System permitting channeling of drainage fluid

A system for channeling drainage fluid from a point located upstream to a point downstream comprises a series of conduit elements linked together and partially fitted in one another. This system is remarkable in that the series of conduit elements is assembled so that the linked conduit elements can articulate with one another and each conduit element is suspended from the previous conduit element of the series with upper end of the first conduit element being suspended from a point of anchorage located upstream. The conduit elements articulate with one another in pairs by means of a disconnectable hook arrangement, such as performed protuberances, which acts as a hinge. The above system for channeling running water prevents the degradation of slopes served by such systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a system that permits channeling of freely 
flowing fluid, such as water from rain collector outlets, along a hillside 
whose grade or poor accessibility renders traditional solutions too 
costly. 
If the topography of a terrain is suitable (insignificant slope, access to 
the foot of the slope, etc.), prior art channels are available which 
generally comprise a semi-circular channel laid in a bed of concrete. 
If the grade of the incline is too abrupt, the above solution is no longer 
applicable and it is necessary to resort to civil engineering projects 
such as reinforced concrete slideways, openings in chutes, etc.. Such 
works are difficult to realize and take long to complete, resulting in 
very high costs. 
Numerous solutions have already been conceived which lessen the problems 
mentioned above. One of these solutions is seen in a series of conduit 
elements which, partially fitted into one another, form a groove allowing 
the water to collect and to be channeled without risking erosion of the 
terrain. 
Such conduit elements are inexpensive and light-weight, permitting 
installation in inaccessible locations and involve few means. However, to 
serve as a channel supported on a slope, it is necessary that conduit 
elements of such a system remain attached to one another and adhere to the 
different grades of the terrain. 
To this effect, the conduit element proposed in British Patent No. 
2,106,968 has preformed horizontal latticed edges which, once the conduit 
elements are placed on the terrain, permit vegetation to get entangled in 
the mesh of the lattice work, assuring, in this manner, retention of each 
conduit element in the ground. 
A second solution for a conduit element is proposed in French Patent No. 
2,569,214. To this effect, the two edges of a profiled element in the form 
of a gutter are provided with fasteners which are perpendicular in 
relation to the plane of the element and are for anchorage in the soil. 
Whatever may be the realized form of a conduit element for a system 
permitting channeling of drainage fluid, the two preceding solutions 
proposed for holding the elements in position with respect to one another 
are based on their anchorage with respect to the support. 
Using these facts as a starting point, the applicant has conceived another 
form for realizing a system for channeling drainage which does not require 
the individual anchoring of the above-mentioned conduit elements to the 
ground and thus provides greater flexibility for installation of such 
system. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the invention, the conduit elements of a system permitting the 
channeling of drainage water are mounted so as to be linked to one another 
and are suspended, by means of the upper end of the first conduit element, 
from a point of anchorage located upstream. Thus, assembly of such system 
involving conduit elements which are linked to one another, starts at the 
top of the slope so as to keep to a minimum interventions on the level of 
the slope itself. The free angular expansion of the conduit elements into 
each other due to their articulation allows the mentioned system to 
conform readily to the different changes in grade, either negative or 
positive. Moreover, only one point of anchorage suffices, namely, the one 
of the first conduit element located upstream, in order for all the 
elements to be held together, each one being suspended from the preceding 
one. In addition, the partial fitting of the afore-mentioned conduit 
elements, one on top of the other, limits their freedom of angular 
expansion which permits their articulation in such a way that the channel, 
which is delimited by all the conduit elements suspended from one point of 
anchorage upstream, forms a harmonious curve that responds to major 
changes in grade of the terrain. In effect, since no conduit element is 
fixed to the ground, the series of suspended elements is not forced to 
adapt itself perfectly to all the irregularities of the terrain. 
According to one particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention, 
the afore-mentioned elements are joined to each other in pairs by means of 
a detachable hook which serves as a hinge. Consequently, the conduit 
elements may be disconnected from one another for facilitating transport, 
and the length of the system created by a sequence of conduit elements may 
be adopted for a planned use. This hook device may either be designed as 
one unit or be independent (by means of a system of preformed hooks) of 
the afore-mentioned conduit elements. 
According to a first embodiment of the invention, the afore-mentioned 
conduit elements are obtained by molding a cement concrete, or a resin 
concrete, a cement reinforced with glass fibers, composite materials, 
etc.. In this case, the hook device serving as a hinge is realized by 
protuberances (5', 6') which are formed by being molded to the upper and 
lower parts of the mentioned conduit element (See FIGS. 7a and 7b)in order 
to cooperate with protuberances above and below the two contiguous conduit 
elements. These protuberances, serving as hinges, are formed according to 
a prior art method in order to hold the afore-mentioned elements while 
permitting angular expansion between the latter. 
According to another embodiment of the invention, the afore-mentioned 
conduit elements are shaped of a preformed sheet of material, preferably 
of metal. By serving as hinges, these conduit elements permit the 
adaptation of hooks and rings as anchoring device for connecting the 
elements to each other. 
The fundamental concept of the invention having been elucidated above, 
other characteristics and other advantages of the present invention will 
become clearer upon reading the specification which follows giving, by way 
of a non-limiting example and with respect to the attached drawings, a 
method for manufacturing a channel system which conforms to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As shown in the drawing of FIG. 1, the system of the invention for 
channeling drainage water begins with an anchorage block 1 located 
upstream from the end of the system where the drainage water drains and 
comprises a sequence of conduit elements 2 partially fitted into one 
another and suspended from the upper end of the first element 2a attached 
to the anchorage block 1. As may be seen in the drawing of FIGS. 2, 3, 4 
and 5, these conduit elements 2 have the shape of a trough made of a 
preformed sheet material. The conduit elements may be shaped to form a 
trapezoidal cross section when an imaginary horizontal line is drawn 
parallel to the bottom portion which connects the longitudinal sides of 
the conduit element. The longitudinal sides of the conduit elements being 
open at their two ends, act as longitudinal reinforcing ribs 3. 
For the principal application of the invention, the afore-mentioned conduit 
elements 2 are assembled, linked to each other in such a way that all of 
the afore-mentioned conduit elements 2 of the system together, suspended 
from the anchorage block 1, adapt only to the different changes in the 
grade of the afore-mentioned slope (see FIG. 1). 
In order to ensure sufficient tightness between two consecutive conduit 
elements 2, the overlapping distance 4 (see FIG. 5) between two elements 
will be adapted for limiting angular expansion between them, taking into 
consideration the speed of the drainage water, its discharge and the grade 
of the slope. Of course, the degree of tightness required is that which is 
adequate for collecting and channeling water along the slope. 
Advantageously, the conduit elements 2 are linked to one another by means 
of a disconnectable hook device 5-6 that performs the role of a hinge. 
This disconnectable hook device comprises two rings 5 located at the upper 
end of each conduit element 2 on one side and two hooks 6 located at the 
lower end of the same conduit element on the other side. Thus, as one may 
see on the drawing in FIG. 5, the rings 5 of one conduit element are 
intended to engage the hooks 6 of the conduit element 2 located upstream 
and the hooks 6 located at the lower part of this conduit element 2 are 
intended to be introduced into the interior of the ring 5 of the next 
conduit element 2 located downstream. This disconnectable interlocking 
hook 5-6 allows easier handling during transport by permitting the 
stacking of the conduit elements 2. 
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, rungs 7 are mounted 
along the conduit elements 2 to permit movement and/or the descent of 
maintenance personnel on the system according to the invention. 
The conduit elements 2 of the present invention permit the installation of 
a system intended for channeling running water in order to prevent 
degradation of the slopes serviced by such a system. 
It is understood that the system was described and represented with the 
intention of making a disclosure rather than a limitation. Of course, 
various simplifications, modifications and improvements may be made to the 
above example without departing from the scope of the invention taken in 
its broadest aspects and concept. 
In order to ensure the best understanding of the drawings, a list of 
references numerals and their legend is listed below: 
1. . . . anchorage block 
2. . . conduit element 
3. . . reinforcing ribs 
4. . . distance of overlap between two conduit elements 2 
5. . . ring 
6. . . hook 
7. . . rungs