Trenches for delivering service supplies
Various exemplary devices, systems, and methods for trenches for delivering a service supply are provided. In general, a trench, which may also be referred to as a “trough,” is configured to be located underground and “house” pipes or other conduits therein through which a service supply is configured to be provided from a source of the service supply to a point of end use. Examples of a service supply include power, data, and fuel. In an exemplary implementation, the trench includes a plurality of interconnected support beams and is a composite trench formed of different materials.
1 . An apparatus for delivering a service supply, comprising:
a trench configured to be buried underground to allow a service supply to pass therethrough from a source of the service supply to a point of end use, wherein the trench comprises:
a base,
first and second sides extending upwardly from the base, the first and second sides being opposed to one another,
first and second longitudinal beams on a bottom side of the base,
a plurality of transverse beams on the bottom side of the base that extend transverse to the pair of longitudinal beams,
a plurality of first side beams that extend upwardly from the base on an outer side of the first side,
a plurality of second side beams that extend upwardly from the base on an outer side of the second side,
a first top beam extending longitudinally along a top of the first side, and
a second top beam extending longitudinally along a top of the second side;
wherein foam is surrounded by fiberglass within each of the first and second longitudinal beams, the plurality of transverse beams, the plurality of first side beams, the plurality of second side beams, the first top beam, and the second top beam.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second longitudinal beams, the plurality of transverse beams, the plurality of first side beams, the plurality of second side beams, the first top beam, and the second top beam are interconnected.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the foam of plurality of first side beams is directly connected to the foam of the first top beam and to the foam of the first longitudinal beam, the foam of the plurality of second side beams is directly connected to the foam of the second top beam and to the foam of the second longitudinal beam, and the foam of the first and second longitudinal beams is directly connected to the foam of the plurality of transverse beams.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the foam is polyurethane.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fiberglass has a varying thickness.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transverse beams extend substantially perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal beams and the first and second top beams.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the trench has first and second opposed ends each being substantially U-shaped.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first end of the trench is configured to be fixedly attached to a third end of a second trench via a lap joint, and the second end of the trench is configured to be fixedly attached to a fourth end of a third trench via a lap joint.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the foam is polyurethane.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the service supply is fuel, the source of the service supply is an underground reservoir, and the point of end use is a fuel dispenser.