GB2600155A

GB2600155A - System and method for slot drain reinforcement

Info

Publication number: GB2600155A
Application number: GB2016888.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Becker Andrew; Sterne Dermot
Original assignee: Alumasc Building Products Ltd
Current assignee: Alumasc Building Products Ltd
Priority date: 2020-10-23
Filing date: 2020-10-23
Publication date: 2022-04-27
Also published as: GB202016888D0

Abstract

A system for reinforcing a slot drain 11 having a plurality of surface connection points comprises a plurality of brackets or connectors 13 joining the connection points to a reinforcement structure 12. The reinforcement is spaced from the drain by the dimension of the bracket, which may be variable. The connection points and reinforcement may be hooked to the brackets. The reinforcement may be a web or mesh having a profile which conforms to that of the drain, and the reinforcement may be one of a pair. A method of installing a slot drain includes the steps of placing the drain in a channel, attaching the reinforcement structure and pouring concrete into the channel to encase the drain and reinforcement. Also claimed are a slot drain featuring a plurality of surface connection points, a connector for use in a reinforced slot drain system and a kit of parts for implementing a slot drain reinforcement system.

Description

System and method for slot drain reinforcement The present invention relates to improvements to a slot drain for a drainage system and, more specifically, a system and method for slot drain reinforcement.

Background to the invention

Slot drains are used for draining water from a surface, such as a road or driveway, into drain channels beneath. GB2311549 describes an example of slot drain, having a throat providing an opening for water on the surface to be drained. The throat extends beneath the surface and connects to a drain channel for receiving and carrying away the drained water.

A slot drain, typically formed from sheet steel, is installed by placing it into position within a trench and casting concrete around it for permanent support. Figure 1 illustrates a cross section view of installation for a prior art hexagonal slot drain design. Specifically, in one method of installation, a trench T is excavated into a ground surface and a slot drain S is placed into the trench in an upright position, supported by virtue of ground-contacting feet that stabilise the hexagonal shape). A base of concrete Ci is then poured around the slot drain feet F to set it onto a floor of the trench T. The base is allowed to substantially dry in order to anchor the slot drain in place. A second volume of concrete C2 is then cast around the slot drain to permanently install it in the trench T. In certain applications, dependent on loads forecast for the concrete surface, reinforcement may be required by placement of re-bar into the trench surrounding the slot drain S before concrete C2is poured. Methods of implementing reinforcement can be unreliable, time-consuming and requires a certain skill level during the installation process.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved slot drain installation system and method which aids reinforcement in a reliable and time-efficient manner. At the least the invention will provide an alternative to available systems.

Summary of the invention

A system for slot drain reinforcement is provided according to claim 1. In a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for reinforcing a linear-drainage conduit such as a slot drain, comprising: a linear-drainage conduit (e.g. a slot drain); a plurality of brackets or equivalent (e.g. supporting elements, legs, arms or elongate elements); and a reinforcement structure (e.g. a web or a mesh/grid of wire or the like); wherein the linear-drainage conduit is configured with a plurality of surface connection points for respectively receiving the plurality of brackets at a proximal end thereof and a distal end of the respective brackets configured for attachment to the reinforcement structure; such that, in use during installation, the reinforcement structure is maintained/supported/suspended at a distance from the linear-drainage conduit as determined by a dimension of the bracket.

Leg lengths are chosen dependent on application or may be variable in length. The required length is determined by structural calculation to suit varying load class of installed channel.

The mesh or reinforcement structure preferably hooks onto or is otherwise attached onto the brackets, e.g. assembled via clips/screws, attached on site. Attachment may be removable or fixed. The mesh gauge/size is chosen to meet structural requirements. In one form the profile of the reinforcement structure is formed to match at least part of the slot drain profile, e.g. bent into shape in situ or factory pre-formed. However, any profile shape is foreseeable dependent on requirements, e.g. a flat /planar mesh sheet with no bends at all, or semi-circular curve.

A method of installing a slot drain is provided according to the invention, including the step of forming a channel in a ground surface. The channel can be of various sizes/scales and lengths. A slot drain is placed in the channel. A mesh or equivalent reinforcement structure is attached to the slot drain via connector lengths extending laterally/radially from a surface of the slot drain. Lengths of the connectors are determined according to a minimum clearance the mesh will have relative to a wall of the channel. Concrete is poured into the channel, encasing the slot drain and mesh, maintaining a minimum clearance of the mesh from a channel wall.

In one form the mesh is assembled in situ, where brackets are supplied in loose form and fitted to the slot drain when needed.

In one aspect of the invention a slot drain is provided that has connection points on its surface suitable for use with the system and method.

In a further aspect a kit of parts is provided for performing the method. The kit comprises at least slot drain, a plurality of brackets and a reinforcement structure such as a mesh. The brackets are configured for attaching to the slot drain surface at one end, while attaching to the mesh at the other.

The term "linear-drainage conduit" has a well-known technical meaning and is understood by those in the art to be a conduit having a drainage inlet which extends along a longitudinal extent of the conduit. Examples of linear-drainage conduits may include slot drains, trench drains or channel drains. Linear-drainage conduits may be conventionally used for receiving or collecting surface water.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a prior art slot drain installation; Figure 2 shows an end view schematic of a slot drain system according to the invention; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the slot drain system; Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of a connecting baton/arm and fixing arrangement for supporting a mesh at a spaced-apart distance from a slot drain; and Figure 5.

Detailed description of the embodiment(s) of the invention The following description presents an exemplary embodiment and, together with the drawings, serves to explain principles of the invention. However, the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise details of the embodiments or exact adherence with all steps, since variations will be apparent to a skilled person and are deemed also to be covered by the description. Terms for components used herein should be given a broad interpretation that also encompasses equivalent functions and features. In some cases, several alternative terms (synonyms) for structural features have been provided but such terms are not intended to be exhaustive.

Descriptive terms should also be given the broadest possible interpretation; e.g. the term comprising" as used in this specification means "consisting at least in part of" such that interpreting each statement in this specification that includes the term "comprising", features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same manner. Directional terms such as "vertical", "horizontal", "up", "down", "upper" and "lower" are used for convenience of explanation usually with reference to the illustrations and are not intended to be ultimately limiting if an equivalent function can be achieved with an alternative dimension and/or direction.

The description herein refers to embodiments with particular combinations of steps or features, however, it is envisaged that further combinations and cross-combinations of compatible steps or features between embodiments will be possible. Indeed, isolated features may function independently as an invention from other features and not necessarily require implementation as a complete combination.

As outlined in the background to the invention above, Figure 1 illustrates a perspective cross section view of installation for a prior art hexagonal slot drain design. A trench T has been excavated into a ground surface and a base of concrete Ci poured to set a slot drain Sin place, by virtue of ground-contacting feet F. Concrete C2 is then cast around the slot drain to permanently install it in the trench T. Figure 2 illustrates a variation of slot drain installation according to the invention. Specifically, a slot drain 11 is provided with a satellite reinforcing (e.g. mesh) structure 12 attached via spacers/connector elements 13.1n use, the combined structure of slot drain with supporting feet 15, mesh 12 and connectors 13 is encased in concrete 14 that fills the void between a wall of a surrounding trench T. The mesh 12 profile, that may be formed according to a slot drain cross section shape, is arranged on each side of the slot drain. The mesh profile may be bent to shape on site or preformed in a factory operation. The sheet form of the reinforcement structure is preferably a mesh comprised of a grid of vertically and horizontally arranged (e.g.welded or otherwise fixed) bars or wires but may be any suitable structure either currently available or in the future.

A plurality of connectors 13 are supplied with the slot drain that, in a preferred form, connect to surface features thereon, enabling a lateral spacing function to be performed.

At the end of connector 13, distal from the slot drain, a second attachment feature couples with a surface of the mesh 12 or equivalent reinforcement structure. The coupling may be by a clip means or any other suitable arrangement of equivalent function, e.g. a supporting notch as illustrated, which allows mesh 12 to hang in place.

The mesh may be applied before, but preferably after, the slot drain is lowered into a channel; particularly since the slot drain is usually laid in sections that are assembled within the channel. Pre-assembling the mesh onto a slot drain may inhibit access for connecting slot drain sections.

While exact details are not critical to understanding the construction of the invention, it should be noted that components can be chosen to ensure that a gap between the reinforcement structure and a side wall of the channel/trench T meets a minimum and/or maximum specified dimension, e.g. 40mm. Relative dimensions are determined according to the intended loading projected for the concrete.

Figure 4 illustrates a form of connector 13 comprising a first end, e.g. a tab 16,that mates with a slot/aperture 17 in the slot drain surface, and a second end that couples to the mesh surface 12. The second end comprises a semi-circular notch 18 or slot that supports a horizontal wire bar of the mesh 12 under its own weight. In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 4, connector 13 also includes a downwardly extending stem 19 that mounts a second notch 18, spaced apart from the first according to the mesh dimension. Alternative configurations may be possible, each including the common function of mating/coupling between a linear drainage conduit external surface and a reinforcement structure. The connection to the slot drain may be "permanent" in the sense of a weld or rivet, or removable as illustrated. Likewise, the connection to the reinforcement structure may be fixed or removable.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of notch 18, having a profile shaped (e.g. in the area where rods of the mesh lie in their home position) in such a way to allow easy attachment, but also to resist a load from the potential forces of the pouring concrete which might otherwise dislodge them. The structure shown in Figure 5 is a simple form of non-return feature, enabled by the acute angle of a flange at the opening of notch 18 that prevents withdrawal of mesh 12 therefrom. A non-return feature could be embodied by a configuration to close off notch 18 entirely, e.g. by use of a latch.

The invention can be broadly described as a system and method for reinforcing a slot drain 11. The slot drain is configured with a plurality of surface connection points 17 for connection to a plurality of connectors 13 for supporting a reinforcement structure (mesh 12) at a predetermined distance from the drain. Particularly, the mesh is also maintained at a minimum distance from a wall of a channel T within which the slot drain is located.

Claims

Claims 1. A system for reinforcing a linear-drainage conduit comprising: a linear-drainage conduit, configured with a plurality of surface connection points; a reinforcement structure; a plurality of bracket or connectors, each configured with a proximal end for attachment to a surface connection point of the linear-drainage conduit and a distal end for attachment to the reinforcement structure; wherein, in use, the reinforcement structure is supported at a distance from the linear-drainage conduit as determined by a dimension of a bracket.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein a range of bracket dimensions are provided and/or the plurality of brackets are variable in a dimension providing a lateral spacing of the reinforcement structure from the surface connection point.
3. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the reinforcement structure and/or surface connection points are hooked or are otherwise attachable to/from the brackets.
4. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the reinforcement structure is a web or mesh having a profile formed to conform with at least part of a profile of the conduit.
5. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the reinforcement structure is one of a pair, located on opposite sides of the linear-drainage conduit.
6. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the linear-drainage conduit is a slot drain.
7. A method of installing a slot drain, including the steps of: forming a channel in a ground surface; 8. 9. 10. 11.placing a slot drain substantially centrally in the channel; attaching a reinforcement structure to the slot drain via connectors extending laterally from a surface of the slot drain; pouring concrete into the channel, encasing the slot drain and reinforcement structure, and maintaining a minimum clearance of the mesh from a channel wall.
The method of claim 7, wherein the reinforcement structure is a web or mesh formed into a profile shape, prior to attachment to the slot drain.
The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein connector lengths are selected dependent on a gap required to be maintained between the reinforcement structure and the minimum clearance of the mesh from the channel wall.
A slot drain featuring a plurality of surface connection points on its surface, for receiving a connector according to the system of any of claims 1 to 6, or method of any of claims] to 9.
A connector for use in a system of any of claims 1 to 6, or method of any of claims 7 to 9, comprising: a first connection end for coupling with a surface connection point of a linear-drainage conduit; a second connection end for coupling with a reinforcement structure.
12. The connector of claim 11, wherein the second connection end includes a non-return feature for coupling with the reinforcement structure.
13. A kit of parts suitable for implementing the system of any one of claims 1 to 6, or performing the method of claims] to 9; the kit comprising at least: a slot drain, a plurality of connectors and a reinforcement structure, web or mesh, wherein the connectors are configured for attaching to the slot drain surface at one end, while attaching to the reinforcement structure at the other.