AU2019203131A1

AU2019203131A1 - Above ground burial structure

Info

Publication number: AU2019203131A1
Application number: AU2019203131A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jeffrey Lawrence Brazel; Boyd Barr Dent
Original assignee: Rookwood General Cemeteries Reserve Land Manager
Current assignee: Rookwood General Cemeteries Reserve Land Manager
Priority date: 2018-05-15
Filing date: 2019-05-03
Publication date: 2019-12-05

Abstract

ABOVE GROUND BURIAL STRUCTURE An above ground burial structure (10) includes at least one module (13) that is stackable with at least one other like module (13), the module (13) being longitudinally elongated and including: a first longitudinally extending side wall (19) that is transversely generally upright; a longitudinally extending top wall (22) that extends transversely downward to an upper portion (27) of the first side wall (19) and is fixed to the first side wall (19); a first end wall (24) and a second end wall (25), the end walls being located at opposite longitudinal end portions of the module and being fixed to the first side wall (19) and the top wall (22); a second longitudinally extending side wall (20), the second longitudinally extending side wall (20) being spaced from the longitudinally extending first side wall (19) and being fixed to the end walls (24, 25), the second longitudinally extending side wall (20) including at least one panel (21a, 21b); and wherein the side walls (19, 20), end walls (24, 25) and top wall (22) at least partly surround a burial chamber (18), with the panel (21a, 21b) being movable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the chamber (18), with the panel (21a, 21b) being in the open position to provide for access to the chamber (18). 3A- 10 21a 21 a 21a 21 a 21a 21a --- ----------------- tt

Description

ABOVE GROUND BURIAL STRUCTURE

Field [0001] The present invention relates to above ground burial structures.

Background [0002] Current burial practices include issuing “perpetual” “forever” licences and then interring, in a soil layer below ground level. This means maximising the potential of each site is limited to the depth of the excavation. This situation can only be improved upon if the licence holder chooses to “lift and deepen”. This assumes the depth of the ground permits the practice. This may also entail consolidating remains.

[0003] Accordingly, current burial practices have the disadvantage of limiting the use of existing sites.

[0004] Where the abovementioned soil layer is a clay soil layer, current burial practices have the further disadvantage that decomposition is inhibited, particularly if the water table is close to the soil surface.

Object [0005] It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

Summary of Invention [0006] There is disclosed herein an above ground burial structure including at least one module that is stackable with at least one other like module, the module being longitudinally elongated and including:

a first longitudinally extending side wall that is transversely generally upright;

a longitudinally extending top wall that extends transversely downward to an upper portion of the first side wall and is fixed to the first side wall;

AH25(22606372_l):BJM

2019203131 03 May 2019 a first end wall and a second end wall, the end walls being located at opposite longitudinal end portions of the module and being fixed to the first side wall and the top wall;

a second longitudinally extending side wall, the second longitudinally extending side wall being spaced from the longitudinally extending first side wall and being fixed to the end walls, the second longitudinally extending side wall including at least one panel; and wherein the side walls, end walls and top wall at least partly surround a burial chamber, with the panel being movable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the chamber, with the panel being in the open position to provide for access to the chamber.

[0007] Preferably, each module has upper and lower faces, with the faces having projections and recesses that engage the next adjacent module.

[0008] Preferably, the panel is a first panel and the second longitudinally extending side wall includes a second panel, with each panel being movable between the open position and the closed position.

[0009] Preferably, the panels are removable.

[0010] Preferably, the second longitudinally extending side wall includes an opening closed by each panel.

[0011] There is further disclosed herein an above ground burial structure including a plurality of stacked modules, with adjacent modules co-operating to provide a burial chamber, and wherein each chamber includes a soil layer that is drained.

[0012] Preferably, each module provides a chamber portion, with the chamber portions of adjacent vertically stacked modules providing each chamber.

[0013] Preferably, the stacks are separated with a drain assembly located between the stacks.

Brief Description of Drawings [0014] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

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2019203131 03 May 2019 [0015] Figure 1 is a schematic front elevation of an above ground burial structure;

[0016] Figure 2 is a schematic top plan view of the structure of Figure 1;

[0017] Figure 3 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of the structure of Figure 1;

[0018] Figure 4 is a schematic front elevation of a module employed in forming the structure of

Figure 1;

[0019] Figure 5 is a schematic rear elevation of the module of Figure 4 longitudinally sectioned;

[0020] Figure 6 is a schematic sectioned end elevation of the module of Figure 4 transversely sectioned;

[0021] Figure 7 is a further schematic sectioned end elevation of the module of Figure 4;

[0022] Figure 8 is a schematic part plan view of the module of Figure 4; and [0023] Figure 9 is a schematic enlarged end elevation of portion of the module of Figure 4.

Description of Embodiments [0024] In the accompanying there is schematically depicted an above ground burial structure 10.

The structure 10 is supported on foundations 11 that are provided in a soil layer 12.

[0025] The structure 10 is formed of a plurality of modules 13, the modules 13 arranged in four stacks 14. In this embodiment each stack 14 includes three modules 13, with the stacks 14 arranged in two rows 15/16.

[0026] However it should be appreciated that the stacks 14 may be of any desired number of modules 14, and there may be any desired number of rows 15/16.

[0027] Most preferably, the stacks 14 are arranged in a first row 15 and a second row 16 so as to be horizontally separated. Provided between the rows 15 and 16 is a drainage assembly 17.

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2019203131 03 May 2019 [0028] Each of the modules 13 is longitudinally elongated so that adjacent stacked modules 13 provide a “couch style” burial chamber 18.

[0029] Each chamber 18 includes a first chamber portion 50 and a second chamber portion 51. When the modules 13 are stacked, the chamber portion 50 is above the chamber portion 51 of the next adjacent below module 13, to provide one of the chambers 18.

[0030] Each module 13 includes a first wall 19 that extends longitudinally and is transversely generally upright. The first wall 19 provides a rear wall for the module 13.

[0031] Each module 13 further includes a longitudinally extending second wall 20, the second wall 20 providing a front wall for the module 13. The second wall 20 includes two removable panels 21a, 21b that provide access in respect of the chamber 18. The wall 20 is spaced from the wall 19.

[0032] Extending between upper portions of each of the walls 19 and 20 is a top wall 22 that is transversely inclined downwardly to the upper portion 27 of the wall 19, and is fixed thereto. The wall 22 is fixed to the second wall 20 and slopes downwardly therefrom to the first wall 19.

[0033] The second wall 20 also includes an aperture 48 closed by the removable panels 21a, 21b. In particular, the wall 20 has recesses 23a, 23b that surround the aperture 48, and within which the panels 21a, 21b are removably secured, respectively.

[0034] Each module 13 further includes a pair of end walls 24 and 25 that are fixed to the walls 19, 20 and 22, so that the walls 19, 20, 22, 24 and 25 substantially enclose the chamber 18, in particular the chamber portion 50. However it should be appreciated that each module 13 has a downwardly facing open face 26.

[0035] The first wall 19 has the upper wall portion 27 projecting above the wall 22, while the second wall 20 has an upper wall portion 28 also projecting above the wall 22. The wall portions 27 and 28 surround an upwardly facing open face 49. When the modules 13 are stacked, the faces 26 and 49 are adjacent to provide for communication between the chamber portions 50 and 51 of each chamber 18.

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2019203131 03 May 2019 [0036] The end walls 24 and 25 also have upper wall portions 29 and 30, so that the upper wall portions 27 to 30 provide the upwardly open chamber portion 51.

[0037] To assist in retaining the modules 13 in the stacks 14, the upwardly facing end surfaces 45 of the upper wall portions 29 are provided with projections 32 that are received in recesses 33 formed in the lower faces 46 of the end walls 24 and 25 of the next adjacent above module 13.

[0038] The wall 22 has an upper surface 43 that slopes downwardly from the second wall 20 to the first wall 19 at an acute angle 34.

[0039] As mentioned above, the wall 22 slopes downwardly towards the wall 19. However, the wall 19 is provided with two gaps 35 to provide for drainage of liquid from the cavity 31 to the drainage assembly 17. Preferably adjacent each pair of gaps 35 is a flow diverter 36 that assists in spreading liquid transversely across the gaps 35.

[0040] When the modules 13 are stacked, the faces 26 and 49 are closed by the next adjacent stacked module 13, apart from the lowermost modules 13, that are open to soil layers 37, and the upper most modules 13. The layers 37 are opened to further soil layers 12 below the structure 10.

[0041] The walls 24 and 25, along their internal edge faces, are provided with ferrules 44, that receive threaded fasteners to secure transverse brackets 38 to the modules 13, with the brackets 38 extending transversely across the drainage assembly 17. The brackets 38 secure the rows 15 and 16 together (or at least inhibit) transverse separation of the rows 15 and 16.

[0042] The drainage assembly 17 provides a cavity 40 that receives soil 41, with each of the cavities 31 also receiving the soil 41. Each chamber portions 51 communicates with the cavity 40 to provide for drainage of each chamber 18. Preferably, the soil 41 also extends upwardly from each chamber portion 51 to the above adjacent chamber portion 50.

[0043] End portions of the drainage assembly 17 are closed by plates 42. The plates 42 are secured to the end modules 13, to secure the rows 15/16 together.

[0044] Preferably, each of the modules 13 is formed of cast concrete.

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2019203131 03 May 2019 [0045] The above described preferred embodiment has a number of advantages including good management of vapours, while encouraging rapid evacuation of liquids. There is also significant unoccupied space in the chambers 18 that will ensure each chamber is well oxygenated. The structure 10 should provide a dry, warm and well oxygenated environment to encourage more rapid decomposition.

[0046] Due to decomposition timeline improvement, the license holder of a module 13 is more likely to take advantage of perpetual use of the module 13. This in turn is likely to vastly reduce reliance on new land for cemeteries.

Claims

1. An above ground burial structure including at least one module that is stackable with at least one other like module, the module being longitudinally elongated and including:

a first end wall and a second end wall, the end walls being located at opposite longitudinal end portions of the module and being fixed to the first side wall and the top wall;

2. The above ground burial structure of claim 1, wherein each module has upper and lower faces, with the faces having projections and recesses that engage the next adjacent module.

3. The above ground burial structure of claim 1 or 2, wherein the panel is a first panel and the second longitudinally extending side wall includes a second panel, with each panel being movable between the open position and the closed position.

4. The above ground burial structure of claim 3, wherein the panels are removable.

5. The above ground burial structure of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second longitudinally extending side wall includes an opening closed by each panel.

6. An above ground burial structure including a plurality of stacked modules, with adjacent modules co-operating to provide a burial chamber, and wherein each chamber includes a soil layer that is drained.

7. The above ground burial structure of claim 6, wherein each module provides a chamber portion, with the chamber portions of adjacent vertically stacked modules providing each chamber.

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2019203131 03 May 2019

8. The above ground burial structure of claim 7, wherein the stacks are separated with a drain assembly located between the stacks.