US20200032511A1 - Precast porous concrete with cast-in conduits - Google Patents
Precast porous concrete with cast-in conduits Download PDFInfo
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- US20200032511A1 US20200032511A1 US16/603,323 US201816603323A US2020032511A1 US 20200032511 A1 US20200032511 A1 US 20200032511A1 US 201816603323 A US201816603323 A US 201816603323A US 2020032511 A1 US2020032511 A1 US 2020032511A1
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- Prior art keywords
- porous concrete
- conduits
- concrete slab
- slab
- porous
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B5/00—Floors; Floor construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted therefor
- E04B5/02—Load-carrying floor structures formed substantially of prefabricated units
- E04B5/04—Load-carrying floor structures formed substantially of prefabricated units with beams or slabs of concrete or other stone-like material, e.g. asbestos cement
- E04B5/043—Load-carrying floor structures formed substantially of prefabricated units with beams or slabs of concrete or other stone-like material, e.g. asbestos cement having elongated hollow cores
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B5/00—Floors; Floor construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted therefor
- E04B5/48—Special adaptations of floors for incorporating ducts, e.g. for heating or ventilating
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
- E04C1/00—Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings
- E04C1/39—Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings characterised by special adaptations, e.g. serving for locating conduits, for forming soffits, cornices, or shelves, for fixing wall-plates or door-frames, for claustra
- E04C1/397—Building elements of block or other shape for the construction of parts of buildings characterised by special adaptations, e.g. serving for locating conduits, for forming soffits, cornices, or shelves, for fixing wall-plates or door-frames, for claustra serving for locating conduits
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
- E04C2/00—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels
- E04C2/44—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by the purpose
- E04C2/52—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by the purpose with special adaptations for auxiliary purposes, e.g. serving for locating conduits
- E04C2/521—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by the purpose with special adaptations for auxiliary purposes, e.g. serving for locating conduits serving for locating conduits; for ventilating, heating or cooling
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L—PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16L7/00—Supporting of pipes or cables inside other pipes or sleeves, e.g. for enabling pipes or cables to be inserted or withdrawn from under roads or railways without interruption of traffic
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24D—DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR
- F24D3/00—Hot-water central heating systems
- F24D3/12—Tube and panel arrangements for ceiling, wall, or underfloor heating
- F24D3/14—Tube and panel arrangements for ceiling, wall, or underfloor heating incorporated in a ceiling, wall or floor
- F24D3/146—Tubes specially adapted for underfloor heating
Definitions
- the present invention pertains to the field of porous concrete systems. Specifically, this invention relates to porous concrete systems that comprise porous concrete slabs and cast-in conduits to improve the ability to clean and warm the porous concrete slabs and provide the ability to channel stormwater runoff to a desired location.
- Nonporous surfaces such as asphalt and concrete, make up a significant portion of any given developed area.
- the surface could be a parking lot, road, or sidewalk.
- these surfaces enable transportation without the problems associated with unpaved surfaces, such as the erosion of dirt roads, they present separate issues given that nonporous surfaces are not able to replicate soil's key functions, such as water management and filtration. The inability to replicate these functions creates problems for, and can negatively impact, surrounding areas. For example, when a rain event occurs, nonporous surfaces prevent the stormwater from flowing naturally through the surface into the soil. Efforts are made to direct the stormwater into collection areas such as drains, culverts and swales, where further filtration may take place.
- stormwater runoff often includes a host of pollutants—litter, fertilizer, gasoline, salt and sand—anything that may have been residing on the nonporous surface.
- pollutants such as poll, fertilizer, gasoline, salt and sand—anything that may have been residing on the nonporous surface.
- nonporous surfaces can also negatively impact the temperature of stormwater runoff. Specifically, it is common for nonporous surfaces to retain the heat resulting from long periods of exposure to the sun. When a rain event occurs, soaking a warm nonporous surface, the resulting runoff is heated as it moves across the nonporous surface. This warm runoff then finds its way into the surrounding environment and can upset the delicate balance of aquatic environments by, for instance, warming surrounding water systems.
- porous concrete In contrast to nonporous surfaces, porous concrete is a type of concrete that has a high porosity and allows for stormwater to infiltrate back into the ground naturally by passing directly through the concrete, thereby reducing pavement runoff. It is commonly used in parking areas and areas with relatively light traffic. Porous concrete also has the beneficial effect of filtering stormwater and may reduce pollutant loads entering into streams, ponds and rivers. Over time, however, the porosity can become substantially diminished as the porous material becomes clogged with sediment, debris, or other materials that prevent the stormwater from flowing through the pavement.
- porous concrete primarily conveys stormwater directly downward through the slab and into the ground in a vertical direction
- the present invention solves the problems associated with maintaining porous concrete slabs by providing a system capable of facilitating the cleaning and heating of porous concrete slabs.
- the present invention addresses problems associated with stormwater runoff by providing a system capable of channeling stormwater in a horizontal direction within a porous concrete slab.
- the present invention is directed to a porous concrete system that comprises a porous concrete slab and one or more conduits embedded therein, with at least one conduit having an adapter that is connectable to a hose.
- the one or more conduits may be perforated and may be arranged substantially parallel or in a grid pattern in the porous concrete slab.
- one or more of the conduits may be connected to each other and share a common adapter.
- the present invention is further directed to a porous concrete system comprising a plurality of porous concrete slabs, wherein each porous concrete slab contains one or more conduits embedded therein and at least one conduit in each porous concrete slab has an adapter that is connectable to a hose.
- the porous concrete slabs are arranged in a manner where the conduits in one porous concrete slab are adjacent to the conduits in the neighboring porous concrete slab. Further at least one conduit in one of the porous concrete slabs is connected to the adjacent conduit in the neighboring porous concrete slab.
- the conduits may be perforated and may be arranged substantially parallel or in a grid pattern in each porous concrete slab.
- FIG. 1 is a top view of a perforated conduit of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of a porous concrete system of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is a top view of a horizontal cross section of an embodiment of a porous concrete system of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a top view of a horizontal cross section of an embodiment of a porous concrete system of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a top view of a horizontal cross section of an embodiment of a porous concrete system of the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is a top view of a horizontal cross section of an embodiment of a porous concrete system of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a detail view of the horizontal cross section of the embodiment of the porous concrete system depicted in FIG. 6 .
- FIG. 8 is top view of a horizontal cross section of an embodiment of a porous concrete system of the present invention.
- FIGS. 1-3 depict a first embodiment of the porous concrete system 100 of the present invention.
- one or more conduits 20 are embedded within a porous concrete slab 10 .
- an adapter 22 is attached to one end of each of the conduits 20 .
- the adapter 22 is located at the end of the conduit 20 on an outer edge of the porous concrete slab 10 .
- the adapter 22 may be male, extending beyond the edge of the porous concrete slab 10 , or the adapter 22 may be female.
- the conduit 20 extends the complete width of the porous concrete slab 10 .
- the second end of the conduit 20 may be attached to either an adapter 22 or a cap 23 , depending on the intended implementation of the porous concrete system 100 .
- the second end of the conduit 20 may include a cap 23 or an adapter 22 , or as a person of skill in the art will appreciate, the second end of the conduit 20 may simply be embedded within the porous concrete slab 10 without either a cap 23 or an adapter 22 .
- the cap 23 may be any suitable cap 23 known in the art that is capable of sealing the second end of the conduit 20 .
- the cap 23 may be a plug.
- the conduits 20 of the porous concrete system 100 include a plurality of perforations 24 .
- the conduits 20 may be any suitable type of pipe, hose or tubing that may be perforated and is capable of mating with an adapter 22 .
- the length of the conduits 20 is preferably substantially the same as the width of the porous concrete slab 10 , such that the ends of the conduit 20 are each substantially flush with the edge of the porous concrete slab 10 .
- a standard four-foot wide porous concrete slab 10 would utilize conduits 20 of about four feet in length.
- the diameter of the conduits 20 may be selected based on the desired implementation. For example, some implementations will prefer a smaller diameter conduit 20 in the range of about 3 ⁇ 8 to 3 ⁇ 4 inches.
- conduits 20 may be of any length provided that the adapter 22 is accessible.
- the conduits 20 include a plurality of perforations 24 . Similar to the size of the conduits 20 , the number of perforations 24 in the conduit 20 may be selected based on the requirements of the chosen implementation. In addition, the perforations 24 may be any size and may be arranged in any pattern as known to one of skill in the art. For example, a conduit 20 with a length of four feet may include ninety-six perforations 24 , the perforations 24 being configured in six rows of sixteen perforations 24 and spaced approximately evenly apart. However, this example is illustrative only and a chosen implementation may prefer a greater or lesser number of perforations 24 .
- the arrangement of the perforations 24 may be arranged in varying patterns, depending on the amount and direction of filtration that is desired. For example, in porous concrete systems 100 designed for areas where the stormwater is known to contain significant debris or pollutants such that more filtering capacity is anticipated, it may be advantageous to have more perforations 24 in the conduits 20 . Additionally, it may be advantageous to have perforations 24 oriented in one or more directions. For example, it may be beneficial to have perforations 24 located on the top of the conduit 20 such that the perforations 24 are oriented substantially upward once the conduit 20 is embedded within the porous concrete slab 10 , leaving the portion of the conduit 20 facing downward solid and capable of serving as a channel for water to travel through the porous concrete slab 10 . Alternatively, as an additional example, the perforations 24 may be located on the sides of the conduit 20 , such that the perforations 24 are oriented substantially horizontally, but not located on the top or the bottom.
- the conduits 20 may be connected to a hose 30 by way of the adapter 22 .
- a suitable hose 30 may be used to force hot air into the porous concrete slab 10 to dry the porous concrete slab 10 , heat the porous concrete slab 10 and, in some instances depending on the type of debris, blow debris outward through the porous concrete slab 10 .
- a suitable hose 30 may be used to backwash the porous concrete slab 10 with liquid, forcing the debris out from a number of directions and, importantly, in directions other than the natural top to bottom direction that stormwater naturally flows through the porous concrete slab 10 . Because stormwater naturally filters from top to bottom, using pressure to wash debris out in alternative directions has a greater impact on restoring the porosity of the concrete. High pressure air or water is particularly effective.
- specialized cleaning solutions may be used in situations where the removal of specific pollutants is desired.
- the conduits 20 may function to provide low resistance channels within the porous concrete slab 10 so that it is possible to route water in a substantially horizontal direction.
- the perforations 24 are located on the top, but not the bottom, of the conduits 20
- a portion of the stormwater percolating through the porous concrete slab 10 will enter the conduits 20 through the perforations 24 and will then travel through the conduits 20 in a substantially horizontal direction.
- This arrangement will permit the porous concrete system 100 to effectively channel a portion of the stormwater to a known and suitable location, such as to a swale.
- the conduits 20 may or may not include an adapter 22 .
- Each conduit 20 may have its own individual adapter 22 to allow each conduit 20 to connect directly to its own hose 30 .
- two or more conduits 20 may be connected to each other in a manner where the two or more conduits 20 share a common adapter 22 .
- two or more conduits 20 may be connected to each other such that only one, or only a subset, of the conduits 20 have an adaptor 22 that connects to a hose 30 .
- a hose 30 is the preferred means of connecting to the adapter 22
- the manifold 28 may be connected via the adapters 22 located on the conduits 20 .
- the manifold 28 may be connected directly to the conduits 20 , removing the need for the adapters 22 .
- the present invention encompasses conduits 120 arranged in multiple directions within the porous concrete slab 110 .
- a second embodiment of a porous concrete system 200 of the present invention includes conduits 120 arranged in a grid pattern.
- Such an arrangement can be advantageous for several reasons.
- the increased density of conduits 120 will increase the surface area where air steam or water may be forced into the porous concrete slab 110 for cleaning, heating or drying.
- this arrangement enables captured stormwater to efficiently travel in multiple directions across the horizontal plane of the porous concrete slab 110 .
- FIG. 6 a third embodiment of a porous concrete system 300 is depicted.
- multiple porous concrete slabs 310 are arranged next to each other such that the conduits 320 of neighboring porous concrete slabs 310 are adjacent.
- the adjacent conduits 320 may be connected.
- the conduits 310 are connected via a connector 326 .
- the connector 326 is any connector known in the art.
- the connector may be an adapter 322 , or the connector 326 may be a separate component so long as the connector 326 connects the adjacent conduits 320 .
- one side of the conduits 320 may have inlet valves for receiving air or water while another end of the conduits may have outlet valves or be pluggable with a suitable cap 23 .
- FIG. 8 another embodiment of a porous concrete system 400 utilizes conduits 420 that are solid and not perforated.
- the conduits 420 can connect to an external source of heated water or steam in the same manner as the embodiments discussed previously and convey heat throughout the porous concrete slab 410 in order to dry the porous concrete slab 410 or to warm the porous concrete slab 410 during freezing conditions.
- the conduits 420 can be utilized as containers to hold specific compounds known to assist in the process of heating and cooling the porous concrete slab 410 .
- the conduits 420 may be filled with paraffin oil.
- each conduit 420 may have only one adapter 422 or two or more conduits 420 may be connected to each other and share one or more common adapters 422 .
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a porous concrete system comprised of a porous concrete slab and one or more cast-in conduits, with at least one conduit including an adapter capable of connecting to a hose. In addition, the present invention is also directed to a porous concrete system comprising a plurality of porous concrete slabs, wherein each porous concrete slab contains one or more conduits embedded therein and at least one conduit in each porous concrete slab has an adapter that is connectable to a hose and wherein the porous concrete slabs are arranged in a manner where the conduits in one porous concrete slab are adjacent to the conduits in the neighboring porous concrete slab.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/484,941, filed Apr. 13, 2017, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
- The present invention pertains to the field of porous concrete systems. Specifically, this invention relates to porous concrete systems that comprise porous concrete slabs and cast-in conduits to improve the ability to clean and warm the porous concrete slabs and provide the ability to channel stormwater runoff to a desired location.
- Nonporous surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete, make up a significant portion of any given developed area. The surface could be a parking lot, road, or sidewalk. Although these surfaces enable transportation without the problems associated with unpaved surfaces, such as the erosion of dirt roads, they present separate issues given that nonporous surfaces are not able to replicate soil's key functions, such as water management and filtration. The inability to replicate these functions creates problems for, and can negatively impact, surrounding areas. For example, when a rain event occurs, nonporous surfaces prevent the stormwater from flowing naturally through the surface into the soil. Efforts are made to direct the stormwater into collection areas such as drains, culverts and swales, where further filtration may take place. However, because it is difficult to direct the flow of runoff from these nonporous surfaces, inevitably a portion of the stormwater escapes and runs off into surrounding areas. Unfortunately, stormwater runoff often includes a host of pollutants—litter, fertilizer, gasoline, salt and sand—anything that may have been residing on the nonporous surface. When these pollutants are introduced into the surrounding groundwater, tributaries, streams or reservoirs, they can negatively impact the environment.
- Beyond just the pollutants themselves, nonporous surfaces can also negatively impact the temperature of stormwater runoff. Specifically, it is common for nonporous surfaces to retain the heat resulting from long periods of exposure to the sun. When a rain event occurs, soaking a warm nonporous surface, the resulting runoff is heated as it moves across the nonporous surface. This warm runoff then finds its way into the surrounding environment and can upset the delicate balance of aquatic environments by, for instance, warming surrounding water systems.
- In contrast to nonporous surfaces, porous concrete is a type of concrete that has a high porosity and allows for stormwater to infiltrate back into the ground naturally by passing directly through the concrete, thereby reducing pavement runoff. It is commonly used in parking areas and areas with relatively light traffic. Porous concrete also has the beneficial effect of filtering stormwater and may reduce pollutant loads entering into streams, ponds and rivers. Over time, however, the porosity can become substantially diminished as the porous material becomes clogged with sediment, debris, or other materials that prevent the stormwater from flowing through the pavement.
- Additionally, although porous concrete primarily conveys stormwater directly downward through the slab and into the ground in a vertical direction, there are situations where it would be beneficial to direct the flow of stormwater in alternative directions. For example, channeling stormwater in a horizontal direction may reduce the impact of stormwater on the bed underlying the porous concrete slab.
- Furthermore, in cold climates, ice or snow frequently build up on top of, or occasionally inside of, the porous slab, greatly diminishing its effectiveness. In certain circumstances, this accumulation of snow and ice presents an opportunity where it would be advantageous to have a means for melting the snow or ice so that the resulting water may filter through the porous concrete slab.
- What is needed, therefore, is a system that may be used for cleaning the sediment, debris and other materials from the porous concrete slab, with or without removing the slab from its installed position. What is further needed is a system that allows for the discharge of stormwater in a non-vertical direction. What is yet further needed is a system capable of melting ice or snow on or in a porous slab.
- The present invention solves the problems associated with maintaining porous concrete slabs by providing a system capable of facilitating the cleaning and heating of porous concrete slabs. In addition, the present invention addresses problems associated with stormwater runoff by providing a system capable of channeling stormwater in a horizontal direction within a porous concrete slab.
- The present invention is directed to a porous concrete system that comprises a porous concrete slab and one or more conduits embedded therein, with at least one conduit having an adapter that is connectable to a hose. The one or more conduits may be perforated and may be arranged substantially parallel or in a grid pattern in the porous concrete slab. In addition, one or more of the conduits may be connected to each other and share a common adapter.
- The present invention is further directed to a porous concrete system comprising a plurality of porous concrete slabs, wherein each porous concrete slab contains one or more conduits embedded therein and at least one conduit in each porous concrete slab has an adapter that is connectable to a hose. The porous concrete slabs are arranged in a manner where the conduits in one porous concrete slab are adjacent to the conduits in the neighboring porous concrete slab. Further at least one conduit in one of the porous concrete slabs is connected to the adjacent conduit in the neighboring porous concrete slab. The conduits may be perforated and may be arranged substantially parallel or in a grid pattern in each porous concrete slab.
- These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
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FIG. 1 is a top view of a perforated conduit of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of a porous concrete system of the present invention. -
FIG. 3 is a top view of a horizontal cross section of an embodiment of a porous concrete system of the present invention. -
FIG. 4 is a top view of a horizontal cross section of an embodiment of a porous concrete system of the present invention. -
FIG. 5 is a top view of a horizontal cross section of an embodiment of a porous concrete system of the present invention. -
FIG. 6 is a top view of a horizontal cross section of an embodiment of a porous concrete system of the present invention. -
FIG. 7 is a detail view of the horizontal cross section of the embodiment of the porous concrete system depicted inFIG. 6 . -
FIG. 8 is top view of a horizontal cross section of an embodiment of a porous concrete system of the present invention. - The present invention will now be described more fully in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention should not, however, be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
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FIGS. 1-3 depict a first embodiment of theporous concrete system 100 of the present invention. Specifically, one ormore conduits 20 are embedded within aporous concrete slab 10. As depicted, anadapter 22 is attached to one end of each of theconduits 20. Theadapter 22 is located at the end of theconduit 20 on an outer edge of theporous concrete slab 10. Theadapter 22 may be male, extending beyond the edge of theporous concrete slab 10, or theadapter 22 may be female. In some embodiments of the invention, theconduit 20 extends the complete width of theporous concrete slab 10. In these embodiments, while the first end of theconduit 20 will be attached to anadapter 22, the second end of theconduit 20 may be attached to either anadapter 22 or acap 23, depending on the intended implementation of theporous concrete system 100. Alternatively, where theconduit 20 does not extend the full width of theporous concrete slab 10, the second end of theconduit 20 may include acap 23 or anadapter 22, or as a person of skill in the art will appreciate, the second end of theconduit 20 may simply be embedded within theporous concrete slab 10 without either acap 23 or anadapter 22. Where acap 23 is utilized, thecap 23 may be anysuitable cap 23 known in the art that is capable of sealing the second end of theconduit 20. For example, thecap 23 may be a plug. - The
conduits 20 of the porousconcrete system 100 include a plurality ofperforations 24. Accordingly, theconduits 20 may be any suitable type of pipe, hose or tubing that may be perforated and is capable of mating with anadapter 22. The length of theconduits 20 is preferably substantially the same as the width of the porousconcrete slab 10, such that the ends of theconduit 20 are each substantially flush with the edge of the porousconcrete slab 10. For example, a standard four-foot wide porousconcrete slab 10, would utilizeconduits 20 of about four feet in length. In addition, the diameter of theconduits 20 may be selected based on the desired implementation. For example, some implementations will prefer asmaller diameter conduit 20 in the range of about ⅜ to ¾ inches. Other implementations will prefer slightlylarger conduits 20, ranging up to approximately two inches in diameter, while some embodiments will utilizeconduits 20 with diameters larger than two inches. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that while it may be preferred that the length of theconduits 20 of the porousconcrete system 100 is substantially similar to the width of the porousconcrete slab 10, theconduits 20 may be of any length provided that theadapter 22 is accessible. - As described above, the
conduits 20 include a plurality ofperforations 24. Similar to the size of theconduits 20, the number ofperforations 24 in theconduit 20 may be selected based on the requirements of the chosen implementation. In addition, theperforations 24 may be any size and may be arranged in any pattern as known to one of skill in the art. For example, aconduit 20 with a length of four feet may include ninety-sixperforations 24, theperforations 24 being configured in six rows of sixteenperforations 24 and spaced approximately evenly apart. However, this example is illustrative only and a chosen implementation may prefer a greater or lesser number ofperforations 24. In addition, the arrangement of theperforations 24 may be arranged in varying patterns, depending on the amount and direction of filtration that is desired. For example, in porousconcrete systems 100 designed for areas where the stormwater is known to contain significant debris or pollutants such that more filtering capacity is anticipated, it may be advantageous to havemore perforations 24 in theconduits 20. Additionally, it may be advantageous to haveperforations 24 oriented in one or more directions. For example, it may be beneficial to haveperforations 24 located on the top of theconduit 20 such that theperforations 24 are oriented substantially upward once theconduit 20 is embedded within the porousconcrete slab 10, leaving the portion of theconduit 20 facing downward solid and capable of serving as a channel for water to travel through the porousconcrete slab 10. Alternatively, as an additional example, theperforations 24 may be located on the sides of theconduit 20, such that theperforations 24 are oriented substantially horizontally, but not located on the top or the bottom. - The
conduits 20 may be connected to ahose 30 by way of theadapter 22. Asuitable hose 30 may be used to force hot air into the porousconcrete slab 10 to dry the porousconcrete slab 10, heat the porousconcrete slab 10 and, in some instances depending on the type of debris, blow debris outward through the porousconcrete slab 10. Alternatively, asuitable hose 30 may be used to backwash the porousconcrete slab 10 with liquid, forcing the debris out from a number of directions and, importantly, in directions other than the natural top to bottom direction that stormwater naturally flows through the porousconcrete slab 10. Because stormwater naturally filters from top to bottom, using pressure to wash debris out in alternative directions has a greater impact on restoring the porosity of the concrete. High pressure air or water is particularly effective. In addition, specialized cleaning solutions may be used in situations where the removal of specific pollutants is desired. - In some embodiments, the
conduits 20 may function to provide low resistance channels within the porousconcrete slab 10 so that it is possible to route water in a substantially horizontal direction. For example, in embodiments where theperforations 24 are located on the top, but not the bottom, of theconduits 20, a portion of the stormwater percolating through the porousconcrete slab 10 will enter theconduits 20 through theperforations 24 and will then travel through theconduits 20 in a substantially horizontal direction. This arrangement will permit the porousconcrete system 100 to effectively channel a portion of the stormwater to a known and suitable location, such as to a swale. In such embodiments, theconduits 20 may or may not include anadapter 22. - Each
conduit 20 may have its ownindividual adapter 22 to allow eachconduit 20 to connect directly to itsown hose 30. Alternatively, two ormore conduits 20 may be connected to each other in a manner where the two ormore conduits 20 share acommon adapter 22. For example, two ormore conduits 20 may be connected to each other such that only one, or only a subset, of theconduits 20 have anadaptor 22 that connects to ahose 30. In addition, while ahose 30 is the preferred means of connecting to theadapter 22, it may be advantageous, as depicted inFIG. 4 , to utilize a manifold 28 that connectsmultiple conduits 20 and provides asingle manifold adapter 29. It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that the manifold 28 may be connected via theadapters 22 located on theconduits 20. Alternatively, the manifold 28 may be connected directly to theconduits 20, removing the need for theadapters 22. - As depicted in
FIG. 5 , the present invention encompassesconduits 120 arranged in multiple directions within the porousconcrete slab 110. For example, a second embodiment of a porousconcrete system 200 of the present invention includesconduits 120 arranged in a grid pattern. Such an arrangement can be advantageous for several reasons. For example, the increased density ofconduits 120 will increase the surface area where air steam or water may be forced into the porousconcrete slab 110 for cleaning, heating or drying. In addition, this arrangement enables captured stormwater to efficiently travel in multiple directions across the horizontal plane of the porousconcrete slab 110. - Turning to
FIG. 6 , a third embodiment of a porousconcrete system 300 is depicted. In the porousconcrete system 300, multiple porousconcrete slabs 310 are arranged next to each other such that theconduits 320 of neighboring porousconcrete slabs 310 are adjacent. Once positioned, theadjacent conduits 320 may be connected. As shown in the detail view depicted inFIG. 7 , theconduits 310 are connected via aconnector 326. Theconnector 326 is any connector known in the art. In addition, the connector may be anadapter 322, or theconnector 326 may be a separate component so long as theconnector 326 connects theadjacent conduits 320. Depending on the desired direction of flushing and debris clearing, one side of theconduits 320 may have inlet valves for receiving air or water while another end of the conduits may have outlet valves or be pluggable with asuitable cap 23. - Turning to
FIG. 8 , another embodiment of a porousconcrete system 400 utilizesconduits 420 that are solid and not perforated. Theconduits 420 can connect to an external source of heated water or steam in the same manner as the embodiments discussed previously and convey heat throughout the porousconcrete slab 410 in order to dry the porousconcrete slab 410 or to warm the porousconcrete slab 410 during freezing conditions. Alternatively, theconduits 420 can be utilized as containers to hold specific compounds known to assist in the process of heating and cooling the porousconcrete slab 410. For example, theconduits 420 may be filled with paraffin oil. While theconduits 420 are depicted withadapters 422 on both ends, one will appreciate that as described for the previously discussed embodiments, eachconduit 420 may have only oneadapter 422 or two ormore conduits 420 may be connected to each other and share one or morecommon adapters 422. - It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (19)
1. A porous concrete system comprising:
a porous concrete slab containing one or more conduits embedded therein, at least one conduit having an adapter that is connectable to a hose.
2. The porous concrete system of claim 1 wherein the one or more conduits are perforated.
3. The porous concrete system of claim 2 wherein the one or more conduits have a diameter of about ⅜ inches to about 2 inches.
4. The porous concrete system of claim 3 wherein the one or more conduits have a diameter of about ⅜ inches to about 1 inch.
5. The porous concrete system of claim 1 wherein the length of one or more of the conduits is less than the width of the porous concrete slab, such that at least one end of at least one of the conduits is embedded within the porous concrete slab.
6. The porous concrete system of claim 2 further comprising a cap secured to at least one of the one or more conduits.
7. The porous concrete system of claim 1 further comprising a manifold connected to a plurality of the one or more conduits.
8. The porous concrete system of claim 1 wherein the conduits are arranged substantially parallel.
9. The porous concrete system of claim 1 wherein the conduits are arranged in a grid pattern.
10. The porous concrete system of claim 1 wherein two or more of the conduits are connected to each other and share a common adapter.
11. A porous concrete system comprising:
a plurality of porous concrete slabs, wherein each porous concrete slab contains one or more conduits embedded therein and at least one conduit in each porous concrete slab has an adapter that is connectable to a hose and wherein the porous concrete slabs are arranged in a manner where the conduits in one porous concrete slab are adjacent to the conduits in the neighboring porous concrete slab;
a connector connecting at least one of the conduits in one porous concrete slab with the adjacent conduit in the neighboring porous concrete slab.
12. The porous concrete system of claim 11 wherein the conduits are perforated.
13. The porous concrete system of claim 11 wherein the conduits are arranged substantially parallel in each porous concrete slab.
14. The porous concrete system of claim 11 wherein the conduits are arranged in a grid pattern in each porous concrete slab.
15. The porous concrete system of claim 11 wherein the conduits are arranged substantially parallel in at least one of the porous concrete slabs and the conduits are arranged in a grid pattern in at least one of the porous concrete slabs.
16. The porous concrete system of claim 11 wherein the conduits are perforated.
17. The porous concrete system of claim 11 wherein two or more of the conduits in at least one of the porous concrete slabs are connected to each other and share a common adapter.
18. The porous concrete system of claim 11 further comprising a cap secured to at least one of the conduits.
19. The porous concrete system of claim 11 wherein the length of one or more of the conduits is less than the width of the porous concrete slab, such that at least one end of at least one of the conduits is embedded within the porous concrete slab.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US16/603,323 US20200032511A1 (en) | 2017-04-13 | 2018-04-13 | Precast porous concrete with cast-in conduits |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201762484941P | 2017-04-13 | 2017-04-13 | |
PCT/US2018/027575 WO2018191670A1 (en) | 2017-04-13 | 2018-04-13 | Precast porous concrete with cast-in conduits |
US16/603,323 US20200032511A1 (en) | 2017-04-13 | 2018-04-13 | Precast porous concrete with cast-in conduits |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20200032511A1 true US20200032511A1 (en) | 2020-01-30 |
Family
ID=63793713
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US16/603,323 Abandoned US20200032511A1 (en) | 2017-04-13 | 2018-04-13 | Precast porous concrete with cast-in conduits |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20200032511A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA3059054A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2018191670A1 (en) |
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WO2018191670A1 (en) | 2018-10-18 |
CA3059054A1 (en) | 2018-10-18 |
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