Nestable Leaching Chamber Pillar Cover Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Low profile leaching chambers with hollow support pillars experience reduced water storage volume due to soil entering and filling the pillar cavities when buried, affecting their ability to efficiently store and disperse wastewater.

Innovation Solution

A leaching chamber design featuring a pillar cover that can be configured between a first and second configuration, allowing the pillars to be nested and protected from soil intrusion, maintaining the internal cavity volume for wastewater storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If support pillars are made hollow to enable nesting, then nestability is improved, but water storage volume is reduced due to soil filling the pillar cavities

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovenestabilityVSAvoidwater storage volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful element (soil) from the pillar cavity by introducing a cover that seals the opening, preventing soil from entering and filling the hollow space while maintaining the hollow structure for nesting purposes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary protective action by providing a cover for the pillar opening before the chamber is buried, preventing soil from entering the hollow pillar cavity in the first place, thus preserving water storage volume

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Strength

If support pillars extend downwardly for structural strength, then strength is improved, but available interior cavity volume is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidinterior cavity volume

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses nesting by placing one chamber inside another through the hollow support pillars, allowing the pillars to serve dual purposes: providing structural strength and enabling compact storage/transport without permanently reducing the usable interior volume

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Productivity

If chamber profile is made low for efficient stacking, then stacking efficiency is improved, but structural support capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestacking efficiencyVSAvoidstructural support capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite structural design combining the chamber body with integrated hollow support pillars that extend downward, creating a composite structure that provides both low profile for stacking and sufficient structural strength to support overlying soil and loads

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS10570602B2Low profile nestable leaching chamber having increased water storage volume

Publication Date: 2020.02.25 INFILTRATOR WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A plastic chamber for collecting, receiving, detaining, or dispersing water when buried is provided and includes a support pillar having at least one pillar wall which defines a pillar cavity. Additionally, the chamber includes a plurality of chamber ends, a plurality of chamber side walls and a chamber top, wherein the chamber top includes a pillar opening and wherein the chamber defines a chamber internal cavity. It should be appreciated that the support pillar extends downwardly into the chamber internal cavity from the chamber top, wherein the pillar opening is communicated with the pillar cavity. The pillar cover is movably configurable between a first configuration and a second configuration to uncover and cover the least one pillar opening.