WO2009090388A1

WO2009090388A1 - Kerb block and system

Info

Publication number: WO2009090388A1
Application number: PCT/GB2009/000104
Authority: WO
Inventors: Clifford Gary Maylor
Original assignee: Pipeline & Drainage Systems Plc
Priority date: 2008-01-17
Filing date: 2009-01-15
Publication date: 2009-07-23
Also published as: EP2231929A1

Abstract

An elongate kerb block (1) is provided comprising a rear surface (4), a front surface (5), two end surfaces and a top section defining a kerb profile, the front surface adapted to face a drained surface in use, the block having at least one drainage channel (2) extending between and opening uninterrupted at the end surfaces of the block and below the drainage channel a substantially co-planar utility conduit (3) extending between and opening uninterrupted at the end surfaces of the block, the block depth being greater than 300 mm. The kerb (40) my be in two parts with both parts (41, 42) co-operating to define the utility conduit (44). The kerb block may be used with a separate lower block unit (42) designed to support the kerb block (41) and provide additional utility conduits. The combination of the unitary kerb block and the two-part kerb block provides an effective kerb system for accommodating utility services with integral drainage, which may be further enhanced by inclusion of the lower block units.

Description

KERB BLOCK AND SYSTEM

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to kerb drainage systems for use in effecting the drainage of roads, pathways and footpaths to remove water and in particular to such systems which also provide a means for accommodating utility services.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Various kerb systems have been proposed in the art for the removal of surface water which is flowing along the roadside gutter and for the provision of means for accommodating utility services such as mains water, gas mains, electricity power cables, telecommunications etc. The systems described in the art have been of limited commercial success due to technical and practical limitations.

[0003] One traditional method is to provide horizontal drain grids connected to gullies at intervals within the gutter.

[0004] United States Patent No. 15359, describes a curb drain and conduit for services, in which the kerb is monolithic or made up of strata and is manufactured from shale burnt as brick, concrete or cement. The services are easily damaged if the kerb suffers impact damage and the kerb is difficult to install and repair without damaging the utility services.

[0005] GB484936 describes a kerb with bonding parts. The kerb may be hollow to accommodate services. [0006] GB2298882 describes a road kerb for accommodating utility services. The kerb comprises parallel ducts that are proximate to the top portion of the kerb and road surface. There are no drainage channels in the kerb.

[0007] European patent EP1305476 describes a polymeric kerb stone meeting European standard prEN134, which in one embodiment may comprise two channels one for drainage and one for¹ utility services.

[0008] GB2315792 describes a kerb drainage system with a single drainage channel passing through the kerb in along a longitudinal axis.

Recesses in each kerb block may co-operate with recesses in neighboring kerb blocks to define a passage for services to pass through and assembled kerb in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

[0009] Some existing systems also suffer from the technical problem that they only provide for drainage from above the surface. It is now possible to construct roads with porous asphalt into and through which surface/rain water will travel and therefore drainage from within a wearing surface layer may be required.

[0010] There is a continuing need for robust and easily installable kerb drainage systems which may accommodate means for delivering utility services securely and which are easy to repair and maintain, without significant disruption of the service utilities.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0011] In accordance with the present invention there is provided in a first embodiment an elongate kerb block comprising a rear surface, a front surface, two end surfaces and a top section defining a kerb profile, the front surface adapted to face a drained surface in use, the block having at least one drainage channel extending between and opening uninterrupted at the end surfaces of the block and below the drainage channel a substantially co-planar utility conduit extending between and opening uninterrupted at the end surfaces of the block, the block depth being greater than 300 mm.

[0012] In a second embodiment there is provided a block in accordance with the first embodiment further comprising a plurality of inlets extending from the front surface of the block to the drainage channel. In a preferred embodiment the inlets have elongate openings. Preferably these openings are positioned such that, in use, a lower part of the opening may be below the drained surface.

[0013] In a third embodiment there is provided a block in accordance with the first or second embodiments, which is provided in two parts an upper part and a lower part, the upper part comprising at least one drainage conduit and having a lower surface which defines the top of a utility conduit when in contact with the lower part, the lower part having a profile such that when in contact with the upper part a utility conduit is defined with the lower surface of the upper part.

[0014] In a fourth embodiment there is provided a kerbing unit comprising a kerb block according to the first or second or third embodiments of the present invention in combination with a lower kerb block unit, the lower kerb block unit having at least one conduit extending between and opening uninterrupted at its end surfaces.

[0015] The present invention further provides a kerbing system comprising a plurality of kerb blocks according to the first or second or third embodiments of the present invention. In a further embodiment the present invention provides a kerbing system additionally comprising a plurality of lower kerb block units. [0016] In any of these embodiments the utility conduit may comprise a plurality of inlets extending from the front surface of the block to the utility conduit. In this embodiment the utility conduit may function to both accommodate various utilities and at the same time act as a drainage channel for sub-surface drainage.

[0017] In a further embodiment the block may further comprise a drainage channel outlet, which extends from the drainage conduit to the rear surface of the block.

[0018] In a further embodiment the block may further comprise a utility channel outlet, which extends from the utility channel to the front or rear surface of the block, preferably the rear surface of the block.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, when viewed in cross-section, the drainage channel has a cross-sectional dimension which is greater than the cross-sectional dimension of the utility conduit, preferably the cross-sectional dimension is at least twice that of the utility conduit and more preferably is at least three times that of the utility conduit.

[0020] In one embodiment the utility conduit is not used for the accommodation of utility services but is exclusively used for sub-surface drainage.

[0021] In relation to all embodiments of the present invention it is preferred that the block depth is greater than 350 mm, preferably greater than 400 mm and most preferably is at least 480 mm.

[0022] In relation to all embodiments of the present invention the kerb block may be made from traditional materials such as concrete. It is preferred that the kerb block is as compression molded kerb block. Such a block can be moulded from and preferably is moulded from polymer concrete. The material used is preferably recycled polymeric materials such as for example recycled rubber tyres sometimes referred to as re-crumb rubber. The polymer may be virgin or recycled polyethylene, which may be recycled high-density polyethylene or recycled low-density polyethylene or a mixture of these recycled polymers.

[0023] When the kerb block of the present invention is a compression moulded kerb block using such materials it has extremely strong resistance to damage via side impact.

[0024] The kerb block of the present invention ensures that service utilities are secure from such impact damage by locating the utility conduit below the drainage conduit and at depth of at least 200 mm below the top of the kerb.

[0025] Any assembled kerb incorporating the unitary kerb blocks of the present invention may easily be repaired if any of these kerb blocks is damaged during use. The repair may easily be undertaken with minimum disruption to the utility services. This is achieved by the use of polymeric materials in the kerb manufacture enabling various methods to be used to cut away a damaged kerb block from an assembled kerb. The damaged kerb block, once removed may easily be replaced using the two part kerb block of the third embodiment; the lower part may easily be placed in-situ around the utility services and the upper part secured in place to define a kerb block which is almost identical to the unitary kerb block.

[0026] Further examples of utilities which may be securely accommodated within the kerb block include various data transfer services either via conventional copper wire or fibre optic cable based including fixed voice and data, wireless service Mobile/WiFi/Wimax, media, traffic signaling, power (AC and DC), transport, CCTV and CATV. [0027] Since a large portion of the volume of the kerb block is taken up by the drainage channel and the utility conduit, the block can be made sufficiently lightweight so as to be handled by one man. The kerb block may be made lightweight, strong, water and frost resistant. It may also be made in various colours or textures to provide additional landscaping benefits. Other materials may also be employed. Preferably the kerb block is 25 Kg or less in weight and more preferably is 22 Kg or less in weight and most preferably is 20 Kg or less in weight.

[0028] In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a kerb drainage block in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a kerb drainage block in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is an end view of a kerb drainage block in accordance with the first and second embodiments of the invention;

Figure 4 is an end view of a kerb drainage block in accordance with the third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the lower section of the kerb illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 with fibre optic cables in the utility conduit; Figure 6 is a sectional view of a kerb drainage block as illustrated in Figure 4 with additional features of a drainage channel outlet, a utility conduit outlet and sub-surface inlets, and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a two-part kerb drainage block in accordance with the third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] Referring to Figure 1 an elongate kerb drainage block (1 ) is provided so that a number of such blocks can be fitted together end to end to define both a kerb assembly, a drainage channel (2) for draining an adjacent surface, for example, a carriageway or paved area and a utility conduit (3) for accommodating utility services. The block (1 ) comprises a drainage channel (2) located above a utility conduit (3). The block (1 ) comprises a back surface (4) a front surface (5) and two end (6, 6'). Both the drainage channel (2) and the utility conduit (3) extend as uninterrupted passages between the ends (6,6'). By uninterrupted is meant that the walls of the channel (2) and conduit (3) are substantially smooth having preferably been formed in a compression molding process. Both the channel (2) and conduit (3) are of substantially uniform cross- section within the normal limits of the compression molding technique. This uniformity of cross-section and consistency between individual kerb blocks is highly desirable to ensure the free flow of drainage water and accommodation of utilities e.g. fibre optic cable. The top section (A) of the block (1) is the region of the block which is located above the road surface and which provides the visible kerb profile. The bottom section (B) of the block is located below the road surface. The block is a minimum of 300 mm in depth (x) so that the utility conduit (3) is a significant distance below the road surface. Ensuring that the utility conduit is at this depth means that if there is impact damage to section (A) then there is limited or no damage imparted to the utility conduit and in turn the utilities located therein. [0030] Referring to Figure 2 the elongate kerb drainage block (10) is identical in all respects to the block (1 ) in Figure 1 with the additional features of inlets (11 ) located on the front surface (12) of the block (10). When the kerb block (11 ) is in-situ these inlets (11 ) are located adjacent to a gutter or the road surface and enable water from these locations to flow into the block (10) and into the drainage channel (13). In use the block of Figure 2 may be the sole component of the kerb assembly in which case every block used to manufacture the kerb will have inlets. In an alternative arrangement the block of Figure 2 is used in combination with the block of Figure 1 to provide sections of assembled kerb which do not have inlets interspersed with sections of kerb having the indicated inlets. The end view of this block is further illustrated in Figure 3, where the relative dimensions of the drainage channel (13) compared to the utility conduit (14) can be seen along with their uninterrupted cross- section through the block (10).

[0031] Referring to Figure 4 an elongate kerb drainage block (40) is provided, which is identical to the drainage block of Figures 2 and 3, with the key difference that the block (40) is formed in two distinct sections or parts namely an upper part (41 ) and a lower part (42). The lower surface (43) of the upper part (41 ) defines the roof of the utility conduit (44) when both parts (41 ,42) are located together in-situ in a kerb assembly. This block (40) may be used to replace damaged blocks in a kerb assembly. The damaged kerb block may be removed from the kerb assembly without significant disruption to the kerb assembly and importantly significant disruption or damage to the installed utility e.g. fibre optical cable. The damaged kerb block may then be replaced with a kerb block (40) as illustrated in Figure 4. The lower part or section (42) is installed first around the installed utility. The lower part (42) has a cavity, which forms the major part of the utility conduit (44) when both the upper (41 ) and lower (42) part are engaged. This cavity being open prior to assembly allows the lower part (42) to be manipulated into position around the installed utility with minimal disruption or damage to that utility. Once the lower part (42) is in- situ the upper part (41) may be engaged with the lower part (42) to form the complete kerb block (40) with the lower surface (43) of the upper part (41 ) providing the roof for the utility conduit (44) and thus effectively closing the cavity in the lower part (42) to form the conduit (44). This two-part form may also be utilized with the kerb block without inlets as described in Figure 1 and other designs of kerb block.

[0032] Referring to Figure 5 the lower utility conduit (51 ) of a block (50) is illustrated accommodating fibre optic cable (52).

[0033] Referring to Figure 6 an elongate kerb drainage block (60) identical to that described in relation to Figures 2 and 3 is shown in section with additional features. These additional features may also be present in the kerb drainage block as described in relation to Figure 1. The drainage block (60) has an upper (61 ) and lower section (62). The upper section in addition to the inlets (63) has a drainage channel outlet (64), which opens the drainage channel (65) through the rear surface (66) of the upper section (61 ). This outlet (64) allows drainage water to be removed from the drainage channel (65). The lower section (62) illustrated has an inlet (67) and an outlet (68). The inlet (67) in the lower section (62) may be present to allow sub-surface drainage into the utility conduit (69). This lower section inlet (67) is located at the front surface (70) of the lower section (62). The outlet (68) of the lower section (62) allows any subsurface drainage, which has accumulated within the utility conduit (69) to be removed from the utility conduit (69). In a further embodiment the outlet conduit (68) for the lower section (62) is omitted. In this case any sub-surface drainage will be removed from the utility conduit (69) via an outlet in a neighboring block in the kerb assembly. In a further embodiment the inlet (67) of the lower section (62) is omitted with sub-surface drainage being effected by an inlet in an adjacent kerb block in the kerb assembly. In a further embodiment the utility conduit (69) in all of the embodiments described herein may be used solely for the removal of sub-surface drainage and no utilities will be carried in the conduit. In a further embodiment the block may have a further drainage channel for sub-surface in addition to Jhe utility conduit, which in this case is not used for sub-surface drainage. The additional sub-surface drainage channel may be immediately below the surface drainage channel in the block or may be located below the utility conduit. When the utility conduit is not used for drainage it may nonetheless have an outlet to prevent moisture accumulating within the conduit and causing damage e.g. corrosion to the utility within the conduit.

[0034] Referring to Figure 7 an elongate kerb drainage block (40) is provided, which is identical to the drainage block of Figures 2 and 3, in combination with a separate lower block unit (70). In addition to the conduit (3) in drainage block (40) there is now provided additional utility conduits (71 , 72) on the lower block unit (70). The lower block unit (70) has an upper surface (73), which is profiled (74) to provide engagement with corresponding profiles (75) on the underside of the kerb drainage block (40). The base (76) of the lower block unit (70) is profiled to ensure ease of footing when installed in an excavated site. The use of the additional lower block unit (70) enables the replacement of a kerb drainage block (40) without disturbing certain important utility supplies. In the present case these are illustrated as domestic water and power. This design ensures that minimal disruption of utilities is invoked whilst maintaining the benefits of the kerb drainage block (40). The combination of the kerb blocks (40) and lower block units (70) provides for a kerbing system that is easy to install and maintain with minimum disruption to services contained within the kerbing system.

[0035] The kerb blocks of the present invention are fully EN 1433 compliant and can withstand a D400 loading.

[0036] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. An elongate kerb block comprising a rear surface, a front surface, two end surfaces and a top section defining a kerb profile, the front surface adapted to face a drained surface in use, the block having at least one drainage channel extending between and opening uninterrupted at the end surfaces of the block and below the drainage channel a substantially co-planar utility conduit extending between and opening uninterrupted at the end surfaces of the block, the block depth being greater than 300 mm.

2. An elongate block as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of inlets extending from the front surface of the block to the drainage channel.

3. An elongate block as claimed in claim 2 wherein the inlets have elongate openings.

4. An elongate block as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the openings are positioned such that, in use, a lower part of the opening may be below the drained surface.

5. An elongate block s claimed in any one of the preceding claims which is provided in two parts an upper part and a lower part, the upper part comprising at least one drainage conduit and having a lower surface which defines the top of a utility conduit when in contact with the lower part, the lower part having a profile such that when in contact with the upper part a utility conduit is defined with the lower surface of the upper part.

6. An elongate block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the utility conduit comprises a plurality of inlets extending from the front surface of the block to the utility conduit.

7. An elongate block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the block further comprises a drainage channel outlet, which extends from the drainage conduit to the rear surface of the block.

8. An elongate block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the block further comprises a utility channel outlet which extends from the utility channel to the front or rear surface of the block, preferably the rear surface of the block.

9. An elongate block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein, when viewed in cross-section, the drainage channel has a cross- sectional dimension which is greater than the cross-sectional dimension of the utility conduit, preferably the cross-sectional dimension is at least twice that of the utility conduit and more preferably is at least three times that of the utility conduit.

10. An elongate block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the utility conduit is not used for the accommodation of utility services but is exclusively used for sub-surface drainage.

11. An elongate block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the block depth is greater than 350 mm, preferably greater than 400 mm and most preferably is at least 480 mm.

12. An elongate block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the kerb block is made from traditional materials such as concrete.

13. An elongate block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the kerb block is made from polymer concrete.

14. An elongate block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the kerb block is made from recycled polymeric materials such as for example recycled rubber tyres sometimes referred to as re-crumb rubber. The polymer may be virgin or recycled polyethylene, which may be recycled high-density polyethylene or recycled low-density polyethylene or a mixture of these recycled polymers.

15. An elongate block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the kerb block is compression molded.

16. An elongate block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the utility conduit is located below the drainage conduit and at depth of at least 200 mm below the top of the kerb.

17. An assembled kerb comprising two or more blocks according to claim 1.

18. An assembled kerb as claimed in claim 17 further comprising one ore more kerb blocks according to claim 5.

19. A kerbing unit comprising a kerb block according to any one of claims 1 to 16 in combination with a separate lower kerb block unit, the lower kerb block unit having at least one conduit extending between and opening uninterrupted at its end surfaces.

20. A kerbing unit according to claim 19 wherein the lower kerb block unit has at least two conduits extending between and opening uninterrupted at its end surfaces.

21. A kerbing unit according to claim 20 wherein the conduits are aligned vertically within the lower block unit.

22. A kerbing unit according to any one of claims 19 to 21 wherein the lower kerb block comprises means for engagement with the kerb block.

23. A kerbing system comprising a plurality of kerb blocks according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

24. A kerbing system according to claim 23 further comprising a plurality of lower kerb block units.