Module and method for managing water and other fluids

A module for use in an assembly including a plurality of modules for managing the detention or retention of fluid beneath a ground surface, the module comprising:

• a deck portion having a main section, the deck portion having first and second side edges, first and second ends each having a corresponding end edge, and a thickness;
• first and second spaced-apart supports that extend downward from the deck portion;
• wherein the deck portion is located on top of the first and second supports, and the first and second supports are load-bearing;
• wherein the first support is spaced inwardly from the first side edge so that part of the deck portion extends beyond an outside edge of the first support to form a first cantilevered section of the deck portion extending laterally from the main section;
• wherein the first and second supports together with the main section of the deck portion define an interior channel extending in a first direction permitting fluid flow therein;
• wherein the first one of said supports includes a first pair of spaced-apart, load-bearing legs;
• wherein the first cantilevered section and the first support define at least partially a first outer channel in the first direction permitting fluid flow therein beneath the first cantilevered section;
• wherein the deck portion including the first cantilevered section and the supports comprise a single, integrally-formed piece of precast concrete;
• wherein the module further includes a cross channel extending in a second direction;
• wherein said first support includes a longitudinal portion that extends downward from an underside of the deck portion;
• wherein the longitudinal portion of the first support extends along the module in the first direction, beneath the deck portion, and extends downward to an intermediate position between the underside of the deck portion and the bottom of the module;
• wherein the first pair of spaced-apart legs extend downward from the longitudinal portion of the first support,
• wherein the longitudinal portion of the first support includes a bottom edge that provides one boundary of the cross channel,
• wherein the legs nearest to the end edges of the deck portion are spaced inwardly therefrom and define at least partially first and second outer cross channels extending in the second direction;
• and
• wherein the longitudinal portion of the first support includes end edges that are vertically aligned with the first and second end edges of the deck portion.

A module for use in an assembly including a plurality of modules for managing the detention or retention of fluid beneath a ground surface, the module comprising:

• a deck portion having a main section, the deck portion having first and second side edges, first and second ends each having a corresponding end edge, and a thickness;
• first and second spaced-apart supports that extend from the deck portion to a bottom of the module;
• wherein the deck portion is located on top of the first and second supports, and the first and second supports are load-bearing;
• wherein the first support is spaced inwardly from the first side edge so that part of the deck portion extends beyond an outside edge of the first support to form a first cantilevered section of the deck portion extending laterally from the main section;
• wherein the second support is spaced inwardly from the second side edge so that part of the deck portion extends beyond an outside edge of the second support to form a second cantilevered section of the deck portion extending laterally from the main section;
• wherein the first and second supports together with the main section of the deck portion define an interior channel extending in a first direction permitting fluid flow therein;
• wherein each said support includes a respective pair of spaced-apart, load-bearing legs;
• wherein the module includes a cross channel extending in a second direction;
• wherein the first cantilevered section and the first support define at least partially a first outer channel in the first direction permitting fluid flow therein;
• wherein the second cantilevered section and the second support define at least partially a second outer channel in the first direction permitting fluid flow therein;
• wherein the deck portion including the first and second cantilevered sections, the supports, and the legs of the supports comprise a single, integrally-formed piece of precast concrete;
• wherein each support includes a respective longitudinal portion that extends downward from an underside of the deck portion;
• wherein each longitudinal portion of each support extends along the module in the first direction, beneath the deck portion, and extends downward to an intermediate position between the underside of the deck portion and the bottom of the module;
• wherein the spaced-apart legs extend downward from the longitudinal portion of the respective supports;
• wherein each longitudinal portion includes a bottom edge that provides one boundary of the cross channel;
• wherein the legs nearest to the end edges of the deck portion are spaced inwardly therefrom and define at least partially first and second outer cross channels extending in the second direction permitting fluid flow therein;
• and
• wherein the interior channel, cross channel, first and second outer channels, and first and second outer cross channels are in fluid communication.

A module for use in an assembly for managing the detention or retention of fluid beneath a ground surface, the module comprising:

• a rectangular deck portion having a length in a first direction longer than its width in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and having first and second side edges on opposite sides of the deck portion and extending in the first direction, and the deck portion also having first and second end edges on opposite ends of the deck portion, the end edges extending in the second direction;
• two supports that extend integrally downward from an underside of the deck portion to a bottom of the module, wherein the supports are load-bearing;
• wherein the deck portion includes a main section and a first cantilevered section extending laterally from the main section to the first side edge, wherein a nearest one of said two supports is spaced inwardly from the first side edge, wherein the first side edge of the deck portion is a side edge of the first cantilevered section;
• wherein the deck portion includes a second cantilevered section extending laterally from the main section to the second side edge, wherein the support that is nearest to the second side edge is spaced inwardly therefrom, wherein the second side edge of the deck portion is a side edge of the second cantilevered section;
• the supports being spaced apart and together with the main section of the deck portion defining an interior channel extending in the first direction and permitting fluid flow therein;
• wherein at least one of the supports includes at least two spaced-apart, load-bearing legs that at least partially define a cross channel in the second direction, the cross channel extending between the legs;
• wherein the first and second cantilevered sections and their respective nearest supports define at least partially first and second, spaced-apart outer longitudinal channels extending in the first direction permitting fluid flow therein, the interior channel and each of said outer longitudinal channels are generally parallel to each other;
• wherein the legs are spaced inwardly from the first end edge of the deck portion so that the end of the deck portion corresponding to the first end edge overhangs the legs to define at least partially an outer cross channel extending in the second direction;
• wherein the interior channel, cross channel, outer cross channel, and outer longitudinal channels are in fluid communication;
• and
• wherein the deck portion including its first and second cantilevered sections and the supports are a single, integrally-formed piece of precast concrete.

A module for use in an assembly for managing the detention or retention of fluid beneath a ground surface, the module comprising:

• a precast, concrete structure formed as a single, integrally-formed piece having a rectangular deck portion having a length in a first direction and a width in a second direction;
• first and second load-bearing, spaced-apart support members, each including a respective pair of spaced-apart, downwardly-dependent, load-bearing legs, thereby including first and second pairs of legs;
• wherein the deck portion overhangs the first and second pairs of legs in both the first direction and the second direction perpendicular to the first direction to form four cantilevered sections of the deck;
• an interior channel beneath the deck portion extending in the first direction, having the first pair of legs on a first side of the interior channel and the second pair of legs on a second side of the interior channel;
• a cross channel extending in the second direction and extending between the first and second pairs of legs;
• a first outer channel extending beside the interior channel, extending laterally beside one pair of the legs;
• a second outer channel extending beside the interior channel, extending beside the other pair of the legs;
• and
• wherein all of said channels are in fluid communication.