Patent Application
20240191492
Current industrial drainage systems for draining liquid from an industrial complex typically include a drain structure formed in a trench in the floor. The drain structure is typically made of concrete and steel and may include a concrete lip close to the surface of the drain structure. Drain grates may be inserted into an opening on the surface of the drain structure such that the drain grates may be placed on the lip of the drain structure to make the drain grate sit flush with the floor. To prevent north/south movement of the drain grates when, for example, a vehicle rolls over the drain grates, the grates are typically screwed down into the drain structure. This makes these drainage systems tedious to maintain as the drain grates may need to be unscrewed from the drain structure to perform routine maintenance. In addition to possibly stripping the screws during maintenance, one must pull apart the system to clean the trench that houses the drain structure.
Furthermore, after a sustained period of heavy use, the drain grates may be pushed into the drain structure, thereby compromising the structural integrity of the drain structure. Over time, these drainage systems typically have other issues with the structural integrity of the drain structure. For example, portions of the drain structure below the surface may corrode or collapse, wherein the concrete and/or steel in sections of the drain structure may breakdown and compromise the structural integrity of the drain structure. To repair damaged portions of the drain structure, the concrete and/or steel in the damaged sections must be removed and re-poured, a costly endeavor.
In some implementations, a surface-supported drain grate system includes a plurality of strap-supported grate sections. Each of the strap-supported grate sections includes a drain grate and strapping members. A middle portion of each strapping member is affixed to a top facing section of the drain grate. Outer portions of each strapping member that are not affixed to the drain grate are surface mountable on a surface adjacent to a drain structure in which a strap-supported grate section is inset to provide structural support for the strap-supported grate section.
In some implementations, a strap-supported grate section in a surface-supported drain grate system includes a drain grate, at least one inner strapping member having a middle portion affixed on a top facing inner section of the drain grate; and two anchor strapping members, each of which has a middle portion that is affixed on a top facing edge of the drain grate. Outer portions of each anchor strapping member and outer portions of the inner strapping member are not affixed to the drain grate. The outer portions of the anchor strapping members and the inner strapping member are surface mountable on a surface adjacent to a drain structure in which the strap-supported grate section, fastened or unfastened, is inset to provide structural support for the strap-supported grate section.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of implementations of the present disclosure.
The components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the implementations of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.
The following detailed description of example implementations refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.
To prevent north/south movement of drain grates 104 when, for example, a vehicle rolls over drain grates 104, drain grates 102 may be fastened to a threshold 108. The drain grates and threshold assembly may be seated on lip 106 and inset in an opening on the surface drain structure 102. Drain grates 104 may be fastened to threshold 108 with a fastener 110 including, for example, screws, nail heads, bolts, or the like. To maintain drain system 100, the drain grates and threshold assembly may be decoupled by unfastening drain grates 104 from threshold 108 to, for example, access drain structure 102 for cleaning. Such routine maintenance may possibly lead to stripping of fasteners 110 that are used to fasten drain grates 104 to threshold 108. Furthermore, one may possibly pull apart relatively large sections of the drain grates and threshold assembly to access drain structure 102, making drain system 100 tedious and cumbersome to maintain.
Over time, repeated activities on the concrete in drain structure 102 can cause a concrete ledge (for example, lip 106) or a frame on which drain grates 104 sit to shear off, affecting the structural integrity of drain structure 102, as shown for example in
Surface-supported drain grate system 200 may include multiple strap-supported grate sections 202 (also shown as, for example, 202a and 202b in
Drain grate 204 and strapping members 206 may be made from steel or similar material that can withstand industrial activity. Drain grate 204 may include steel of varying thicknesses and strength, wherein a relatively thicker and/or stronger steel may be used for drain grate 204 in a wider strap-supported grate section 202. For example, a relatively thicker steel may be used for drain grate 204 in an eight-inch-wide strap-supported grate section 202a than the steel used in a six-inch-wide strap-supported grate section 202b.
Strapping members 206 may include two anchor strapping members 206a. A middle portion of anchor strapping member 206a is located on and affixed to an upper (top facing) end section (edge) of drain grate 204. The placement of anchor strapping members 206a on the edges of drain grate 204 prevents north-south (up and down) movements of strap-supported grate section 202 during impact with, for example, a vehicle. Strapping members 206 may also include one or more inner strapping members 206b. A middle portion of each inner strapping member 206b is located on and affixed to a top facing inner section (between anchor strapping members 206a) of drain grate 204. The number of inner strapping members 206b in a strap-supported grate section 202 may depend on the width of strapping members 206 relative to the length of drain grate 204, considering that each strapping member 206 covers the section of drain grate 204 to which it is affixed and thus prevents drainage in that section.
Strapping members 206 may be, for example, welded, soldered, or otherwise affixed to the upper surface (top face) of drain grate 204. The height of strapping members 206 may comply with safety standards related to tripping. When strap-supported grate section 202 is inset in drain structure 102, drain grate 204 may be flush with the floor surface. The outer portions of strapping members 206 that are not affixed to drain grate 204 may be surface mounted on the surface adjacent to drain structure 102 to provide structural support for strap-supported grate section 202. For example, when strap-supported grate section 202 is inset in drain structure 102, the outer portions of strapping members 206 that are not affixed to drain grate 204 may be surface mounted on the concrete adjacent to drain structure 102. Strapping members 206 thus use the surface (in this example, concrete) adjacent to the drain structure 102 to structurally support each strap-supported grate section 202.
In some implementations, when inset in drain structure 102, strapping members 206 may support strap-supported grate section 202 without being fastened down to the surface adjacent to drain structure 102. In an example implementation where strapping members 206 provide support without being fastened down to the surface, the surface on which strapping members 206 are mounted may be zero degrees level so that strapping members 206 do not move upon impact with, for example, a vehicle.
In an implementation where the surface adjacent to drain structure 102 cannot be zero degrees level, one or more strapping members 206 may be fastened to the surface adjacent to the drain structure. For example, anchor strapping members 206a may be fastened to the concrete adjacent to drain structure 102 with tabs, bolts, or similar fastener, wherein the fasteners may be drilled through anchor strapping members 206a and into the concrete. The top of the fasteners may be leveled with the top of anchor strapping members 206a or slightly below the top of anchor strapping members 206a to prevent the top of the fasteners from being above the top of anchor strapping members 206a. As indicated above,
Bend arms 302 may be used to prevent or minimize side-to-side shifting when strap-supported grate section 202 is impacted by, for example, a vehicle. In some implementations, when strap-supported grate section 202 is inset in drain structure 102, the sides of strap-supported grate section 202 may not be flush with the sides of drain structure 102s. In these cases, bend arms 302 may reduce side-to-side shifting when strap-supported grate section 202 is impacted by, for example, a vehicle. For example, when strap-supported grate section 202 is inset in a drain structure that has an opening that is slightly larger than the width needed for insetting strap-supported grate section 202 in the drain structure, bend arms 302 may reduce side-to-side shifting of strap-supported grate section 202 in the extra space in the opening when strap-supported grate section 202 is impacted by, for example, a vehicle. In some implementations, drain grate 204 may not include bend arms 302.
Strap-supported grate section 202 may also include an inner support member 304 that is affixed to the center of the bottom facing side of drain grate 204 to provide further structural support to strap-supported grate section 202. Inner support member 304 may be welded to sections of drain grate 204 at predefined points, running along the length of drain grate 204. In some implementations, inner support member 304 may be welded to sections of drain grate 204 at predefined points, without having a continuous inner support member 304 running along the length of drain grate 204.
In some implementations, drain grate 204 may be, for example, a steel channel formed from a mold. The molded drain grate 204 may include flanges (instead of bend arm 302) along the bottom facing length edges of drain grate 204. The flanges may provide further structural support to strap-supported grate section 202 and may be long enough to pass a damaged lip edge (for example, lip 106 of drain structure 102) when strap-supported grate section 202 is inset in drain structure 102. The flanges may also be used to prevent or minimize side-to-side shifting when strap-supported grate section 202 is impacted by, for example, a vehicle. Strap-supported grate section 202 having a molded drain grate 204 may also include an inner support member 304 that is affixed to the center of the bottom facing side of molded drain grate 204 to provide further structural support to strap-supported grate section 202.
Outer support members 402 may be used to prevent or minimize side-to-side shifting when strap-supported grate section 202 is impacted by, for example, a vehicle. In some implementations, when strap-supported grate section 202 is inset in drain structure 102, the sides of strap-supported grate section 202 may not be flush with the sides of drain structure 102s. In these cases, outer support members 402 may reduce side-to-side shifting when strap-supported grate section 202 is impacted by, for example, a vehicle. For example, when strap-supported grate section 202 is inset in a drain structure that has an opening that is slightly larger than the width needed for insetting strap-supported grate section 202 in the drain structure, outer support members 402 may reduce side-to-side shifting of strap-supported grate section 202 in the extra space in the opening when strap-supported grate section 202 is impacted by, for example, a vehicle.
Strap-supported grate section 202 may also include an inner support member 404 that is affixed to the center bottom facing side of drain grate 204 to provide further structural support to strap-supported grate section 202. Inner support member 404 may be welded to sections of drain grate 204 at predefined points, running along the length of strap-supported grate section 202. In some implementations, inner support member 404 may be welded to sections of drain grate 204 at predefined points, without continuously running along the entire length of strap-supported grate section 202.
Outer support members 502 may be used to prevent or minimize side-to-side shifting when strap-supported grate section 202 is impacted by, for example, a vehicle. In some implementations, when strap-supported grate section 202 is inset in drain structure 102, the sides of strap-supported grate section 202 may not be flush with the sides of drain structure 102s. In these cases, outer support members 502 may reduce side-to-side shifting when strap-supported grate section 202 is impacted by, for example, a vehicle. For example, when strap-supported grate section 202 is inset in a drain structure that has an opening that is slightly larger than the width needed for insetting strap-supported grate section 202 in the drain structure, outer support members 502 may reduce side-to-side shifting of strap-supported grate section 202 in the extra space in the opening when strap-supported grate section 202 is impacted by, for example, a vehicle.
The foregoing disclosure provides illustrative and descriptive implementations but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise form disclosed herein. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings.
Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of various implementations. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosure of various implementations includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set.
No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Furthermore, as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, a combination of related items, and unrelated items, and/or the like), and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the term “only one” or similar language is used. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.
Moreover, in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”, “having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”, “approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting implementation the term is defined to be within 10%, in another implementation within 5%, in another implementation within 1% and in another implementation within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.
