Hydraulic and earth engineering – Fluid control – treatment – or containment – Flow control
Patent
1996-09-25
1999-04-06
Taylor, Dennis L.
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Fluid control, treatment, or containment
Flow control
249 10, 405118, 404 4, E02B 500
Patent
active
058908390
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for forming trenches and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for forming a trench employing a buoyant form body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Drainage and other trenches of various sizes and shapes are desirable for numerous applications. For example, manufacturing facilities typically require drainage systems which include trenches formed in the building floors to collect, remove and/or recycle excess water or other liquids. In addition, numerous outdoor industrial and commercial sites, such as parking lots, require drainage systems, including trenches, to collect and direct rainwater and other liquids to underground storm sewers to prevent flooding and to decrease runoff.
Furthermore, with increasing emphasis being placed on protecting the environment from ecological hazards, a number of relatively stringent environmental regulations have been adopted which restrict the types of materials which can be discharged into drainage systems. In particular, regulations have been enacted which limit the amount of oil and grease which may be discharged into drainage systems. Consequently, drainage systems, such as the drainage systems installed in gasoline stations, chemical transfer stations, oil storage areas and landfills, can include one or more oil water separators to separate solid debris, free oils and other non-soluble chemicals from the waste water.
In the past, the trenches, including oil water separators, which form these drainage systems have generally been formed by initially placing and securing a form of predetermined shape in a ditch which has previously been formed in the ground. A moldable trench forming composition, such as cement, concrete, or the like, is then poured around the form and is allowed to set. Once the concrete has set, the form is removed from the resulting trench.
One common type of form assembly used to define a trench includes a wooden frame and strut structure. The wooden form includes a wooden frame which is covered with wooden sheets or planks to define a generally rectangular elongate trough. The wooden form is generally enclosed along its side and bottom surfaces, but can have an open top. Typically, a number of supporting wooden ribs are installed within the wooden form to increase the strength of the form so that it can withstand the relatively large pressures exerted by moldable trench forming compositions poured about the form.
During installation, the wooden form is placed and secured within a preformed ditch. Concrete is initially poured in lower portions of the preformed ditch up to the bottom surface of the form. Once this initial pour of concrete has set, additional concrete is then poured between the earthen walls of the ditch and the wooden side surfaces of the form. Once this additional concrete has set, the wooden form is disassembled and removed from the trench.
It is normally desirable to finish the trench with an elongate grate covering its open top in order to prevent people from unwittingly stepping in the open trench, to provide a smooth surface for vehicle travel, and/or to prevent relatively large objects from entering the trench and potentially blocking the flow of liquid therethrough. The grate is generally supported by a pair of spaced apart frame members which are set into and extend from the walls of the concrete trench. In order to stabilize the grate and to prevent the grate from rocking when weight, such as from a passing vehicle, is applied thereto, it is important that the frame members are aligned in a common plane during the pouring and setting of the concrete about the wooden form.
Wooden forms are generally formed of lumber having a relatively rough exterior texture. Correspondingly, the inside surface of the resulting trench formed by the wooden form is relatively uneven, thereby reducing the efficiency with which liquid flows through the trench. In addition, the assembly and disassembly of the wooden forms is both costly and labor intensive.
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ABT, Inc.
Taylor Dennis L.
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