IMPROVED BIPLANAR NET STRUCTURE FOR FLUID DRAINAGE, PARTICULARLY FOR GEOTECHNICAL USE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a biplanar net structure with improved fluid transmisivity for fluid drainage, particularly for geotechnical and civil engineering use.
2. Description of the Prior Art Drainage of fluids in civil engineering, geotechnical, and other applications has historically been accomplished by including a layer of gravel or stone in the plane of required drainage. The fluid being able to pass along the drainage plane by flowing in the spaces between the gravel or stone particles.
Innovative use of modern synthetic materials has led to the development of biplanar and triplanar nets for use as drainage layers used as more efficient drainage layers than traditional natural materials
Known biplanar net structures have a first set of strands with spaces between them on one plane, which are rigidly associated with and at a particular angle to, a second set of similar strands on a parallel second plane. Such nets are manufactured, for example, by extruding plastic material through known counter-rotating co axial nozzle rings provided with slots or holes where the exiting plastic forms the strands.
Known triplanar net structures have a midplane series of strands is configured to be aligned in the direction of desired drainage flow. The two outer planar series of strands are configured to be positive and negative angular displacement to the midplane strands. Such nets are manufactured, for example, by extruding plastic material through known extrusion dies consisting of three concentric rings in which the inner and outer rings counter-rotate and the ring between them is stationary. The resulting triplanar structure is described in US Patent No. 5,255,998 Inventor Mario Beretta. Triplanar nets typically have higher fluid transmisivity properties than equivalent biplanar nets. Such biplanar and triplanar nets are buried and inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, so as to allow the flow of fluid to be drained in the direction of the downward incline, or fall-line. Such nets are sometimes covered with and laminated to a filter fabric to prevent fines from entering the flow passages of the nets, and causing flow reduction or stoppage. A typical example of the use of such drainage nets is on the side slopes and bottom of a landfill to drain leachate fluid from the landfill into a collection sump for purification, thereby preventing potential ground water pollution by uncollected, untreated leachate. Other applications are to drain excess ground water from under concrete roadways and buildings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a primary embodiment, the invention provides for improved flow of fluid by providing a more direct down-slope line of flow than currently available biplanar net used for drainage. In net manufacture this can be achieved by reducing the speed, or briefly stopping, the rotation of the two concentric rings which make the biplanar net when the strands of both planes cross, associate, and bond with each other. The result is a net structure with extended sections where the strands cross each other and where these extended bonded double strand sections are at a lesser angle to the down-slope direction of fluid flow than the non-bonded strand portions. The fluid flow along the improved net therefore travels in a more direct down-slope, or fall-line, path for a certain percentage of it's time of passage, resulting in overall improved flow rates.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further details of the invention are explained below with the help of the examples illustrated in the attached drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an isometric depiction of a typical currently available prior art biplanar drainage net.
FIG. 2 is the plan view of the prior art net of Figure 1.
FIG. 3 is an isometric depiction of one typical embodiment of biplanar net according to the invention, in which each strand crossing is extended.
FIG. 4 is the plan view of the improved net in FIGURE 3.
FIG. 5 is an isometric depiction of a second typical embodiment of biplanar net according to the invention, in which each alternate strand crossing is extended.
FIG. 6 is the plan view of the improved net in FIGURE 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a typical prior art biplanar net in which strands 3 are planar and together constitute one of the two planes of the net, and strands 4 are planar and together constitute the second plane. The down-slope, or fall-line direction is shown by1. The angle between the strands of each plane is shown as 6. Four of the crossover portions are circled and labeled 5, which is where the strands of both planes cross, associate, and bond with each other. The crossover sections 5 are also the load bearing columns, which transmit normal loads from above the net to the base below the net. Strands 3 and 4 are simply suspended between the crossover sections 5. 2 depict the zigzag path of fluid flow down-slope, and shows how the fluid must flow under one strand 3, make a turn and then flow over a strand 4, make a turn and then flow under a strand 3, and so on. FIG. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1 added for clarity. FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention in which strands 23 are planar and together constitute one of the two planes of the net, and strands 24 are planar and together constitute the second plane. The down-slope, or fall line, direction is shown by 1. (The angle between the strands other than when crossing over each other is shown as 26 on Fig. 4). Four of the crossover portions are circled and labeled 25, which is where the strands of both planes cross, associate, and bond with each other. The cross-over portions are extended in the direction of the fall line by a distance 27 and as a result fluid flowing past the sections 25 will be able to flow directly in the direction of the fall-line for approximately distance 27. This results in, on average, a more direct flow path for the flowing fluid and an increased flow rate compared to that obtained with prior art biplanar net. The crossover sections 25 are also the load bearing columns, which transmit normal loads from above the net to the base below the net, and they have a greater cross- sectional area than prior art cross-over sections because of their extended length 27 which increases their load bearing capacity. This increased load bearing capacity allows biplanar net of the invention to withstand relatively greater normal loads, than prior art biplanar net, before collapsing and reducing fluid flow. Strands 23 and 24 are simply suspended between the crossover sections 25. 22 depicts the path of fluid flow down- slope, and shows how the fluid must flow under one strand 23, make a turn, flow parallel to 25 which is straight down the fall-line, make a turn and then flow over a strand 24, make a turn and then flow under a strand 23, and so on.
FIG. 4 is the plan view of Fig. 3 added for clarity and to show angle 26 clearly. Figures 3 and 4 show the extended crossover portions aligned with the down slope or fall-line for clarity, however according to the invention this is not an absolute requirement. According to the invention it is only necessary for the crossover angle to be less than angle 26 for some of the claimed advantages to be realized. Likewise the length 27 of the crossover section is not prescribed. For greater flow 27 can be increased and a practical balance will be selected between strand separation and length 27.
FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the invention in which strands 33 are planar and together constitute one of the two planes of the net, and strands 34 are planar and together constitute the second plane. The down-slope, or fall line, direction is shown by 1. (The angle between the strands other than when crossing over each other is shown as 36 on Fig. 4). In the embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6 the crossover extension according to the invention is made only once out of every two crossovers. Two of the crossover portions with such extensions are circled and labeled 35. Two unextended crossover sections are circled and labeled 36. The crossover sections 35 are extended in the direction of the fall line and as a result fluid flowing past the sections 35 will be able to flow directly in the direction of the fall-line. This results in, on average, a more direct flow path for the flowing fluid and an increased flow rate compared to that obtained with prior art biplanar net. The crossover sections 36 are the same as those in prior art biplanar net. In this embodiment only one half the benefit accruing to the net of Figs. 3 and 4 can be realized. Likewise only one half of the increase in load bearing capacity possible with the net in Figs. 3 and 4 can be achieved. Strands 33 and 34 are simply suspended between the crossover sections 35 and 36. 32 depicts the path of fluid flow down-slope, and shows how the fluid must flow over strand 34, make a turn, flow parallel to 36 which is straight down the fall-line, make a turn and then flow under a strand 33, make a turn and then flow over a strand 34, and so on. FIG. 6 is the plan view of Fig. 3 added for clarity. Figures 5 and 6 show the extended crossover portions aligned with the down slope or fall-line for clarity, however according to the invention this is not an absolute requirement. According to the invention it is only necessary for the crossover angle to be less than angle between strand when not crossing over each other for some of the claimed advantages to be realized. Likewise the length of the crossover section is not prescribed. For greater flow this length can be increased and a practical balance will be selected between strand separation and crossover length.
It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herein shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size, arrangement of parts, or materials used may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.