GB2345626A - Land drainage and soakaway for use therein - Google Patents

Abstract

A drainage structure suitable for emplacement in a complementary ground excavation to serve, for example, as a soakaway is formed of a plurality of tyre bodies 1 stacked and banded together to define a central passage in which is located a central core pipe 2 from which protruder at intervals therealong corresponding to the width of the tyres outriggers 3 for separating adjacent tyres. The core pipe 2 and/or outriggers 3 provide a route for water entering the core pipe to pass out of the soakaway structure between the tyres. The outriggers may be in the form of a single flange formation (figure 6, 33).

Description

LAND DRAINAGE AND SOAKAWAY FOR USE THEREIN This invention relates to ground-located drainage and more particularly to land drainage and soakaways for use therein.

All buildings require at least one soakaway location to allow water from the building's guttering system to be dissipated into the ground. Soakaways will generally also deal with road or drive runoff water. British building regulations for new buildings forbid any such water to be ducted into the sewerage system.

A soakaway is generally constructed in a size proportional to the volume of runoff water from roofs, driveways or roads and in accordance with the soil type. A suitably sized excavation is then lined with honeycombed brickwork allowing the water to permeate through gaps in the brickwork into the surrounding soil. This type of soakaway is particularly expensive as it requires use of engineering bricks. If the bricks would be of lower standard, then they would break up with passage of time in the soil.

An alternative method of providing a soakaway facility is for a ground excavation to be filled with clean hardcore in a random and stable form, providing gaps between the hardcore to receive water which drains therefrom into the surrounding soil. With either procedure, the soakaway is capped with a surfaced finishing structure.

Generally, soakaways are not replaced. A minimum requirement of them is, however, that they should have a functional time of ten to twenty years. How long a particular soakaway can remain in operation will depend upon many factors including cleanliness of runoff water, structural integrity of the system resulting, for example, from traffic movements thereover, soil conditions etc. It would be preferred if soakaways had as long an operating life as possible and were less expensive to provide than hitherto.

According to the present invention, there is provided a drainage structure for emplacement in a complementary ground excavation, the structure being formed of a plurality of tyre bodies stacked and banded together to define a central passage in which is located a core pipe from which protrude at intervals therealong corresponding to the width of the tyres outriggers for separating adjacent tyres, the core pipe and/or outriggers providing a route for water entering the core pipe to pass out of the drainage structure between the tyres.

The invention will be described hereinafter, unless indicated otherwise, with specific reference to soakaway structures, without being restricted thereto.

A number of other uses of the structure of the invention will, however, be desribed hereinafter.

The present invention provides a use for spent tyres and accordingly has considerable environmental merit. As tyres are manufactured in standard sizes, simple sorting of tyres during the manufacture of soakaway units will enable a plurality of tyres of like size to be assembled. The size of tyres utilized as well as their number assembled in producing any one soakaway structure will depend upon the volume of water runoff from roofs, driveways or roads and soil type served by the soakaway. It is even possible to utilize two or more soakaway units stacked one on the other if this will ease manufacture and handling of the soakaway. Generally, for convenience, tyres may be stacked in groups of four. It is preferred to work with tyres of 30 to 40cm (12 to 16") rim size.

The operating life of a soakaway embodying this invention will be considerable as it is known that tyres take many years to rot underground. When replacement of a soakaway is required, excavation to remove an old soakaway will be a relatively simple matter. There will be none of the problems hitherto encountered with removable of old masonry.

Although a single length of core pipe with outriggers may be employed in the production of any one soakaway structure, it is preferred for the overall structure to be modular and for the core pipe to be formed of sections each sized according to the width of tyre employed. There is no need to employ different core pipe sections at top, middle or bottom positions when assembling tyres in the construction of a soakaway.

The core pipe sections themselves may be of moulded plastics material. Because of the manner in which the core pipe is to be used, recycled material may be employed in the production of the core pipe sections.

In one embodiment, elongate outriggers extend radially from the core pipe at intervals therealong corresponding to the width of the tyres, at least two outriggers for separating tyres being positioned at any one axial location and providing a route for water within the interior of the tyres to pass outwardly from the soakaway structure, the core pipe itself being formed with a plurality of apertures in its wall for outward transfer of water from the core pipe into the interior of the tyres.

The apertures in the core pipe or core pipe sections are sized and positioned for maximum flow of water into the interior of the tyres from the core pipe. The water then dissipates from the tyre interiors into the surrounding soil. All soakaways will silt up over a period of time, generally from the base up. The provision of apertures over the entire height of the core pipe will enable water to continue to flow out even when the lower sections start to silt up, thus providing reliable means for the water to dissipate.

In this embodiment, the outriggers are generally solid rods or bars. They can however be hollow and provide an additional routing out of the soakaway for water. A single outrigger at any location will not provide a stable separation of tyres. Two or more outriggers, preferably a minimum of three and, more preferably, four outriggers are to be used at any one location for ensuring that the tyres remain parallel to each other. The outriggers may be integral with or attached to (and detachable from) core pipe sections.

An inherent advantage of the core pipe provided with a maximum number of apertures of maximum possible size is that there is a saving in material and lightening in weight of the structure.

In an alternative embodiment, the outrigger separating the tyres is a hollow plate structure having spaced top and bottom walls and a rim wall, the plate structure being coaxial with and surrounding a core pipe section with whose interior it is in communication. A plurality of openings in a rim wall of the outrigger enables water to be dissipated from the interior of the core pipe into the soil.

In order to keep open the route for dissipation of water in such an arrangement, pillars are provided between opposed top and bottom walls of the hollow plate sections. The provision of apertures in the core pipe itself is here less important. However, if they are provided, then the hollow plate structure should be shaped to allow water passing out through the apertures to be dissipate from the tyre interiors. For example, channels may be provided in the top wall surface of the hollow plate structure.

While soakaways for domestic dwellings and commercial property rainwater run-off represent potentially the largest market for usage of old tyres in accordance with the invention, however, there are a number of additional potential uses of like arrangements which may be contemplated. For example, a structure embodying the invention may be used as a soakaway linked to a septic tank system to receive liquid from the septic tank and disperse it into the soil. Hitherto, this has been achieved by means of a land drainage pipe run from a septic tank for a distance suitable for achieving absorption of liquid from the septic tank in the ground. A drawback to this system is the need to lay a drainage pipe of a suitable length. There may not be enough ground area to the property concerned to allow for this and/or damage may be done to gardens when laying or replacing such drainage pipe. The mere laying of such drainage pipe is itself an inconvenience. However, by providing a tyre soakaway system embodying the invention below or adjacent a septic tank, a longer lasting water removal arrangement is made available which is not as susceptible to damage as land drainage systems are.

Another use of tyre soakaway systems embodying the invention could be in dealing with water run-off from roads. A conventional drainage grates system may be replaced with a banded tyre system embodying the invention having a depth appropriate to soil condition and distance between previously provided water run-off grates.

A further use of the tyre drainage system will be to collect and disperse water from automatic vehicle washing machines, subject to it being allowable for water having vehicle cleaning chemicals to be dispersed into the surrounding soil.

A yet further use of a tyre system embodying the invention would be to have voids in the entire configuration occupied by a commercially available filter medium which will be a substrate which once can allow for bacteria to grow. This would produce a microbiological filter system which could break down solid waste and disperse it into the surrounding soil.

If such method could be adopted, it would be particularly suited to treatment of biological waste from storage pit on farms, sewage systems and any waste systems whose waste input can be broken down biologically. If such a filter system were enclosed, it could be used to regulate nitrate levels in lakes and ponds and as a general filtering system.

An additional use for a tyre system embodying the invention would be in the occupation of bore holes. As the tyres are of a set size, they could be matched to the diameter of bore holes and inserted to a depth which depends on the prevailing water table. In a suitable place, such arrangement could provide a deep soakaway for the disposal of various liquids.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a soakaway embodying the invention which has been cut in half diametrically; Figure 2 is an isometric view of a core pipe section of the soakaway of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view from above of the core pipe section of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a detail of the view of Figure 3 to an enlarged scale; Figure 5 is an elevational view of a core pipe section showing separable outrigger construction and connection to the pipe section; Figure 6 is an isometric view of an alternative form of core pipe section, and Figure 7 is a vertical section through the core pipe section of Figure 6.

Figure 1 of the drawings depicts three used tyres 1 of a soakaway embodying the invention. The tyres surround a central core pipe 2 constructed from core pipe sections 2a, 2b, 2c utilised on the basis of one core pipe section per tyre. The core pipe sections sit one in the next pipe section in forming the core pipe 2. Radiating from to the periphery of the core pipe sections 2a, 2b, and 2c are a plurality of outriggers 3 of which two (out of four) are shown for each core pipe. The outriggers act as spacers between adjacent tyres 1. Steel or nylon bands 4 hold together the overall assembly. Each core pipe section is formed with a plurality of apertures 5 in its cylindrical wall.

As can be seen better from Figure 2, the central core pipe 2, possesses a diameter compatible with a standard drainage pipe which is able to descend thereinto. Its length is set in accordance with the width of the tyres with which it is utilised when the tyres are compressed by banding in forming the assembled unit. An increased diameter portion 6 is provided at the top of the core pipe to enable the lower end of one core pipe section to rest on the horizontal base of the increased diameter portion 6 and allow the unobstructed flow of water through the units.

As can be seen from Figure 3, the core pipe has sets of four outriggers 3 equispaced around the central core pipes. Not only do the outriggers separate the tyres in forming the overall soakaway structure but they define gaps between the tyres which will allow egress of water within the interior of the tyres to take place readily. No limitation is placed upon the diameter or width of the outriggers. It is merely desirable that they maintain a suitable gap between the used tyres when stacked and banded. The length of the outriggers is approximately 5cm (2") less than the outside diameter of the tyres used. A raised shaped 7 hook is attached or formed or moulded on each of the outriggers. The shape of the hook can be seen better from Figure 4. The distance of the hook from a central core pipe is set to match the circumference of the internal rim of the tyres used. The hooks 7 are sized and positioned to engage and keep in place the lower rims 8 (see Figure 1) of the respective tyres and keep the central core structure in line with the other tyres used in stacked units. If the soakaway is not to be located in a garden adjacent to a building, but below a driveway path or hard standing, it is merely necessary to infill stack units in the soakaway with large pebbles to form a structure which can be capped with a concrete raft.

Figure 5 of the drawings relates to a variant of the core pipe section structure shown in Figures 1 to 4. Rather than have the central core sections 2a, 2b, 2c and associated outriggers 3 produced as a single moulding, separate mouldings of core pipe section 12 and outriggers 13 may be a manufactured and joined together in for example, a push fit made possible by providing a beading 14 on a stump 15 of the core pipe 12 and an increased diameter section 16 on the outrigger 13, or vice versa. Figure 5 shows the existence of a plurality of hooks 17a, 17b and 17c on outrigger 13. The hooks are moulded at intervals along the outrigger 13 and at different circumferential positions. This enables different internal rim dimensions of tyres to be accommodated by rotating the outrigger 13 appropriately.

Finally, referring to Figures 6 and 7, here the core pipe section 2 is made up from a plurality of pipe sections 32. No apertures are provided in the wall surface of the pipe section. In place of outriggers as aforesaid, a unitary outrigger construction 33 is shown which is constituted by a hollow plate structure having spaced apart top and bottom walls 43 and 44. The interior of the hollow plate communicates with the interior of the central core pipe 32 and apertures 35 are provided around the periphery of the outrigger 33 to provide a route for water entering the interior of the core pipe 32 to enable it to pass out through the apertures 35 into the soil. The top surface of wall 43 is dished to receive a tyre thereon. With this type of structure there is no longer a need for hooks to hold the tyres. Finally, pillars 49 space apart the walls 43 and 44 which would otherwise be forced together under the pressure of tyres banded together.

In summary, the invention provides a simply assembled soakaway structure producible from low cost materials. The invention is environmentally beneficial in providing a useful means for disposal of waste tyres. The only material cost of any significance will be the moulding of the core pipe. Generally, only one or two types of moulding will be required for this purpose.

As already mentioned herein, conveniently units of four tyres each will be built up. These units are then banded to compress the tyres and form a solid unit.

These units could then be stacked on one another and/or stacks could be arranged side by side to accommodate drainage of any size. For example, an assembly of four units high and four units wide would consist of sixtyfour tyres and could be utilized in an excavation 1.5 metres (5 feet) wide and 2.4 metres (8 feet) deep where a capacity to contain and disperse approximately 4,500 litres (1,000 gallons) of water suitable for an average dwelling and driveway.

Claims (14)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A drainage structure for emplacement in a complementary ground excavation, the structure being formed of a plurality of tyre bodies stacked and banded together to define a central passage in which is located a core pipe from which protrude at intervals therealong corresponding to the width of the tyres outriggers for separating adjacent tyres, the core pipe and/or outriggers providing a route for water entering the core pipe to pass out of the drainage structure between the tyres.
2. 2. A structure according to Claim 1, wherein there is provided a plurality of core pipe sections positioned one on top of the other and each having a length approximating to the width of tyre employed.
3. 3. A structure according to Claim 2, wherein each core pipe section has a stepped portion at one end against which the opposite end of the next core pipe section abuts.
4. 4. A structure according to any preceding claim, wherein the core pipe is formed with a plurality of apertures therein communicating the interior of the core pipe with the interior of the tyres.
5. 5. A structure according to Claim 4, wherein elongate outriggers extend radially from the core pipe at intervals therealong corresponding to the width of the tyres, at least two outriggers for separating tyres being positioned at any one axial location.
6. 6. A structure according to Claim 5, wherein four outriggers are provided at each axial location.
7. 7. A structure according to Claim 5 or 6, having hook formations provided on upper surfaces of the outriggers for engaging with the internal rim of the tyres.
8. 8. A structure according to any one of Claims 5 to 7, wherein the outriggers are formed as separate members from the core pipe and are adapted for engagement therewith.
9. 9. A structure according to Claims 7 and 8, having a plurality of said hook formations thereon at circumferentially different locations and at different positions therealong, the outrigger being rotatable with respect to its engagement with the core pipe to present different hook formations for engagement with different internal rim diameters of tyres.
10. 10. A structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, comprising a single outrigger structure at each outrigger location, which outrigger structure is a hollow plate structure having spaced top and bottom walls and a rim wall, the plate structure being coaxial with and surrounding the core pipe or core pipe section with whose interior it is in communication, a plurality of opening being provided in the rim wall of the outrigger structure for communicating the interior of the core pipe with the soil.
11. 11. A structure according to Claim 10, wherein the top wall of the hollow plate structure is dished.
12. 12. A structure according to Claim 10 or 11, including pillars separating top and bottom walls of the hollow plate structure.
13. 13. A soakaway structure, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 4, optionally in association with Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
14. 14. A soakaway structure, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.