Permeable Paving System

Abstract

Systems and methods for a permeable pavement system are described. The permeable pavement system includes blocks designed to facilitate water seepage between the blocks and to permit water storage within the blocks. The blocks may be cabled together to create paving units that facilitate installation and maintenance of the pavement system. The permeable pavement system may also be heated to a predetermined range with one of electrical energy and hydronic heating.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A permeable paving system, comprising:
 a plurality of blocks, each block including:
 an upper surface; 
 a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced apart from the upper surface; 
 a pair of parallel ducts extending horizontally through the block between the upper surface and the lower surface; 
 a transmission device extending through at least one duct in each one of the plurality of blocks forming a circuit; 
 a controlling device that selectively adjusts one of electrical current and a fluid flowing through the transmission device such that the temperature of the plurality of blocks is automatically maintained at a predetermined range. 
   
     
     
         2 . The permeable paving system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pump configured to circulate the fluid;   wherein the transmission device comprises at least one tube inserted through and defining circuit through the at least one duct in each one of the blocks of the plurality of blocks; and wherein   the fluid is a circulating fluid configured to flow through the tube.   
     
     
         3 . The permeable paving system of  claim 2 , further comprising a heat exchanger connected in series with the tube to exchange thermal energy between the fluid and the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The permeable paving system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission device is an electrically conductive wire encapsulated within a non-electrically conducting sheath. 
     
     
         5 . The permeable paving system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission device is a cable capable of supporting the weight of the plurality of blocks and joining each one of the plurality of blocks together forming a mattress. 
     
     
         6 . The permeable paving system of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined temperature range of the plurality of blocks is 35 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         7 . The permeable paving system of  claim 1 , wherein the controlling device is a thermostat programmed to control the amperage of the electrical current flowing through the transmission device. 
     
     
         8 . The permeable paving system of  claim 7 , wherein the amperage is controlled to maintain the predetermined temperature range of the plurality of blocks within 35 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         9 . The permeable paving system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electricity storage device capable of storing a solar energy and configured to transmit the stored solar energy to the transmission device, wherein the controlling device is a thermostat programmed to deliver the stored solar energy as the electrical current and control an amperage of the electrical current flowing through the transmission device to maintain the predetermined temperature range of the plurality of blocks within 35 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         10 . A permeable paving system, comprising:
 a plurality of blocks, each block including:
 an upper surface; 
 a lower surface generally parallel to and spaced apart from the upper surface; 
 a first, second, third, and fourth side, each side having a height and connecting the upper and the lower surface, wherein a first side is non-planar and a second side, opposite the first side, is non-planar and complementary to the first side such that the first side of the block engages the second side of a second block placed adjacent to the block to restrict lateral movement of the adjacent blocks; 
 a generally rounded upper edge at the connection of each side to the upper surface; 
 a pair of ducts extending through the block between the first side and the second side, wherein at least a portion of each of the first side and the second side slopes toward the rounded upper edge; and 
 at least one spacer protruding from at least one of the plurality of sides and extending along at least a portion of the height of the side, wherein each spacer is configured to engage one of the sides of an adjacent block, defining a gap therebetween and wherein each of the first and second sides includes:
 a first, central surface, 
 a second surface stepped toward an outer periphery of the block from the first surface, 
 a third surface stepped an equal distance toward the outer periphery along an opposite edge of the first surface, 
 a fourth surface stepped to the outer periphery from the second surface, 
 a fifth surface stepped to the outer periphery from the third surface; 
 
   a transmission device extending through at least one duct in each one of the plurality of blocks forming a circuit for distribution of energy to each one of the plurality of blocks; and   a controlling device that selectively adjusts the energy distributed through the transmission device such that a temperature of the plurality of blocks is automatically maintained at a predetermined range.   
     
     
         11 . The permeable paving system of  claim 10 , wherein the transmission device is a resistive heater formed of an electrically conductive wire encapsulated within a non-electrically conducting sheath, and the energy is an electrical energy. 
     
     
         12 . The permeable paving system of  claim 10 , wherein the controlling device is a thermostat programmed to control the temperature of the plurality of blocks in a range of 35 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         13 . The permeable paving system of  claim 10 , wherein the transmission device is an electrically conductive cable surrounded by a sheath that is capable of supporting the weight of the plurality of blocks and joining each one of the plurality of blocks together forming a mattress, and wherein the energy is electrical energy. 
     
     
         14 . The permeable paving system of  claim 10 , further comprising an electricity storage device capable of storing a solar energy and configured to transmit the stored solar energy to the transmission device. 
     
     
         15 . A permeable pavement system comprising:
 at least two blocks, wherein each block includes:
 a first side, 
 a second side opposite the first side, 
 one of a continuous cables and a continuous wire joining the at least two blocks; 
 an upper surface; 
 a lower surface including a cavity, wherein the cavity is an arched channel extending along a length of the block; 
 a pair of ducts extending through the block between the first side and the second side, wherein at least a portion of each of the first side and the second includes a side slope angled toward the upper surface; 
   a transmission device extending through at least one duct in each one of the at least two blocks forming a circuit for distribution of thermal energy to each one of the at least two blocks; and   a controlling device that selectively adjusts the thermal energy distributed by the transmission device such that a temperature of the at least two blocks is automatically maintained at a predetermined range.   
     
     
         16 . The permeable paving system of  claim 15 , wherein the transmission device is a resistive heater formed of an electrically conductive wire encapsulated within a non-electrically conducting sheath, and the thermal energy is generated by an electrical resistance of the transmission device. 
     
     
         17 . The permeable paving system of  claim 15 , wherein the controlling device is a thermostat programmed to control an amperage of electricity flowing through the transmission device programmed to maintain the predetermined temperature range of the plurality of blocks to 35 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         18 . The permeable paving system of  claim 15 , wherein the transmission device is an electrically conductive cable surrounded by a sheath that is capable of supporting the weight of the plurality of blocks and joining each one of the plurality of blocks together forming a mattress, and wherein the energy is thermal energy is formed by electrical resistance of the transmission device, and wherein the controlling device is a thermostat programmed to control an electricity flowing through the transmission device to maintain the predetermined temperature range of the plurality of blocks to 35 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         19 . The permeable paving system of  claim 15 , further comprising an electricity storage device capable of storing an electrical energy and configured to transmit the stored electrical energy to the transmission device generating the thermal energy through an electrical resistance of the transmission device. 
     
     
         20 . The permeable paving system of  claim 15 , wherein the controlling device is a thermostat programmed to control the thermal energy distributed by the transmission device and the controlling device is programmed to maintain the predetermined temperature range of the plurality of blocks such that ice is prevented from forming or accumulating on the plurality of blocks.