System for drainage of surface water

Abstract

System for drainage of surface water, the system comprises a number of tanks being connected to a main pipeline leading water to a recipient. Each tank has at least one outlet for leading water from the tank to the main pipeline, and a corresponding lid, the lid is limiting the outlet until the water is at a predetermined level in the tank. The system further comprises a check valve arranged downstream of the outlet of each tank, preventing water from entering the tank from the main pipeline, and at least one air bleeder valve and at least one siphonic drainage regulator arranged between a tank and the recipient.

Claims

1. A system for drainage of surface water, the system, comprising: a plurality of manholes connected to a main pipeline for providing water to a recipient, each manhole having at least one outlet for leading water from the manhole to the main pipeline, the at least one outlet comprising a corresponding lid for limiting the outlet until water is at a predetermined level within the manhole, wherein a check valve is arranged on a pipeline connected to the at least one outlet of the manhole downstream of the outlet of the respective outlet for preventing water from entering the manhole from the main pipeline, the pipeline is arranged as an inverted U-shaped pipeline within a manhole downstream of the outlet, and at least one air bleeder valve is arranged on the inverted U-shaped pipeline, the bleeder valve configured to let air out from the inverted U-shaped pipeline while preventing air from entering into the U-shaped pipeline.

2. The system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of branch pipelines connected to a main pipeline leading water to the recipient, wherein a plurality of manholes are connected to each branch pipeline, and that an inverted U-shaped pipeline is arranged between the branch pipeline and the main pipeline.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the air bleeder valve is arranged at a top of a bend of the inverted U-shaped pipeline.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the lid is connected to a float.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the at least one outlet comprises an inner chamber having a plurality of inlets, and the corresponding lids limit the inlets until the water is at different levels in the manhole.

6. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of sensors for registering one or more of pressure, gas, moisture and water level.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the air bleeder valve is arranged at a top of a bend of the inverted U-shaped pipeline.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the lid is connected to a float.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the at least one outlet comprises an inner chamber having a plurality of inlets, and the corresponding lids limit the inlets until the water is at different levels in the manhole.

10. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a plurality of sensors for registering one or more of pressure, gas, moisture and water level.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the lid is connected to a float.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the lid is a float.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the at least one outlet comprises an inner chamber having a plurality of inlets, and the corresponding lids limit the inlets until the water is at different levels in the manhole.

14. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a plurality of sensors for registering one or more of pressure, gas, moisture and water level.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the at least one outlet comprises an inner chamber having a plurality of inlets, and the corresponding lids limit the inlets until the water is at different levels in the manhole.

16. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of sensors for registering one or more of pressure, gas, moisture and water level.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one outlet comprises an inner chamber having a plurality of inlets, and the corresponding lids limit the inlets until the water is at different levels in the manhole.

18. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of sensors for registering one or more of pressure, gas, moisture and water level.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the sensors are ultrasound sensors.

20. Use of a system for draining surface water, wherein the system comprises: a plurality of manholes connected to a main pipeline for providing water to a recipient, each manhole having at least one outlet for leading water from the manhole to the main pipeline, the at least one outlet comprising a corresponding lid for limiting the outlet until water is at a predetermined level within the manhole, wherein a check valve is arranged on a pipeline connected to the at least one outlet of the manhole downstream of the outlet of the respective outlet for preventing water from entering the manhole from the main pipeline, the pipeline is arranged as an inverted U-shaped pipeline within a manhole downstream of the outlet, and at least one air bleeder valve is arranged on the inverted U-shaped pipeline, the bleeder valve configured to let air out from the inverted U-shaped pipeline while preventing air from entering into the U-shaped pipeline.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will in the following be described with reference to the enclosed figures, where

(2) FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a road with a drainage system according to the disclosure,

(3) FIG. 2 shows two manholes of a system according to the disclosure,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a section along line A-A of FIG. 2,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a part of FIG. 2, in detail,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a system according to the disclosure, comprising a number of manholes,

(7) FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the outlet according to the disclosure,

(8) FIG. 7 shows yet another embodiment of the outlet according to the disclosure,

(9) FIG. 8 shows the embodiment of FIG. 7 from above,

(10) FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a system according to the disclosure, comprising a number of manholes, and

(11) FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of a siphonic drainage regulator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a drainage system comprises different types of manholes. One type of manhole 1 for receiving water from a building, preferably from the rain gutter 4 of a building, one type of manhole 2 for receiving water from a road, and one type of manhole 3 receiving water from the other manholes 1, 2, and connected to a main pipeline 5 leading water to a recipient 6.

(13) In FIG. 2, two manholes 1, 2 of a system are shown in detail. Water is entering manhole 1 for instance from a rain gutter 4 of an adjacent building as shown in FIG. 1, and flowing into a sand reservoir 101 at the bottom of the manhole 1. An outlet 105 is arranged at a distance from the bottom of the manhole, and the space 103 inside the manhole is used as a water reservoir. Correspondingly, water is entering the manhole 2 for instance from the road as shown in FIG. 1, flowing into a sand reservoir 201 at the bottom of the manhole, and an outlet 205 is arranged at a distance from the manhole. The outlets 105, 205 of both manholes are connected to a pipeline 7, which is running from manhole 1 and into manhole 2, and further towards a recipient. In the shown embodiment, a part of the pipeline 7 is arranged as an inverted U-shaped pipeline having a vertical curve or bend 9, which allows the pipeline from manhole 1 to the curve 9, to remain filled with water, even if air is drawn into the outlet at manhole 1 and/or 2. The shift from gravity drainage to siphonic drainage from manhole 1 will thus be faster, and in a preferred embodiment an air bleeder (not shown) is arranged at the top of the bend, in order to let air out of the pipeline 7, if necessary.

(14) On the pipeline 7, between the manholes, there is shown a branch pipeline having a check valve 8. The branch pipeline may be leading to another manhole or directly to a building (not shown), and the check valve will be preventing backflow of water from the pipeline 7. Check valves may also be arranged downstream of manhole 1, upstream of the branch pipeline, to prevent backflow into manhole 1, and downstream of manhole 2, which will be obvious to a skilled person.

(15) In manhole 2, the outlet 205 is shown with a lid in the form of a ball 204 arranged on the top of the outlet 205, whereby the ball 204 is surrounded by guiding pins 206.

(16) Sensors 111 may be arranged for registering one or more of pressure, gas, moisture and water level. Sensors are arranged along the system both in manholes and in pipelines, registering pressure and/or water level. Such sensors may register pressure gas moisture sensors, water level etc., and should also include ultrasound sensors. The rate of the water flow, the level of solid particles, such as sand, and the temperature may also be informative to an operator of the system, and thus corresponding sensors may also be included. The sensors may report to a control unit either directly or wireless. In this way, any operator of the system may monitor when a pipeline is flowing with siphonic drainage and with gravity drainage, and use this information for future improvements and/or developments of the system.

(17) This is also shown in FIG. 3 showing a cross section of manhole 2. When the water level in manhole 2 is sufficient to lift the ball 204 off the outlet 205, water will flow into the outlet. Under normal conditions, the outlet will only function with siphonic drainage, as the water will not lift the ball unless the water level is above the opening of the outlet.

(18) In a not shown embodiment, the ball is bearing against knobs or the similar on a top edge of the outlet, leaving a small opening into the outlet even when the ball is resting on the top. With this embodiment, the manhole 2 will also function with gravity drainage.

(19) FIG. 4 shows the outlet and lid of manhole 1 in FIG. 2 in detail. The lid is an alternative to the lid in the form of a ball as described above, and covers an outlet 105 of the manhole 1. The lid shown in FIG. 4 comprises a first float 106 having a through opening 107, being closed by a cap 108 arranged on a lever 109 operated by a second float 110. When the second float 110 is lifted by the water in the manhole, the cap 108 is lifted off the opening 107 of the first float 106. Air will then be drawn through the opening 107 and into the outlet 105, reducing negative pressure inside the outlet, and then the first float 106 will be lifted off the outlet 105. By designing the lid in this way, using a second float 110 to let air into the outlet and thereby reducing the negative pressure, the lid shown in FIG. 4 is lifted at a lower water level than if the first float 106 should be lifted directly.

(20) FIG. 5 shows an overview of a number of manholes 3 connected to the same main pipeline leading the water to a recipient 6, leaving the siphonic drainage regulators, check valves etc, out. When all outlets and the main pipeline operates at siphonic drainage, the amount of water flowing through the system and into the recipient is greatly increased compared to when the system operate at gravitational drainage. As shown in FIG. 5, when the outlet of the main pipeline is submerged under water in the recipient 6, the pipelines are air tight, and each manhole is arranged to only open when the water level is above the outlet, the pipelines will be filled with water at all times, and the system as a whole will always operate at siphonic drainage. The same effect will occur by using a siphonic drainage regulator.

(21) FIG. 6 shows a cross section of an alternative embodiment of an outlet and corresponding lid, wherein the outlet comprises an inner chamber 307 having one outlet 305 to the main pipeline, four inlets 308 leading water from the manhole to the inner chamber 307, and a check valve 309 arranged in the outlet. Each inlet 308 have different cross section, are arranged at different levels in the manhole, and are covered by a separate lid 306 designed to have different buoyancy. The sum of the cross sections of the inlets 308 to the inner chamber 307 are larger than the cross section of the outlet 305 from the inner chamber to the main pipeline. When sufficient inlets 308 are open, the flow rate through each inlet will be less than the flow rate through the outlet 305, and thus the inlet resistance due to friction will be reduced by this design. As the inlets 308 are arranged at different levels, and the lids 306 have different buoyancy, the inlets 308 will open at different levels of water in the manhole.

(22) FIGS. 7 and 8 show another alternative embodiment of an outlet and corresponding lid, wherein the lid of the outlet 405 has four sections 406, 407, 408, 409. All sections are connected to a lever 410 having a float 411, wherein the first section 406 will be lifted off the outlet when the float 411 is at a first level, the second section 407 when the float 411 is at a second level, the third section 408 when the float is at a third level, and the fourth section 409 when the float is at the top level. The sections are shown as surrounding rings of a circle, wherein the first section 406 is a circle, and the other sections 407, 408, 409 are rings surrounding the circle 406. As the sections are lifted off, the cross section of the outlet becomes larger. In FIG. 7 the lid is shown when closing the outlet, and the different levels are indicated with dotted lines.

(23) FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a system, comprising two manholes 501, 502 each having an outlet 503 as shown in detail in

(24) FIG. 6. The manholes 501, 502 are connected to a branch pipeline 505, and the branch pipeline is connected to a main pipeline 506. The manhole 501 is connected to the branch pipeline 505 via a pipeline 504, having a siphonic drainage regulator between the outlet of the manhole and the connection to the branch pipeline. The siphonic drainage regulator is shown as an inverted U-shaped pipeline 507, having the whole curve below the outlet of the manhole, and comprising an air bleeding valve 508 at the uppermost part of the curve. The air bleeder valve 508 will let air out of the pipeline 504 when the drainage is shifting from gravity drainage to siphonic drainage. The other manhole 502 is connected directly to the branch pipeline 505. A check valve 509 is arranged between the outlet of the manhole and the connection to the branch pipeline 505 on both manholes 501, 502 in order to prevent that any water from the branch pipeline may flow into the manhole.

(25) In the shown embodiment, a siphonic drainage regulator shown as an inverted U-shaped pipeline, is also arranged between the branch pipeline 505 and the main pipeline 506, having an air bleeder valve 508 arranged at the top of the curve 510.

(26) By having the siphonic drainage regulators arranged in this way, the water may flow out of manhole 501 by siphonic drainage when the pipeline 504 from the curve 507 to the outlet of the manhole 501 is filled with water, regardless of the amount of water in pipeline 505 and 506. Further, water may flow out of both manholes 501 and 502 by siphonic drainage when the pipeline 505 from the curve 510 to the outlet is filled with water, regardless of the amount of water in main pipeline 506. In this way, if large amount of water is entering manhole 501 and/or 502, the shift from gravity drainage to siphonic drainage will be very fast as only parts of the system must be filled with water, and any air in the pipelines may be removed through the air bleeder valves.

(27) If a system according to FIG. 9 is air tight and running with siphonic drainage, the siphonic drainage regulators shown as inverted U-shaped pipelines will assist in identifying where any leakage is. If manhole 502 is leaking, the pipeline 505 and 506 will be emptied, but the pipeline from the curve 507 to manhole 501 will remain filled. When searching for the leakage, a skilled person would thus know that the leakage must be upstream of curve 510, but downstream of curve 507. If a manhole (not shown) on the main pipeline 506, upstream of branch pipeline 505 is leaking, the main pipeline will be emptied, but the branch pipeline will remain filled. When searching for the leakage, a skilled person would thus know that the leakage is not on branch pipeline 505.

(28) FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of a siphonic drainage regulator, being an overflow box having an inlet 601, an outlet 602, a water reservoir 603 and a level barrier 604 limiting the water level in the water reservoir. In the shown embodiment, the water level barrier 604 is a wall dividing the box into the water reservoir and an outlet area 605, the wall 604 is shorter than the height of the box, allowing water to flow over the barrier and into the outlet area 605. The height of the barrier will determine the water level of the reservoir. The inlet 601 is arranged in the water reservoir 603, at a level below the water level, and the outlet 602 is arranged at the bottom of the outlet area 605, collecting all water entering the outlet area. The overflow box further comprises an air bleeder valve 608 arranged at the top above the outlet area 605, in order to let air out of the box when the flow of water is shifting from gravity drainage to siphonic drainage, and the box will be filled with water.

(29) Water will enter the inlet and flow into the water reservoir until a given level, whereby it will flow over the level barrier 604 and into the outlet. This principle is well known to skilled persons as a spillway system.

(30) All embodiments of the lid of the outlet shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6-9 may be arranged on knobs on the top edge of the outlet, and thus the outlet will never be completely closed, allowing gravitation drainage until the water level raises above the opening of the outlet.

(31) The lid according to all embodiments described above and shown in the Figures, may be one or more floats. The necessary buoyancy of the lid will among others depend on the suction of the outlet and the size and number of outlets in one tank, and must thus be calculated when the whole system is designed.

(32) The example above is given to illustrate the invention and should not be used to interpret the following claims limiting. The scope of the invention is not limited by the example given above, but the following claims. Modifications and amendments of the invention, being obvious to a person skilled of the art, should also be included in the scope of the invention.