Subterranean Wall Drain

Abstract

A subterranean wall drain unit including a drain pipe having openings therein and a longitudinally extending planar core defining channels normal to the pipe. Water pervious sheet material covering one face of the core and the openings in the pipe to form a filter therefor. The other face of core may be covered with a plastic sheet or other vapor barrier.

Parent Case Text

This application is a continuation-in-part application of our co-pending application, Ser. No. 812,982, filed Apr. 3, 1969 and titled Subterranean Drain, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,038.

The disclosures in our said co-pending application are incorporated herein by reference.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains generally to subterranean wall drains and more particularly to drain systems for use in removing water from the vicinity of structural foundations of building structures and the like.

In order to maintain basement interiors dry and moisture free, it is necessary to remove water penetrating the soil mass adjacent the subterranean walls quickly, while avoiding a decrease in the strength of the soil through "piping" or pore pressure. Such removal is often accomplished by means of drainage systems comprising drainage pipe surrounded by a mineral aggregate. The particle size distribution of the aggregate must be carefully matched to the native soil in the region of construction. The functions of a properly designed drainage system are to remove water from the surrounding soil while "filtering" preventing movement of soil particles therefrom.

It is known that improper design causes clogging or other malfunctioning of such prior art systems and the attendant deterioration of the structure. Such failures have been common due to the complexity and care required in designing and construction of the drainage system. The labor and time consumed in constructing such systems also adds to the expense of construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a novel drainage unit which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a prefabricated drainage system adapted for use in a variety of soil conditions.

The invention also furnishes a drainage system which is more reliable than in situ constructed systems by providing a system incorporating a prefabricated filtration medium which is suitable for use in soils of varying types.

The invention also provides a drainage system which may be less costly in installation than prior art systems furnishing a prefabricated unit which can be installed by relatively unskilled personnel.

In a preferred embodiment, this invention provides a prefabricated drain unit comprising a drain pipe having openings therein; a planar longitudinal water channeling core, extending from the pipe and a filtering cover covering one surface of the core and the openings in the pipe.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following detailed description when viewed in the light of the accompanying drawings and our co-pending application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view in section, of a drainage unit in accordance with the invention, installed adjacent the exterior surface of a basement wall;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the drainage unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the unit of FIG. 2 taken along the line 3--3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly broken away, of another unit in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the unit of FIG. 4 taken along the line 5--5 thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, a drainage unit, shown generally at 10, is illustrated in place adjacent the exterior surface 14 of a basement wall 16. The unit is disposed vertically with its lower end just above or in contact with the footing 18 of wall 16 and its upper end just below the surface 20 of backfill 22. It will also be noted that the lower end of unit 10 is illustrated in its preferred position below the top surface of the basement floor 24.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 the unit 10 comprises a core member, generally indicated at 26, and a tubular pipe 28. In this embodiment the core 26 is formed from a sheet of corrugated or pleated material with the corrugations or pleats defining vertical channels 30 therein. The lower longitudinal edge 32 of the sheet is rolled and terminates in spaced relationship to itself to form the pipe 28 with the remainder of the sheet forming the core 26. The space between the edge 32 and the core 26 defines a slot 34 along the pipe for the entrance of water coming down that side. Perforations 36 are provided on the other side to allow entrance of water on that side. The sheet may comprise any material which can be suitably formed into flow channels for the water, which is preferably vapor impervious, and which is compatible with the environment with which the unit is to be used. Plastic or sheet metal 0.015 inch to 0.030 inch in thickness has been found particularly suited for use in connection with this invention. Square corrugations 3/16 by 3/16 inches in size and triangular pleats have also been found suited for the channels of the unit.

The unit 10 is covered on the side away from the wall 16 with a pervious sheet material 40 which is preferably affixed thereto by adhesive or the like. The sheet material serves as a filter and is ideally formed of a synthetic fabric compatible with the environment in which the unit is used. In the event synthetic fabric is used as the filter, it is contemplated that the fabric can be affixed to the core 26 by heat sealing if found desirable. The fabric should be selected with a suitable mesh and thickness that solid particles will be held back or pass through one opening but will not remain in a position so as to clog the openings.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the pipe 28 is provided with a series of openings 36 therealong to allow entrance of water from that side.

The opposite side of the core 26 is preferably covered with a sheet of plastic or other vapor barrier forming material 42. The sheet 42 extends along the entire one surface of core 26 and preferably about a portion of pipe 28 as more clearly shown at 44 in FIG. 3.

In another embodiment in accordance with the invention the core member 26 may be formed of a light material such, for example, as foamed polystyrene, or the like and the pipe 28 may be formed of any material suitable for the use such as ceramic, metal, or plastics. Where weight, cost and handling characteristics are a factor, a lightweight plastic material is preferred.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, another embodiment in accordance with the invention is illustrated, in which components thereof corresponding to like components of the preceding embodiment are indicated by like numerals, only of the next higher order. The unit 110 comprises a core member 126 and a drainage pipe 128. In this embodiment, the core 126 is formed of expanded sheet metal having openings 130 therein. The material may be plastic or metal and is formed by first slitting or perforating a sheet followed by stretching in the plane of the sheet in a manner well known in the art. The pipe 128 is provided with a slot 134 therealong in which the core 126 is disposed as is best seen in FIG. 5. A sheet of pervious material 140 is fixed to one surface of the pipe 128 by adhesive or the like, and encases one surface of the core 126 to serve as a filter fabric, as in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3. The other surface of core 126 and the upper portion of pipe 128 is covered with a sheet of plastic or other vapor barrier material 142. In this form of the invention the sheet 142 is necessary as the expanded sheet core 126 cannot function as a vapor barrier by itself.

As in the preceding embodiment, the core 26 serves as a means for channeling fluid into the pipe 28. In the instant embodiment, the channeling is provided by the openings 130 and the transverse dimension of the core 126 which is a product of the turning of the elements of the core during stretching, an inherent result of the expansion of the sheet metal in formation of the core. This transverse dimension and the openings 130 serve to space the material 140 from the plastic sheet 142 so that fluid may drain therebetween.

From the aforegoing embodiments, it should be obvious that the core may consist of various suitable materials, cast, formed, machined, or otherwise fabricated to provide a fluid transmitting extension from the pipes to support the filter medium and the plastic sheet and to channel fluid filtered through the medium to the pipe.

In installation, units 10 or 110 are placed proximate a wall structure for which drainage is required, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, suitably connected end-to-end to one another and to a drainage conduit, and then surrounded by back-fill preferably more permeable than the surrounding earth. Water which may penetrate the backfill enters through the permeabale sheet material 40 or 140 into the channels 30 or 130 through which it is transmitted to the pipe 28 or 128 for drainage to a drainage conduit (not shown).

The unit allows the objectives of the invention, e.g., suitable water flow and prevention of movement of soil particles, to be achieved in a more efficient manner than the prior art. The unit also eliminates the requirement of maintaining a low hydraulic gradient, since the filter cannot be disturbed by an adverse gradient.

What has been set forth is intended primarily as exemplary of the teaching in accordance with the invention to enable those skilled in the art in the practice thereof. It should, therefore, be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention can be practiced other than as specifically described.

Claims

What is new and therefore desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A subterranean wall drainage unit comprising:

a. A primary subterranean liquid conveying member, said member comprising a generally cylindrical hollow drain pipe adopted to be positioned in the ground with the axis of the cylinder lying in a generally horizontal plane and said member having liquid inlets extending through the cylindrical surface thereof;

b. a planar extended surface core member longitudinally disposed along said drain pipe, liquid channeling means formed in said core member to transmit liquid to the interior of said drain pipe; and

c. a covering of liquid pervious material extending over one face only of said core and its liquid channeling means.

2. A wall drainage unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said core is formed of sheet material and said channel means comprising corrugations formed in said sheet.

3. A drainage unit in accordance with claim 2 wherein said pipe means is formed form a rectangular sheet with a pair of opposed edges thereof rolled into spaced, adjacent relationship to form a slotted tube, one of said rolled edges being contiguous with an edge of said core.

4. A drainage unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said core comprises a panel and said channel means comprising grooves formed across the opposed planar surfaces of said panel with said grooves extending generally normal to the cylindrical axis of the drain pipe.

5. A drainage unit in accordance with claim 4 wherein said panel is formed of plastic material.

6. A drainage unit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said core comprises a panel of expanded sheet material, said channel means being defined by the openings and transverse deformations of said expanded sheet.