U.S. patent application number 13/068351 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-08 for controlling sediment.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ertec Environmental Systems LLC. Invention is credited to John H. McGinn, Vincent P. Morris.
Application Number | 20110217128 13/068351 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37605159 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110217128 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McGinn; John H. ; et
al. |
September 8, 2011 |
Controlling sediment
Abstract
Sediment control devices include a planar apertured threshold
member, a planar apertured outflow member, and a planar filter
member between the threshold and outflow members. The members lie
in parallel planes, and there is substantially no hollow space
between the threshold member and the outflow member.
Inventors: |
McGinn; John H.;
(Sacramento, CA) ; Morris; Vincent P.; (Alameda,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Ertec Environmental Systems
LLC
|
Family ID: |
37605159 |
Appl. No.: |
13/068351 |
Filed: |
May 9, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11988335 |
Jan 4, 2008 |
7955030 |
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PCT/US06/26076 |
Jul 3, 2006 |
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13068351 |
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60696998 |
Jul 5, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
405/302.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02B 3/04 20130101; B01D
21/0012 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/302.6 |
International
Class: |
E02D 3/00 20060101
E02D003/00 |
Claims
1. A sediment control device (SCD) which comprises (1) a
substantially planar elongate threshold member, (2) a substantially
planar elongate outflow member, and (3) a substantially planar
elongate filter member between the threshold and outflow members,
the threshold, outflow and filter members lying in parallel planes
and being secured together so that there is substantially no hollow
space between the threshold member and the outflow member, each of
the threshold and outflow members being apertured sheet materials
having multiple relatively large apertures therethrough, the
apertures having an area of 0.01 to 1.0 in..sup.2, and the filter
member having a mesh size of 80 to 600 micron.
2. A sediment control device according to claim 1 wherein each of
the threshold member and the outflow member is composed of a
multiplicity of polymeric strands.
3. A sediment control device according to claim 1 wherein the
apertures in the threshold member are the same size as the
apertures in the outflow member.
4. A sediment control device according to claim 3 wherein the
threshold member and the outflow member are different parts of a
single piece of apertured polymeric material.
5. A sediment control device according to claim 1 wherein the
apertures in the outflow member have a size which is less than 0.45
times the size of the apertures in the threshold member.
6. A sediment control device according to claim 1 wherein the
apertures in the threshold and outflow members have an area of 0.02
to 0.25 in..sup.2.
7. A sediment control device according to claim 1 which comprises
(a) a first substantially planar portion and (b) a second
substantially planar portion which is coplanar with the first
portion, and which comprises at least part of the threshold member,
at least part of the outflow member, and at least part of the
filter member.
8. A sediment control device according to claim 7 wherein the first
portion consists of part of the threshold member, part of the
outflow member, and part of the filter member; and the second
portion consists of the remainder of the threshold member, the
remainder of the outflow member, and the remainder of the filter
member.
9. A sediment control device according to claim 7 wherein the first
portion consists essentially of part of the threshold member and
part of the outflow member; and the second portion consists of the
remainder of the threshold member, the remainder of the outflow
member, and all of the filter member.
10. A sediment control device according to claim 1 which, when
subjected to a test which consists of (i) completely immersing the
SCD in water for 0.5 hour, (ii) removing the SCD from the water,
(iii) placing the_SCD on a horizontal apertured surface, and (iv)
leaving the SCD to drain for 0.5 hour in still air at 20.degree.
C., has a weight after the test which is not more than 1.1 times
the weight of the SCD before the test.
11. A sediment control device according to claim 1 which, when
subjected to a test in which clean water is directed towards the
SCD at right angles to the threshold member, is capable of passing
200-400 gallons of water per square foot per minute of the area of
the threshold member, and the volumes of water entering and leaving
any particular length of the SCD do not differ by more than 20%,
based on the volume of water entering the particular length of the
SCD.
12. A sediment control device (SCD) which consists essentially of
(1) a substantially planar elongate threshold member, (2) a
substantially planar elongate outflow member, and (3) a
substantially planar elongate filter member between the threshold
and outflow members, the threshold, outflow and filter members
lying in parallel planes and being secured together so that there
is substantially no hollow space between the threshold member and
the outflow member, each of the threshold and outflow members being
composed of an apertured sheet material comprising a multiplicity
of polymeric strands and having multiple relatively large apertures
therethrough, the apertures having an area of 0.01 to 1.0
in..sup.2, and the filter member having a mesh size of 80 to 600
micron.
13. A sediment control device according to claim 12 wherein the
apertures in the threshold member are the same size as the
apertures in the outflow member.
14. A sediment control device according to claim 12 wherein the
threshold member and the outflow member are different parts of a
single piece of apertured sheet is material.
15. A sediment control device according to claim 12 wherein the
apertures in the outflow member have a size which is less than 0.45
times the size of the apertures in the threshold member.
16. A sediment control device according to claim 12 wherein the
apertures in the threshold and outflow members have an area of 0.02
to 0.25 in..sup.2.
17. A sediment control device according to claim 12 which consists
of (a) a first portion which consists of part of the threshold
member, part of the outflow member, and part of the filter member,
and (b) a second portion which is coplanar with the first portion
and which consists of the remainder of the threshold member, the
remainder of the outflow member, and the remainder of the filter
member.
18. A sediment control device according to claim 12 which consists
of (a) a first portion which consists essentially of part of the
threshold member and part of the outflow member; and (b) a second
portion which consists of the remainder of the threshold member,
the remainder of the outflow member, and all of the filter
member.
19. A sediment control device according to claim 12 which, when
subjected to a test which consists of (i) completely immersing the
SCD in water for 0.5 hour, (ii) removing the SCD from the water,
(iii) placing the_SCD on a horizontal apertured surface, and (iv)
leaving the SCD to drain for 0.5 hour in still air at 20.degree.
C., has a weight after the test which is not more than 1.1 times
the weight of the SCD before the test.
20. A sediment control device according to claim 12 which, when
subjected to a test in which clean water is directed towards the
SCD at right angles to the threshold member, is capable of passing
200-400 gallons of water per square foot per minute of the area of
the threshold member, and the volumes of water entering and leaving
any particular length of the SCD do not differ by more than 20%,
based on the volume of water entering the particular length of the
SCD.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No.
11/988,335, which is an application under 35 USC 371 based on
PCT/US 06/26076, filed Jul. 3, 2006, and claims priority from U.S.
provisional patent application No. 60/696,998, filed 5 Jul. 2005,
by John H. McGinn and Vincent P. Morris. application Ser. No.
11/988,335 claims an assembly which comprises
[0002] (1) an elongate channel along a boundary of an area of
ground, and
[0003] (2) a sediment control device (SCD) which comprises [0004]
(a) a substantially planar seat portion which fits into the
channel, and [0005] (b) a substantially planar free portion which
extends upwards from the channel and which comprises [0006] (i) an
elongate threshold member, [0007] (ii) an elongate outflow member,
and [0008] (iii)) an elongate filter member between the threshold
and outflow members, [0009] the SCD having a total volume, and the
threshold and outflow members being secured so that any hollow
space between the threshold and outflow members is less than 30% of
the total volume of the SCD, [0010] each of the threshold and
outflow members having multiple relatively large apertures
therethrough, [0011] the filter member having multiple relatively
small apertures therethrough, the relatively small apertures being
smaller than the relatively large apertures, and
[0012] the seat portion and the free portion being substantially
coplanar.
[0013] This application is also related to U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,848,866
(McGinn) and 7,008144 (McGinn); U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos.
11/127,614 filed May 11, 2005, by John H. McGinn (publication
number US-2006-0002773), now U.S. Pat. No. 7,131,787, and Ser. No.
11/333,825, filed Jan. 17, 2006, by John H. McGinn and Vince
Morris; now U.S. Pat. No. 7,544,016. The entire disclosure of each
of those patents and applications is incorporated herein by
reference for all purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The patents and applications referenced above describe
sediment control devices (SCDs) and their use to collect sediment
from liquids in which the sediment is suspended.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] This invention provides a sediment control device (SCD)
which is useful in the assemblies claimed in the parent application
Ser. No. 11/988,335, and for other purposes, and which comprises,
and optionally consists essentially of,
[0016] (1) a substantially planar elongate threshold member,
[0017] (2) a substantially planar elongate outflow member, and
[0018] (3) a substantially planar elongate filter member between
the threshold and outflow members,
the threshold, outflow and filter members lying in parallel planes
and being secured together so that there is substantially no hollow
space between the threshold member and the outflow member, each of
the threshold and outflow members being apertured sheet materials
having multiple relatively large apertures therethrough, the
apertures having an area of 0.01 to 1.0 in..sup.2, and the filter
member having a mesh size (measured by ASTM E 11) of 80 to 600
micron.
[0019] The novel SCDs of the invention can optionally comprise
[0020] (a) a first substantially planar portion and
[0021] (b) a second substantially planar portion which is coplanar
with the first portion, and which comprises at least part of the
threshold member, at least part of the outflow member, and at least
part of the filter member.
In one embodiment, the first portion consists of part of the
threshold member and part of the outflow member; and the second
portion consists of the remainder of the threshold member, the
remainder of the threshold member and all of the filter member. In
another embodiment, the first portion consists of part of the
threshold member, part of the outflow member and part of the filter
member; and the second portion consists of the remainder of the
threshold member, the remainder of the outflow member and the
remainder of the filter member. If an SCD having these first and
second portions is used in an assembly as claimed in the
application Ser. No. 11/988,335, the first portion is the seat
portion which fits into the channel, and the second portion is the
free portion which extends upwards from the channel.
[0022] In particular embodiments of the invention,
[0023] (a) the apertures in the elongate threshold member have an
area of 0.02 to 0.25 in..sup.2 (13 to 160 mm.sup.2);
[0024] (b) the apertures in the outflow member have an area of 0.02
to 0.25 in..sup.2 (13 to 160 mm.sup.2);
[0025] (c) the area of the apertures in the outflow member are less
than 0.45 times, e.g. 0.2 to 0.4 times, the area of the apertures
in the threshold member; and
[0026] (d) the elongate filter has a mesh size (measured by ASTM E
11) of 100 to 500 micron.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
in which the FIGURE is a diagrammatic sketch, not to scale, of an
SCD of the invention which is being used in an assembly as claimed
in application Ser. No. 11/988,335.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] In the Summary of the Invention above, the Detailed
Description of the Invention, the Examples, and the claims below,
and the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular
features (including for example components, ingredients, elements,
devices, apparatus, systems, groups, ranges, method steps, test
results, etc.) of the invention. It is to be understood that the
disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all
possible combinations of such particular features. For example,
where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a
particular aspect, a particular embodiment, a particular claim, or
a particular Figure, that feature can also be used, to the extent
appropriate, in the context of other particular aspects,
embodiments, claims and Figures, and in the invention
generally.
[0029] The invention disclosed and claimed herein includes
embodiments not specifically described herein, and can for example
make use of features which are not specifically described herein,
but which provide functions which are the same, equivalent or
similar to, features specifically disclosed herein.
[0030] The term "comprises" and grammatical equivalents thereof are
used herein to mean that, in addition to the features specifically
identified, other features are optionally present. For example, an
SCD "comprising" (or "which comprises") components A, B and C can
contain only components A, B and C, or can contain not only
components A, B and C but also one or more other components. The
term "consisting essentially of" and grammatical equivalents
thereof is used herein to mean that, in addition to the features
specifically identified, other features may be present which do not
materially alter the claimed invention. The term "at least"
followed by a number is used herein to denote the start of a range
beginning with that number (which may be a range having an upper
limit or no upper limit, depending on the variable being defined).
For example "at least 1" means 1 or more than 1, and "at least 80%"
means 80% or more than 80%. The term "at most" followed by a number
is used herein to denote the end of a range ending with that number
(which may be a range having 1 or 0 as its lower limit, or a range
having no lower limit, depending upon the variable being defined).
For example, "at most 4" means 4 or less than 4, and "at most 40%"
means 40% or less than 40%. When, in this specification, a range is
given as "(a first number) to (a second number)" or "(a first
number)-(a second number)", this means a range whose lower limit is
the first number and whose upper limit is the second number. For
example, "from 8 to 20 carbon atoms" or "8-20 carbon atoms" means a
range whose lower limit is 8 carbon atoms, and whose upper limit is
20 carbon atoms. The terms "plural", "multiple", "plurality" and
"multiplicity" are used herein to denote two or more than two
features.
[0031] Where reference is made herein to "a" or "an" feature, this
includes the possibility that there are two or more such features
(except where the context excludes to that possibility). Where
reference is made herein to two or more features, this includes the
possibility that the two or more features are replaced by a lesser
number or greater number of features providing the same function
(except where the context excludes that possibility). The numbers
given herein should be construed with the latitude appropriate to
their context and expression; for example, each number is subject
to variation which depends on the accuracy with which it can be
measured by methods conventionally used by those skilled in the
art.
[0032] The term "sediment" is used herein to denote solid
particulate material, e.g. soil, sand, decomposed granite or
pebbles, which can become suspended, or which is suspended, in a
flowing stream of liquid, and which will settle out of the liquid
when the liquid ceases to flow. The term "sediment control device"
(often abbreviated herein to SCD) is used herein to denote an
article which can be transported and placed on top of a substrate,
usually the ground, optionally with a part of the SCD being below
the substrate, in order to collect sediment from a sediment-bearing
stream of liquid, usually water, which passes through the SCD.
[0033] Where reference is made herein to apertured sheet materials,
all the apertures in any particular sheet will generally be of the
same size. If they are not, the aperture size referred to is the
arithmetic average of the different sizes.
[0034] Except where the disclosure this specification is at
variance with the disclosure in the patents and applications
incorporated by reference herein, the disclosure in those patents
and applications is also applicable, mutatis mutandis, to the
present invention. For example, the threshold, outflow and filter
members can be composed of the same materials as those disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,866 (in particular at column 4, line 37, to
column 7, line 53). The SCDs can be manufactured as described in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,866 (in particular at column 10, lines 3-40);
and two or more SCDs can be joined end-to-end or side-by-side by
the methods disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,866 (in particular at
column 9, line 27, to column 10, line 2).
[0035] Thus, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,866, the SCDs of
this invention can optionally have one or more of the following
characteristics.
[0036] 1. Each of the threshold member and the outflow member,
which can be the same or different, is composed of a multiplicity
of polymeric strands.
[0037] 2. The threshold member and the outflow member are made of
the same sheet material, for example are different parts of a
single piece of apertured polymeric material.
[0038] 3. The parts of the SCD are constructed so that the SCD does
not absorb substantial quantities of water. For example, it is
preferred that the SCD, when subjected to a test which consists of
[0039] (i) completely immersing the SCD in water for 0.5 hour,
[0040] (ii) removing the SCD from the water, [0041] (iii) placing
the SCD on a horizontal apertured surface, and [0042] (iv) leaving
the SCD to drain for 0.5 hour in still air at 20.degree. C., has a
weight after the test which is not more than 1.3 times, preferably
not more than 1.1 times, its weight before the test.
[0043] 4. The SCD is constructed so that, in a test in which clean
water is directed towards the SCD at right angles to the threshold
member, the SCD is capable of passing at least 100, e.g. at least
200, gallons of water, but not more than 400 gallons of water, per
square foot per minute of the frontal area of the threshold member
(i.e. the area of the threshold member as viewed from the front. In
such a test (and indeed likewise in practice) the structure of the
SCD is generally such that the volumes of water entering and
leaving any particular length of the SCD are substantially the same
(e.g. do not differ by more than 20%, based on the volume of water
entering the roll), since the SCD does not function as a pipe to
direct liquid to the ends of the roll.
[0044] 5. The dry weight of the SCD is such that it can readily be
transported and placed in position manually. The weight may be for
example 0.5 to 2.5, e.g. 0.65 to 1.8, lb/ft, with a total weight of
for example 2 to 20 lb., preferably less than 10 lb.
The Drawings
[0045] Referring now to the drawings, the Figure shows an SCD
containing threshold lo member 12, outflow member 11 and filter
member 21. The SCD has a first (seat) portion which fits into
channel 31 which has optionally been formed in the ground by
pressing the SCD into the ground with a reciprocating motion, and a
second (free) portion which extends upwards from the ground.
* * * * *