Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MULTI-SIDED CULVERT
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This relates to a three-sided culvert having a unique corner
engagement.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Culverts are often used in order to either control or allow for
water flow, such as
under roadways and bridges. While the most common type of culvert is a round
culvert, other
types of culverts are also possible. Examples of other types of culverts can
be found in U.S.
patent no. 1,334,484 (Charliss) entitled "Culvert", U.S. patent no. 4,011,726
(Cooper, Jr.
entitled "Delta Culvert" and U.S. patent no. 9,228,312 (Smith) entitled
"Method of Building a
Structure in the Presence of Water".
SUMMARY
[0003] According to an aspect, there is provided a multi-sided culvert
comprising a
culvert body comprising a base section, a first side body, and a second side
body, the first and
second side bodies being engaged at a top of the culvert body by a top
engagement and being
supported by the base section, the base section engaging the first side body
by a first bottom
engagement and the second side body by a second bottom engagement, wherein the
first
bottom engagement comprises a first part at a first side edge of the base, the
first part having a
first guide section and a first interlocking section and a second part at a
first side edge of the
first side, the second part having a second guide section and a second
interlocking section,
wherein, during installation, the first and second guide sections interact to
guide the first and
second interlocking sections into interlocking engagement, the first and
second interlocking
sections comprising tapered surfaces that, when engaged, permit upward and
outward
movement of the second part relative to the base.
[0004] According to another aspect, the first and second bottom
engagements may be
symmetric.
[0005] According to another aspect, the second bottom engagement may
comprises a first
part at a second side edge of the base that is shaped the same as the second
part of the first
bottom engagement, and a second part at a first side edge of the second side
body that is
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shaped the same as the first part of the first bottom engagement.
[0006] According to another aspect, the top engagement may comprise a
first part at a
second side edge of the first side body that is shaped the same as the first
part of the first
bottom engagement and a second part at a second side edge of the second side
body that is
shaped the same as the second part of the first bottom engagement.
[0007] According to another aspect, each of the base, the first side
body, and the second
side body may have a common size and shape.
[0008] According to another aspect, the first guide section of the first
part may comprise
a flat surface adjacent to a tapered surface that descends from the flat
surface toward the first
side edge of the base, the first interlocking section of the first part may
comprise a protrusion
that extends upward from the flat surface of the first guide section, the
second guide section of
the second part may be complementary to the first guide section, and the
second interlocking
section may comprise a recess that receives the protrusion of the first
interlocking section.
[0009] According to another aspect, the first guide section of the first
part may comprise
a flat surface adjacent to the first side edge of the base and a tapered
surface that extends
upward and away from the flat surface relative to the first side edge of the
base, the first
interlocking section of the first part may comprise a recess that is recessed
from a top of the
tapered surface, the second guide section of the second part may be
complementary to the first
guide section, and the second interlocking section may comprise a protrusion
that is received
by the recess of the first interlocking section.
[0010] According to another aspect, the second bottom engagement may
comprise a first
part at a second side edge of the base that is shaped the same as the first
part of the first
bottom engagement, and a second part at a first side edge of the second side
body that is
shaped the same as the second part of the first bottom engagement.
[0011] According to another aspect, the top engagement may comprise a
first part at a
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second side edge of the second side body that is shaped the same as the first
part of the first
bottom engagement and a second part at a second side edge of the first side
body that is
shaped the same as the second part of the first bottom engagement.
[0012] According to another aspect, the first part and the second part of
the first bottom
engagement, when engaged, may define a labyrinth seal.
[0013] According to another aspect, the first part and the second part of
the bottom
engagement each may comprise an engagement profile that extends along a length
of the first
side edges of the base and the first side body.
[0014] According to an aspect, there is provided a multi-sided culvert,
comprising first,
second and third side bodies, each side body comprising a first end having a
first part of a
two-part engagement, the first part comprising a first guide section and a
first interlocking
section, and a second end having a second part of the two-part engagement, the
second part
comprising a second guide section and a second interlocking section, wherein,
during
installation, the first, second and third side bodies are engaged to form a
three-sided culvert
such that respective first and second guide sections of adjacent side bodies
interact to guide
the respective first and second interlocking sections into interlocking
engagement, the first
and second interlocking sections comprising tapered surfaces that, when
engaged, permit
upward and outward movement of the second part relative to the base.
[0015] According to another aspect, for each of the first, second and
third side bodies the
first guide section of the first part may comprise a flat surface adjacent to
the first side edge of
the base and a tapered surface that extends upward and away from the flat
surface relative to
the first side edge of the base, the first interlocking section of the first
part may comprise a
recess that is recessed from a top of the tapered surface, the second guide
section of the
second part may be complementary to the first guide section, and the second
interlocking
section comprises a protrusion that is received by the recess of the first
interlocking section.
[0016] According to another aspect, the first end and the second end of
each of the first,
second and third side bodies may comprise an engagement profile that extends
along a length
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of the first side edges of the base and the first side body.
[0017] In other aspects, the features described above may be combined
together in any
reasonable combination as will be recognized by those skilled in the art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF 'THE DRAWINGS
[0018] These and other features will become more apparent from the
following
description in which reference is made to the appended drawings, the drawings
are for the
purpose of illustration only and are not intended to be in any way limiting,
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a component of a multi-sided culvert.
HG. 2 is a front elevation view of two components of a multi-sided culvert
being
assembled.
FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a multi-sided culvert being assembled.
FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the assembled multi-sided culvert of FIG.
3.
FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of an assembled alternate embodiment of a
multi-
sided culvert.
HG. 6 is a perspective view of an assembled multi-sided culvert.
FIG. 7 is a detail front elevation view of a connection being formed between
two
components.
HG. 8 is a detail front elevation view of an alternate connection being formed
between two components.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a component of a
multi-sided culvert.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an assembled multi-sided culvert having the
component shown in FIG. 9.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] A multi-sided culvert generally identified by reference numeral
10, will now be
described with reference to FIG. 1 through 10.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 6, multi-sided culvert 10 has a culvert body 12
formed from
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three separate bodies, used as a base section 14, a first side body 16 and a
second side body
18. It will be understood that the designation as a base, first or second body
relates primarily
to the function of the component. As will be discussed below, the design or
shape of the
bodies may be interchangeable or the same. Furthermore, while the bodies are
all shown as
5 being planar, it will be understood that some or all may have different
shapes, such as a
curved section to increase the volume. On the other hand, it may be preferable
to provide
base section 14 and possibly others with a flat surface, such as to simplify
installation.
[0021] First side body 16 and second side body 18 are supported by base
section 14,
which engages first side body 16 with a first bottom engagement 24, and second
side body 18
with a second bottom engagement 26. First side body 16 and second side body 18
are
engaged at a top 20 of culvert body 12 by a top engagement 22. As shown in
FIG. 6, each of
the first, second and top engagements 24, 26 and 22 may use a similar shape to
form the
engagement and each of the three side bodies 14, 16, and 18 carry one part of
a two-part
connection at either end, allowing for connections to be formed at the corners
when
assembled, as shown in FIG. 6. However, it will be understood that alternate
engagements
may be used, some of which are described below. In one example, referring to
FIG. 5 and
with respect to top engagement 22, first side body 16 and second side body 18
may have flat
top engagement surfaces, and use a secondary connector 23, such as a pin
connection or
clamp, to form top engagement 22.
[00221 Referring to FIG. 2, first bottom engagement 24 is depicted as
having a first part
28 at a first side edge 30 of base 14 and a second part 36 at a first side
edge 38 of first side 16,
and is formed by engaging first and second parts 28 and 36. First part 28 has
a first guide
section 32 and a first interlocking section 34. Second part 36 has a second
guide section 40
and a second interlocking section 42, each of which are shown as being
complementary to
first guide section 32 and first interlocking section 34, respectively. When
first bottom
engagement 24 is being formed, first and second guide sections 32 and 40
interact to guide
first and second interlocking sections 34 and 42 into interlocking engagement,
as shown in
FIG. 3. First and second interlocking sections 34 and 42 have tapered surfaces
44 and 46 that,
when engaged, permit upward and outward movement of second part 36 relative to
base 14.
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Referring to FIG. 7 and 8, first bottom engagement 24 may have either
arrangement of
components.
[0023] The engagement described above is preferably used as the basis for
the other
engagements used in culvert body 12, although it may be used in different
ways. For
example, as shown in FIG. 5, first bottom engagement 24 and second bottom
engagement 26
may be symmetric, with having the arrangement shown in FIG. 7, such that
second bottom
engagement 26 has a first part 48 at a second side edge 50 of base 14 that is
shaped the same
as first part 28 of first bottom engagement 24 and a second part 52 at a first
side edge 30 of
second side body 18 that is shaped the same as second part 36 of first bottom
engagement 24.
Alternatively, referring to FIG. 2, second bottom engagement 26 may have a
first part 48 at a
second side edge 50 of base 14 that is shaped the same as second part 36 of
first bottom
engagement 24 and a second part 52 at a first side edge 54 of second side body
18 that is
shaped the same as first part 28 of first bottom engagement 24.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 4, top engagement 22 may have a first part 56 at
a second side
edge 58 of first side body 16 that is shaped the same as first part 28 of
first bottom
engagement 24 and a second part 60 at a second side edge 62 of second side
body 18 that is
shaped the same as second part 36 of first bottom engagement 24. As shown in
HG. 4, when
top engagement 22 is provided as described, each of base 14, first side body
16, and second
side body 18 have a common size and shape, which may be used to simplify
manufacturing
and handling procedures. In another example, top engagement 22 may have a
first part 56 at
second side edge 62 of second side body 18 that is shaped the same as first
part 28 of first
bottom engagement 24 and a second part 60 at a second side edge 58 of first
side body 16 that
is shaped the same as second part 36 of first bottom engagement 24. For
example, first side
body 16 and second side body 18 may each be symmetrical, assuming base 14 has
a different
engagement profile at either side edge.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 7, in the depicted example, first guide section
32 of first part 28
has a flat surface 64 adjacent to a tapered surface 66 that descends from flat
surface 64 toward
first side edge 30 of base 14, first interlocking section 34 of first part 28
has a protrusion 68
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that extends upward from flat surface 64 of first guide section 32. Second
guide section 40 of
second part 36 is complementary to first guide section 32, and second
interlocking section 42
has a recess 70 that receives protrusion 68 of first interlocking section 34.
Alternatively,
referring to FIG. 8, first guide section 32 of first part 28 has a flat
surface 72 adjacent to first
side edge 30 of base 14 and a tapered surface 74 that extends upward and away
from flat
surface 72 relative to first side edge 30 of base 14, and first interlocking
section 34 of first part
28 has a recess 76 that is recessed from a top 78 of tapered surface 74.
Second guide section
40 of second part 36 is complementary to first guide section 32, and second
interlocking
section 42 has a protrusion 80 that is received by recess 76 of first
interlocking section 34.
When engaged, the respective engagements may act as a labyrinth seal, or a
mechanical seal
that provides a tortuous path to help prevent leakage, through the corners of
the culvert, thus
ensuring that as much water as possible is diverted through the culvert, and
does not leak into
the surrounding area.
[0026] The angles of the various surfaces of the first and second parts of
the engagements
are selected such that the joints remain engaged and are biased toward
engagement, but also
permit some expansion when pressure is applied from within. For example, in
the winter,
water may freeze within culvert 12. The depicted engagements permit some
movement to
allow the freezing water to expand without damaging the culvert. As can be
seen, there are
surfaces at either end of the various bodies that are generally perpendicular
to the respective
body, or in other words, which are generally tangential to an arc that would
be followed if the
body were to pivot about its other end. These surfaces allow each body to
slide outward in
response to a force applied to the inner surface of culvert 12, while still
being urged by
gravity and the slope of that and other surfaces toward engagement.
[0027] The assembly of multi-sided culvert 10 will now be described.
Referring to FIG.
1, a base 14, is placed in an installation location. The installation location
may be prepared by
levelling or packing a material, such as road crush or gravel. Referring to
FIG. 2 and 3, first
and second side bodies 16 and 18 are then guided into place. As bodies 14, 16
and 18 may be
quite heavy, they are preferably outfitted with lifting rings or apertures
(not shown), such that
they can be manipulated by a lifting crane, hoist, or other device. If bodies
14, 16 and 18 are
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cast from concrete, lifting cables or rings may be embedded as part of the
casting process. As
shown with first engagement 24, where base body 14 has a convex guide surface
32, it may
be easier to slide surface toward the edge of base body 14, such that second
guide section
engages first guide section 32 and causes first body 16 to pivot and form
first engagement 24.
As shown with second engagement 26, where base body 14 has a concave shape and
second
body 18 has a convex shape, the edge of second body 18 may be placed directly
on first part
48 of base body 14, and the respective shapes will allow second engagement 26
to be engaged
as second body 18 pivots about the bottom edge. It will be understood that the
order of
installation of first side body 16 and second side body 18 will depend on the
type of top
engagement 22 provided. For example, each side may be lowered simultaneously,
or one may
be lowered first and the second installed afterwards. Alternatively, it may be
necessary to
suspend one or both of first and second bodies 16 and 18 in a partially open
position, and
move them to a fully installed position either simultaneously, or in a
coordinated manner, to
ensure the respective engagement profiles are properly mated. Once the three
bodies 14, 16,
and 18 have been installed, the tapered surfaces of the connections will
permit relative
movement of the side panels while maintaining engagement, allowing for the
multi-sided
culvert to expand and contract, such as in response to freezing of water
within the culvert.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, multi-sided culvert 10 may
optionally have an
engaging profile 82 along the edge of each of the side bodies 14, 16, and 18.
As depicted,
engaging profile 82 is provided along the length of the engagements 22, 24,
and 26, and has
alternating protrusions and recesses that engage during installation of multi-
sided culvert 10.
Engaging profile 82 may aid in the installation process by aligning the side
bodies for forming
connections. As well, engaging profile 82 may serve to prevent shifting of the
side bodies
along the engagements 22, 24, or 26. It will be understood that engaging
profile 82 may take
other forms that engage the respective edges and limit sliding movement of the
side bodies,
such as having different numbers of protrusions and recesses, having shaped
profiles, or
having a series of notches and recesses.
[0029] Base 14, side body 16, and side body 18 may be formed from any
suitable
material, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, the
three panels may
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be cast from cement, concrete, or any other material suitable for use as a
culvert. In the
configuration shown in FIG. 3, first side body 16 and second side body 18 have
a top
engagement 22 that also forms an interlocking connection. In other
embodiments, such as the
one in FIG. 5, after first side body 16 and second side body 18 are installed,
top engagement
22 is formed with an additional connector, such as a bolt or clamp, although
this is preferably
a loose connection that still allows for some expansion, for the reasons as
discussed above.
[0030] In this
patent document, the word "comprising" is used in its non-limiting sense to
mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically
mentioned are not
excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article "a" does not
exclude the
possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context
clearly requires
that there be one and only one of the elements.
[0031] The scope
of the following claims should not be limited by the preferred
embodiments set forth in the examples above and in the drawings, but should be
given the
broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
