WATER DRAIN TANK OR CHANNEL MODULE

Abstract

A water drain tank or channel module includes a structure having a top platen and a bottom platen, a plurality of generally vertical support members for supporting at least the top platen, the support members being retained in sockets on at least one of the bottom platen and the top platen, and optional side walls each including a water-permeable lattice member that is adapted to support an impermeable membrane or water-permeable geotextile material that is able of controlling the flow of drain water at least out of the module and restricting sediment from entering the module. An assembly of such modules to form a drain tank, channel or storage reservoir is also disclosed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1A is an isometric view of an assembly of modules according to the present invention forming a water drain tank or channel, with some modules removed for the sake of clarity, schematically showing the location of the assembly within a hole or trench in the ground;

FIG. 1B is a top plan view of a module of the present invention with the top platen and a portion of lattice members in one corner removed to show the support structure of the bottom platen and a water-permeable geotextile material (only a portion of which is shown for the sake of clarity) below the bottom platen;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the module of FIG. 1B, showing the covering of the front wall with a geotextile material and the optional use of a water-impermeable covering that would extend at least partially around the side walls and under the bottom platen, (only portions of both of which are shown for the sake of clarity), such that this module would function as a holding or storage tank or reservoir;

FIG. 3A is a schematic isometric view of a portion of a module according to the present invention with some of the top platen, walls and other details removed for the sake of clarity, and without any covering of the module walls with a water-permeable geotextile material or a water-impermeable covering;

FIG. 3B is a schematic exploded isometric view of an assembly made using two vertically-stacked modules according to the present invention, where portions of the modules are removed for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 3C is an enlarged isometric view of the circled area of FIG. 3B, showing the use of one exemplary interlocking cylinder to align and interlock the vertically-stacked modules;

FIG. 3D is a schematic isometric view of a portion of another embodiment of an assembly of vertically stacked modules according to the present invention, in which an intermediate platen substitutes for the top and bottom platens as shown in FIG. 3C and functions as a common or combined top and bottom platen, such that the intermediate platen includes top and bottom sockets to retain the vertical support members and for interlocking vertically stacked modules; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevation view of three modules assembled together front-to-back to form a modular drainage assembly, with the geotextile covering removed for the sake of clarity.

Claims

1. A water drain tank or channel module comprising a structure having a top platen and a bottom platen, a plurality of generally vertical support members for supporting at least the top platen, the support members being retained in sockets on at least one of the bottom platen and the top platen, and optional side walls each comprising a water-permeable lattice member that is adapted to support an impermeable membrane or water-permeable geotextile material that is capable of controlling the flow of drain water at least out of the module and restricting sediment from entering the module.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein the support members are tubular members.

3. The module of claim 1, wherein the lattice members are wire mesh lattice members.

4. The module of claim 1, wherein the lattice members are synthetic polymeric lattice members.

5. The module of claim 4, wherein the synthetic polymeric lattice members are injection molded.

6. The module of claim 1, further comprising a geotextile material covering at least a portion of at least one lattice member.

7. The module of claim 1, further comprising a water-impermeable covering at least a portion of at least one wall, such that water is retained longer in the module than in the absence of the water-impermeable membrane.

8. The module of claim 1, wherein the shape of the module is six-sided, with each side having a quadrilateral shape.

9. An assembly of modules to create a water drain tank or channel, wherein each module comprises a structure having a top platen and a bottom platen, a plurality of generally vertical support members for supporting the top platen, the support members being retained in sockets on at least one of the bottom platen and the top platen, and side walls as are necessary to form outer peripheral side walls of the assembly, each module side wall comprising a water-permeable lattice member that is adapted to support an impermeable membrane or a water-permeable geotextile material capable of controlling the flow of drain water at least out of the assembly and restricting sediment from entering the assembly, to create a tank or drain channel, and wherein at least the outer peripheral walls of the assembly are at least partially covered with the geotextile material.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein a front of one module abuts a rear of another module.

11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein a side of one module abuts a side of another module.

12. The assembly of claim 9, wherein a side of one module abuts one of a front and back of another module.

13. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the modules are stacked vertically.

14. The assembly of claim 9, wherein interior abutting portions of adjacent modules abut each other and do not have side walls so as not to impede water flow within the channel formed by the assembly of modules.

15. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising a geotextile material covering at least a portion of at least one lattice member on at least one outer peripheral side wall.

16. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising a water-impermeable covering at least a portion of at least one outer peripheral side wall, such that water is retained longer in the assembly than in the absence of the water-impermeable membrane.