Hydraulic wick apparatus and method

Abstract

A roadway wick comprises a perforated drain pipe, and a wicking assembly encasing the perforated drain pipe. The roadway wick is operable to absorb accumulated water under the roadway and conduct and drain the water from under the roadway.

1 . A roadway wick, comprising: 
 a perforated drain pipe; and    a wicking assembly encasing the perforated drain pipe.    
     
     
         2 . The roadway wick, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the wicking assembly comprises a layer of filter aggregates sandwiched between first and second layers of wicking fabric.  
     
     
         3 . The roadway wick, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the filter aggregate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of rubber chunks, rock aggregate, and sand.  
     
     
         4 . The roadway wick, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the wicking fabric comprises a woven textile.  
     
     
         5 . The roadway wick, as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the wicking fabric comprises a non-woven textile.  
     
     
         6 . The roadway wick, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the wicking assembly forms a tube encasing the perforated drain pipe.  
     
     
         7 . The roadway wick, as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a pipe casing over the wicking assembly and the perforated drain pipe used during installation.  
     
     
         8 . The roadway wick, as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising an anchor rope fastened to at least one end of the wicking assembly.  
     
     
         9 . A method comprising: 
 forming a passageway under a roadway, the passageway in fluid communication with accumulated liquids under the roadway;    drawing a pipe casing encasing a roadway wick into the passageway, the roadway wick having a perforated drain pipe encased within a wicking assembly;    withdrawing the pipe casing; and    allowing accumulated liquids to be drawn into the perforated drain pipe through the wicking assembly and drain out of the passageway.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein drawing a pipe casing encasing a roadway wick into the passageway comprises drawing a pipe casing encasing a wicking assembly and a perforated drain pipe into the passageway.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , drawing a pipe casing encasing a wicking assembly comprises drawing a pipe casing encasing a layer of filter aggregates sandwiched between first and second layers of wicking fabric.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising securing the roadway wick prior to withdrawing the pipe casing.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein securing the roadway wick comprises fastening an anchor rope fastened to at least one end of the wicking assembly to a fixed object prior to withdrawing the pipe casing.  
     
     
         14 . A method of making a roadway wick, comprising: 
 forming a wicking assembly; and    encasing a perforated drain pipe with the wicking assembly.    
     
     
         15 . The method, as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein forming the wicking assembly comprises sandwiching a layer of filter aggregates between first and second layers of wicking fabric.  
     
     
         16 . The method, as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein forming the wicking assembly comprises forming a tubular wicking assembly.  
     
     
         17 . The method, as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising fastening an anchor rope to at least one end of the wicking assembly.  
     
     
         18 . The method, as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising fastening an anchor rope to an entire length of the wicking assembly.