Method and apparatus for coupling drainage units

Abstract

Drainage apparatuses and methods for their assembly, the drainage apparatuses comprising inter-related connectors and couplings to improve standardized assembly, and improve installation and system performance.

1 . A method for attaching drainage components comprising the steps of:
 providing a drainage unit comprising a conduit, said conduit having an internal dimension and an external dimension;   providing a connector having a first and second end, at least one of said first or second ends comprising an external dimension substantially equivalent to the internal dimension of the conduit, said connector further comprising integral means for engaging the connector within the conduit;   providing a coupling having first and second ends, said coupling comprising a plurality of staged internal dimensions, at least one of said internal dimensions being substantially equivalent to the external dimension of an end of said connector;   introducing the connector first end into the coupling first end, said coupling engaging the connector retaining means within the coupling; and   introducing the conduit into the coupling second end, and engaging the connector retaining means to position the coupling in a predetermined position.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a drainage component having an external dimension at a first end, said external dimension substantially equivalent to an internal dimension of the coupling and said component having an internal dimension substantially equivalent to the external dimension of the connector; and   introducing the component first end into the space between said coupling and said connector.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a drainage component having an internal dimension at a first end, said internal dimension substantially equivalent to an external dimension of the coupling; and   introducing the coupling into first end into the drainage component.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a drainage component having an internal dimension at a first end, said internal dimension substantially equivalent to the external dimension of the connector second end; and   introducing the drainage component first end onto the connector second end, said connector retaining means engaging the internal dimension of the component.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the coupling has at least three staged internal dimensions. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the internal dimensions have different values. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the connector retaining means comprise locking tabs. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the connector first and second ends have varying external dimensions. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the connector has a wall diameter dimensioned to allow insertion into the coupling to a predetermined distance within the coupling, such that the end of the connector intimately contacts a first flange within the coupling. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the connector has a wall diameter dimensioned to allow insertion into the coupling to a predetermined distance within the coupling, such that the end of the connector intimately contacts a second flange within the coupling. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a compound to facilitate sealing;   applying the compound about the external dimension or internal dimension of the component to effect a seal at the interface of the internal dimension of the second end of the coupling with the external dimension of the first end of the component, or to effect a seal at the interface of the external dimension of the connector and the internal dimension of the component.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the compound is a sealant; 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the compound reacts chemically with the component and a surface selected from the group consisting of a coupling surface and a connector surface. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of: epoxies, acrylonitirles, polyvinyl chloride cement, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: high density polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyvinyl chloride, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the coupling, the connector, and the drainage component are substantially annular. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit is substantially longitudinally surrounded by an amount of aggregate, said aggregate and conduit oriented within a permeable sleeve material. 
   
   
       18 . A method for adapting a drainage component for attachment comprising the steps of:
 providing a drainage unit comprising a conduit, said conduit having an internal dimension and an external dimension;   providing a connector having a first and second end, at least one of said first or second connector ends comprising an external dimension substantially equivalent to the internal dimension of the conduit, said connector further comprising integral means for retaining the connector within the conduit;   providing a coupling having first and second ends, said coupling comprising a plurality of staged internal dimensions, at least one of said internal dimensions being substantially equivalent to the external dimension of said connector;   introducing the connector first end into the conduit and engaging the connector retaining means within the conduit;   introducing the connector second end into the coupling first end, and engaging the connector retaining means within the coupling.   providing a drainage component having an external dimension at a first end, said external dimension substantially equivalent to an internal dimension of the coupling, and having an internal dimension substantially equivalent to the external dimension of the connector; and   introducing the component first end into the coupling, such that the drainage component extends into the coupling to a distance sufficient to overlap a portion of the connector within the coupling.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the coupling, the connector, and the drainage component are substantially annular. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the conduit is substantially longitudinally surrounded by an amount of aggregate, said aggregate and conduit oriented within a permeable sleeve material. 
   
   
       21 . An apparatus for adapting drainage components for attachment comprising:
 a connector having a first and second end, said connector comprising an external dimension substantially equivalent to the internal dimension of the conduit, said connector further comprising integral means for retaining the connector within the conduit; and   a coupling having first and second ends, said coupling comprising a plurality of staged internal dimensions, one of said internal dimensions being substantially equivalent to the external dimension of said connector.   
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the coupling has at least three staged internal dimensions. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the internal dimensions have different values. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the connector retaining means comprise locking tabs. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the connector first and second ends have varying external dimensions. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 21  further comprising:
 a component having an internal dimension substantially similar to the external dimension of the connector, and said component having an external dimension substantially similar to an internal dimension of the coupling.   
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the value of the external dimension of the connector substantially near a connector end is less than the value of the internal dimension of the coupling internal dimension, such that a gap having a predetermined value exists between the coupling and the connector. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the connector, and the coupling are substantially annular. 
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein at least an end of the component is annular. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a compound to facilitate sealing applied to the external dimension of the component to effect a seal at the interface of the internal dimension of an end of the coupling with the external dimension of an end of the component. 
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the compound is a sealant. 
   
   
       32 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the compound reacts chemically with the component and the coupling. 
   
   
       33 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of: epoxies, acrylonitirles, polyvinyl chloride cement, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the coupling comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: high density polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyvinyl chloride, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       35 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the component is substantially longitudinally surrounded by an amount of aggregate, said aggregate and conduit oriented within a permeable sleeve material. 
   
   
       36 . A drainage assembly comprising:
 a drainage unit comprising a conduit, said conduit having a internal dimension and an external dimension;   a connector having a first and second end, said connector ends comprising an external dimension substantially equivalent to the internal dimension of the conduit, said connector further comprising integral means for retaining the connector within the conduit, said connector retaining means engaged within said conduit; and   a coupling having first and second ends, said coupling comprising a plurality of staged internal dimensions.   
   
   
       37 . The drainage assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the coupling further comprises:
 a first end of having an internal dimension substantially equivalent to the external dimension of said connector, with said first end of said coupling in intimate contact with said connector.   
   
   
       38 . The drainage assembly of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 a drainage component having an external dimension at a first end, said external dimension substantially equivalent to the internal diameter of an end of said coupling, the external dimension of the first end of the component in intimate contact with an internal dimension of the coupling.   
   
   
       39 . The drainage assembly of  claim 36 , further comprising:
 a drainage component having an internal dimension at a first end, said internal dimension substantially equivalent to an external dimension of the coupling, such that the component internal dimension at the first end engages an external dimension of the coupling.   
   
   
       40 . The drainage assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the coupling, the connector, and the conduit are substantially annular. 
   
   
       41 . The drainage assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the component comprises at least an end that is annular. 
   
   
       42 . The drainage assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the component comprises at least an end that is annular. 
   
   
       43 . The drainage assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the conduit comprises drainage piping. 
   
   
       44 . The drainage assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the conduit is substantially longitudinally surrounded by an amount of aggregate, said aggregate and conduit oriented within a permeable sleeve material. 
   
   
       45 . A drainage system comprising the apparatus of  claim 21 . 
   
   
       46 . A drainage system comprising the drainage assembly of  claim 36 . 
   
   
       47 . A drainage system comprising the drainage assembly of  claim 38 . 
   
   
       48 . A drainage system comprising the drainage assembly of  claim 39 .