Storm water and traffic collector box culvert

Abstract

Disclosed in the present application is a system for a storm water and traffic collector box culvert. The system may comprise a plurality of reinforced slabs with an upper slab that may be configured as a reinforced surface to collect storm water runoff. The plurality of slabs may be connected by a plurality of attachment mechanisms. Accordingly, the present system is directed to an environmentally friendly culvert design that can minimize the magnitude of earthworks required by traditional drainage systems while also providing increased drainage capabilities. The Environmentally friendly design will contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of the American Urban Infrastructure in reducing the drainage and traffic congestions.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for a storm water and traffic collector box culvert, the system comprising:
 a pair of opposed side walls, each side wall having:
 a substantially planar wall portion, and 
 one or more columns extending through the wall portion, each of the one or more columns having an upper attachment point that extends upwardly from an upper edge of the wall portion and a lower attachment point that extends downwardly from a lower edge of the wall portion; 
   a base slab having a plurality of base sockets disposed on an inner surface of the base slab, wherein the plurality of base sockets are disposed in rows along opposed peripheral edges of the inner surface of the base slab, the base sockets being configured to receive and retain the lower attachment points of the pair of opposed side walls; and   an upper slab having:
 an outer surface configured to support one or more vehicles traveling across the upper slab, 
 an inner surface configured to connect the upper slab to the pair of opposing side walls, 
 a plurality of upper sockets disposed on the inner surface of the upper slab, wherein the plurality of upper sockets are disposed in rows along opposed peripheral edges of the inner surface of the upper slab, the upper sockets being configured to receive and retain the upper attachment points of the pair of opposed side walls, and 
 a plurality of drains disposed along alternating sides a centerline of the upper slab, each drain extending through the upper slab, between the outer surface and the inner surface, each drain configured to allow runoff to drain through the upper slab and into an interior of the culvert, defined by the upper slab, the base slab, and the pair of opposed side walls; 
   wherein the upper slab, the base slab, and the pair of opposing side walls form a rectangular prism culvert configured to drain the runoff.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a center support mechanism having:
 a plurality of vertical support columns, 
 an upper support beam joining the plurality of vertical support columns such that upper portions of the vertical support columns extend upwardly above the upper support beam, and 
 a lower support beam separated joining the plurality of vertical support columns such that lower portions of the vertical support columns extend downwardly below the lower support beam; 
   wherein the plurality of base sockets disposed on the inner surface of the base slab comprises base sockets disposed along the centerline of the base slab and configured to receive and retain the lower portions of the vertical support columns; and   wherein the plurality of upper sockets disposed on the inner surface of the upper slab comprises upper sockets disposed along the centerline of the upper slab and configured to receive and retain the upper portions of the vertical support columns.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each upper socket, of the plurality of upper sockets, is connected to a first reinforcing frame embedded in the upper slab. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each base socket, of the plurality of base sockets, is connected to a second reinforcing frame embedded in the base slab. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more columns in each of the pair of opposed side walls is formed from a plastic reinforcing material. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein each of the base sockets and the upper sockets is formed from a plastic material, and wherein the first reinforcing frame and the second reinforcing frame are formed from a plastic reinforcing material. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the drains is formed within an aperture defined by the upper slab, and wherein each drain comprises a cage disposed at least partially within the aperture and a grate covering the aperture, the grate being disposed substantially flush with the outer surface of the upper slab. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface has an area sized to allow an automobile to park thereon. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the upper slab is reinforced to support weight of the automobile. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of opposing side walls has a height between about two feet and about four feet, and wherein the height is determined based on an amount of runoff intended to be received within the culvert. 
     
     
         11 . A system for storm water runoff and traffic collection, the system comprising:
 a plurality of interconnected reinforced concrete slabs assembled to define a polyhedral shape, comprising:
 a first slab including a reinforced surface having a plurality of drains disposed along a centerline of the first slab to allow runoff to pass through the first slab at locations of the plurality of drains, and wherein the reinforced surface includes a reversed crown to direct the runoff towards a center line of the reinforced surface, and wherein a plurality of sockets are disposed on an inner surface of the first slab; 
 a second slab configured to oppose the first slab, wherein the runoff is collected between the first slab and the second slab, and wherein a plurality of sockets are disposed on an inner surface of the second slab; and 
 a pair of side slabs configured to interconnect with the first slab and the second slab, and to support at least the first slab, each of the side slabs comprising upper columns for mating with the sockets of the first slab and lower columns for mating with the sockets of the second slab; 
 wherein the plurality of sockets on the second slab extend through the second slab to allow runoff to drain through the sockets. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of reinforced concrete slabs includes a reinforcing structure embedded therein, the reinforcing structure being formed from a plurality of metallic, plastic, or ceramic materials. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the sockets embedded in the first slab are attached to a first reinforcing structure embedded in the first slab, and wherein the sockets embedded in the second slab are .attached to a second reinforcing structure embedded in the second slab. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a center support mechanism extending from a centerline of the first slab to a centerline of the second slab such that the center support mechanism aids in supporting the first slab, the center support mechanism having:
 a plurality of vertical support columns, 
 an upper support beam joining the plurality of vertical support columns such that upper portions of the vertical support columns extend upwardly above the upper support beam, and 
 a lower support beam separated joining the plurality of vertical support columns such that lower portions of the vertical support columns extend downwardly below the lower support beam; 
   wherein the sockets disposed on the inner surface of the second slab are configured to mate with the lower portions of the vertical support columns; and   wherein the sockets disposed on the inner surface of the first slab are configured to mate with the upper portions of the vertical support columns.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the drains is formed within an aperture defined by the first slab, and wherein each drain comprises a cage disposed at least partially within the aperture and a grate covering the aperture, the grate being disposed substantially flush with the reinforced surface of the first slab. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of drains are disposed along alternating sides of the centerline of the first slab. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the center support mechanism extends along the centerline of the first slab, and does not interfere with the plurality of drains. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the reinforced surface has an area sized to allow an automobile to park thereon. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first slab is reinforced to support weight of the automobile. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the pair of side slabs has a height between about two feet and about four feet, and wherein the height is determined based on an amount of runoff intended to be received within the culvert.