Abstract:
Embodiments have an accessory rail along the length of each side of a trench drain channel. The accessory rib allows the convenient attachment of accessories to the sides of a channel in order to facilitate the installation of a trench drain, place drain outlets at any convenient place on a channel, and to create right angle joints between two trench drains.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0001]    Embodiments of this invention relate to the flow of fluid in an open channel or flume. 
         [0002]    In particular, embodiments relate to the flow of water through floor trench drains which have a grated upper surface and which drain into a catch basin and thereafter into a drain for disposal. Embodiments include sloping interlocking channels with a to small slope in the bottom from one end to the other to direct the flow of water or neutral unsloped channels which may be interspersed between sloping channels. A catch basin at the end of the drain receives the flow. 
         [0003]    Embodiments are designed to drain impermeable surfaces such as parking lots, or factory floors, or domestic patios. Channels are surrounded on all sides by the impermeable material such as concrete or asphalt except the top which has a removable grate permeable to water. It is important in the installation of trench drains that the channels be installed level at a predetermined height above the subsurface in order to insure the grate at the top of the channel is level and flush with the poured concrete or asphalt. 
         [0004]    The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]    The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tool and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements. 
         [0006]    Embodiments include a generally U-shaped trench drain channel comprising an appliance rib on each side of the channel extending substantially the length of the channel, with a channel chair attached to the appliance ribs, an outlet hub adaptor attached to the appliance ribs, and or a tee connector attached to the appliance ribs. 
         [0007]    Embodiments include a generally U-shaped trench drain channel with two ends comprising a male connector on one end with a pin extending from the male connector, and a female connector on a the other end with an aperture on the female connector. Interaction of the pin and aperture prevents rotation of one connected channel with respect to the adjoining connected channel. 
         [0008]    Embodiments include a trench drain system comprised of interlocked channels, each channel generally U-shaped in cross-section with an elongated length with a male connector on one end and a female connector on the other end, with an open top which receives a grate, a rounded bottom and two vertical walls extending up from the bottom, with at least two U-shaped reinforcing ribs extending over the vertical walls and the bottom, and dispersed along the length of the channel, and having an accessory rib attached to and extending longitudinally along each wall between the reinforcing ribs. Accessories which may be attached to the accessory ribs include a channel chair, an outlet hub adaptor, and a tee adaptor. 
         [0009]    In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following descriptions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment sloping channel. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a cross section of the embodiment sloping channel of  FIG. 1  taken at arrows  2 - 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment channel male end. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment channel female end. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment sloping channel with an attached upright elongated anchor. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross section of the embodiment sloping channel with an attached upright elongated anchor of  FIG. 5  taken at arrows  6 - 6 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an embodiment outlet hub adaptor. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an embodiment sloping channel with an outlet hub adaptor attached. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a cross section of the embodiment sloping channel with an outlet hub adaptor attached of  FIG. 8  taken at arrows  9 - 9 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an embodiment tee connector. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an embodiment sloping channel with a tee channel attached by a tee connector. 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a cross section of the embodiment sloping channel with a tee channel attached by a tee connector of  FIG. 11  taken at arrows  12 - 12 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an embodiment male connector. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment sloping channel  100 . The channel slopes from the shallow end where the female-connector  109  is located to the deep end where the male-connector  108  is located. A normally closed no-hub vertical outlet  110  is located near the male-connector  108 . This outlet may be opened by cutting through the bottom with a saw or drill which makes a circular hole. Channels are connected to each other by tongue and groove connectors  108  and  109 , respectively. 
         [0024]    Details of the connections are in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Visible in  FIG. 1  is the right wall  101 , right appliance rib  103  which runs along the wall from one end of the channel to the other between ribs  106 . Ribs  106  have a center groove  112 . Channels may be reduced in length by cutting with a saw through the groove  112  or at any other portion of the channel. In embodiments, the ribs are located ¼ m apart. When a cut is made through the center groove  112  of a rib  106  the result is two shorter channels, one with a male and a female end, the other with two male ends. Such male ends, like all male ends, can be inserted into the female end of another channel in order to connect the channels, the channel can be terminated using an end plate attached to the male end, or the cut channel male end can be joined to another channel male end using a U-shaped coupling (see  FIG. 13 ). Rebar clips  107  are located at each end of the channel on each side. Lengths of rebar may secured in the clips to support the channel before the concrete or asphalt is poured. A grate  111  is fitted into the open top of the channel after the channel is installed and the concrete or asphalt has hardened. An insert board (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) of the same dimensions as the grate is used to cover the channel during installation to prevent entry of concrete, asphalt, or debris during installation. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a cross section of the embodiment sloping channel of  FIG. 1  taken at arrows  2 - 2 . Visible in  FIG. 2  is the bottom  105 , right wall  101 , left wall  102 , right appliance rib  103 , left appliance rib  104 , and grate  111 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the bottom  105  of an embodiment channel  100  showing the male end  108 .  FIG. 3  shows the horseshoe-shaped male connector flange or rib  113 . A pin  113  protrudes from the center of the flange  115 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the bottom  105  of an embodiment channel  100  showing the female end  109 .  FIG. 4  shows the horseshoe-shaped female connector trough or sleeve  116  which is U-shaped in cross-section. A female connector aperture  114  is located at the center of the trough  116 . 
         [0028]    Adjacent channels are connected by inserting the male connector flange or rib ( 113  in  FIG. 3 ) into the female connector trough or sleeve ( 116  in  FIG. 4 ) The male connector pin ( 113  in  FIG. 3 ) protrudes through the female connector aperture ( 116  in  FIG. 4 ) when two channels are connected. The pin/aperture arrangement insures a stable connection between the two channels and prevents rotation of one channel with respect to the adjacent connected channel. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an embodiment sloping channel  100  and grate  111  with an attached channel chair  120 . The channel elements of  FIG. 5  are the same as in  FIG. 1 . A channel chair comprises a threaded rod  121  with a foot  128  and a nut  129  and an arrowhead  122  on one end and a mount  123  with two ears, right side front ear  131  and right side rear ear  124 . The ears attach to the right appliance rail  103  on the channel. An adjusting nut  130  allows fine adjustment of the height of the mount  123 . The nut  129  and foot  128  are used to stabilize the threaded rod in the ground. 
         [0030]    Optionally, rebar may be used to stabilize the chair in the trench with or without use of the threaded rod  121 . Visible in  FIG. 5  is a right rebar clip  138  comprised of a right cylindrical hole  134  and a right slot  132 . In use, rebar is inserted into the hole and secured by drawing the slot against the chair body using fasteners (not shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0031]    The channel chair is installed by driving the threaded rod into the ground below the planned trench drain route and rotating the threaded rod to anchor the arrowhead in the ground. The foot is pressed against the ground using the adjusting nut. Alternatively, the channel chair may be supported by two rebars attached to the ends of the channel chair by rebar clips. The mount is attached to appliance rails on each side of the channel via the ears. One channel chair is used for each channel. 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  is a cross section of the embodiment sloping channel  100  and grate  111  with an attached upright elongated anchor of  FIG. 5  taken at arrows  6 - 6 . The channel elements of  FIG. 6  are the same as in  FIG. 2 . Visible in  FIG. 4  is the channel chair  120  with threaded rod  121 , foot  128 , foot adjusting nut  129 , arrowhead  122  and mount adjusting nut  130  and left side rear ear  125  with left side rear ear notch  127  attached to mount  123  along with right side front ear  131  and right side front ear notch  126 . The mount is attached to the channel via the left side rear ear  125  and left side rear ear notch  127  which interacts with and attaches to the left appliance rib  104  and the right side front ear  131  and right side front ear notch  126  which interacts with and attaches to the right appliance rib  103 . Also visible in  FIG. 6  are the slots  132  of the rebar clips  138 . 
         [0033]    The use of a channel chair allows installation of a trench drain by a single worker. In addition, the channel chair anchors the channel and prevents the possibility of floating of the trench drain in the wet concrete or asphalt. 
         [0034]    A suitable channel chair can be obtained from Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co., Montgomery, Ala., where it is sold as a Rante-arrow channel chair accessory. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an embodiment outlet hub adaptor  140 . A hub adaptor allows the addition of an outlet to a channel at any site on the channel by cutting a hole in the bottom of the channel and attaching a hub adaptor. Visible in  FIG. 7  is a cylinder  141  which is attached to a right web  142  and to a left web  144 . Attached to the right web  142  are a right web left ear  148  with a right web left ear notch  146  and a right web right ear  143  with a right web right ear notch  149 . Attached to the left web  144  are a left web left ear  151  with a left web left ear notch  152  and a left web right ear  145  with a left web right ear notch  147 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an embodiment sloping channel  100  and grate  111  with an outlet hub adaptor  140  attached. The channel elements of  FIG. 8  are the same as in  FIG. 1 . Also visible in  FIG. 8  is the hub adaptor  140  with cylinder  141 , right web  142 , right web right ear  143 , right web left ear  148  and right appliance rib  103 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 9  is a cross section of the embodiment sloping channel  100  and grate  111  with an outlet hub adaptor attached of  FIG. 8  taken at arrows  9 - 9 . The channel elements of  FIG. 9  are the same as in  FIG. 2 . Visible in  FIG. 9  is the outlet hub  140  with cylinder  141 , right web  142 , right web left ear  148  and right web left ear notch  146 . Also visible is the left web  144 , left web right ear  145  and left web right ear notch  147 . The left web right ear  145  is attached to the left appliance rib  104  by the left web right ear notch  147 . The right web left ear  148  is attached to the right appliance rib  103  by the right web left ear notch  146 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an embodiment tee connector  160 . A tee connector is used to provide a female connector on the side of a channel in order to attach another channel. A hole is cut in the side of a channel and the tee connector is attached. Visible in  FIG. 10  is a tee connector  160  which comprises a web  161  with on one side an attached ear  162  with ear notch  163 . On the other side of the web a female connector  164  is connected. The female connector comprises a left arm  166  with a notch  168  and a right arm  165  with a notch  167 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an embodiment sloping channel  100  and grate  111  with a channel attached by a tee connector. The channel elements of  FIG. 11  are the same as in  FIG. 1 . Visible in  FIG. 11  is the attached channel  180  with grate  182 . Also visible in  FIG. 11  is the tee adaptor web  161  and tee adaptor ear  162 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 12  is a cross section of the embodiment sloping channel  100  and grate  111  with a channel attached by a tee connector of  FIG. 11  taken at arrows  12 - 12 . The channel elements of  FIG. 12  are the same as in  FIG. 2 . Visible in  FIG. 12  is the connected channel  180  and its grate  182 . Also visible in  FIG. 12  is the tee connector  160  with web  161 , ear  162 , ear notch  163 , and female connector left arm  165  with notch  167 . The ear notch  163  interacts with and is connected to the right appliance rib  103  on the channel and the female connector left arm notch  167  and right arm notch  168  (not visible in  FIG. 10 ) interact with and are attached to the left appliance rib  104  on the channel. 
         [0041]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of an embodiment male connector trough  170 . The male connector is generally horseshoe shaped with a U-shaped cross-section. Visible in  FIG. 13  is the front side  172 , back side  174  and web  176  which connects the front and back sides. The web  176  is wide enough to accommodate two adjacent male connector flanges or ribs. The web  176  has an aperture  178  in the center of the male connector trough. The aperture  178  interacts with pins on male connector flanges or ribs and prevents rotation of one connected channel with respect to the adjacent connected channel. The male connector can be used to place two male channel ends back to back to extend the length of a given run. It is also required in some instances if a channel section is shortened by 0.25 m or more. 
         [0042]    Embodiments channels are 1 m in length with an internal width between walls of 95 mm. In embodiments, the slope of the bottom of a sloped channel is 0.6%. In embodiments the heights of the walls of channels nearest to the drain basin are higher than those at the other end. In embodiments, the depth of the deep ends of channels varies from 111 mm to 260 mm. Embodiment trench drain systems using only sloped channels extend some 20 m from a drain basin, while embodiment systems using interspersed sloped and level channels extend some 40 m from a drain basin. 
         [0043]    Embodiment outlet hub adaptors have a cylinder of 102 mm diameter. Embodiment channels have a no-hub vertical outlet of 102 mm diameter. 
         [0044]    Embodiment channels are manufactured of any impervious, durable, inexpensive material. Embodiment channels are manufactured of recycled polypropylene with U.V. inhibitors. 
         [0045]    Embodiment grates are manufactured of any stable durable material strong enough to resist breakage in use. Embodiment grates are manufactured of polypropylene, vinylester fiberglass, composite resin, galvanized steel, ductile iron, and stainless steel. Embodiment grates have the surfaces which are perforated with small holes, slotted, cross-hatched, meshed, or with custom and decorative patterns, as dictated by the traffic which will cross the grate and the conditions of use. Embodiment grates are solid for use when the channels are used to contain pipes, wires or conduits rather than water. 
         [0046]    Connections between channels and between channels and appliances such as a outlet hub adaptor and a tee connector are sealed with a suitable calk such as a polyurethane sealant. 
         [0047]    While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope. The applicant or applicants have attempted to disclose all the embodiments of the invention that could be reasonably foreseen. There may be unforeseeable insubstantial modifications that remain as equivalents.