EP2155976A1

EP2155976A1 - Liquid receiving system, and element for such system

Info

Publication number: EP2155976A1
Application number: EP07851870A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hielke Dolf Hoekstra; Martinus Petrus Kruijer; Michael Adrianus Jacobus Schouten
Original assignee: Pipelife Nederland BV
Current assignee: Pipelife Nederland BV
Priority date: 2007-05-09
Filing date: 2007-11-30
Publication date: 2010-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 2027-11-30
Also published as: DE602007013816D1; HRP20110088T1; ES2366981T3; NL2000638C2; EP2155975A1; EP2142714B1; PT2155975E; ES2366982T3; ATE504702T1; US20100200600A1; PL2142714T3; RS51734B; PL2155976T3; ES2359672T3; ATE495317T1; WO2008140297A1; SI2142714T1; HRP20110435T1; ATE510077T1; EP2155975B1

Abstract

A box-shaped device for holding water, such as a rainwater box, comprising at least four partially open side walls and a panel extending between the side walls and having a rectangular shape, the width of which is half the length. The panel is provided with an inspection passage which is positioned centrally in one of the two square panel halves of the panel defined by the rectangular shape, so that whenever the rainwater boxes are stacked, a vertical passage is always provided for passing through, for example, an inspection camera.

Description

Liquid receiving system, and element for such system

The invention is related to a liquid receiving system, comprising a plurality of adjoining box shaped elements which each comprise a perforated top wall, perforated side walls extending downwardly with respect to the top wall and an open side opposite the top wall. Such liquid receiving system is used for various purposes. Usually it is positioned in an underground environment for temporarily storing large amounts of water which befall in the case of heavy rains. The surge of water which goes along with heavy rain generally cannot be handled by sewer systems, which means that absent emergency measures the water will spill over surfaces and terrains. The force of the accumulated water flows is sufficient to dislocate vehicles and even buildings, and causes severe damage and even loss of life. In this connection, underground water storage facilities of the type described before may provide alleviation of peak floods, in that they are able to withdraw vast amounts of water at short notice. Other purposes for liquid receiving systems are known as well, such as the controlled delivery of water into a piece of ground.

An example of a water receiving system is disclosed in DE-A-0102005056131. Said system is build from elements which are arranged next to each other wherein their open sides face in the same direction, either sidewardly or upwardly. The water which is collected within the elements can be drained into the environment, or be discharged through pipes. Openings are present in the sidewalls for connecting discharge or feed pipes to the internal open space of the element.

A further example of a water receiving system is disclosed in EP-A- 1260640. Said prior art system consists of elements composed of element halves. The element halves are carried out with an open side. By interconnecting two of such element halves with their open sides facing each other, elements are obtained which are used to build the system. The element halves each comprise rows of column parts, which together with the column parts of the opposing element half are assembled into full columns. The interconnection between the element halves, and thus of the column, is obtained by means of an interposed plate element. Although the element halves are identical, the plate element constitutes an extra part which leads to a more complicated and costly assembly process. The object of the invention is to provide a liquid receiving system which is of a robust, simple construction and which enables additional functions to be performed, such as inspection of the internal space within the system and cleaning of said space. Said object is achieved in that the open side of an upper box shaped element adjoins the top wall of a lower box shaped element.

By making the open side and the top walls of the elements adjoin each other, that is without interposition of additional elements, several advantages are obtained. The costs of such a system are lower, as less parts are involved in the construction thereof, which also entails lower assembly costs. The top wall of an element forms a form base for support of the next higher element, which ensures the required strength and rigidity of the system. Additionally, it provides the possibility to direct tools, e.g. for inspection or cleaning, through the system as will be explained below.

The box shaped elements can have several forms; preferably the box shaped elements have a parallelepiped shape, although other shapes are possible as well such as tetrahedral. In connection with the possibility to inspect or clean the internal space within the system, the box shaped elements may have at least a channel which emanates at the outside of said element, in such a way that adjoining elements constitute at least a through going channel which emanates at the system outer boundary. Thus, from an outside location a tool can be inserted into the through going channel so as to carry out specific operations. The direction according to which the system can be approached by means of such insertion tools depends amongst others from the direction of the channels. In a specific case, the tools may be inserted from the side of the system, e.g. from a manhole which extends downwardly next to the system. Accordingly, the elements may have side wall openings which are in alignment with a horizontally oriented channel.

With the aim of providing smooth advancement and retraction operations, the tools are supported and guided by the top wall of the element which underlies the channel in question. Further improved operations are obtained in case the distance of said side wall openings with respect to the open side of an element are smaller than the distance of said side wall openings with respect to the top wall of said element.

Preferably, the side wall openings, which are in alignment with a channel, directly adjoin the open side of said elements. The advantage of the latter embodiment is that that the transition from one element to the next is virtually not hampered by the boundary of the openings in the adjoining side walls of the elements. Also, the elements may have top wall openings which are in alignment with a vertically oriented channel.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the elements may comprise columns which extend from the top wall towards the open side, aligned columns of an upper and a lower element being coupled into a through going support member. As the height dimension of these columns is limited to the height dimension of the element, a relatively high buckling load for the columns is ensured which furthermore is favourable for the strength and stiffness aspects of the system. Furthermore, the columns may be arranged according to rows which delimit a horizontally oriented channel. Additionally, the columns may be arranged around a channel, said columns delimiting a vertically oriented channel.

The invention is furthermore related to a box shaped element for a liquid receiving system as described before, said element comprising a perforated top wall, perforated side walls extending with respect to the top wall, an open side opposite the top wall, at least a channel which emanates at the outside of said element through side wall openings. According to the invention, the distance of said side wall openings with respect to the open side of an element is smaller than the distance of said side wall openings with respect to the top wall of said element. The specific position of the side wall openings provides the element according to the invention with the advantage that the transition of a tool, e.g. an inspection tool, a cleaning tool etc, between two neighbouring elements is enabled thereby. This advantage is in particular clear in case the side wall openings directly adjoin the open side. The channels may be defined in several ways. According to a preferred embodiment, wherein columns are provided which extend from the top wall to the open side, the columns are arranged according to rows which delimit a channel. Furthermore, in case the top wall comprises a top wall opening, a channel can be provided which extends transversely with respect to the top wall and which emanates through the top wall opening. This channel is delimited by means of the columns which are arranged around the top wall opening, in such a way that the channel runs in the direction of the length dimension of the columns. The invention will now be described further with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a view in perspective of the top of an element according to the invention. Figure 2 shows a view in perspective on the bottom of the element according to figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a top view of the element. Figure 4 shows a view on a long side of the element. Figure 5 shows a view on a short side of the element. Figure 6 shows a cross-section through two elements stacked upon each other.

Figure 7 shows a view in perspective of an assembly of elements according to the preceding figures.

Figure 8 shows a side view of the assembly of figure 7. Figure 9 shows a view in perspective of an alternative assembly. The element 39 as shown in figures 1-6 according to the invention comprises two long side walls 1, two short side walls 2, as well as a top wall 3. The element 39 has an open side which is bordered by the edge of the side walls 1, 2 which is remote from the top wall 3. Thus, the element 39 according to the invention can be stated to have the form of an open box. In use, the open side of the box is facing downwardly, as shown in the figures 2 and 4. This orientation of the box will become more apparent from the description of the assembly of figures 7 and 8, below.

The top wall 3 has a length which is twice the width thereof. As a result, two square top wall halves 4, 5 have been obtained. An edge area 23 extends around these top wall halves 4,5. The top wall halves 4, 5 define a partition line 37, which is continued in the partition lines 38 in the long walls 1. It will however be clear that the invention is not limited to this specific layout; it is also possible to select a different length-width relationship. Also, it is possible to leave away the partition lines 37, 38.

In the embodiment shown, the short side walls 2 have opposite openings 11 , between which the horizontal channel 6 extends. This horizontal channel has been indicated merely by means of a dotted line, which represents the imaginary axis of this channel. Furthermore, the long side walls 1 each comprise pairs of opposite openings 12, 13, which define the channels 7 respectively 8. The top wall 3 has two openings 14, 15, which define the respective vertical channels 9, 10. The expression "channel" as used before should be understood to encompass any free trajectory which extends from a respective opening in one of the side walls towards an opposite opening in a respective opposite side wall, or any free trajectory which extends from an opening in the top wall towards the open side. A free trajectory is a trajectory which allows the passage of a tool, such as for inspection for cleaning.

In the embodiment shown, the channels in question are delimited by means of columns 16. In particular, the horizontal channel 6 is delimited by means of the top wall 3 as well as by means of the two opposite the rows 17 of columns, which extend according to the longitudinal direction of the element 37. Similarly, the horizontal channels 7, 8 are delimited each by the top wall 3 as well as by means of a pair of rows 18 of columns. Finally, the vertical channels 14, 15 are delimited by the specific columns 16' which surround said openings in such a way that said channels 14,' 15 extend according to the longitudinal direction of said columns 16'.

The side walls 1,2 and the top wall 3 are each perforated, and comprise holes 19 which are surrounded by bars 20. Furthermore, stiffening ribs 21 are provided on the inner surface of the top wall 3. As is also clearly shown in the cross-section of figure 6, the free ends of the columns 16 have notches 22, while at the location of each column the outer surface of the top wall 3 comprise pockets 23. Thus, by stacking the elements onto each other in such a way that the notches 22 of an upper element 37 are made to engage the pockets 23 of a lower element 37, a stable mutual position is obtained. In fact, the interconnected columns 16 of a stack of elements provides stable and stiff column supports for the full stack. It is not necessary to carry out the side walls 1 , 2 as load-bearing elements, although it is quite well possible in addition to, or instead of, these columns. The openings 11-15 each have a certain size, and can be enlarged by removing the breakaway parts 36, which can for instance be made possible by nominal weak places or other frangible parts. Thereby, the openings 11-15 can be tuned to the size of pipes to be connected for e.g. feeding water into the element 39, or for draining water therefrom. Furthermore, these openings 11-15 play a role for giving access to a specific tool 40 such as for inspection purposes for cleaning purposes. These tools 40 are supported on the top wall 3 of a lower element 39, as for instance shown in figure 6. Said tool 40 has to travel past the adjoining openings of neighbouring elements, and to that end it is important that the wall parts of the side walls 1 , 2 do not form a threshold which is difficult to cross. In order to achieve that, the openings 11-13 have been positioned as close as possible to the free edge of the side walls 1, 2, that is closer to said free edge then to the top wall 3 of the element 39 in question. As shown in figure 4, the fairly low position of the openings 11-13 does indeed has the advantage that the tool 40 in question does not experience a threshold whatsoever when traveling through the elements.

The element 39 according to the invention can be used for providing an underground water storage facility, as for instance shown in figures 7 and 8. In this example, numerous elements are stacked upon and next to each other, thus forming stacks 25, longitudinal rows 26 and transverse rows 27. The facility is usually accommodated beneath the ground surface 28, whereby feed pipelines 29 may be connected to any of the openings 11-15 for feeding water into the assembly. Similarly, infiltration lines 30 and the like may be connected to these openings 11-15 so as to infiltrate the water, from the assembly, into the underground. In fact, numerous configurations are possible, but in figures 7 and 8 only show a specific one.

By providing suitable exits to the assembly, it is principally possible to access the assembly from several directions. This is made possible by the fact that the aligned channels 6-10 of the elements together constitute through going assembly channels which cross the full height, width or longitudinal dimension of the assembly. In figures 7 and 8, only three of these through going assembly channels have been shown, but it will be clear that any aligned set of channels 6-10 in principle constitutes a through going assembly channel.

In figure 7, the axis 31 of a longitudinally extending through going assembly channel is shown, as well as the axis 32 of the transversely extending through going assembly channel together with the axis 33 of vertically extending through going assembly channel. In case for instance the vertically extending through going assembly channel is selected for gaining access to the assembly, a manhole 34 with a cover 35 can be applied. The vertically extending through going assembly channel in question opens out into the manhole, in such a way that for instance an inspection camera or cleaning tool can be inserted. The camera or tool in question comes across several horizontally extending assembly channels 31, 32 as well, which makes inspection quite efficient. If necessary, the camera or tool can be deviated from the vertical path as defined by the vertically extending through going assembly channel, and be redirected through the horizontally extending through going assembly channel.

Although in figure 8 only a single access is via our the manhole 34 has been shown, it will be clear that points of access can be applied as well, for instance from the side of the assembly.

In the embodiments shown, the channels 6-10 intersect each other, or are parallel. However, instead of intersecting channels, also channels can be applied which cross each other. Such channels are not parallel; they do run at an angle with respect to each other, but are lying in different parallel planes. For instance, this can be obtained by shifting the openings 11 of the horizontal channel 6 closer to the top wall 3. In the position of figure 2, this would mean that the horizontal channel 6 runs over the horizontal channels 7, 8.

The embodiment of figure 9 shows an alternative assembly according to which the longitudinal direction of some top elements is oriented transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the other elements and the lower elements. In this case, the longitudinally extending through going assembly channel 31 is made up of a combination of the horizontal channels 6, 7 (or 6, 8). This is made possible due to the central location of the channels 6, 7 and 8 with respect to the element halves concerned. This way of assembling the elements has the advantage that the internal coherence of the system is enhanced, as neighbouring stacks of elements are interconnected thereby. Of course, the embodiment of figure 9 gives only one example of various interconnecting lay outs; for instance the elements may also be stacked brick-wise according to their longitudinal direction.

List of reference numbers

1. Long side wall

2. Short side wall

3. Top wall

4. Top wall half

5. Top wall half

6. Horizontal channel

7. Horizontal channel

8. Horizontal channel

9. Vertical channel

10. Vertical channel

11. Opening channel 6

12. Opening channel 7

13. Opening channel 8

14. Opening channel 9

15. Opening channel 10

16, 16 '.Column

17. Longitudinal row of columns

18. Transverse role of columns

19. Hole

20. Bar with

21. Rib

22. Notch

23. Pocket

24. Edge area

25. Stack of elements

26. Longitudinal row of elements

27. Transverse row of elements

28. Ground surface

29. Feed pipeline

30. Infiltration line

31. Longitudinally extending through going assembly channel 32. Transversely extending through going assembly channel

33. Vertically extending through going assembly channel

34. Manhole

35. Cover

36. Breakaway part of openings

37. Partition line

38. Partition line

39. Box shaped element

40. Tool

Claims

1. Liquid receiving system, comprising a plurality of adjoining box shaped elements (39) which each comprise a perforated top wall (3), perforated side walls (1, 2) extending downwardly with respect to the top wall (3) and an open side opposite the top wall (3), characterised in that the open side of an upper box shaped element (39) adjoins the top wall (3) of a lower box shaped element (39).

2. Liquid receiving system according to claim 1, wherein the box shaped elements (39) have a parallelepiped shape.

3. Liquid receiving system according to claim 1 or 2, the box shaped elements (39) have at least a channel (6-10) which emanates at the outside of said element (39), in such a way that adjoining elements (39) constitute at least a through going channel (31-33) which emanates at the system outer boundary.

4. Liquid receiving system according to claim 3, wherein the elements (39) have side wall openings (11-13).

5. Liquid receiving system according to claim 4, wherein the side wall openings

(11-13) are in alignment with a horizontally oriented channel (6-8).

6. Liquid receiving system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the distance of said side wall openings (11-13) with respect to the open side of an element is smaller than the distance of said side wall openings (11-13) with respect to the top wall (3) of said element (39).

7. Liquid receiving system according to any of claims 4-6, wherein the side wall openings (11-13), which are in alignment with a channel (6-8), directly adjoin the open side of said elements (39).

8. Liquid receiving system according to any of claims 3-7, wherein the elements (39) have top wall openings (14, 15) which are in alignment with a vertically oriented channel (9, 10).

9. Liquid receiving system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the elements (39) comprise columns (16) which extend from the top wall (3) towards the open side, aligned columns (16) of an upper and a lower element (39) being coupled into a through going support member.

10. Liquid receiving system according to claim 9 when dependent on any of claims 5-7, wherein the columns (16) are arranged according to rows (26, 27) which delimit a horizontally oriented channel (6-8).

11. Liquid receiving system according to claims 8 and 9, wherein the columns (16') are arranged around a vertically oriented channel (9, 10).

12. Box shaped element (39) for a liquid receiving system according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a perforated top wall (3), perforated side walls (1, 2) extending with respect to the top wall (3), an open side opposite the top wall (3), at least a channel (6-10) which emanates at the outside of said element through side wall openings (11-13), characterised in that the distance of said side wall openings (11-13) with respect to the open side of an element (39) is smaller than the distance of said side wall openings (11-13) with respect to the top wall (3) of said element (39).

13. Element (39) according to claim 12, wherein the side wall openings (11-13) directly adjoin the open side.

14. Element (39) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein columns (16) are provided which extend from the top wall (3) to the open side, said columns (16) being arranged according to rows (26, 27) which delimit a channel (6-8).

15. Element (39) according to any of claims 12-14, wherein the top wall (3) comprises a top wall opening (14, 15), a channel (9, 10) being provided which extends transverse with respect to the top wall (3) and which emanates through the top wall opening (14, 15).

16. Element (39) according to claim 14 and 15, wherein the columns (16') are arranged around the top wall opening (14, 15).

17. Element (39) according to any of claims 12-16, wherein the element length dimension is twice the element transverse dimension.