WATER INFILTRATION CONDUIT

Abstract

In one aspect the present invention provides an adjustable head infiltration conduit configured to distribute water adjacent to the conduit and to convey water away from the conduit. This conduit includes a conveyance chamber defining a water flow path through the conduit, and at least one inlet port associated with one end of the water flow path defined by the conveyance chamber. Also provided is at least one outlet port associated with an end of the water flow path distal from said at least one inlet port, and an infiltration chamber in fluid communication with the conveyance chamber. This infiltration chamber includes at least one water permeable area configured to allow water out of the conduit. The infiltration chamber also includes at least one removable intermediate lateral baffle orientated substantially perpendicular to the water flow path defined by the conveyance chamber with the upper edge of said at least one removable intermediate lateral baffle defining the boundary of the infiltration chamber with the conveyance chamber. The removable intermediate lateral baffle or baffles forming at least two retention cells within the infiltration chamber arranged to temporarily store water before dispersal through at least one water permeable surface of the infiltration chamber.

Claims

1. An adjustable head infiltration conduit configured to distribute water adjacent to the conduit and to convey water away from the conduit, the conduit comprising, a conveyance chamber defining a water flow path through the conduit, and at least one inlet port associated with one end of the water flow path defined by the conveyance chamber, and at least one outlet port associated with an end of the water flow path distal from said at least one inlet port, and an infiltration chamber in fluid communication with the conveyance chamber, the infiltration chamber including at least one water permeable area configured to allow water out of the conduit, the infiltration chamber also including at least one removable intermediate lateral baffle orientated substantially perpendicular to the water flow path defined by the conveyance chamber with the upper edge of said at least one removable intermediate lateral baffle defining the boundary of the infiltration chamber with the conveyance chamber, the removable intermediate lateral baffle or baffles forming at least two retention cells within the infiltration chamber are arranged to temporarily store water before dispersal through at least one water permeable surface of the infiltration chamber, whereby removal or addition of the at least one intermediate lateral baffle adjusts the head of water temporarily stored within the infiltration chamber.

2. An adjustable head infiltration conduit as claimed in claim 1 formed from a mouldable settable material.

3. An adjustable head infiltration conduit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one inlet and outlet ports are provided at opposite ends of the water flow path of the conveyance chamber.

4. An adjustable head infiltration conduit as claimed in claim 1 which defines a linear water flow path.

5. An adjustable head infiltration conduit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conveyance chamber is positioned and orientated above the infiltration chamber.

6. An adjustable head infiltration conduit as claimed in claim 1 wherein one side or face of the conveyance chamber is open to one side or face of the infiltration chamber.

7. An adjustable head infiltration conduit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one removal intermediate lateral baffle spans the distance between the opposed side walls of the infiltration chamber and extends from the chamber's water permeable area to an upper edge of the baffle, said upper edge defining a boundary demarcating the end of the infiltration chamber and start of the conveyance chamber.

8. An adjustable head infiltration conduit as claimed in claim 7 which incorporates a plurality of removal intermediate lateral baffles running the length of the infiltration chamber which divide the infiltration chamber into a plurality of retention cells.

9. An adjustable head infiltration conduit as claimed in claim 8 which includes a plurality of baffles defined with different heights.

10. An adjustable head infiltration conduit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ends of said at least one removable intermediate lateral baffle is received within a pair of opposed complimentary recesses formed in the sidewalls of the infiltration chamber.

11. An adjustable head infiltration conduit as claimed in claim 10 wherein the sidewalls of the conduit define an array of projections along the exterior length of the conduit which form paired sets of opposed complimentary recesses.

12. An adjustable head infiltration conduit as claimed in claim 10 wherein said at least one removable intermediate lateral baffle is inserted into the infiltration chamber by being slid from the underside of a conduit into the interior of the infiltration chamber with the complimentary interior recesses guiding the motion of the baffle.

13. An adjustable head infiltration conduit as claimed in claim 10 wherein the complimentary recesses defines at least once locking feature which resists the removal of a baffle once fully inserted into the conduit.

14. An adjustable head infiltration conduit as claimed in claim 13 wherein said at least one locking feature is formed by paired set of male and female projections and recesses in the respective surfaces of each of the ends of the baffles and complimentary recesses.

15. An adjustable head infiltration conduit as claimed in claim 1 which incorporates a single inlet and a single outlet.

16. An adjustable head infiltration conduit as claimed in claim 1 wherein an inlet or outlet port incorporates an interlocking connector configured to engage the conduit with an adjacent conduit.

17. An adjustable head infiltration conduit as claimed in claim 11 wherein said at least one removable intermediate lateral baffle is inserted into the infiltration chamber by being slid from the underside of a conduit into the interior of the infiltration chamber with the complimentary interior recesses guiding the motion of the baffle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] Additional and further aspects of the present invention will be apparent to the reader from the following description of an embodiment, given in by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0049] FIGS. 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d provide top, side, underside and end views respectively of an adjustable head infiltration conduit as provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment,

[0050] FIG. 2a provides a perspective view of the conduit of FIGS. 1a-1d while FIGS. 2b and 2c provide perspective and end views of the same conduit with the exterior of the conduit shown in ghosted outline,

[0051] FIG. 3a provides a perspective view of a portion of a water transport and infiltration system formed by interconnecting multiple conduits as illustrated by FIGS. 1a-d and 2a-c, while FIG. 3b provides the same view with the exterior of the conduits shown in ghosted outline,

[0052] FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c provide perspective, side and end views illustrating how the conduits illustrated with respect to FIGS. 3a and 3b can be can be stacked inside each other for transportation and storage,

[0053] FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c provide a sequence of comparison views of various removable intermediate lateral baffles of differing heights which can be used in various embodiments of the invention, and

[0054] FIG. 6a, 6b provide plan views of a baffle which is used to engage with a conduit in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.

[0055] Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which is given by way of example only of a particular embodiment.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0056] FIGS. 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d provide top, side, underside and end views respectively of an adjustable head infiltration conduit 1 as provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment. FIG. 2a also provides a perspective view of the conduit of FIGS. 1a-1d while FIGS. 2b and 2c provide perspective and end views of the same conduit with the exterior of the conduit shown in ghosted outline.

[0057] These figures show the provision of an adjustable head infiltration conduit 1 formed with an upper conveyance chamber 2 and a lower infiltration chamber 3. The conduit is designed to both distribute water adjacent to the conduit and to convey water away from the conduit.

[0058] In the embodiment shown the infiltration chamber 3 contains four removable intermediate lateral baffles 4. These baffles 4 extend from a water permeable base 5 of the conduit to an upper edge 6 of each baffle which defines the boundary between infiltration chamber 3 and conveyance chamber 2. Water permeability is provided by the base of the conduit being open to the surrounding ground in the embodiment shown.

[0059] As can be seen from these figures the infiltration and conveyance chambers are open to one another at their upper and lower boundaries respectively, allowing for the free flow of water between these two chambers.

[0060] The conveyance chamber defines a water flow path 7 through the conduit which runs from a primary inlet port 8 to an outlet port 9. An auxiliary inlet port 10 is also formed in the upper surface of the conduit to allow for the supply of water from sources above the conduit.

[0061] The four removable intermediate lateral baffles divide the infiltration chamber into five separate retention cells 11, with this array of cells being bounded at either end of the conduit by its end walls. These retention cells temporarily store water and will allow it to be dispersed out into the surrounding ground through the permeable base of the conduit.

[0062] FIGS. 2b and 2c show in more detail the configuration and use of the lateral baffles 4 which form the array of retention cells. Each of these baffles is orientated substantially perpendicular to the water flow path defined by the conveyance chamber, with each baffle spanning the distance between the adjacent sidewalls of the conduit. As can be seen from FIG. 2c the height of the baffles will control the available volume within a retention cell 11, and hence the hydraulic head pressure experienced at the water permeable base of the conduit. Reducing the height of the baffle will increase the relative volume of the adjacent conveyance chamber at the expense of available hydraulic head pressure and hence the rate of water infiltration out of a retention cell. Conversely increases in the height of the baffle will increase water infiltration rates due to an increase in hydraulic pressure at the expense of water flow rate through the conveyance chamber.

[0063] The height of a baffle can also be selected to control the relative flow and infiltration rates depending on the gradient or slope at which the conduit is installed in the ground. For example a relatively high baffle may be provided at steep installation grades where gravity will increase the flow rate through the conveyance chamber, allowing infiltration rates to also be increased.

[0064] FIG. 3a provides a perspective view of a portion of a water transport and infiltration system 12 formed by interconnecting multiple conduits 1 as illustrated by FIGS. 1a-d and 2a-c, while FIG. 3b provides the same view with the exterior of the conduits shown in ghosted outline.

[0065] FIGS. 3a and 3b show how the invention can be used both convey water to a remote location while also infiltrating water into the ground along the length of the transportation system formed. A sequence of infiltration conduits may be connected via outlet 9 and primary inlet ports 8 to form the system, with auxiliary inlet ports 10 also allowing for connections to be made to additional water sources above each of the conduits.

[0066] The removable nature of each of the lateral baffles ensures that the hydraulic head experienced in each retention cell can be controlled to adjust the relative ratio of infiltration rate and flow rate at the specific sites or locations traversed by the system 12. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a single conduit may integrate baffles of different heights to that of an adjacent or remote conduit in same system—or potentially may incorporate a set of baffles with different heights within the same conduit.

[0067] During installation a decision can be made as to the infiltration and flow rates required from a specific conduit and the appropriate baffles can then be installed in the conduit prior to the conduit being installed in the ground.

[0068] FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c provide perspective, side and end views illustrating how the conduits illustrated with respect to FIGS. 3a and 3b can be stacked inside each other for transportation and storage. In preferred embodiments the water permeable base of each conduit may be open to the surrounding ground, allowing a series of conduits to be nested or stacked inside one another if their removable baffles are not installed.

[0069] FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c provide a sequence of comparison views of various removable intermediate lateral baffles of differing heights which can be used in various embodiments of the invention.

[0070] As can be seen from these figures the height of each baffle may be defined by the distance between its upper exposed edge 6 and its opposite lower edge 13 deployed at the base of the conduit.

[0071] As can be seen from FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c the size of the step formed by each baffle can vary depending on the effective height required for a baffle.

[0072] These figures also illustrate additional features of the baffle 4 used to facilitate a connection being made with the conduit. In particular each end of the baffle defines a ‘T” profile form 14 in addition to a locking projection 15. The T profile end form of the baffle cooperates with a complimentary recess defined in the side wall of the conduit to guide the motion of the baffle into the interior of the conduit. The locking projection 15 mates with a complimentary receiver formed in the side wall of the conduit to secure the baffle in place within the conduit at a desired position.

[0073] FIG. 6a, 6b provide plan views of a baffle which is used to engage with a conduit in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.

[0074] Again in the embodiment shown the ends of each baffle have a ‘T” profile form 114 and also define a locking projection 115. The sidewalls of the conduit define an array of opposed pairs of complimentary recesses 116 which are used to receive the ends of each baffle. As shown in the enlargement view provided these recesses have complimentary form to the end of each baffle and are used to guide the motion of the baffle into the interior of the conduit.

[0075] In the preceding description and the following claims the word “comprise” or equivalent variations thereof is used in an inclusive sense to specify the presence of the stated feature or features. This term does not preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments.

[0076] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and further and additional embodiments within the spirit and scope of the invention will be apparent to the skilled reader from the examples illustrated with reference to the drawings. In particular, the invention may reside in any combination of features described herein, or may reside in alternative embodiments or combinations of these features with known equivalents to given features. Modifications and variations of the example embodiments of the invention discussed above will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departure of the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.