The vessel includes a through-pipe section 1 which together with the inlet 2 and the discharge end 3 are positioned generally in line with pipe sections 14 and 15.
Overflow rain water from vessel 10 is discharged via outlet 11 provided in the upper portion of the rear wall of vessel 10 directly into through-pipe 1 with flow thereof continuing toward discharge end 3 and downspout portion 15.
The overflow outlet 11 is shown in FIG.
2.
Inlet 2 includes a baffle 4 which together with the opposing side wall of the inlet portion of the device defines an inlet passage 5.
Leading away from inlet passage 5 is a branch line or pipe 6 and due to the presence of baffle 4 and a collection or deflection member 7, positioned beneath passage 5 and approximately in line with baffle 4, flow is initially directed into branch pipe 6.
Branch pipe 6 itself terminates adjacent the bottom of vessel 10, as shown in FIGS.
1 and 2 and will deliver rainwater flowing therethrough into vessel 10 through an opening or passage 8 positioned adjacent the bottom 9 of vessel 10.
As rain falls, the flow of water will continuously occur through pipe 6, vessel 10 and out through overflow opening 11.
A closeable drain device 16 is also provided adjacent the bottom of branch pipe 6 and provides a means for draining out water that has been collected within vessel 10.
While vessel 10 includes overflow opening 11, an opening 12 is also defined between the end of member 7 and baffle 4 so that water can flow through the device when the branch line 6 is stopped up or flow through vessel 10 is otherwise impeded