AU747628B2 - A one piece road gully drainage unit - Google Patents

Description

1 A ONE PIECE ROAD GULLY DRAINAGE UNIT Field of invention The present invention relates to road gully drains.

Prior Art Road gully drains remove rainwater and the like from road gutters and into the storm water drainage system. Road gully drains are connected to storm water pipes located either beneath the gutter or behind the kerb and beneath the adjacent footpath.

Road gully drains are often formed on-site. However the formation of road gully drains on-site is labour intensive, and each job depending on the labourers involved and the installation site, varies in quality of the completed formation and its compliance with safety standards.

Prefabricated road gully drains have been made to provide an alternative to the road gully drains formed on-site.

A one piece road gully drainage unit for connection to o• storm water pipes laid beneath the gutter has been disclosed in Australian patent 602076. The drainage unit is prefabricated 20 and installed on-site whereby the channel assembly including the drain inlet forms part of the gutter and the drain inlet is connected to the storm water pipes. Rain water and the like flows along the gutter and directly into the drain inlet which is usually covered by a safety grate.

While there is a one piece drainage unit for connection to storm water pipes located beneath the gutter, there does not appear to be any one piece drainage unit for use where the storm water pipes run along and beneath the footpath.

Summary of the Invention 2 It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative road gully drainage unit and to overcome at least in part one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages with road gully drains formed on-site.

This invention in one aspect resides broadly in a one piece road gully drainage unit for use in installing in a road gutter and connected to a storm water pipe extending along and beneath a footpath including: a channel; an upstanding kerb member extending along one side of said channel; an inlet formed substantially in said upstanding kerb member; 10 a gully chamber formed adjacent said upstanding kerb member and beside S said channel and communicating with said inlet.

In another aspect the invention resides in a one piece road gully drainage unit for use in installing in a road gutter and connected to a storm water pipe extending along and beneath a footpath including: a channel; an upstanding kerb member extending along one side of said channel; an inlet formed substantially in said upstanding kerb member; i a gully chamber formed adjacent said upstanding kerb member and beside eo said channel and communicating with said inlet; wherein there is a runnel member having a base wall and a back wall within the inlet, said base wall having an inclined surface that is substantially flush with the adjacent upper channel surface and slopes downwardly towards the gully chamber.

The channel preferably has an upper surface that slopes downwardly towards the inlet. The upper surface of the channel is preferably substantially planar along its length and abuts the kerb member without having a rut or gap. An advantage of this arrangement is that bicycle wheels do not fall in a rut or gap thereby causing possible damage to the bicycle and injury to the rider, and debris does not collect in the rut or gap.

The inlet is preferably formed within the upstanding kerb member. The inlet preferably has an elongate opening.

The base wall of the runnel member preferably has 3 an inclined surface that is substantially flush with the adjacent upper channel surface and slopes downwardly towards the gully chamber. In one form, the base wall is preferably continuous, leading from the channel to the gully chamber. In an alternative form, the base wall is discontinuous, having two or more segments with each segment leading from the channel to the gully chamber.

The angle of slope of the surface of the base wall may vary depending on the length of the base wall. The angle of slope of the base wall surface may be between 50 and 500 but preferably between 30* and 45*. The slope of the base wall .surface preferably prevents accumulation of silt and debris .:.along the base wall thereby limiting the opportunity for grasses and the like to grow and block entry into the gully chamber.

The gully chamber preferably has a suitably reinforced or thickened surrounding wall so that it can withstand a substantial downward force such as provided by the weight of a car driving over it. In this respect, it is preferable the 20 gully chamber wall is of suitable thickness to comply with the Australian standards. The gully chamber preferably has an upper opening to provide suitable access for maintenance purposes. The opening is preferably circular. The gully chamber wall adjacent the opening preferably has a recess for the location of a cover. The cover is preferably enclosed for safety purposes and is designed not to accept rain water.

The inner surface of the gully chamber wall is preferably frusto conical in shape in order to mate with connecting pipes of various diameters. In an alternative form, the gully chamber wall may have substantially vertical inner surfaces.

The road gully drainage unit may have a non-slip pattern on an upper surface to provide grip for a person walking over an installed drainage unit.

The road gully drainage unit may have one or more of its outer upper edges chamfered so that a person walking across an installed drainage unit is prevented from stubbing their toes on sharp upper edges.

Two or more road gully drainage units may be installed side by side. Alternatively, a road gully drainage unit with two gully chambers may be installed.

*In another aspect, the present invention broadly resides in a method of installing the aforementioned road gully .drainage unit in a road gutter including: preparing the installation site including locating the eoee storm water pipe beneath the adjacent footpath; positioning the road gully drainage unit so that the channel is substantially flush with the gutter and substantially aligning the gully chamber with the storm water S 20 pipe; fixing the road gully drainage unit in the desired position and connecting the gully chamber to the stormwater pipes.

Brief Description of the Drawings In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein: Fig 1 is a perspective view from above of a first embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Fig 2 is a perspective view from below of a first embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Fig 3 is a perspective view from above of a second embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Fig 4 is a perspective view from below of a second embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Figs 5A, 5B, 5C are an end view, front view, plan view respectively of a first embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Figs 6A, 6B, 6C are an end view, front view, plan view eee• respectively of a second embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Fig 7 is a perspective view from above of a third embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present S 20 invention, Fig 8 is a perspective view from below of a third embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Figs 9A, 9B, 9C are an end view, front view, plan view respectively of a third embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Fig 10 is a perspective view from above of a fourth embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, 6 Fig 11 is a perspective view from below of a fourth embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Figs 12A, 12B, 12C are an end view, front view, plan view respectively of a fourth embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Figs 13A, 13B are cross sections through the gully chamber of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention showing different resultant heights of the base wall of the inlet of the drainage unit, *Fig 14 is a perspective view from above of a fifth *"embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Fig 15 is a perspective view from below of a fifth 15 embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Fig 16 is a perspective view from above of a sixth S"embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Fig 17 is a perspective view from below of a sixth embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Figs 18A, 18B, 18C are an end view, front view, plan view respectively of a fifth embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Figs 19A, 19B, 19C are an end view, front view, plan view respectively of a sixth embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Fig 20 is a perspective view from above of a seventh embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Fig 21 is a perspective view from below of a seventh embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Figs 22A, 22B, 22C are an end view, front view, plan view respectively of a seventh embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Fig 23 is a perspective view from above of an eighth embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, Fig 24 is a perspective view from below of an eighth embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention, and Figs 25A, 25B, 25C are an end view, front view, plan view respectively of an eighth embodiment of the road gully drainage unit of the present invention.

Detailed description of the Preferred Embodiments With reference to the figures, there is shown a road gully 20 drainage unit 10 in the form of a one-piece concrete moulding having a channel 11 integral with and extending transversely from a kerb section 12. The channel 11 has an upper surface 13 sloping downwardly towards the kerb section 12.

The kerb section 12 is substantially key-shaped having a head portion 22 that surrounds a gully chamber 21 and a shaft portion 23 that abuts the channel 11. The shaft portion 23 includes an upright face 14 abutting the channel 11. Within the shaft portion 23 there is an inlet 15. Inlet 15 includes an elongate opening 16 in the upright face 14, a base wall 17 8 and a back wall 18. The base wall 17 slopes downwardly from a first end 19 to a second end 20. The second end 20 is adjacent the gully chamber 21. The amount of slope varies between different embodiments, but is usually 45 Where there is a relatively long base wall there will be a substantial fall between the channel and base wall adjacent the gully chamber but where there is a short base wall there is a minimal corresponding fall (Figs 13A, 13B).

The gully chamber 21 has an upper opening 24. The head portion 22 surrounding the gully chamber 21 has a recessed rim for the location of a cover (not shown). The cover provides access for maintenance persons to the gully chamber 21 and is closed to prevent water entering through the upper opening 24.

The gully chamber 21 also has a lower opening 26. The gully 15 chamber 21 has substantially frusto-conical inner wall 27 between the upper opening 24 and lower opening 26.

In a first embodiment shown in Figs 1, 2, 5A, 5B, and •the gully chamber 21 is located on the left side of the road gully drainage unit 10 whereas in a second embodiment shown in 20 Figs 3, 4, 6A, 6B, and 6C, the gully chamber is located on the right side of the road gully drainage unit. Both embodiments are for use on sloped or inclined gutters where rain water flowing along the gutter can enter the inlet, pass along the base wall and to the gully chamber. In a third embodiment shown in Figs 7, 8, 9A, 9B and 9C, the gully chamber is located in the center of the road gully drainage unit. In this further embodiment, the base wall 31 of the inlet 32 slopes downward from either side towards the centrally located gully chamber 33. This road gully drainage unit 30 is suitable for a road 9 gutter where there is a depression or gully and rain water flowing along the gutter enters the inlet 32 from either side.

In a fourth embodiment similar to the third embodiment, the road gully drainage unit shown in Figs 10, 11, 12A, 12B and 12C has a reduced shaft portion with a correspondingly smaller inlet with a smaller base wall. This embodiment is useful where there is a limited space for installation and/or several gully chambers are required so that two or more of the same or different drainage units can be installed together.

In Figs 1 to 12, the embodiments of the road gully drainage units are rounded and chamfered to remove sharp edges thereby minimising the possibility of personal injury. For so example, in the first embodiment the head portion 22 has rounded outer surfaces 27 and the shaft portion 23 has a chamfered surface 28. In alternative embodiments shown in Figs 14 to 25, the head portions are not rounded but square.

During installation, the installation site is appropriately prepared and the road gully drainage unit is positioned so that the channel is substantially flush with the 20 gutter and the gully chamber is substantially aligned with the stormwater pipes extending along and below the footpath. The inner walls of the gully chamber are frusto-conical so as to accept and mate with connecting pipes of different sizes. The connecting pipes are in communication with the stormwater pipe.

The road gully drainage unit of the present invention offers a number of advantages, including the speed of installation and compliance of each installed unit with safety standards. The safety standards that the road gully drainage unit of the present invention complies with include having a channel surface flush with the upright face of a kerb and having sufficient loading strength to prevent the installed unit from caving in around the gully chamber when cars and trucks drive over the installed unit.

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

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Claims (18)

1. One piece road gully drainage unit for use in installing in a road gutter and connected to a storm water pipe extending along and beneath a footpath including: a channel; an upstanding kerb member extending along one side of said channel; an inlet formed substantially in said upstanding kerb member; a gully chamber formed adjacent said upstanding kerb member and beside 10 said channel and communicating with said inlet; wherein there is a runnel member having a base wall and a back wall within the inlet, said base wall having an inclined surface that is substantially flush with the adjacent upper channel surface and slopes downwardly towards the gully chamber. :o

2. A one piece road gully drainage unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein an upper surface of the channel slopes downwardly towards the inlet and abuts the kerb logo member without forming a rut or gap. 0. 0:

3. A one piece road gully drainage unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the inlet is formed within the upstanding kerb member.

4. A one piece road gully drainage unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the inlet has an elongate opening.

A one piece road gully drainage unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the inclined surface at one end is substantially flush with the adjacent channel and the other end is lower than the adjacent channel and adjacent the gully chamber.

6. A one piece road gully drainage unit as claimed in claim 5 wherein the base wall is continuous leading from the channel to the gully chamber.

7. A one piece road gully drainage unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the base wall is discontinuous having two or more segments with each segment leading from the channel to the gully chamber.

8. A one piece road gully drainage unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the slope of the base wall is between 50 and 500 co S

9. A one piece road gully drainage unit as claimed in claim 8 wherein the slope of the S• base wall is between 30 and 34' S

10.A one piece road gully drainage unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the slope of the base wall surface is such that it prevents accumulation of silt and debris along the base wall.

11.A one piece road gully drainage unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the gully chamber has a reinforced or thickened surrounding wall so that it can withstand a substantial downward force such as provided by the weight of a car driving over it

12.A one piece road gully drainage unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the gully chamber has an upper opening to provide suitable access for maintenance purposes.

13.A one piece road gully drainage unit as claimed in claim 12 wherein the gully chamber wall surrounding the upper opening has a recess for the location of a cover. 13

14.A one piece road gully drainage unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein an inner surface of the gully chamber is frusto-conical in shape for mating with connecting pipes of different diameters.

15.A one piece road gully drainage unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein an upper surface has a non-slip surface.

16.A one piece road gully drainage unit as substantially described herein with S•reference to the accompanying drawings. o•

17.A method of installing the road gully drainage unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in a road gutter including: preparing the installation site including locating the storm water pipe beneath the adjacent footpath; 5: 5 positioning the road gully drainage unit so that the channel is substantially flush with the gutter and substantially aligning the gully chamber with the storm water pipe; fixing the road gully drainage unit in the desired position and connecting the gully chamber to the stormwater pipes

18.A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein two or more of the road gully drainage units are installed adjacent each other. DATED THIS TWENTY-FIRST DAY OF MARCH 2002. C-M Concrete Pty Limited By Pipers Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys