Leaching chamber with integrated distribution channel
The present application relates to leaching chambers, for receiving, collecting and dispersing water underground, leaching assemblies and kits comprising the same, and methods and uses thereof. More particularly, provided is a leaching chamber comprising: an elongated body having a top wall, two opposing sidewalls extending downwardly from each side, said elongated body defining an internal chamber having an open bottom to allow for discharge of the water; and a distribution channel formed integrally within the top wall and configured for receiving and dispersing the water, said distribution channel being formed longitudinally and being perforated for draining the water into the internal chamber, wherein said elongated body and said distribution channel form a single unitary piece.
1 . A leaching chamber for collecting and dispersing water, comprising:
an elongated body having a top wall, two opposing sidewalls extending downwardly from each side of the top wall, said elongated body defining an internal chamber for collecting the water and having an open bottom to allow for discharge of the water; and
a distribution channel formed integrally within the top wall of the elongated body and configured for receiving and dispersing the water, said distribution channel being formed longitudinally and being perforated along the elongated body for draining the water into the internal chamber, wherein said elongated body and said distribution channel form a single unitary piece;
wherein said distribution channel has an open top and said leaching chamber further comprises a channel cover for protecting said distribution channel from backfill when buried and said distribution channel comprises depressions formed on an upper portion of each side of the distribution channel for receiving the channel cover.
2 . The leaching chamber of claim 1 , further comprising at least one structural tab having a first end connected to a bottom end of one of the two sidewalls, said at least one structural tab extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the internal chamber and having a second end connected to a bottom end of the other of the two sidewalls, wherein said at least one structural tab is configured to retain the sidewalls and prevent lateral deformation.
3 . The leaching chamber of claim 2 , wherein said at least one structural tab is formed within the single unitary piece.
4 . The leaching chamber of claim 2 , wherein said at least one structural tab is a separate piece removably fixable to the bottom end of each of the opposing sidewalls.
5 . The leaching chamber of claim 2 , wherein at least two structural tabs are provided, one at each end of the elongated body.
6 . The leaching chamber of claim 1 , further comprising sitting ends at the bottom end of each opposing sidewalls and extending outwardly from the elongated body.
7 . The leaching chamber of claim 6 , wherein an angle formed between the sidewalls and the sitting ends is from about 90° to about 135°.
8 . The leaching chamber of claim 1 , wherein the elongated body has a height to width ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:3.
9 . The leaching chamber of claim 1 , wherein an angle formed between the top wall and the sidewalls is from about 90° to about 135°.
10 . The leaching chamber of claim 1 , wherein said distribution channel is perforated at a bottom, at lateral sides or a combination thereof.
11 . The leaching chamber of claim 10 , wherein lateral perforations may extend at an angle from about 0 degrees to about 80 degrees from a center of the bottom along the lateral sides of the channel.
12 . The leaching chamber of claim 1 , wherein the distribution channel is perforated in a ratio of about 1 perforation per meter to about 24 perforations per meter.
13 . The leaching chamber of claim 1 , wherein the channel cover comprises lateral supports to be received within the depressions.
14 . The leaching chamber of claim 13 , wherein the lateral supports are present on about 25% to about 100% of the length of the cover.
15 . The leaching chamber of claim 13 , wherein the height of the lateral supports is about 5% to about 50% of the height of the distribution channel.
16 . The leaching chamber of claim 1 , wherein said sidewalls are corrugated comprising alternating peaks and valleys extending from said top wall and downwardly towards the bottom end of each of said sidewalls.
17 . The leaching chamber of claim 1 , further comprising fastening means at each end of said elongated body for securing multiple leaching chambers consecutively.
18 . The leaching chamber of claim 17 , wherein said fastening means on one end of a leaching chamber is complementary to fastening means on one end of a second leaching chamber.
19 . The leaching chamber of claim 1 , wherein said elongated body has a substantially arch-shaped cross-section.
20 . The leaching chamber of claim 1 , configured to be stackable with a plurality of said leaching chambers.