Drainage body

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a trench body according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] It should be mentioned at this point that the invention also relates to a trench unit, which consists of a multitude of such trench bodies and additional, related equipment.

[0003] Sealing surfaces significantly impairs the groundwater balance. Furthermore, runoff from surface water and rainwater must be drained and treated in wastewater treatment plants. To address this problem, infiltration systems are constructed, consisting of such trench elements. These trench elements are known, for example, from the following publications: DE 20 2005 010 090 U1; DE 202 21 567 U1; DE 10 2005 056 131 A1; EP 1 260 640 B1; DE 43 04 609 A1, EP 0 787 865 B1; EP 09 43 737 B1; EP 1 416 099 B1; DE 697 00 174 T2; DE 299 24 050 U1; EP 1 469 133 A2; EP 1 887 145 A1; EP 1 452 653 B1. These known infiltration trench elements or systems have limited stability. Furthermore, there is a significant problem with regard to transport and storage, since the trench units are intended to have the largest possible storage volume, but this very requirement increases the storage and stacking volume.

[0004] From DE 201 05 694 U1, a water storage and retention system is known that is constructed from perforated shells with truncated pyramid-shaped widening side walls. This ensures good stackability. However, the known system is suitable for supporting higher loads only if the individual elements are relatively small. Furthermore, it is not possible to construct water-conducting units from several such water storage boxes.

[0005] From EP 0 612 888 A1, it is known to use certain molds or casting devices for the construction of water drainage systems. However, the method described therein is expensive and complex.

[0006] The invention is based on the objective of further developing a trench body according to EP 1 416 099 A2, which represents the closest prior art, in such a way as to ensure high stability while improving transportability.

[0007] This problem is solved by a trench body according to claim 1.

[0008] The special design of the spacer elements ensures that the surface units are significantly more stable in relation to one another. This allows not only for the absorption of higher surface loads, but also for the construction of taller infiltration systems capable of (temporarily) storing larger volumes of water, while maintaining stability.

[0009] According to the invention, the spacer elements essentially have a truncated cone or truncated pyramid shape with a circumscribed cross-sectional area that becomes smaller with increasing distance from the area units.

[0010] It is particularly advantageous if a large number of surface units can be stacked interlockingly. Furthermore, designing the surface units so that the base and lid consist of identical components improves storage and transport, and reduces manufacturing costs.

[0011] The spacer elements are preferably designed as hollow bodies with an inner cross-section that is congruent with the outer cross-section, allowing them to be nested when stacked. Thus, when stacked, the spacer elements do not sit side by side, but rather inside one another, so that larger groups of surface units form stable, self-contained units. Preferably, the spacer elements are designed as hollow bodies and are formed in one piece with the surface units.

[0012] The spacers preferably have plug / socket fixing sections distributed in such a way that these interlock when installed. This further increases the stability of stacked surface elements. The surface units are stackable in such an interlocking manner that the installation distance between the surface units is significantly greater than their distance when stacked. Alternatively, some fixing sections, e.g., the socket fixing sections, can be located within the surface units, while the other fixing sections are located on the spacers.

[0013] The spacers preferably have locking devices for interlocking the spacers with each other or for locking the spacers with the surface units in the installed state. This means that each base and its corresponding cover already form stable units that can thus be assembled into larger "double floors".

[0014] The surface units preferably also feature knockout sections for creating inspection openings, preferably with load distribution elements provided for placing and supporting an inspection cover on the inspection opening. In this way, even larger infiltration systems can be cleaned from time to time so that sludge and fine particles that impede infiltration can be flushed out and extracted.

[0015] Due to their conical shape, the spacers already exhibit very high stability with regard to buckling and flexing. Preferably, however, stiffening elements are attached to the outer surfaces of the spacers to further increase their stability. In particular, the outer surfaces are provided with corrugations that run parallel to the longitudinal axes of the spacers. This creates wave-like surface units, similar to a "pudding mold." This achieves a significant increase in the stability of the spacers, especially against shear forces, in a simple manner.

[0016] Preferably, side walls are provided that are designed in such a way that they can be attached to the base units and the cover units, connecting them to each other. This allows for the creation of structures that are completely enclosed except for water drainage openings and can be installed as hollow bodies in the ground.

[0017] It is particularly advantageous if the side walls have side wall supports which, after the side walls are connected to the base units and the top units, engage with the spacers to support the side walls. This transfers the forces acting on the side walls into the spacers, thus achieving significant stiffening of the side walls via the existing spacers.

[0018] The surface units preferably have edge-mounted connection devices for horizontal and / or vertical connection with other surface units and / or for attaching side walls. These connection devices are preferably designed such that, for example, two surface units can be stacked on top of each other and connected, allowing systems of any height to be constructed. Furthermore, the surface units can be connected horizontally, enabling the construction of surfaces of essentially any size and shape. Finally, walls can be inserted at the edges, creating large-volume hollow bodies. The wall elements can also be used for vertical stabilization.

[0019] The connecting elements are preferably designed such that the surface units have edges free of protrusions. This ensures that the aforementioned systems are built without gaps, which improves the stability of the systems.

[0020] The spacer elements can be provided as separate components. Preferably, however, the spacer elements are designed as hollow bodies and molded in one piece together with the surface units. This measure offers a particularly cost-effective way to manufacture the infiltration trench bodies from plastic using known manufacturing processes.

[0021] Preferably, a variety of additional elements are provided with which the infiltration trench bodies can be assembled into infiltration trench systems. These include, in particular, cover elements designed to cover openings in the surface units. For example, these are openings in the area of ​​the support elements designed as hollow bodies. Thus, if the spacer elements designed as hollow bodies have openings for the passage of water to be infiltrated, the cover elements provided for these are also provided with openings so that the water to be infiltrated can also penetrate through these covers into the surrounding soil.

[0022] It is now possible to assemble individual, box-shaped infiltration trench sections and connect them to larger units using their edge-mounted connectors. Increased stability is achieved by mounting the base and cover units in a staggered pattern similar to brickwork. For this purpose, the spacers and / or the plug-in fixing sections and the socket fixing sections are arranged on the base units in such a way that the base and cover units can be laid overlapping each other. It is possible to lay the individual units at a 90° angle. The advantages of this installation method are comparable to those known from bricklaying. This arrangement is particularly advantageous when the following rules are observed: a) The arrangement of identically designed fixing sections on one half of the area unit is a mirror image with respect to a diagonal of this half of the area unit; b) The arrangement of the fixing sections is mirrored with respect to a first bisector of the area unit; c) With respect to a second bisector of the area unit, the arrangement of the fixing sections is inverted, so that the other fixing section is located at a mirrored position.

[0023] It follows from the above that a trench system is also claimed, comprising a large number of trench bodies of the described type. This trench system includes bottom units to which cover units are connected overlapping in a masonry-like bond.

[0024] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the illustrations. These show... Fig. 1 shows a top view of an area unit in a view corresponding to line II. Fig. 2 , Fig. 2 a section through the unit area according to Fig. 1 along line II-II from Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 a bottom view of a unit area according to Fig. 1 in a view along line III-III from Fig. 2 , Fig. 4 a top view of a lid for covering an opening, as shown in the Figs. 1 to 3 Fig. 5 shows a partial view of a wall element, Fig. 6 a view of the surface unit according to the Figs. 1 to 3 in a view along line VI-VI from Fig. 1 , Figs. 7 to 9 Sectional views according to the Fig. 2 on two area units in different states, namely once stacked ( Fig. 7 ) in a state just before assembly ( Fig. 8 ) and in the assembled state ( Fig. 9 ), Fig. 10 an enlarged view of area X from Fig. 9Fig. 11 shows a schematic representation of the assembly of cover units onto base units in a staggered configuration; Fig. 12 shows a top view corresponding to the one shown. Fig. 1 , however, on a different embodiment of the area unit, Fig. 13 a side view of a load distribution element, Fig. 14 a bottom view of the load distribution element according to Fig. 13 along line XIV-XIV from Fig. 13 , Fig. 15 a top view of a group of area units according to Fig. 12, which were assembled to form a base unit, as well as a group of such surface units which were assembled to form a cover unit and can be folded onto the base unit, Figs. 16 to 19 schematic representations of arrangements of plug and socket fixing sections, Figs. 20 and 21 two perspective views of a further embodiment of surface units, Fig. 22 an unclaimed, completed trench body with two open side walls and Fig. 23 a partially cut trench body similar to that according to Fig. 22 .

[0025] In the following description, the same reference numbers are used for identical and equivalent parts.

[0026] The in the Figs. 1 to 6The area unit shown is, so to speak, a "minimal element" that, as an area unit 10, has a grid structure from which frustoconical spacer elements 20, 20' project. These spacer elements 20, 20' have differently shaped end sections. Spacer element 20 has a plug end section 21 and spacer element 20' has a socket end section 22. These end sections are dimensioned such that a plug end section 21 can be inserted appropriately into a socket end section 22.

[0027] Furthermore, the spacer elements 20, 20' have such congruent inner and outer cross-sections that they can be inserted into one another.

[0028] Furthermore, the surface units 10 have edges 17 which are shaped in such a continuous manner that when surface units 10 are placed next to each other, they lie essentially without gaps.

[0029] In order to connect the surface units 10 adjacent to each other, holding grooves 41 are provided in the edge areas of the surface units, into which connecting pins 42 (see Fig. 3) can be used. A connecting pin 42 thus sits in two adjacent retaining grooves 41 when two adjacent surface units 10 are assembled. In order to also be able to stack two surface units 10 on top of each other (where the spacer elements 20 then project in opposite directions), further connecting pins 42 (not shown in the figures) are shown, which have only half the cross-section of a connecting pin 42 shown here, so that the connecting pin does not protrude beyond the edge 17 of the stacked surface sections 10. If two such groups of stacked surface units 10 are to be connected along their entire sides, connecting pins are provided which have twice the height of connecting pins that only serve for the "horizontal connection" of surface units 10.

[0030] To the side walls 15 (see Fig. 5To enable attachment, the surface units 10 have, on the one hand, edge grooves 16 and, on the other hand, insertion pins 44 which can be inserted into insertion openings 43 of the side walls 15. The edges of the side walls 15 are shaped in such a way that when a side wall 15 is connected to a surface unit 10, the side wall 15 does not protrude beyond the edge 17 of the surface unit 10.

[0031] To openings 23, 23' (see Figs. 2 and 3 To be able to close them, lids 35 (see Fig. 4 ) provided.

[0032] The in the Figs. 1 to 3, 5 and 6 The area units shown are schematically represented again in the Figs. 7 to 10 on average (similarly Fig. 2 ) shown. Here, in Fig. 7 Two area units 10 are nested inside each other. The resulting height DS, i.e., the stacking height, is only slightly greater than the height of a single area unit plus the height of the spacer elements 20, 20'.

[0033] To attach two surface units 10 to each other to form a trench body, one surface unit 10 is turned relative to the other surface unit 10, so that the in Fig. 8 The arrangement shown is created. Here, a spacer element 20, which has a plug end section 21 on its upper edge, is positioned opposite a spacer element 20', which has a socket end section 22. These end sections can be – as shown in Fig. 9 As shown, the components can be inserted into one another, so that the surface units 10 then form a base unit 11 on the one hand and a cover unit 12 on the other. Here, the plug end sections 21 and the socket end sections 22 are provided with teeth 24 and notches 25, respectively, which – as shown in Fig. 10As shown, the base unit 11 interlocks with the cover unit 12 via the spacer elements 20, 20'. Thus, two surface units 10, when connected via the spacer elements 20 and the locking devices 24, 25, already form solid bodies whose stability is guaranteed in all directions. Here, the installation distance DE is considerably larger than the stacking distance DS.

[0034] In Fig. 11 The illustration shows how the various surface units can be assembled. It is evident from this illustration that the cover units 12 are mounted offset from the base units 11, so that the Fig. 11 The arrangement of three surface units 10, 10', 10" shown on the right is joined to form a single body, which (in Fig. 11(extending to the left) can be continued indefinitely. This contributes significantly to increasing the stability of such an overall arrangement.

[0035] The in Fig. 12 in a top view similar to the one shown after Fig. 1 The area unit shown differs from the previously described area unit primarily in that it is not a "minimal area unit", but is made up of a total of four such area units (in one piece).

[0036] Furthermore, the area unit is 10 according to Figs. 12 to 14A series of breakout sections 13 are provided, which, although covered by grids like the rest of the surface unit 10, can be broken out of the surrounding material. Such openings serve as inspection access points to the interior of the infiltration trench. After such infiltration trenches are installed in the ground, i.e., covered with a layer of soil, load distribution elements 30 are provided, which can be placed on such broken-out breakout sections 13. These load distribution elements 30 have a cut-to-length pipe section 31, which can be closed at its upper end by means of a (not shown) conventional (cast iron) cover, so that an inspection opening 34 is formed after removal of the cover. Support arms 32 are provided at the lower end of the load distribution element 30, which serve to transfer forces acting on the upper end (or on the placed cover) over the surface unit 10 as widely as possible.

[0037] It should be noted at this point that the details described above, such as the connecting devices 41 and 43, are also present in the embodiment according to Figs. 12 to 14 They are supposed to be present, but are not shown for the sake of simplicity.

[0038] It follows from the above that with the area units 10 presented here and their spacing elements 20, any number of rooms and channels can be created, which are only bounded on their outer outlines by side walls 15 (see Fig. 5 ) are completed. If one wants to increase the stability of the bodies thus created, side walls can also be attached to their interior.

[0039] A compilation of several area units according to Fig. 12 is in Fig. 15 shown. On the left side of the Fig. 15A base unit 11 is shown, and a cover unit 12 is shown on the right. If the cover unit 12 is folded onto the base unit 11 so that the plug fixing sections 21 are inserted into the socket fixing sections 22, a trench body is formed which, due to its assembly in a unit, is extremely stable even without additional bonding of the surface units 10 forming the base unit 11 and the cover unit 12.

[0040] In the Figs. 16 to 19 Several examples have now been shown of how the "opposing" fixing devices, i.e. the plug fixing devices 21 and the socket fixing devices 22, are to be arranged so that, on the one hand, the surface units can form both bottom units and cover units, and on the other hand, assembly in a group can take place.

[0041] Below, another embodiment of the trench body is described based on the Figs. 20 to 23This will be explained in more detail below. These illustrations show individual surface units or infiltration trench bodies, which are constructed from individual surface units. However, as explained above, such individual elements can be combined with other individual elements to form larger infiltration trench bodies.

[0042] The area units or trench bodies according to the Figs. 20 to 23 These differ from the previous embodiments primarily in that the spacer elements are not smooth but equipped with corrugations 26 or wave-shaped outer surfaces. This results in significantly increased stability, particularly against transverse loads and buckling or bulging.

[0043] The side walls have side wall supports 18, which in the assembled state (see Figs. 22 and 23 ) provide support for the side walls 15 against the spacer elements. Reference should also be made here to the Figs. 8 and 9References were made to examples that essentially demonstrate how such a support structure works. This design ensures a significant increase in the stability of the infiltration trench bodies and greater resistance to lateral loads.

[0044] Furthermore, it is from the Figs. 20 to 23 It can be seen that the surface units 10 and side walls 15 are constructed as honeycomb structures, thus offering both good water permeability and high stability. The surface units 10 and the side walls 15 also feature the knockout sections 13 described above, through which pipe connections can be made or inspection openings created. Reference symbol list

[0045] 10 Surface unit 11 Bottom unit 12 Cover unit 13 Knockout section 15 Side wall 16 Edge groove 17 Edge 18 Side wall support 20, 20' Spacer element 21 Plug fixing section 22 Socket fixing section 23, 23' Opening 24 Toothing 25 Notch 26 Stiffening bead 30 Load distribution element 31 Pipe section 32 Support arm 34 Inspection opening 35 Cover 41 Retaining groove 42 Connecting pin 43 Insertion opening 44 Insertion pin DE Installation distance DS Stacking distance

Claims

1. A drainage body comprising a plurality of identically shaped surface units (10), namely a plurality of bottom units (11) and a plurality of cover units (12) that are identically shaped relative to the bottom units (11) and are interconnectable via spacer elements (20) at a mounting distance (DE), characterized in that the spacer elements (20, 20') have a truncated cone-shaped or frustrum-shaped design with a circumscribed cross-sectional surface, which gets smaller with an increasing distance from the surface units (10), and which are arranged on the surface units (10) such that the bottom units (11) and the cover units (12) may be laid overlapping each other in the manner of a brickwork, and the bottom units (11) are offset with respect to the cover units (12) and are connected to the cover units (12) by the spacer elements (20, 20') for forming the drainage body, so that an assembly of three surface units (10, 10', 10") connected in such a manner can be arbitrarily continued.

2. The drainage body according to claim 1, characterized in that the spacer elements (20) are configured as hollow bodies and are formed integrally together with the surface units (10).

3. The drainage body according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface units (10) are stackable at identical orientation and engaging in each other, preferably stackable without any offset, such that the mounting distance (DE) of the surface units (10) is substantially greater than their distance (DS) from each other in the stacked state.

4. The drainage body according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spacer elements (20) and / or the surface units (10) have plug / socket fixing sections (21, 22) which are distributed such that the fixing sections (21, 22) which are in each case complementary to each other, are engaged in each other in the mounting state.

5. The drainage body according to claim 4, characterized in that the fixing sections (21, 22) which are in each case complementary to each other are arranged on a surface unit (10) such that the following rules apply: a) the arrangement of in each case identically configured fixing sections (21, 22) on one half of the surface unit (10) is mirror-inverted with respect to the diagonal of said half of the surface unit (10); b) the arrangement of the fixing sections (21, 22) is mirrored with respect to a first surface bisecting line of the surface unit (10); c) with respect to the second surface bisecting line of the surface unit (10), the arrangement of the fixing sections (21, 22) is inverted so that in each case the other fixing section (21, 22) is located at a mirrored position.

6. The drainage body according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the fixing sections (21, 22) have locking devices (24, 25) for mutually locking the spacer elements (20) and / or for interlocking the spacer elements (20) with the surface units (10) in the mounted state.

7. The drainage body according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface units (10) have break-out sections (13) for forming inspection openings (34), and that load distribution elements (30) are provided for being placed on top of the inspection opening (34) and for supporting the cover units (12).

8. The drainage body according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spacer elements (20, 20') have stiffening elements on their shell surfaces, in particular stiffening beads (26) for stiffening against bulging and buckling.

9. The drainage body according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that side walls (15) are provided and configured such as to be attachable to the bottom units (11) and cover units (12) while interconnecting them.

10. The drainage body according to claim 9, characterized in that the side walls (15) have side wall supports (18) which, after connecting the side walls (15) to the bottom units (11) and the cover units (12) for supporting the side walls (15), are in engagement with the spacer elements (20, 20') preferably at the ends thereof.

11. The drainage body according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface units (10) have connecting devices (41, 43) in particular at the edge side for horizontally and / or vertically connecting to other surface units (10) and / or for installing side walls (15).

12. The drainage body according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized by cover elements (35) for covering openings in the surface units (10) in the area of the spacer elements (20).