Underground drainage sump system and method of retrofitting for protecting a floor slab

• US 5,551,797 A
• Filed: 02/17/1995
• Issued: 09/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul C. Sanford
• Original Assignee: Paul C. Sanford
• Inventors: Sanford, Paul C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David J.
• Application Number:
  US08/390,242
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 405/36, 405/50, 405/51, 405/229, 405/284, 52/169.5, 52/302.1, 52/302.3, 52/302.7, 52/741.3, 345/909
• US Class Current: 405/36
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 31/02 against ground humidity or ground water E02D31/06 takes precedence; arrangements other than according to E02D31/04; against hydraulic pressure of groundwater E02D31/10
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/68 Radon
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/06 with forced air circulation, e.g. by fan positioning of a ventilator in or against a conduit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 454/909 Radon prevention

Abstract

A method of retrofitting an underground water drainage sump system to below a floor slab for protecting the floor slab includes the steps of forming a sump hole below a floor slab of a building, drilling into and removing soil from below the floor slab so as to form a plurality of lateral passageways extending from a central location relative to an outer perimeter of the floor slab, extending the lateral passageways outwardly at two different levels and lengths and alternating therebetween to and beyond a footer at the outer perimeter of the floor slab, inserting a plurality of perforated collection pipes into the lateral passageways, placing a perforated drum into the sump hole such that inner ends of the perforated collection pipes are adjacent to the perforated drum, filling the sump hole around at least the lower portion of the perforated drum with drainage stones, placing a sump pump into the perforated drum, connecting the sump pump to a discharge pipe for transporting the drainage water from the perforated drum into a sewer system of the building or otherwise to the outside of the building away from the floor slab, and providing a cover for removably covering the sump hole.

Claims

1. A method of retrofitting an underground water drainage sump system to below a floor slab for protecting the floor slab, said retrofitting method comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a sump hole to extend through a floor slab and into underground below the floor slab;

(b) forming a plurality of lateral passageways in the underground below the floor slab so as to extend outwardly from said sump hole along and below the floor slab to the vicinity of an outer perimeter of the floor slab;

(c) inserting a plurality of perforated hollow collection pipes into the lateral passageways such that outer ends of said collection pipes extend to the vicinity of the outer perimeter of the floor slab and inner ends of said collection pipes are disposed in flow communication with said sump hole; and

(d) placing a sump pump into said sump hole for pumping from said sump hole drainage water discharged into said sump hole from said collection pipes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said forming said lateral passageways further includes the steps of:

drilling into soil in the underground below the floor slab in directions from said sump hole toward the outer perimeter of the floor slab so as to displace soil from the underground into said sump hole and thereby form said lateral passageways; and

removing the soil from the sump hole displaced by said drilling to form said lateral passageways.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

said sump hole is formed at a generally central location relative to the outer perimeter of the floor slab; and

said lateral passageways are formed to extend radially outwardly from said centrally-located sump hole.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(e) placing a perforated drum into said sump hole such that said inner ends of said perforated collection pipes are disposed adjacent to said perforated drum.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of:

(f) placing a quantity of drainage stones in said sump hole around the exterior of at least a lower portion of said perforated drum in said sump hole.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of said lateral passageways are formed to extend from said sump hole in the underground below the floor slab at a level not lower than a level of a footer extending below and about the outer perimeter of the floor slab and to terminate at points at an interior side of the footer.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of said lateral passageways are formed to extend from said sump hole in the underground below the floor slab at a level lower than a level of a footer extending below and about the outer perimeter of the floor slab and to terminate at points past an exterior side of the footer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said lateral passageways are formed to extend outwardly at two different levels and lengths to and beyond a footer extending below and about the outer perimeter of the floor slab, a first group of said lateral passageways extending at a first level not lower than the level of the footer to points of termination on an interior side of the footer, a second group of said lateral passageways extending at a second level lower than said first level and lower than the level of the footer to points of termination past an exterior side of the footer.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said forming said lateral passageways further includes:

alternating said lateral passageways between said two different levels and lengths.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(e) providing a cover for removably covering an upper end of said sump hole.

11. A method of retrofitting an underground water drainage sump system to below a floor slab for protecting the floor slab, said retrofitting method comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a sump hole to extend through a floor slab and into underground below the floor slab;

(b) forming a plurality of lateral passageways in the underground below the floor slab so as to extend outwardly from said sump hole along and below the floor slab at a level not lower than a level of a footer extending below and about an outer perimeter of the floor slab and to terminate at points at an interior side of the footer;

(c) inserting a plurality of perforated hollow collection pipes into the lateral passageways such that outer ends of said collection pipes extend to the interior side of the footer and inner ends of said collection pipes are disposed in flow communication with said sump hole;

(d) placing a perforated drum into said sump hole such that said inner ends of said perforated collection pipes are disposed adjacent to said perforated drum; and

(e) placing a sump pump into said sump hole for pumping from said sump hole drainage water discharged into said sump hole from said collection pipes.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said forming said lateral passageways further includes the steps of:

drilling into soil in the underground below the floor slab in directions from said sump hole toward the outer perimeter of the floor slab so as to displace soil from the underground into said sump hole and thereby form said lateral passageways; and

removing the soil from the sump hole displaced by said drilling to form said lateral passageways.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein:

said sump hole is formed at a generally central location relative to the outer perimeter of the floor slab; and

said lateral passageways are formed to extend radially outwardly from said centrally-located sump hole.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

(f) placing a quantity of drainage stones in said sump hole around the exterior of at least a lower portion of said perforated drum in said sump hole.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

(f) providing a cover for removably covering an upper end of said sump hole.

16. A method of retrofitting an underground water drainage sump system to below a floor slab for protecting the floor slab, said retrofitting method comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a sump hole to extend through a floor slab and into underground below the floor slab;

(b) forming a plurality of lateral passageways in the underground below the floor slab so as to extend outwardly from said sump hole along and below the floor slab at a level lower than a level of a footer extending below and about an outer perimeter of the floor slab and to terminate at points past an exterior side of the footer;

(c) inserting a plurality of perforated hollow collection pipes into the lateral passageways such that outer ends of said collection pipes extend past the exterior side of the footer and inner ends of said collection pipes are disposed in flow communication with said sump hole;

(d) placing a perforated drum into said sump hole such that said inner ends of said perforated collection pipes are disposed adjacent to said perforated drum; and

(e) placing a sump pump into said sump hole for pumping from said sump hole drainage water discharged into said sump hole from said collection pipes.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said forming said lateral passageways further includes the steps of:

drilling into soil in the underground below the floor slab in directions from said sump hole toward the outer perimeter of the floor slab so as to displace soil from the underground into said sump hole and thereby form said lateral passageways; and

removing the soil from the sump hole displaced by said drilling to form said lateral passageways.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein:

said sump hole is formed at a generally central location relative to the outer perimeter of the floor slab; and

said lateral passageways are formed to extend radially outwardly from said centrally-located sump hole.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of:

(f) placing a quantity of drainage stones in said sump hole around the exterior of at least a lower portion of said perforated drum in said sump hole.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of:

(f) providing a cover for removably covering an upper end of said sump hole.

21. A method of retrofitting an underground water drainage sump system to below a floor slab for protecting the floor slab, said retrofitting method comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a sump hole to extend through a floor slab and into underground below the floor slab;

(b) forming a plurality of lateral passageways in the underground below the floor slab so as to extend outwardly from said sump hole along and below the floor slab at two different levels and lengths to and beyond a footer extending below and about an outer perimeter of the floor slab, a first group of said lateral passageways extending at a first level not lower than the level of the footer to points of termination on an interior side of the footer, a second group of said lateral passageways extending at a second level lower said first level and lower than the level of the footer to points of termination past an exterior side of the footer;

(c) inserting a plurality of perforated hollow collection pipes into the lateral passageways such that outer ends of said collection pipes extend to the interior side of the footer and inner ends of said collection pipes are disposed in flow communication with said sump hole;

(d) placing a perforated drum into said sump hole such that said inner ends of said perforated collection pipes are disposed adjacent to said perforated drum; and

(e) placing a sump pump into said sump hole for pumping from said sump hole drainage water discharged into said sump hole from said collection pipes.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said forming said lateral passageways further includes the steps of:

drilling into soil in the underground below the floor slab in directions from said sump hole toward the outer perimeter of the floor slab so as to displace soil from the underground into said sump hole and thereby form said lateral passageways; and

removing the soil from the sump hole displaced by said drilling to form said lateral passageways.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein:

said sump hole is formed at a generally central location relative to the outer perimeter of the floor slab; and

said lateral passageways are formed to extend radially outwardly from said centrally-located sump hole.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of:

(f) placing a quantity of drainage stones in said sump hole around the exterior of at least a lower portion of said perforated drum in said sump hole.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of:

(f) providing a cover for removably covering an upper end of said sump hole.

26. In combination with a floor slab having an outer perimeter, an underground water drainage sump system for protecting the floor slab, said system comprising:

(a) a sump hole formed through the floor slab and extending into underground below the floor slab, said sump hole being formed at a generally central location relative to the outer perimeter of the floor slab;

(b) a plurality of lateral passageways formed in the underground below the floor slab so as to extend radially outwardly from said centrally-located sump hole along and below the floor slab to the vicinity of the outer perimeter of the floor slab;

(c) a plurality of perforated hollow collection pipes disposed in said lateral passageways such that outer ends of said collection pipes extend to the vicinity of the outer perimeter of the floor slab and inner ends of said collection pipes are disposed in flow communication with said sump hole;

(d) a perforated drum disposed in said sump hole such that said inner ends of said perforated collection pipes are disposed adjacent to said perforated drum; and

(e) a sump pump disposed in said perforated drum and being operable for pumping from said sump hole drainage water discharged into said sump hole from said collection pipes.

27. The system of claim 26 further comprising:

(f) a quantity of drainage stones disposed in said sump hole around the exterior of at least a lower portion of said perforated drum in said sump hole.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein at least some of said lateral passageways are formed to extend from said sump hole in the underground below the floor slab at a level not lower than a level of a footer extending below and about the outer perimeter of the floor slab and to terminate at points at an interior side of the footer.

29. The system of claim 26 further comprising:

(f) a cover disposed over an upper end of said sump hole for removably covering the upper end of said sump hole.

30. In combination with a floor slab having an outer perimeter, an underground water drainage sump system for protecting the floor slab, said system comprising:

(a) a sump hole formed through the floor slab and extending into underground below the floor slab;

(b) a plurality of lateral passageways formed in the underground below the floor slab so as to extend outwardly from said sump hole along and below the floor slab to the vicinity of the outer perimeter of the floor slab, at least some of said lateral passageways being formed to extend from said sump hole in the underground below the floor slab at a level lower than a level of a footer extending below and about the outer perimeter of the floor slab and to terminate at points past an exterior side of the footer;

(c) a plurality of perforated hollow collection pipes disposed in said lateral passageways such that outer ends of said collection pipes extend to the vicinity of the outer perimeter of the floor slab and inner ends of said collection pipes are disposed in flow communication with said sump hole;

(d) a perforated drum disposed in said sump hole such that said inner ends of said perforated collection pipes are disposed adjacent to said perforated drum; and

(e) a sump pump disposed in said perforated drum and being operable for pumping from said sump hole drainage water discharged into said sump hole from said collection pipes.

31. In combination with a floor slab having an outer perimeter, an underground water drainage sump system for protecting the floor slab, said system comprising:

(a) a sump hole formed through the floor slab and extending into underground below the floor slab;

(b) a plurality of lateral passageways formed in the underground below the floor slab so as to extend outwardly from said sump hole along and below the floor slab to the vicinity of the outer perimeter of the floor slab, said lateral passageways being formed to extend outwardly at two different levels and lengths to and beyond a footer extending below and about the outer perimeter of the floor slab, a first group of said lateral passageways extending at a first level not lower than the level of the footer to points of termination on an interior side of the footer, a second group of said lateral passageways extending at a second level lower than said first level and lower than the level of the footer to points of termination past an exterior side of the footer;

(c) a plurality of perforated hollow collection pipes disposed in said lateral passageways such that outer ends of said collection pipes extend to the vicinity of the outer perimeter of the floor slab and inner ends of said collection pipes are disposed in flow communication with said sump hole;

(d) a perforated drum disposed in said sump hole such that said inner ends of said perforated collection pipes are disposed adjacent to said perforated drum; and

(e) a sump pump disposed in said perforated drum and being operable for pumping from said sump hole drainage water discharged into said sump hole from said collection pipes.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein said lateral passageways alternate between said two different levels and lengths.

33. In combination with a floor slab having an outer perimeter, a sub-slab underground depressurization system for removal of polluting gases, said system comprising:

(a) a sump hole formed through the floor slab and extending into underground below the floor slab;

(b) a plurality of lateral passageways formed in the underground below the floor slab so as to extend outwardly from said sump hole along and below the floor slab to the vicinity of the outer perimeter of the floor slab;

(c) a plurality of perforated hollow collection pipes disposed in said lateral passageways such that outer ends of said collection pipes extend to the vicinity of the outer perimeter of the floor slab and inner ends of said collection pipes are disposed in flow communication with said sump hole;

(d) a perforated drum disposed in said sump hole such that said inner ends of said perforated collection pipes are disposed adjacent to said perforated drum; and

(e) a vacuum-generating means disposed in said perforated drum for drawing gases into said sump hole from said porous collection pipes and for exhausting said gases from said sump hole and thereby enabling sub-slab depressurization for removal of polluting gases.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein:

said sump hole is formed at a generally central location relative to the outer perimeter of the floor slab; and

said lateral passageways are formed to extend radially outwardly from said centrally-located sump hole.

35. The system of claim 33 further comprising:

(f) a quantity of drainage stones disposed in said sump hole around the exterior of at least a lower portion of said perforated drum in said sump hole.

36. The system of claim 33 wherein a first group of said lateral passageways are formed to extend from said sump hole in the underground below the floor slab at a level not lower than a first level of a footer extending below and about the outer perimeter of the floor slab and to terminate at points at an interior side of the footer.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein a second group of said lateral passageways are formed to extend from said sump hole in the underground below the floor slab at a second level lower than said first level and lower than a level of a footer extending below and about the outer perimeter of the floor slab and to terminate at points past an exterior side of the footer.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein said lateral passageways alternate between said first and second levels.

39. The system of claim 33 further comprising:

(f) a cover disposed over an upper end of said sump hole for removably covering and sealing said sump hole at said upper end thereof.

40. The system of claim 33 wherein said vacuum-creating means is an exhaust fan.