U.S. patent application number 11/711511 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-08 for tubular element with light weight aggregate filling.
Invention is credited to Buddy Harry Bussey, Harry Bussey.
Application Number | 20080107484 11/711511 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46328557 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080107484 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bussey; Harry ; et
al. |
May 8, 2008 |
Tubular element with light weight aggregate filling
Abstract
The tubular element is made with a sleeve formed of a spun
bonded polyester material that allows the passage of water and
prevents the passage of soil when used for a drainage element. The
tubular element is made with small diameters that allows the
element to be coiled about a three-dimensional object when used as
a cushioning device.
Inventors: |
Bussey; Harry; (Marco
Island, FL) ; Bussey; Buddy Harry; (Atlantic
Highlands, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Francis C. Hand, Esq.;c/o Carella, Byrne, Bain, Gilfillan, Cecchi,
Stewart & Olstein, 5 Becker Farm Road
Roseland
NJ
07068
US
|
Family ID: |
46328557 |
Appl. No.: |
11/711511 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11591420 |
Nov 2, 2006 |
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11711511 |
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11637534 |
Dec 12, 2006 |
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11591420 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
405/45 ; 206/527;
405/43 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02B 11/00 20130101;
B65D 81/051 20130101; E02B 11/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/45 ; 206/527;
405/43 |
International
Class: |
E02B 11/00 20060101
E02B011/00 |
Claims
1. A tubular element comprising a mass of light weight discrete
thermoplastic aggregate; and a sleeve encasing said mass of
discrete aggregate, said tubular element characterized in having a
predetermined outer diameter (D) and a length (L) to diameter (D)
ratio of from at least 30 to 10 and in being sufficiently flexible
over the length thereof to coil about a three-dimensional
object.
2. A tubular element as set forth in claim 1 further comprising tie
means closing around a gathered end of said sleeve at each end
thereof to retain said aggregate therein.
3. A tubular element as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is
a membrane having a grab tensile strength of 61/61 lbf as measured
under ASTM D-5034 and a grab elongation to break in % of 45/50 as
measured under ASTM D-5034.
4. A tubular element as set forth in claim 3 where said membrane is
made of spun bonded non-woven polyester.
5. A tubular element as set forth in claim 1 having a diameter of
from 1 inch to 36 inches.
6. In combination at least one three-dimensional object; at least
one tubular element coiled about said object, said element
comprising a mass of light weight discrete thermoplastic aggregate
and a sleeve encasing said mass of discrete aggregate; and a layer
of shrink-wrap enveloping said object and said element.
7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said tubular
element has a diameter of from 1 inch to 36 inches.
8. In a water drainage system, the combination of a plurality of
horizontally disposed drainage elements disposed in a linear array
within a layer of soil, each said drainage element having a mass of
light weight discrete aggregate defining passageways for a flow of
water therethrough and a sleeve encasing said mass of discrete
aggregate; and a plurality of vertically disposed drainage elements
below said horizontally disposed drainage elements for receiving
flows of water therefrom, each said vertically disposed drainage
element having a mass of light weight discrete aggregate defining
passageways for a flow of water therethrough and a sleeve encasing
said mass of discrete aggregate.
9. A water drainage system as set forth in claim 8 further
comprising a plurality of strips of filter material, each said
strip bridging over a respective pair of said horizontally disposed
drainage elements, each said strip having a plurality of
interstices characterized in being of a size for the passage of
water therethrough and the filtering of fine particles of solid
material from the water passing through said strip.
10. A water drainage system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said
sleeve of each said horizontally disposed drainage element includes
an upper peripheral portion of a water-permeable filter material
for the passage of water therethrough and the filtering of fine
particles of solid material from the water passing through said
material and a lower peripheral portion of net material having
openings for retaining said aggregate and allowing the passage of
water;
11. A water drainage system as set forth in claim 8 wherein each
said vertically disposed drainage element includes a perforated
pipe extending vertically within said mass of aggregate for
accumulating water therein.
12. A water drainage system as set forth in claim 11 wherein at
least one end of said pipe is disposed within said mass of
aggregate and a screen is disposed over said one end of said pipe
within said mass of aggregate for blocking entry of said aggregate
into said pipe.
13. A dry well comprising an excavation in a ground surface
defining a hole for receiving water run off; and at least one
vertically disposed drainage element in said hole for receiving the
water run off, said drainage element having a mass of light weight
discrete aggregate defining passageways for a flow of water
therethrough and a sleeve encasing said mass of discrete
aggregate.
14. A dry well as set forth in claim 13 comprising a bundle of said
drainage elements disposed in parallel in said hole.
15. A dry well as set forth in claim 13 comprising a plurality of
said drainage elements disposed in series in said hole one over the
other.
16. A dry well as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a
perforated pipe extending vertically within said mass of aggregate
for accumulating water therein.
Description
[0001] This is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Ser. No. 11/591,420,
filed Nov. 2, 2006 and a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Ser. No.
11/637,534, filed Dec. 12, 2006.
[0002] This invention relates to a tubular element with a light
weight aggregate filling.
[0003] As described in the parent applications, drainage elements
have been constructed of loose aggregate, such as foam plastic
elements, beads, and other light weight materials all encased in a
net-like sleeve. In some cases, a perforated plastic pipe has been
incorporated in the drainage element.
[0004] Also, as described in co-pending patent application U.S.
Ser. No. 11/591,420, filed Nov. 2, 2006, use is made of a membrane
to encase a mass of light weight aggregate to form a drainage
element that allows water to pass through but prevents the passage
of soil particles into the aggregate.
[0005] As described in co-pending patent application U.S. Ser. No.
11/637,534, the drainage elements may be used in a horizontal
disposition in a trench or the like as well as in a vertical
disposition. For example, where a field, such as a golf course, or
ball playing field, accumulates water after a rainstorm in a
pond-like manner due to an almost impervious layer of soil at that
location, the drainage elements may be used to drain the water. In
such cases, a plurality of vertically disposed holes are drilled or
otherwise formed through the impervious layer to a more water
pervious layer, the drainage elements are placed vertically in the
holes and a suitable backfill placed over the drainage elements to
close the holes. Accumulated water can then drain downwardly
through the drainage elements to the more water pervious layer to
be drained away.
[0006] As is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,145, dry wells for
rain water run off have been comprised of four foot diameter
cylindrical excavations filled with washed gravel to depths of up
to 75 feet with the washed gravel comprised of stones of from 3/4
inch to 1.5 inch diameter. Further, as described, one of the
problems of these dry wells is that sand and silt washed from the
areas being drained relatively quickly clogs the gravel thereby
requiring that another dry well be drilled.
[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a
tubular element with light weight aggregate that can be used as a
drainage element in a vertical manner for the drainage of a pond or
the like and that has an increased capacity to draw off water.
[0008] It is another object of the invention to provide a tubular
element with light weight aggregate within a membrane that can be
used as a cushioning device.
[0009] It is another object of the invention to provide a tubular
element of light weight for use in constructing a dry well.
[0010] Briefly, the invention provides a tubular element that is
comprised of a mass of light weight discrete thermoplastic
aggregate and a sleeve encasing the mass of discrete aggregate.
[0011] In one embodiment of the invention, the tubular element is
characterized in having a predetermined outer diameter (D) and a
length (L) to diameter (D) ratio of from at least 30 to 1 and in
being sufficiently flexible over the length thereof to coil about a
three-dimensional object. In particular, the tubular element has a
diameter of from 1 inch to 36 inches and, preferably, a diameter of
from 2 inches to 4 inches.
[0012] The sleeve is a preferably a membrane having a grab tensile
strength of 61/61 lbf as measured under ASTM D-5034 and a grab
elongation to break in % of 45/50 as measured under ASTM D-5034,
for example, the membrane is made of spun bonded non-woven
polyester. The membrane sleeve provides a particularly tough cover
for the light weight aggregate that is resistant to tearing while
the light weight aggregate can be made of a weight of 1.0 pounds
per cubic foot or less to impart a very light weight to the
element. The sleeve may be made of a netting or may be made as a
composite sleeve that is half netting and half membrane,
circumferentially speaking, and the membrane may be paper.
[0013] The tubular element is useful as a cushioning device, and
particularly for the wrapping of one or more three-dimensional
objects. For example, at least one tubular element can first be
coiled about an object and then a layer of shrink-wrap can be
enveloped about the object and tubular element to form a tight
cushioned package for shipping purposes. The light weight of the
tubular element is particularly advantageous for the shipping of
objects since little weight is added to the packaging of the object
being shipped. Further, the size of the tubular element can be
suited to the object being shipped to provide more or less of a
cushion against impacts on the packaged object.
[0014] In another embodiment, the tubular element may be employed
in a water drainage system, particularly in environments where
water collects in a depressed area in which the underlying soil has
a layer of clay or the like that is impervious to the passage of
water.
[0015] The invention permits a trench to be formed in the soil down
to the impervious layer and in which a plurality of horizontally
disposed drainage elements may be subsequently disposed in a linear
array. In addition, a series of vertical holes may be drilled from
the bottom of the trench through the impervious layer to a lower
water-permeable sub-soil layer, for example, using an auger.
Thereafter, a tubular element can be placed in each vertical hole
and the horizontal drainage elements placed in the trench in
communication with each other so that water draining from the
horizontal elements flows into and down the vertical elements.
[0016] Where the water-pervious layer below the impermeable layer
of soil is not readily permeable, each vertically disposed drainage
element may include a perforated pipe that extends vertically
within the mass of aggregate for accumulating water within the
pipe, for example after a rainstorm. Thus, each pipe acts as a
reservoir to drain the water the exposed ground area and to hold
the water for gradual seepage out of the drainage element into the
surrounding sub-soil.
[0017] This drainage system may use drainage elements of different
construction. For example, the sleeve of each horizontally disposed
drainage element includes an upper peripheral portion of a
water-permeable filter material for the passage of water
therethrough and the filtering of fine particles of solid material
from the water passing through the material and a lower peripheral
portion of net material having openings for retaining the aggregate
and allowing the passage of water. The sleeve of each vertically
disposed drainage element may be completely of net material similar
to the net material of the horizontally disposed drainage
element.
[0018] The tubular element of the invention may be sized to be used
individually or in bundles for use in a dry well situation. For
example, after drilling a hole in the area to be drained, a tubular
element sized to the diameter of the hole can be dropped into the
hole and covered over to form a dry well. For large depths, a
series of tubular elements may be placed in the hole. Since, the
tubular elements are of light weight, they can be easily handled by
one person as compared with the filling of the hole with gravel.
Also, one or more bundles of parallel tubular elements can be
dropped into the hole where the hole is of a large diameter.
[0019] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will
become more apparent from the following description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a tubular element
in accordance with the invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the tubular element
of FIG. 1 wrapped about a three-dimensional object; and
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a partial view of a water drainage system
employing the drainage elements of the invention.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, the tubular element 10 is formed of a
mass 11 of discrete lightweight aggregate, such as loose fill
thermoplastic elements, that define passageways for a flow of fluid
therethrough and a sleeve 12 that encases the mass of aggregate 11.
The tubular element 10 is made in a manner as described in the
parent applications, the specifications of which are incorporated
by reference herein.
[0024] Each end of the tubular element 10 is closed by means of a
tie 15 that closes around a gathered end of the sleeve 12 to retain
the aggregate in place. Each tie 15 may be in the form of a
conventional tie for holding the gathered ends of the sleeve 12
together.
[0025] The membrane 12 is made of a spun bonded non-woven polyester
having a grab tensile strength of 61/61 pounds per foot (lbf) as
measured under ASTM Stand D-5034 as well as a grab elongation to
break in percentage (%) of 45/50 as measured under ASTM Standard
D-5034. Any other suitable type of membrane material may also be
used provided it has sufficient tear strength and the permeability
of the membrane 12.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 2, in order to use the tubular element 10
as a cushioning device, the tubular element 10 is coiled about a
three-dimensional object 13 and then a layer of shrink-wrap 14 is
enveloped about the object 13 and tubular element 10 to form a
tight cushioned package for shipping purposes.
[0027] The tubular element 10 is characterized in being
sufficiently flexible and slender over the length thereof to coil
about the three-dimensional object 13 without breaking or cracking.
For example, the slenderness ratio of the length (L) of the element
to the diameter (D) of the element is from at least 30 to 1. In
particular, the tubular element has a diameter of from 1 inch to 36
inches and preferably a diameter of from 2 inches to 4 inches.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 3, the elements 10 are particularly useful
in a water drainage system for draining a field 15, such as a golf
course, or ball playing field, that accumulates water after a
rainstorm in a pond-like manner and where there is an underlying
layer of clay or other water-impermeable layer 16 and a further
water-permeable layer of sub-soil 17 beneath the water-impermeable
layer 16.
[0029] For example, a trench 18 is first formed in the field 15
down to the water-impermeable layer 16. Thereafter, a series of
vertical holes 19 or at least holes that are directed downwardly
are drilled, for example, using an auger, that are of a length to
pass through the water-impermeable layer 16 into the
water-permeable layer 17.
[0030] Next, a tubular element 10 of sufficient diameter and length
is placed in each vertical hole 19. Thereafter, a series of
elements 10' of suitable diameter and length are placed in linear
alignment in the trench 18. Each of these elements 10' is made as
described in the parent application with a net side and a membrane
side and are placed in the trench 18 with the net side of each
element placed down and with the membrane side placed up. The
horizontally disposed elements 10' are disposed in communication
with the vertical elements 10 so that water may drain through the
horizontal elements 10' down into the vertical elements 10 so that
the water may be delivered into the sub-soil layer 17.
[0031] In these cases also, the vertically disposed drainage
elements 10 may be fabricated, as above, with a membrane material
12 completely or only partially enveloping the loose fill aggregate
11 or may be fabricated with a net completely enveloping the loose
fill aggregate.
[0032] After the drainage elements 10' are placed in the trench 18,
backfill material is deposited into the trench 18 to cover over the
drainage elements 10'. Since the membrane material only permits
water to pass through, the soil from the backfill material is
prevented from passing into the drainage elements 10'.
[0033] The lowermost drainage element 10' in the series may also be
connected via a suitable coupling to a lateral pipe (not shown)
that, in turn, connects to a storm sewer pipe so that the water
collected by the drainage elements 10 can flow under gravity from
drainage element 10' to drainage element 10' and then to the
pipes.
[0034] In cases where there are no storm sewer pipes, the
horizontally disposed drainage elements 10' may be used to collect
water from the field 15 for delivery into the vertically disposed
drainage elements 10 for dissipation into the water-permeable
sub-soil layer 17 to be drained away.
[0035] In some cases, particularly where the sub-soil layer 17 is
only slowly water-permeable, each vertical drainage element 10 may
be provided with a perforated pipe 20 that extends entirely through
the drainage element 10 or not, as described in the above-noted
copending parent patent application. In this case, the perforated
pipe 20 receives water from the horizontally disposed drainage
elements 10', in the manner of a reservoir, and holds the water for
dissipation through the aggregate of the vertically disposed
drainage element 10 into the sub-soil 17 over time. By changing the
diameter of the pipe 20, the capacity of a drainage element 10 to
hold water may be increased or decreased.
[0036] As illustrated, a strip 21 of the membrane material is
bridged over the ends of two adjacent horizontally disposed
drainage elements 10' and secured in place by an adhesive or other
suitable securing means (not shown). This strip 21 serves to
prevent fine particles from passing into the space between the two
adjacent drainage elements 10' while allowing water to pass
through.
[0037] Alternatively, any other type of cover to prevent the
passage of soil may be used in place of the strip 21. For example,
a rigid U-shaped cover of solid material may be used.
[0038] The tear resistant nature of the membrane material allows
the drainage element 10 to be roughly handled when being placed in
a trench 18 in the field. This, in turn, reduces the risk that the
membrane might be punctured or otherwise compromised by shovels or
like equipment used to spread the backfill material over the
drainage element 10.
[0039] The arrangement of horizontally disposed and vertically
disposed drainage elements may also be used for septic systems. In
such cases, the horizontally disposed drainage elements are used to
carry water from a sump or the like outwardly to where the
vertically disposed drainage elements are located. These
horizontally disposed elements may also be fabricated with the
bottom circumferential half made of netting to allow effluent to
flow through the netting into the soil beneath the elements while
the top circumferential half is made of mambrane to preclude soil
or other fines from entering into the elements. Further, the
vertically disposed elements may be arranged to extend laterally
outwardly of the horizontal drainage elements at downwardly
directed angles and from opposite sides of the horizontal drainage
elements in order to direct effluent into the sub-soil layer
17.
[0040] The use of vertically disposed drainage elements in a septic
system allows the overall volume of soil into which the septic
system drains to be increased thereby reducing the square footage
of land required for the system to be reduced. For example, where a
septic system with only the above horizontal drainage elements may
require a 1000 square foot area for draining, a septic system
having the added vertically disposed drainage elements may require
only a 600 square foot area.
[0041] The tubular element 10 may also be used to form a dry well
by being placed vertically in a hole in the ground (not shown)
without need of the usual stones and/or sand layer used to make dry
wells. Where the hole for the dry well is particularly deep, a
series of tubular elements 10 may be placed one over the other in
the hole. Where a particularly large capacity is required of the
dry well, one or more bundles of the tubular elements may be formed
in parallel and used to make the dry well. Also, to increase the
capacity, the tubular element or elements may be provided with a
perforated pipe, as described above, that extends entirely through
a tubular element to connect with an adjacent element or conduit or
that extends only within the tubular element with a screen or the
like over the end of the pipe to prevent ingress of the
aggregate.
* * * * *