Infiltration Gutter with Absorbent Lining for Soil Drainage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rainwater drainage through sewers overloads wastewater treatment plants, affects groundwater levels, and is prone to blockages due to pollution, leading to inefficient soil infiltration.

Innovation Solution

An infiltration gutter system with a water-permeable top and internal lining made from water-absorbent material, such as mineral wool, featuring open channels and strategically placed openings for water absorption and filtration, which connects to water conductors for controlled infiltration into the soil, reducing pollution accumulation and enhancing water absorption rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If rainwater is drained through sewers, then water is quickly removed from the surface, but wastewater treatment plants become overloaded and groundwater levels are affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater drainage speedVSAvoidwastewater treatment capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The infiltration gutter acts as an intermediary device between the rainwater source and the soil. It collects rainwater through its water-permeable top side and gradually releases it into the ground via openings in the housing and water conductors, serving as a mediator that prevents direct sewer discharge while maintaining controlled infiltration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the harmful function of rapid sewer discharge from the rainwater management system. By removing the connection to sewers and replacing it with direct soil infiltration through the infiltration gutter, the system eliminates the overload problem at treatment plants while maintaining effective water removal from surfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If infiltration facilities are used for soil infiltration, then groundwater levels are maintained, but pollution from rainwater causes blockages that reduce infiltration capacity over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegroundwater level maintenanceVSAvoidinfiltration capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The internal lining is applied locally to specific areas within the infiltration gutter where water flows and pollutants accumulate. This localized filtering layer captures pollutants at critical points without requiring the entire gutter to be filtered, maintaining infiltration capacity while preventing blockages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The internal lining acts as an intermediary filtering layer between the incoming polluted rainwater and the soil infiltration points. It captures pollutants in the water flow before they reach the openings and water conductors, preventing blockages while allowing clean water to infiltrate into the ground

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If a water-permeable top cover is used for water entry, then rainwater collection is effective, but pollution accumulation leads to blockages in existing infiltration facilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverainwater collection volumeVSAvoidpollution accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts pollutants from the rainwater flow using the internal lining as a filtering mechanism. By removing pollutants through adsorption and physical trapping on the lining surfaces, the system prevents pollution accumulation that would otherwise block the infiltration facilities while maintaining effective rainwater collection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Strength

If the housing provides structural support for the infiltration gutter, then the gutter can be placed in or on subsoil and road surfaces, but the housing material may not be water-absorbent enough for effective infiltration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegutter structural strengthVSAvoidwater absorption rate
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The infiltration gutter is segmented into two functional components: the housing providing structural support and the internal lining providing water absorption and filtration. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the housing for strength and the lining for water absorption - without compromise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The infiltration gutter employs a composite structure combining the housing material (providing mechanical strength) with the water-absorbent internal lining material. This composite approach allows the system to simultaneously achieve the structural integrity needed for road surface placement and the high water absorption capacity required for effective infiltration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively and permanently drains rainwater into the soil, reducing the load on wastewater treatment plants, maintaining groundwater levels, and preventing blockages by capturing pollutants and increasing infiltration capacity.

Implementation Method 1

Through the use of the internal lining which is manufactured from water-absorbent material, the infiltration gutter is also capable of absorbing water and delivering it to the soil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the internal lining connects to at least one water conductor manufactured from water-absorbent material, wherein the water conductor is fed at least partially through at least one of the at least one opening in the housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 3

The internal lining has, apart from a water-absorbing effect, normally also a filtering effect, wherein pollutants present in the water, in an advantageous case, are captured already on the surface of the internal lining

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3655593B1Infiltration gutter, internal lining and infiltration system
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 ACO AHLMANN SE & CO KG
  • EP3655593B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The invention relates to an infiltration gutter for drainage and soil infiltration of water, comprising an elongated housing having a water-permeable top side, and an internal lining, fitted in the housing and manufactured from a water-absorbent material, which is provided with a channel that is open on the top side, wherein the housing, on the longitudinal side, is provided with at least one opening situated at a distance from the water-permeable top side. The invention also relates to an internal lining for use in such an infiltration gutter, and an infiltration system comprising a plurality of such joined-together infiltration gutters.