Drainage channel

Details Drainage channel Drainage channel

2002-07-08

2003-12-16

Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)

Hydraulic and earth engineering

Drainage or irrigation

Porous or apertured pipe, flume, or tileway

C404S003000, C052S011000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06663317

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to drainage channels and, more particularly, to drainage channels that include a preformed conduit for collecting and transporting water or other fluids.
Drainage channels of various sizes and shapes are desirable for numerous applications. For example, roadways, parking lots, airport runways, swimming pools and other paved and tiled surfaces typically require drainage systems which include drainage channels to collect and direct rainwater and other fluids to underwater storm sewers or the like, thereby preventing pooling upon the paved surface and decreasing runoff. Drainage channels may also be utilized in conjunction with various athletic surfaces such as polymeric running tracks or soccer fields formed of artificial turf or the like. In these instances, the drainage channels again collect rainwater and other fluids to reduce pooling and to minimize runoff. Some manufacturing facilities may also require drainage systems which include drainage channels formed in the building floors to collect, remove and/or recycle excess water or other liquids.
One conventional type of drainage channel includes a number of precast drainage channel sections. These precast drainage channel sections are positioned in a ditch or trench that has been-previously formed in the ground. In order to properly align the drainage channel sections, supports, such as brick pavers, are generally positioned at predetermined locations within the ditch. The brick pavers are typically spaced apart by a distance equal to the length of the drainage channel sections such that each brick paver may support the mated ends of a pair of drainage channel sections. In order to secure the brick pavers in position within the ditch, a subslab or footer of concrete or the like is generally poured about the brick pavers. Thereafter, the drainage channel sections are positioned upon the brick pavers. A hardenable composition, such as cement, concrete or the like, is then poured around the drainage channel sections and is allowed to set.
Once the hardenable composition has set, an elongate grate covering is generally placed across the otherwise open top of the drainage channel in order to prevent people from unwittingly stepping into the open trench, to provide a relatively smooth surface for vehicular traffic and/or to prevent relatively large objects from entering the trench and potentially blocking the flow of fluid therethrough. The grate is generally supported by a support surface defined longitudinally along an inner portion of each opposed sidewall of the drainage channel sections. Thus, the grate and the drainage channel generally have approximately the same width, such as four inches, five inches or six inches in many instances.
While a precast drainage channel having a relatively wide grate is advantageous for many applications, including those potentially requiring a large intake, some applications may require a drainage system that has a much smaller inlet in order to be less noticeable and/or to minimize the disruption of the surrounding surface. For example, drainage systems are commonly utilized to remove rainwater and the like from various types of athletic playing surfaces. In order to minimize the disruption of the athletic playing surface and to reduce, if not eliminate, any potential trip hazard, the inlet to the drainage channel is preferably quite small and typically has a width much smaller than that of the drainage channel itself. Moreover, some applications require that the drainage system be less expensive than conventional drainage systems that have a number of precast drainage channel sections.
In these applications, the drainage system generally includes a pipe or other conduit that is buried within the ground. The drainage system also includes an upstanding inlet mounted to the conduit and having an upper surface that is exposed so as to receive rainwater or other fluids. The inlet is in fluid communication with the conduit. In this regard, the conduit generally defines a lengthwise extending slit or opening with the inlet being seated within the opening. The inlet defines a number of passageways that open into the conduit. As such, rainwater and other fluids can pass through the passageways defined by the inlet and be collected within the conduit for transport to an underwater storm sewer or the like. Once installed, the drainage system may be buried such that only the upper surface of the inlet is exposed for receiving rainwater or other liquid runoff.
The inlet generally has a much smaller width than the conduit and, in some instances, may have a width of about two inches with passageways having widths of about a half inch. In contrast, the conduit may have a diameter of about four inches, five inches or more, depending upon the desired capacity of the conduit. While the reduced size of the inlet relative to the much wider grates that span precast drainage channels does limit the maximum rate at which the inlet can accept rainwater or other fluids, many applications do not require the drainage system to accept large quantities of liquid at any one time and are therefore more than satisfied by the capacity of drainage systems having smaller inlets.
Notwithstanding the advantages offered by drainage systems having smaller inlets including the reduced visibility of the drainage system and the reduced disruption in the surrounding surface created by the drainage system, conventional drainage systems having relatively small inlets still suffer from several disadvantages. For example, relatively large forces are sometimes placed upon the exposed upper surface of the inlet by passing vehicles or the like. As the magnitude of these downwardly directed forces increases, the inlet may actually be driven downwardly into the conduit, thereby necessitating relatively expensive and time consuming repairs.
At least partially in an attempt to reduce the likelihood that the inlet will be driven downwardly into the conduit, the inlet may be designed to have features that engage the concrete or other hardenable composition that is poured thereabout. As described by U.S. Pat. No. 4,365,911 to Shelton R. Rossberg, for example, the inlet may include a number of lengthwise extending, outwardly projecting ribs. Alternatively, the inlet may include a lengthwise extending, inwardly projecting groove or keyway to receive the concrete or other hardenable composition poured about the drainage channel. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,876,322 to Max W. Denson. In order to create an inwardly projecting groove of this type, material must generally either be removed from the sidewalls of the inlet to define the groove or the inwardly projecting groove must project further into the passageways defined by the inlet than would otherwise have been required in the absence of the groove. In instances in which material is effectively removed from the walls of the inlet, the overall strength and integrity of the inlet is somewhat compromised or reduced. Alternatively, in instances in which the inwardly extending groove projects into the passageways defined by the inlet, the passageways are somewhat restricted, thereby limiting the flow of fluid therethrough. As such, it would be desirable for an inlet to be engaged by the concrete or other hardenable composition that is poured thereabout in a manner that does not compromise the integrity or strength of the inlet and that does not block the passageways defined by the inlet through which fluid passes.
As with all drainage channels formed of a plurality of drainage channel sections, the drainage channel sections must be properly aligned in order to transport the fluid in the desired manner. As such, the adjoining end portions of adjacent drainage channel sections must be properly aligned with one another. The difficulties in properly aligning the drainage channel sections is further exacerbated in instances in which the conduit is cylindrical since the conduit may also rotate about its longitudinal axis. Since the inlets that are se

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Drainage channel does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Drainage channel, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Drainage channel will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3136087