1. A gutter assembly for collecting and channelling rainwater run-off from a roof structure, including:
one or more elongate gutter members;
at least one mounting bracket for pivotably mounting each gutter member at the roof structure such that each gutter member is movable between an in-use collecting and channelling position and a substantially inverted cleaning position; and
at least one remotely operable actuator which acts on one or more gutter members to move the gutter member by generating a pushing force to pivot the gutter member about the mounting bracket to the cleaning position and a pulling force to cause the gutter member to return to the in-use collecting and channelling position, and wherein the remotely operable actuator is positioned outside of or underneath the gutter member, and wherein the remotely operable actuator is an electrically powered linear actuator having a body portion and a tube portion which is extendable from the body portion.
2. The gutter assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrically powered linear actuator is able to cause the tube portion to be extended from the body portion to generate the pushing force to move the gutter member to the cleaning position and wherein the tube portion is retractable to generate the pulling force to cause the gutter member to return to the in-use collecting and channelling position.
3. The gutter assembly of claim 1, wherein a predetermined maximum pivot angle defines a range of movement between the in-use collecting and channelling position and the cleaning position.
4. The gutter assembly of claim 3, further comprising a restraining member to prevent the gutter member from pivoting beyond the predetermined maximum pivot angle.
5. The gutter assembly of claim 1, wherein the remotely operable actuator is mounted on a fascia board substantially parallel to the gutter member.
6. The gutter assembly of claim 1, wherein a substantially resilient tube extension portion which extends from the tube portion transfers the pushing and pulling force from the remotely operable actuator to the gutter member.
7. The gutter assembly of claim 6, wherein the substantially resilient extension portion is coupled to an underside of the gutter member.
8. The gutter assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrically powered linear actuator is programmed to cause the gutter member to move between the in-use collecting and channelling position and the cleaning position at predetermined intervals.
9. The gutter assembly of claim 8, wherein the electrically powered linear actuator is programmed to move the gutter members between the in-use collecting and channelling position and the cleaning position simultaneously or sequentially.
10. A gutter assembly for collecting and channelling rainwater run-off from a roof structure, including:
a plurality of gutter members;
each of the gutter members including an angle or corner portion forming a continuous rain water channel around a corner;
at least one of the gutter members including an outlet formed in the base portion for fluid communication with a drain pipe, the outlet including an opening for passage of water out of the gutter member, and a flow guide means configured to direct water passing through the outlet opening into the drain pipe;
at least one mounting bracket for pivotably mounting each gutter member at the roof structure such that each gutter member is movable between an in-use collecting and channelling position and a substantially inverted cleaning position; and
at least one remotely operable actuator which acts on one or more gutter members to move the gutter member by generating a pushing force to pivot the gutter member about the mounting bracket to the substantially inverted cleaning position and a pulling force to cause the gutter member to return to the in-use collecting and channelling position, and wherein the remotely operable actuator is positioned outside of or underneath the gutter member, and wherein the remotely operable actuator is an electrically powered linear actuator having a body portion and a tube portion which is extendable from the body portion.
11. The gutter assembly of claim 10, wherein the electrically powered linear actuator is able to cause the tube portion to be extended from the body portion to generate the pushing force to move the gutter member to the cleaning position and wherein the tube portion is retractable to generate the pulling force to cause the gutter member to return to the in-use collecting and channelling position.
12. The gutter assembly of claim 10, wherein the remotely operable actuator is mounted on a fascia board substantially parallel to the gutter member.
13. The gutter assembly of claim 10, wherein a substantially resilient tube extension portion which extends from the tube portion transfers the pushing and pulling force from the remotely operable actuator to the gutter member.
14. A remotely operable electrically powered actuator for causing one or more gutter members to pivot about a mounting bracket between an in-use collecting and channelling position and a substantially inverted cleaning position, including:
a body portion and a tube portion which is extendable from the body portion and is retractable;
wherein the remotely operable electrically powered actuator is able to cause the tube portion to be extended from the body portion, to generate the pushing force to move the gutter member to the cleaning position and wherein the tube portion is retractable to generate the pulling force to cause the gutter member to return to the in-use collecting and channelling position, and wherein the remotely operable actuator is positioned outside of or underneath the gutter member.
15. The actuator of claim 14, wherein the tube portion includes a substantially resilient tube extension which extends from the tube portion to transfer the pushing and pulling force from the remotely operable electrically powered actuator to the gutter member.
16. A method for cleaning a gutter assembly for collecting and channelling rainwater run-off from a roof structure, the gutter assembly including one or more elongate gutter members, at least one mounting bracket for pivotably mounting each gutter member at the roof structure such that each gutter member is movable between an in-use collecting and channelling position and a substantially inverted cleaning position, and at least one remotely operable actuator, wherein the remotely operable actuator is an electrically powered linear actuator having a body portion and a tube portion which is extendable from the body portion, the method including the following steps:
causing the remotely operable actuator to generate a pushing force by extending the tube portion from the body portion to pivot the gutter member about the mounting bracket from the in-use collecting and channelling position to the substantially inverted cleaning position;
maintaining the gutter member in the substantially inverted cleaning position for a predetermined period of time; and
causing the remotely operable actuator to generate a pulling force by retracting the tube portion to return the gutter member from the substantially inverted cleaning position to the in-use collecting and channelling position, and wherein the remotely operable actuator is positioned outside of or underneath the gutter member.
17. The method of claim 16, preceded by the step of programming the remotely operable actuator to cause the gutter member to move between the in-use collecting and channelling position and the cleaning position at predetermined intervals.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the remotely operable actuator is programmed to move the gutter members between the in-use collecting and channelling position and the cleaning position simultaneously or sequentially.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method comprising:
allowing a compressed gas to enter a cylinder device;
promoting heat exchange between the compressed gas and a liquid within the cylinder device;
causing movement of a moveable member by expansion of the compressed gas within the cylinder device;
generating power from movement of the moveable member;
allowing the expanded gas to leave the cylinder device;
separating the liquid from the expanded gas in a gas-liquid separator; and
flowing the expanded gas from the gas-liquid separator to a next expansion stage.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein promoting heat exchange comprises spraying a mist of the liquid.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein promoting heat exchange comprises bubbling the compressed gas through the liquid.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein valving allows the compressed gas to enter the cylinder device.
5. A method according to claim 4 further comprising controlling a valve timing to admit to the cylinder device a volume of compressed gas to achieve a desired expansion ratio.
6. A method according to claim 4 further comprising dynamically adjusting a valve timing.
7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the valve timing is dynamically adjusted as a compressed gas storage tank depletes.
8. A method according to claim 1 wherein valving allows the expanded gas to leave the cylinder device.
9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the moveable member is configured to be driven by a mechanical linkage to exhaust the expanded gas from the cylinder device.
10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the mechanical linkage is configured to convert reciprocating motion into shaft torque.
11. A method according to claim 10 wherein:
the moveable member comprises a reciprocating piston; and
the mechanical linkage comprises a crankshaft connected to the piston by a piston rod.
12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the piston is driven to exhaust expanded gas to the gas-liquid separator from momentum of the crankshaft andor from motion of an out-of-phase piston.
13. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:
causing the moveable member to move to compress gas within the cylinder device; and
introducing liquid to the compressed gas.
14. A method according to claim 13 further comprising allowing compressed gas to flow from the cylinder device for separation of liquid from the compressed gas.
15. A method according to claim 1 wherein electrical power is generated from a mechanical linkage with the moveable member.
16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the moveable member comprises a reciprocating piston, and the mechanical linkage converts reciprocating motion of the piston into shaft torque.
17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the mechanical linkage comprises a crankshaft coupled to the piston by a piston rod.
18. A method according to claim 1 wherein electrical power is generated from a hydraulic linkage with the moveable member.
19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the hydraulic linkage comprises a hydraulic motor.
20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the hydraulic motor is in physical communication with an electrical generator through a shaft.
21. A method according to claim 4 further comprising controlling the valving to allow compressed gas to enter the cylinder device and expand to drive an electrical generator in communication with the moveable member to supply electricity over a ramp up period, in response to a signal indicating ramp up of a generation asset.