Stormwater management crate assembly

Abstract

Stormwater management systems, methods, and apparatus for containing and filtering runoff may be provided. In one implementation, a stormwater management crate for managing stormwater runoff may be provided. A stormwater management crate assembly for managing stormwater comprising one or more stormwater management crates arranged in a modular array may be provided. In one implementation, the stormwater management crate assembly may include a top plate having a plurality of support column attachments a bottom plate, at least one intermediate plate having a plurality of support columns attachments and being located between the top plate and the bottom plate, and a plurality of support columns extending from the top plate through the at least one intermediate plate to the bottom plate. In one implementation, a stormwater management crate may include a lightweight intermediate plate configured to bear only lateral loads.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stormwater management crate assembly for managing stormwater, comprising:
 one or more stormwater management crates arranged in a modular array, the one or more stormwater management crates comprising:
 a top plate having a plurality of support column attachments; 
 a bottom plate having a plurality of support column attachments; 
 a plurality of support columns located below the top plate; and 
   at least one intermediate plate having a plurality of support column attachments, the at least one intermediate plate being located between the top plate and the bottom plate.   
     
     
         2 . The stormwater management crate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support column attachments on the at least one intermediate plate include a first set of support column attachments located on the underside of the intermediate plate and a second set of support column attachments located on the upper side of the intermediate plate. 
     
     
         3 . The stormwater management crate assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of support columns is affixed to the intermediate plate at the support column attachments. 
     
     
         4 . The stormwater management crate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one intermediate plate, top plate, and bottom each have a weight, the weight of the intermediate plate being less than the weight of the top plate and less than the weight of the bottom plate. 
     
     
         5 . The stormwater management crate assembly of  claim 4 , wherein both the top plate and the bottom plate are configured to withstand a load greater than a maximum load the at least one intermediate plate is configured to withstand. 
     
     
         6 . The stormwater management crate assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one intermediate plate includes perforations. 
     
     
         7 . The stormwater management crate assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one intermediate plate includes hook locks and slot locks. 
     
     
         8 . The stormwater management crate assembly of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the stormwater management crates is affixed to an adjacent stormwater management crate through hook locks and slot locks. 
     
     
         9 . The stormwater management crate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support columns extends from the top plate through the at least one intermediate plate to the bottom plate. 
     
     
         10 . The stormwater management crate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one intermediate plate includes column connection recesses. 
     
     
         11 . The stormwater management crate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one intermediate plate includes support members. 
     
     
         12 . The stormwater management crate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one intermediate plate comprises less material than the top plate. 
     
     
         13 . A stormwater management crate for managing stormwater runoff, the stormwater management crate comprising:
 a top plate having a plurality of support column attachments;   a bottom plate;   a plurality of support columns located below the top plate; and   at least one lightweight intermediate plate affixed to the plurality of support columns;   wherein the at least one lightweight intermediate plate is located between the top plate and the bottom plate;   wherein the stormwater management crate is configured so that the at least one lightweight intermediate plate does not bear any vertical load.   
     
     
         14 . The stormwater management crate of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one lightweight intermediate plate includes tab connections. 
     
     
         15 . The stormwater management crate of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of support columns are attached to the at least one lightweight intermediate plate by pressing. 
     
     
         16 . The stormwater management crate of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one lightweight intermediate plate has a weight less than a weight of either the top plate or the bottom plate.