GB2231904A

GB2231904A - Kerb/drainage channel

Info

Publication number: GB2231904A
Application number: GB9011590A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Edward Neary; Ian William Hilary Smith
Original assignee: ECC BUILDING PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: ECC BUILDING PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1989-05-24
Filing date: 1990-05-24
Publication date: 1990-11-28
Also published as: GB9011590D0; GB8911924D0

Abstract

A concrete drainage block is formed with a drainage channel (62), and an opening (64) is angled forwardly and upwardly from the channel (62) to a front wall (66). A cast iron insert (70) seats within the opening (64) and is grouted into position, the insert (70) providing apertures by means of a grid whereby to provide for surface water drainage from a roadway into the channel (62). A pair of ovoid through holes (80) in the block (60) can receive respective profiled plugs, each having a first part of ovoid shape and a protruding lug. The plugs are located in the holes (80) of a block (60) to be installed and the lugs can locate in the corresponding holes (80) of the already installed block to assist in lowering of the block (60) into position before being abutted to the already installed block. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in Drainage Components This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to drainage components and particularly, but not exclusively, kerb drainage channel members for use in roadways.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a drainage component having a drainage channel therein, an opening extending through at least one wall of the component, and an insert located in the opening and having at least one aperture to provide communication between the channel and externally of the component, the insert position and design being such as to, in use in a roadway, resist impact damage and provide for roadway surface water drainage into the channel.

Preferably the opening in said one wall is inwardly and downwardly angled, the insert being profiled so that the aperture therein aligns with the opening. The insert may provide a plurality of through apertures so dimensioned as to provide a large capacity for collection and removal of surface water. The insert is preferably formed from a rigid material such as cast iron, and may be secured in said one wall by grouting. Preferably the insert is complementary in profile to the profile of the opening.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a drainage component having a drainage channel extending therethrough, locating means associated with each of opposed end walls of the component whereby the locating means on an end wall of the component can cooperate with the locating means on an end wall of another of the same components to automatically correctly position the components together with the respective channels in alignment.

Preferably the locating means may comprise one or more profiled holes extending through the component, the holes being adapted to removably locate plugs therefor at a selected end, whereby the plugs can locate in the holes of the other component and be movably positioned, by virtue of the profile of the holes, until the respective channels are in alignment. The through holes may be ovoid in profile and the plugs may comprise first sections of complementary shape and second sections adapted to extend from the component.

The plugs are preferably formed of a plastics material.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a drainage component having a drainage channel therein, an opening extending through one wall of the component, and the channel having a profiled face so positioned relative to the opening that lifting means for the component can locate through the opening and engage the profiled face to automatically lift the component at its point of balance.

Preferably the profiled face of the channel is the uppermost face in use and provides a protruding ridge along the neutral axis of the component against which the lifting means can engage.

The drainage component is preferably formed of a mouldable cementitious material, for example concrete. A side wall of the component which is uppermost in use may be substantially planar, whereby the recessed front wall tends to deflect vehicles impacting thereagainst back into the roadway, or the uppermost wall may be profiled, whereby to enable vehicles impacting the front wall to overrun the component.

The invention also provides a method of installing drainage components, including providing one or more components, each having an opening in at least one wall thereof, engaging lifting means through said opening into a drainage channel within the component and operating the lifting means to lift the component into position.

The lifting means may be engageable through an insert located in the opening and have one or more arms which are profiled to engage with a profiled face of the channel whereby to automatically lift the component at its point of balance. Each component may be positioned relative to an already installed component whereby location means on the lifted component may engage with means on the installed component and be guided thereby to automatically correctly position the components together with the respective channels in alignment.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a first embodiment of a drainage component according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the method of installing a plurality of the drainage components; Fig. 3 is an end elevation, similar to Fig. 1, of a modified drainage component; and Fig. 4 is an end elevation of a second embodiment of a drainage component according to the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a drainage component in the form of a concrete drainage block 10 is formed with a drainage channel 12. The latter is partcircular in cross-section and extends longitudinally through the block 10. The top half of the channel 12 towards the front of the block 10 relative to its position in use, i.e.

to the right hand side as viewed in Fig. 1, communicates with an opening 14 which extends longitudinally through the block 10 and is angled forwardly and upwardly to the front of the block 10 as hereinafter described. At the rear of the block 10 the inner face of the upper part of the channel 12 has a vertical section 16 and a top horizontal section 18, the latter extending forwardly and downwardly to meet with an edge of the opening 14 and thereby form a protruding ridge 20 along the neutral axis of the block 10.

A front wall 22 of the block 10 is recessed along its uppermost edge to form a substantially horizontal shoulder 24 and a rearwardly inclined abutment face 26. The opening 14 extends to the face 26 whereby to provide communication between the channel 12 and externally of the block 10.

Above the upper edge of the opening 14 at the face 26 and below the lower edge of the opening 14 and partly on the shoulder 24, the block 10 is provided with profiled recesses whereby to receive an insert 28 which extends longitudinally of the block 10. The insert 28 is preferably formed of a rigid material such as cast iron and is arranged to be grouted into position in the block 10, although other securing means may be used. The insert 28 provides a plurality of through apertures 30, defined by a grid having longitudinally extending upper and lower sections 32,34 respectively and interconnecting sections 36 (Fig. 2).The sections 32, 34 have outer faces which align with the surfaces of the face 26 and the shoulder 24 respectively while the outer faces of the intermediate sections 36 have a lower part 38 extending substantially vertically in use and an upper angled part 40 co-planar with the outer face of the upper longitudinal section 32.

The block 10 is also provided with a pair of through holes 42 which are generally ovoid in cross-section with the larger parts of the holes uppermost. A plug 44 can be provided for selectively locating in a respective one of the holes 42, the plug 44 having a first part 46 of ovoid shape to fit closely in the hole 42 and a protruding lug 48 located at the end of the plug 44 of smaller dimension. In use therefore the plug 44 in a respective one of the holes 42 has the lug 48 protruding from a lower end of the hole 42.

When being positioned on site, the blocks 10 are preferably haunched in a conventional manner, the blocks 10 being laid end to end to form a roadway kerb with the inserts 28 facing the location of the roadway. The latter is generally formed up to the level of the shoulder 24 and the blocks 10 thereby form a continuous drainage channel into which can drain surface water from the roadway through the apertures 30 of the insert 28 and through the opening 14 into the channel 12. The design of the insert 28 with the apertures 30 is such as to provide a large capacity for collection and removal of the surface water. The apertures 30 may be designed so as to prevent entry of discarded drinks cans and the like into the drainage channel.

To install a drainage block 10 next to an already installed block, the plugs 44 are located in the holes 42 at one end of the block 10 to be installed, i.e. the block 10A in Fig. 2. A lifting arrangement incorporating a unique lifting hook 50 provides two hook arms 52 which are profiled at their free ends for a purpose hereinafter described. The arms 52 can locate through adjacent ones of the apertures 30 in the insert 28 and extend into the channel 12 until the profiled ends of the arms 52 locate behind the channel ridge 20. With this arrangement the block 10A is automatically lifted at its point of balance by the hook 50, the insert 28 preventing any damage to the block lOA caused by the hook 50.The block 10A is approximately aligned with the previously installed block and initial location is achieved by locating the protruding lugs 48 of the plugs 44 on the block 10A into the larger upper portions of the holes 42 in the installed block. The block 10A is then lowered onto the prepared concrete bed for haunching and, as the block 10A is lowered, the lugs 48 locate the block 10A more positively due to the profile of the holes 42 until correct alignment of the blocks is achieved, and the blocks are then abutted.

The block 10 has a substantially horizontal upper wall 54 whereby any impact of a vehicle against the abutment face 26 will tend to cause the vehicle to be deflected back into the roadway. In a modified block 10 as shown in Fig. 3, the upper wall 54 is profiled to form a central apex 56 with the abutment face 26 being coplanar with a front section of the wall 54 whereby vehicles impacting on the abutment face 26 are allowed to overrun the block 10. Such an arrangement is particularly suitable in rural locations. The apex 56 also provides a useful line to which a grass verge can be taken, resulting in a pleasing and unobtrusive appearance. The top section 18 of the channel 12 extends substantially parallel to the rear section of the wall 54.In a further modified arrangement, the front wall 22 of the block 10 above the opening 14, may be suitably angled towards the rear to allow vehicles to overrun, with the upper wall 54 either substantially horizontal or profiled. This may provide manufacturing advantages.

In a further embodiment as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, a drainage component in the form of a concrete drainage block 60 is formed with a drainage channel 62 which is circular in cross section and extends longitudinally through the block 60. The top half of the channel 62, towards the front of the block 60 relative to its position in use, i.e. to the right hand side as viewed in Fig. 4, communicates with an opening 64 which extends longitudinally through the block 60 and is angled forwardly and upwardly to the front of the block 60 as hereinafter described.

On a horizontal plane located above the horizontal plane through the axis of the channel 62, respective front and rear walls 66,68 of the block 60 are inwardly inclined, the front wall 66 providing an abutment face. The opening 64 extends to the front wall 66 whereby to provide communication between the channel 62 and externally of the block 60.

A lower edge of the opening 64 preferably extends at an angle of 25 to the horizontal, while the upper edge of the opening 64 extends preferably at an angle of 300 to the horizontal, the opening 64 thereby increasing in size towards the front wall 66. An insert 70 is located in the opening 64 and extends longitudinally of the block 60. The insert 70 is preferably formed of a rigid material such as cast iron and is complementary in dimension to the opening 64, thereby being seated therein. The insert 70 is arranged to be grouted into position in the block 60, although other securing means may be used. The insert 70 is in the form of a grid providing through apertures which increase in dimension in a direction into the block 60.

The block 60 is also provided with a pair of through holes 80 which are generally ovoid in cross-section with the larger parts of the holes uppermost. Plugs the same as the plugs 44 of the first embodiment (not shown in Fig. 4), are provided for selectively locating in respective ones of the holes 80, each plug having the first part of ovoid shape to fit closely in the hole 80 and the protruding lug located at the plug end of smaller dimension. In use therefore the plug in a respective one of the holes 80 has the lug protruding from a lower end of the hole 80.

When being positioned on site, the blocks 60 are preferably haunched in a conventional manner, the blocks 60 being laid end to end to form a roadway kerb with the inserts 70 facing the location of the roadway. The latter is generally formed up to the level of the plane defining the lower edge of the opening 64 and the blocks 60 thereby form a continuous drainage channel into which can drain surface water from the roadway through the apertures of the insert 70 and through the opening 64 into the channel 62.

The design of the insert 70 with the apertures is such as to provide a large capacity for collection and removal of the surface water. The apertures may be designed so as to prevent entry of discarded drinks cans and the like into the drainage channel.

To install a drainage block 60 next to an already installed block, the plugs are located in the holes 80 at one end of the block 60 to be installed. The latter block is approximately aligned with the previously installed block and initial location is achieved by locating the protruding lugs of the plugs into the larger upper portions of the holes 80 in the installed block. The block to be installed is then lowered onto the prepared concrete bed for haunching and, as the block is lowered, the lugs locate the block more positively due to the profile of the holes 80 until correct alignment of the blocks is achieved, and the blocks are then abutted. At its lower end, each block 60 is chamfered at each of the front and rear edges to facilitate manufacture and installation, while, at its upper end, the front and rear edges of each block 60 are radiussed whereby to avoid damage to a vehicle which may impact against the front wall 66, such impact tending to cause the vehicle to be deflected back into the roadway.

A drainage system incorporating the drainage blocks 10 or 60 may also incorporate a half unit (not shown), this being substantially equivalent to the bottom section of the respective block 10,60 along a horizontal plane through the axis of the channel. The half unit may be installed with a plate across the top thereof to provide for continuation of the drainage channel underground where required.

Further the drainage system may include a silt box (not shown) preferably formed of cast iron and designed to locate on a half unit if required, or to be formed onto a brickwork chamber. A further option is to locate the silt box onto a half unit with the latter having a hole in the base thereof for drainage direct into a gully pot or pipework.

There is therefore provided a block which can be end pressed by virtue of the provision of the unrestricted opening and which can be manufactured by a semi-dry process or a wet cast or wet pressed process. A part-circular groove (groove 58 in Fig. 1) can be formed on one end face of each block around the channel and a sealing material can be located in the groove whereby adjacent blocks can be sealingly joined together around the drainage channels. The use of inserts, as well as enabling end pressing, has the advantages of providing a rigid grating to resist vehicle impact.

Installation is facilitated by the use of the locating plugs and the through holes.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example it is to be appreciated that the drainage block may have other than the shapes described and shown, and different materials may be utilised. The drainage channel of the second embodiment may be other than circular.

Claims

1. A drainage component having a drainage channel therein, an opening extending through at least one wall of the component, and an insert located in the opening and having at least one aperture to provide communication between the channel and externally of the component, the insert position and design being such as to, in use in a roadway, resist impact damage and provide for roadway surface water drainage into the channel.

2. A component according to Claim 1, wherein the opening in said one wall is inwardly and downwardly angled, the insert being profiled so that the aperture therein aligns with the opening.

3. A component according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the insert provides a plurality of through apertures so dimensioned as to provide a large capacity for collection and removal of surface water.

4. A component according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the insert is formed from a rigid material.

5. A component according to Claim 4, wherein the insert is formed from cast iron.

6. A component according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the insert is secured in said one wall by grouting.

7. A component according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the insert is complementary in profile to the profile of the opening.

8. A drainage component having a drainage channel extending therethrough, locating means associated with each of opposed end walls of the component whereby the locating means on an end wall of the component can cooperate with the locating means on an end wall of another of the same components to automatically correctly position the components together with the respective channels in alignment.

9. A component according to Claim 8, wherein the locating means comprises one or more profiled holes extending through the component, the holes being adapted to removably locate plugs therefor at a selected end, whereby the plugs can locate in the holes of the other component and be movably positioned, by virtue of the profile of the holes, until the respective channels are in alignment.

10. A component according to Claim 9, wherein the through holes are ovoid in profile.

11. A component according to Claim 10, wherein the plugs comprise first sections of complementary ovoid shape and second sections adapted to extend from the component.

12. A component according to any of Claims 8 to 11, wherein the plugs are formed of a plastics material.

13. A drainage component having a drainage channel therein, an opening extending through one wall of the component, and the channel having a profiled face so positioned relative to the opening that lifting means for the component can locate through the opening and engage the profiled face to automatically lift the component at its point of balance.

14. A component according to Claim 13, wherein the profiled face of the channel is the uppermost face in use and provides a protruding ridge along the neutral axis of the component against which the lifting means can engage.

15. A component according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the component is formed of a mouldable cementitious material.

16. A component according to Claim 15, wherein the component is formed of concrete.

17. A component according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein a side wall of the component which is uppermost in use is substantially planar, whereby the component tends to deflect vehicles impacting thereagainst back into the roadway.

18. A component according to any of Claims 1 to 16, wherein an uppermost wall is profiled, whereby to enable vehicles impacting the component to overrun same.

19. A method of installing drainage components, including providing one or more components, each having a drainage channel therein and an opening in at least one wall thereof, lifting each component into position relative to an already installed component and engaging location means on the lifted component with means on the installed component to be guided thereby to automatically correctly position the components together with the respective channels in alignment.

20. A method according to Claim 19, including engaging lifting means through said opening into the drainage channel within the component and operating the lifting means to lift the component into position.

21. A method according to Claim 20, wherein the lifting means is engageable through an insert located in the opening and has one or more arms which are profiled to engage with a profiled face of the channel whereby to automatically lift the component at its point of balance.

22. A drainage component substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A method of installing drainage components substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

24. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed in the foregoing Specification or Claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding Claims.