Patent ID: 12239928

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring generally to the figures, various embodiments of a drainage device are shown. This disclosure provides a novel floating surface drain or skimmer to regulate the filling and draining of a stormwater impoundment pond or structure, for example, a stormwater detention basin or a sedimentation basin.

Referring toFIGS.1-3, a drainage device, shown as water management device110, is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. Water management device110is configured to drain water, such as by draining water from a stormwater basin (e.g., an area configured to collect water drainage from a storm). In various embodiments, water management device110comprises a skimmer configured to drain water from a water collection area.

In various embodiments, water management device110includes sluice120, a drainage element, shown as flume180, and a buoyancy device, shown as float240. In various embodiments, cover150encloses chamber122and cover150is coupled to housing130of sluice120, such as pivotally coupled to housing130and/or side plates124. In various embodiments, housing130of sluice120defines chamber122, and cover150pivotally actuates to expose and/or cover chamber122, such as by cover150being pivotally coupled to one or more of side plates124and/or front wall142.

Referring toFIG.3in particular, flume180includes a drainage channel, shown as pipe186. In various embodiments, pipe186includes a tube, such as a cylindrical tube. Flume180extends away from the inlet206, such as via the drainage channel, and the channel is configured to receive the water from sluice120. In use, flume180drains water to an outlet, such as a stormwater drain. In various embodiments, pipe186includes a fixed portion188and a flexible portion190. Broadly speaking, inlet206of flume180is coupled to and interfaces against sluice120. Similar to the cover150of sluice120, inlet206includes an openable hatch238. In various embodiments, hatch238is detachably coupled and/or pivotally coupled to cover250of inlet206. Hatch238includes a handle, shown as a loop, configured to facilitate detaching hatch238from cover250(e.g., if a user wants to reach inside inlet206to remove debris). In various embodiments, cover250and/or hatch238is transparent and/or mostly transparent, to facilitate observing debris collecting in inlet206. In various embodiments, lid178extends above the coupling of flume180to sluice120.

In various embodiments, inlet206is a tapered inlet extending along a longitudinal axis208. Inlet206includes an input210disposed against the opening152of the front wall142, an output214opposite the input210, and sidewalls194extending between the input210and the output214.

In various embodiments flume180is pivotably coupled to sluice120and pivots with respect to sluice120about axis182. Flume180is configured to receive the water exiting the chamber122and direct the water away from the sluice120. As flume180pivots with respect to sluice120, inlet206actuates into and out of opening148in outer wall146of the sluice120. For example, as the water to be drained lowers, flume180pivots upward with respect to sluice120such that flume180extends at least partially through opening148. When water enters the stormwater pond, the sluice120rises with the water and correspondingly flume180pivots to extend downward from sluice120until flume180partially or completely exits opening148.

In various embodiments, extensions220extend from inlet206. Extensions220are configured to be received between plates164within chamber122. For example, in various embodiments water management device110includes two plates164on each side of opening140, and an extension220is received between the two plates164. The friction fit between the plates164and extensions220provides a seal with a limited amount of water exiting chamber122via any space between the plates164and extensions220.

Sluice120includes one or more coupling components to couple with float240, such as openings126through which float240extends. In various embodiments, openings126are defined by side plates124. In various embodiments, float240extends through the chamber122.

Sluice120is configured to receive liquid, such as water, that water management device110is positioned within. Sluice120includes a chamber122that receives the water. In various embodiments, chamber122is defined by one or more of bottom wall128, front wall142, front plate144, rear wall136, and top cover150.

Housing130includes a plurality of openings configured to permit the water outside the sluice120to enter the chamber122. In various embodiments, water enters chamber122via openings132in bottom wall128and/or openings140in rear wall136. In various embodiments, bottom wall128includes a first subset of the plurality of openings to chamber122, and rear wall136includes a second subset of the plurality of openings. In various embodiments, the first subset of the plurality of openings are distinct from the second subset of the plurality of openings.

Sluice120defines a width174, a length172, and a height176. In various embodiments, sluice120defines a wide footprint to facilitate sluice120maintaining a nearly constant orientation thereby resulting in a more controlled and/or even flow of water through sluice120. For example, the footprint of sluice120can be considered to be length172times width174, and a ratio of (length172times width174) to height176is between 10:1 to 50:1, and more specifically between 15:1 and 40:1, and more specifically between 20:1 and 30:1. As another example, the footprint of sluice120can be considered to be length172times width174, and a ratio of (length172times width174) to height176is at least 10:1, and more specifically at least 15:1, and more specifically at least 20:1, and even more specifically at least 25:1. As noted above, Applicant has observed that sluice120defining a relatively large footprint improves the flow characteristics of water flowing through sluice120.

Referring toFIG.5, sluice120includes inner end plates164and outer end plates166. Flume180extends away from the inlet206, such as via the drainage channel, and the channel is configured to receive the water from opening152in the front wall142via the tapered inlet206and direct the water away from the sluice120. As will be explained, in various embodiments portions of flume180interface with inner end plates164and outer end plates166to maintain a seal between flume180and inner end plates164and outer end plates166. In various embodiments the seal between flume180, inner end plates164and outer end plates166is nearly watertight. For example, a small amount of water is permitted to penetrate the seal, but given the interface between flume180and the plates, the amount of water penetrating the seal is very limited as compared to the amount of water entering chamber122via the openings.

In various embodiments, sluice120includes one or more support elements, shown as ribs134. Ribs134provides structural support to sluice120, such as to a bottom wall of sluice120.

Referring toFIGS.5-7, various aspects of sluice120are shown. Front wall142defines a front of the chamber122, and the front wall142defines an opening152configured to permit the water to exit the chamber122. In various embodiments, front plate144is slidable with respect to front wall142. For example, front plate144can be coupled to front wall142at various heights, thereby changing the size of the unobstructed portion of opening152in front wall142.

Referring toFIGS.6-7in particular, front plate144is repositionable with respect to front wall142to adjust the unobstructed area158of opening152. For example, front plate144may be coupled to front wall142at various heights via coupling front wall144to one or more of apertures170that are positioned at multiple heights within front wall144. As will be explained, the front plate144is configured to be selectively coupled to the front wall142at a plurality of locations that each result in the front plate144providing a different degree of obstruction to the opening of the front wall.

When front plate144is not positioned in front of opening152, the unobstructed area158of opening152is the entire area154of opening152(FIG.6). When front plate144is positioned in front of opening152, the entire area154of opening152includes both an unobstructed area158and an obstructed area156(FIG.7) thereby limiting the amount of water that is permitted to flow through opening152. In various embodiments front plate144can be positioned with respect to front wall142such that various percentages of entire area154are obstructed by front plate144. To provide several non-limiting examples, entire area154can be 10% covered, 20% covered, 30% covered, 40% covered, and/or 50% covered.

Referring toFIGS.8-11, various aspects of flume180are shown. Input210of inlet206receives water from sluice120, and output214of inlet206releases water into inlet192of the pipe, which exits pipe at outlet222. Input210defines width212perpendicular to the longitudinal axis208of inlet206, and output214defines width216perpendicular to the longitudinal axis208of inlet206. In various embodiments, the input210of the inlet206defines a first horizontal width212and the output214of the inlet206defines a second horizontal width216less than the first horizontal width212. Similar to the cover150of sluice120, inlet206includes an openable hatch238detachably coupled to cover250of inlet206.

In various embodiments inlet206includes a sealing element, shown as rubber seal196, extending from a front and bottom of inlet206. In various embodiments, seal196is formed from a material more compressible than other portions of inlet206, such as sidewalls194. In various embodiments inlet206includes one or more coupling components, shown as pipe collars200, that couple inlet206to the pipe. Inlet206includes protrusions202and/or extensions220that extend from sidewalls194.

In various embodiments, extensions220are coupled to the sidewalls194of the flume180and extensions220extend past the front wall142and/or into the chamber122. In various embodiments, sidewalls194narrow from the input210to the output214at an angle218with respect to longitudinal axis208.

Broadly speaking, in various embodiments angle218is between 12 and 30 degrees. More specifically, in various embodiments angle218is between 10 and 25 degrees, and more specifically between 12 and 20 degrees, and more specifically between 13 and 18 degrees, and even more specifically is 15.5 degrees. In various other embodiments, angle218is between 20 and 35 degrees, and more specifically between 25 and 30 degrees, and even more specifically is 27.5 degrees. Applicant has observed that one or more of these angles improves the flow characteristics of water transiting through inlet206.

Referring toFIGS.9-11in particular, in various embodiments inlet206includes tapered collar230.FIG.11depicts a perspective cross-section view of the lower-half of tapered collar230so that aspects of the interior channel of tapered collar230can be seen.

As can be seen, tapered collar230includes a rectangular input232that transitions into a rounded output234. In various embodiments, tapered collar230smoothly transitions via middle portion236from the input232to the output234. In various embodiments, the middle portion236of tapered collar230provides a linear and/or smooth transition from the input232to the output234. For example, in various embodiments as water moves across tapered collar230from the input232to the output234, the middle portion236of tapered collar230provides a smooth surface without edges or corners, thereby facilitating the fluid flow of the water from a horizontal cross-section (at inlet206) to the circular cross-section of the pipe. Applicant has observed that this profile for tapered collar230provides improved fluid flow dynamics for the water. For example, Applicant has observed tapered collar230providing a less turbulent transition of the water into the pipe compared to other structures.

In various embodiments, the smooth transition of the tapered collar230defines a linear transition. For example, the surface of tapered collar230transitions from the input to the output such that for any given path along tapered collar230from input to the output, the diameter of each path from the center of tapered collar230changes at a constant rate as the water moves from the input to the output.

Referring toFIGS.12-14, various aspects of float240are shown. Float240is coupled to the sluice120, and float240is configured to bias the sluice120towards a top of the water. In various embodiments float240includes rear arm242extending between side arms244. Front arms246extend from side arms244towards each other, such as partially towards each other. In various embodiments the gap between front arms246provides a space for flume180to actuate into and out of as the water level of the stormwater pond raises and lowers. In one or more embodiments, the arms242,244,246of the float240define a continuous hollow tube sealed at each end and filled with a buoyant fluid, such as air. In one or more embodiments, the arms242,244,246are made of a buoyant material, such as various foam materials or cork.

In various embodiments, float240includes a ballast element. For example, the portion of float240that extends past the rear of water management device110includes ballast. This ballast counteracts the lack of floatation on the front of water management device110above flume180.

Referring toFIG.15, water management device610is shown according to an exemplary embodiment. Water management device610is substantially the same as water management device110except for the differences discussed herein. In particular, water management device610includes a vent612that extends upwards from flume680. Vent612provides fluid communication between the flume and ambient air above the water being drained.

Still referring toFIG.15, it will be understood that objects in water management device610that are similar and/or the same as objects in water management device110are given similar reference numbers plus five hundred. For example, sluice620of water management device610is similar and/or the same as sluice120of water management device110.

Various aspects of various embodiments are described in detail below.

In one or more embodiments, the water management device110provides a unique floating surface drain device, commonly known as a skimmer, used to control the filling and draining of a stormwater basin or other type of impoundment and to release the cleanest water in the basin from near the water surface at a desired and known rate.

In embodiments, the device can be used in place of and as an improvement to conventional stormwater basin outlets located near the bottom of the basin. Such conventional basin outlets have a variable head on the controlling orifice and, consequently, a variable flow rate as the basin's water level rises and falls, resulting in undesirable flow characteristics that fails to adequately control stormwater discharge and achieve the purpose of the basin to control flooding and pollution.

In embodiments, the floating surface drain device's flow control features may allow for a reduction in the required storage volume in a basin and permit the allowable depth to be increased. In this way, the same volume is provided but takes up less horizontal space, making the basin more compact.

The design incorporates a unique configuration of the flow controlling orifice, a sluice gate, and outlet feature, that is a flume, that has numerous advantages over existing designs in that the orifice can be larger, have a high flow capacity, and is less likely to clog. Novel configuration of the float and location of the sluice opening and flume leading to the pipe barrel inlet maintains a nearly uniform head on the controlling sluice orifice providing a uniform draining and release rate of flow.

Float provided with balanced buoyancy and ballast to keep the inlet on the water surface as the basin fills and drains and keep the sluice gate suspended under the water surface at a known, nearly constant depth to provide a known, constant rate of flow.

Frame engages and is attached to the float so that there are no holes in the float that could cause leaks.

Wide, low positioned sluice gate/orifice design allows full flow rate soon after the basin begins to fill, potentially reducing required storage volume in the basin.

Simple, gravity flow operation of water through screens (e.g., openings132and/or openings140), into the sluice opening into the Flume and Pipe barrel requiring no connection to a power source.

Provision for adjusting the height of the Sluice to vary the flow rate, customizing the flow rate as needed to meet the filling and draining requirements of the particular installation.

Sluice gate height can be varied using an adjustable sluice board (e.g, front plate144) to cover part of the top of the sluice to a known height giving a certain flow based on testing to control the flow rate to provide the desired rate of draining.

Tapered inlet improvement device on the pipe inlet (e.g., tapered collar230) to improve transition of flow into the pipe and to maximize the pipe's flow capacity, which reduces the pipe's diameter and the buoyancy it creates.

Hinge seals provided between the fixed component, the sluice and rotating components, the Flume and Pipe Barrel, allow free flow downstream of the sluice opening without significant leaks around moving joints that would significantly increase flow rate above the calculated rate.

Horizontal rubber seal (e.g., seal196) provided between the down stream lip of the fixed portion and the entrance of the rotating Flume flexes as the Flume rotates downward while the skimmer rises, smoothing flow into the flume and sealing the horizontal connection between the two components.

Sluice gate opening (e.g., openings132and/or openings140) can have larger dimensions than conventional outlet orifices because the device floats on the water surface, rising and falling as the basin fills and drains providing a low head on the opening by placing it just below the water surface while allowing the required flow rate through it.

Device is provided with a large opening on the sluice to reduce the potential for clogging with debris which is possible because the design allows the opening to be close to the water surface with a low head on the opening.

Device's flow controlling characteristics of high flow rate at the beginning of the basin's filling can have the advantage of reducing the required storage volume in a basin and permitting the allowable depth to be increased to provide the same volume that takes up less horizontal space, making the basin more compact.

Float (e.g., float240) protruding above the water surface acts to contain surface debris and prevent clogging the device and restricting the flow of water through the device.

Float suspends sluice inlet (e.g., openings132) below the water surface and acts to contain surface debris and prevent clogging the device and restricting the flow of water through the device.

Screens provided on the Side Plates and Bottom Screen upstream of Sluice catch debris and keep it away from the control opening, to prevent clogging of the sluice opening and the pipe below.

Constructed of material resistant to degrading by ultraviolet radiation for long life in exposed installations.

Dark materials are used in construction and are intended to absorb heat from sunlight to create a microclimate during cold weather around the device to prevent ice that would impede flow through it or prevent it floating up and down.

Wide horizontal footprint and significant mass provide a balanced, stable platform to keep the sluice level with a nearly constant head so that it is self-compensating as it floats up and down with a changing water level, producing a known flow rate.

Internal ballast provided inside the Float to counter the upward force of buoyancy when the flume and pipe barrel are under water and partially empty.

Additional weight is placed and secured within the sides and rear pipes forming the Float to provide ballast that counter acts the buoyancy created when the Flume and Pipe Barrel are less than completely full of water.

Ballast is secured by spacers over the ballast pipes that fit snuggly into the inside of the float pipes and by caps on the ends of the pipe.

The ballast is secured inside the Float by end caps to prevent it shifting during use and affecting the balance of the device.

Lids cover openings necessary for inspection and maintenance to keep falling debris out and critters that may block clog the device.

The front lid (e.g., lid178) covers and partially seals the gap formed between Sluice and Flume inlet when the Flume rotates downward acts as a muffler to reduce noise that might cause an undesirable disturbance in some installations caused by the suction of water and air into the pipe inlet.

An Inspection Hatch (e.g., hatch238) on Flume (e.g., flume180) allows access to inspect for clogging at the pipe inlet and clearing if necessary.

Integral Frame and Sluice secure Flume, and Float ties it all together.

Vanes below Sluice channel flow into tapered Flume to allow flow to be concentrated deeper and faster in preparation to enter funnel and pipe.

Tapered Flume (e.g., tapered collar230) concentrates and deepens shallow flow through Sluice into deeper flow to transition into the Funnel and Pipe inlet.

Pivot Rods are located near the center of gravity of the Float and Frame so that buoyance created by pipe barrel is counted by weight of float and frame.

Pivot Rods supported by blocks that support outer ends of Rods beyond the outside edge of the Side Plates to provide a strong support for the Flume to pivot on.

Pipe Collars connect the round pipe to the square end of the Flume.

Fasteners through the Flume Top and Flume Bottom, through the edge of the Pipe Collars and into the sides of the Pipe securely connect the Pipe to the Flume.

In various figures, the apparatus is depicted in a raised position as if it were floating on the water surface and as if the lower, left end of the flexible hose (with respect to the orientation of the figures) were attached to an outlet lower that the water surface. In one or more embodiments, the float and pipe are made out of standard plastic pipe and fittings. The float is sealed to make a watertight buoyant unit. In embodiments, the flexible hose at the lower, outlet end of the pipe-barrel may be standard suction hose with threaded stainless-steel fittings secured with clamps and attached to the pipe-barrel with standard fittings. The lower, outlet end of the hose would be securely attached to the outlet drain of the basin. In embodiments, the other components are made of ultraviolet resistant marine grade plastic. In one or more such embodiments, the plastic sheet may be cut into shapes using CNC machines for accurate assembly. In one or more embodiments, the various pieces are secured to adjacent pieces using standard screws and bolts and plastic welding as appropriate.

In various embodiments, various aspects are fabricated from sheets of marine grade plastic cut into the shapes shown on a CNC cutter.

In various embodiments, the sluice includes the vertical left and right Side Plates with holes at each corner for the Float components to fit into and connect to the Frame-Sluice. Four Side Plate Float-Spacers are shown on the outside of each Side Plate to keep the Frame-Sluice centered in the Float. The horizontal Bottom Screen and vertical Rear Screen are shown connected and attached to the Side Plate and will attach to the other side. The vertical Sluice Gate Plate is attached to the Bottom Screen and both Side Plates. The Sluice Gate Plate Brace is a flange attached to the top edge of the Sluice Gate Plate and each end is attached to the Side Plates also. Sluice Gate Rib is attached on the backside near the top. The Sluice Outlet Vanes on the downstream side of the Sluice direct the momentum of the flow through the Sluice into the Flume downstream of the Sluice. The Bottom Screen Rib Medium and Bottom Screen Rib Long are attached under the Bottom Screen to stiffen it. The two Sluice Seal-Hinges are fitted into vertical slots at either end of the Sluice Gate Plate and attached to the Bottom Screen. Two Sluice Seal-Hinge End Plates cover the rear opening between the two Sluice Seal-Hinges. Rod Support Stacks are composed of five pieces of material to give the required thickness, on the outside of each Side Plate. Holes through these stacks of pieces match up with holes on the Side Plates and the Sluice Seal Hinges on both ends of the Sluice Gate Plate when assembled. The two Rods will pass through these holes and corresponding holes on the Flume assembly hinges when it is attached. The Rods are secured with caps on the outside of the Rod Stacks. The outer horizontal and vertical edges of the assembled Bottom Screen, Rear Screen, Sluice Gate Plate and Sluice Seal Hinges fit into slots on the Side Plates and these edges are fastened to the Side Plates to form the completed Frame-Sluice. Side Plate Assembly Aids are used during final assembly of the Float onto the Frame-Sluice to guide the components together and prevent the pipe elbows catching on the edges of the holes when inserted. The Sluice Gate Board with its Lifting Rib that will partially cover the Sluice opening to vary the flow rate. The Side Plates Front Connector with the Top ties the front of the Side Plates together. In various embodiments, there are 2 horizontal lids on the top of the Frame-Sluice, one on each side of the Sluice Gate Plate.

In various embodiments, the Flume components attach to the hinges on the Frame-Sluice and connect sequentially to the Pipe Barrel and Flex Hose assembly. The Inlet V-Flume Bottom has a lip on the wide end for attaching a rubber seal that will attach to and connect the Flume to the adjacent edge of the Bottom Screen when the assembled Flume and the Frame Sluice are joined at the hinges. The bottom has slots on the upper side for the edges of the vertical components to fit into for fastening. The V-Flume Side is attached to the left side of the Inlet V-Flume Bottom and the right V-Flume Side is shown also. The Flume Hinge-Wings With Rib is attached to both sides of the Inlet V-Flume Bottom. The arced shaped ends will fit snuggly into the gap between the two parallel Sluice Seal-Hinges on the Sluice Gate Plate forming a close seal when the Flume rotates downward while the Float and Frame-Sluice remain parallel to the water surface. The Flume Hinge on both ends of the Flume Bottom are additional hinges for strengthening the connection. The rod hole on these four hinges will mate with the corresponding rod holes on the hinges on the Sluice Gate Plate and connected with Rods through the holes for attachment and to allow rotation of the Flume. The Rubber Seal-Hinge that is secured to a lip at the wide end of the Inlet V-Flume Bottom and the opposite long edge will be secured into a corresponding lip on the Bottom Screen of the Frame-Sluice. The Flume Pipe is inside the holes on the Pipe Collars in neck of the Flume and is secured by five Pipe Collars to the neck, bottom and top of the Flume. The Tapered Inlet is at the entrance to the pipe that improves the transition of the turbulent flow from the wide end of the flume into the pipe inlet, partially overcoming the pipe inlet's inefficiency. The Inlet V-Flume Barrel Top aligns slots on the bottom side for the top edges of the sides, neck and pipe collars to fit into and be secured creating a sealed unit except for the openings at either end of the Flume. The Flex Hose assembly acts as a hinge allowing the Float end of the apparatus to move up and down with the Float fixed on the surface and the Flume rotating as the water level changes. The Flex Hose is standard suction hose and fittings, the two Hose to Pipe Adapters with threaded ends that will attach to the Pipe Barrel and a drain from the basin (not shown) where the device is installed. A standard PVC coupling is attached to the end of the flume Pipe. The upper end of the Pipe Barrel (shortened in the drawing) is secured into this coupling.

In various embodiments, the Typical Float Section includes three sections that compose the sides and rear of the float but the sides and rear may not be of equal length. The two Front Pipe Sections are of equal length. The four standard plastic 90 degree Elbows are used to connect the five pieces of pipe. The two plastic Pipe End Caps close and seal the front ends of the float. The float is constructed of standard plastic pipe and fittings glued together to create a watertight unit. There are no holes drilled in the Float to ensure long term watertight sealing. The front of the float, with the two short sections of pipe, and the rear of the float, with the long section of pipe, fit through the holes on the ends of the Side Plates. The gap between the end caps on the front of the Float allows the neck of the Flume to rotate to the necessary height without conflicting with the Float.

The Pipe Section is part of the Float, both the rear and sides. A Ballast Tube, such as a plastic pipe of a determined length of a smaller diameter than the Float pipe, will be filled with dry sand to provide needed ballast for stabilizing the apparatus at the desired depth when it is floating. Ballast Caps are on the Ballast Tube to seal the ends and keep the sand contained inside the tube. Ballast Spacers fit over the outside of the Ballast Tube and allow the filled and assembled ballast to fit closely inside the Float pipe. The Ballast Tubes are secured to End Caps at each end of the length of Float pipe to keep the ballast centered and prevent shifting. The ballast is installed in the sides and rear sections of pipe for the float before the pipe is glued in the elbows and end caps.

It should be understood that the figures illustrate the exemplary embodiments in detail, and it should be understood that the present application is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology is for description purposes only and should not be regarded as limiting.

Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only. The construction and arrangements, shown in the various exemplary embodiments, are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Some elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process, logical algorithm, or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended that any method set forth herein be construed as requiring that its steps be performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its steps or it is not otherwise specifically stated in the claims or descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order, it is in no way intended that any particular order be inferred. In addition, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more component or element, and is not intended to be construed as meaning only one. As used herein, “rigidly coupled” refers to two components being coupled in a manner such that the components move together in a fixed positional relationship when acted upon by a force.

Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to any combination of any of the features, and any such combination of features may be claimed in this or future applications. Any of the features, elements or components of any of the exemplary embodiments discussed above may be utilized alone or in combination with any of the features, elements or components of any of the other embodiments discussed above.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two components directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional member being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in nature.

While the current application recites particular combinations of features in the claims appended hereto, various embodiments of the device relate to any combination of any of the features described herein whether or not such combination is currently claimed, and any such combination of features may be claimed in this or future applications. Any of the features, elements, or components of any of the exemplary embodiments discussed above may be used alone or in combination with any of the features, elements, or components of any of the other embodiments discussed above.

In various exemplary embodiments, the relative dimensions, including angles, lengths and radii, as shown in the Figures are to scale. Actual measurements of the Figures will disclose relative dimensions, angles and proportions of the various exemplary embodiments. Various exemplary embodiments extend to various ranges around the absolute and relative dimensions, angles and proportions that may be determined from the Figures. Various exemplary embodiments include any combination of one or more relative dimensions or angles that may be determined from the Figures. Further, actual dimensions not expressly set out in this description can be determined by using the ratios of dimensions measured in the Figures in combination with the express dimensions set out in this description.