Riser Sections and Risers Made Therefrom
A riser section having a generally tapered, e.g., frustoconical wall, the riser section having a first connector assembly at one end of the riser section and a second connector assembly at the other end of the riser section.
The present invention relates to riser sections, risers made therefrom and more particularly, to risers for use in wastewater treatment (WWT) systems or other buried structures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn WWT systems such as septic systems, aerobic wastewater treatment systems, etc., the main tank(s) are buried at a desired depth, depending upon the grade of the home or residence using the WWT system and other factors. Accordingly, there is a need in the WWT systems for risers, which extend from the buried tank to slightly above grade to allow access to the tank(s) for periodic cleanout, inspection of air diffusers, etc. Because the tank(s) are buried at different depths, it has been common in the industry to make riser sections; e.g., fiberglass, plastic, concrete, metal, etc. with different lengths. These different length riser sections are then connected in end-to-end relationship to achieve a desired overall length of the riser, which extends from the buried tank to about grade.
The problem with the use of these riser sections is they are not stackable or nestable, so that shipping large numbers of these riser sections becomes expensive. It is also recognized that these riser sections must have sufficient structural strength as to not collapse from the weight of surrounding soil.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect of the present invention, there is provided nestable, or stackable riser sections, which can be shipped much more economically.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a nestable riser section, having a first smaller diameter end, and a second larger diameter end.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nestable riser section, which can be easily molded using a single size mold.
A further aspect of the present invention is the provision of a riser section, which can be used to form risers with different size access openings at the end of the riser at, near or above grade.
Still a further aspect of the present invention is that there is provided a riser made from riser sections that has an access cover or hatch, which can be self locking and self sealing.
Another aspect of the present invention is that individual riser sections can be connected in end-to-end relationship without the necessity of screws, bolts or other type fasteners.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a riser made up of riser sections for which no sealing means, e.g. caulking, O-rings or the like are necessary.
These and further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, wherein reference is made to the figures in the accompanying drawings.
As used in the present invention, the term “stackable” or “nestable” refers to a structure of similar size and/or configuration, which can fit together in a separable manner; i.e., a series of structures wherein respective ones of said structures can fit into or on respective others of said structures. While, in general, the riser sections of the present invention will have a circular cross-section, it will be appreciated that other tapered stackable configurations could also be used.
The terms “engagement,” “engagement assembly,” “connection,” “connector assembly,” “connector” or similar words and terms as used herein refer to any formation(s), part, group of parts, whether forming part of the riser sections or separate therefrom, which are useful in connecting the individual riser sections together to form a riser.
While the present invention will be described with respect to a buried tank forming part of a WWT system, it will be understood that it is not so limited. For example, the riser sections of the present invention can be used to form risers for lift stations, to an underground shelter; e.g., storm shelter, or any other underground on buried structure.
Referring first to
Referring now to
Projecting upwardly from surface 17A of lip 17 are a pair of headed keys 22, keys 22 being circumferentially displaced 180° from one another. Also formed in lip 17 are a pair of keyholes 24, keyholes 24 being spaced at 180° from one another and accordingly, at 90° from keys 22. There is an annular groove 19 in surface 17A for the receipt of an O-ring or similar seal.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
As can be seen in
One of the features of the embodiment of the present invention shown in
In connecting successive riser sections together, and as shown in
Referring now to
While in the description above, the riser sections have been described in connection with forming a riser, which will extend between a buried tank or the like to slightly above grade, it will be recognized that the riser formed can, at its uppermost end, be at about grade; i.e., slightly below grade, at grade, or slightly above grade. Furthermore, it will be understood that the riser sections can be used to form risers which extend significantly above grade if such is needed. Also longitudinally extending tubular members made of riser sections 15 may be formed; e.g., to connect one buried structure to another buried structure.
In the embodiments discussed in
Referring now to
In a similar fashion, a plurality of circumferentially spaced tabs 70 project radially outwardly from the outer edge 72 of flange 46. Like-tabs 56, tabs 70 have an intermediate portion 74, which is attached to and generally coplanar with flange 46. Likewise, each of tabs 70 has a pair of spaced flaps or wings 76, which project axially downwardly from flange 46. As will be seen hereafter, flaps 60 and 76 form ramps or camming surfaces to allow adjacent riser sections 40 to be connected in end-to-end relationship to form a riser.
It can be seen with reference to
Referring now to
Referrring now to
Referring now to
The larger diameter end of riser section 102 includes an annular, radially outwardly extending rib 130 which projects outwardly from wall 106, rib 130 having an annular, radially outwardly extending flange 132 having a series of circumferentially spaced holes 134. Rib 130 has an annularly extending, axially facing groove 136 in which is received a seal ring 138. To connect the large diameter ends of riser sections 102 together, a ring 140 having a cross-shaped cross-section with a horizontal arm 142 and a vertical arm 144 is used. As is shown in
It will be understood that with respect to the embodiments shown in
It will be understood that the embodiments shown in
Referring now to
The larger end of riser section 192 has an annular radially outwardly extending rib 206 having an annular, radially outwardly extending lip 207 with a series of circumferentially spaced bolt holes 208, and an annular axially facing groove 210, a seal ring 212 being received in groove 210.
Male riser section 194 has a generally frustoconical wall 214, the smaller diameter end of riser section 194 having an annular, radially inwardly extending lip 216 with a series of circumferentially spaced bores or openings 218. There is also an axially projecting, annularly extending rib 220. The larger diameter end of riser section 194 has an annular, radially outwardly extending flange 222 having a series of circumferentially spaced bolt holes 224 and an annular, axially facing rib 226.
To connect riser sections 192 and 194, and with respect first to the larger ends thereof, annular ribs 226 are received in annular grooves 210, ribs 226 engaging seal ring 212. When seated together, a bolt 240 is received through registering holes 208 and 224 and is threadedly connected to a nut 242 whereby the larger ends of the risers 192 and 194 are compressed together and are in fluid tight engagement by virtue of seal 212.
To connect the smaller ends of risers 192 and 194, rib 220 of riser 194 is received in groove 200 of riser 192 and a nut/bolt combination 230 received in registering holes 204 and 218 in riser sections 192 and 194, respectively, urge rib 220 into engagement with seal 202, thereby providing a fluid tight seal.
Although, as noted, the riser sections differ in that female riser sections 192 are provided with receiving formations, i.e., grooves 200 and 210 forming a female part of a connector or connecting apparatus, male riser sections 194 have projecting formations in the form of ribs 226 and 220. In other words, the respective ends of the riser sections have formations which are projecting as to one end and receiving as to other such that one riser section forms part of a connector or connector assembly having a female or receiving portion while an adjacent riser section has a connector or connector assembly comprised of a male or projecting formation.
It can also be seen that while the individual riser sections 192 and 194 differ in their connecting assemblies at their respective ends, each riser section is stackable. Thus, with reference to
Referring now to
Referring again to
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In order to lock sections 300 together, each end of the sections 300 is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced, axially projecting hooks or dogs shown generally as 320. As best seen with reference to
It will be understood that although only the connector assembly at the larger diameter end of the riser sections shown in
Turning next to
In a similar fashion, radially inwardly extending flange 404 on first end 401 of riser section 400 has an annular groove 406 and a seal ring groove/seal ring combination shown generally as 412.
Riser sections 400 are connected to one another by a series of clips shown generally as 500. As can be seen in
It will be understood and as seen in the drawings, to connect the other ends of the riser sections 400 together, the same procedure is employed with an exception of course being that at the smaller end of the riser section 400, the clips are on the inside of the walls of the riser section 400 such that the clips extend radially inwardly as opposed to the clips connecting the larger areas of the riser sections which extend radially outwardly. In all other respects, the connection method is the same.
Referring now to
There are a plurality of latch assemblies shown generally as 608 at circumferentially spaced intervals adjacent end 610 of the riser section 600. Each latch assembly 608 has a body portion 612 having portions 614 which connect to the wall 602 of riser section 600. Each latch 608 is provided with elastic fingers 616 extending axially from and connected elastically to body portion 612. As best seen in
To connect the end 603 of adjacent riser sections together, it is only necessary to align the end faces of the riser sections and then compressively urge them together. In this regard, and with reference to
Although in the description of
Other than the riser sections of the present invention being nestable or stackable and therefore much more economical to ship and store, it will be appreciated that most of the riser sections can be formed from a single mold, which can turn out multiple, same height riser sections. Furthermore, the individual riser sections can be made quite short; e.g., three to twelve inches in length and thus becomes quite easy to provide a desired height riser between a buried tank and grade.
It will be appreciated that, although as described above, the riser sections are connected with interlocking keys/keyhole, camming surfaces, nut/bolt assemblies etc., the riser sections could employ other fasteners if desired. However the connection is made between individual sections to form a riser, the desirably is some ability or structure to compress abutting end surfaces of the individual sections together, so that a water tight seal is obtained, either with or without a separate seal member.
In many of the embodiments discussed above, radially projecting lips, ribs, flanges, etc. impact structural stability. It will be appreciated, however, that axially extending ribs or the like on the frustoconical walls of the riser sections could also be employed to impart sufficient structural integrity. In other words, certain of the riser sections could be formed without flanges, lips, ribs or the like at opposite ends of the tapered walls forming the riser sections and connection between the riser sections would be accomplished by formations projecting as to one and receiving as to the other, which were formed on the axially facing ends of the frustoconical walls forming the riser sections. In this manner, there would be substantially no radially projecting ribs, lips, flanges, etc., whether inwardly or outwardly.
Virtually any type of formation projecting as to one and receiving as to the other, or connecting assembly can be employed to connect adjacent ends of the individual riser sections together. However, it is desired that the individual sections be produceable from a single mold, although such is not necessary.
As noted above, one advantage of some of the riser sections of the present invention is that a riser can be formed of monolithic pieces. In other words, the riser sections not only form an axial portion of the riser, but the riser sections are connectible to one another by virtue of structures or formations formed on the ends of the individual riser sections which engage to connect them together, as described above. Accordingly, in such cases, as shown, fasteners such as screws, nuts and bolts, etc., could be eliminated.
One of the problems with prior art riser sections which are almost universally connected by means of fasteners such as nut/bolt assemblies, is that these fasteners, because they are made of metal, are prone to corrode and break, meaning that the individual riser sections may leak because the abutting faces of the individual sections are no longer being held together. Furthermore, in the installation, the use of monolithic riser sections of the present invention reduces the number of parts that an installer needs. It will be remembered that, particularly in the case of WWT systems, the WWT system may be installed at a remote location. For efficiency, this necessitates that the installer have all the parts needed to connect the riser sections to form the desired height of the riser. It is not uncommon for an installer, when at a WWT system site, to not have the necessary fasteners, meaning that a further trip must be made to obtain such fasteners so that the individual sections can be connected.
One of the many advantages of the riser sections of the present invention is that inventory can be reduced and accordingly, storage space reduced. For example, if the riser sections are all made with a 3″ to 5″ vertical height, only riser sections falling within that range need be stored in inventory.
Although as noted above, if a single, desired height riser section is all that is desired, only a single mold is necessary to produce the individual riser sections. However, it is not intended that the present invention be limited to the use of one size mold. For example, if it was desired to have a family of riser sections instead of a single vertical height riser section, multiple molds could be employed, each of the molds having different tapers, such that even though the riser sections would have different heights, they could still be connected together because their ODs at the smaller end and the larger end would still mate; i.e., be in register. Thus, one could form a family of riser sections; e.g., 2″, 5″, 12″, meaning that there would be three different molds of three different tapers, the goal being that the small ends of the riser sections, regardless of their height, would connect together and the large end of the riser sections, regardless of their height, would also connect together; i.e., the small ends of the smallest riser sections and the small ends of the largest riser sections in the family would be in register with one another when they are being connected together as would be the case with the large diameter ends of the riser sections.
Although the riser sections can be made over a wide range of height and diameters, generally, the diameter of the riser sections at the small end of the tapered wall would generally be about 10″ or greater, while the diameter of the tapered wall sections on the large end could be as large as 38″ or larger.
Although as described above, the riser formed from the riser sections of the present invention has a lid fastened at the upper end of the riser about at grade, it will be understood that it can be made with the same connecting formations used with individual riser sections. Further, the lids could be made in different heights so that almost the exactly desired height of the riser, including the hatch or cover could be achieved. Also, the lids could be made in such a way that individual lid portions could be connected together much in the same way that the individual riser sections are connected together.
It can thus been from the above that the riser sections of the present invention can be connected together using a wide variety of connector assemblies or connectors to form risers of desired length. For example, the riser sections can be connected as shown in
Claims
1. A tapered riser section comprising:
- a riser body having a tapered wall, said tapered wall having a first end forming a first opening and a second end forming a second, larger, opening;
- said first end having a first connector assembly, said second end having a second connector assembly, said first and second connector assemblies being operative to connect adjoining ends of riser sections to form a riser of desired length, respective ones of said riser sections being nestable.
2. The riser section of claim 1, wherein said wall is generally frustoconical.
3. The riser section of claim 2, further comprising:
- an annular, radially inwardly extending lip on said first end and an annular, radially outwardly extending flange on said second end.
4. The riser section of claim 3, wherein said lip comprises an upper, axially facing lip surface and there is at least one key projecting axially from said lip surface and at least one keyhole formed in said lip and said flange has an upper, axially facing flange surface and there is at least one key projecting from said flange surface and at least one keyhole formed in said flange.
5. The riser section of claim 4, wherein there are at least two circumferentially spaced keys on said lip surface, at least two circumferentially spaced keyholes in said lip, at least two circumferentially spaced keys on said flange surface, and at least two circumferentially spaced keyholes in said flange.
6. The riser section of claim 3, wherein said lip has an annular, radially innermost peripheral lip edge and there are a plurality of first locking tabs projecting radially inwardly from said lip edge and said flange has an annular, radially outermost peripheral flange edge, and there are a plurality of second locking tabs projecting radially outwardly from said flange edge, each of said locking tabs having camming surfaces.
7. The riser section of claim 6, wherein said lip first locking tabs comprise a central portion attached to said lip edge and first and second spaced wing portions on opposite sides of said central portion extending upwardly relative to said central portion, said second tabs comprising a central portion attached to said flange edge and first and second spaced wing portions on opposite sides of said central portion extending downwardly relative to said central portion.
8. The riser section of claim 7, wherein respective ones of first tabs on a first riser section are cammed together with respective ones of first tabs on a second, adjacent riser section wherein first ends of said first and second riser sections are connected to one another.
9. The riser section of claim 1, further comprising:
- an annular, radially inwardly extending first rib on said first end, and an annular, radially outwardly extending second rib on said second end.
10. The riser section of claim 9, wherein there is a first annular, axially facing groove formed in said first rib and a second annular, axially facing groove formed in said second rib.
11. The riser section of claim 10, wherein said connector assembly comprises an annular ring having first and second oppositely directed, axially extending annular splines.
12. The riser section of claim 9, wherein there is an annular lip extending radially inwardly from said first rib and an annular flange extending radially outwardly from said second rib.
13. The riser section of claim 12, wherein said rib is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced holes and said flange is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced holes.
14. The riser section of claim 3, further comprising:
- a first, annular, axially projecting spline on said lip and a second annular, axially projecting spline on said flange.
15. The riser section of claim 14, wherein said connector assembly comprises an annular ring being H-shaped in cross-section and having first and second annular axially opposite facing grooves.
16. The riser section of claim 9, wherein said first rib has an annular, axially upwardly facing first groove and said second rib has an annular, axially downwardly facing second groove.
17. The riser section of claim 9, wherein said first annular rib has an annular radially innermost peripheral first rib surface and there are a plurality of first circumferentially spaced, axially upwardly extending hook shaped members depending from said first rib surface, said first hook shaped members having an axially projecting leg portion and a generally radially projecting foot portion, said foot portion being wedge shaped and said second rib has an annular, radially outermost peripheral second rib surface and there are a plurality of second circumferentially spaced, axially downwardly extending hook shaped members depending from said second rib surface, said second hook shaped members having a generally axially projecting leg portion and a generally radially extending foot portion, said foot portion being generally wedge shaped.
18. The riser section of claim 3, wherein said lip has a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes and said flange has a plurality of circumferentially spaced holes.
19. A riser, comprising:
- a first riser section having a frustoconical wall, a first, smaller end and a second, larger end;
- a second riser section having a frustoconical wall, a first, smaller end and a second, larger end;
- said first ends of said first and second riser sections having formations projecting as to one and receiving as to another, said second ends of said riser sections having formations projecting as to one and receiving as to another, whereby respective of first ends of first and second riser sections can be connected together; and
- a compression assembly to urge said first ends of said first and second riser sections together.
20. The riser of claim 19, wherein one of said formations comprises an annular, axially facing groove on the first end of said first riser section and one of said formations comprises an annular, axially projecting spline on the first end of said second riser section.
21. The riser section of claim 20, wherein said groove has an annular seal ring disposed therein.
22. The riser section of claim 20, wherein said second ends of said first and second riser sections have formations projecting as to one and receiving as to the other.
23. A riser, comprising:
- a first riser section and a second riser section, said first riser section having a first smaller end and a second larger end, said first smaller end having an annular, axially facing first groove, said second riser section having a smaller diameter end and a larger diameter end, said smaller diameter end having an annular, axially facing second groove;
- an annular spline having a first axial end and a second axial end, said first axial end being received in said first groove, said second axial end of said spline being received in said second groove; and
- a compression assembly to urge said smaller ends of said first and second riser sections together.
24. The riser section of claim 22, wherein there is a first seal ring disposed in said first annular groove and a second seal ring disposed in said second annular groove.
25. A riser, comprising:
- first and second riser sections having frustoconical walls, said first riser section having a first, axially projecting spline at a first end of said first riser section, said second riser section having a second, axially projecting spline at a first end of said second riser section, an annular, H-shaped ring having a first, axially facing opening for receipt of said first annular spline and a second, axially facing opening for receipt of said second annular spline; and
- a compression assembly to urge said first ends of said first and second riser sections together.
26. A riser, comprising:
- first and second riser sections having frustoconical walls, said first riser section having a first, annular rib with a first annular, axially facing groove, said second riser section having a second, annular rib with a second annular, axially facing groove, said first and second axially facing grooves being in register with one another;
- a seal ring disposed in said first and second annular grooves; and
- a compression assembly to urge said first and second riser sections together.
27. A riser, comprising:
- a first riser section and a second riser section, said first riser section having a smaller diameter end and a larger diameter end, said larger diameter end having an annular, axially facing, first groove, said second riser section having a smaller diameter end and a larger diameter end, said smaller diameter end having an annular, axially facing, second groove;
- a connecting ring, said connecting ring having a base with a first surface and a second surface, a first annular, axially projecting spline extending from said first surface and a second, axially projecting spline extending from said second surface, said first spline having a diameter substantially the same as a diameter of said first groove, said second spline having a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of said second groove, said first spline being receivable in said first groove, said second spline being receivable in said second groove; and
- a compression assembly to urge said first and second riser sections together.
28. A below-ground accessible structure buried at a desired depth below grade, comprising:
- a subsurface structure having at least one opening;
- a riser having a first end operatively connected to said opening in said structure and a second end accessible from above-ground so as to provide access into said structure, said riser comprising: at least two riser sections, each of said riser sections having a frustoconical wall with a first end and a second end; and a connector for connecting adjacent ends of said first and second riser sections.
29. The riser section of claim 1, further comprising:
- a first, annular, radially inwardly extending flange on said first end and a second, annular, radially outwardly extending flange on said second end, said first flange having a top surface and a bottom surface, there being a first, annular, axially facing clip groove in said top surface, and said second flange having a top surface and a bottom surface, there being a second, annular, axially facing clip groove in said bottom surface.
30. The riser section of claim 29, wherein there is a first plurality of generally U-shaped clips connecting the first ends of adjacent riser sections and a second plurality of generally U-shaped clips connecting the second ends of adjacent riser sections.
31. The riser section of claim 29, wherein said generally U-shaped clips comprise a body and first and second spaced arms extending laterally outwardly from said body, each of said arms having an inwardly facing dog, said dogs forming a slot therebetween.
32. The riser section of claim 30, wherein the dogs on one of said first and second arms of said first plurality of clips are received in said first clip groove of said riser section, the dogs on the other of said first and second arms of said first plurality of clips are received in the first clip groove of an adjacent riser section, and the dogs on one of the first and second arms of said second plurality of clips are received in said second clip groove of said riser section, and the dogs on the other of said first and second arms of said second plurality of clips are received in the second clip groove of an adjacent riser section.
33. The riser section of claim 31, wherein said first and second fingers are elastically connected to said body.
34. The riser section of claim 29, wherein said first flange has a first annular seal ring groove on said bottom surface of said first flange and said second flange has a second, annular seal ring groove on said top surface of said second flange.
35. The riser section of claim 1, wherein said first end has a first annular, radially inwardly extending lip, and said second end has a second annular, radially outwardly extending lip.
36. The riser section of claim 35, wherein there is a first plurality of circumferentially displaced latches connected to the interior of said wall adjacent said first end and a second plurality of circumferentially displaced latches connected to the exterior of said wall adjacent said second end, each of said latches comprising a body portion attached to said wall, an elastic arm attached to said body portion and extending axially beyond said first end in the case of said first plurality of latches and axially beyond said second end in the case of said second plurality of latches, said arm having a radially projecting dog, said dog projecting toward said wall and having an undercut surface, said first and second lips having an annular, axially facing angled surface, the angle of said undercut and the angle of said angled surface being generally complementary.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 14, 2012
Publication Date: Dec 19, 2013
Inventors: Jerry L. McKinney (Silsbee, TX), Rainer Kuenzel (Hunt, TX)
Application Number: 13/523,089
International Classification: E03F 5/02 (20060101); E02D 29/12 (20060101);