Anti-rotation stop for chamber
View Patent ↗A thermoplastic chamber for leaching wastewater or other use, which is designed so that when jointed to a like chamber the horizontal plane angle between the chambers can be adjusted, has one or more stops which can be selectively used to prevent rotation, for instance, to make the joined-together chambers lie along a straight line. Preferably, the stop is integral part of the chamber base flange; and it hinges and bends upwardly when moved to its working position, so the stop engages and limits movement of the end of the mating chamber.
1. In a chamber for receiving and dispersing water when buried within porous medium, the chamber being made of molded plastic and having an arch shape cross section and opposing side base flanges, wherein the chamber joins with a like second chamber to form a joint, an improvement which comprises:
at least one configurable anti-rotation stop, mounted at the end of one of the chambers, for selectively engaging a portion of said second chamber, to prevent horizontal plane rotation of the chambers in at least one rotational direction.
2. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the stop is configurable to projects upwardly from a base flange of the chamber.
3. The chamber of claim 2 wherein the stop limits rotation of the second chamber in a way which enables the longitudinal axes of the joined-together chambers to lie substantially along a straight line.
4. The chamber of claim 2 wherein the stop engages a hole in the flange of the second chamber.
5. The chamber of claim 2 wherein the stop has projections which engage perforations in the base flange of the first chamber.
6. The chamber of claim 2 wherein the chamber comprises a dome for receiving the opposing end of the like chamber, and wherein the stop is mounted on a surface of revolution.
7. The chamber of claim 2 wherein the stop is configurable to be essentially flush with the base flange of the chamber.
8. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the chamber has two stops, each stop preventing motion of said second chamber in a different rotational direction.
9. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the stop limits rotation of the second chamber in a way which enables the longitudinal axes of the joined-together chambers to lie substantially along a straight line.
10. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the stop is a separate element, mechanically attached to the base flange.
11. The chamber of claim 1 wherein the first chamber comprises a dome for receiving the opposing end of the like chamber, and wherein the stop is mounted on the base flange adjacent to the dome.
12. In a chamber for receiving and dispersing water when buried within porous medium, made of molded plastic and having an arch shape cross section and opposing side base flanges, wherein the chamber joins with a like second chamber to form a joint, the improvement which comprises: at least one stop, mounted at the end of one of the chambers, for selectively engaging a portion of said second chamber, to prevent horizontal plane rotation of the chambers in at least one rotational direction, wherein said stop projects upwardly from a base flange of the chamber and wherein the top is an integral part of a base flange, the stop having a first non-working position, wherein the stop lies in the plane of the flange, and a second working position, wherein the stop projects upwardly from the plane of the flange.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the stop is a cantilever tab having a first end which is attached to the base flange and upwardly bendable relative to the base flange; and a second free end, which when the tab is bent upwardly, resiliently engages with a retaining feature in the flange.
14. The chamber of claim 13 wherein the stop tab in its non-working position has a cross shape and is surrounded by channel having indents, the stop comprising at least one living hinge at the base of the upright of the cross shape; wherein the indents comprise said retaining feature.
15. The chamber of claim 14 wherein the stop has a second living hinge, spaced apart along the upright of the cross shape; and, wherein the stop in its working position has a portion which is nominally vertical, for contacting the edge of the base flange of the second chamber.
16. The chamber of claim 12 wherein the chamber has two stops, one on each opposing side base flange, each stop preventing motion of said second chamber in only one rotational direction.
17. The chamber of claim 12 wherein said stop prevents motion of the second chamber in both rotational directions.
18. A chamber for receiving and dispersing water when buried within porous medium, made of molded plastic, comprising:
a corrugated arch shape cross section and opposing side base flanges, the chamber having a dome end, which when overlapped by the opposing end of a second chamber forms a joint between the chambers which permits relative horizontal plane rotation of the chamber; and
two configurable anti-rotation stops, one each mounted on an opposing side base flange proximate the dome end, each stop having a first non-working position, wherein the stop lies in the plane of the flange, and a second working position, wherein the stop projects upwardly from the plane of the flange and engages the end of a second chamber overlapping the dome end, for preventing horizontal plane rotation of the chambers.
19. The chamber of claim 18 , wherein each stop has a cantilever body connected to the base flange by a first living hinge, together with a second living hinge along the length of the body, so that when the stop projects upwardly, the stop body bends about the living hinges to provide a nominally vertical portion which engages the end of the second chamber.