# US 2008/0187399 A1 · Asymmetrical corrugated ditch liner system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2008/0187399 A1 - Document ID: US20080187399A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/100,829 - Filed: 2008-04-10 - Published: 2008-08-07 - Earliest claimed: 2005-11-17 - Assignees: FastDitch, Inc. - Inventors: Kenneth L. Suazo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080187399A1 ## CPC - E02B 5/02: Making or lining canals {(linings in general E02B13/02; digging canals E02F)} - E02B: HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (ship-lifting E02C; dredging E02F) ## Abstract An asymmetric corrugated ditch liner is disclosed that is formed with asymmetrical corrugations adapted to control fluid and materials flow through the liner. The asymmetric corrugated ditch liner also includes opposing angled opposing aprons that also having asymmetrical corrugations extending from opposing top edges of the ditch liner in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the liner. Connectors are provided for assembling the asymmetric corrugated ditch liner in a ditch. Anchors also are included for assembling the asymmetric corrugated ditch liner in a ditch. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling water flow in a ditch, comprising: selecting a material for forming a plurality of ditch liners; manipulating the material to form a series of asymmetrical corrugations in the plurality of ditch liners substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plurality of ditch liners; attaching monolithically to the plurality of ditch liners opposing aprons having asymmetrical corrugations, the opposing aprons extending from the top edge of the ditch liner; mounting on the opposing aprons a screen for redirecting fluid and materials from terrain adjacent to the ditch into the ditch liner; interconnecting the plurality of ditch liners within the ditch; and securing the plurality of ditch liners in the ditch and adjacent terrain with one or more anchors. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method of controlling water flow in a ditch as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of configuring a ridge with a notch between adjacent troughs of the asymmetrical corrugations, the notch being adapted to provide both a protected point of insertion of a connector and means for self-draining the plurality of ditch liners. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method of controlling water flow in a ditch as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of selecting a material for forming a plurality of ditch liners includes the substep of selecting the material from one or more plastics. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method of controlling water flow in a ditch as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of manipulating the material to form a series of asymmetrical corrugations in the plurality of ditch liners includes the substeps of: a) forming a first ridge of a corrugation having a width equal to a first dimension; b) forming a first trough adjacent to the first ridge having a width greater than the first dimension; c) forming a second ridge adjacent the first trough having a width greater than the first dimension; d) forming a second trough adjacent the second ridge having a width greater than the first dimension; e) forming a third ridge adjacent the second trough having a width substantially equal to the first dimension; and f) repeating the series of asymmetrical corrugations to form the ditch liner. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method of controlling water flow in a ditch as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of manipulating the material to form a series of asymmetrical corrugations in the plurality of ditch liners includes the substep of forming the series of ridges and troughs in which the first dimension is substantially half the dimension of the width that is greater than the first dimension. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method of controlling water flow in a ditch as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of manipulating the material to form a series of asymmetrical corrugations in the plurality of ditch liners includes the substeps of: a) forming a ridge of a corrugation having a width of the dimension substantially of X; b) forming an adjacent trough having a width substantially of 2X; c) forming an adjacent ridge having a width substantially of 2X; d) forming an adjacent trough having a width substantially of 2X; e) forming an adjacent ridge having a width substantially of X; and f) repeating the formation of the adjacent ridges and troughs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method of controlling water flow in a ditch as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of mounting on the apron a screen includes the substep of providing the screen with at least two panels. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method of controlling water flow in a ditch as recited in claim 7, wherein the step of mounting on the apron a screen includes the substep of forming subpanels within the at least two panels having holes dimensioned to trap materials on the upper surface of the at least two panels while allowing fluid to pass through the holes and over the opposing aprons into the ditch liner. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A method of controlling water flow in a ditch as recited in claim 8, wherein the step of mounting on the apron a screen includes the substep of positioning the two panels at a first angle between the two panels that is substantially coincident with a second angle formed in each of the opposing aprons. ### Claim 10 An asymmetric corrugated ditch liner, comprising; a liner formed with asymmetrical corrugations adapted to control fluid and materials flow through the liner; angled opposing aprons having asymmetrical corrugations extending from opposing top edges of the ditch liner in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the liner; and means for assembling the asymmetric corrugated ditch liner in a ditch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An asymmetric corrugated ditch liner as recited in claim 10, further comprising a screen mountable on at least one of the angled opposing aprons adapted to reduce fluid and materials flow beneath a liner assembled in the ditch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An asymmetric corrugated ditch liner as recited in claim 11, further comprising at least one notch formed in at least one ridge between adjacent troughs of the asymmetrical corrugations a corrugation, the notch adapted to provide both a protected point of insertion of a connector and means for self-draining the plurality of ditch liners. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An asymmetric corrugated ditch liner as recited in claim 12, wherein the angled opposing aprons include a terrain contact leg, shoulder, and a strut therebetween forming an obtuse angle between the terrain contact leg and the shoulder. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An asymmetric corrugated ditch liner as recited in claim 13, wherein the liner formed with asymmetrical corrugations has a cross-section selected from the group of cross-sections consisting of trapezoids, semi-circles, squares, rectangles, partial squares, partial rectangles and v-shapes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) An asymmetric corrugated ditch liner as recited in claim 14, wherein the means for assembling the asymmetric corrugated ditch liner in a ditch is a connector. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) An asymmetric corrugated ditch liner as recited in claim 14, wherein the means for assembling the asymmetric corrugated ditch liner in a ditch is an anchor. ### Claim 17 A water management system, comprising: a plurality of compressibly connectable liner sections for lining a ditch, wherein the plurality of compressibly connectable liner sections is formed with asymmetrical corrugations substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plurality of compressibly connectable liner sections; means attachable to the plurality of compressibly connectable liner sections for diverting fluid and material from outside the compressibly connectable liner sections into the compressibly connectable liner sections; means formed in the asymmetrical corrugations for providing a protected point of insertion of a connector for assembling the water management system; means formed in the asymmetrical corrugations for draining the water management system; and means for securing the water management system during operation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A water management system as recited in claim 17, wherein the means attachable to the plurality of compressibly connectable liner sections for diverting fluid and material from outside the compressibly connectable liner sections into the compressibly connectable liner sections includes opposing aprons formed in the plurality of compressibly connectable liner sections. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A water management system as recited in claim 17, wherein the means attachable to the plurality of compressibly connectable liner sections for diverting fluid and material from outside the compressibly connectable liner sections into the compressibly connectable liner sections includes at least one screen formed with holes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A water management system as recited in claim 17, wherein the means means formed in the asymmetrical corrugations for draining the water management system includes at least one notch formed in a ridge of asymmetrical corrugations.