Width expandable modular ditch liners

Abstract

An open modular ditch liner includes a plurality of open liner sections and at least one channel alignment key. The at least one channel alignment key is sized to receive a thickness of two adjacent open liner sections. An erosion barrier insert may be placed between the ends of two adjacent open liner sections. A radius liner insert may be placed between the ends of two adjacent open liner sections. The width of an open liner section may be expanded with a plurality of side connection keys and a plurality of expandable liner sections. A plurality of pitch expandable liner sections may be inserted between the plurality of open liner sections and expandable liner sections. At least one side of the plurality of open liner sections and expandable liner sections may be mitered.

1 . A method of creating a modular ditch liner comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of open liner sections, forming a substantially concave shape in a top of each one of said plurality of open liner sections;    providing at least one channel alignment key having a base leg and a first retention leg extending from one end of said base leg and a second retention leg extending from the other end of said base leg;    retaining at least two adjacent open liner sections of said plurality of open liner sections relative to each other by inserting said at least two adjacent open liner sections between said first and second retention legs; and    forming a channel in a ditch to receive said plurality of open ditch liner sections.    
   
   
       2 . The method of creating a modular ditch liner of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 locating two adjacent open liner sections of said plurality of open liner sections with a gap between ends thereof.    
   
   
       3 . The method of creating a modular ditch liner of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 creating a gravel base in the channel before insertion of said plurality of open ditch liner sections.    
   
   
       4 . A method of creating a modular ditch liner comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of open ditch liner sections, forming a substantially concave shape in a top of each one of said plurality of ditch liner sections;    retaining each one of said plurality of open ditch liner sections relative to each other with at least one alignment key;    inserting an erosion barrier insert between at least one set of adjacent open ditch liner sections, said erosion barrier insert having a height that extends above a lowest portion of said substantially concave shape; and    forming a channel in a ditch to receive said plurality of open ditch liner sections.    
   
   
       5 . The method of creating a modular ditch liner of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing at least one channel alignment key having a base leg and a first retention leg extending from one end of said base leg and a second retention leg extending from the other end of said base leg, retaining at least two adjacent open liner sections of said plurality of open liner sections relative to each other by inserting said at least two adjacent open liner sections between said first and second retention legs.    
   
   
       6 . The method of creating a modular open ditch liner of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming a key slot in at least one side of each said open liner section to receive said at least one alignment key.    
   
   
       7 . The method of creating a modular ditch liner of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of: 
 locating said two adjacent open liner sections of said plurality of open liner sections with a gap between ends thereof.    
   
   
       8 . The method of creating a modular ditch liner of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of: 
 creating a gravel base in the channel before insertion of said plurality of open ditch liner sections.    
   
   
       9 . A method of creating a modular ditch liner comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of open ditch liner sections, forming a substantially concave shape in a top of each one of said plurality of ditch liner sections;    retaining each one of said plurality of open ditch liner sections relative to each other with at least one alignment key;    inserting a radius liner insert between at least two adjacent open ditch liner sections of said plurality of open liner sections, said radius liner insert having a greater width at one end than the other to create a radius with said plurality of open ditch liner sections; and    forming a channel in a ditch to receive said plurality of open ditch liner sections.    
   
   
       10 . The method of creating a modular ditch liner of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing at least one channel alignment key having a base leg and a first retention leg extending from one end of said base leg and a second retention leg extending from the other end of said base leg, retaining at least two adjacent open liner sections of said plurality of open liner sections relative to each other by inserting said at least two adjacent open liner sections between said first and second retention legs.    
   
   
       11 . The method of creating a modular open ditch liner of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of: 
 forming a key slot in at least one side of each said open liner section to receive said at least one alignment key.    
   
   
       12 . The method of creating a modular ditch liner of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of: 
 locating two adjacent open liner sections of said plurality of open liner sections with a gap between ends thereof.    
   
   
       13 . The method of creating a modular ditch liner of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of: 
 creating a gravel base in the channel before insertion of said plurality of open ditch liner sections.    
   
   
       14 - 23 . (canceled)