WO2006138401A2

WO2006138401A2 - Liquid drainage system

Info

Publication number: WO2006138401A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/023200
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dennis W. Koerner
Original assignee: Ring Industrial Group, L.P.
Priority date: 2005-06-14
Filing date: 2006-06-14
Publication date: 2006-12-28
Also published as: WO2006138401A3

Abstract

A drainage structure having a drainage pipe having a by a drainage line member located on the outside thereof. The drainage line member includes a first sleeve and a second sleeve, the second sleeve being located within the first sleeve. A first type of aggregate materials are disposed within the first sleeve and exterior to the second sleeve. A second type of aggregate materials are disposed within the second sleeve, the second type of aggregate materials having a density greater than that of the first type of aggregate materials. The drainage line member can be wrapped around the drainage pipe or multiple drainage line members can extend longitudinally along the exterior of the drainage pipe.

Description

LIQUID DRAINAGE SYSTEM CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

[01] This application claims benefit under 35 U.S. C. § 119(e) of pending Provisional Application 60/690,130, filed on June 14, 2005, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirely by reference.

RELATED ART

[02] The disclosures of U.S. Patents No. 5,015,123 and 6,173,483 and U.S. Patent Application Nos. 10/290,261, 10/360,743 and 10/253,811 are related to the present disclosure and are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[03] The invention disclosed herein and defined by the claims to follow generally relates to underground drainage systems, and more particularly relates to a drainage pipe having a reinforcing and strengthening preassembled drainage line member containing a plurality of one or more aggregate types placed on the outside of the pipe to, among other things, prevent deformation of the pipe under load, resist deflection, and provide impact resistance during shipping and handling of the pipe and placement of the pipe into a trench.

Background

[04] Thin- walled, cylindrical plastic pipe constructed of high density polyethylene (HDPE) has been successfully substituted for conventional concrete and metal pipe in constructing drainage systems for culverts, cross drains, storm sewers, land fills, and other public and private construction. The diameter of the larger plastic pipes range from about 12 inches to 60 inches and they are generally manufactured in about 20 foot lengths. Depending upon the application, these plastic pipes may be corrugated both internally and externally, corrugated externally with a smooth interior surface or provided with both smooth interior and exterior surfaces. These pipes can be buried under anywhere from 12 inches to 60 feet of rock and soil

("backfill").

[05] These large diameter plastic pipes are subjected to various forces during transit from a manufacturing facility or a warehouse to a job site and while being handled at the job site. These forces tend to distort the pipe from its original cross section. Although the pipe is reasonably rigid, the forces can flatten, bend, dent, or otherwise damage the pipe. Similarly, once the pipe is installed in an underground trench covered with backfill material, the weight of that backfill material can deform the pipe from its original cross section. In addition, once in place and covered by backfill, vehicles driving over the pipe, for example, when the pipe is buried under a road, subject the pipe to significant loads that tend to deform and possibly damage the pipe and thereby damage the drainage system.

[06] Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a drainage system employing a flexible plastic pipe that alleviates such deflection and deformation problems while at the same time facilitating drainage around the pipe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[07] FIG. IA is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of drainage system in accordance with the present invention. [08] FIG. IB is a perspective view further illustrating the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. IA.

[09] FIG. 2A is a side view of a drainage line member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[10] FIG. 2B is a diametrical cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the drainage line member shown in FIG. 2A.

[11] FIG. 2C is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the drainage line member shown in FIG. 2A.

[12] FIG. 2D is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the drainage line member shown in FIG. 2A.

[13] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a drainage system in accordance with the present invention.

[14] FIG. 4 is an end view illustrating another embodiment of a drainage system in accordance with the present invention.

[15] FIG. 5 is an end view illustrating yet another embodiment of a drainage system in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[16] As illustrated in FIGS. IA-B₅ a first embodiment of the drainage system 1 disclosed herein includes a plastic pipe 10. Pipe 10 can be constructed from a variety of materials, including, for example, HDPE, and has a predetermined length, for example about 20 feet. The drainage system 1 also includes a reinforcing, flexible, generally cylindrical preassembled drainage line member 12 helically wound around the outside of pipe 10 from end to end of pipe 10 as shown in FIGS. IA-B. However, drainage line member 12 does not need to extend the length, but can extend for only a portion of pipe 10 as required. Drainage line member 12 serves to strengthen pipe 10 and enhances the pipe's ability to resist deflection and deformation under load. Drainage line member 12 also serves to facilitate drainage around pipe 10.

[17] Drainage line member 12 can be constructed as illustrated in FIGS. 2A-D. In one embodiment, drainage line member 12 includes an inner drainage member 21 containing first aggregate material(s) 23 and an outer drainage member 17 containing second aggregate material(s) 16. Inner drainage member 21 includes a first sleeve 22 that contains the first aggregate material(s) 23. First sleeve 22 has openings, such as perforations, to allow fluid to pass through while still containing aggregate material(s) 23. Outer drainage member 17 includes a second sleeve 18 that contains the second aggregate material(s) 16. Outer drainage member 17 also contains inner drainage member 21 while still containing aggregate material(s) 16. Second sleeve 23 also has openings to allow fluid to pass through. In one embodiment, an additional liquid-permeable material 18a can be located over second sleeve 18 to prevent dirt, sand and other fine aggregates from entering drainage line member 12 while still allowing water and other liquids to penetrate into or out of drainage line member 12. Alternatively, the liquid-permeable member 18a can be used in place of the second sleeve 18.

[18] Each end of second sleeve 18 is suitably tied by a fastener 20 or some other device to contain the second aggregate materials 16 and each end of first sleeve 22 is tied by a fastener 26 or some other device to contain the first aggregate material 23 as shown in FIG. 2C. Alternatively, first sleeve 22 and second sleeve 18 can be tied by the same fastener 20 or other device as illustrated in FIG. 2D.

[19] Preferably, the outer diameter of drainage line member 12 is between 3 inches and 36 inches depending on the diameter of pipe 10.

[20] Preferably, aggregate materials 16 and 23 are water impervious, water resistant and crush resistant. For example, in one embodiment, the first aggregate materials 16 are lightweight plastic elements, such as expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads of the type described in U.S. Patent 6,467,996, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, and the plurality of second aggregate materials 23 are rubber elements, such as recycled rubber tire chips or shreds. By providing a drainage line member having an inner and outer member.

[21] Aggregate materials 16 and 23 are bound within sleeves 18 and 22, but drainage line member 12 remains flexible enough to be wrapped around pipe 10 in a helical fashion, preferably with adjacent coils of drainage line member 12 abutting each other. Each end of drainage line member 12 may include generally cylindrical coils 13 and 17 at the ends of pipe 10. Drainage line member 12 can be suitably fastened on pipe 10, for example by straps 15. Cables, ropes, adhesives, staples, bolts and other well-known attachment means can also be used.

[22] Drainage line member 12, which is helically wound around pipe 10, strengthens pipe 10 and enhances its ability to resist deflection, for example, bending, denting, or flattening of pipe 10, during handling and transportation. Drainage line member 12 also helps resist deformation of pipe 10 under load when the pipe is placed in a trench where it is subjected to the load of backfill material placed on top thereof and forces caused by vehicles or other loads passing thereover. In addition, during transportation, in which a number of pipes 10 are normally placed side by side and one on top of the other, drainage line member 12 minimizes and cushions the impact between adjacent pipes 10, preventing indentation, marring, or other damage to the outside surface of pipes 10, thus helping to maintain the structural integrity of the pipes.

[23] The drainage line member 12 is relatively light in weight, easy to handle, and add relatively little cost to a conventional drainage system while substantially increasing the strength and durability of pipe 10. In addition, when the drainage system 1 is placed in a trench, aggregate materials 16 and 23 allow for improved drainage around pipe 10 in comparison to the conventional system. Aggregate materials 16 and 23 replace gravel and similar types of aggregate that have been used in conventional installations. As a result, drainage systems disclosed herein substantially reduce labor and material costs in constructing drainage systems as aggregate materials 16 and 23 are relatively less expensive in comparison to traditional aggregates and light in weight, which reduces their transport and handling costs.

[24] Drainage line member 12 can be quickly and easily attached to a pipe 10 following the manufacturing of pipe 10 by first attaching one end 13 of drainage line member 12 to one end of pipe 10, slowly rotating pipe 10 while moving the remainder of the drainage line member 12 linearly along the rotating pipe 10 so as to wind the drainage line member 12 in helical fashion around pipe 10, and then attaching the other end 17 of the drainage line member 12 around the other end of pipe 10. Alternatively, drainage line member 12 can be helically wound around a stationary pipe 10. Although it is preferable that adjacent coils abut each other, the pitch between adjacent coils of drainage line member 12 can be varied by varying either the speed of rotation of pipe 10 or the speed of linear travel of drainage line member 12 along the pipe 10, or both.

[25] Thus, the drainage line member 12 provides a simple, inexpensive reinforcing and strengthening system for plastic pipes while at the same time providing enhanced drainage in comparison to conventional systems. Additionally, drainage line member 12 allows for utilization of waste materials, for example, scrap tires, in a beneficial and environmentally- friendly manner.

[26] While the reinforcing system illustrated in FIG. 1 has a helical wrapping of drainage line member 12 around pipe 10, in an alternative embodiment, a drainage system 25 may include a plurality of separate cylindrical drainage line members 12a spaced along the length of pipe 10. One embodiment of drainage system 25 is illustrated in FIG. 3 and includes a plurality of drainage line members 12a (having substantially the same construction as drainage line member 12 described above) secured circumferentially around the outside of pipe 10, each member 12a extending longitudinally along pipe 10 as required. Drainage line members 12a are secured to pipe 10 by straps 30 that wrap circumferentially around members 12a and pipe 10. Alternative means for securing the drainage line members 12a, such as netting, adhesives, staples, bolts, etc., can be used.

[27] As with the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. IA-B, drainage line members 12a strengthen pipe 10. When drainage assembly 25 is placed in a trench, drainage line members 12a provide both enhanced drainage around pipe 10 and structural support of pipe 10, replacing conventional gravel backfill, and reducing labor and material costs.

[28] Referring now to FIG. 4, instead of attaching the drainage line members 12 or 12a to a pipe 10 prior to placement in a trench 30, a drainage system can be constructed by first digging a trench 30 of generally rectangular cross section having a desired depth and width. Next one or more longitudinally extending drainage line members 12b can be placed in each of the corners 32 and 34 at the bottom of trench 30. A pipe 40 is then set in the trench resting against members 12b which, because they are flexible and because aggregate materials 16 and 23 are displaceable within sleeves 18 and 22, generally conform to the configuration of the corner area defined by the diverging side walls 42 and 44 of the bottom of pipe 40 and side walls 46 and 48, respectively, and bottom 50 of trench 30. Drainage line members 12b substantially fill those corner areas and afford load bearing support to pipe walls 42 and 44, thereby helping to prevent deformation of pipe 40 under load after trench 40 is backfilled.

[29] Drainage line members 12b (which can be similar in construction to drainage line members 12 and 12a) may be selectively positioned around the circumference of pipe 10 to strengthen a weak area in a pipe installation. For example, when two pipes 40a and 40b are placed side by side in a trench in an abutting relationship as shown in FIG. 5, an open area 19 forms below the line of contact of pipes 40a and 40b, the diverging side walls of the bottom of pipes 40a, 40b, and the bottom of trench 30a. This open area can weaken the pipe assembly, allowing the pipe to deflect and deform under load. To avoid this, drainage line members 12b may be strategically positioned on one or both pipes 40a and 40b to substantially fill open area, thereby provide support for the pipes 40a and 40b.

[30] In drainage systems such as those illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, using preassembled members 12a or 12b in place of conventional gravel significantly reduces labor and material costs, reduces installation and construction time, while at the same time providing load bearing support for the pipes to prevent deformation.

[31] In some applications employing drainage line members 12, 12a, or 12b, solids such as sand, dirt or local soil ("fine aggregates") placed on top of the drainage line members 12 can penetrate into these members, thereby reducing the void space between aggregate materials 16 and 23, clogging the drainage line members and reducing the fluid flow through them.

[32] To alleviate this problem, a liquid or water permeable barrier material 18a, as shown in FIG. 2B, can be placed between aggregates 16 and sleeve 18, the barrier extending longitudinally along drainage line member 12 between opposing ends of the drainage line member and being secured at its ends by fasteners 20. Alternatively, the water permeable barrier material 18a can be placed on the outside of sleeve 18 or may replace sleeve 18 entirely.

[33] The barrier material 18a can be constructed of any suitable pliable water permeable sheet material such as paper or cloth, but is preferably a geo-textile material such as nylon having a fine weave to block the passage of sand or dirt but sufficiently pourous to permit the passage of water. Also, the barrier material is preferably thin so as to readily conform to the shape of the drainage line member 12. [34] The invention as disclosed herein and as will be defined by the claims below may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A reinforcing member for a drainage pipe, the reinforcing member comprising: a liquid-permeable first sleeve; a liquid-permeable second sleeve surrounded by the first sleeve; a first aggregate; and a second aggregate; wherein the first aggregate is contained within the first sleeve and outside the second sleeve; and wherein the second aggregate is contained within the second sleeve.

2. The reinforcing member according to claim 1 , wherein a material composition of the first aggregate is different from a material composition of the second aggregate.

3. The reinforcing member according to claim 2, wherein a density of the material composition of the second aggregate is greater than a density of the material composition of the first aggregate.

4. The reinforcing member according to claim 3, wherein the density of the material composition of the second aggregate is at least 1.5 times greater than the density of the material composition of the first aggregate.

5. The reinforcing member of claim 2, wherein the first aggregate comprises expanded polystyrene beads and the second aggregate comprises rubber chips.

6. The reinforcing member of claim 1, further comprising a liquid-permeable, fine aggregate barrier disposed on an exterior of the first sleeve, the fine aggregate barrier structured to prevent fine aggregate from entering the first aggregate.

7. The reinforcing member of claim 1 , wherein the first sleeve and the sleeve are netting.

8. A drainage system comprising: a drainage pipe; and a reinforcing member comprising: a liquid-permeable first sleeve; a liquid-permeable second sleeve surrounded by the first sleeve; a first aggregate; and a second aggregate; wherein the first aggregate is contained within the first sleeve and outside the second sleeve; wherein the second aggregate is contained within the second sleeve; and wherein the reinforcing member is helically wound around the drainage pipe and attached to the drainage pipe.

9. The drainage system according to claim 8, wherein the reinforcing member is attached to the drainage pipe by at least one of a cable, a strap, an adhesive, staples, and screws.

10. The reinforcing member according to claim 8, wherein a material composition of the first aggregate is different from a material composition of the second aggregate.

11. The reinforcing member according to claim 10, wherein a density of the material composition of the second aggregate is greater than a density of the material composition of the first aggregate.

12. The reinforcing member according to claim 11, wherein the density of the material composition of the second aggregate is at least 1.5 times greater than the density of the material composition of the first aggregate.

13. The reinforcing member of claim 10, wherein the first aggregate comprises expanded polystyrene beads and the second aggregate comprises rubber chips.

14. The reinforcing member of claim 8, further comprising a liquid-permeable, fine aggregate barrier disposed on an exterior of the first sleeve, the fine aggregate barrier structured to prevent fine aggregate from entering the first aggregate.

15. The drainage system of claim 8, wherein the first liquid-permeable sleeve and the second liquid-permeable sleeve are composed of netting.

16. A drainage system comprising: a drainage pipe; and a plurality of reinforcing members, each reinforcing member comprising a reinforcing member comprising: a liquid-permeable first sleeve; a liquid-permeable second sleeve surrounded by the first sleeve; a first aggregate; and a second aggregate; wherein the first aggregate is contained within the first sleeve and outside the second sleeve; wherein the second aggregate is contained within the second sleeve; and wherein the plurality of reinforcing members are attached to the drainage pipe along the longitudinal axis of the drainage pipe.

17. The drainage system according to claim 16, wherein the reinforcing member is attached to the drainage pipe by at least one of a cable, a strap, an adhesive, staples, and screws.

18. The reinforcing member according to claim 16, wherein a material composition of the first aggregate is different from a material composition of the second aggregate.

19. The reinforcing member according to claim 18, wherein a density of the material composition of the second aggregate is greater than a density of the material composition of the first aggregate.

20. The reinforcing member according to claim 19, wherein the density of the material composition of the second aggregate is at least 1.5 times greater than the density of the material composition of the first aggregate.

21. The reinforcing member of claim 18, wherein the first aggregate comprises expanded polystyrene beads and the second aggregate comprises rubber chips.

22. The reinforcing member of claim 16, further comprising a liquid-permeable, fine aggregate barrier disposed on an exterior of the first sleeve, the fine aggregate barrier structured to prevent fine aggregate from entering the first aggregate.

23. The drainage system of claim 16, wherein the first liquid-permeable sleeve and the second liquid-permeable sleeve are composed of netting.