Construction of a foamed polymeric manhole chimney
AssigneeDavid M. Wahl
InventorsStephen K. Wilson, David Wahl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stackable polymeric foam adjustment or grade ring is provided for the construction of the adjustment courses or manhole chimney portion of a sewer system. The adjustment ring is circular and may include concentric annular grooves on at least one surface and male portions corresponding in size and shape to the concentric annular grooves on a second surface. The adjustment rings are stacked one on another with the respective male portions being coupled within a corresponding annular groove to provide a manhole construction that is resistant to inflow, chemicals and freeze-thaw cycle damage.
Claims12
In a manhole assembly having a longitudinally upper frame portion disposed on a longitudinally lower cone portion, an improved structure for substantially preventing inflow of water or other material between the upper frame portion and the lower cone portion, the improvement comprising:
- a plurality of continuous and compressible polymeric foam construction grade rings serially stacked longitudinally and laterally aligned with one another between the upper frame portion and the lower cone portion, one of said grade rings being sealingly secured to the frame portion and another of said grade rings being sealingly secured to the cone portion, a longitudinally adjacent pair of said grade rings having generally flat sides longitudinally confronting one another;
- wherein said generally flat side of one of said longitudinally adjacent pair of said grade rings is formed having at least a pair of laterally spaced concentric annular grooves and wherein said generally flat side of an other of said longitudinally adjacent pair of grade rings is formed having a male portion corresponding in size and shape to a respective one of said laterally spaced concentric annular grooves, wherein said respective male portion of said other of said longitudinally adjacent pairs of said grade rings is coupled within a respective one of said pair of laterally spaced annular grooves of said one of said longitudinally adjacent pair of said grade rings;
- and
- wherein at least one of said plurality of continuous and compressible continuous polymeric foam construction grade rings comprises:
- a polymeric foam core having an outer surface;
- and
- a polymeric coating applied to said outer surface.
A method for forming a manhole chimney assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a longitudinally upper frame portion disposed on a longitudinally lower cone portion;
- forming a plurality of continuous and compressible continuous polymeric foam construction grade rings, wherein one of said plurality of grade rings is formed having at least a pair of laterally spaced concentric annular grooves and wherein another one of said grade rings is formed having a male portion corresponding in size and shape to each respective one of said at least a pair of laterally spaced concentric annular grooves;
- and
- stacking at least two of said plurality of continuous and compressible continuous polymeric foam construction grade rings between said upper frame portion and said longitudinally lower cone portion such that each respective pair of said at least two of said plurality of continuous and compressible continuous polymeric foam construction grade rings is serially stacked longitudinally and laterally aligned with respect to one another, one of said grade rings being sealingly secured to the frame portion and another of said grade rings being sealingly secured to said cone portion,
- wherein a male portion of one of said at least two grade rings is coupled within a corresponding concentric annular groove of an adjacent one of said at least two grade rings;
- and
- wherein forming a plurality of continuous and compressible continuous polymeric foam construction grade rings comprises:
- forming a polymeric foam core having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- and
- applying a polymeric coating layer to a desired film thickness on an outer surface of said polymeric foam core.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.