Tubular element with light weight aggregate filling
The tubular element is made with a sleeve formed of a spun bonded polyester material that allows the passage of water and prevents the passage of soil when used for a drainage element. The tubular element is made with small diameters that allows the element to be coiled about a three-dimensional object when used as a cushioning device.
1 . A tubular element comprising a mass of light weight discrete thermoplastic aggregate; and a sleeve encasing said mass of discrete aggregate, said tubular element characterized in having a predetermined outer diameter (D) and a length (L) to diameter (D) ratio of from at least 30 to 10 and in being sufficiently flexible over the length thereof to coil about a three-dimensional object.
2 . A tubular element as set forth in claim 1 further comprising tie means closing around a gathered end of said sleeve at each end thereof to retain said aggregate therein.
3 . A tubular element as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is a membrane having a grab tensile strength of 61/61 lbf as measured under ASTM D-5034 and a grab elongation to break in % of 45/50 as measured under ASTM D-5034.
4 . A tubular element as set forth in claim 3 where said membrane is made of spun bonded non-woven polyester.
5 . A tubular element as set forth in claim 1 having a diameter of from 1 inch to 36 inches.
6 . In combination
at least one three-dimensional object;
at least one tubular element coiled about said object, said element comprising a mass of light weight discrete thermoplastic aggregate and a sleeve encasing said mass of discrete aggregate; and
a layer of shrink-wrap enveloping said object and said element.
7 . The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said tubular element has a diameter of from 1 inch to 36 inches.
8 . In a water drainage system, the combination of
a plurality of horizontally disposed drainage elements disposed in a linear array within a layer of soil, each said drainage element having a mass of light weight discrete aggregate defining passageways for a flow of water therethrough and a sleeve encasing said mass of discrete aggregate; and
a plurality of vertically disposed drainage elements below said horizontally disposed drainage elements for receiving flows of water therefrom, each said vertically disposed drainage element having a mass of light weight discrete aggregate defining passageways for a flow of water therethrough and a sleeve encasing said mass of discrete aggregate.
9 . A water drainage system as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a plurality of strips of filter material, each said strip bridging over a respective pair of said horizontally disposed drainage elements, each said strip having a plurality of interstices characterized in being of a size for the passage of water therethrough and the filtering of fine particles of solid material from the water passing through said strip.
10 . A water drainage system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said sleeve of each said horizontally disposed drainage element includes an upper peripheral portion of a water-permeable filter material for the passage of water therethrough and the filtering of fine particles of solid material from the water passing through said material and a lower peripheral portion of net material having openings for retaining said aggregate and allowing the passage of water;
11 . A water drainage system as set forth in claim 8 wherein each said vertically disposed drainage element includes a perforated pipe extending vertically within said mass of aggregate for accumulating water therein.
12 . A water drainage system as set forth in claim 11 wherein at least one end of said pipe is disposed within said mass of aggregate and a screen is disposed over said one end of said pipe within said mass of aggregate for blocking entry of said aggregate into said pipe.
13 . A dry well comprising
an excavation in a ground surface defining a hole for receiving water run off; and
at least one vertically disposed drainage element in said hole for receiving the water run off, said drainage element having a mass of light weight discrete aggregate defining passageways for a flow of water therethrough and a sleeve encasing said mass of discrete aggregate.
14 . A dry well as set forth in claim 13 comprising a bundle of said drainage elements disposed in parallel in said hole.
15 . A dry well as set forth in claim 13 comprising a plurality of said drainage elements disposed in series in said hole one over the other.
16 . A dry well as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a perforated pipe extending vertically within said mass of aggregate for accumulating water therein.