U.S. patent application number 11/110649 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-10 for silt and debris filtering system for storm drains.
Invention is credited to Glassheim, Robert.
Application Number | 20050247612 11/110649 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35238479 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050247612 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Glassheim, Robert |
November 10, 2005 |
Silt and debris filtering system for storm drains
Abstract
An apparatus for removing debris from water passing through a
storm drain comprises a frame adapted to be positioned underneath a
storm grate for receiving the water, the frame having a bottom side
and major and minor sidewalls, the major sidewalls having openings
therein for allowing water to pass; and a filter removably
insertable along at least a portion of the major sidewalls for
filtering debris from the water.
Inventors: |
Glassheim, Robert; (Bradley
Beach, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PLEVY & HOWARD, P.C.
P.O. BOX 226
FORT WASHINGTON
PA
19034
US
|
Family ID: |
35238479 |
Appl. No.: |
11/110649 |
Filed: |
April 20, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60563736 |
Apr 20, 2004 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
210/163 ;
404/4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03F 5/0404 20130101;
E03F 1/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
210/163 ;
404/004 |
International
Class: |
E03F 005/06 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for removing debris from water passing through a
storm drain, comprising: a frame adapted to be positioned
underneath a storm grate for receiving said water, the frame having
a bottom side and major and minor sidewalls, the major sidewalls
having openings therein for allowing water to pass; and a filter
removably insertable along at least a portion of the major
sidewalls for filtering debris from said water.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said bottom side is solid and
includes a central ridge along the longitudinal axis of the frame
such that the bottom side is pitched downwardly from the central
ridge toward the major sidewalls.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising channels along said
major sidewalls for retaining said filter within said frame.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frame has a rectangular
shape.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said filter comprises a mesh
screen.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said filter comprises a filter
for collecting petroleum hydrocarbons.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said filter comprises a mesh
screen in combination with a filter unit for collecting petroleum
hydrocarbons.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a support structure
for coupling a portion of the frame to a wall of the storm
drain.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the minor sidewalls are
solid.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the major sidewalls have
grated openings.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the grated openings of said
major sidewalls vary in size and shape.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Patent Application
Ser. No. 60/563,736, entitled Silt And Debris Filtering System For
Storm Drains, filed Apr. 20, 2004, the entire disclosure of which
is hereby incorporated by reference as if being set forth in its
entirety herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a storm drain
filter system for filtering water flowing into a storm drain.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Filtering systems useful for storm drains generally prevent
silt and other debris (e.g., dirt, gravel, tree leaves, street
trash, etc.) from entering the storm drain and sewer system. Silt
and other debris entering the storm drains along with rainwater and
other surface water run-offs may clog the storm sewers and cause
street flooding and/or damage to water treatment facilities that
treat the water from storm sewers. Such problems may be exaggerated
and commonly found in many construction sites or similar
locations.
[0004] To prevent such problems, the inventor has invented a novel
silt and debris filtering system for storm drains that is simple to
install and easy to maintain. The filter system of the present
invention is provided with filter units that are easily removed
from the storm drains for cleaning or replacement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An apparatus for removing debris from water passing through
a storm drain comprises a frame adapted to be positioned underneath
a storm grate for receiving the water, the frame having a bottom
side and major and minor sidewalls, the major sidewalls having
openings therein for allowing water to pass; and a filter removably
insertable along at least a portion of the major sidewalls for
filtering debris from the water.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0006] FIG. 1A illustrates a side view along a major side of a
storm drain filter system according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0007] FIG. 1B illustrates a top view of the storm drain filter
system of FIG. 1A;
[0008] FIG. 1C illustrates a cross sectional view along a minor
side of the storm drain filter system taken along line A-A of FIG.
1B;
[0009] FIG. 2A illustrates another side view along a major side of
a storm drain filter system and including filter, attachment and
support structures for the system according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2B is a schematic illustration of a support structure
for the storm drain filter system according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0011] FIG. 3A illustrates a side view of a filter structure for
the storm drain filter system according to an embodiment of the
presents invention;
[0012] FIG. 3B is a schematic top view of a support structure for
the filter structure the storm drain filter system according to
another embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of various components
associated with the filter system according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates a more detailed top view of the frame
structure of FIG. 4 according to another embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0015] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate more detailed views of the major
and minor sides, respectively, of the frame structure of FIG.
4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, and
referring generally to FIGS. 1 and 2, the storm drain filtering
system generally comprises a frame 100 configured and dimensioned
to be positioned underneath a storm drain grate 400 and one or more
modular filter screen units that are removable from the frame for
cleaning and/or replacement.
[0017] In an exemplary configuration, the frame 100 is a
rectangular box-like structure having a solid bottom side and four
side walls comprising two shorter minor sides (120, 130) and two
longer major sides (140, 150). The two minor sides oppose each
other and the two major sides oppose each other. The side walls may
be grated. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
minor sidewalls are solid and the two major side walls are grated.
The grating structure of the sidewalls may be varied in size and
shape to accommodate the particular filtering needs of a given
application or an installation site for the storm drain filtering
system. In the attached FIG. 1A, the grate openings 160 on the
major side walls are provided with different sizes to accommodate
the different static pressures encountered by the frame and the
filter screen 190 (FIG. 2A) at different portions along the side
walls.
[0018] The top side 170 of the frame is open to let the water flow
into the frame. The top edge (or lip) 172 of the frame may be
configured and adapted to be supported by or hang from supporting
structures that may be mounted into the wall of the catch basin of
the storm drain below the storm grate. The supporting structures
may be ledges or hooks. In an embodiment of the present invention
illustrated in FIG. 2A, the supporting structures are ledges formed
by stainless steel angle irons that are drilled and mounted into
the wall of the catch basin by bolts or other suitable hardware. In
another embodiment of the present invention, the supporting
structures may be hooks as illustrated in FIG. 2B.
[0019] The top edge (or lip) of the frame may be provided with a
flange portion 174 that may hang from the supporting structures,
whether the supporting structures may be ledges or hooks. One or
more handle(s) 176 having an appropriate shape may be provided
along the top edge (or lip) of the frame for ease of handling the
frame during installation of or removal of the storm drain filter
system. In the example of a frame illustrated in FIG. 1A, the
handles are formed as holes provided near the top edge of the
frame.
[0020] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the side walls of the frame
may be tapered so that the frame is wider at the top than the
bottom. As illustrated in FIG. 1 C, which is a cross-sectional view
of the frame through line A-A in FIG. 1B, the solid bottom side of
the frame has a central ridge 180 that is raised along the
longitudinal axis of the frame so that the solid bottom side is
pitched downwardly from the central ridge toward the two major
sides walls 140, 150. This configuration assists the water flowing
into the frame to flow outwardly towards the major side walls to
where the modular filter screens 190 are and out of the frame,
thereby preventing unwanted collection of water in the frame.
[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 1 C, the solid minor side walls may
be provided with one or more overflow holes 191 near the top to
allow water to overflow, in the event that the filter system is
filled with filtered debris and/or silt.
[0022] The major side walls of the frame may be provided with one
or more side drain holes 197 along the bottom edge as shown in FIG.
1A.
[0023] All or most of the components of the storm drain filtering
system according to the present invention may be made of a variety
of materials appropriate for such application. Preferably, the
components, including the frame and the modular filter screen units
may be made from appropriate gauge and grade of stainless steel
that provides appropriate structural strength, durability and
corrosion resistance. An example of such material is 304 stainless
steel.
[0024] The filter system of the present invention also includes
modular filter screens 190, one for each of the grated major side
walls. The modular filter screens are mounted up against each of
the two major side walls from inside the frame and filters silts
and other debris from the water that flows into the top of the
frame and out through the major side walls.
[0025] The modular filter screens may be a mesh or perforated sheet
of some appropriate material. Preferably, the modular filter
screens are made from perforated stainless steel sheets of an
appropriate gauge that can withstand the structural demand of
retaining silts and other debris that are being collected inside
the frame and the pressure of the flowing water through the filter
screens. In one embodiment of the present invention, 16 gauge grade
304 stainless steel that is perforated with 1/8" diameter holes on
3/8" centers, staggered, may be used for the filter screens.
Depending on the range of the particle size of the debris to be
filtered and collected by the filtering system, the diameter and
the spacing of the perforation and the gauge of the stainless steel
sheet may be varied accordingly. The perforation also may be any
appropriate shape other than circular holes. The density of the
perforations on the filter screens may be uniform throughout a
given screen or, if necessary, the density of the perforations may
vary across the height and width of the filter screen. For example,
the perforations near the bottom end of the filter screen may have
smaller and denser holes to filter silts and other debris having
finer particle size. The perforations near the top end of the
filter screen may have larger and less densely populated holes to
filter and collect larger particle size debris.
[0026] An example of a modular filter screen unit 190 is
illustrated in FIG. 3A. The outline shape of the modular filter
screen unit preferably matches the shape of the major side walls of
the frame 100. The modular filter screen unit may be constructed to
have a frame portion supporting the perforated stainless steel
sheets. The frame portion of the modular filter screen unit may be
configured like a picture frame with one central opening or may be
configured with one or more cross-members 194 that divide the
central opening into two or more screen sections 195. Such
cross-members may provide further structural support for the filter
screen to prevent the filter screen from blowing out from the water
pressure or the pressure exerted by the silts and debris collecting
inside the frame. The modular filter screen units are preferably
provided with one or more handles 196 for ease of retrieval from
the frame of the filtering system in the field.
[0027] If the cross-members of the modular filter screen units are
sufficiently strong, the frame of the filter system may not need
the grating structure for the major side walls. In that embodiment
of the present invention, the major side walls of the frame may be
just a big opening.
[0028] The modular filter screen units may be configured and
dimensioned to slidingly engage the frame. For example, as
illustrated in FIG. 1B, the frame is provided with channels 200
along the side edges of the two major side walls along their inside
surface. The channels preferably extend substantially the full
height of the frame. Of course, the channels may also be embodied
as clips or other fastening and/or guiding mechanisms. Referring to
FIG. 3B, the side edges of the modular filter screen units 190 are
configured and dimensioned to engage the channels 200 of frame 100
by sliding into the channel from the top. FIG. 3B is a top down
view of one of the channels of the frame with a modular filter
screen unit 190 glidingly engaged within the channel.
[0029] To install the filtering system of the present invention,
the storm drain grate is lifted up or tilted up from its normal
resting position exposing the storm drain opening. If the storm
drain opening does not have ledges or other suitable support
structure for holding the frame of the filtering system, suitable
supporting structure(s) 300 illustrated in FIG. 2A or 2B are
installed into the wall of the catch basin 315. Such supporting
structures include an L or U-shaped support having a first end for
mounting (e.g. via bolts) to the wall and a second end mountable to
the frame. The frame of the filtering system is then dropped into
the storm drain opening such that the flange portion along the top
edge of the frame rests on the supporting structure(s). Appropriate
modular filter screen units are then installed, one on each side of
the major side walls of the frame by sliding the modular filter
screen units into the channels of the frame.
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of various components
associated with the filter system according to another embodiment
of the present invention. As shown therein, a frame structure 100'
has a T-shaped support defined by a horizontal top edge bar member
108 extending between and coupled to opposite minor side walls 120,
130, and a single support arm 105 extending between and coupled to
top edge bar member 108 and bottom 110. Single support are 105 is
disposed on each of the major sidewalls for supporting the
structure.
[0031] A removable mesh screen 187 and/or modular filter screen
unit 190 is insertable into channels along the major sidewalls of
the frame. In an exemplary embodiment, a stainless steel wire mesh
screen (e.g. a 200 mesh count per inch or 0.0029 inch width
opening) and a 1.5 inch thick replaceable filter for collecting
debris including petroleum hydrocarbons is provided. The bottom
surface 110 is flat and preferably formed of solid stainless steel.
A hood 210 having inwardly tapered side panels 212 may be coupled
onto the top opening of frame 100' for funneling the matter from
the storm gate or drain into the structure. The structure may be
formed of 304 stainless steel, including the screen and filter
units.
[0032] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of frame structure 100'
illustrated in FIG. 4, while FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate major and
minor side views of frame structure 100', respectively. The
dimensions provided are exemplary. As shown therein, channels 205
and 210 removably accommodate filter unit 190 and mesh screen 187
to provide for debris filtering. The filter and screen may each be
separately removable in a vertical fashion independent of one
another. While both filter unit and screen are illustrated in the
embodiment depicted, it is understood that either or both filter
mechanisms may be incorporated into the frame structure.
[0033] FIG. 6 illustrates a more detailed major side view of the
frame structure 100' having bar members 105 and 108 in a T-shaped
arrangement for supporting the major sidewalls. Flange 174 enables
hanging the structure as discussed with respect to FIG. 1A.
[0034] FIG. 7 illustrates a more detailed minor side view of the
frame structure 100' wherein angled slots 191 provide for overflow.
The structure further includes stiffener channels 199 disposed on
the bottom surface as shown in FIG. 7 for providing additional
support.
[0035] The members of the public works or road maintenance crew
will periodically inspect the storm drains installed with the
filtering system of the present invention. If the filtering system
is filled with silt or other debris, the debris may be removed by,
for example, using a jet-vacuum after the storm grate is removed.
If appropriate, each of the modular filter screens also may be
temporarily removed for cleaning. Because the components of the
filter system, including the modular filter screen units are made
of stainless steel, they are corrosion resistant and should be
reused without being replaced for a long time.
* * * * *