Container for temporarily holding water on the roof of a building with a controlled leakage rate

Abstract

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a container ( 10 ) for temporarily holding water on the roof of a building, including a bottom ( 11 ), a side wall ( 12 ) surrounding the bottom ( 11 ) and an overflow opening ( 14 ) for draining surplus water when the volume of water collected in the container ( 10 ) exceeds a buffer volume, characterised in that the container ( 10 ) includes a water-draining means configured to force water with a temporary storage volume which is lower than the buffer volume to flow according to a regulated leakage rate ( 13 ), and in that the dimensions of the bottom are smaller than the dimensions of a sloping roof on which the container ( 10 ) can be placed so that the water load is distributed evenly on the surface of the roof when a plurality of containers ( 10 ) of the same size cover the surface of the roof.

1 . Container ( 10 ) for temporarily holding water on the roof of a building, comprising a bottom ( 11 ), a side wall ( 2 ) surrounding the bottom and an overflow orifice for draining surplus water when volume of water collected by the device exceeds a buffer volume, character comprises water discharge means configured to force water with a temporary storage volume that is less than the buffer volume to flow at a regulated leakage rate, and in that the dimensions at the bottom are small vis-à-vis dimensions of a sloping roof on which the device can be positioned so that the water load is distributed evenly on the surface of the roof when a plurality of containers with the same size cover the surface of the roof. 
     
     
         2 . Container according to  claim 1 , in which the means of discharging water at a regulated leakage rate comprise an obturator controlled so as to adjust the opening of a discharge orifice ( 14 ) according to the temporary storage volume. 
     
     
         3 . Container according to  claim 2 , in which the obturator is associated with a float ( 30 ) by means of an arm ( 34 ), the arm being able to pivot in response to a change in the temporary water storage volume detected by the float in order to cause a rotation of the obturator in front of or through the discharge orifice. 
     
     
         4 . Container according to  claim 3 , in which the obturator is a disc portion ( 32 ) able to be rotated in front of the discharge orifice and in which a slot ( 31 ) with a progressive opening is formed, ensuring a constant leakage rate through the slot. 
     
     
         5 . Container according to  claim 3 , in which the obturator is a horn ( 37 ,  38 ) able to be driven in rotation through the discharge opening, the horn being conformed so as to provide a constant leakage rate through the discharge orifice. 
     
     
         6 . Container according to  claim 2 , in which the obturator is a cone ( 43 ) able to be driven in translation by a float ( 30 ) through the orifice ( 14 ), the cross-section of the cone decreasing on approaching the float so that the opening of the discharge orifice decreases as the water level increases in the container, thus ensuring constant leakage rate. 
     
     
         7 . Container according to  claim 2 , which the overflow orifice constitutes the discharge orifice. 
     
     
         8 . Container according to  claim 2 , in which the discharge orifice is distinct from the overflow orifice, the overflow orifice being arranged above the discharge orifice at a distance defining the buffer volume. 
     
     
         9 . Container according to  claim 1 , further comprising permeable means of supporting a vegetation complex. 
     
     
         10 . Container according to  claim 9 , in which the permeable support means are formed by a grid supported by one or more support surfaces defined by small islands extending from the bottom. 
     
     
         11 . Container according to  claim 9 , in which the permeable means of supporting the vegetation complex are formed by a pre-cultivated container ( 20 ), conformed no as to fit in the temporary water holding container, or made in one piece with the temporary water holding container. 
     
     
         12 . Container according to  claim 1 , in which the pre-cultivated container has a base ( 24 ) in which a plurality of alveoli are for led, the alveoli being separated by separation partitions consisting of alveolus walls ( 25 ) extending from the base ( 24 ) and a support surface ( 28 ) connecting the top edges of the walls, a plurality of drainage holes ( 29 ) being formed through the support surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . Container according to  claim 9 , comprising a plurality of separation partitions consisting of alveolus walls ( 25 ) extending front the bottom and a support surface ( 28 ) connecting the top edges of the walls, forming a plurality of alveoli with the bottom, a plurality of drainage holes ( 29 ) being formed through the support surfaces in order to form said permeable means of supporting a vegetation complex. 
     
     
         14 . Container according to  claim 1 , also comprising a permeable bearing slab arranged parallel to the bottom. 
     
     
         15 . Container according to  claim 1 , also comprising a partial sealed closure ( 50 ) extending from the top part of the side wall. 
     
     
         16 . Container according to  claim 1 , the surface area of the bottom of which is less than 2 m 2 , preferably less than 1 m 2 . 
     
     
         17 . Container according to  claim 1 , in which the regulated leakage rate is no 10 l/s/ha, and preferably no more than 5 l/s/ha. 
     
     
         18 . Assembly for the temporary holding of water on the roof of a building, consisting of plurality of containers attached to one another, at least one of which is a container according to  claim 1 .