Abt, Inc.

Polydrain, Inc.

Roland Thomann

Markus Amann

Heinz Witschi

Heinz-Dieter Brink

The invention provides a drainage channel preferably formed from a sheet material, such as stainless steel. The channel has a flat bottom and upwardly extending sidewalls that form an acute angle with the bottom. A pair of shoulders extend outwardly from upper portions of the sidewalls for receiving a grate. Upper edge walls extend upwardly from outer portions of each shoulder. The exterior width of the channel at its bottom is less than the interior width or the channel between the upper edge walls, but greater than the interior channel width between the upper ends of the sidewalls. Consequently, the drainage channel can be mechanically anchored in concrete without requiring use of additional anchoring elements, and is also stackable.

Drainage channel

The invention comprises a grate having a device to prevent it from dislodging when a vehicle drives over the grate. For this purpose, a part (2') of the supporting component at a side face of the grate (1) is designed as a thin, tongue-shaped wall (33) with an outer thickening (34). The supporting component has a notch (35) that is vertical with respect to its longitudinal axis on an end of the tongue-shaped wall, a thickening (22) or a depression being located on an inner side face of the associated supporting frame.

Locking component for securing a cover on a frame

A drainage channel comprising a channel body which is U-shaped in cross-section and defines a concave base and integrally formed opposing first and second vertically spaced-apart side walls, the first and second side walls including respective crowns formed in upper free ends of the side walls. The upper free end of the side walls define a predetermined thickness between respective inner side wall surfaces and outer sidewall surfaces. The outer surfaces of the side walls define an elongate detent spaced below the upper free ends of the first and second side walls and extending along at least part of the length of the channel body and defining an area of reduced thickness below the relatively thicker free ends of the first and second side walls. A coping encloses the crown of a respective side of the channel body. The coping includes an inner leg for resting against the inner side wall surfaces of the channel and an outer leg for resting against the outer side wall surfaces of the channel. The outer leg has an elongate rib of enlarged dimension on a free end of the outer leg for being received by means of a snap fit over the relatively thick free end of the side wall into the detent.

Drainage channel having improved coping for receiving grate

The drainage channel comprises a channel body (1), cast frame (2) and cast grid (3). The support surface of the side walls (11) of the channel body (1) are of stepped construction, with a raised external supporting rib (13). The frame (2) is rectangular, with a lowered support rail (28) as support for the side ribs (30) of the grid (3). On the outside the frame (2) has detachably fastened brake lugs (23), which in the installed state prevent displacement of the frame (2). Locking bar holders (44) of roughly H-shaped cross-section are disposed in the side walls (11) some distance below the support surface. These locking bar holders form a closure between the interior of the channel body and the exterior. On the inside a side wall (79) forms an obtuse angle with the wall (75), so that the locking bar (45) can easily be turned into the inner recess (78). A drainage channel of this kind can easily be adapted to the different heights in the case of stepwise laying of the base course and cover layer, and it can be cast in a simple manner in polyester concrete. At the same time it also has a plurality of anchoring ribs at the side of the retaining lugs, thus ensuring good anchorage in all directions.

A slotted grate (3) is disclosed which is formed of a sheet metal strip with slot (15) therein. Reinforcement of the grate (3) is achieved by inserting a sheet metal arch support (30) between two adjacent slots (15). The arch support (30) is formed of a piece of sheet metal bent into a U-shape with shoulders (35, 36) of its end sections (31) being spaced further apart than the shoulders (37, 38) of its midsection (32). A process is disclosed wherein the slotted grate (3) is constructed by first placing arch supports (30) between the desired slots (15) and then double bending the edge sections of the sheet material forming the grate (3) to form two U-shaped side channels with the shoulders (35, 36) of arch support (30) locked securely therein.

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Langnau, Switzerland

Roland Thomann