Modular riser base

Abstract

A modular riser base suitable for use in a lift pump station, a sump pump station, a drainage holding unit and the like. The riser base can include a top side with a substantially flat surface for supporting a pump. The modular riser base includes a bottom side having reinforcing support structure for strengthening the riser base. The modular riser base further includes a raised perimeter edge extending from a top surface of the top side. The edge forms a connecting member for interconnecting with a mating edge of an associated riser component. The height of the riser base is preferably less than the diameter of an inlet pipe delivering effluent to the station.

1 . A modular riser base comprising: 
 a top side having an area with a substantially flat surface;    a bottom side having reinforcing support structure for strengthening the top side of the riser base; and    a raised perimeter edge extending from the surface of the top side, the raised perimeter edge forming a connection edge for interconnecting a riser component to the riser base.    
   
   
       2 . The riser base of  claim 1 , wherein the edge is a tongue for a tongue and groove connection joint.  
   
   
       3 . The riser base of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an outer band encompassing the perimeter edge, the outer band held in fixed relationship to the edge with a plurality of spokes extending between the perimeter edge and the outer band.    
   
   
       4 . The riser base of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure includes a plurality of ribs extending radially from the center of the riser base to the outer band.  
   
   
       5 . The riser base of  claim 4 , wherein the support structure further includes at least one intermediate band positioned radially inward relative to the outer band, the at least one intermediate band constructed and arranged to connect the radial stiffening ribs together at an intermediate radial location.  
   
   
       6 . The riser base of  claim 1 , wherein a height defined by the distance between the top of the raised edge and the bottom side of the riser base is less than a diameter of an inlet pipe delivering liquid to a pump station formed on the riser base.  
   
   
       7 . The riser base of  claim 1 , wherein a height defined by the distance between the raised edge and the bottom side is less than approximately three inches.  
   
   
       8 . The riser base of  claim 1 , wherein the riser base includes a member for permitting a threaded fastener to threadingly engage therewith.  
   
   
       9 . The riser base of  claim 8 , wherein the member receives a self-tapping threaded fastener.  
   
   
       10 . The riser base of  claim 8 , wherein the member includes at least two closely spaced spokes.  
   
   
       11 . The riser base of  claim 1 , wherein the riser base is formed in a substantially circular shape.  
   
   
       12 . The riser base of  claim 1 , wherein the riser base is formed from plastic material.  
   
   
       13 . The riser base of  claim 1 , wherein the plastic material is injection molded.  
   
   
       14 . A modular lift pump station comprising: 
 a riser base having a top side, a bottom side, and a height defined by a distance between the top side and the bottom side, the height being less than a diameter of a pipe delivering liquid to the lift pump station;    a pump positioned on the riser base for pumping liquid from the riser base to a lift height; and    at least one riser stacked on the riser base, the riser permitting the liquid to discharge at the lift height through an outlet pipe extending through a sidewall of the riser.    
   
   
       15 . The modular lift pump station of  claim 14  wherein the riser base further comprises: 
 a top side having a surface for supporting the pump,    a bottom side having reinforcing support structure for strengthening the riser base; and    a raised perimeter edge extending from the surface of the top side forming a connecting edge member for connecting to a riser.    
   
   
       16 . The modular lift pump station of  claim 15 , wherein the connecting edge member is one of a tongue and a substantially U-shaped cross-section groove for a tongue and groove connection joint.  
   
   
       17 . The modular station of  claim 15 , wherein the top side includes a substantially flat surface.  
   
   
       18 . The modular station of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 a cover to close off the modular lift pump station.    
   
   
       19 . The modular station of  claim 15 , wherein the riser base includes: 
 an outer band encompassing the perimeter edge and a plurality of spokes extending between the perimeter edge and the outer band.    
   
   
       20 . The modular station of  claim 19 , wherein the support structure includes a plurality of ribs extending radially from the center of the riser base to the outer band.  
   
   
       21 . The modular station of  claim 19 , wherein the support structure further includes at least one intermediate band positioned radially inward relative to the outer band, the at least one intermediate band adapted to connect the radial stiffening ribs together at an intermediate radial location.  
   
   
       22 . The modular station of  claim 14 , wherein the height of the riser base is less than approximately three inches.  
   
   
       23 . The modular station of  claim 14 , wherein the riser base includes a member for permitting a threaded fastener to threadingly engage therewith.  
   
   
       24 . The modular station of  claim 23 , wherein the member is engageable with a self-tapping threaded fastener.  
   
   
       25 . The modular station of  claim 14 , wherein the riser base is formed in a substantially circular shape.  
   
   
       26 . The modular station of  claim 14 , wherein the riser base includes a connecting edge for connecting with an adjacent riser.  
   
   
       27 . The modular station of  claim 14 , wherein a first riser is configured to stack on top of the riser base, the riser having a groove formed in the bottom side thereof for receiving the raised perimeter edge of the riser base therein, wherein the edge and groove form a locking tongue and groove engagement between the riser base and the riser.  
   
   
       28 . The modular station of  claim 14 , wherein each riser includes a raised perimeter edge formed on a top side and a mating groove formed in a bottom side for permitting a plurality of risers to stackingly engage one another with a tongue and groove arrangement.  
   
   
       29 . The modular station of  claim 14 , wherein each riser further includes at least one cut-out section forming a through aperture for permitting an inlet or outlet pipe to extend therethrough.  
   
   
       30 . The modular station of  claim 14 , wherein the riser base is formed in a substantially circular shape.  
   
   
       31 . The modular station of  claim 14 , wherein each riser includes a plurality of stiffening ribs on at least one of an inner surface and an outer surface.  
   
   
       32 . The modular station of  claim 14 , wherein the riser base forms a base for a sump pump station.  
   
   
       33 . The modular station of  claim 14 , including a cover sealingly engaged with a riser.  
   
   
       34 . A method for pumping effluent with a lift pump station comprising: 
 providing a riser base having a height less than a diameter of an inlet pipe;    positioning a pump on the riser base;    stacking at least one riser on the riser base to a lift height required to pump effluent to a desired elevated location;    positioning at least one outlet pipe through a side wall of a riser corresponding to the lift height required to pump effluent; and    pumping effluent from the lift pump station through the at least one outlet pipe;    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising: 
 sealing a connection between the riser base and the riser.    
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising: 
 fitting a cover over an uppermost riser to close off the lift station.    
   
   
       37 . A method for converting a riser to a lift station, comprising: 
 providing a riser base having a height less than a diameter of an inlet pipe;    positioning a pump on the riser base;    stacking at least one riser on the riser base to a lift height required to pump effluent to a required elevated location;    sealing a connection between the riser and the riser base; and    positioning at least one outlet pipe through a side wall of a riser corresponding to the predetermined lift height required to pump effluent.    
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising: 
 sealing a connection between the riser base, the first riser, and each subsequent riser with a sealing member.    
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the sealing member is a mastic sealant or a preformed gasket.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising: 
 fitting a cover over an uppermost riser to close off the lift station.    
   
   
       41 . A drainage holding unit, comprising: 
 a riser base having a top side, a bottom side, and a height defined by a distance between the top side and the bottom side, the height being less than a diameter of a pipe delivering fluid to the holding unit;    at least one riser stacked on the riser base to hold the fluid;    an inlet pipe connected to the riser for delivering fluid from a relatively higher location; and    an outlet pipe connected to the riser for discharging the fluid to a relatively lower location.    
   
   
       42 . The holding unit of  claim 37 , wherein the outlet pipe is located below the inlet pipe and fluid is discharged from the holding unit without using a pump.  
   
   
       43 . A drainage holding unit, comprising: 
 a riser base having a top side, a bottom side, and a height defined by a distance between the top side and the bottom side, the height being less than a diameter of a pipe delivering fluid to the holding unit;    at least one riser stacked on the riser base to hold the fluid;    an inlet pipe connected to the riser for delivering fluid from a relatively lower location; and    an outlet pipe connected to a pump for discharging the fluid to a relatively higher location.    
   
   
       44 . A modular lift pump station comprising: 
 a riser base having a top surface,    a pump positioned on the top surface for pumping liquid from the riser base to a lift height; and    at least one riser stacked on the riser base, the riser permitting the liquid to discharge at the lift height through an outlet pipe extending through a sidewall of the riser, and the distance between a bottom edge of the riser and the top surface of the riser base ranges between substantially flush to approximately a diameter of an inlet pipe delivering liquid to the lift pump station.    
   
   
       45 . The modular lift pump station of  claim 44 , wherein the riser base further comprises: 
 a top side having a substantially flat surface along at least a portion thereof for supporting the pump,    a bottom side having reinforcing support structure for strengthening the riser base; and    a raised perimeter edge extending from the surface of the top side forming a connecting edge member for connecting to a riser.    
   
   
       46 . The modular lift pump station of  claim 44 , wherein the connecting edge member is one of a tongue and a substantially U-shaped cross-section groove for a tongue and groove connection joint.  
   
   
       47 . The modular station of  claim 44 , further comprising: 
 a cover to close off the modular lift pump station.