U.S. patent application number 11/534596 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-04 for modular raintank.
Invention is credited to Larach Oscar.
Application Number | 20070227094 11/534596 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38508953 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070227094 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oscar; Larach |
October 4, 2007 |
MODULAR RAINTANK
Abstract
A modular wall panel for an underground infiltration tank
comprising a rectilinear periphery formed of four edge members and
a plurality of internal strut members which intersect each other at
a plurality of junctions. The internal strut members are arranged
asymmetrically. The wall panels are provided with load bearing
reinforcing nodes, located in at least one junction of the strut
members to direct and dissipate the induced forces. The reinforcing
nodes are of varying sizes and strength. Several modular wall
panels interconnect using complementary studs and holes to assemble
an individual infiltration tank module.
Inventors: |
Oscar; Larach; (Sydney,
AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROJAN LAW OFFICES
9250 WILSHIRE BLVD, SUITE 325
BEVERLY HILLS
CA
90212
US
|
Family ID: |
38508953 |
Appl. No.: |
11/534596 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/630 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02A 20/40 20180101;
B65D 90/023 20130101; Y02A 10/33 20180101; E03F 1/005 20130101;
Y02A 20/408 20180101; Y02A 10/30 20180101; B65D 90/027
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/630 |
International
Class: |
E04C 2/32 20060101
E04C002/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 14, 2006 |
AU |
2006901293 |
Claims
1. A modular wall panel for an underground infiltration tank,
comprising: a rectilinear periphery formed of four edge members; a
plurality of longitudinally running strut members extending between
said periphery edge members and intersecting said edge members at a
plurality of junctions; a plurality of transversely running strut
members extending between said edge members and intersecting said
longitudinally running strut members and said periphery edge
members at a plurality of junctions; at least one first reinforcing
node formed at a plurality of junctions of said longitudinally
running strut members and said transversely running strut members
and their junctions with said periphery edge members; at least one
second reinforcing node formed at a plurality of junctions, said
second reinforcing node being larger in diameter than said first
reinforcing node; and a plurality of diagonally extending strut
members extending between adjacent nodes and forming non-parallel
arrays with adjacent diagonally extending strut members.
2. The modular wall panel of claim 1, further comprising a
plurality of stud members protruding from said periphery edge
members.
3. A modular wall panel for an underground infiltration/storage
tank, comprising: a rectilinear periphery formed of four edge
members; a plurality of longitudinally running strut members
extending between said periphery edge members and intersecting said
periphery edge members at a plurality of junctions; a plurality of
transversely running strut members extending between said periphery
edge members and intersecting said longitudinally running strut
members and said periphery edge members at a plurality of
junctions; at least one first reinforcing node formed at a
plurality of junctions of said longitudinally running strut members
and said transversely running strut members and their junctions
with said periphery edge members; at least one second reinforcing
node formed on said longitudinally rutting strut members, said
second reinforcing node being larger than said first reinforcing
node; at least one third reinforcing node located on a plurality of
junctions, the third reinforcing node being larger than said first
reinforcing node and said second reinforcing node; a plurality of
diagonally extending strut members extending between adjacent nodes
and corners and forming non-parallel arrays with adjacent
diagonally extending strut members.
4. A modular wall panel for an underground infiltration tank,
comprising: a rectilinear periphery formed of four edge members; a
plurality of longitudinally running strut members extending between
said periphery edge members and intersecting said periphery edge
members at a plurality of junctions; a plurality of transversely
running strut members extending between said periphery edge members
and intersecting said longitudinally running strut members and said
periphery edge members at a plurality of junctions; at least one
first reinforcing node formed at a plurality of junctions of said
longitudinally running strut members and said transversely running
strut members and their junctions with said periphery edge members;
at least one second reinforcing node formed on a plurality of
junctions, said second reinforcing node being larger in diameter
than said first reinforcing node; and a plurality of diagonally
extending strut members extending between adjacent nodes and
forming non-parallel arrays with adjacent diagonally extending
strut members; wherein said first reinforcing nodes and said second
reinforcing nodes are surrounded by a plurality of supporting web
members, said supporting web members interconnecting strut members
which abut said first and second reinforcing nodes.
5. The modular wall panel of claim 4, further comprising a
plurality of stud members protruding from said periphery edge
members.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority to Australian provisional
application No. 2006901293, filed Mar. 14, 2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to underground raintanks, and
in particularly to modular plates which form underground
raintanks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Underground infiltration and raintanks are formed from
plastic perforated tank modules, which are butted or stacked
together to form the required tank size, wrapped in geotextile and
surrounded in good draining medium such as sand. The geotextile
material allows water to pass therethrough but prevents any sand
from passing. Thus, water flows into the infiltration tank via a
connecting pipe and percolates into the surrounding strata through
the geotextile-covered perforated walls of the tank.
[0004] Similarly, water percolating through the soil above the tank
enters the tank through the geotextile-covered top perforated wall
of the tank. To form a reuse or water-harvesting tank, the above
tank system is typically fully surrounded by a water impervious
sheet. There are many existing underground water tank products in
the market place, and each of these suffers from various
disadvantages.
[0005] Some existing products comprise two perforated half-box
modules with a plurality of columns located in the box and parallel
to the sidewalls of the box. To assemble the tank, the two half-box
modules are pushed together such that the columns of one half-box
module interlock with the columns of the other module. Although the
tank is strong, it uses a large amount of plastic material.
Additionally, the tank contains only approximately 50% void volume
and water flow through the sidewalls is quite restricted.
[0006] Other products are made from perforated plastic wall panels
or plates which interlock together to assemble individual tank
modules. These plastic wall panels comprise a skeletal grid
framework to support the geotextiles. The skeletal framework of
plastic members contains numerous apertures through which water is
able to flow. Thus assembled tank modules, while having a large
void volume and better flow through the walls, are considerably
weaker than the tanks assembled from two half-box modules. In
addition, such tank modules still use a large amount of plastic
materials and are expensive to make.
[0007] In the existing prior art infiltration wall panels, the
strut members are arranged in parallel arrays which are all of the
same cross section, and the arrays intersect each other with no
reinforced loading points. Such an arrangement of arrays does not
distribute the loading across the panel equally, and can
concentrate forces onto particular points of the array causing
failure. As a result, the prior art wall panels are inherently weak
because all the synergistic effects of parallel vectors have no
reservoir for absorbing forces on the plate.
[0008] Accordingly, a need exists for a modular raintank which
would provide adequate void space and water flow through as well as
a strong geotextile-supporting skeleton, thereby avoiding the
above-mentioned deficiencies of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention satisfies this need. The invention is
an underground water infiltration system assembled from a plurality
of modular panels which have perforated surfaces to allow water
flow.
[0010] In one embodiment, the present invention is a modular wall
panel for an underground infiltration/storage raintank,
comprising:
[0011] a rectilinear periphery formed of four edge members;
[0012] a plurality of longitudinally running strut members
extending between the edge members and intersecting the periphery
edge members at a plurality of junctions;
[0013] a plurality of transversely running strut members extending
between the edge members and intersecting the longitudinally
running strut members and the periphery edge members at a plurality
of junctions;
[0014] at least one first reinforcing node formed at a plurality of
junctions of the longitudinally running strut members and the
transversely running strut members and their junctions with the
periphery edge members;
[0015] at least one second reinforcing node formed at a plurality
of junctions, the second reinforcing node being larger in diameter
than the first reinforcing node; and
[0016] a plurality of diagonally extending non-parallel strut
members extending between adjacent nodes.
[0017] In one embodiment of the invention, the second reinforcing
nodes are located closer to their adjacent transversely running
strut members than to the adjacent peripheral members.
[0018] In another embodiment, the longitudinally extending strut
members adjacent the periphery are closer to the periphery than
they are to the adjacent longitudinally extending strut
members.
[0019] In another embodiment, the longitudinally extending strut
members adjacent the central longitudinally extending strut member
are closer to the central longitudinally extending strut member
than they are to their adjacent other longitudinally extending
strut members.
[0020] In another embodiment, the present invention is a modular
wall panel for an underground infiltration/storage tank,
comprising:
[0021] a rectilinear periphery formed of four edge members;
[0022] a plurality of longitudinally running strut members
extending between the edge members and intersecting the periphery
edge members at a plurality of junctions;
[0023] a plurality of transversely running strut members extending
between the edge members and intersecting the longitudinally
running strut members and the periphery edge members at a plurality
of junctions;
[0024] at least one first reinforcing node formed at a plurality of
junctions of the longitudinally running strut members and the
transversely running strut members and their junctions with the
periphery edge members;
[0025] at least one second reinforcing node formed on the
longitudinally rutting strut members, the second reinforcing nodes
being larger than the first reinforcing nodes;
[0026] at least one third reinforcing node located on a plurality
of junctions, the third reinforcing nodes being larger than the
first reinforcing nodes and the second reinforcing nodes;
[0027] a plurality of diagonally extending non-parallel strut
members extending between adjacent nodes.
[0028] In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a
modular wall panel for an underground infiltration/storage
raintank, comprising:
[0029] a rectilinear periphery formed of four edge members;
[0030] a plurality of longitudinally running strut members
extending between the edge members and intersecting the periphery
edge members at a plurality of junctions;
[0031] a plurality of transversely running strut members extending
between the edge members and intersecting the longitudinally
running strut members and the periphery edge members at a plurality
of junctions;
[0032] at least one first reinforcing node formed at a plurality of
junctions of the longitudinally running strut members and the
transversely running strut members and their junctions with the
periphery edge members;
[0033] at least one second reinforcing node formed at a plurality
of junctions, the second reinforcing node being larger in diameter
than the first reinforcing node; and
[0034] a plurality of diagonally extending non-parallel strut
members extending between adjacent nodes,
[0035] wherein the first reinforcing and the second reinforcing
nodes are surrounded by a plurality of supporting web members, the
supporting web members interconnecting the strut members which abut
said first and second reinforcing nodes.
[0036] In yet another embodiment, the junctions and the reinforcing
nodes which extend along periphery edge members are also surrounded
by supporting web members which interconnect the strut members
which abut the nodes and the periphery edge members.
[0037] In yet another embodiment, the wall panels have studs
extending from the periphery to mate with respective holes in other
wall panels to assemble a tank module.
[0038] In yet a further embodiment of the present invention, the
wall panel is of substantially constant thickness. In another
embodiment of the present invention, the strut members are thinner
in width than in thickness. In yet a further embodiment, the strut
members have a reinforcing web running along their side
surfaces.
[0039] The present invention as shown in the accompanying drawings
overcomes the problems presented by the devices of the prior art.
Because the modular wall panel of the present invention contains
reinforcing nodes, the thickness of the struts is reduced. Such a
construction not only saves plastic material and increases the
surface opening area of the wall panel as compared to prior art
products, but provides an increase in the strength of wall panel
and the assembled tank module as well.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] The present invention will now be described by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0041] FIG. 1 is a front view of a wall panel according to one
embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 2 is a front view of a wall panel according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 3 is a close up view of one corner of the wall panel
according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0044] FIG. 4 is a close up view of the middle portion of the wall
panel according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0045] FIG. 5 is a front view of a wall panel according to another
embodiment of the present invention.
[0046] FIG. 5A is a close up view of a portion of the wall panel of
the embodiment shown in FIG. 5.
[0047] FIG. 6 is a front view of a wall panel according to yet
another embodiment of the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 6A is a close up view of a portion of the wall panel of
the embodiment shown in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0049] The following discussion describes in detail several
embodiments of the invention and multiple variations of those
embodiments. This discussion should not be construed, however, as
limiting the invention to those particular embodiments.
Practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other
embodiments as well.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present invention
is modular wall panel 1. The shape of wall panel 1 is defined by
four periphery frame members 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the
wall panel includes a top periphery frame member 2a, a bottom
periphery frame member 2b, and two side periphery frame members 2c.
Internal strut members 3 extend between the periphery frame members
2. Stud members 4 extend outwardly from periphery frame members
2.
[0051] As seen in FIG. 1, the stud members 4 can be of different
sizes, with shorter studs 4a being located on the top periphery
frame member 2a and the bottom periphery frame member 2b, and the
longer studs 4b being located on the two side periphery frame
members 2c. The smaller studs 4a and the longer studs 4b on wall
panel 1 allow wall panel 1 to be connected with complementary holes
6 of wall panel 5 (shown in FIG. 2) when assembling an individual
tank module.
[0052] To assemble an individual tank module (not shown), two wall
panels 1 are taken and four wall panels 5 are connected to and
between wall panels 1, using studs 4a and 4b on wall panels 1 and
corresponding holes 6 on wall panels 5. When four wall panels 5 are
connected to two wall panels 1, a box-like individual tank module
is assembled.
[0053] During assembly of individual tank modules (not shown),
shorter stud members 4a of wall panels 1 are mated with holes 6 in
wall panels 5. Holes 6 of wall plate 5 are deep enough to
accommodate two of the shorter stud members 4a--one from below and
one from above. Thus, assembled tank modules can be stacked upon
each other so as to build connected multi height tank modules to
create deeper rainwater tanks for the same footprint.
[0054] The infiltration system (not shown) is typically assembled
by stacking individual tank modules on top of each other, and by
placing individual tank modules in abutment with each other. The
infiltration system is wrapped with a geotextile material which
allows water flow-through. The geotextile materials used to wrap
infiltration systems are well known in the art and commercially
available. The assembled infiltration system presents improved
water flow, increased tank module strength and increased void
space.
[0055] Referring back to FIG. 1, this embodiment of the present
invention comprises an interconnecting combination of transverse
struts 10, longitudinal struts 11, and diagonal struts 12. The
arrangement of the struts insures that the vector forces are
distributed asymmetrically along the reinforced struts.
[0056] In the illustrated embodiments of the present invention, the
wall panels are provided with load bearing reinforcing structures
or nodes 7, 8, and 9, located in at least one junction of the strut
members to direct and dissipate the induced forces. These
reinforcing nodes 7, 8, and 9 strengthen the interconnecting
combinations of struts and absorb the transmitted loading through
the strut members, thereby increasing the strength of the wall
panel of the invention.
[0057] Referring to FIG. 3, a closer view of a corner of wall panel
1 is shown. The periphery frame members 2 of the wall panel 1 are
deep in thickness and thin in cross section--this increases the
strength of wall panel 1. A web member 13 is positioned along the
struts 10, 11 & 12 and along the periphery frame members 2. The
web member 13 is for bracing the struts and periphery frame members
and increases their structural strength. The web member 13 could be
positioned on one or both sides of the struts, but is preferably
positioned on the inner surface of the periphery frame members
2.
[0058] Still referring to FIG. 3, the wall panel 1 for an
underground infiltration/storage tank has a plurality of
longitudinally running strut members 11. The longitudinally running
strut members are preferably parallel to each other. A plurality of
transversely running strut members 10 intersect the longitudinal
running strut members 11. Preferably, the transversely running
strut members are parallel to each other.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 4, which illustrates another close-up view
of portion of the wall panel 1, reinforcing nodes 7 are formed at
the junctions of the longitudinally 11 and transversely 10 running
strut members and their junctions with periphery edge members 2.
Additionally, some transversely running strut members 11 contain
reinforcing nodes 8, which are stronger than reinforcing nodes
7.
[0060] Still referring to FIG. 4, reinforcing nodes 9 are located
on one of the longitudinally running strut members 11 adjacent each
end thereof. Although wall panel 1 preferably contains two
reinforcing nodes 9 and they are preferably on the central
longitudinally running strut member, one of ordinary skill will
recognize that the number of the nodes and their location is
variable. As compared to the other reinforcing nodes 7 and 8, the
reinforcing nodes 9 are relatively large cylinders with an
intermediate planar web. A plurality of diagonally extending strut
members 12 extend between adjacent nodes 7, 8 & 9.
[0061] In the illustrated embodiment, as seen for example in FIG.
3, the outermost longitudinally running strut members 11 are closer
to the periphery edge members 2 than to their adjacent
longitudinally running strut members 11. This arrangement assists
in distributing the load the over wall panel 1. Thus, the outermost
diagonal strut members 12, along with the outermost longitudinally
running strut members 11, provide a reinforced edge at the corners
of the wall panel 1, with the four outermost diagonal strut members
12 being angled more acutely than the rest of the diagonal strut
members 12 of the wall panel 1. Thus, the vectors generated by a
force on top of the wall panel 1 are absorbed by the reinforced
edge and the reinforced nodes (7, 8 & 9).
[0062] As the internal diagonal strut members 12 and the outer
diagonal strut members 12 are of different orientations to each
other, the plate can resist a greater loading than if the diagonal
strut members were all similarly aligned. Hence, the combinations
of the non-parallel diagonal struts and the reinforced nodes absorb
and direct the loading on the plate to strengthen the plate against
compressive forces and to resist buckling and twisting.
[0063] In another embodiment, the present invention is a wall panel
5 that connects to wall panel 1 when assembling a tank module.
Referring to FIG. 2, wall panel 5 is rectangular in shape and
comprises four periphery edge members 2. Similar to the embodiment
of the invention shown in FIG. 1, wall panel 5 contains multiple
internal strut members which extend between the periphery edge
members 2. Specifically, the wall panel 5 contains longitudinally
running strut members 11, transversely running strut members 10 and
diagonally running strut members 12.
[0064] Wall panel 5 includes holes 6 positioned along two opposing
periphery edge members at their junctions with the longitudinally
running strut members 11. In addition, there is a plurality of
additional holes 6 positioned along those longitudinally running
strut members 11. The holes 6 are positioned on the longitudinally
running strut members 11 such that they are along the same
horizontal line.
[0065] Stud members 4a and 4b of wall panels 1 mate with
corresponding holes 6 of wall panels 5 when a wall panel 1 and a
wall panel 5 are joined together to assemble a raintank module. It
can be seen that, aside from having holes 6 and not having any stud
members 4a and 4b, wall panel 5 is otherwise similar in
construction to wall panel 1. Unlike wall panel 1, wall panel 5
includes not two but four large reinforcing nodes 9 at the
junctions between the longitudinally running strut members 11 and
transversely running strut members 10.
[0066] FIG. 5 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the wall
panel of the invention. Similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG.
1, wall panel 21 shown in FIG. 5 also contains peripheral edge
members 2, studs 4a and 4b, longitudinally running strut members
11, transversely running strut members 10, and diagonally running
strut members 12. However, in wall panel 1, only the diagonally
running strut members 12 are non-parallel to each other.
[0067] Referring to FIG. 5 (and similarly to wall panel 1), the
diagonally running strut members 12 of wall panel 21 are
zigzag-shaped and non-parallel to each other. In contrast to wall
panel 1, the longitudinally running strut members 11 of wall panel
21 have forked end portions, with the two branches 11a being
non-parallel to each other and to strut member 11. In addition,
transversely running strut members 10 also have a forked end
portion, with the two branches 10a being non-parallel to each other
and to strut member 10. As a result, in wall panel 5, the
longitudinally running strut members 11 are non-parallel to each
other, the transversely running strut members 10 are non-parallel
to each other, and the diagonally running strut members 12 are
non-parallel to each other.
[0068] Still referring to FIG. 5, wall plate 21 is similar to wall
plate 1 in that it also contains reinforcing nodes 7, 8 and 9.
However, each of nodes 7 and 8 in wall plate 21 is surrounded by a
supporting web member 22. As shown in FIG. 5, a supporting web
member 22 surrounds its corresponding node and interconnects all of
the strut members which pass through that node. Thus, the use of
supporting web members 22 provides enhanced structural strength to
the strut members of wall panel 5.
[0069] As shown in more detail in FIG. 5A, supporting web members
22 also surround the holes 6 and interconnect the diagonally
running strut members 12 and the periphery edge member 2 which
adjoin the holes 6. By reinforcing the connections between the
periphery edge members and the internal strut members, the
supporting web members 22 provide additional strength to wall panel
5.
[0070] FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the present
invention. Referring to FIG. 6, wall panel 31 is similar in size
and shape to wall panel 5 of FIG. 4. Yet, the configuration of
internal struts in wall panel 31 is similar to wall panel 21 of
FIG. 5. In wall panel 31, as in wall panel 21, the longitudinally
running strut members 11 are non-parallel, the transversely running
strut members 10 are non-parallel, and the diagonally running strut
members 12 are non-parallel.
[0071] As seen in more detail in FIG. 6A, wall panel 31, just like
wall panel 21, includes reinforcing nodes 7, 8 and 9, which are
surrounded by supporting web members 22. In the illustrated
embodiment, wall plate 31 contains four large nodes 9. Like wall
plate 5 of FIG. 4, wall panel 31 includes holes 6 positioned along
two opposing periphery edge members at their junctions with the
longitudinally running strut members 11. Also, there is a plurality
of additional holes 6 positioned along those longitudinally running
strut members 11. The holes 6 are positioned on the longitudinally
running strut members 11 such that they are along the same
horizontal line.
[0072] To assemble an individual tank module using wall panels 21
and 31, two wall panels 21 and four wall panels 31 are
interconnected using longer and shorter studs of wall panels 21 and
the corresponding holes 6 of wall panels 31. A box-like individual
tank module (not shown) is thus formed.
[0073] The present invention has developed a method of distributing
the loading on the wall plate with reduced plastics, increasing the
void capacity, and the wall perforation capacity providing better
lateral flow, ease of manufacture, use of less plastics, increased
strength, and in some embodiments a more aesthetic look. Thus,
there is provided modular wall panels which, when connected
together, provide an extremely strong tank module that has superb
void percentage and flow rates through the walls of the tank.
[0074] It should be obvious to people skilled in the art that
modifications and alterations can be made to the above embodiments
without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
[0075] The invention is to be determined by the following
claims:
* * * * *