Rainwater infiltration element

Abstract

The invention relates to a rainwater infiltration element (1) for filling structures for draining and infiltrating rainwater, comprising identically configured element halves (2) that are provided with openings (3) and constitute a spherical shell. The infiltration element (1) according to the invention is characterised in that the element halves (2) are hemispherical shells comprising in their interior: pins (6) disposed in sockets (5) to protrude from said sockets (5), and recesses (4) that are symmetrically disposed opposite the sockets (5) and are formed in the outside surface of the element half (2), ribs (7) running parallel to the socket (5) inside the element half (2), and a circumferential rib (8) running parallel to the rim (9) of the element half (2).

Description

[0001] RAINWATER INFILTRATION ELEMENT

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The invention relates to a rainwater infiltration element for filling structures for draining and infiltrating rainwater.

[0004] Background art

[0005] Rainwater management is currently an important issue, with numerous regulations and guidelines regulating its handling. It is an important rule that rainwater must not be introduced into the public sewer system.

[0006] Rainwater drainage is particularly crucial in the case of detached houses (single family homes). In conventional infiltration systems, rainwater is routed into a previously prepared structure filled with stream gravel or other type of loose gravel adapted for receiving the rainwater, from where the rainwater continuously percolates through the gravel layer into the ground.

[0007] A primary consideration for rainwater infiltration systems is to ensure that the infiltration filler is able to receive high rates of water inflow as quickly as possible, without obstruction. Another important factor is maximizing the efficiency of space utilization and ensuring long-term functionality without requiring maintenance.

[0008] A disadvantage of conventionally applied stream gravel or other loosely structured gravel is that receiving / accepting a very large volume of water is cumbersome. Due to the compactness of the gravel, only half of the built-out volume can be used for receiving water inflow. Potential soil contamination carried by the water further reduces permeability, and furthermore, maintaining and repairing such infiltration systems requires significant labour.

[0009] The document with publication No. FR3080868 discloses a rainwater infiltration element that consists of two identically configured element halves that are provided with openings and constitute a spherical shell. There are two interconnected coaxial frustoconical elements disposed inside the spherical shell structure, through which water is unable to flow in the axial direction.

[0010] A drawback of this solution is that it is cumbersome to produce the element halves. A rainwater infiltration element having a similar configuration consisting of element halves and having a spherical shell structure is disclosed from the document with publication No. FR 3134591.

[0011] Objective

[0012] The object of the present invention is to provide a rainwater infiltration element that is able to eliminate the drawbacks of the known technical solutions / methods.

[0013] The invention is based on the recognition that by providing an element that is made of a man-made material and has a spherical shell structure, wherein a free space is left inside the spherical shell around the centre thereof, water will be able to pass through the openings of the shell evenly and the lifespan of the rainwater infiltration element will also increase.

[0014] The objective of the invention is fulfilled by providing a rainwater infiltration element comprising identically configured element halves that are provided with openings and constitute a spherical shell, the rainwater infiltration element being characterised by comprising pins disposed in sockets to protrude from said sockets in the interior thereof, and recesses that are symmetrically disposed opposite the sockets and are formed in the outside surface of the element half, ribs running parallel to the socket inside the element half, and a circumferential rib running parallel to the rim of the element half, wherein the openings in the surface of the element halves are bores having a preferred diameter of D = 15 mm.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the rainwater infiltration element according to the invention the pins connected to the elements have a preferred diameter of d = 6-8 mm and a preferred length of 1 = 7 mm. The thickness of the internal ribs of the element halves 2 is v = 2-3 mm, and the diameter of the rainwater infiltration element itself is 150-200 mm, its material being monocomponent polypropylene.

[0016] The application of the rainwater infiltration element for constructing a structure comprises lining with geotextile a rainwater drainage pit prepared in a conventional manner, followed by filling the pit with the rainwater infiltration elements according to any of claims 1-6 up to a predetermined depth, covering the rainwater infiltration elements with geotextile, and inserting a rainwater drainage pipe halfway into the layer made up of the rainwater infiltration elements, followed by covering the structure in a manner known per se.

[0017] Brief description of the drawings

[0018] A preferred embodiment of the rainwater infiltration element according to the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where

[0019] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rainwater infiltration element according to the invention,

[0020] Fig. 2 is a perspective underside view of a face of the rainwater infiltration element according to Fig. 1,

[0021] Fig. 3 is an underside view of the rainwater infiltration element according to Fig. 2,

[0022] Fig. 4 is a half side view of the rainwater infiltration element of Fig. 2,

[0023] Fig. 5 is a half top plan view of the rainwater infiltration element of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 shows a section taken along the section plane A- A of Fig. 5.

[0024] Modes for carrying out the invention

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the rainwater infiltration element 1 according to the invention that consists of two identically configured element halves 2. There are openings 3 on the upper and lower portions of the rainwater infiltration element 1. The rainwater infiltration element 1 is essentially constituted by the surface of a spherical shell.

[0026] A firm interconnection of the two element halves 2 is provided by ribs 7 comprising pins 6 disposed in the element halves 2 and recesses 4 adapted for receiving the pins 6 that are disposed along a belt portion of the rainwater infiltration element 1 extending along a great circle.

[0027] Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of an element half 2 that makes up the rainwater infiltration element 1 according to the invention.

[0028] The element halves 2 have completely identical configuration and are made by injection moulding. The advantages of making the element halves completely identical are that they can be made utilising a single tool, and that it removes the possibility of human error during manual assembly.

[0029] In Fig. 2 there can be observed the internal configuration of the element half 2. The element half 2 comprises three sockets 5 located at an angular separation of 60° and three symmetrically located recesses 4.

[0030] Each socket 5 terminates in a respective pin 6, the pins 6 being inserted into the recesses 4 of the counterpart element half 2 when the element halves 2 are snapped together, thus bringing about a firm connection between the two element halves 2 (see Fig. 1).

[0031] Fig. 3 is an underside view of the element half 2, clearly showing the internal configuration thereof, i.e., the circular openings 3, the arrangement of the ribs 7 and 8 extending between the openings 3, and the position of the pin 6 of the element half 2.

[0032] As it has been touched upon earlier, the interconnection of the element halves 2 is implemented along a belt section A running along a great circle of the rainwater infiltration element 1.

[0033] This belt section also provides sufficient rigidity of the rainwater infiltration element 1. Also, ribs 7 parallel to the socket 5 and a circumferential rib 8 parallel to the rim 9 of the element half 2 are disposed inside the element halves 2; these ribs are adapted for increasing the strength and load-bearing capacity of the rainwater infiltration element 1.

[0034] There are openings 3 disposed above the belt section A of the rainwater infiltration element 1; these openings are essentially bores having a diameter D2 where D2 = 10 mm (see Fig. 4).

[0035] The rainwater infiltration element 1 described in relation to the drawings is preferably a spherical shell surface having a diameter Di = 155 mm and a wall length of 1.5-2.5 mm. The diameter of the pins 6 of the socket 5 located in the interior of the element halves 2 and of the recess 4 receiving the pins 6 is d = 7.6 mm, and their length is 1 = 7 mm (see Fig. 3).

[0036] The ribs 7 that are located in the element halves 2 and extend parallelly to the socket 5 have a thickness of v = 2.1-3 mm, the ribs 7 being spaced apart from each other by 18 mm. The height of the circumferential rib 8 is 4 mm. It should be noted, however, that the specified dimensions may be modified, so for example by increasing the diameter of the openings 3 of the rainwater infiltration element 1 the rainwater infiltration element 1 may be made more permeable.

[0037] It is also to be noted that a modification of the dimensions with respect to the above-specified values does not affect the configuration of the rainwater infiltration element 1, i.e., they remain in the scope of protection of the present technical solution.

[0038] As it has already been mentioned, the rainwater infiltration element 1 is composed of two identically configured element halves 2; the element halves 2 are made of polypropylene by injection moulding, and when the two element halves 2 are rotated relative to each other by 180 ° the pins of one element half 2 are inserted into the recesses 4 of the other element half 2, bringing about a firm interconnection of the two halves.

[0039] This interconnection is made manually.

[0040] The previously prepared infiltration pit is lined with geotextile.

[0041] The geotextile forms a barrier between the soil and the artificially produced infiltration elements, and thereby prevents, over the long term, the two different- density soils from being washed away by erosion, also preventing the water absorption capacity of the structure from deteriorating (or completely breaking down) due to continuous clogging.

[0042] After lining the pit has been completed, the infiltration elements are poured to the pit, filling it to the appropriate level with the infiltration elements. After filling it up, the pit is covered again with geotextile. This is followed by introducing the rainwater drainage pipe, preferably up to the centre of the body made up of the infiltration elements to ensure the greatest possible water uptake capacity.

[0043] Finally, the structure thus produced is covered with earth.

[0044] The structure produced in this way has the advantage that its components are not exposed to the damaging effects of the ground surface, so it has a very long lifespan.

[0045] The rainwater infiltration element according to the invention has the advantage that it has high permeability that can be further increased by increasing the size of the element and the size of the openings in the spherical surface. The infiltration element has high load-bearing capacity; its material is recyclable plastic, preferably monocomponent polypropylene.

[0046] A further advantage of the rainwater infiltration element according to the invention is that the elements are able to fill the space intended for rainwater drainage.

[0047] LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 rainwater infiltration element

[0048] 2 element half

[0049] 3 opening

[0050] 4 recess

[0051] 5 socket 6 pin

[0052] 7 rib

[0053] 8 rib

[0054] 9 rim

[0055] A belt section

Claims

CLAIMS1. A rainwater infiltration element (1) for filling structures for draining and infiltrating rainwater, comprising identically configured element halves (2) that are provided with openings (3) and constitute a spherical shell, characterised in that the element halves (2) are hemispherical shells comprising in their interior pins (6) disposed in sockets (5) to protrude from said sockets (5), and recesses (4) that are symmetrically disposed opposite the sockets (5) and are formed in the outside surface of the element half (2), ribs (7) running parallel to the socket (5) inside the element half (2), and a circumferential rib (8) running parallel to the rim (9) of the element half (2).

2. The rainwater infiltration element (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the openings (3) in the surface of the element halves (2) are bores having a preferred diameter of D2 = 15 mm.

3. The rainwater infiltration element (1) according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the pins (6) connected to the elements (2) thereof have a preferred diameter of d = 6-8 mm and a preferred length of 1 = 5-10 mm.

4. The rainwater infiltration element (1) according to any of claims 1-3, characterised in that the thickness of the internal ribs (7) of the element halves (2) is v = 2-3 mm.

5. The rainwater infiltration element (1) according to any of claims 1-4, characterised in that it has a preferred diameter of Di = 150-200 mm.

6. The rainwater infiltration element (1) according to any of claims 1-5, characterised in that it is made of monocomponent polypropylene.

7. A method for producing a rainwater drainage structure, characterised by lining with geotextile a rainwater drainage pit prepared in a conventional manner, followed by filling the pit with the rainwater infiltration elements (1) according to any of claims 1-6 up to a predetermined depth, covering the rainwater infiltration elements with geotextile, and inserting a rainwater drainage pipe halfway into the layer made up of the rainwater infiltration elements, followed by covering the structure in a manner known per se.

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