Cell and water recovery system

p0001The present invention relates to a water collection unit and a water recovery system comprising such a cell and at least one separate closure member of the cell intended to form the bottom or the cover thereof.

p0002Such water collecting cells are intended to be placed so superposed vertically and laterally adjacent in an excavated space in the ground and covered with backfill. The cells are usually topped with a geotextile sheet avoiding the entry of land in said cells.

p0003According to a first use, the surface thus obtained above cells can for example be used as parking. Rainwater collected that are found in the cells can be directed to a sewage system, connected via pipelines to the cells. Alternatively, rainwater can be temporarily collected in the cells until their natural absorption by the surrounding earth.

p0004According to a second use, the cells are wrapped with a waterproof membrane which allows water retention in said cells. Thus, a buried basin in which water can be stored for later use (e.g. for watering), via a conduit system. This has many advantages over an open retention basin, particularly in terms of security.

p0005This type of cell is particularly known from <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP0943737A"><text>EP 0943737</text></patcit>. The cells described therein consist of two housings assembled to form a parallelepiped. Each housing includes a base provided with perforations and integral side walls of the base and also provided with perforations, the opposite side of the base housing being open. In addition, the columns extend substantially vertically from the base towards the open side. The ends of some columns have protrusions, while the other columns ends have recesses. Thus, when two same boxes are placed with the open sides facing each other, the protrusions of the columns of a housing are engaged in the cavities of the columns of the other housing and allow to form a connection between the two casings to form the cell.

p0006With this known structure, when two cells are stacked, which in practice represents the majority of cases, the bottom of one is superposed with the cover of the other. This overlap causes flow problems by impairing the passage of water due to the overlapping of the bottom mesh and cover. Also, the overlay of the bottom and the lid goes against the maximum vacuum principle research in this cell type.

p0007Furthermore, in use, surface water or the lift groundwater involve different elements, depending on the quality of the soil and the water hardness. These elements are deposited on the geotextile sheet, making it impermeable, and in the perforations of the cell, impeding the flow. The superposition of a base and a lid creates more material-retaining areas, which considerably reduces the efficiency of the cells.

p0008The document <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="EP1416099A"><text>EP 1416099</text></patcit> discloses a substantially parallelepiped cell having a side wall with four sides, a top side formed of crossed bars forming a transverse wall provided with orifices, and a lower side completely open, free of any transverse wall.

p0009The cells are arranged as follows: there is first up a base at the bottom of the space in the ground, then stacked cells on this basis. Between two vertically adjacent cells is therefore a transverse wall, formed by the upper side of the bottom cell. Accordingly, we find the above problems, though to a lesser extent because it has a transverse wall - not two overlapping - between two adjacent cells.

p0010In addition, the known cells are difficult to clean, due to the presence of columns occupying a large part of the interior of the housing.

p0011The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above.

p0012To this end, and according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a water recovery cell obtained by molding a single piece of plastic material, comprising:<ul><li>a lateral wall having four sides defining an inner volume substantially parallelepipedic and in each of which are formed orifices; </li><li>a plurality of columns extending substantially parallel to the sides of the side wall, each column having a height substantially equal to that of the side wall and being substantially accommodated in said inner volume;</li></ul>the upper and lower sides of the cell being open and free from transverse wall and the columns being connected together and to the side wall by an intermediate partition in which orifices are formed.

p0013By "open-sided" or "transverse wall sides devoid" is meant that the cell has neither background nor integrated cover. The parallelepipedic volume it defines is limited laterally by the side wall but vertically (in use of the cell position) by any wall extending from one side to another of the side wall. In other words, the lower and upper sides of the cell is substantially completely open, and not formed in a transverse wall provided with openings.

p0014According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a water recovery system comprising at least one such cell and at least one separate closure member of the cell and intended to form the bottom or the cover thereof.

p0015The base and lid are in place only when necessary, that is to say only in the most below and on the most over a set of stacked cells cell cell.

p0016Thus, when several cells are stacked, there is no transverse wall between two immediately superimposed cells. This structure allows the passage of water, limit soil between the cells and enables a saving of material. Thus, a simplified system having more vacuum and increased efficiency while maintaining a satisfactory rigidity. Indeed, it was found that the side walls and the columns are sufficient to ensure the rigidity of the cell, without the need to provide an intermediate wall, and even less of this double wall (bottom and lid) to obtain the appropriate mechanical strength.

p0017It should be noted that the cell is full and not made by assembling of two superimposed casings as was the case in the prior art.

p0018In one possible embodiment, the columns are arranged so as to provide, at least on one side of the intermediate partition, a passage extending longitudinally from one side of the side wall to the opposite side of said lateral wall, openings being formed in said sides of the facing lateral wall of said passage. This passage, preferably arranged centered way, allows easy cleaning of the cell.

p0019At least one column may have a first open end and a second end having a spigot projecting beyond the parallelepipedal internal volume of the cell, said stud being intended to be fitted into the first open end of a column belonging to a cell located immediately above or below, the cell of the column situated above bearing on the column of the cell situated below. This structure allows a cell to build on the cell placed immediately below and to avoid mutual lateral offset of the two stacked cells. Advantageously, each column has a first open end and a second end having a protruding stud, the studs of the various columns being situated on the same side of the intermediate partition.

p0020The intermediate partition forms such as a honeycomb lattice, which enhances the rigidity of the cell.

p0021The intermediate wall can be substantially orthogonal to the sides of the side wall and located mid height of the cell. The holder can also have a low height relative to the height of the cell, for example less than 10% of the height of the cell. For example, the height of the intermediate wall may be of the order of 25 to 30 mm for a cell height of about 50 cm.

p0022In one possible embodiment, the wings connect the columns to the partition. This favors the stabilization of the columns and therefore the cell stiffness. For example, the wings extend substantially perpendicular to the intermediate wall, at least one side thereof, on a height less than half the height of a column

p0023Advantageously, the columns have a hexagonal cross section.

p0024For example, the side wall has a first edge having cavities and a second edge having projecting lugs, said lugs being intended to be engaged in the cavities formed in the first edge of the side wall of a cell situated immediately au above or below.

p0025The sidewall may have a generally corrugated shape formed by a succession of projecting portions and recessed portions oriented substantially parallel to the columns.

p0026In one possible embodiment, two opposite sides of the lateral wall each comprise an opening intended to allow the cell cleaning and an opening intended to be connected to a line for the evacuation of the water contained in the cell.

p0027The closure element comprises for example a panel formed of a honeycomb network. It may further comprise one or more tabs projecting with respect to the panel, arranged to be able to cooperate with at least one end of a column of the cell and allow the positioning of the closure member relative to the cell, and / or at least one clipping hook for securing said closure member on the cell.

p0028We will now describe, by way of non-limiting example, a possible embodiment of the invention, with reference to the appended figures:<ul><li>Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cell according to the invention, seen from above;</li><li>Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cell of Figure 1, seen from below;</li><li>Figure 3 is a side view of the cell;</li><li>Figure 4 is a side view of a water recovery system having two stacked cells, a bottom and a cover;</li><li>Figure 5 is a sectional detail view showing the cooperation between the two columns of overlapping cells;</li><li>FIG 6 is a side view of a closure member;</li><li>Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views of the member of Figure 6, respectively seen from above and from below;</li><li>Figure 9 is a sectional view of one with a background cell and a lid corresponding to the line AA of Figure 3;</li><li>Figure 10 is a partial perspective view showing the closure element associated with a cell;</li><li>Figure 11 is a detail view of the end of a column associated with the closure element; </li><li>Figure 12 is a detail view showing a clipping hook of the closure element on the cell;</li><li>Figure 13 is a side view of two closure elements stacked; and</li><li>Figures 14 and 15 are perspective views of two closure elements stacked.</li></ul>

p0029A water recovery cell 1 comprises a side wall 2 defining an inner volume substantially parallelepipedal. The side wall 2 has four sides, namely two smaller sides 3 and two long sides 4, all with holes 5 for the passage of water.

p0030The cell 1 is intended to be positioned so that the sides 3, 4 are substantially vertical, and it is in this position it will be described for convenience. We define the "longitudinal" direction, as the horizontal direction substantially parallel to the long sides 4 of the side wall 2.

p0031The upper and lower sides of the cell 1 s have opened. The side wall 2 and has a lower edge 6 and an upper edge 7 substantially planar and horizontal.

p0032In each of the short sides 3 are formed first and second openings 8, 9 circular, the axes 10, 11 are longitudinal, equidistant from the long sides 4, and vertically aligned. The first opening 8 is located below the second opening 9, and has a lesser diameter. The first openings 8 of the two short sides 3 have the same axis 10, and the second apertures 9 of the two short sides 3 have the same axis 11.

p0033The cell 1 also comprises a plurality of columns 12 substantially vertical, interconnected and to the side wall 2 by a substantially horizontal intermediate wall 13 and situated halfway up the cell 1.

p0034Columns 12 comprises a lower end 14 located substantially in the same plane as the lower edge 6 of the side wall 2 and an upper end 15 located substantially in the same plane as the upper edge 7 of the side wall 2, but which is a projecting pin 16, beyond the parallelepipedal internal volume of the cell 1. the columns 12 have a substantially hexagonal hollow cross-section over their entire height, the lower end 14 of each column 12 being open.

p0035In the embodiment shown, the cell 1 has two longitudinal series of columns 12 positioned on either side of axes 10, 11, and defining a substantially central longitudinal passageway 17 opening into the second apertures 9. Each series has seven columns here 12 regularly spaced columns 12 of the ends is not completely isolated but connected by a vertical portion at a short side 3 of the side wall 2.

p0036Ies between two sets of columns 12 is reserved space for the passage through the second opening 9, a large diameter ferret. It is thus possible to carry out cleaning of the cell 1 with water under pressure. Cleaning efficiency is further increased by the hexagonal shape of the columns, which deflect the water jet

p0037The intermediate partition 13 is formed of a honeycomb network and therefore has a plurality of orifices 18. In view of this honeycomb structure, extending to the side wall 2, and the hexagonal column 12, the side wall 2 has a corrugated shape formed by a succession of projecting portions 19 and recessed portions 20.

p0038In addition, the wings 21 connect each column 12 to the intermediate wall 13. These wings 21 are formed by the vertical extension, above the intermediate partition 13, some of the edges of hexagons adjacent honeycomb column 12 considered. For example, four wings 21 are formed around each column 12. At the passageway 17, the partition 13 is not flat, but "back" in some way to the columns 12 and having a curved shape and forming a passage 17 whose lower half is substantially cylindrical.

p0039The long sides 4 of the side wall 2 each have vertical posts 22 projecting inwardly of the cell 1. The posts 22 have a rectangular section and are located between two columns 12. Their lower end forms a cavity 23 and upper end, located in the plane of the upper edge 7 of the sidewall 2 carries a pin 24 crosswise to dimensions corresponding to those of the cavity 21. a similar pin 25, but in star, protrudes above the upper edge 7 of the side wall 2 from the upper end 15 of each column 12 related to the short sides 3.

p0040Finally, a projection 26 protrudes from the upper edge 7 of the side wall 2 at each corner of the cell 1, a top portion of a corner post 27 whose lower end forms a cavity 28.

p0041The entire cell 1 (sidewall 2, columns 12, intermediate partition 13, etc.) is formed in one piece by injection molding of a polyolefin such as polypropylene or high density polyethylene.

p0042Cell 1 thus obtained has approximately the following dimensions:<ul><li>height H: 50 cm;</li><li>The length: 120 cm;</li><li>ℓ width: 60 cm.</li></ul>

p0043Cell 1 has a very large void rate to be able to accommodate a large volume of water, and many openings to allow flow of the water. Despite this void ratio, the cell 1 is very strong, because of the presence of the columns 12, substantially equal to that of the side wall and distributed substantially evenly height, which ensure the vertical rigidity.

p0044To fulfill the desired volume, up several cells 1 superposed vertically and laterally adjacent. Adjacent cells can be assembled laterally to each other by jumpers (not shown).

p0045As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the superposition of two cells 1 is done without intermediate member interposed. In the embodiment shown, cell 1 is positioned so that the pins 16 are located above, but the opposite arrangement may be envisaged.

p0046The pins 16 of the cell 1 located below are involved in the lower ends 14 open columns 12 of the cell 1 located above (see Figure 5). The thickness of the wall columns 12 descending from the upper end 15 (where it is of the order of 6 mm) to the lower end 14 (where it is of the order of 2 mm), the end bottom 14 of column 12 can be supported on the upper end 15 of the column 12 beneath, around the nozzle 16.

p0047In addition, the lower edge 6 of the cell 1 of the above rests on the upper edge 7 of the cell 1 below, 24 and 25 lugs and the protrusions 26 of the cell 1 from below being engaged respectively in the cavities 23 of the amounts 22 of the cell 1 of the above, the lower exirémité 14 of columns 12 connected to the short sides 3, and the cavity 28 formed in the lower end of the corner posts 27.

p0048Of course, the various elements intended to cooperate during the stacking of two identical cells have complementary shapes and dimensions allowing an easy insertion but effective holding of the two cells on one another.

p0049Thus obtaining an excellent centering of the cells 1, and a good rigidity of the assembly, the columns 12 of the ceiiuie 1 located above bearing that columns 12 of the cell 1 located below.

p0050A closure member 29 is placed on the one hand above the top cell 1 above and the other below the cell 1 shown below. This element 29 is separate from the cell 1, thus serves as appropriate background or cover. Its thickness is about 2 cm. Is formed separately from the cell 1, by injection molding of a polyolefin such as polypropylene or high density polyethylene.

p0051The closing member 29 as shown in Figures 6 to 8, includes a rectangular panel formed of a network honeycomb 30, laterally extended by a flange 31 defining a plane. The network honeycomb 30 projects from a first side of said plane only (see Figure 6).

p0052Notches 32 are formed in the edges of the closure member 29. In the embodiment shown, each of the long sides of the rim 31 comprises four regularly spaced notches 32. In each recess is located a clipping hook 33 for fixing the closure element 29 of the cell 1.

p0053In addition, each hex of the closure member 29 to be placed opposite a column 12 of a cell 1 has six legs 34 projecting substantially in prolongation of the sides of said hexagon from the second side of the plane formed by the rim 31 (that is to say opposite to the honeycomb network 30. These tabs 34 are not contiguous, a space 35 between them to allow the stack of closure members 29 for storage (figures 13 to 15).

p0054The establishment of a closure member 29 of a cell 1 is performed as follows (Figure 9).

p0055If the closure member 29 acts as a background, the network honeycomb 30 is rotated downward, and the cell 1 is arranged on the element 29, the first end 14 of the columns 12 being engaged between the lugs 34 (see particularly figures 9, 10, 11). This ensures correct positioning of the element 29 with respect to the cell 1 and a satisfactory maintenance.

p0056If the closure member 29 acts as a lid, the honeycomb lattice 30 is rotated upward, above the cell 1, the tabs 34 being positioned around the upper end 15 and spigot 16 of the columns 12.

p0057Thus, regardless of the number of stacked cells 1, only one bottom and one lid (two identical closing elements 29) are required. This is an important material gain because if a single cell is needed height are few. In general, and given the volume of water to be collected, are stacked at least two cells, and often three or even four.

p0058Above the closure member 29 forming a lid, placing a geotextile sheet, to prevent the earth located above the cells falling into said cells, which would decrease the volume of water that can be recovered. This ply geotextile, like cells, tend to retain material, which affects the flow of water. Thanks to the invention, more specifically the passage 17 provided between the columns 12, the introduction of a ferret large and water under pressure also allows unclog the geotextile sheet.

p0059In one possible application, one overlapping cells are surrounded with a waterproof membrane to retain water collected in the cells and prevent its absorption by the surrounding earth. The water can then be directed to a sewage system or stored in cells which then serve as storm water collection tray (eg for irrigation). A pipe may be connected to the first opening 8 for pumping the water, for example.

p0060It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above as an example but that it encompasses all the variants.