AU733361B2 - Drainage channel and pipe assembly - Google Patents

Description

2 DRAINAGE CHANNEL AND PIPE ASSEMBLY This invention relates to drainage channels, grates and pipe fittings for surface drainage.

In the past, channels were formed in concrete with removable formwork.

More recently, preformed channels have been used, that remain in the concrete.

These U shaped channels are relatively wide and require grates that are supported by the preformed channel walls, or by the concrete both sides of the channel.

1 10 These grates, particularly those designed for heavy vehicles, are unsightly,expensive and allow debris to enter the channel.

Fluid entering these channels must flow some distance in the channel towards an outlet. The outlet is generally connected to the end of a drainage pipe.

The flow can be impeded or stopped completely by debris in the channel.

A long channel must be deep or have fall towards the outlet for flow to occur.

Fall in the channel has been achieved by installing short lengths of expensive preformed channels of varying depth, or with removable formwork.

Deep channels create structural problems in concrete slabs, particularly suspended slabs that require steel reinforcing near the surface.

These problems are overcome or reduced by the present invention that provides a shallow channel that forms a narrow gutter in the surface to be drained.

Fluid entering the gutter is quickly removed by a series of longitudinally aligned, closely spaced outlets in the bottom of the channel connected to a drain pipe below.

In one form, the present invention consists of a drainage channel of uniform depth, fitted with spigots protruding down from the bottom of said channel, longitudinally aligned to fit into sockets protruding upwardly from the side wall of a drain pipe below.

The size and spacing of channel spigots is such, that any build up of small particles such as sand, will be eroded by water flowing into said spigots.

Channel spigots can be adjusted partially out of pipe sockets. Further adjustment is provided by downpipes of varying length that connect 10 said spigots to said sockets.

This allows the channel to be installed level and the drain pipe to ttF kcaL,1 6 have S-ff4C4--4- -F,1 to b~e self cleaning When installed, the channel forms a gutter in the surface.

.o Run off from the surface is intercepted by the gutter and quickly 15 drained from the channel through the hollow spigots, downpipes and sockets into the drain pipe and away from the surface to be drained.

Preferably the channel would provide some means of joining one length eoeo .to the end of another and some means of engagement in concrete.

Preferably grates with small openings are held at the surface to allow safe passage of traffic and prevent debris such as leaves from accumulating in the channel and blocking the drain.

Preferably said grates have side members that fit in the channel and rest on the bottom of the channel that is supported by concrete or other material under the channel.

Said grates strengthen the assembly and prevent the side walls of the channel from collapsing during installation.

The channel could be made from any suitable material such as plastic or metal.

Preferably said channel would be extruded from PVC and the spigots moulded to fit holes in the bottom of the channel.

F The drain pipes and downpipes could be standard PVC pipes.

Preferably the sockets would be moulded to fit holes in the side wall of the drain pipe.

The grates could be made from any suitable material such as plastic or metal.

10 Preferably said grates would be made from sheets of perforated metal such as stainless steel.

In another form of the invention, the bottom of the drainage channel slopes towards an outlet at the deepest point or points.

Said outlet could be formed in the bottom of the channel or could be I* a seperate fitting for joining the channels and connecting a drain pipe.

r Preferable the channel would be moulded from PVC in sections incorporating the outlet or outlets.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, preferred embodyments of the invention.

In the drawings: FIG. 1. is a perspective view of the assembly without downpipes.

FIG. 2. is a cross sectional end view of the assembly installed in concrete.

Referring to FIG.1 showing grate 1 removed from channel 2 with spigots 3 aligned to fit into sockets 4 in pipe 10 Referring to FIG.2 showing grate 1 in channel 2 supported by concrete 9 and steel reinforcing 10 placed between channel 2 and pipe Surface run off passing through grate 1 into channel 2 flows through spigot 3 into downpipe 6 and socket 4 into pipe 15 Members 7 and 8 extending out from channel 2 are embeded in 0.

concrete 9.