AU616661B2 - A drain system - Google Patents

Description

S 0 0 0 2 56I 1r O O 6 EEr 1006/86p~ I :I -r; S F Ref: 61766 FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMiPLETE SPECIFICATI 16.661

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int Class :I .'.omplete S00

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0.00 Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: P o t '.Related Art: Name and Address of Applicant: r .o Akio Yamamoto 1602 Kyoden 1-chome Fukuishi Fukuiken

JAPAN

Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia r.f Address for Service: tomplete Specification for the invention entitled: A Drain System The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us REPRINT OF RECEIPT S002=56 5845/3 10/06 /88 4

ABSTRACT

A Drain System I I A drain system comprises a plurality of trough members bendably connected to each other, and water channels passing outside the trough members, each of the trough members having a drain extending axially thereof, each drain including a lengthwise opening ogIe communicating with the water channels. The drain Isystem can be laid under ground in a planar form or a rolled form depending upon the geographical conditions.

S' S A DRAIN SYSTEM The present invention relates to a drain system for carrying away ground watct and liquid sewage, the drain system comprising a plurality of flexible trough members jointed to one after another. T'he drain system is flexible in size and shape so that it can be laid in spite of any geographical limitations.

To carry away a liquid sewage, the common practice is to lay a plastic or concrete sewer having o. filtering pores or meshes in ditches at such an inclination as to allow a liquid sewage to flow therethrough by gravity. Sizable solids in the sewage are filtered while it flows through the sewer.

.H This type of drain system requires a sufficiently deep ditch to secure efficient drainage. The construction of a deep ditch requires a large-scale excavation. This is labor- and time-consuming, which reflects in the cost of sewage construction. In **fee addition, when the sewer is laid deep under ground, S" the maintenance of it becomes difficult. Another disadvantage of the deep sewer is the slow speed of drainage because of the long path from ground to sewer. If the deep sewer is laid in sports areas, such as a golf course or a football ground, the players must wait for the ground to dry for a long time. A further disadvantage is the difficulty of keeping the porous sewer or mesh sewer safe from clogging with solids. The known sewers are rigid in size and shape, so that they lack the adaptability for use in a geographically intricate land.

An object of the present invention Is to provide a flexible drain system which solves the problems pointed out above.

According to one advantageous aspect of the present invention there is provided a drain system comprising a plurality of S-shaped troughs rotatively connected one after another in a side by side orientation, each trough member comprising two lengthwise chambers separated by a central wall, the chambers each constituting drains, the chambers comprising lengthwise openings along the central wall having ridges on the respective inside surfaces of the central wall, each trough comprising a lengthwise projection on one outside surface and a furrow section on the opposite outside surface so that the projection of one trough fits in the furrow section of the next trough so as to secure the connection therebetween.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing a drain system according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a trough member; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the joint between trough members; e me Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of application; and I Fig. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views showing other examples of application.

25" The drain system 1 shown in Fig. 1 includes a plurality of troughs 3 rotatively connected to one after another as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The reference numeral 5 denotes water channels interposed between one trough 3 S" and the next. The troughs 3 are made of plastic, and each of them has a cross-section of letter S as shown in Fig. 1, having chambers 7a separated by a center wall 6. The chambers 7 constitute drains 2, which have lengthwise openings 9 along the centre wall 6. The center wall 6 is provided with ridges 10 on both sides. Each trough 3 is provided with a lengthwise projection 11 on one outside, and a furrow section 12 on the opposite outside. The projection 11 of one trough 3 is to fit in the furrow section 12 of the next trough 3, thereby securing the connection therebetween. As best shown O U -2- HRF/0536 4 -2 o 1 in Fig. 3 the lengthwise projection 11 is provided with a stem 13 and a mushroom-like head 15 adapted to fit in the furrow section 12, which is provided with upright sides 19 and curved rims 20. The furrow section 12 allows the mushroom head 15 to anchor therein. The curved rim 20 prevent the mushroom head from dislocating from the furrow section 12. The length of the stem 13 is larger than the depth of the furrow section 12 so that the connected troughs 3 can *0 rotate independently of each other. A space defined become parts of the water channels 5 for allowing a .ground water to flow. A required number of troughs 3 are connected one after another. If required, it is .n |possible that the connected troughs 3 are fastened to each other by means of adhesive tapes (not shown) so as not to allow them to rotate. In this way a required number of the troughs 3 are connected to one after another.

|H Fig. 4 shows one example of a culvert system in which the drain system 1 of the present invention are employed for a first channel 21 and for a secondary channel 22.

The first channel 21 comprises two layers of drain systems 1 covered with a net 23, each layer including a plurality of troughs 3 connected in the aforementioned manner. The first channel 21 is placed in a ditch 24 at such an inclination as to allow a "i ground water to flow, and is surrounded by a filter bed 25, such as gravels. Sizable solids are first filtered by the net 23 and the filter bed 25. The water is further filtered by the drain system 1. When the water passes through the drain system 1, it first flows through the water channels 5, and then through the drains 2. Finally the water falls into the secondary channel 22 through a terminating end 21a of the first channel 21.

S D o. The secondary channel 22 comprises a drain duct I 29 covered with the drain system 1 of the invention.

00%0 *The reference numeral 27 denotes bores through which f* o the ground water is allowed to enter the drain duct 29. The reference numerals 30 and 31 denote an outer S surface of the drain duct 29 and a gap between the outer surface 30 and the drain system 1 of the secondary channel 22, respectively. The secondary channel 22 is also surrounded by gravels 25, and laid in a main ditch 26. In the secondary channel 22 the 9i40 drain duct 29 and the drain system 1 cooperate to discharge the ground water; more specifically, the 4' water flowing from the first channel 21 passes through the drains 2 of the drain system 1, and enter the drain duct 29 through the bores 27. The semi-circular drain system 1 terminate at 32.

Fig. 5 shows a modified secondary channel 22, characterised in that the drain duct 29 is covered with the drain system 1 along its entire circumference.

/^f(V 4 I l l_ ly -L i~ Fig. 6 shows another modified version of the drain system 1. The embodiment of Fig. 6 comprises a rolled drain system 1 with a space 33 inside, the space functioning as a water channel. The rolled drain system 1 is surrounded by gravels and embedded in a ditch.

Several forms of troughs and of a drain system incorporating same have been described in the foregoing passages but it should be understood that other forms, modifications and refinements are possible within the scope of this invention.

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Claims (3)

1. A drain system comprising a plurality of S-shaped troughs rotatively connected one after another in a side by side orientation, each trough member comprising two lengthwise chambers separated by a central wall, the chambers each constituting drains, the chambers comprising lengthwise openings along the central wall having ridges on the respective inside surfaces of the central wall, each trough comprising a lengthwise projection on one outside surface and a furrow section on the opposite outside surface so that the projection of one trough fits in the furrow section of the next trough so as to secure the connection therebetween.

2. A drain system as defined in claim 1, wherein the lengthwise projection comprises a stem having a mushroom-like head and wherein the furrow section comprises an upright side having a curved rim so that the mushroom-like head fits in the furrow section and becomes engaged with the i curved rim.

3. A drain system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. DATED this EIGHTEENTH day of JANUARY 1991 Akio Yamamoto o• C Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON X0 -6- HRF/0536r