Apparatus, an assembly, a vehicle and a method for forming a drainage assembly within and along an elongate trench

Abstract

An apparatus for forming a drainage assembly within and along an elongate trench is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conduit guide means adapted to dispose a length portion of the elongate conduit within the trench, and an aggregate material delivery means adapted to distribute aggregate material within the trench such that the length portion of the elongate conduit within the trench is substantially surrounded by the aggregate material. Movement of the apparatus along the trench in use disposes subsequent length portions of the elongate conduit and further aggregate material within and along the trench to form the drainage assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for forming a drainage assembly within and along an elongate trench, the trench generally having a base wall and side walls, the drainage assembly comprising at least one elongate conduit extending along the trench and substantially surrounded by an aggregate material, the apparatus comprising:
 a conduit guide means adapted to dispose a length portion of the at least one elongate conduit within the trench; and   an aggregate material delivery means adapted to distribute aggregate material within the trench such that the length portion of the at least one elongate conduit within the trench is substantially surrounded by the aggregate material;   wherein movement of the apparatus along the trench in use disposes subsequent length portions of the at least one elongate conduit and further aggregate material within and along the trench to form the drainage assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drainage assembly further comprises an elongate flexible membrane surrounding the aggregate material within the trench, the apparatus further comprising:
 a membrane guide adapted for configuring a length portion of the elongate flexible membrane into a channel configuration within the trench in use.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the length portion of the elongate flexible membrane comprises a middle portion adjacent the base wall of the trench, lateral side portions adjacent the side walls of the trench and lateral end portions extending outwardly from the trench, the middle portion of the length portion of the elongate flexible membrane being disposed under the length portion of the at least one elongate conduit for receiving the aggregate material therein. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the membrane guide comprises folding means for folding the lateral end portions of the elongate flexible membrane over each other and over the laid aggregate material to form the drainage assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongate conduit is rolled from at least one conduit reel, the apparatus comprising a conduit roll mount for carrying at least one conduit reel and allowing the at least one elongate conduit to be unrolled from the at least one conduit reel and be disposed along the trench as the apparatus is moved along the trench. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the conduit roll mount is adapted to carry two or more conduit reels. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit guide means is a conduit guide tube having a lower end portion located within the trench in use, the longitudinal axis of the lower end portion of the conduit guide tube being aligned with the trench in use. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the conduit guide tube is generally rectangular in cross-section. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the membrane guide comprises first and second lateral channels for guiding the lateral end portions of the length portion of the elongate flexible membrane to the folding means. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the membrane guide comprises urging means for urging the lateral end portions in a generally upward direction. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the urging means comprises at least one roller associated with each lateral channel. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the urging means comprises two rollers associated with each lateral channel, the rollers in each lateral channel arranged generally diagonally relative to the channel and at an angle of between 90 and 180 degrees to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the folding means comprises two folding blades. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the folding blades overlap and are vertically spaced from each other. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the folding blades extend substantially horizontally. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein each folding blade comprises a respective leading edge, with the leading edge of one folding blade being disposed more forwardly than the leading edge of the other folding blade. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein each folding blade comprises a respective leading edge, wherein the leading edges of the folding blades are angled substantially rearwardly. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the angle of the leading edge of each folding blades is adjustable. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the vertical height of the folding blades is adjustable. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate flexible membrane is rolled from a membrane reel, the apparatus comprising a membrane roll mount for carrying the membrane reel and allowing the elongate flexible membrane to be unrolled from the membrane reel and be disposed along the trench as the apparatus is moved along the trench. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the formation means comprises at least one roller. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongate conduit comprises two or more conduits. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the two or more conduits are coupled to each other. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is part of an assembly comprising:
 the apparatus; and   a towing means for towing the apparatus.   
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the towing means is an excavator machine having an arm, wherein the arm of the excavator machine is coupled to the apparatus. 
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising a supply means for supplying aggregate material to the aggregate material delivery means. 
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the supply means comprises at least one agitator truck. 
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the supply means is coupled to the towing means.