DRAINAGE BODY SURFACE UNIT HAVING REINFORCED SIDE WALL

Description

This application claims priority to and any other benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/672,322 filed Jul. 17, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a drainage body surface unit for draining water, and more particularly, the present disclosure relates to side walls of a hollow, columned drainage body surface unit that is sufficiently stable when dimensioned, the side walls being reinforced.

BACKGROUND

Drainage or trench systems consisting of drainage body surface units are used to dewater surfaces, wherein the flowing-off water passes through the surface of the drainage body surface unit into the drainage system and is removed from there, for example, into a sewage plant or other water treatment facility.

For this purpose, drainage systems comprise a plurality of drainage body surface units, the boundary walls of each drainage body surface unit being water-permeable. The stability of the drainage systems is determined by the boundary walls of the drainage body surface unit as well as the structure of columns or pylons arranged within the drainage body surface unit. In practice, drainage body surface units may be stacked one on top of another to achieve sufficient drainage depth, and also imparting vertical forces on other drainage body surface units. Moreover, earth surrounding the drainage system imparts transverse forces on the drainage body surface units. It is important for the drainage body surface units to have sufficient stability to prevent the caving in of the drainage body surface unit and therefore failure of the drainage system.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, disclosed is a drainage body surface unit of a drainage system, the drainage body surface unit includes an upper base, a lower base, a plurality of columns, wherein the plurality of columns extend between the upper base and the lower base, and wherein each of the plurality of columns includes an upper drain element and a lower drain element, and a side wall or plurality of side wall, such that each of the side wall is reinforced with a reinforcing support.

In an example of aspect 1, the reinforcing support is embedded within the side wall.

In another example of aspect 1, the reinforcing support is comprised of rebar or other elastomeric support material.

In another example of aspect 1, the reinforcing support is mounted externally on the side wall.

In another example of aspect 1, the reinforcing support is mounted on the side wall with a fastener.

In another example of aspect 1, the reinforcing support is comprised of rebar or other elastomeric support material.

In another example of aspect 1, the reinforcing support extends to an adjacent drain trench body.

In another example of aspect 1, the side wall extends between the upper base and the lower base.

In another example of aspect 1, the side wall is flush with the upper base and the lower base.

In another example of aspect 1, an inner surface of each of the plurality of columns comprises a corrugated shape.

In another example of aspect 1, the drain trench body is arranged in a drainage system with another or second drainage body surface unit.

In another example of aspect 1, the drainage body surface unit is arranged stacked on another or second drainage body surface unit.

In another example of aspect 1, the upper base and the lower base each have a plurality of holes extending in a direction perpendicular to a base plane.

In another example of aspect 1, the side wall has a plurality of holes extending in a direction perpendicular to a length of the side wall.

In another example of aspect 1, the side wall is located in an interior of the drainage body surface unit.

In a second aspect, disclosed is a drainage body surface unit of a drainage system, the drainage body surface unit includes an upper base, a lower base, a column having drain elements and extending between the upper base and the lower base, the column having an outer surface, and a side wall positioned away from the outer surface of the column, the side wall includes a reinforcing support, the reinforcing support positioned in the side wall.

In an example of aspect 2, the reinforcing support positioned in a notch of the side wall such that the reinforcing support in internal or flush with an outer perimeter surface of the side wall.

In another example of aspect 2, the side wall further comprises a cross member attached to an outer surface, the cross member overlying the reinforcing support.

In another example of aspect 2, the reinforcing support being a metal rod or rebar material.

In another example of aspect 2, the reinforcing support being an elastic elastomeric material.

The above aspects (or examples of those aspects) may be provided alone or in combination with any one or more of the examples of that aspect or another aspect discussed above; e.g., the first aspect may be provided alone or in combination with any one or more of the examples of the first aspect, second aspect, third aspect or other aspects discussed above.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the embodiments as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a single drainage body surface unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. An end side wall of the drainage body surface unit is tilted away from the upper base to reveal internal columns, upper drain elements and lower drain elements housed by the plurality of side walls that enclose the internal area between the upper base and lower base of the drainage body surface unit.

FIG. 2a shows a perspective view of a plurality of upper drain elements extending from upper base as partially seen in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2b shows a perspective view of a plurality of lower drain elements extending from a lower base as partially seen in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a partial schematic cross section of the drainage body surface unit as seen in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a side wall from the drainage body surface unit of FIG. 1. A plurality of reinforcing supports are shown as being added to a surface of the side wall. The reinforcing supports are spaced apart along the width of the side wall and extend at least the entire length of the side wall to provide support to the drainage body surface unit side face positioned between the upper and lower bases.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an inner side of a side wall from the drainage body surface unit of FIG. 1. The inner side surface of the side wall faces the interior area that contains columns, upper drain elements and lower drain elements housed by the plurality of side walls of the drainage body surface unit.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a side wall for a drainage body surface unit similar to that shown in FIG. 1. The side wall contains one or more reinforcing supports arranged in the side wall structure to provide support to the drainage body surface unit side face positioned between the upper and lower bases.

FIG. 7 shows an example drainage body surface unit having a load force applied to the side wall. The load force is applied in a direction that is perpendicular to the height of a side wall and to the vertical stacking direction of the columns.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The terminology as set forth herein is for description of the embodiments only and should not be construed as limiting the invention as a whole.

Herein, when a range such as 5-25 (or 5 to 25) is given, this means preferably at least or more than 5 and, separately and independently, preferably not more or less than 25. In an example, such a range defines independently 5 or more, and separately and independently, 25 or less.

When a number of drainage body surface units are stacked on top of one another, and/or there is movement in the surrounding earth due to, for example, a heavy downpour, earthquakes, or construction, the drain bodies may be damaged or collapse due to high stresses. Movement of earth, stones or other structure surrounding a drain body can apply lateral forces to the surfaces of the bodies and cause walls of the drain body to flex and crack thereby compromising operation performance and require costly repairs. It is important for the structural integrity of the entire drainage system that the side walls of the drainage body surface units are strong, durable, and firmly connected to the base plates.

Considering the above, the present invention focuses on the side walls of a drainage body surface unit, the side walls being reinforced with, for example, rebar or other elastomeric support, the drainage body surface unit having a robust and stable design that reduces stress during operation without sacrificing desirable shape, size or water displacement volume. The reinforcement of side walls can be achieved without changing or significantly altering the dimensions of a drainage body surface unit. As such, the reinforcement can be applied to current body designs without rearrangement of drainage systems.

The invention further has the advantage that the stability of the entire drainage body surface unit is improved by the reinforced side wall such that forces acting on the reinforced side wall and/or the drainage body surface unit have a reduced stress value on the entire drainage body surface unit and therefore the entire drainage system. The reinforcements can be applied to one or more side walls of a drainage body surface unit or a system or plurality of drainage body surface units arranged together.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a drainage body surface unit 100, that can be one unit of a drainage system of multiple similar drainage body surface units, includes an upper base 101 positioned on top of the unit and providing a top surface. As shown, a plurality of columns 102 is arranged in the interior portion of the drainage body surface unit 100. Enclosing the interior portion of unit 100 are a plurality of side walls 103 that define the four side surfaces of the rectangular unit. Providing the bottom surface of the unit 100 is a lower base 104. The drainage body surface unit 100 is known to the applicant under the trademark Stormbrixx. Other drainage body surface unit elements may be used in place of the illustrated unit. Submerged or buried drainage units may encounter damaging forces on one or more surfaces and the reinforcement of side walls as disclosed in the present invention can provide an improved design for providing increased resistance to damage.

The plurality of columns 102 positioned in the interior of the unit includes and is formed by at least one upper drain element 102a extending from upper base 101 and at least one lower drain element 102b extending from lower base 104. The plurality of columns 102, which also can be called pylons, are shown as being designed conically, however, the plurality of columns 102, and thus the upper and lower drain elements 102a, 102b may be designed to any suitable shape. As illustrated, a frustoconical design can be used. Each of the plurality of columns 102 is hollow and defines an open central area 102c therein. The ends of the upper and lower drain elements are connected to form a continuous open central area extending through the height of drainage body surface unit 100.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, walls of the plurality of columns 102 may be optionally corrugated along the diameter and length of the column as the column 102 extends from the upper base 101 towards the bottom base 104 or extends from the bottom base 104 towards the upper base 101. The corrugated walls have a plurality of peaks and alternating troughs between each peak that are spaced apart over the diameter of the column. The peaks point inward towards the central area 102c of the column 102 and have an innermost surface at each peak crest positioned nearest a column center. The peaks may have a rounded shape, the same as or similar to the alternating troughs. The troughs point outward towards the exterior of the column 102 and have an outermost surface at each trough bottom. Both the peaks and troughs of the column wall form the inner surface of the wall facing the central area 102c.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the upper base 101 binds together a plurality of upper drain elements 102a while the lower base 104 binds together a plurality of lower drain elements 102b. The drain elements 102a, 102b may be fastened to the bases 101, 104, respectively, via fasteners, friction, or both.

The upper base 101 and lower base 104 are each designed to be permeable to water. For this purpose, a plurality of small holes 101a, 104a are provided through each base 101, 104, respectively. The holes 101a, 104a run perpendicularly relative to a plane of each base 101, 104. A plurality of ribs extend in between the plurality of holes 101a, 104a. The upper base 101 and the bottom base 104 respectively form the base elements of the drain trench body 100. In the desired state, i.e., in the buried state, a water permeable film, for example a non-woven fabric, is wrapped around the drainage body surface unit 100 to protect the drainage body surface unit 100 from penetrating soil.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the upper drain element 102a and the lower drain element 102b can each be stacked on each other in a mirror image relationship such that the bottom ends of each of the drain elements 102a, 102b are detachably joined and aligned, for example, with a spacer element 102d. When the two hollow drain elements 102a, 102b are stacked, the bottom ends of each of the drain elements 102a, 102b, each having an opening, join to form a continuous hollow opening forming the central area 102c therein.

The upper base 101 is arranged on an upper end of the at least one upper drain element 102a relative to the laid state of a drainage system. Each of the plurality of columns 102 extends perpendicularly relative to the base plates 101, 104 and is hollow in order to form the central area 102c therein. Collected drainage water may flow within the central area 102c. The central area 102c is defined by an inner surface of each of the plurality of columns 102. The inner surface of each of the plurality of columns 102 faces the central area 102c of each of the plurality of columns while an outer surface of each of the plurality of columns faces outward and away from the central area 102c.

The upper base 101 and the lower base 104 may optionally be provided with at least one sensor. For example, the upper base 101 may be provided with a sensor 101b and the lower base 104 may be provided with a sensor 104b. The sensors 101b, 104b may be any of a temperature sensor, salinity sensor, moisture sensor, or other sensor.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the external sides of the drainage body surface unit 100 are bounded in the area of the drainage body surface unit 100 by a plurality of grid-shaped side walls 103. The grid shape can be a lattice work of various openings having a variety of dimensions. The plurality of side walls 103 surround the plurality of columns 102 and extend between the upper base 101 and the bottom base 104 while being substantially parallel to the plurality of columns 102. The side walls provide a barrier of protection between the surrounding environment, for example, ground dirt and structure and the interior portion of the unit containing the plurality of columns. As illustrated in FIG. 3, each of the plurality of side walls 103 may sit flush with a base 101, 104 of the drainage body surface unit 100. Alternatively, or in addition to, a side wall may be used as an internal wall within the drainage body surface unit 100 to provide further support. The side walls can extend the entire height of unit 100 or be split into multiple side walls or sections thereof connected together.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the side wall 103 includes a plurality of holes or open slots 103a, which can have openings oriented perpendicular to the length of the side wall 103. A plurality of ribs extend in between the plurality of holes 103a and form a frame matrix. Thus, the side wall 103 is designed to be water permeable similarly to the bases 101, 104. When a drainage body surface unit 100 is within a larger drainage system, a side wall 103 of one drainage body surface unit 100 may be formed by a side wall 103 of an adjacent drainage body surface unit 100. Thus, a direct fluid connection between multiple drainage body surface units 100 is formed. Alternative matrix designs and arrangements can be used in any given side wall.

Any or all of the plurality of side walls 103 may be reinforced by at least one reinforcing support 105 that includes, for example, rods, slats, mesh, rebar or another structural component. The reinforcing support 105 can be made of any suitable material, for instance, metal, alloys, fibers, plastic, elastomers, carbon fiber and the like. The reinforcing support 105 can have any suitable shape or dimensions (width, length, thickness), for example, a circular rod, a rectangular bar, a wire, and the like.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the side wall 103 is reinforced by a plurality of three reinforcing supports 105. As shown, the reinforcing supports 105 are mounted to a surface of the side wall 103. The reinforcing supports can be secured directly to either or both face surfaces of the side wall 103. For example, an inner surface of the side wall faces the interior of the unit 100, and outer surface faces opposite the inner surface and away from the interior of the unit containing columns.

Reinforcing supports can be mounted or attached to the external surface (inner surface, outer surface, or internal surface) by integrally formed slots or grooves, separate clips, or other fasteners secured directly to a portion of the side wall matrix structure. For purposes of the invention, the inner surface of the side wall is the surface facing the columns of the drainage body surface unit, the outer surface of the side wall is opposite the inner surface and faces the surrounding environment of the drainage body surface unit (e.g., ground material), and the internal surface is defined as any area or portion between the inner surface and the outer surface of the side wall.

The reinforcing supports 105 may extend at least part of a length of the side wall 103, for instance, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90 percent of the length of the side wall. In one or more embodiments, the reinforcing supports can extend the entire or substantially the entire vertical height of the side wall to provide reinforcement strength to the complete column height in the drainage body surface unit. The reinforcing supports 105 may be located at any location along a width of the side wall 103, however, the reinforcing supports 105 are ideally arranged with equal spacing therebetween along the width of the side wall. In the case where there is a single reinforcing support 105, the reinforcing support 105 is preferably located in or near the center of the width of the side wall 103 to provide structural integrity.

In one or more embodiments, the reinforcing supports 105 may extend beyond the length of the side wall 103 to a vertically adjacent drainage body surface unit 100 to provide said adjacent drainage body surface unit 100 with reinforcement. Thus, a reinforcing support 105 may be used to reinforce a plurality of drainage body surface units 100 or an adjacent drainage body surface unit. Alternatively, or in addition to, the reinforcing supports 105 may run perpendicular to the length of the side wall 103 and extend to a horizontally adjacent drainage body surface unit 100, thus providing an adjacent or plurality of drainage body surface units 100 with reinforcement.

Alternatively, or in addition to the side walls 103 having reinforcing supports 105 positioned on an inner surface, outer surface or combination thereof, the side walls 103 may be internally reinforced by an embedded support 106 in an internal surface of the side wall, for example, with a metal rod, rebar or another elastomeric support material. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the side wall 103 includes a plurality of embedded supports 106. The embedded supports 106 include, for example, rebar or another elastomeric material. The embedded supports 106 may run along the length of the side wall 103, along the width, and along the perimeter of the side wall. FIG. 6 shows another arrangement of reinforcing supports 105 that are positioned along an internal surface of the side wall 103 in a notch or groove 107 formed in a surface of the side wall to accommodate the shape and dimensions of the reinforcing support such that it is nested in the side wall and does not extend beyond an outer perimeter wall surface of the side wall. As shown, and in other embodiments, a cross member 108 can be optionally mounted or attached to an external surface of the side wall to assist in retaining the reinforcing supports 105 in position on or in the side walls 103.

EXAMPLES

The following examples illustrate specific and exemplary embodiments and/or features of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The examples are provided solely for the purposes of illustration and should not be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. Numerous variations over these specific examples are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the presently disclosed embodiments.

Four separate tests were carried out to measure the failure rate of three different designs of side walls of drainage body surface units. The test machine is an ACO Mentor Form+Test Prüfsysteme test stand. The test protocol includes performing a load test using ACO in house load testing equipment. A load 109 was applied directly to the central area of a side wall 103 of the drainage body surface unit 100 as shown in FIG. 7 until the test stand detected failure. An adapter was used to concentrate the load onto a center portion of a side wall. The force at failure and displacement results were compared between the three designs and four tests. A drainage body surface unit was assembled as illustrated in FIG. 1 and used in the four tests except for the change in reinforcement of the side walls. In each test, a downward force was applied to the side wall 103 as it center area and the last test, Test 4, used additional components to distribute the force along the surface of the reinforced side wall.

As a baseline, Configuration A of a drainage body surface unit, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, was used. Configuration A is similar to the drainage body surface unit disclosed except that Configuration A excluded the use of any reinforcing support, external or internal.

Configuration B of a drainage body surface unit is similar to the drainage body surface unit of Configuration A, however Configuration B is modified to accept three reinforcing supports 105, i.e., #4 rebar, vertically arranged in side wall.

Configuration C of a drainage body surface unit, as shown FIGS. 1-5, included a side wall 103 modified to accept reinforcing supports and having three reinforcing supports 105, i.e., three pieces of #4 rebar arranged vertically along the width of the side wall 103.

Table 1 below includes the results of an application of a stress load perpendicular to the height of side wall or vertical arrangement of the columns of the drainage body surface units.

The test machine used defined failure as a point when the deflection in the side wall due to increasing load increases substantially. Without the stiffening characteristics of the additional rebar used as a reinforcing support in the side walls, the system was able to deflect and then return more or less to its initial state.

As seen in Table 1, Test 1 automatically stopped as the machine detected a failure in the unreinforced side wall of the drainage body surface unit. The drainage body surface unit of Test 1 had two broken ribs on the side wall and no visible damage to the main body and columns.

Test 2 automatically stopped as the machine detected a failure. The drainage body surface unit of Test 2, Configuration B had damage to the side wall and damage to the columns on the main body.

Test 3 manually forced the drainage body surface unit of Configuration A to a predetermined placement. Two ribs were broken on the side wall and there was no visible damage to the main body.

Test 4 utilized Configuration C with rebar and two grates were placed on the side wall to better distribute the load applied at the center of the side along all three pieces of rebar extending the entire length of the side wall. Two grates were placed between the load plate and the Stormbrixx to ensure that all three pieces of rebar were being loaded with the test load. Similarly to Test 2, the main body columns failed, and the side walls experienced cracking ribs.

In conclusion, the side wall, when tested to failure in Test 1, and then to the same displacement in Test 2, suffered minimal damage. The main body had no visible damage during Tests 1 and 3. The rebar reinforced side wall when tested to failure in Test 2 and Test 4 suffered noticeable damage as did the main body. The rebar significantly increased the load to failure as defined by the test machine. The “failure” of the tests involving the rebar reinforced side plate was catastrophic for both the side plate and the main body. The failure of the test without the rebar was some broken ribs in the side wall with no damage to the main body.

As exhibited during testing, side walls reinforced with reinforcing supports can withstand greater loads before failing as compared to the same side wall without the reinforcing supports. Test 2 resulted in an increase of about 32% of load force to trigger failure of the side wall as compared to Test 1 using an unreinforced side wall. In addition, Test 4 resulted in an increase of about 133% of load force to trigger failure of the side wall as compared to Test 3 using an unreinforced side wall.

While various aspects and embodiments of the compositions and methods have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the claims.