Leaching chamber with perforated web sidewall
AssigneeInfiltrator Systems, Inc.
InventorsJames M. Nichols, Bryan A. Coppes, Bruce T. Sperry, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A molded plastic leaching chamber, for dispersing or collecting liquids in soil, has a corrugated arch shape. The sidewall of the chamber is comprised of alternating slot-perforated peaks and valleys connected by slot-perforated deep webs. The unit surface length of perforated sidewall is greater than the unit length of chamber. A combination of interrelated dimensions and angles provide high leaching capacity, strength, and capability to nest for shipment. The sidewall is reinforced by vertically running ribs; the perforated web is reinforced by zig-zag struts. Ribs and struts are shaped and positioned to minimize blockage of the slot openings.
Claims27
In a chamber, for dispersing or gathering liquids within soil, of the type having an arch shape cross section, wherein the top of the chamber corresponds with the top of the arch shape cross section;
- having a multiplicity of alternating peaks and valleys running along the arch shape in the cross sectional plane direction;
- having a sidewall wherein the peaks and valleys thereof have perforations to enable passage of liquids into the surrounding soil;
- and, wherein webs connect adjacent peaks and valleys at intersections;
- the improvement comprising:
- at least one of said webs having perforations, to enable the passage of liquid through the web sidewall and into the soil.
The chamber of claim 6 characterized by said web with perforations having a zig-zag pattern of struts.
A chamber for dispersing or gathering liquids within the soil, comprising:
- an arch shape cross section;
- sloped sidewalls of substantially identical shape on opposing sides of said cross section, defining a hollow interior for receiving liquids;
- a top corresponding with the top of the arch;
- a base corresponding with the base of the arch;
- the chamber having a length and corresponding longitudinal axis running perpendicular to the arch shape cross section;
- the sidewalls having multiple perforations, to enable the passage of liquids therethrough;
- alternating peaks and valleys running up the sidewalls and along the arch shape in the plane of said cross section;
- characterized by alternating peaks and valleys connected at intersections by webs having perforations;
- by webs having a web sidewall angle B of 12-20 degrees, as the angle B is measured in a horizontal plane between a vertical cross sectional plane of the chamber and the nominal plane of the web;
- by peaks having sidewall angles .phi. of 15-19 degrees, as the angle .phi. is measured between the peak sidewall exterior surface and a vertical plane containing said longitudinal axis;
- and, by peaks having peak-web intersection angles S of 9-15 degrees, as the angle S is measured between the line of the peak-web intersection and a vertical cross section plane of the chamber.
A chamber for burial in soil to disperse or gather liquids within the soil, comprising:
- a hollow arch shape cross section interior, to receive liquids;
- opposing sidewalls having alternating peaks and valleys running along the arch shape in the direction of the cross section plane, connected by webs, the sidewalls having perforations to enable the passage of liquids therethrough;
- the chamber having a length and corresponding longitudinal axis, wherein the top of the chamber corresponds with the top of the arch shape cross section;
- at least one sidewall having an Infiltration Area (IA) to Total Area (TA) ratio (IA/TA) greater than 0.62, where IA is the surface area of soil lying within all perforations along a unit length of chamber when the slope of the soil surface runs from the bottom surface of each perforation at the interior of the chamber to the top surface of each perforation at the exterior of the chamber;
- wherein TA is the unit length area of said at least one sidewall measured along the surface thereof.
A chamber for burial in soil to disperse or gather liquids within the soil, comprising:
- a hollow arch shape cross section interior, to receive liquids;
- sidewalls comprised of alternating peaks and valleys running along the arch shape in the direction of the plane of the cross section, connected by webs;
- the sidewalls including the web portions having perforations to enable the passage of liquids therethrough;
- the chamber having a length L and corresponding longitudinal axis;
- wherein the top of the chamber corresponds with the top of the arch shape;
- wherein, in the horizontal plane running through the vertical midpoint of the perforated portions of the sidewalls, the chamber has a valley depth, j, as measured in the chamber cross sectional plane, and a peak length, k, as measured along the length of the chamber;
- characterized by a ratio j/k of at least about 0.35.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.