Stormwater system having multiple plates and one-piece columns

Abstract

A module that is useful for receiving stormwater when buried in permeable media comprises a base from which a plurality of columns extends upwardly, to support two or more different-elevation horizontal plates. Each plate has a plurality of holes, through each of which a column extends. The plates are secured to the columns at their respective elevations by self-acting engaging means comprising a latch, e.g. a peg extending radially from the column, and a mating receiver, e.g., an elastically deflectable plate having a hole that receives the peg. The angular orientation around the column of the self-acting engaging means varies with the plate elevation, so that for example, the first plate is only engageable at the first elevation and the second plate is only engageable at the second elevation. A module is assembled by lifting or lowering each plate along the column lengths until the plate becomes automatically engaged at the particular plate's predetermined elevation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A module for receiving stormwater when buried in permeable media, comprising:
 a base plate comprising a plurality of fittings configured to receive a lower end of a plurality of columns;   a top plate comprising a plurality of pockets configured to receive an upper end of the plurality of columns;   the plurality of columns extending vertically from the base plate to the top plate, wherein each of the plurality of columns comprises the lower end configured to mate with one of the plurality of fittings and the upper end configured to mate with one of the plurality of pockets;   one or more intermediate plate located between the base plate and the top plate comprising a plurality of holes configured to allow the at least one intermediate plate to slide vertically along the plurality of columns; and   a plurality of self-acting fasteners comprising a plurality of latches and a plurality of receivers configured to secure each of the one or more intermediate plate to each of the plurality of columns at an elevation and to prevent downward motion of the one or more intermediate plate.   
     
     
         23 . The module of  claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of fittings comprises a socket. 
     
     
         24 . The module of  claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of pockets comprises one of the plurality of receivers configured to engage with the upper end of each of the plurality of columns. 
     
     
         25 . The module of  claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of pockets comprises a nub extending downwardly to fit within a bore of the upper end of each of the plurality of columns. 
     
     
         26 . The module of  claim 22 , wherein the top plate is configured to be secured to the upper end of each of the plurality of columns by at least one of: a latch, a fastener, or an adhesive. 
     
     
         27 . The module of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of fittings, the plurality of pockets, and the plurality of holes are arranged according to a pattern. 
     
     
         28 . The module of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of latches are attached to or integral with each of the plurality of columns. 
     
     
         29 . The module of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of receivers are attached to or integral with each of the one or more intermediate plate. 
     
     
         30 . The module of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of latches comprise an integral, elastically deflectable tab configured to project outwardly from a surface of each of the plurality of columns. 
     
     
         31 . The module of  claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of holes further comprises a slot extending radially inwardly from each of the plurality of holes. 
     
     
         32 . The module of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of latches are configured to engage with the slot. 
     
     
         33 . The module of  claim 22 , wherein the one or more intermediate plate comprises a first intermediate plate and a second intermediate plate. 
     
     
         34 . The module of  claim 33 , wherein the first intermediate plate is configured to be located at a first elevation between the top plate and the base plate and the second intermediate plate is configured to be located at a second elevation between the top plate and the base plate. 
     
     
         35 . The module of  claim 33 , wherein each of the plurality of holes of the first intermediate plate and the second intermediate plate comprise a plurality of slots, wherein an angular orientation of each of the plurality slots corresponds to an angular orientation of each of the plurality of latches. 
     
     
         36 . The module of  claim 35 , wherein one of the plurality of slots of the first intermediate plate and one of the plurality of slots of the second intermediate plate each includes one of the plurality of receivers. 
     
     
         37 . The module of  claim 36 , wherein a first angular orientation of the one of the plurality of receivers of the first intermediate plate is different from a second angular orientation of the one of the plurality of receivers of the second intermediate plate. 
     
     
         38 . The module of  claim 37 , wherein each of the lower ends of the plurality of columns and each of the plurality of fittings are configured so that each of the plurality of columns has a predetermined single angle of orientation about a lengthwise axis of the column. 
     
     
         39 . The module of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of self-acting fasteners further prevent upward movement of the one or more intermediate plate. 
     
     
         40 . The module of  claim 22 , wherein the lower end of the plurality of columns is fastened, adhered, or latchingly engaged with the base. 
     
     
         41 . The module of  claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of pockets comprises a receiver with a slot.