AU2006225165A1 - Foundation Void Tanks - Google Patents

Description

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INO

INO

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT FOUNDATION VOID TANKS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 23 CCT i~cZ SFOUNDATION VOID TANKS O This invention relates to the need in modern societies to collect and store water in on site tanks in urban and suburban buildings.

Presently, in most developed nations suburban dwellings are built on concrete slabs. To avoid excessive use of concrete, voids are created in the concrete by the use of foam, S cardboard, plastic or other means of excluding the concrete during pouring. Such foundation concrete slabs are commonly referred to as 'waffle raft' slabs. In NSW in o Australia for instance, the allowable voids formed in such concrete slab foundation slabs for an class site are governed by Australian Standards AS2870, and the voids formed are of a tabular rectangular shape 1090mm square by 225mm high, which excludes 267 litres of concrete per void.

This invention proposes that such void formers will be made in the form of tanks formed from an appropriate plastic or other material which are linked together by suitable cylindrical leak-proof conduits, to form when linked together, in the house dwelling or other building foundations, tanks which can contain rainwater or other fluids for house hold or industrial needs such as gardening, bathing, toilet flushing, washing, drinking o!0 water, heating or heat storage or any other requirements.

In its simplest form, this invention resides in a plurality of small tabular tanks or fluid secure containers formed from a plastic such as polyethylene or other material, and a mechanism for making contiguous conduit leak proof fluid connections between them to form a single larger tank which is both able to be filled and emptied at some predetermined point. Such tanks must be constructed so as to form a mould, and be able to withstand the stresses contractions and expansions of having concrete or other similar material poured and spread upon them, and solidify, to form a building foundation, wall or roof.

In one preferred form, the said tanks, are of a rectangular tabular form made from plastic so that at least the upper and side surfaces have outwardly concave reinforcing groves formed in the outer surfaces of sufficient depth to support the weight of liquid concrete upon them as well as the weight of concrete workers walking on them. Other inner chamber supports such as posts may be included where a larger than usual load may be placed on the formers during the concrete pouring process. These tabular containers have cylindrical holes either formed or drilled into their four lateral sides at upper and lower positions. Pairs of concentric tubular cylindrical collared tubes are formed to fit precisely into the holes in the said tanks and can be sealed to the tanks by the application of an appropriate adhesive or mechanical clamp and sealing ring method for making contiguous conduit leak proof fluid connections between them.

These pairs of concentric collared tubes are themselves joined by a durable flexible plastic material such as a silicon polymer as shown in figure 3 and figure 7.

In a second preferred form the said tanks, are of a rectangular tabular form made from plastic so that at least the upper and side surfaces have outwardly concave reinforcing groves formed in the outer surfaces of sufficient depth to support the weight of liquid 0 concrete upon them as well as the weight of concrete workers walking on them. Either attachment processes for clipping on rails or raised rails are formed on the upper o surface of the tanks to support steel reinforcement within the concrete. These tabular c containers have cylindrical holes either formed or drilled into their four lateral sides at upper and lower positions so that they can be connected to form a rectangular array.

S This said rectangular array could then be used by matrix logic to locate any tank that is ruptured or by other means has lost its integrity and its ability to hold a fluid. Pairs of concentric tubular cylindrical collared tubes are formed to fit precisely into the holes in N the said tanks and can be sealed to the tanks by the application of an appropriate N adhesive or mechanical clamp and sealing ring method for making contiguous conduit 0 leak proof fluid connections between them. These pairs of concentric collared tubes are 0 themselves joined by a durable flexible plastic material such as a silicon polymer as o- 0 shown in figure 3 and figure 7.

In one preferred joining method, the joining tube is molded on one side of the tank and the hole to precisely fit that tube on the other side of the tank. This hole can be a molded threaded collar to allow a mechanical screwed method of clamping for making a contiguous conduit leak proof fluid connection between them, or by application of an appropriate adhesive. The tube side can also have a threaded collar, with the correct dimensions to allow for the tube section to be removed (cut off) and a separate conduit be installed by the same method as the other side as shown in figure 7. The tube length is such that when one tank is placed adjacent to the next tank, the tanks are !0 located correctly to produce the correct size rib between them (approx. 100mm) as required for the concrete structure. These molded tubes are at the correct height and shaped so as to also be used to support the steel reinforcing within the rib off the ground.

Further, plastic tubes inflated for the purpose of forming voids in the liquid concrete may form voids. Such inflatable devices will be joined together by a modified form of the same type of concentric tubular cylindrical tubes as shown in figure 4, or by some other means.

Further still, this plurality of small tabular tanks or fluid secure containers formed from a plastic such as polyethylene or other material, and a mechanism for making contiguous conduit leak proof fluid connections between them to form a single larger tank which is both able to be filled and emptied at some predetermined point. Such tanks must be constructed so as to form a mould, and be able to withstand the stresses contractions and expansions of having concrete or other similar material poured and spread upon them, and solidify, to form a building foundation, wall or roof. These tanks may also be installed inside walls or under existing timber floors or in polystyrene or other sandwich wall systems.

Further still, this plurality of small tabular tanks or fluid secure containers formed from a k ,3 0 plastic such as polyethylene or other material, and a mechanism for making contiguous CI conduit leak proof fluid connections between them to form a single larger tank which is both able to be filled and emptied at some predetermined point. Such tanks constructed O so as to form a mould, and be able to withstand the stresses contractions and expansions of having concrete or other similar material poured and spread upon them, and solidify, to form a building foundation, wall or roof. This array of small tabular tanks may be connected to form a single larger tank, or the array can be subdivided to form two or more separate tanks for different purposes such as hot-water systems or storing solar heated water.

0 Ni Further still, this plurality of small tanks or fluid secure containers formed from a plastic N-i such as polyethylene or other material, may be cylindrical or any other shape providing the tank so formed can bear the weight of the setting concrete and the weight of concrete workers spreading the material when liquid. A mechanism for making contiguous conduit leak proof fluid connections between them to form a single larger tank, which is both, able to be filled and emptied at some predetermined point must also be included. Such tanks constructed so as to form a mould, and be able to withstand the stresses contractions and expansions of having concrete or other similar material poured and spread upon them, and solidify, to form a building foundation, wall or roof.

0 This array of small tanks may be connected to form a single larger tank, or the array can be subdivided to form two or more separate tanks for different purposes such as hot-water systems or storing solar heated water.

Further still, this plurality of small tanks or fluid secure containers formed from a plastic such as polyethylene or other material, may be cylindrical or any other shape providing the tank so formed can bear the weight of the setting concrete and the weight of concrete workers spreading the material when liquid. Each tank can have hollow cylindrical nozzles formed into at least one upper and one lower position or such nozzles may be screwed into the tanks with a sealant. A mechanism for making contiguous conduit leak proof fluid connections between the tanks to form a single larger tank which is both able to be filled and emptied at some predetermined point, may then simply consist of a flexible but durable plastic tube joined between the said nozzles by a sealant as shown in figure 6.

125 The attached drawings are described as following.

Figure 1. This figure shows part of the array of tanks that might be used to form the voids necessary for a concrete "waffle raft slab".

130 Figure 2. This drawing shows a tank formed with structural supporting grooves, it also shows the position of the holes used to connect the tanks.

Figure 3. This shows a section through one type of connecting device.

0 Figure 4. This figure shows two types of reinforcement support rails and the attaching c holes.

0 Figure 5. This drawing shows a partial array of connected tanks made from inflatable tanks, inflated and ready to receive the concrete pour.

0 S Figure 6. This shows a cross-section of a nozzle method for connecting tanks.

S Figure 7. This shows the preferred molded tube form and clamp method.

IND

C 5 Figure 8. Shows a typical slab layout plan and section through the slab showing the foundation void tanks.

;0 160 165

Claims (9)

1. An array or collection of small tanks made from plastic or other material capable c, of retaining fluids such as water and air at ambient pressure and temperature which can be joined by some form of attachable flexible conduit to form one or more larger capacity tanks. Such small tanks to be constructed of sufficient strength to be able to bear the weight of poured concrete and men working on o the pour, so as to form voids in the concrete once it has set. This arrangement of 3 voids is to form an array suitable under Australian Standard AS2870 or any other building standard to form a waffle raft slab for the flooring of a dwelling or other a building.

2. An array or collection of small tanks as described in claim 1 which are such that each tank has at least two entry points, but more generally will have four entry points each penetrating one of the four lateral sides can be connected to the said joining conduit to facilitate filling and emptying of the contained fluids. The joins to be made prior to the concrete pour. '0

3. An array of small tanks as described in claims I and 2 and constructed in such a way and of such dimensions that the small tanks may be located in any appropriate positions in walls roofs or under floors of any building of any construction, such that these tanks may be joined by the said conduits to form at least one larger tank.

4. Small tanks as described in claim 1 that have concave outwards grooves on at the upper and side surfaces to increase the load bearing strength of the tanks when they are used to form voids in poured concrete. zoo Small tanks as described in claims 1 and 4 that have ribs, small holes or raised pins to attach plastic rails to support, act as 'chairs', to support steel reinforcement rods or mesh that will raise the steel sufficiently high enough to allow concrete to pass between the reinforcing and remainder of the tank. 205

6. Small tanks as described in claims 1, 4 and 5 whereby the conduits joining the tanks can and may be used to both locate and hold the tanks in position, plus support the steel reinforcing running between the ribs created by the tanks. This can may take place of tradition spacers, used for these purposes, but can also 210 be used in conjunction withy traditional spacers.

7. Small tanks as described in claims 1, 4 and 5 which have holes formed or drilled on at least two of the lateral sides and into which concentric sleeved cylinders which are joined at flanges formed on the concentric cylinders and joined by an appropriate Silicon polymer. These joining devices are to be retained into the N tanks by an appropriate adhesive. 0 8. Small tanks as described in claims 1, 4 and 5 whereby the conduits joining the Stanks as described in claim 7 can be used to both locate and hold the tanks in o position, plus support the steel reinforcing running between the ribs created by the tanks. This can take place of tradition spacers, used for these purposes, or can also be used in conjunction with traditional spacers. (N 9. Small tanks as described in claims 1, 4 and 5 that have molded lugs on the side of the tanks to both locate and hold the tanks in place and/or support the steel IN reinforcing running in the ribs between the tanks. Small tanks as described in claims 1,4 and 5 which open nozzles, formed into at least one of the lateral sides over which flexible plastic tubes can be fitted with a i0 sealant and retained with a circular stainless steel or plastic clip or clamp.

11. Small tanks as described in claim 1 which are internally strengthened by being filled with a large connected cellular plastic material.

12. Small tanks as described in claim 1 of differing sizes that will give the most optimal cost effective engineering qualities to the finished concrete foundation. Commonly known as lx, 2x1, 2x2, 3x1 waffle slab design as shown in Figure 8. Tanks can be molded in 1 unit (eg 2x2) of various sizes or similar sizes joined together to make up the units of varying sizes. t0

13. These tanks can be filled and emptied at some predetermined point have their fill and exit points optimally located for access. Using similar techniques, pumps and filters that are used in current rainwater tank environments. 245 14. These tanks have valves such that if one tank was to malfunction or leak, it can be isolated from the rest of the array. It can be filled by puncturing the tank through the slab or from underneath to render the tank obsolete. These said tanks of claim 1 will have four entry points where they can be 250 connected by conduits so that they can be made to form a rectangular array. In such a form any leaking tank or conduit can be located by matrix logic using compressed air or other compressed fluid even when the tanks are hidden under concrete. Once located a hole can be drilled into the tank or conduit so that it can be pumped full of cement or plastic and be so isolated and put out of service 255 without effecting the other tanks. This can be done at any time during the life of the slab.