CA3161041A1 - Arch culvert bridge system and installation method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An arch culvert bridge system and an installation method are provided. The arch culvert bridge system comprises piles; support bearns attached to the piles; a plurality of culvert sections in simi-circular shape connected by a plurality of connecting flanges using bolts and nuts; and at least one end section connected to one end of the plurality of culvert sections. The culvert sections and the end section have bottom edge portions that are secured to the support beams. The end section comprises an open end having an angled opening to match an angle of an embankment where the end section is located.

Description

ARCH CULVERT BRIDGE SYSTEM AND INSTALLATION METHOD FOR THE
SAME
[0001] The present invention relates an arch culvert assembly and a method of installing and constructing an arch culvert assembly for placement under a roadway or other ground surface to allow water to flow through the arch culvert assembly or allow animals and people to pass through the arch culvert assembly.
BACKGROUND
[0001] Culverts are traditionally used to allow water to flow under a road, railroad, or similar obstruction. In other cases the culvert can be used to let wildlife or even people pass under the road or other obstruction through the culvert. Traditionally, a culvert was formed in the shape of a pipe and corrugated along its length in order to withstand the forces applied to the culvert system by the overpassing obstruction as well as the surrounding soil, rocks or other backfilled material.

[0002] Given that a pipe-shaped culverts can interfere with and replace the natural bed of a body or stream of water or wildlife passage, some modern culverts are designed in the shape of an arch (semi-circular or otherwise) with an open bottom which permits the flow of water and passage of wildlife through the culvert system while not interfering with the natural bed. In order to maintain the dimensional integrity while under the loads surrounding the arch culvert system, many arch culverts are corrugated. This corrugation, however, disturbs the upstream and Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-31 downstream natural flow of water and passage of wildlife through the culvert system by causing turbulent or otherwise disturbed flow.
SUMMARY

[0003] According to one aspect, an arch culvert bridge system having a first side and a second side is provided comprising: a first set of piles running in a line on the first side; a second set of piles running in a line on the second side; a first set of support beams attached to the first set of piles; a second set of support beams attached to the second set of piles; at least one culvert section in simi-circular shape; and at least one end section connected to the at least one culvert section. A
first bottom edge portion of the at least one culvert section and the at least one end section is attached to the first set of support beams and a second bottom edge portion of the at least one culvert section and the at least one end section is attached to the second set of support beams.

[0004] In one aspect, each of the at least one culvert section may extend from a first end to a second end. The at least one culvert section may comprise a plurality of culvert sections connected by a plurality of connecting flanges along the simi-circular shape. The plurality of connecting flanges may be raised flanges running along the outside surface of the at least one culvert section.

[0005] In a further aspect, the plurality of connecting flanges may comprise a plurality of first connecting flanges attached to the first end and a plurality of second connecting flanges attached to the second end. The plurality of first connecting flanges and the plurality of second connecting flanges may have aligned apertures for passing bolts, whereby adjacent culvert sections are secured together by bolts and nuts.

Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-31

[0006] In another aspect, each of the at least one culvert section may comprise a plurality of strengthening ridges equidistantly spaced along the simi-circular shape. The plurality of strengthening ridges may be located on an outside surface of each of the at least one culvert section.

[0007] In one aspect, each of the at least one culvert section and each of the at least one end section may have a flat interior surface.

[0008] In a thrther aspect, each of the at least one end section may comprise a connecting end connected to one of the first end and the second end of an adjacent culvert section by a plurality of third connecting flanges. The plurality of third connecting flanges are raised flanges running along an outside surface of the at least one end section.

[0009] In another aspect, each of the at least one end section may comprise an open end having an angled opening to match an angle of an embankment where each of the end section is located.

[00010] In another aspect, each of the at least one end section may comprise a removable support brace extending within the interior surface, which is removed after the arch culvert bridge system is installed. Each of the at least one end section may comprise at least one partial strengthening ridge at the open end.

[00011] In a further aspect, an installation method for an arch culvert bridge system is provided.
The method comprises steps of: drilling holes in a ground; filling concrete into the holes to fomi a plurality of piles; positioning support beams on tops of the plurality of piles; providing a plurality of culvert sections, each having a simi-circular shape; placing the plurality of culvert sections on a portion of the support beams; connecting the plurality of culvert sections by a plurality of Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-31 connecting flanges using bolts and nuts; providing at least one end section;
placing the at least one end section on another portion of the support beams; connecting each of the at least one end section to one end of the plurality of culvert sections by another set of a plurality of connecting flanges using bolts and nuts; and welding bottom edge portions of the plurality of culvert sections and the at least one end section to the support beams.

[00012] In another aspect, the step of connecting the plurality of culvert sections may comprise abutting a plurality of first connecting flanges of a first culvert section against a plurality of second connecting flanges of an adjacent culvert section.

[00013] In a further aspect, the step of connecting each of the at least one end section may comprise abutting a plurality of third connecting flanges of each of the at least one end section at a connecting end against a plurality of connecting flanges of an adjacent culvert section. The at least one end section may comprise an angled opening at an open end. The angled opening may match an angle of an embankment where each of the end section is located.

[00014] In a further aspect, the installation method may comprise: forming a flattened base on the ground before drilling the holes and placing and packing down material such as dirt around the arch culvert bridge system after the step of welding.

Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-31 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[00015] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[00016] FIG 1 is an elevation view of an arch culvert assembly;

[00017] FIG 2 is a cross-sectional view of the arch culvert assembly along line AA' in FIG 1;

[00018] FIG 3 is an isometric view of an arch culvert section which forms part of the non-corrugated arch culvert bridge assembly of FIG 1; and

[00019] FIG 4 is an isometric view of an arch culvert end section that can be used in the non-corrugated arch culvert bridge assembly of FIG 1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[00020] FIGS 1 and 2 illustrate an arch culvert assembly 10 which can be used to allow water to flow or wildlife to pass under a road, railroad, or similar obstruction while maintaining the natural bed of a body or stream of water or wildlife passage through the culvert assembly 10. The arch culvert assembly 10 can be constructed in place where a road, railroad or other obstruction will go and then fill material 110, such as earth, can be backfilled over the arch culvert assembly 10 to form a ground surface 120 over the arch culvert assembly 10 for the road or other obstruction.
The arch culvert assembly 10 can include: culvert sections 20, end sections 40, support beams 60, and piles 70. The culvert sections 20 and the end sections 40 may be made of steel.

Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-31

[00021] Piles 70 can be sunk in the ground at regular intervals and running in two parallel lines, spaced the width of the culvert sections 20 and the end sections 40 apart. A
first set of piles 70 can run in a line on a first side of the arch culvert assembly 10 and a second set of piles 70 can run in a line on a second side of the arch culvert assembly 10. These piles 70 can be constructed in a typical manner by drilling or digging a cylindrical hole in the ground, placing a cylindrical form or other shaped form (not shown) in the hole and filling with the cylindrical form with concrete.
Once the concrete has dried, a pile 70 will be formed.

[00022] The support beams 60 can be installed along the tops of the piles 70 with a first set of support beams 60 running in a line along the first set of piles 70 on the first side of the arch culvert assembly 10 and a second set of support beams 60 running in a line along the second set of piles 70 on the second side of the arch culvert assembly 10. In one aspect, the support beams 60 can be i-beams.

[00023] The culvert sections 20 can be positioned end to end and in series along a common axis to form the arch culvert assembly 10. The arch culvert assembly 10 can be constructed to meet desired or required length requirements by simply using the number of culvert sections 20 needed to reach the desired length. Each culvert section 20 can be connected to an adjacent culvert section 20.

[00024] End sections 40 can be attached on either end of the culvert sections 20 when the desired length for the arch culvert assembly 10 is achieved. The end sections 40 provide a gradual Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-31 sloping of the ends of the arch culvert assembly 10 to better match the slope of an embankment 130 for the elevated ground surface 120.

[00025] When the arch culvert assembly 10 is in place and fill material 110 has been used to cover it, the ground surface 120 passing over top of the arch culvert assembly 10 can be packed down to form a stable surface for a road, railroad, or similar route over the arch culvert assembly 10.

[00026] FIG 3 illustrates a single culvert section 20. The culvert section 20 can be generally semi-circular in shape can include: a first end 22; a second end 24;
connecting flanges 26; an interior surface 28; an outer surface 29; strengthening ridges 30; a first bottom edge 34; and a second bottom edge 36.

[00027] The culvert section 20 can extend from the first end 22 to the second end 24 with a connecting flange 26 attached at the first end 22 and another connecting flange 26 connected at the second end 24 so that adjacent culvert sections 20 can he connected to the culvert section 20 by the connecting flanges 26. The interior surface 28 of the culvert section 20 can be flat from the first end 22 to the second end of the culvert section 20. The connecting flanges 26 can be raised flanges running along the semi-circular circumference of the culvert section 10 at the first end 22 and the second end 24 of the culvert section 10. A series of apertures can be provided passing though the connecting flange 26. The apertures are provided at a specific spacing so that the apertures will align with apertures in an adjacent culvert section 20 when the culvert sections 20 are abutted together.

Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-31

[00028] Adjacent culvert sections 20 can be connected to one another in series by abutting the connecting flanges 26 of the adjacent culvert sections 20 together and passing bolts through the aligned apertures so secure the adjacent culvert sections 20 together using the bolts and nuts. The connecting flange 26 along the semi-circular circumference of a first connecting flanges 26 at the first end 22 of the first culvert section 20 can be abutted against the connecting flange 26 located along the semi-circular circumference of the second end 24 of a second culvert section 20 adjacent to the first arch culvert section 20 thereby aligning the apertures in the adjacent connecting flanges 26 in order to connect and align the culvert sections 20 in series to form the middle portion of the arch culvert assembly 10. By having the connecting flanges 26 extending outwards from the semi-circular circumference of the first end 22 and the second end 24 of the culvert section 20, the connecting flanges 26 will not protrude inside the culvert section 20 and will not interfere with the flow of water through the arch culvert assembly 10, allowing the interior surface 28 to be flat along the entire length of the culvert section 20, even at the ends 22, 24

[00029] Strengthening ridges 30 can be equidistantly spaced along the semi-circular .. circumference of the culvert section 20 and on an outside surface 29 of the culvert section 10.
These strengthening ridges 30 provide increase the strength of the culvert section 20. By providing these strengthening ridges 30 on the outside of the culvert section 10, the strength of the culvert section 20 can be increased while maintaining the flatness of the interior surface 28 inside the culvert section 20. In this manner, the culvert section 20 can maintain a non-corrugated, smooth interior surface 28 that can enable a more natural flow of water through the culvert section 20 and make a more pleasing-appearing passage. The strengthening ridges 30 will be covered with dirt Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-31 when fill material 110 is used to cover the arch culvert assembly 10, while maintaining dimensional integrity under the vertical and lateral forces surrounding the arch culvert assembly 10.

[00030] The first bottom edge 34 and the second bottom edge 36 of the culvert section 20 can be attached to support beams 60 to secure the culvert section 20 in place in the arch culvert assembly 10.

[00031] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, a number of culvert sections 20 can be attached inline to form the main body of the arch culvert assembly 10 until the arch culvert assembly 10 reaches the desired length. After this desired length is achieved, an end sections 40 can be connected to the series of connected arch culvert sections 20 on either end of the arch culvert assembly 10. FIG
.. 3 shows a single end section 40. The end section 40 can include: a first end 42; a second end 44;
a single connecting flange 46; an interior surface 48; an outer surface 49;
strengthening ridges 50;
a first bottom edge 54; a second bottom edge 56; a support brace 58; and an angled opening 62.

[00032] The end section 40 can extend from the first end 42 to the second end 44 with a single connecting flange 46 attached at the second end 44 of the end section 40 so that the end section 40 can be attached to a connecting flange 26 on an adjacent culvert section 20 to form one end to the culvert arch assembly 10. The interior surface 48 of the culvert section 20 can be flat from the first end 22 to the second end of the culvert section 20. The connecting flange 46 can be a raised flange running along an outside of a semi-circular circumference of the arch culvert end section 40 at the second end 44 of the arch culvert end section 40. A series of apertures can be provided passing though the connecting flange 46. The apertures are provided at a specific spacing so that Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-31 the apertures will align with apertures in an adjacent arch culvert section 20 when the second end 44 of the arch culvert end section 40 is abutted to an end of the adjacent culvert section 20.

[00033] The end sections 40 can be connected to ends of a series of connected culvert sections 20 by bolting the connecting flange 46 of the end sections 40 to a connecting flange 26 of a culvert section 20. Like the culvert sections 20 with their flat inner surfaces 28, the end sections 40 can also have flat inner surfaces 48, thereby reducing any interference to the flow of water through the arch culvert assembly 10.

[00034] Strengthening ridges 50 may be equidistantly spaced along the semi-circular circumference of the end section 40 on the outside surface 49 of the end section 40. These strengthening ridges 50 increase the strength of the end-section 40. Partial strengthening ridges 52 can be provided along the angled opening 62 at the first end 42 of the end section 40 to provide support for the first end 42 and the angled opening 62 and keep the sides in place before the end section 40 and to maintain the dimensional integrity of the end-section 40 during installation is installed in an arch culvert assembly 10. The support brace 58 can later be removed so as not to interfere with the passage through the arch culvert assembly 10.

[00035] The angled opening 62 at the first end 42 of the end section 40 allows the end section 40 to bettor match an angle of an embankment the end section 40 is extending out of.

[00036] The first bottom edge 54 and the second bottom edge 56 of the end section 40 can be attached to support beams 60 to secure the end section 40 in place in the arch culvert assembly 10.
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-31

[00037] In operation, to the install the arch culvert assembly 10, the ground can be flattened or excavated down such that the arch culvert assembly 10 will rest on a flattened base 130 at the prescribed depth, as depicted in FIG 2.

[00038] Cylindrical or other shaped holes can then be drilled or dug into the flattened base 130 and cylindrical or other shaped forms can be inserted in the holes and subsequently filled with concrete to form the piles 70. Once the concrete has dried and the piles 70 have been formed, the support beams 60 can be attached along the tops of the piles 70.

[00039] The first bottom edge 34 and the second bottom edge 36 of the culvert sections 20 can be placed on the support beams 60 in series and the abutting connecting flanges 26 of the adjacent culvert sections 20 can be connected together by passing bolts through the aligned apertures so secure the adjacent culvert sections 20. When the desired length of the arch culvert assembly 10 is reached, end sections 40 can be attached to the culvert sections 20 on the ends by using bolts and nuts.

[00040] The first bottom edge 54 and the second bottom edge 56 of the end-sections 40 can be placed on the support beams 60 and can be connected to ends of a series of connected culvert sections 20 by bolting the connecting flange 46 of the end sections 40 to a connecting flange 26 of a culvert section 20 using bolts and nuts. The series of connected end sections 40 and culvert sections 20 can then be welded to the support beams 60 to form the arch culvert assembly 10.

[00041] Once the arch culvert assembly 10 has been installed, fill material 110 can then be placed and packed down around the arch culvert assembly 10 in order to form a stable, load bearing Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-31 structure for roads, railroads, or other routes on the ground surface 120 above the arch culvert assembly 10 that would generally obstruct passage through the corridor where the arch culvert assembly 10 has been installed.
1000421 The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.
Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.

Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-31

Claims (23)

1. An arch culvert bridge system having a first side and a second side, comprising;
a first set of piles running in a line on the first side:
a second set of piles running in a line on the second side;
a first set of support beams positioned on tops of the first set of piles;
a second set of support bearns positioned on tops of the second set of piles;
at least one culvert section in simi-circular shape; and at least one end section connected to the at least one culvert section, wherein a first bottom edge portion of the at least one culvert section and the a.t least one end section is attached to the first set of support beams and a second bottom edge portion of the at least one culvert section and the at least one end section is attached to the second set of support beams.

2. The arch culvert bridge system of claim 1, wherein the at least one culvert section comprises a plurality of culvert sections connected by a plurality of connecting flanges along the simi-circular shape.

3. The arch culvert bridge system of claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the at least one culvert section and each of the at least one end section further comprise a plurality of strengthening ridges equidistantly spaced along the simi-circular shape.

Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-31

4. The arch culvert bridge system of claim 3, Wherein the plurality of strengthening ridges are located on an outside surface.

5. The arch culvert bridge system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the at least one culvert section extends from a first end to a second end.

6. The arch culvert bridge system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of connecting flanges comprise a plurality of first connecting flanges attached to the first end and a plurality of second connecting flanges attached to the second end.

7. The arch culvert bridge system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of first connecting flanges of the first end are abutted against the plurality of second connecting flanges of the second end of an adjacent culvert section.

S. The arch culvert bridge system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of first connecting flanges and the plurality of second connecting flanges have aligned apertures for passing bolts, whereby adjacent culvert sections are secured together by bolts and nuts.

9. The arch culvert bridge system of any one of claims 4 to g, wherein the plurality of connecting flanges are raised flanges running along the outside surface of the at least one culvert section.

10 . The arch culvert bridge system of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein each of the at least one culvert section and each of the at least one end section have a flat interior surface.

11. The arch culvert bridge system of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein each of the at least one end section comprises a connecting end connected to one of the first end and the second end of an adjacent culvert section by a plurality of third connecting flanges.

Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-31

12. The arch culvert bridge system of clairn 11, wherein the plurality of third connecting flanges are raised flanges running along an outside surface of the at least one end section.

13. The arch culvert bridge system of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein each of the at least one end section comprises an open end having an angled opening to match an angle of an embankment where each of the end section is located.

14. The arch culvert bridge system of claim 12 or 13, wherein each of the at least one end section comprises a removable support brace extending within the interior surface, which is removed after the arch culvert bridge system is installed.

15. The arch culvert bridge systern of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein each of the at least one end section cornprises at least one partial strengthening ridge at the open end.

16. An installation method for an arch culvert bridge system, comprising steps of:
drilling holes in a ground;
filling concrete into the holes to form a plurality of piles;
positioning support bearns on tops of the plurality of piles;
providing a plurality of culvert sections, each having a simi-circular shape;
placing the plurality of culvert sections on a portion of the support beams;
connecting the plurality of culvert sections by a plurality of connecting flanges using bolts and nuts;
providing at least one end section;
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-31 placing the at least one end section on another portion of the support beams;
connecting each of the at least one end section to one end of the plurality of culvert sections by another set of a plurality of connecting flanges using bolts and nuts; and welding bottom edge portions of the plurality of culvert sections and the at least one end section to the support beams.

17. The installation method of clairn 16, wherein the step of placing the plurality of culvert sections on a portion of the support beams comprises:
placing a first bottom edge portion of the plurality of culvert sections on a first set of support beams and placing a second bottom edge portion on a second set of support beams.

18. The installation rnethod of claim 16 or 17, wherein the step of connecting the plurahh- of culvert sections comprising:
abutting a plurality of first connecting flanges of a first culvert section against a plurality of second connecting flanges of an adjacent culvert section.

19. The installation method of any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the step of placing the at least one end section on another portion of the support beams comprises:
placing a first side bottom edge of the at least one end section on a third set of support beams and placing a second side bottom edge of the at least one end section on a fourth set of support beams.

20. The installation method of any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the step of connecting each of the at least one end section comprises: abutting a plurality of third connecting flanges of Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-31 each of the at least one end section at a connecting end against a plurality of connecting flanges of an adjacent culvert section.

21. The installation method of any one of claims 16 to 20, wherein the at least one end section comprises an angled opening at an open end, the angled opening matching an angle of an ernbankment where each of the end section is located.

22. The installation method of any one of claims 16 to 21, further comprising: forming a flattened base on the ground before drilling the holes.

23. The installation method of any one of claims 16 to 22, further comprising: placing and packing down material around the arch culvert bridge system after the step of welding.

Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-31