GB1591332A - Drainage of roads and highways - Google Patents

Description

(54) AN IMPROVEMENT IN OR RELATING TO THE DRAINAGE OF ROADS AND HIGHWAYS (71) We, ALTHON (CONTRACTING) LIMITED, a British Company, of 16 St.

James' Row, Sheffield 1, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be par ticularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to the drainage of roads and highways and has for its object to provide an improvement therein.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a drainage channel, formed by a plurality of precast sections laid end to end along a carriageway, their upper edges adjacent the carriageway being level with or slightly below the surface of the carriage way, and also including a plurality of cover pieces each of which has at least two longitudinally spaced apart support portions which can be supported on opposite side walls of said channel, the upper surfaces of the cover piece being disposed in stepped relation to the surface which is to be drained to form a kerb, each cover piece having intermediate the support portions a .cross section such that, when the cover piece is placed in position overlying the channel there. is formed one or more longitudinal openings above the one edge of the channel adjacent the carriageway through which water may drain from the surface of the carriageway into said channel, the top sur faces of the cover pieces being stepped down a short distance from their edges adjacent the carriageway so that a footpath .or grass verge .can be laid partly over the cover pieces, level. with their side edge portions which form the kerb.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a cover piece for a drainage channel as described above, the cover piece:having at least two longitudinally spaced apart support portions which can be supported on opposite side walls of ,the channel, the upper surface being disposed in stepped relation to a surface which is to be drained to form a kerb, the cover piece having intermediate the support portions a cross section such that, when the cover piece is placed in position overlying the channel there is formed at one side edge of the cover piece one or more longitudinal openings above one side wall of the channel through which water may drain into the channel, the cover piece being stepped down a short distance from said one side edge-so that a footpath or grass verge can be laid partly over the cover piece, level with the side edge portion which forms the kerb, the width of the remaining, visible when in use, portion of said cover piece being less than half the overall width of the cover piece.

The stepped down portion may be provided with a plurality of apertures through which run off water, from adjoining grassland for example, can flow directly into the chanriel.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a perspective schematic view of a drainage channel and cover piece therefor, Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view .of the channel and cover piece which illustrates their relationship with the carriageway along which the channel has been laid Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and illustrating a point which will be mentioned presently, Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 which will be referred to presently in connection with a possible modification, and Fig. 6 is a view which will be referred to in relation to a further possible modification.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the drainage channel there illustrated is constituted by a plurality of precast concrete sections 10 laid end to end along a carriageway, each section having upwardly diverging side walls 12 and a basal wall 14 to form a lower trough-space of substantially V-form. The sections are provided with oppositely disposed longitudinally extending flanges 16. The upper edge 18 at one side of each section lies immediately above the flange at that side. The opposite edge of each section is provided with an upstanding wall portion 20 which forms a longitudinally extending shoulder 22 within the channel.

The drainage channel is provided with a plurality of cover pieces 24 (one only being illustrated in Fig. 1, but it will be understood that they can be of any convenient length and that they need not be of the same unit length as the precast station 10). Each cover piece is of stepped form along one side edge so that it can be seated, as shown, on the upstanding wall portions 20 and on the shoulders 22 of the sections 10. In addition, each cover piece has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart support portions of such a cross section that besides being supported along said one side edge on the wall portions 20 and shoulders 22 of the sections 10 it is supported at its other side on the upper edges 18 of the sections 10 as shown.

Intermediate the support portions, the cover pieces are of a cut-away shape above the upper edges 18 of the sections 10, as shown by the dotted line 26 in Fig. 2, the arrangement being such that, as shown in Fig. 1, there is formed above the upper edges 18 of the sections 10 an almost continuous opening 28 through which water may drain from the road surface into the channel. To enhance the appearance of the cover piece and to improve drainage still further, the longitudinally spaced apart support portions are provided with semi-circular grooves 30 which, when the cover pieces have been placed in position overlying the channel and a road surface has been laid, are disposed in line with the longitudinal opening 28 through which water drains from the road surface.

The cover pieces are of substantial thickness and strength along their side edges which in use lie adjacent the carriageway, 'that is to say, through the part immediately above the upper edge 1:8 of the sections 10 where the greatest stress from vehicle wheels ;msun'ting the footpath or grass verge can be expected to be 'applied. The side surfaces 32 of the cover piece above the opening 28 are inclined slightly to the vertical, as shown, 'to act as deflecting surfaces for vehicle wheels which come in contact with them.A short distance from said side surfaces, the top surfaces of the cover pieces are stepped down, as shown, and this is so 'that a foot- path or grass verge can be laid partly over said cover 'pieces, level with their side edge 'portions which form the kerb. It will be seen that 'the width of 'the remaining, visible when 'in aae, -potrion o"f said cover piece is 'less than half its overall width.

"The arrangement is such that when the precast sections 10 have been laid in a mass of concrete filling, as shown, and cover pieces have been positioned on the sections, a road surface can be laid in normal manner and the carriageway surface brought up to the level of the lower edge of the grooves 30 of the cover pieces (and between the support portions the surfacing material will taper down as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2). If a footpath or grass verge has been laid so as partly to overlie the cover pieces, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, only a very small part of each cover piece is visible.

This is in fact a part which is comparable both in height and width with a standard roadway edging section which is frequently used in places where drainage channels of the kind described and illustrated are not employed. This matching feature is a desirable feature both from an aesthetic point of view and from a practical point of view (since both may from time to time be used along adjoining lengths of carriageway).

It will be observed that the cover pieces bear down on the full width of each side wall of the channel. The weight of a vehicle mounting the kerb is thus equally distributed across the entire width of each side wall of the channel.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be understood that when it is subsequently required to lay a new road surface upon the original road surface (which of course may be a considerable length of time following the laying of the original road surface) the cover pieces can be levered up and supported in a raised position relative to the channel, as shown in chain-dotted lines, by grout or the like spread -evenly on the upper edges of the channel for the new road surface to be laid up to the lower edges of the grooves :30 once more.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, in a modification of the invention described above the cover pieces are provided with a plurality of apertures 34 through which run off water, from adjoining grassland for example, can flow directly into the channel. The apertures are wider at their lower ends than at their upper ends so that they will 'tend not to become blocked by small stones and dirt, and it will be understood that although in Fig. 4 they are shown to be of circular shape they could equally well.be provided in t'he form of slots. (It will be seen in Figs. 4 and 5 that the adjoining grassland has not been laid partly over the cover piece and level with the side edge portions which form 'the kerb as in the previously described embodiment but that the edge of the grassland or grass verge is somewhat lower so that run off water can flow directly into the channel -without first pouring into the road surface over the kerb edge).

Various other 'modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it may be found that the flange 16 at the side of each section immediately adjacent the carriageway should be dispensed with, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

This will facilitate the pouring of concrete or other fill and will obviate the risk of a workman striking this portion of the section with a steel rammer. It will be understood that the channel sections and cover pieces need not necessarily be made of concrete but may be made of any other material of adequate strength and resistant to chemical attack. The channel sections may have perforated side walls to allow lateral subdrainage into the channel. Furthermore, at spaced locations along the channel there may be provided respective channel sections having outlet apertures in their lower walls leading to a silt pit or impervious ditch.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A drainage channel, formed by a plurality of precast sections laid end to end along a carriageway, their upper edges adjacent the carriageway being level with or slightly below the surface of the carriageway, and also including a plurality of cover pieces each of which has at least two longitudinally spaced apart support portions which can be supported on opposite side walls of said channel, the upper surfaces of the cover piece being disposed in stepped relation to the surface which is to be drained to form a kerb, each cover piece having intermediate the support portions a cross section such that, when the cover piece is placed in position overlying the channel there is formed one or more longitudinal openings above the one edge of the channel adjacent the carriageway through which water may drain from the surface of the carriageway into said channel, the top surfaces of the cover pieces being stepped down a short distance from their edges adjacent the carriageway so that a footpath or grass verge can be laid partly over the cover pieces, level with their side edge portions which form the kerb.

2. A cover piece for a drainage channel according to claim 1, the cover piece having at least two longitudinally spaced apart support portions which can be supported on opposite side walls of the channel, the upper surface being disposed in stepped relation to a surface which is to be drained to form a kerb, the cover piece having intermediate the support portions a cross section such that, when the cover piece is placed in position overlying the channel there is formed at one side edge of the cover piece one or more longitudinal openings above one side wall of the channel through which water may drain into the channel, the cover piece being stepped down a short distance from said one side edge so that a footpath or grass verge can be laid partly over the cover piece, level with the side edge portion which forms the kerb, the width of the remaining, visible when in use, portion of said cover piece being less than half the overall width of the cover piece.

3. A cover piece according to claim 2, in which the stepped down portion is provided with a plurality of apertures through which run off water, from adjoining grassland for example, can flow directly into the channel.

4. A drainage channel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings 5. A cover piece for a drainage channel, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, it may be found that the flange 16 at the side of each section immediately adjacent the carriageway should be dispensed with, as illustrated in Fig. 6. This will facilitate the pouring of concrete or other fill and will obviate the risk of a workman striking this portion of the section with a steel rammer. It will be understood that the channel sections and cover pieces need not necessarily be made of concrete but may be made of any other material of adequate strength and resistant to chemical attack. The channel sections may have perforated side walls to allow lateral subdrainage into the channel. Furthermore, at spaced locations along the channel there may be provided respective channel sections having outlet apertures in their lower walls leading to a silt pit or impervious ditch. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A drainage channel, formed by a plurality of precast sections laid end to end along a carriageway, their upper edges adjacent the carriageway being level with or slightly below the surface of the carriageway, and also including a plurality of cover pieces each of which has at least two longitudinally spaced apart support portions which can be supported on opposite side walls of said channel, the upper surfaces of the cover piece being disposed in stepped relation to the surface which is to be drained to form a kerb, each cover piece having intermediate the support portions a cross section such that, when the cover piece is placed in position overlying the channel there is formed one or more longitudinal openings above the one edge of the channel adjacent the carriageway through which water may drain from the surface of the carriageway into said channel, the top surfaces of the cover pieces being stepped down a short distance from their edges adjacent the carriageway so that a footpath or grass verge can be laid partly over the cover pieces, level with their side edge portions which form the kerb.

2. A cover piece for a drainage channel according to claim 1, the cover piece having at least two longitudinally spaced apart support portions which can be supported on opposite side walls of the channel, the upper surface being disposed in stepped relation to a surface which is to be drained to form a kerb, the cover piece having intermediate the support portions a cross section such that, when the cover piece is placed in position overlying the channel there is formed at one side edge of the cover piece one or more longitudinal openings above one side wall of the channel through which water may drain into the channel, the cover piece being stepped down a short distance from said one side edge so that a footpath or grass verge can be laid partly over the cover piece, level with the side edge portion which forms the kerb, the width of the remaining, visible when in use, portion of said cover piece being less than half the overall width of the cover piece.

3. A cover piece according to claim 2, in which the stepped down portion is provided with a plurality of apertures through which run off water, from adjoining grassland for example, can flow directly into the channel.

4. A drainage channel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings

5. A cover piece for a drainage channel, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by Figs. 1 to 3 or Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.