Water retention basin reinforcement system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a spherical reinforcement device (1) used to reinforce water retention basins comprising vertical buttress-type elements (10) defining the shape of the sphere. It comprises transverse reinforcement elements (2) inclined towards the center of the spherical reinforcement device (1); said inclined reinforcement elements (2) being arranged between the buttress-type elements (10) perpendicular to them.

Description

Title of the invention: Device for reinforcing water retention basins Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the sector of devices for reinforcing water retention basins, or drainage or spreading trenches. These basins are very often used under parking lots, buildings or any other concrete structure, etc. They are used to collect water (mainly rain) which cannot be absorbed by concrete constructions and thus prevent the water from flooding the surrounding area. The water in the basins can then be recovered for other uses or simply removed so that the basin can once again be able to collect water from the next rains, for example.

[0002] The problem with these retention basins is that the upper part of them must support a significant load due to the constructions placed on them (parking and cars, embankments, buildings, etc.)

[0003] To prevent these constructions from being weakened by the basins, most often we resort to the installation of hollow or hollowed-out spherical elements, made of plastic, which are poured directly into the basin (in bulk) and which come to fill it completely. Thus these spherical elements come to consolidate the upper part of the basin and support the weight (or load) which will be applied there by the constructions, vehicles, etc. The fact that said spherical elements are hollow allows the basin to obviously keep a good capacity for receiving water. The spherical shape is particularly appreciated because it allows easy installation: it is enough to pour the elements in bulk directly into the basin without worrying about their shape and direction.

[0004] It would be possible to provide other means to reinforce the basins, but these solutions would be more complicated to implement and more expensive.

[0005] Despite undeniable advantages (ease of installation in particular), current spherical devices have various drawbacks, some of which are listed below.

[0006] The first disadvantage that can be listed is that the load-bearing capacity of these spherical devices is not uniform. Indeed, they have a very good load-bearing capacity under vertical pressure, but much less good under horizontal pressure. This is linked to the design of the product itself. Indeed, the products are manufactured in one go, in a single piece. These parts are made of plastic and have hollows or recesses which will be able to accommodate / allow water to pass through. The design of these plastic elements is identical for all known devices: they have vertical "blades" (20) or vertical walls that reinforce the spherical structure (in particular, reinforcing vertical buttresses (10) that define the general structure of spherical devices) and allow the assembly to support the weight that will be applied. To allow water to flow, it is not possible to use vertical and horizontal "blades". Having only vertical "blades" results in weak resistance to horizontal pressures.

[0007] By "blades" is meant that these are plastic elements that intersect the vertical elements forming the vertical buttresses (10) of the spherical device. These "blades" are therefore reinforcing elements that prevent the vertical buttress type elements from sagging or breaking under weight. These "blades" (20) are composed of a lot of plastic: the more plastic there is, the more the reinforcement capacity is improved.

[0008] By "vertical buttresses" is meant that these are elements which make it possible to constitute the spherical reinforcement device.

[0009] The reinforcement device being spherical, we choose in the entire application that the vertical axis follows the axis of the buttresses (10).

[0010] To compensate for the low strength, the person skilled in the art will tend to use a larger quantity of plastic (recycled or not) in order to naturally increase the strength of the assembly, and thus be able to continue pouring the spherical devices in bulk. This leads to several disadvantages: more raw material means a higher cost in raw material, in transport cost (higher load).

[0011] More plastic, for the same volume, limits the quantity of hollows or recesses (or void coefficient), and therefore the quantity of water that can be accommodated by a spherical device, therefore in total less water in the basin. This naturally means that the basin must be emptied more often.

[0012] Another disadvantage that can be mentioned is that, with these plastic devices, a certain amount of water tends to stagnate once the basin is emptied. The more plastic there is, the more stagnant water there is that will settle in the nooks and crannies constituting the spherical reinforcement device. Stagnant water is responsible for bad odors that will rise to the parking lot, or building located above the basins, which is naturally unpleasant.

[0013] A final disadvantage is that since the elements are spherical, when placed in the pool, they tend not to be completely stable. If these elements move when water enters the pool, the stability of the assembly may no longer be completely guaranteed, and therefore the solidity may no longer be guaranteed either.

[0014] As a prior device, we can cite the Boulbac® product which is therefore a spherical device with a diameter of 125 mm and a weight of 300 g. In [Fig.l], we can see the vertical blades (20) which allow vertical pressures to be supported and the almost complete absence of elements allowing horizontal pressures to be supported.

[0015] There is therefore a significant need to develop a hollow spherical device that allows less plastic to be used and that overcomes all of the drawbacks mentioned above. Summary of the invention

[0016] The present invention therefore relates to a spherical device used in the reinforcement of water retention basins. This spherical reinforcement device (1) comprises vertical buttress-type elements (10) defining the sphere (in the same way as orange segments) and advantageously inclined transverse reinforcement elements (2) providing resistance and solidity to the spherical device, in addition to the vertical buttress-type elements. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is a typical diagram of an element used in the prior art, on which an arrow materializes the horizontal pressure applied.

[0018] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents the spherical reinforcement device according to the present invention.

[0019] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a representation of a retention basin containing spherical reinforcing devices according to the present invention.

[0020] Description of at least one preferred embodiment

[0021] The present invention therefore relates to a spherical reinforcement device (1) used for reinforcing water retention basins comprising vertical buttress-type elements (10) defining the shape of the sphere and inclined transverse reinforcement elements (2) towards the center of the spherical reinforcement device (1), preferably arranged in "stages". These inclined elements are arranged between the buttress-type elements (10) transversely thereto, and are of suitable sizes to be fixed to the buttresses (10).

[0022] The general spherical structure composed and determined by the buttress-type elements (10) and these have been refined compared to those of the prior art to allow an even higher filling rate to be gained, without compromising the resistance and the good functioning of these buttress-type elements (10).

[0023] It can be seen in [Fig.l] that the previous devices had vertical "blades" or vertical walls which solidified the entire device, without any inclination relative to the vertical axis. These vertical "blades" (20) are very large, and therefore limit the quantity of water which can fill the spherical device and generate stagnation. The structural fragility of this type of device appeared with horizontal lateral pressures (see arrow in [Fig.l]), since neither the vertical blades (20) nor the buttress-type elements (10) could block this type of horizontal pressure. The horizontal pressure is shown by an arrow.

[0024] Advantageously, as seen in [Fig.2], the spherical reinforcement device (1) comprises inclined transverse reinforcement elements (2) made of plastic material (same materials as that used for the rest of the structure).

[0025] The term "stage" here designates a set of inclined transverse reinforcement elements (2), along the horizontal axis (therefore transverse to the buttresses (10)) going around the spherical reinforcement device (1).

[0026] Preferably, there are a total of four “stages” of inclined transverse reinforcing elements (2), preferably arranged offset from each other (to provide increased strength and thus avoid the creation of weak points), substantially in the same horizontal plane.

[0027] It is naturally possible to provide fewer stages (with a risk of increasing the resistance weaknesses), or on the contrary more stages (risk of limiting the water capacity which can be contained in the spherical device). It was determined by the Applicant that four “stages” had the best strength / water capacity ratio.

[0028] The transverse reinforcing elements (2) must be inclined towards the center of the spherical reinforcing device (1), with an inclination of between 10° and 90°, preferably between 20° and 80°.

[0029] In a completely advantageous manner, the inclinations of the transverse reinforcement elements (2) are as follows:

[0030] - 1st upper floor: 25° relative to the vertical axis, inclination towards the center of the spherical device,

[0031] - 2nd upper floor: 38° relative to the vertical axis, inclination towards the center of the spherical device,

[0032] These first two “stages” are located in the upper part of the spherical device (A).

[0033] - 3rd lower floor: 52° relative to the vertical axis, inclination towards the center of the spherical device,

[0034] - 4th lower floor: 78° relative to the vertical axis, inclination towards the center of the spherical device.

[0035] These last two “stages” are located in the lower part of the spherical device (B).

[0036] The types of “floors” and their inclinations (therefore the inclinations of the inclined reinforcement elements (2)), make it possible to balance the forces and therefore allow to homogenize the mechanical resistance, including by making it possible to counter the horizontal lateral pressures exerted against the spherical reinforcement device (1) of the basin.

[0037] According to other embodiments, all the inclined reinforcing elements (2) have the same angle of inclination.

[0038] It is naturally possible to provide more “floors” if necessary or if desired by the person skilled in the art.

[0039] The two upper (A) and lower (B) parts have a plastic reinforcing strip (3) preferably composed of two parts (3a) and (3b).

[0040] Advantageously, the spherical reinforcement device (1) comprises an empty central tube (4), said central tube passing right through the two upper (A) and lower (B) parts in the center. This tube, also formed from plastic, makes it possible to reinforce the structure.

[0041] Preferably, two buttress-type elements (10) pass through said central tube (4) in order to define a cross (5). This also aims to improve the strength of the spherical device (1).

[0042] We also observe the presence of reinforcing elements located directly above the part (3a) or directly below the part (3b). Advantageously, they connect two buttress type elements (10) together. It is not obligatory to connect all the buttresses together: a proportion of one in two may suffice.

[0043] It has been found that the void rate of the spherical reinforcement device (1) according to the present invention reaches 93% of the overall void rate, whereas the same void rate for the prior art reaches 75%, or a maximum of 84% for the most efficient models.

[0044] The overall void rate corresponds to a volume of 1 m3 filled to the brim with balls, we pour water until the m3 is completely filled.

[0045] For comparison, if the spherical reinforcement device (1) has a diameter of 175 cm (which is a commonly used diameter, other diameters may naturally exist, such as 125 mm, etc.), its weight will be approximately 500 grams.

[0046] A previous device with the same diameter of 175 cm will have a weight of 730 grams.

[0047] The weight gain is notable.

[0048] The use of inclined reinforcing elements (2) to replace the vertical “blades” of the prior art therefore allows an improvement in the overall void ratio of the device (1) by improving its resistance to the loads which will be exerted under horizontal pressures, and without reducing its resistance to the loads which will be exerted under vertical pressures. The spherical reinforcing device (1) according to the present The invention is therefore more efficient than the devices of the prior art, not undergoing any deformation and perfectly resisting pressures exerted laterally and vertically, and being lighter (reduced raw material cost and transport cost).

[0049] All the elements constituting the spherical reinforcement device (1) are manufactured by high-pressure plastic injection, in one go, using a single mold. The material used will preferably be recycled plastic.

[0050] Preferably, a Polypropylene or an ABS will be chosen.

[0051] Other materials and other manufacturing methods may be used as long as they guarantee optimal operation of the spherical reinforcement device (1).

[0052] [Fig. 3] shows an example of a retention basin (25). It comprises an empty part (26) which will receive the devices (1) arranged in bulk. The spherical reinforcement devices (1) will fill the entire void, up to the top, when filling. Preferably, an inspection drain (28) will be placed at the bottom. Rainwater (for example) will enter the basin through a water inlet (27). The basin will be emptied of its water through the outlet (29). The parking lot (or other concrete structure) (30) is located above the basin (25). An embankment (31) can optionally be placed between the concrete structure (30) and the empty part (26). A water drainage outlet (32) will make it possible to free the basin from excess water (in the event of very heavy rain, for example).

[0053] It has also been demonstrated by the Applicant that, thanks to the structure of the present invention, the spherical reinforcement devices (1) have excellent stability and are less subject to movement once placed in the basin, including when water flows into it. The solidity of the assembly is thus guaranteed.

[0054] It will naturally be possible for those skilled in the art to modify the sizes, inclinations and materials used according to routine tests.

Claims

Claims

1. A spherical reinforcing device (1) used for reinforcing water retention basins comprising vertical buttress-type elements (10) defining the shape of the sphere, characterized in that it comprises transverse reinforcing elements (2) inclined towards the center of the spherical reinforcing device (1); said inclined reinforcing elements (2) being arranged between the buttress-type elements (10) transversely thereto; and is characterized in that said inclined transverse reinforcing elements (2) are arranged in "stages", and in that said inclined transverse reinforcing elements (2) are arranged offset, to provide increased strength and thus avoid the creation of weak points, substantially in the same horizontal plane.

2. Spherical reinforcing device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that there are in total four "stages" of inclined transverse reinforcing elements (2).

3. Spherical reinforcing device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transverse reinforcing elements (2) must therefore be inclined towards the center of the spherical reinforcing device (1), with an inclination of between 10° and 90°, preferably between 20° and 80°.

4. Spherical reinforcement device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the inclinations of the transverse reinforcement elements (2) are as follows: - 1st upper stage: 25° relative to the vertical axis, inclination towards the center of the spherical device, - 2nd upper stage: 38° relative to the vertical axis, inclination towards the center of the spherical device, these first two "stages" being located in an upper part of the spherical device (A). - 3rd lower stage: 52° relative to the vertical axis, inclination towards the center of the spherical device, - 4th lower stage: 78° relative to the vertical axis, inclination towards the center of the spherical device. these last two "stages" being located in a lower part of the spherical device (B).

5. Spherical reinforcing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that all the inclined reinforcing elements (2) have the same angle of inclination.

6. Spherical reinforcing device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the two upper (A) and lower (B) parts have a plastic reinforcing strip (3) composed of two parts (3a) and (3b).

7. Spherical reinforcement device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises an empty central tube (4), said central tube passing right through the two upper (A) and lower (B) parts in the center.

8. Spherical reinforcing device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that two buttress-type elements (10) pass through said central tube (4) in order to define a cross (5).

9. Spherical reinforcing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises reinforcing elements located directly above the part (3a) or directly below the part (3b), connecting two buttress-type elements (10) together.

10. Spherical reinforcement device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that all the elements constituting the spherical reinforcement device (1) are manufactured by high pressure plastic injection, in one go, using a single mold, the material used will be Polypropylene or ABS.

Images