Multi-sided culvert

Abstract

There is provided a multi-sided culvert having a base section, a first side body, and a second side body. The first and second side bodies are engaged at the top of the culvert by a top engagement and supported by the base section. The base section engages the first side body by a first bottom engagement and the second side body by a second bottom engagement. The first part of the first bottom engagement has a first guide section and a first interlocking section, and the second part of the first bottom engagement has a second guide section and a second interlocking section. During installation the first and second guide sections guide the first and second interlocking sections into engagement, the first and second interlocking sections having tapered surfaces that, when engaged, permit upward and outward movement of the second part relative to the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-sided culvert comprising:
 a culvert body comprising a base section, a first side body, and a second side body, the first and second side bodies being engaged at a top of the culvert body by a top engagement and being supported by the base section, the base section engaging the first side body by a first bottom engagement and the second side body by a second bottom engagement, wherein the first bottom engagement comprises:
 a first part at a first side edge of the base, the first part having a first guide section and a first interlocking section; and 
 a second part at a first side edge of the first side, the second part having a second guide section and a second interlocking section, wherein, during installation, the first and second guide sections interact to guide the first and second interlocking sections into interlocking engagement, the first and second interlocking sections comprising tapered surfaces that, when engaged, permit upward and outward movement of the second part relative to the base. 
   
     
     
         2 . The multi-sided culvert of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second bottom engagements are symmetric. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-sided culvert of  claim 1 , wherein the second bottom engagement comprises:
 a first part at a second side edge of the base that is shaped the same as the second part of the first bottom engagement; and   a second part at a first side edge of the second side body that is shaped the same as the first part of the first bottom engagement.   
     
     
         4 . The multi-sided culvert of  claim 3 , wherein the top engagement comprises:
 a first part at a second side edge of the first side body that is shaped the same as the first part of the first bottom engagement; and   a second part at a second side edge of the second side body that is shaped the same as the second part of the first bottom engagement.   
     
     
         5 . The multi-sided culvert of  claim 1 , wherein each of the base, the first side body, and the second side body have a common size and shape. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-sided culvert of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first guide section of the first part comprises a flat surface adjacent to a tapered surface that descends from the flat surface toward the first side edge of the base;   the first interlocking section of the first part comprises a protrusion that extends upward from the flat surface of the first guide section;   the second guide section of the second part is complementary to the first guide section; and   the second interlocking section comprises a recess that receives the protrusion of the first interlocking section.   
     
     
         7 . The multi-sided culvert of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first guide section of the first part comprises a flat surface adjacent to the first side edge of the base and a tapered surface that extends upward and away from the flat surface relative to the first side edge of the base;   the first interlocking section of the first part comprises a recess that is recessed from a top of the tapered surface;   the second guide section of the second part is complementary to the first guide section; and   the second interlocking section comprises a protrusion that is received by the recess of the first interlocking section.   
     
     
         8 . The multi-sided culvert of  claim 7 , wherein the second bottom engagement comprises:
 a first part at a second side edge of the base that is shaped the same as the first part of the first bottom engagement; and   a second part at a first side edge of the second side body that is shaped the same as the second part of the first bottom engagement.   
     
     
         9 . The multi-sided culvert of  claim 8 , wherein the top engagement comprises:
 a first part at a second side edge of the second side body that is shaped the same as the first part of the first bottom engagement; and   a second part at a second side edge of the first side body that is shaped the same as the second part of the first bottom engagement.   
     
     
         10 . The multi-sided culvert of  claim 1 , wherein the first part and the second part of the first bottom engagement, when engaged, define a labyrinth seal. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-sided culvert of  claim 1 , wherein the first part and the second part of the bottom engagement each comprise an engagement profile that extends along a length of the first side edges of the base and the first side body. 
     
     
         12 . A multi-sided culvert, comprising:
 first, second and third side bodies, each side body comprising:
 a first end having a first part of a two-part engagement, the first part comprising a first guide section and a first interlocking section; and 
 a second end having a second part of the two-part engagement, the second part comprising a second guide section and a second interlocking section; 
   wherein, during installation, the first, second and third side bodies are engaged to form a three-sided culvert such that respective first and second guide sections of adjacent side bodies interact to guide the respective first and second interlocking sections into interlocking engagement, the first and second interlocking sections comprising tapered surfaces that, when engaged, permit upward and outward movement of the second part relative to the base.   
     
     
         13 . The multi-sided culvert of  claim 12 , wherein, for each of the first, second and third side bodies:
 the first guide section of the first part comprises a flat surface adjacent to the first side edge of the base and a tapered surface that extends upward and away from the flat surface relative to the first side edge of the base;   the first interlocking section of the first part comprises a recess that is recessed from a top of the tapered surface;   the second guide section of the second part is complementary to the first guide section; and   the second interlocking section comprises a protrusion that is received by the recess of the first interlocking section.   
     
     
         14 . The multi-sided culvert of  claim 12 , wherein the first end and the second end of each of the first, second and third side bodies comprise an engagement profile that extends along a length of the first side edges of the base and the first side body.