GB2523112A

GB2523112A - Ditches

Info

Publication number: GB2523112A
Application number: GB1402447.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Thomas Smith; Stuart Smith
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-02-12
Filing date: 2014-02-12
Publication date: 2015-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2034-02-12
Also published as: GB201402447D0; GB2523112B

Abstract

An article 40 for use in the construction of a ditch lining comprising a continuous run of the articles. The article 40 comprises a portion 42 for forming a section of the floor, and a first 44 and a second 46 lateral portion, both of which lie at oblique angles to the floor portion 42 and extend away from the floor portion 42 to form the sides. The first 44 and second 46 lateral portions form the side portions of the ditch lining. The article 40 has means for attachment to further such articles 40, so that a plurality of articles 40 can be joined in a longitudinal sequence into a continuous ditch liner.

Description

DITCHES

The present invention relates to ditches and is concerned particularly, but not inclusively, with ditches associated with rafiway tracks.

Ditches are often dug, excavated or otherwise formed, for example to carry away rain or other waste water, for example in association with a railway track. The ditch is often formed with a gradient, so the water runs along the ditch under gravity, Ditches are however subject to the disadvantage that they readily become clogged with soil, debris or other matter, or with the growth of vegetation, all of which can inhibit and interfere with the free flow under gravity of water along the ditch.

The present invention seeks to avoid or at least afleviate this problem.

According to the present invention there is provided an article for use in the construction of a ditch lining comprising a continuous run of the articles, the article comprising a portion for forming a section of the floor of the lining and first and second lateral portions lying at oblique angles to the floor portion and extending away therefrom, for forming respective side portions of the ditch lining, the article having means for attachment to a further said article so that a plurality of the articles can be joined in a longitudinal sequence into a continuous ditch liner.

Preferably, the floor-forming portion is substantially planar, more preferably substantially rectangular.

Preferably, the lateral portions are substantially planar, more preferably substantially rectangular.

Advantageously, the floor portion has a plurality of transverse ribs. The lateral portions may have a plurality of transverse ribs. If so, the ribs of the lateral portions may be continuous transversely within the ribs of the floor portion.

The floor portion may be continuously corrugated over substantially all its length to form the transverse ribs. The lateral portions may be continuously corrugated over substantially their lengths.

If provided, the ribs may have a trapezoidal transverse section.

The attachment means may comprise a step-down portion at one end of the article shaped to receive the opposite end of a further said article, The attachment means may comprise fastening means for securing the articles in the series to one another to form a continuous ditch liner.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the

drawings of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of an article for use in the formation of a ditch lining; Figure 2 is an end view of the article shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an isometric view of another article for use in the formation of a ditch lining; Figure 4 is an end view of the article shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side view of the article shown in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a plan view of the article shown in Figure 3; and Figure 7 is a scrap sectional view on the line VII VII on Figure 6.

The article 10 shown in Figure 1 is formed from vacuum4ormed high density polyethylene (HDPE) material which is 5 mm thick. The article comprises a rectangular floor portion 12, a first rectangular lateral portion 14 and a second rectangular lateral portion 16. The lateral portions 14, 16 have terminal longitudinal flanges 18, 20. The article is 2 m long and has an overall width of 1.2 m, the floor portion having a width of 600 mm. The height of the article is 310 mm. The floor and lateral portions lie at an angle of 130G. These dimensions and angles are only examples and other suitable dimensions and for angles can be used within the scope of the invention.

At one end, the article 10 has a step-down 22 which is 5 mm high and leads to an end flange 24 which extends along one end of the floor portion 12, lateral portions 14, 16 and longitudinal flanges 18, 20. The end flange 24 has a hole 26 adjacent each end. The longitudinal flanges 18, 20 also have respective holes 28 at the opposite end of the article.

In use in the formation of a ditch liner, a number of articles 10 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 are assembled together into a continuous run in a ditch with the end flange 24 of one article located beneath the end portions on the floor portion 12, lateral portions 14, 16 and longftudinal flanges 18, of the next article. Once in this assembled configuration, the articles 10 can be secured together by suitable fastening means passed through the holes 26, 28. A continuous lining of the ditch is thereby formed.

The lined ditch has the advantage that its floor, formed by the floor portions 12, and its sides, formed by the lateral portions 14, 16 are smooth surfaces which allow water to flow thereover and which do not accumulate soil, silt or other debris which would hinder the flow of water along the liner. The growth of vegetation is also substantially prevented.

The liner shown in Figures 1 and 2 is particularly suitable for use in gravity ditches which have a flow gradient of up to 1:5 (i.e. a gradient of less than 20%). Figures 3 to 7 show another article which is an embodiment of the invention and which is better suited to gradients which are steeper than 1:5(i.e. gradients greater than 20%).

Referring now to Figure 3, the article 40 has a rectangular floor portion 42, first and second lateral portion 44, 46, longitudinal flanges 48, 50 a step-down, an end flange and holes 56, 58. The step-down and end flange are not shown in the drawings. The dimensions of the article are generally similar to those of the article shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The floor and lateral portions 42, 44, 46 of the ditch liner 40 are however formed with a corrugated shape having a profile as shown in Figure 7. Thus, the profile in section consists of a series of troughs 60 and peaks 62 which form ribs having a trapezoidal cross-section. The peak-to-peak pitch V of the corrugations is 135 mm and the peak-to-peak height X of the corrugations is 50 mm.

Ditch liner sections 40 shown in Figures 3 to 7 are assembled into a continuous liner in a way analogous to that described above for the liner section 10. The liner so formed is particularly suited to gravity ditches which have a gradient of 1:5 or steeper since the transverse ribs formed by the corrugations have the effect of slowing the flow of water along the lined ditch whilst also inhibiting the accumulation of soil, silt or other debris and substantially preventing the growth of vegetation. Indeed, it is thought that the ribs may have the function of creating vortices in the water flow. The ribs may also lead to a selfcleaning effect.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An article for use in the construction of a ditch fining comprising a continuous run of the articles, the article comprising a portion for forming a section of the floor of the fining and first and second lateral portions lyftig at oblique angles to the floor portion and extending away therefrom, for forming respective side portions of the ditch lining, the article having means for attachment to a further said article so that a plurality of the articles can be joined in a longitudinal sequence into a continuous ditch liner.
2. An article according to claim I, which the floor-Forming portion is substantiauy planar.
3. An article according to claim 2, in which the floor-forming portion is substantially rectangular.
4. An article according to any preceding claim, in which the lateral portions are substantially planar.
5. An article according to claim 4, in which the floor portions are substantially rectangular.
6. An article according to any preceding claim, in which the floor portion has a plurality of transverse ribs.
7. An article according to any preceding claim, in which the lateral portions have a plurality of transverse ribs.
8. An article according to claim 7, in which the ribs of the lateral portions are continuous transversely within the ribs of the floor portion.
9. An article according to any of claims 7 to 9, in which the floor portion is continuously corrugated over substantially all its length to form the transverse ribs.
10. An article according to any of claims 6 to 9, in which the lateral portions are continuously corrugated over substantially their lengths.
11. An article according to any of claims 6 to 10, in which the ribs have a trapezoidal transverse section.
12. An article according to any preceding daim, in which the attachment means comprise a step-down portion at one end of the article shaped to receive the opposite end of a further said article.
13. An article according to claim 12, wherein the attachment means comprise fastening means for securing the articles in the series to one another to form a continuous ditch liner.
14. An article for use in the construction of a ditch lining, the article being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows: CLAIMS: 1. An article for use in the construction of a ditch fining comprising a continuous run of the articles, the article being formed from a single piece of material and comprising a portion for forming a section of the floor of the lining and first and second lateral portions lying at oblique angles to the floor portion and extending away therefrom, for forming respective side portions of the ditch lining, the article having means for attachment to a further said article comprising a step-down portion at one end of the article shaped to receive the opposite end of a further said article, so that a plurality of the articles can be joined in a longitudinal sequence into a continuous ditch liner.2. An article according to claim 1 which the floor-forming portion is substantially planar.3. An article according to claim 2, in which the floor-forming portion is substantially rectangular.4. An article according to any preceding claim, in which the lateral portions are substantially planar. (45. An article according to claim 4, in which the floor portions are substantially rectangular.6, An article according to any preceding claim, in which the floor portion has a plurality of transverse ribs.7. An article according to any preceding claim, in which the lateral portions have a plurality of transverse ribs.5. An article according to claim 7, in which the ribs of the lateral portions are continuous transversely within the ribs of the floor portion.9. An article according to any of claims 7 to 9, in which the floor portion is continuously corrugated over substantially all its length to form the transverse ribs.10. An article according to any of claims 6 to 9, in which the lateral portions are continuously corrugated over substantially their lengths.11. An article according to any of claims 6 to 10, in which the ribs have a trapezoidal transverse section.12. An article according to any preceding claim, wherein the attachment means comprise fastening means for securing the articles in the series to one another to form a continuous ditch liner.13. An article for use in the construction of a ditch lining, the article being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. (4 r (0 r