Drain field systems and methods for implementing same

Abstract

A drain field system including a trench having two sidewalls and a floor, one or more perforated drainage pipes, and one or more contained aggregate bundles placed in the vicinity of the drainage pipe. In one application, a system includes two aggregate bundles disposed on the floor of a trench with a drainage pipe placed between the two bundles on the trench floor. In another application, a drainage pipe is placed on top of two contained aggregate bundles that have been placed side by side in a trench.

1 . A drain field system comprising, 
 a trench having a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a floor;    at least one perforated drainage pipe; and    at least one contained aggregate bundle,    wherein the at least one perforated drainage is pipe placed in the vicinity of and outside of the at least one aggregate bundle.    
   
   
       2 . The drain field system according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein a first one of the at least one contained aggregate bundle is disposed on the floor of the trench and is in contact with the first sidewall of the trench,    wherein a second one of the at least one contained aggregate bundle is disposed on the floor of the trench and is in contact with the first one of the at least one contained aggregate bundle, and    wherein a first one of the at least one perforated drainage pipe is disposed on the first and second ones of the at least one contained aggregate bundle at a location above the point where the second one of the at least one contained aggregate bundle is in contact with the first one of the at least one contained aggregate bundle.    
   
   
       3 . The drain field system according to  claim 2 , wherein the second one of the at least one aggregate bundle is in contact with the second sidewall of the trench.  
   
   
       4 . The drain field system according to  claim 2 , wherein a third one of the at least one contained aggregate bundle is disposed on the floor of the trench and is in contact with the second one of the at least one contained aggregate bundles.  
   
   
       5 . The drain field system according to  claim 4 , wherein the third one of the at least one contained aggregate bundle is in contact with the second sidewall of the trench.  
   
   
       6 . The drain field system according to  claim 5 , wherein a second one of the at least one perforated drainage pipe is disposed on the second and third ones of the at least one contained aggregate bundle at a location above the point where the third one of the at least one contained aggregate bundle is in contact with the second one of the at least one contained aggregate bundle.  
   
   
       7 . The drain field system according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein a first one of the at least one contained aggregate bundle is disposed on the floor of the trench, and    wherein a first one of the at least one perforated drainage pipe is located on the floor of the trench and is in contact with the first one of the at least one contained aggregate bundle.    
   
   
       8 . The drain field system according to  claim 7 , wherein the first one of the at least one contained aggregate bundle is in contact with the first sidewall of the trench.  
   
   
       9 . The drain field system according to  claim 8 , wherein a second one of the at least one contained aggregate bundle is disposed on the floor of the trench and is in contact with the first one of the at least one perforated drainage pipe.  
   
   
       10 . The drain field system according to  claim 9 , wherein the second one of the at least one contained aggregate bundle is in contact with the second sidewall of the trench.  
   
   
       11 . The drain field system according to  claim 10 , wherein the first one of the at least one perforated drainage pipe has approximately the same diameter as the first and second ones of the at least one contained aggregate bundle.  
   
   
       12 . The drain field system according to  claim 7 , wherein a second one of the at least one perforated drainage pipe is disposed on the floor of the trench and is in contact with the first one of the at least one drainage pipe.  
   
   
       13 . The drain field system according to clam  12 , wherein a second one of the at least one contained aggregate bundle is disposed on the floor of the trench and is on contact with the second one of the at least one perforated drainage pipe.  
   
   
       14 . The drain field system according to  claim 13 , 
 wherein a third one of the at least one perforated drainage pipe is disposed above and in contact with the first one of the at least one perforated drainage pipe, and is in contact with the first one of the at least one contained aggregate bundle, and    wherein a fourth one of the at least one perforated drainage pipe is disposed above and in contact with the second one of the at least one perforated drainage pipe, and is in contact with the second one of the at least one contained aggregate bundle.    
   
   
       15 . The drain field system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one contained aggregate bundles comprises: 
 a plurality of lightweight aggregates; and    a porous sleeve.    
   
   
       16 . The drain field system according to  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of lightweight aggregate is comprised of at least one of expanded polystyrene and Styrofoam.  
   
   
       17 . The drain field system according to  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of lightweight aggregates comprise a first annular area containing a first aggregate material and a second circular area within the first annular area containing a second aggregate material.  
   
   
       18 . The drain field system according to  claim 17 , wherein the first aggregate material is expanded polystyrene and the second aggregate material is rubber chips.  
   
   
       19 . The drain field system according to  claim 1 , wherein drainfields having dimensionally similar characteristics to conventional gravel trenches provide a percent increase in volume per trench foot of at least 5%.  
   
   
       20 . The drain field system according to  claim 1 , wherein drainfields having dimensionally similar characteristics to conventional gravel trenches provide a percent increase in volume below the pipe invert of at least 5%.  
   
   
       21 . A method of installing a drain field comprising: 
 excavating a trench,    placing at least one contained aggregate bundle on the floor of the trench, and    placing at least one perforated drainage pipe on top of the at least one contained aggregate bundle.    
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein: 
 a first one of said at least one contained aggregate bundle is placed on the floor of the trench in proximity to a first sidewall of the trench,    a second one of said at least one contained aggregate bundle is placed on the floor of the trench in proximity to a second sidewall of the trench,    the first and second ones of said at least one contained aggregate bundle contact one another    a first one of the at least one perforated drainage pipe is placed on top of and in between the first and second ones of said contained aggregate bundles.    
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein: 
 a first one of said at least one contained aggregate bundle is placed on the floor of the trench in proximity to a first sidewall of the trench,    a second one of said at least one contained aggregate bundle is placed on the floor of the trench in proximity to a second sidewall of the trench,    a first one of the at least one perforated drainage pipe is placed on the floor of the trench between the first and second ones of said at least one contained aggregate bundle.    
   
   
       24 . A method of installing and operating a drain field, the method comprising: 
 placing at least one contained aggregate bundle in a trench;    placing at least one perforated drainage pipe over the at least one contained aggregate bundle;    running organic matter through the perforated drainage pipe to allow the organic matter to penetrate the at least one contained aggregate bundle,    wherein the contained aggregate bundle is used to disperse organic material over the aggregate, and    wherein aggregate contained in the at least one contained aggregate bundle is used to provide surface area for attached microbial growth and subsequent treatment and breakdown of the organic material.    
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 24  wherein the perforated drainage pipe is placed in direct contact with a soil interface of the trench.