Modular Precast Concrete Water Storage Device and Apparatus, Process, and Method of Manufacture

Abstract

A modular precast concrete structure to form a portion of a subsurface storage basin, and a method of forming the structure, is provided, the structure including a concrete slab having a first edge and opposite second edge, and a first concrete side wall having an outer surface extending from the first edge substantially perpendicularly to the concrete slab, and a second concrete side wall having an outer surface extending from the second edge substantially perpendicularly to the concrete slab, the outer surfaces of the first and second concrete side walls being configured to be substantially parallel, each of the first and second side walls being configured with canted inner surfaces such that the first and second side walls taper in thickness away from the slab.

1 . A modular precast concrete structure to form a portion of a subsurface storage basin, the structure comprising:
 a concrete slab having a first edge and opposite second edge; and   a first concrete side wall having an outer surface extending from the first edge substantially perpendicularly to the concrete slab, and a second concrete side wall having an outer surface extending from the second edge substantially perpendicularly to the concrete slab, the outer surfaces of the first and second concrete side walls being configured to be substantially parallel, each of the first and second side walls being configured with canted inner surfaces such that the first and second side walls taper in thickness away from the slab.   
     
     
         2 . The modular precast concrete structure of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one opening formed in at least one of the first and second side walls, the at least one opening configured to provide access to an interior of the modular precast concrete structure. 
     
     
         3 . The modular precast concrete structure of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one opening extends from a portion of the at least one of the first and second side walls opposite the concrete slab. 
     
     
         4 . The modular precast concrete structure of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one opening is wholly surrounded at a perimeter thereof by the at least one of the first and second side walls. 
     
     
         5 . The modular precast concrete structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a bearing ledge formed on at least one of the first and second side walls, the bearing ledge configured to define a bearing surface extending substantially parallel to an upper surface of the concrete slab. 
     
     
         6 . The modular precast concrete structure of  claim 1 , wherein the concrete slab and first and second side walls are configured to define first and second ends of the modular precast concrete structure, each of the first and second ends being configured in a mating portion to mate to corresponding ends of an adjacent modular precast concrete structure. 
     
     
         7 . The modular precast concrete structure of  claim 6 , wherein the mating portions are tongue and groove connections. 
     
     
         8 . The modular precast concrete structure of  claim 6 , wherein the mating portions extend continuously along an entirety of the first and second ends of the modular precast concrete structure. 
     
     
         9 . The modular precast concrete structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side walls are configured so as to taper to a bottom edge having a mating portion provided thereon, the mating portion being configured so as to register with corresponding mating portions of another modular precast concrete structure when the other modular precast concrete structure is inverted and connected to the modular precast concrete structure in a clam shell arrangement. 
     
     
         10 . The modular precast concrete structure of  claim 9 , wherein the mating portions provided on the respective bottom edges of the first and second side walls are formed such that the mating portions of two modular precast concrete structures having identical configurations are in register when placed in the clam shell arrangement. 
     
     
         11 . The modular precast concrete structure of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one opening formed in at least one of the first and second side walls of the modular precast concrete structures, the at least one opening configured so as to mirror a corresponding at least one opening and form a continuous opening when two modular precast concrete structures are placed in the claim shell arrangement. 
     
     
         12 . A forming apparatus to precast a modular concrete structure used to form a portion of a subsurface storage basin, the forming apparatus comprising:
 a bottom surface configured form a bottom portion of the modular concrete structure;   two outer side wall members configured to form substantially vertical outer surfaces of opposing side walls of the modular concrete structure;   two inner side wall members respectively facing the two outer side wall members and configured to form canted inner surfaces of the opposing side walls of the modular concrete structure so that the side walls taper in thickness toward the bottom portion of the modular concrete structure; and   a top member configured to form a concrete slab having a first edge and opposite second edge from which the opposing side walls of the modular concrete structure respectively extend to the bottom portion of the modular concrete structure.   
     
     
         13 . A method of forming a modular concrete structure used to form a portion of a subsurface storage basin, the method comprising:
 providing a bottom surface configured to form a bottom portion of the modular concrete structure;   providing two outer side wall members extending from the bottom surface and configured to form substantially vertical outer surfaces of opposing side walls of the modular concrete structure;   providing two inner side wall members extending from the bottom surface and respectively facing the two outer side wall members, the inner side wall members configured to form canted inner surfaces of the opposing side walls of the modular concrete structure so that the side walls taper in thickness toward the bottom portion of the modular concrete structure;   providing a top member extending between the inner side wall members and configured to form a concrete slab having a first edge and opposite second edge from which the opposing side walls of the modular concrete structure respectively extend to the bottom portion of the modular concrete structure; and   pouring concrete over the top member and between the respective outer and inner side wall members until a desired thickness of the formed concrete slab is reached.