Patent Grant
9441355
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for the detention or retention of a fluid, and more specifically to systems and methods for the detention or retention of storm water or runoff beneath a ground surface.
Traditionally, large storm sewers, with or without surface detention basins, have been used for handling excess storm water or runoff. However, in urban or industrial settings, the surface area on the building site is often not available or it is cost prohibitive to purchase additional surface area to accommodate systems such as open reservoirs, basins, or ponds for detaining or retaining water. Underground systems are therefore desirable because they do not utilize valuable surface areas and present fewer adverse environmental effects than other systems. In addition, underground systems are also not susceptible to the aesthetic problems, such as algae and weed growth, associated with some surface-level systems.
Many other applications exist for subsurface modular assemblies for detaining or retaining a fluid. For example, a large volume of water may be retained underground for firefighting purposes or manufacturing processing. In addition, underground storage assemblies may be used for chemical containment. Even further, these underground systems may be used as leaching chambers or for controlled release of storm water beneath the ground surface. Therefore, for ease of manufacture and installation, it is desirable to have a system that can be easily converted from a fluid retaining, to a fluid detaining, to a fluid exfiltrating system.
One problem associated with current underground systems is that, by nature, they are difficult to clean and often become clogged with debris. It is therefore desirous to provide a system that is self-cleaning and resistant to clogging and degradation caused by sand, dirt, natural materials and other debris which may be carried along with the water.
It is also desirable to have a versatile and modular assembly that may be assembled in any customized orientation to suit any plan area or footprint as desired by the particular application involved. In particular, for systems that are intended for diverting a fluid such as storm water from the ground surface to another location, the system must be able to accommodate existing or planned underground facilities such as utilities and other buried conduits.
In addition, underground systems must be adapted to resist loads imposed by other uses of the surface of the land, including the imposed by the load of the earth surrounding the system. The surface area of the land may then be used for motor vehicle parking or driving, foot traffic, an airport runway, or the like.
While other forms of underground fluid detention and/or retention structures have previously been proposed, these structures have failed to provide one or more of the above advantages.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a versatile system for retaining or detaining a fluid which can be easily customized to many applications.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system for retaining or detaining a fluid that is structurally sound, especially at the interior of the system.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system for retaining or detaining water that is less susceptible to clogging by debris and is self-cleaning.
These and other objects and advantages are achieved by providing a fluid retention or detention system comprising a plurality of modules, each module, which may be formed from precast concrete, having at least one vertically disposed side portion supporting a horizontally disposed roof. The plurality of modules are arranged in an assembly having a plurality of rows and columns, each of the plurality of modules in the assembly are in fluid communication, either directly or indirectly, with each of the other modules. Each of the rows and columns contain at least one flow obstructer such that fluid flow through each of the rows and columns is circuitous. In some embodiments, the flow obstructer may be a wall having substantially no holes.
In some embodiments, the plurality of modules comprise at least one first module having at least one side portion defining a fluid passage extending therethrough. In further embodiments, the plurality of modules comprises at least one second module having at least one side portion defining substantially no openings and at least one side portion defining a fluid passage extending therethrough. Each fluid passage may have about the same cross section and extend upward from the bottom edges of each module. In some embodiments, the fluid passage may have a generally inverted U-shaped cross section.
The plurality of modules may further comprise at least one third module having at least two side portions defining substantially no openings and at least one side portion defining a fluid passage extending therethrough. An outer boundary may be defined by at least some of the second and third modules are peripherally located in the assembly. In further embodiments, the side portions of the second and third modules defining substantially no openings face the exterior of said assembly. The assembly of the fluid retention or detention system may be supported on an impermeable floor. Alternatively, the assembly of the fluid retention or detention system may be supported on a floor having at least one outlet port defined therein.
In one aspect of the invention, a fluid retention or detention system comprising a plurality of interior modules, each having at least one vertically disposed side portion supporting a horizontally disposed roof and a plurality of exterior modules, each having at least one vertically disposed side portion supporting a horizontally disposed roof is provided. The plurality of interior and exterior modules are arranged in an assembly in a plurality of rows and columns with the plurality of exterior modules being peripherally located in the assembly with respect to the interior modules so as to define an outer boundary. The plurality of interior modules may be arranged adjacent each other in the assembly. Each of the plurality of modules in the assembly are in fluid communication, either directly or indirectly, with each of the other modules. Each of the rows and columns containing at least one flow obstructer such that fluid flow through each of said rows and columns is circuitous. The flow obstructer may comprise a wall having substantially no holes.
In some embodiments, each of the plurality of interior modules has at least one side portion defining a fluid passage extending therethrough. Each fluid passage may have about the same cross section and extend upward from the bottom edges of each module. In some embodiments, the fluid passage may have a generally inverted U-shaped cross section. At least one of the plurality of interior modules may have one side portion having substantially no openings or may have two side portions having substantially no openings.
In another embodiment, each of the plurality of exterior modules has at least one side portion defining a fluid passage extending therethrough. Each of the plurality of exterior modules may have at least one side portion defining substantially no openings, which may further face the exterior of the assembly. In yet another embodiment, each of the plurality of exterior modules has at least one side portion defining a plurality of perforations, which may face the exterior of the assembly. The perforations, which may be selectively closed, may be a hole having a diameter no larger than two (2) inches. A water-tight liner may be used to selectively close the perforations.
In another aspect of the invention, a method for detaining or retaining a fluid beneath a ground surface comprising the steps of (1) placing within the ground, a first level comprising a plurality of modules, each module having at least one vertically disposed side portion supporting a horizontally disposed roof; (2) arranging the plurality of modules in an assembly having a plurality of rows and columns; and (3) providing each of the rows and columns with at least one flow obstructer such that fluid flow through each of the rows and columns is circuitous. Each of the plurality of modules in the assembly are in fluid communication, either directly or indirectly, with each of the other modules. The flow obstructer may be a wall having substantially no holes.
In some embodiments, the plurality of modules comprises at least one first module having at least one side portion defining a fluid passage extending therethrough. In other embodiments, the plurality of modules comprises at least one second module having at least one side portion defining substantially no openings and at least one side portion defining a fluid passage extending therethrough. In further embodiments, the plurality of modules comprises at least one third module having at least two side portions defining substantially no openings and at least one side portion defining a fluid passage extending therethrough.
The method may further comprise the step of peripherally arranging at least some of the second and third modules of the first level in said assembly so as to define an outer boundary. At least some of the second and third modules of the first level may be peripherally arranged in the assembly so that the side portions defining substantially no openings face the exterior of the assembly. The first level of the assembly may be supported on an impermeable floor. Alternatively, the first level may be supported on a floor having at least one outlet port defined therein.
In other embodiments, some of the first and second modules may be provided with at least one side portion defining a plurality of perforations. The method may further comprise the step of peripherally arranging these first and second modules of the first level in the assembly so the said side portions defining a plurality of perforations face the exterior of the assembly. The plurality of perforations may be selectively closed by providing a water-tight liner around the assembly.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the method may further comprise the steps of: (1) placing a second level within the ground comprising a plurality of modules, each module having at least one vertically disposed side portion supporting a horizontally disposed roof; (2) arranging the plurality of modules in an assembly having a plurality of rows and columns; and (3) providing each of said rows and columns with at least one flow obstructer such that fluid flow through each of said rows and columns is circuitous. Each of the plurality of modules in the assembly are in fluid communication, either directly or indirectly, with each of the other modules. The second level is supported by said first level in vertical alignment.
One embodiment of the fluid retention or detention system 10 of the present invention is shown in
Preferably, the modules 12 are made of precast concrete having a high strength with the side portion 20 and roof 22 of each module preferably formed as one integral piece. The modules may be formed with embedded reinforcements such as steel reinforcing rods, prefabricated steel mesh, metal or plastic fibers or ribbons, or other similar reinforcements.
The modules 12 of the present invention may be provided in any one of a variety of embodiments, each having a distinct purpose and providing a particular advantage. The particular elements of each embodiment will now be described and their utility within the system will be described thereafter.
Depending on the preferred configuration and use of the system 10, notch outlet 38, shown in
The module depicted in
As shown in
Side port 44 (shown in
As shown in
In operation, a hole is excavated in the earth where the system 10 is to be installed. As briefly described above with respect to
In the case of a system 10 designed for retaining or detaining a fluid, the assembly 13 is preferably placed on a concrete floor 18, which is usually poured into the bottom of the excavated hole before the modules are installed. Concrete slabs may also be pre-cast offsite beforehand and installed as a base for the modules. Alternatively, a water-tight liner 58 or membrane may form the floor of the assembly 13. The floor may be impervious except for an outlet port, such as a drain.
In the case of a system 10 designed for exfiltration of a fluid, the assembly 13 may be placed on an aggregate material or filter fabric material, rather than a concrete floor 18, to allow all or a portion of the fluid to be absorbed by the soil. The aggregate material may comprise any conventional material having a suitable particle size which allows the storm water to percolate into the earth layers beneath the assembly 13 at whatever flow rate is desired. Various filter fabrics may also be used. Alternatively, the entire system 10 could be sealed with a water-tight liner 58 (shown in
The plurality of modules 12 may be positioned in the ground at any desired depth. For example, the topmost portion of the assembly may be positioned at the ground level so as to form a traffic surface for a parking lot or foot-traffic. Alternatively, the modules may be positioned within the ground, underneath one or more layers of earth. In either case, the modules are sufficient to withstand earth, wheel, or object loads. The modules are suited for numerous applications and may be located under lawns, parkways, parking lots, roadways, airports, railroads, or building floor areas. After the assembly 13 is arranged in the desired configuration, compacted soil 60 is back filled around and over the system 10. Road or other surface materials such as grass, landscaping, concrete, asphalt, stone, brick, etc. may then be applied over the compacted soil 60 as desired for the particular application.
The choice of exterior module 52 can adapt the system 10 of the present invention to indefinitely retain a fluid, temporarily detain a fluid for rate-controlled dispersal, or exfiltrate a fluid into the surrounding earth. For example, with modules 200 and 300 arranged as exterior modules 52 so that the solid walls 32 face the exterior of the assembly 10, the system 10 may be used as a storage basin to indefinitely retain a particular fluid.
With a combination of modules 400, 500 and/or 600 arranged as exterior modules 52 so that the perforate walls 34 having a plurality of perforations 36 face the exterior, the system 10 could, for example be used over a leaching bed to exfiltrate a fluid into the surrounding soil. Even further, a system 10 having one or more notch outlets 38 provided along the periphery, could be used for a rate-controlled release of fluid into the soil.
In general, modules 300, 400, or 600 would be provided as corner modules 56. It will be appreciated that many other configurations of modules 100-600 are possible and that the system can be customized for any number of purposes.
The arrangement of the interior modules 54 is also an important aspect of the present invention. As illustrated in
It was shown that forcing the fluid travelling through the assembly 13 to take a circuitous path through each row 14 and column 16 caused the fluid flow within the assembly to become turbulent. This turbulence acts to dislodge and break-up any debris lodged in the modules 12. Furthermore, by agitating the fluid as it moves through the assembly, the interior of the modules are cleaned, obviating the need to do so by hand. By providing a system 10 that is self-cleaning and resistant to clogging, the modules will be less susceptible to degradation and less maintenance of the system will be required.
Moreover, providing additional load-bearing walls, such as a solid baffle or solid wall, within the interior of the assembly 13 adds structural support to the system 10. Generally, underground storage systems known in the prior art only place modules having four completely open sides on the interior of the system in order to prevent impeding the flow of water through the system. In the present invention, interior modules in the system 10 may be provided with at least one baffle or solid wall 32, as provided in modules 200, 300 and 400. The prior art systems having completely open interiors are less structurally sound than the system of the present invention which provides load-bearing walls within the interior of the assembly.
As can be seen in
Referring now to
This aspect of the invention is significant because the volume of the system may be increased by extending further vertically into the earth, rather than horizontally along the surface area, saving space and money. It will be appreciated that the modules used in a multiple-depth configuration may be in any of the module embodiments 100-600 described above.
It should be understood that the foregoing is illustrative and not limiting, and that obvious modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, reference should be made primarily to the accompanying claims, rather than the foregoing specification, to determine the scope of the invention.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20100221068 A1 | Sep 2010 | US |
