U.S. patent application number 11/753061 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-27 for pollutant control for inlet protection.
Invention is credited to Mark A. Hanson, Jeffrey T. Smith.
Application Number | 20080290042 11/753061 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40071431 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080290042 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hanson; Mark A. ; et
al. |
November 27, 2008 |
Pollutant Control for Inlet Protection
Abstract
A pollutant control apparatus for mounting in a grate frame used
for protecting a water inlet comprising a basin frame and a
flexible basin. The basin frame is adapted for disposition upon the
grate frame. The flexible basin affixed to the basin frame is made
of an open mesh material. In a curb and gutter water inlet, the
pollutant control apparatus can optionally further comprise a
fabric filter and an inset. The fabric filter is disposed
substantially within the flexible basin frame for collecting
sediment. The inset is disposed adjacent to the basin frame for
securing the fabric filter against the basin frame. The present
invention can also be used in a manhole water inlet. In another
embodiment of the invention where the water inlet further comprises
a shaft disposed under the grate frame, the basin frame further
comprises an extension member affixed to the basin frame. The
extension member is adapted for attachment to the water inlet
shaft.
Inventors: |
Hanson; Mark A.; (Apple
Valley, MN) ; Smith; Jeffrey T.; (Elko, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KRAMM LAW
P.O. BOX 20726
BLOOMINGTON
MN
55420-0726
US
|
Family ID: |
40071431 |
Appl. No.: |
11/753061 |
Filed: |
May 24, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
210/747.3 ;
210/164; 210/170.03; 404/5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03F 5/0404 20130101;
E03F 1/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
210/747 ;
210/164; 404/5; 210/170.03 |
International
Class: |
E03F 5/06 20060101
E03F005/06; E03F 5/14 20060101 E03F005/14 |
Claims
1. A process for making a pollutant control apparatus for mounting
in a grate frame used for protecting a water inlet, comprising the
steps of: providing a basin frame adapted for disposition upon said
grate frame; and providing a flexible basin affixed to said basin
frame, said flexible basin having an open mesh material.
2. The process for making a pollutant control apparatus of claim 1,
wherein said water inlet is a curb and gutter water inlet.
3. The process for making a pollutant control apparatus of claim 2,
further comprising the steps of: providing a fabric filter disposed
substantially within said flexible basin frame for collecting
sediment; and providing an inset disposed adjacent to said basin
frame for securing said fabric filter against said basin frame.
4. The process for making a pollutant control apparatus of claim 1,
wherein said water inlet is a manhole water inlet.
5. The process for making a pollutant control apparatus of claim 1,
wherein said water inlet further comprises a shaft disposed under
said grate frame; and said step of providing a basin frame further
comprises the step of providing an extension member affixed to said
basin frame, said extension member being adapted for attachment to
the water inlet shaft.
6. The process for making a pollutant control apparatus of claim 5,
wherein said water inlet is a curb and gutter water inlet.
7. The process for making a pollutant control apparatus of claim 5,
wherein said water inlet is a manhole water inlet.
8. A pollutant control apparatus for mounting in a grate frame used
for protecting a water inlet, comprising: a basin frame adapted for
disposition upon said grate frame; and a flexible basin affixed to
said basin frame, said flexible basin having an open mesh
material.
9. The pollutant control apparatus of claim 8, wherein said water
inlet is a curb and gutter water inlet.
10. The pollutant control apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:
a fabric filter disposed substantially within said flexible basin
frame for collecting sediment; and an inset disposed adjacent to
said basin frame for securing said fabric filter against said basin
frame.
11. The pollutant control apparatus of claim 8, wherein said water
inlet is a manhole water inlet.
12. The pollutant control apparatus of claim 8, wherein said water
inlet further comprises a shaft disposed under said grate frame;
and said basin frame further comprises an extension member affixed
to said basin frame, said extension member being adapted for
attachment to the water inlet shaft.
13. The pollutant control apparatus of claim 12, wherein said water
inlet is a curb and gutter water inlet.
14. The pollutant control apparatus of claim 12, wherein said water
inlet is a manhole water inlet.
15. A process for using a pollutant control apparatus for mounting
in a grate frame used for protecting a water inlet, comprising the
steps of: providing a basin frame adapted for disposition upon said
grate frame; and providing a flexible basin affixed to said basin
frame, said flexible basin having an open mesh material.
16. The process for using a pollutant control apparatus of claim 1,
wherein said water inlet is a curb and gutter water inlet.
17. The process for using a pollutant control apparatus of claim
16, further comprising the steps of: providing a fabric filter
disposed substantially within said flexible basin frame for
collecting sediment; and providing an inset disposed adjacent to
said basin frame for securing said fabric filter against said basin
frame.
18. The process for using a pollutant control apparatus of claim
15, wherein said water inlet is a manhole water inlet.
19. The process for using a pollutant control apparatus of claim
15, wherein said water inlet further comprises a shaft disposed
under said grate frame; and said step of providing a basin frame
further comprises the step of providing an extension member affixed
to said basin frame, said extension member being adapted for
attachment to the water inlet shaft.
Description
FIELD AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to storm water inlet
protection systems, and more particularly for such systems that
employ a basin for collecting sediment, debris, and other floating
pollutants.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Stormwater runoff can come from rain that fails to percolate
into the soil and flows over land. Impervious surfaces, including
sidewalks, streets and parking lots increase the volume, velocity
and temperature of that runoff thereby decreasing the infiltration
capacity of the land area. Stormwater runoff picks up and carries
off debris, trash, and pollutants that can degrade aquatic life,
wildlife, habitat and human health. Sediment is a primary
stormwater pollutant from erosion at a construction site. To
address that problem, Federal regulations require nearly all
construction site operators engaged in clearing, grading, and
excavating activities that disturb one acre or more, including
smaller sites in a common plan of development or sale, to obtain
coverage under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permit for their stormwater discharges. Most states are
authorized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to
implement the NPDES program and issue their own stormwater permits
for construction activities. So these related rules, in combination
with best management practices for pollution prevention, potential
penalties associated with stormwater noncompliance and the demand
for stormwater permits for construction has increased the need for
pollutant control devices such as those for protecting storm drain
inlets. Storm drain inlet protection is needed not only for storm
drains within the active construction project, but also for storm
drains outside the project area that might receive stormwater
discharges from the project.
[0003] In addition to the nature of a pollutant control apparatus
and its means of installation, the time, cost and effort involved
with inspection and maintenance of such pollutant control devices
for protecting storm drain inlets can also be significant factors.
Permits may require regular and spot inspections both before
predicted storms and after to ensure that controls are in good
working condition at all times. Different devices require different
inspection schedules and maintenance activities such as removing
sediment and debris as needed from protected storm drain inlets,
properly disposing of sediment into controlled areas to prevent
eroded soil from returning during subsequent rain and replacing
damaged parts such as a fabric filter that no longer operates
effectively.
[0004] There are different types of known sediment control devices
with basins for collecting sediment in a curb and gutter. For
example, a bag and handles formed from an orange fabric filter can
be hung below the gutter grate to collect sediment from storm water
erosion runoff. Also known are larger metal or rigid plastic basins
to correspond to and fit onto the frame of the gutter grate
directly below the grate.
[0005] A drawback to a bag and handles formed from an orange fabric
filter can occur during maintenance when the fabric handles rip off
from the fabric bag while manually pulling out the heavy sediment
laden fabric bag or when it is cut or overfills with sediment,
breaks and dumps the pollutant into the water drainage system. In
light of that problem, some permits require more frequent
inspections and maintenance of those bags and mandatory cleaning as
soon as the sediment fills a certain percentage of the bag. The
stronger larger grate sized rigid basins can suffer from a number
of other disadvantages. When these larger sediment capacity rigid
basins fill and need to be cleaned out, they can become too heavy
to be manually lifted and require more expensive and specialized
tools, skills, and equipment such as vacuum trucks. Another
disadvantage is the expense of the units, some which can cost $325
each and are vulnerable to theft at the construction site. And too
often, they can't be used because they don't fit. The rigid basins
are generally manufactured to a limited standard size to fit snugly
through a standard sized frame for a standard sized gutter grate.
Once out in the field, after transporting the standard rigid
basins, removing the grate 20 and attempting installation, the
installer can then encounter insufficient clearance from unique and
irregular obstructions such as too shallow depth such as between
the grate frame 22 to a pipe. Other times, jagged thick concrete
layers installed under the roadway frame side 34 to shim up the
grate frame 22 to a final road level can jut out many inches from
several odd places blocking the needed clearance for the rigid
basin and preventing installation.
SHORT STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in
mind the above problems, and an object of the present invention is
to provide a pollutant control apparatus that can be installed into
a partially obstructed shaft of a stormwater inlet such as a
manhole or curb and gutter.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
stronger means of sediment collection than a fabric filter bag
while still facilitating manual removal.
[0008] In order to accomplish the above objects, the primary
embodiment of the present invention provides a pollutant control
apparatus for mounting in a grate frame used for protecting a water
inlet comprising a basin frame and a flexible basin. The basin
frame is adapted for disposition upon the grate frame. The flexible
basin affixed to the basin frame is made of an open mesh
material.
[0009] One type of water inlet where a preferred embodiment of the
present invention is preferably used during construction in is a
curb and gutter water inlet. In that environment, the pollutant
control apparatus further comprises a fabric filter and an inset.
The fabric filter is disposed substantially within the flexible
basin frame for collecting sediment. The inset is disposed adjacent
to the basin frame for securing the fabric filter against the basin
frame. Another type of water inlet where a preferred embodiment of
the present invention is used is in a manhole water inlet.
[0010] Still another preferred embodiment of the present invention
can be preferably used after construction and attached in part to
the water inlet shaft disposed under the grate frame. The basin
frame further comprises an extension member affixed to the basin
frame. The extension member is adapted for attachment to the water
inlet shaft. Typical types of the water inlets in which the
invention is used are a curb and gutter water inlet or a manhole
water inlet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] This brief description of several views of the drawings and
the detailed description of the invention refers to different views
for specifying the figure numbers and reference numerals to the
different parts. The following described 2 Figures are depicted
within the 2 sheets of drawings.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a exploded perspective view of a preferred
embodiment of the pollutant control for inlet protection of the
present invention for temporary use during construction with the
curb, gutter, and roadway partially broken away;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a cross section taken
along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 of the same preferred embodiment of the
pollutant control for inlet protection with a portion of the open
mesh material cut away to show more of the fabric filter.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment
of the pollutant control for inlet protection of the present
invention for permanent use after construction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] This disclosure describes the invention and the manner and
process of making and using it to enable any person skilled in the
pertinent or most nearly connected technological area of the
invention to make and use it. The specific physical embodiments
herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be
embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred
embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without
departing from the invention as defined by the claims.
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the pollutant control
for one type of inlet protection of the present invention namely, a
curb and gutter water inlet 10 for temporary use during
construction with a curb 12, gutter 16, and roadway 4 partially
broken away. The curb 12 defines a curb frame 14 together with the
gutter 16 defining a gutter frame 18. A grate frame 22 is rigidly
fixed to the gutter frame 18 for supporting a grate 20. Directly
below the grate frame 22 is a water inlet shaft 2.
[0017] A pollutant control apparatus 30 is adapted for disposition
upon the grate frame 22 beneath the grate 20, is used for
protecting the stormwater inlet temporarily during construction,
and comprises a basin frame 32 and a flexible basin 50. The basin
frame 32 is generally L-shaped and in a rectangular form. Here, the
basin frame 32 has two pairs of opposing sides, the longest pair of
sides are a roadway frame side 34 and a curb frame side 36. In this
preferred embodiment of the invention the basin frame 32 can be
made, for example, of 16 gauge steel and formed to fit a wide
variety of structures and dimensions such as 2.times.3 foot,
3.times.3 foot, 2.times.2 foot, round, and other desired shapes. As
an additional option, a curb barrier 40 can be affixed to the curb
frame side 36 for deflecting high rising storm water runoff onto
the grate 20 into the pollutant control apparatus 30. The curb
barrier 40 preferably has a rectangular shape that fits into and
obstructs about the lower three quarters of the curb frame 14. The
upper quarter gap in the curb frame 14 is for releasing water
pressure in high water level and force conditions and optionally,
the curb barrier 40 may define a plurality of barrier overflow
outlets 42 for the same purpose.
[0018] The flexible basin 50 has a closed cylindrical bottom and an
open rectangular top riveted from a backing plate to a vertical
portion of the basin frame 32. The flexible basin 50 may be made of
an open mesh material 52 having flexible and porous properties. For
one example, the open mesh material 52 may be made of a generic
high molecular weight, high tenacity polyester multifilament yarns
which are woven in tension and finished with a PVC coating such as
the trademarked material Miragrid.RTM. 8XT from the Tencate company
headquartered at Egbert Gorterstraat 3, 7607 GB Almelo, NL with
contact information at www.tencate.com. In this example, the
flexible basin 50 may have approximate dimensions
14.times.20.times.33 inches and physical properties including a
grid aperture size (machine direction) 22 mm (0.875 in), a grid
aperture size (cross machine direction) 25 mm (1.0 in), and a mass
per unit area 387 g/m.sup.2(11.4 oz/yd.sup.2). Mechanical
properties of the flexible basin 50 in this example may include a
tensile strength (at ultimate) 102.1 kN/m (7000 lbs/ft), a tensile
strength (at 5% strain) 36.8 kN/m (2520 lbs/ft), and a long-term
allowable design load for sand, silt and clay 55.3 kN/m (3788
lbs/ft). The flexible basin 50 collects debris and floatable trash
for subsequent manual maintenance removal to protect the water
quality beyond the water inlet.
[0019] Where a preferred embodiment of the present invention is
used in a curb and gutter water inlet 10 environment, the pollutant
control apparatus 30 for current construction may optionally
further comprise a fabric filter 60 and an inset 66. The fabric
filter 60 is disposed substantially within the flexible basin 32.
The bottom and sides of the fabric filter 60 is also supported by
the flexible basin 32. The fabric filter 60 is made of a commonly
known material and used to drain water while filtering out and
collecting sediment for proper disposal elsewhere. Optionally, a
pair of filter handles 62 is secured to the open top of the fabric
filter 60 for facilitating removal from the flexible basin 50.
Another option is the top portion of the fabric filter 60 defining
one or more filter overflow outlets 64 to relieve high water
pressure. The inset 66 is disposed adjacent to the basin frame for
securing the open top of the fabric filter 60 against the basin
frame 32. Another type of water inlet where a preferred embodiment
of the present invention is contemplated is in a manhole water
inlet.
[0020] A process for making a pollutant control apparatus 30 for
mounting in a grate frame 22 used for protecting a water inlet
comprises the two steps of providing a basin frame 32 adapted for
disposition upon the grate frame 22, and providing a flexible basin
50 affixed to the basin frame 32. The flexible basin 50 has an open
mesh material 52. In the water inlet form of a curb and gutter
water inlet 10, the process for making a pollutant control
apparatus 30 further comprises the steps of providing a fabric
filter 60 disposed substantially within the flexible basin 50 for
collecting sediment, and providing an inset 66 disposed adjacent to
the basin frame 32 for securing the fabric filter 60 against the
basin frame 32. An alternate preferred embodiment of the present
invention contemplates other water inlets such as a manhole water
inlet.
[0021] To install and operate the pollutant control apparatus 30 in
a curb and gutter water inlet 10 for use during construction,
remove the grate 20. Insert the pollutant control apparatus 30 into
the gutter frame 18 with the basin frame 32 resting upon the grate
frame 22 and the optional curb barrier 40 for deflecting storm
water runoff onto the grate 20 into the pollutant control apparatus
30 is inserted into the curb frame 14. An optional fabric filter 60
is normally used by inserting it into the flexible basin 50. The
top open edge of the fabric filter 60 is fastened to the basin
frame 32 with an inset 66 that helps to flatten the top edge of the
fabric filter 60 and thereby reducing the amount of sediment that
is prevented from entering the pollutant control apparatus 30 and
so accumulates outside of the grate 20. Then replace the grate 20
over the basin frame 132 and into the gutter frame 18. During
stormwater run off, the flexible basin 150 collects debris and
floatable trash for subsequent removal by manually lifting the
device by the basin frame 132 for easier maintenance.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a cross section taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1
of the same preferred embodiment of the pollutant control apparatus
30 for current construction to protect water inlets with a portion
of the open mesh material 52 cut away to show more of the fabric
filter 60. The grate 20 is depicted with a side frame 26, one of a
plurality of cross bars 28 and an end frame 24. The grate frame 22
defines a receiver space 23 for accommodating the grate 20 over the
basin frame 32 which is covered over by the top opening of the
fabric filter 60. The grate 20 fits into the receiver space 23 with
the side frame 26 of the grate 20 abutting the roadway frame side
34. The fabric bag 60 is shown to be secured to the pollutant
control apparatus 30 by the open top end of the fabric bag 60 being
wrapped over the basin frame 32, the inset 66, and the weight of
the grate 20.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment
of the pollutant control for inlet protection of the present
invention, also a curb and gutter water inlet 10 but for permanent
use after construction. This preferred embodiment of the present
invention is designed to be attached in part to a water inlet shaft
2 disposed under the grate frame 18 which is shown in FIGS. 1 and
2. In this embodiment of the present invention, a pollutant control
apparatus 130, is adapted for disposition upon the grate frame 22
beneath the grate 20, is used for protecting the stormwater inlet
permanently after construction, and comprises a basin frame 132 and
a flexible basin 150. The basin frame 132 is generally L-shaped, in
a rectangular form, and has two pairs of opposing sides, the
longest pair sides are a roadway frame side 134 and a wider curb
frame side 136. However, in this preferred embodiment of the
invention, the basin frame 132 further comprises an extension
member 170 affixed to the basin frame 32. The extension member 170
is adapted for attachment to the water inlet shaft 2. The extension
member 170 extends the entire length of and is attached to the
vertical portion of the curb frame side 136. Also a plurality of
connection channels 172 extend distally from the extension member
170 to a portion of the water inlet shaft 2. Fasteners are extended
from the extension member 170 through the connection channel 172
into the water inlet shaft 2 for securing the pollutant control
apparatus 130 thereto. A base of a U-shaped member 174 is disposed
upon and extends across the entire length the top of the flexible
basin 50 between the water inlet shaft 2 and the curb frame side
136. The U-shaped member 174 terminates with both ends resting upon
the basin frame 132.
[0024] A flexible basin 150 has a closed cylindrical bottom and an
open rectangular top riveted from a backing plate to a vertical
portion of the basin frame 32 on all three sides excluding the curb
frame side 136. The flexible basin 150 is larger than the previous
embodiment and extends beyond the curb frame side 136 to the water
inlet shaft 2. The flexible basin 150 may be made of an open mesh
material 152 having flexible and porous properties such as the same
previous example with the open mesh material 52 made of a generic
high molecular weight, high tenacity polyester multifilament yarns
which are woven in tension and finished with a PVC coating such as
the trademarked material Miragrid.RTM. 8XT from the Tencate company
The flexible basin 150 collects debris and floatable trash for
subsequent manual maintenance removal.
[0025] A process of another alternate embodiment of the invention
is for permanent use after construction, where the host water inlet
has a water inlet shaft 2 disposed under the grate frame 22. The
process for making a pollutant control apparatus 130 for mounting
in a grate frame 22 used for protecting a water inlet comprises the
two steps of providing a basin frame 132 adapted for disposition
upon the grate frame 22, and providing a flexible basin 150 affixed
to the basin frame 132. The flexible basin 150 has an open mesh
material 152 and can be used in the water inlet form of a curb and
gutter water inlet 10. The step of providing a basin frame 132
further comprises the step of providing an extension member 170
affixed to the basin frame 32. The extension member 170 is adapted
for attachment to the water inlet shaft 2. An alternate preferred
embodiment of the present invention also contemplates other water
inlets such as a manhole water inlet.
[0026] To install and operate the pollutant control apparatus 130
in a curb and gutter water inlet 10, remove the grate 20. Insert
the pollutant control apparatus 130 into the gutter frame 18 with
the basin frame 132 resting upon the grate frame 22. Also, fasten
the extension member 170 to a portion of the water inlet shaft 2.
Then replace the grate 20 over the basin frame 132 and into the
gutter frame 18. Neither a curb barrier 40 for deflecting storm
water runoff onto the grate 20 nor a fabric filter 60 is normally
employed here. During stormwater run off, the flexible basin 150
collects debris and floatable trash for subsequent manual removal
easier maintenance.
[0027] The previously described versions of the present invention
have several advantages including help with maintenance of a bag
with handles formed from an orange fabric filter by reducing the
events of fabric handle rip off from the fabric bag while manually
pulling out the heavy sediment laden fabric bag or when it
overfills with sediment by deterring bag breaks that dump
pollutants into the water drainage system by providing porous
support from the flexible basin to the fabric filter. Other
advantages of the present invention over those larger sediment
capacity rigid basins that fill and need to be cleaned out with
expensive and specialized tools, skills, and equipment such as
vacuum trucks is that the invention eliminates the need for such
items because of its much lighter weight that allows manual
removal. The invention is lighter, more flexible, porous and will
not rust, rot or decay from degrading elements such as salt and
water. Still another advantage of the invention is its reduced
expense relative to the higher expense of some existing rigid basin
units that can be stolen from the construction site and
surroundings. And perhaps most importantly, the invention can be
more useful in more situations than some of the rigid basins
manufactured to fit snugly in a typical sized gutter grate frame.
The invention also helps reduce transportation time and expense
with its collapsible flexible basin 50 by allowing many more units
to be transported in the same truck load in the order of about one
stack of 20 invention units compared to four rigid basin units.
Even more, the invention fits well in both unobstructed and
obstructed water inlet shafts 2 where an installer encounters
insufficient rigid basin clearance from unique and irregular
obstructions. The open mesh material 52 of the flexible basin 50
accommodates an otherwise too shallow depth such as between the
grate frame to a pipe or a too narrow width from jagged thick
concrete layers installed under the roadway frame side 34 that jut
out many inches into the water inlet shaft 2 directly below the
grate 20 preventing a rigid basin installation but allowing a
flexible basin 50 installation.
[0028] The invention described above may be embodied in other forms
without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof. The embodiments disclosed in this application are to be
considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The
scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather
than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within
the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to
be embraced therein.
* * * * *
References