Patent Publication Number: US-8979429-B2

Title: Drainage and material-settling device for conveyance channels

Description:
BACKGROUND OF HE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a drainage and material-settling device for conveyance channels, including man-made and natural channels and ditches. 
     It is an object of the present application to provide a drainage and material-settling device that allows an improved settlement of material and/or sediment deposition in channels or ditches while allowing drainage of the channel or ditch. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       This object, and other objects and advantages of the present invention, will appear more clearly from the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a top view onto one exemplary embodiment of applicant&#39;s drainage and material-settling device in place in a ditch or channel. 
         FIG. 1B  is a partially sectioned from view of the drainage and material settling device of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 2  is a partially sectioned side view of the drainage and material-settling device of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3A  is a cross-sectional view through the upright member of the drainage and material settling device of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view through a grommet and the base member of the drainage and material settling device of  FIG. 1 , 
         FIG. 4A  is an exploded view of one exemplary embodiment of applicant&#39;s drainage and material settling device, 
         FIG. 4B  shows the drainage and material settling device of  FIG. 4A  in an assembled state, but without the elastomeric insert of the grommet, 
         FIG. 4C  shows the two-piece grommet of  FIG. 4A  in an assembled state, 
         FIG. 5A  is an exploded view of another exemplary embodiment of applicant&#39;s drainage and material settling device, 
         FIG. 5B  shows the drainage and material settling device of  FIG. 5A  in an assembled state, 
         FIG. 5C  is an enlarged view of the optional lock nut threaded onto the exposed end of the nipple of the drainage and material settling device of  FIG. 5B , 
         FIG. 6A  is an exploded view showing a further option for securing an upright member to a base member, 
         FIG. 6B  shows the drainage and material settling device of  FIG. 6A  in an assembled state, 
         FIG. 7A  is an exploded view of an exemplary configuration of applicant&#39;s drainage and material settling device, 
         FIG. 7B  shows the drainage and material settling device of  FIG. 7A  in an assembled state, 
         FIG. 8A  is a top view onto another exemplary configuration of applicant&#39;s drainage and material settling device, 
         FIG. 8B  is a front view of the drainage and material settling device of  FIG. 8A , 
         FIG. 9A  is a side view of the drainage and material settling device of  FIG. 8A , 
         FIG. 9B  is an isometric view of the drainage and material settling device of  FIG. 8A , 
         FIG. 10A  is a front view of a further exemplary configuration of applicant&#39;s drainage and material settling device, 
         FIG. 10B  is an isometric view of the drainage and material settling device of  FIG. 10A , 
         FIG. 11A  is a top view of another exemplary configuration of applicant&#39;s drainage and material settling device, 
         FIG. 11B  is a partially sectioned front view of the drainage and material settling device of  FIG. 11A , 
         FIG. 12A  is a partially sectioned side view of the drainage and material settling device of  FIG. 11A , and 
         FIG. 12B  is an isometric view of the drainage and material settling device of  FIG. 11A . 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       Applicant&#39;s drainage and material settling device for conveyance channels comprises an elongated base member that is configured to be placed in a channel transverse, in other words perpendicular or at an angle, to the main direction of flow through the channel, which can for example, be a man-made or natural channel or ditch; a plurality of spaced-apart upright members that extend from one side of the base member; at least two anchor members that extend from the other side of the base member and are configured to be placed in a subsurface of the channel, with the upright members thus extending into the channel space, and wherein that number of upright members that correspond to the number of anchor members are secured to the anchor members in such a way that the base member s sandwiched between the anchor members and the upright members; and further connecting members, wherein those upright members that are not secured to the anchor members are secured to these further connecting members and to the base member. Extensions can be mounted to one end of the upright members, with the free end of each extension then being secured either to the anchor members or to the further connecting members. Additionally, respective grommet saddles can be disposed between the base member and the free ends of each extension. Furthermore, an elastomeric insert can be provided and can be disposed in an aperture of the grommet saddle and in a hole in the base member, wherein an end of a nipple, the other end of which is threaded into the extension of the upright member, extends through the elastomeric insert and presses external ribbing thereof against the wall of the hole in the base member to bring about securement of the extension, and hence of the upright member, to the base member. An advantage of applicants drainage and material-settling device is that it prevents build-up of standing water over an extended period of time in the channel or ditch by bringing about settlement of at least some of the material and heavy sediment in the channel or ditch while allowing drainage of the channel or ditch. One application of applicant&#39;s device is in conveyance channels or ditches downstream of cattle pens but upstream of settling basins and lagoons. 
       Further specific features of the present application will be described in detail subsequently. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail, in the top view of  FIG. 1A , one exemplary embodiment of applicant&#39;s drainage and material-settling device is shown placed in a channel or ditch, by way of example only a ditch for the runoff in cattle feed lots. Such a channel or ditch can be a natural or man-made conveyance channel or ditch. In the illustrated configuration, the drainage and material-settling device, which is indicated generally by the reference numeral  10 , is disposed in the channel  12  so as to extend transverse, here substantially perpendicular, to the main direction of flow in the channel, which is indicated by the arrows  13 . Although to facilitate illustration only a single drainage and material-settling device is illustrated, for example having an overall width of five feet, for wider channels it may be expedient to use a number of separate, abutting drainage and material-settling devices to span the channel width. Also shown in  FIG. 1A , on the downstream side of the drainage and material-settling device  10 , is a so-called scour apron  14 , the function of which will be described subsequently. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the drainage and material-settling device  10  has a base member  16  which is made, for example, from PVC, polypropylene, or the like, and that in this embodiment extends substantially perpendicular or transverse to the main direction of flow  13  from one side of the channel  12  to the other side thereof. The base member  16  is placed as fleshly as possible on the upper surface of the channel  12 , for which purpose it may be necessary to level the upper surface somewhat. Extending upwardly from the base member  16  into the channel  12  are a plurality of spaced-apart upright members  17 , sometimes also referred to as verticals. These upright members  17 , which can be made of polypropylene, for example isotactic polypropylene, are spaced apart by a sufficient distance, by way of example only 41 mm for a 64 mm diameter upright member to produce a 60/40 solid to opening ratio, to allow water and small material and sediment to pass through gaps between adjacent ones of the upright member  17 , as indicated by the arrows  19  in  FIG. 1A , while trapping larger material and sludge on the upstream side of the upright member  17 . Due to the presence of the upright member  17 , and a slowing down in the velocity of flow, this larger material and heavy sludge settles, as indicated by the arrows  20  in  FIG. 2 . Further settling of material downstream of the upright member  17  can also occur. To illustrate the situation in which water is flowing in the channel  12 , for example after a rainfall, an exemplary water level  21  in the channel  12  is shown in  FIGS. 18 and 2 . It should be noted that the upright members  17  need not necessarily be spaced equidistantly apart (see, for example,  FIGS. 10-12 ). 
     The drainage and water-settling device  10  of the present application also has at least two anchors  23 , which are introduced into the sub-surface  24  of the channel  12  to hold the drainage and material-settling device  10  in place in the channel. The anchors  23 , which are preferably made of stainless steel, can be driven into the ground or subsurface  24  before the base member  16  is placed over them, or the base member  16  can first be placed on the ground, and the anchors can then be driven through holes provided in the base member. Although two anchors  23  are often sufficient, as shown by way of example in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , for longer drainage and material-settling devices  10  and/or where strong flows are anticipated in the channel  12 , a central anchor  23  and even additional anchors  23  can be provided. A corresponding number of upright members  17  are attached to the anchors  23  in a manner to be described in greater detail subsequently. Those upright members  17  not attached to anchors can be held in the base number  16  by friction and/or by further connecting members, as will also be discussed in detail subsequently. 
       FIGS. 3-6  show greater details concerning the drainage and material-settling device  10 . The basic components of the device  10  are the base member  16 , the upright members  17  and some anchors  23 , and possibly also at least one part of a grommet. 
     The attachment, in the form of a threaded connection of the upright member  17  to an anchor  23  or some other connecting member, is shown in various exemplary embodiments in  FIGS. 4-6 . For example, in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . For example, in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the upright member  17  is provided at its lower end  26  with an internal female threaded portion, indicated by the dashed lines  27 , that allows it to be threaded onto the external, male threads  28  that are provided on the upper end  29  of the anchor  23 . 
     To provide a tighter fit between the components of the drainage and material-settling device  10 , a grommet, for example of rubber can be placed on the round or convex surface of the base member  16 , with the flat base or end  26  of the upright member  17  being seated on the grommet saddle  31  after the upright member  17  has been threadedly connected and drawn to the anchor  23 . An elastomeric insert  32 , for example of natural or synthetic rubber or silicone, for the grommet saddle  31  can also be provided. The elastomeric insert  32  allows the grommet saddle to be securely transported along with the base member  16  in that the ridges or ribbing  33  on the elastomeric inserts  32  provide a friction fit with the holes in the base member  16 . The ribbing  33  can also provide a connection means for holding those upright members  17  not connected to anchors  23  in the base member  16  without the use of a separate connecting member, as will be discussed in greater detail subsequently. 
     Although as described above the upright members  17  can be threadedly connected directly to the anchors  23  (as illustrated schematically in  FIGS. 2 and 3A ), it may be expedient to provide the upright member  17  with respective extensions  35  (see  FIGS. 4 to 6 ), which can also be made of polypropylene. The extension  35  can either be threaded into female threads  27  of the upright member  17  via male threads provided at one smaller diameter end  36  of the extension  35 , or pursuant to a presently preferred embodiment, the upright member  17  can be in the form of a tube and can be slid over the smaller diameter end  36  of the extension  35 , as indicated schematically in  FIG. 5A , with the outer diameter of the reduced diameter end  36  being substantially the same as the inner diameter of the tubular upright member  17 , and with the outer diameter of the remainder of the extension  35  being the same as the outer diameter of the tubular upright member  17  so as to be flush therewith. No threads are involved in this slip connection of the upright member  17  with the extension  35 ; rather, the upright member  17  and the flushly adjoining outer surface of the extension  35  are “welded” together, for example with a strip of polypropylene, to seal the seam between the upright member  17  and the extension  35 . 
     The other end of the extension  35  opposite the smaller diameter end  36  is provided with a female threaded portion  37 , which essentially corresponds to the female threads  27  of the upright members  17  as described above. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the anchor  23  can then be threaded into the female threads  37  of the extension  35 , rather than being threaded directly into the upright member  17 , whereupon the base member  16  is then sandwiched between the extension  35  and the base member  16 . The grommet saddle  31 , perhaps without the elastomeric insert  32 , as shown in  FIG. 4B , can be interposed between the extension  35  and the base member  16  for the purpose previously described. 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5A  a so-called nipple  38 , which is threaded at both ends, is provided. One of the threaded ends of the nipple  38  is threaded into the female threads  37  of the extension  35 , or directly into the lower end  26  of the upright member  17  if no extension is provided. The other threaded end  40  of the nipple  38  is then pushed into and partially through an elastomeric insert  32  that is disposed in a grommet saddle  31  and in a hole of the base member  16 , thereby expanding the ribbing  33  of the elastomeric insert  32  against the wall of the hole to securely hold the upright member  17  in the base member  16  and against the grommet saddle  31 . Although in many cases this friction fit attachment of the upright member  17  to the base member  16  is adequate by itself, it may also be expedient to provide additional securement means. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 5B , a lock nut  39  or similar holding means can be threaded onto the exposed threaded end  40  of the nipple  38  to secure the nipple against the elastomeric insert  32  or even against the base member  16  itself (see also  FIG. 5C ). It should also be noted that the elastomeric insert  32  can act as a shock absorber to reduce stress on the base member  16 . 
     Although the nipple  38  has been described as having two threaded ends, which is particularly convenient where a lock nut  39  or the like is to be used, the free end of the nipple  38  when its one end  10  is threaded into the female threads  37  of the extension  35  can merely be smooth or can be provided with a non-thread profile, wherein the outer diameter of this free end  40  of the nipple  38  could be slightly greater than the inner diameter of the elastomeric insert  32  so as to provide a positive, friction fit when the free end  40  of the nipple  38  is pushed into the elastomeric insert  32 . 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show a different connection member for the case where the upright member  17  is not connected to an anchor  23 . In this embodiment, a connection member, for example a wide-headed bolt  42 , is threaded via a threaded shaft  43  either directly into female threads  27  of the upright member  17 , or into the female threads  37  of an extension  35 . Again with this embodiment, the elastomeric insert  32  could be omitted, and a rubber or plastic washer could be provided between the underside of the base member  16  and the head of the bolt  42 . 
     The drawings illustrate the presently preferred shape of the base member  16 , namely a semi-circular, cross-sectional shape, which provides easy access to the male threads  28  of an anchor  23  that has been placed in the sub-surface  24  of a channel  12 , or to the nipple  38  for placement of a lock nut  39  or similar securement means thereon. Other shapes for the base member  16  are also possible. 
     To further secure the connection of the upright members  17 , and in particular via their extensions  35 , to the anchors  23  and/or to the base member  16 , the grommet saddle  31 , and that part of the extension  35  that faces and is seated on the grommet saddle, are provided with engagement means that cooperate with one another to prevent, or at least to make difficult, an unintentional unthreading of the upright members  17 , with their extensions  35 , from the anchor  23  and/or the nipple  38  that is secured to the base member  16 . To provide this cooperating, interlocking effect, at least two diametrically opposed projections in the form of nubs or ramps can be provided on the grommet saddle  31 , while the facing surface of the bottom of the extension  35  is provided with a plurality of complementary recessed portions. When the extension  35  is being threaded onto the anchor  23  or onto the nipple  38 , and the bottom of the extension  35  approaches the grommet saddle  31 , the extension  35  can move over and slightly compress the ramps of the grommet saddle  31 , which ramps rise in a clockwise direction, until the ramps are received in recesses of the extension  35 . After the extension  35  has been completely threaded onto the nipple  38  or the anchor  23 , the ramps are completely accommodated in the recesses of the extension. Since an attempted unthreading rotation of the threaded-together components will cause substantially axially extending back surfaces of the higher portions of the ramp to encounter similarly substantially extending surfaces of the recesses of the extension  35 , the extensions  35 , and hence the upright members  17 , cannot easily be unthreaded from the nipples  38  or anchors  23 . 
     As indicated above, a scour apron  14  can be disposed on the downstream side of the drainage and material-settling device to prevent erosion that could otherwise be caused by the accelerated flow on the downstream side of the device  10 . When the drainage and material-settling device  10  is in place on the scour apron  14 , only the upstream edge of the base member  16  will be beyond the apron and will be placed directly upon the channel or ditch surface. Holes can be provided in the scour apron  14  in line with the holes in the base member  16  that are provided for the anchors  23 . 
     Although the above description of applicant&#39;s drainage and material-settling device  10  has been in conjunction with a transverse arrangement of a single row of equidistantly spaced-apart upright members  17  (see  FIGS. 1A and 1B , as well as  FIGS. 7A and 7B ), which provides, by way of example only, a 40% porosity to flow, other configurations for the arrangement, spacing and even length of the upright members  17  are also possible. Therefore, again by way of example only, reference wifi be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 8-12 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 8A through 9B , again a single base member  16  is provided. However, instead of a single row of upright members  17 , two rows of upright members are provided. The two rows are disposed at an angle to one another, and the upright members  17  of one of the rows is offset with respect to the upright members  17  of the other row. As can be seen particularly clearly in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , the angle  45  (see  FIG. 9A ) between the upright member  17  of one of the rows of upright members and the upright member  17  of the other row of upright members can range, for example, from 30 degrees to 60 degrees, i.e. 15 to 30 degrees from vertical. At least two anchors  23  for two of the upright members  17  that are inclined in the upstream direction are provided, although further anchors for that row of upright members or the other row of upright members can also be provided, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8B ,  9 A and  9 B. 
     The embodiment of applicant&#39;s drainage and material-settling device  10  illustrated in  FIGS. 10A and 10B  shows that not only the individual heights of the upright member  17  need not necessarily all be the same, but also the spacing between the upright members  17  need not be equidistant. In the illustrated embodiment, a gap has been shown in the center of the device  10  between the upright members  17  on either side thereof. However, rather than such a pronounced gap, upright members  17  can be disposed all the way across the base member  16  from one side of the channel  12  to the other, and either the height of the upright member  17  can vary, or the spacing between adjacent upright members  17  can vary. In addition, those upright members  17  toward the middle of the device  10  could be closer together than those near the sides, or vice versa, or the spacing between adjacent upright member  17  can progressively increase or decrease from the middle toward the sides. The heights of the upright member  17  could also progressively increase or decrease, either from one to the other or in groups, from the center toward the sides. 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  show yet another exemplary embodiment of applicant&#39;s drainage and material-settling device  10 . Here, instead of the device  10  being disposed across the channel  12  substantially perpendicular to the main direction of flow  13  in the channel, the device  10  can be comprised of a plurality of individual devices, each of which is disposed transverse to the main direction of flow  13 , preferably at varying angles thereto (see, in particular,  FIG. 11A ). In the illustrated embodiment, four separate sections are provided, each of which comprises the base member  16 , upright members  17  of varying heights, and at least two anchors  23  for each of the base members. Using multiple sections for the device, even in a narrower channel or ditch, can allow the upstream angling of the overall device, especially where flows are anticipated to be stronger. 
     The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to the specific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but also encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.