GB2315792A - Kerb drainage system - Google Patents

Abstract

A kerb drainage block (2) has a drainage channel (10) extending between end surfaces (6, 8). Waterway inlets (22) extend from a kerb profile (16) down into the drainage channel (10). A recess (26) allows the passage of a detector loop or other service cables. A recess (12) can receive a blanking plate flush with the end surface. One end surface may hav e a projecting flange with the other being provided with a corresponding recess.

Description

KERB DRAINAGE SYSTENS The present invention relates to kerb drainage systems for use in providing drainage of road, yard, pavement or garden surfaces to remove water or other liquids or chemicals from a gutter adjacent to a raised kerb at a roadside or other drained surface.

Various systems have been used in the past to remove water which is flowing along the roadside gutter. One traditional method is to provide horizontal drain grids connected to gullies at intervals within the gutter.

However, in periods of high flow, water frequently will pass over such grids and they are prone to blocking with leaves and other roadside debris. Other systems provide a continuous drainage channel within the kerb. Multiple inlets are then cast into the roadside face of the kerb to allow water to pass from the road into the drainage channel along the length of the system. Such a system is described in GB-A-2069574 and a product of this nature is produced by Camas Building Materials Limited (formerly ECC Building Products Limited) under the Highway Drainage System name. These systems use an open-mouthed channel member together with a separate cover member which are joined together in the installation process. The members of such existing systems are large and heavy concrete blocks which must either be produced in short lengths in order to be man-handleable by one workman or require workmen to work in pairs, increasing the cost of installation. The two part design also introduces additional skill requirements and a risk of faulty installation where the two parts are not correctly mated, allowing leakage from the system.

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.

In accordance with the present invention an elongate onepiece kerb drainage block comprises a base with adjoining end surfaces, a rear surface and a front surface adapted to face a drained surface in use and joined to the rear surface by a kerb profile; and defining a drainage channel extending between and opening into the end surfaces; characterised in that a plurality of waterway inlets extend from the front surface to the drainage channel, the waterway inlets having elongate openings in said front surface which are positioned such that, in use, a lower part of the opening may be covered by the drained surface.

Such a block can preferably be moulded from polymer concrete. Since a large portion of the volume of the block is taken up by the drainage channel and the waterway inlets, the block can be made sufficiently lightweight so as to be handled by one man. As a onepiece block, installation time can be much reduced as there is no need to separately locate and seal cover members to base members as with the Highway Drainage Systems block. A polymer concrete block can be made light-weight, 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.

In order that the invention may be well understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a kerb drainage block in accordance with a first emobidement of the invention; Figure 2 is a cross section showing the block in its installed configuration; Figure 3 is a view of the block from the front surface; Figure 4A is a view of a second embodiment of a block from the front surface; Figure 4B is a side view of the block of Fig.4A; Figure 4C is a top view of the block of Fig.4A; Figure 5 is a cross-section of on the line "A-A" in Fig.4C; and Figure 6 is a cross section on the line "B-B" in Fig.5.

An elongate one-piece kerb drainage block 2 is provided so that a number of such blocks can be fitted together end to end to define both a kerb and a drainage channel for draining an adjacent surface, for example, a carriageway or paved area.

Each block 2 has a base 4 and two end surfaces 6, 8. In the first embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3 the blocks butt up against each other. In the embodiment of Figs. 4 to 6 a male/female interlocking system is provided with a projecting flange 34 on one end surface 8 of the block making in a corresponding recess 36 formed in the other end surface 6. The male end connector flange 34 on surface 8 allows blocks to be mated accurately in a run.

An elongate drainage channel 10 extends between the end surfaces 6,8. A recess 12 is provided adjacent to the opening of the drainage channel 10 in each end surface of the first embodiment so that, at the end of the run of blocks, a blanking plate can be inserted to close off the channel. The blanking plate will then lie flush with the end surface. In the second embodiment the male flange 34 will need a specifically produced end cap to close the channel at surface 8. Alternatively, the flange 34 may be cut off.

In the embodiments illustrated the block has a vertical rear surface 14. The rear surface is joined to a front surface 15 of the block. The front surface includes a kerb profile 16 at the upper part of the block. The kerb profile 16 has a substantially horizontal upper part 18 which merges with the vertical part of the front surface 15 of the block by means of an inclined surface 20. The kerb profile may be equivalent to a half battered kerb type HB1.

Waterway inlets 22 extend between the front surface and the drainage channel 10. In the block illustrated in Figs 1 to 3 three waterway inlets are provided but more or less may be used depending upon the capacity of the drainage system required and the length of the block.

Each waterway inlet 22 opens into the front surface by means of an elongate opening 24. In use the base of the elongate opening is designed to be below a wearing surface of the carriageway surface or paved area to allow water to drain from a porous asphalt or similar surface as well as from above the surface of the carriageway or paved area.

The waterway inlets 22 comprise channels directed downwardly into the main drainage channel 10. The sides of these channels may be parallel or may outwardly converge to prevent large debris wedging into the waterway inlets.

In the first embodiment a recess 26 is defined in each end surface 6, 8 between the front and rear surfaces of the block above the drainage channel 10. When the blocks are placed end to end the recesses 26 in adjacent faces align to form a duct, which can be used to allow a vehicle detector loop cable to pass across the kerb.

Such a duct may also be used for other service cables.

Provision may also be made in each block for the drainage channel 10 to be optionally coupled to a vertical drain pipe or a horizontal drain pipe. Knock-out areas 28, 30 are provided in each block for this purpose.

The second embodiment of a block illustrated in Figs 4 to 6 has the same features as the first embodiment designated by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment of the block weight-saving recesses 38, 40 are formed in the front and rear surfaces of the block. The channel 10 takes up a larger proportion of the block in order to give a greater drainage capacity and accordingly the waterway inlets 22 are shaped to extend from the openings 24 to open into the top of channel 10.

Figure 2 shows a block 2 in its installed position. In use, the blocks are mounted in a concrete haunch 32.

Since the concrete adds structural stability to the drainage channel, the side walls of the blocks may be relatively thin. A wearing surface 42 of the road or paved area sits above the concrete haunch and covers a lower part of the opening 24 of each waterway inlet.

A kerb formed from the blocks as described is relatively easy to install as it is not particularly critical how far the wearing surface 34 of the carriageway or paved area overlaps the elongate opening 24 of the waterway inlets. By making the waterway inlets elongate, the efficiency of the drainage is unimpaired even if the wearing surface is positioned relatively high. This makes this system particularly easy to install with unskilled labour.

In order to provide a complete kerb drainage system, blocks may be provided in various lengths. As well as the standard block illustrated, curved blocks and junction blocks may also be needed. These are constructed along the same principle and are designed to interconnect end to end with the standard blocks.

Trapezoid shapes may be formed by cutting off end faces 6 and 8 to form pseudo curved products. These join together with plane ends and can be fitted alongside standard blocks. In this way it is not necessary for specially shaped blocks to be made. A block which provides provision for rodding of the drainage channel may also be provided in such a way as to mate with the standard blocks. A typical standard block may be formed in 500mm sections.

The actual shape of kerb profile 16 may be adapted depending on the purpose of the block in order to provide suitable appearances for urban or rural carriageways and paved areas. Blocks with dropdown kerbs for driveway entrances may also be readily incorporated into the system.

The blocks may be coloured or textured to suit the installation purpose. Moreover, reflective components or paints may be applied to the surface of the blocks to assist traffic safety.

The blocks may readily be made to conform to British Standard BS7263:Partl:1994.

Claims (7)

1. An elongate one-piece kerb drainage block (2) comprising a base (4) with adjoining end surfaces (6, 8), a rear surface (14) and a front surface (13) adapted to face a surface to be drained in use and joined to the rear surface by a kerb profile (16); and defining a drainage channel (10) extending between an opening into the end surfaces (6,8); characterised in that a plurality of waterway inlets (22) extend from the front surface (14) to the drainage channel (10), the waterway inlets having elongate openings (24) in said front surface which are positioned such that, in use a lower part of the opening may be covered by the drained surface.

2. A block as claimed in claim 1, formed from polymer concrete.

3. A block as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein each elongate opening (24) of a waterway inlet at least partially extends into an inclined part (20) of the kerb profile (16).

4. A block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a recess (26) traverses an end surface of the block above the drainage channel in order to allow passage of detector loop or other service cables.

5. A block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a recess (12) adapted to receive a blanking plate flush with the end surface is provided around the opening of the drainage channel (10) into the end surface.

6. A block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein one end surface (8) is provided with a projecting flange (34) and the other end surface (6) is provided with a corresponding recess (36) to enable blocks to be interlocked together in a run.

7. An elongate one-piece kerb drainage block substantially as herein described with reference to Figs 1 to 3 or Figs 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.