METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AN ADAPTABLE TEMPORARY INLET PROTECTION ASSEMBLY
A temporary silt retention assembly for protection of inlets used in storm water drainage systems. The temporary silt retention assembly includes a silt retention device body formed from a substantially rigid material and including a framework structure having a series of water permeable openings. A base plate can be attached to a lower end of the silt retention device, the base plate extending outwardly from the lower end of the silt retention device. An adapter can be molded with or attached to the base plate or body of the silt retention device, the adapter including a frame that can engage with the base plate or lower end of the silt retention device body and at least one cover feature configured to overlap and cover openings between the silt retention device and an inlet structure on which it is mounted.
The present invention relates in general to devices for filtering silt and debris from collecting in storm water drainage pipes at construction sites; and in particular to filtration devices configured to enclose an open end of a drainage inlet of a storm water drain system and trap and prevent silt and other debris from being washed into or otherwise being deposited within the of the storm water drainage system, while still enabling water to pass into the inlet.
BACKGROUNDIn the construction of residential and other types of developments, the road system generally is first marked out and the streets into and through the development are cut and graded. Thereafter, the storm water drainage system for the development is constructed, typically including underground drainage pipes, collection boxes and culverts, and inlets that form the manholes or drain openings along the street. The inlets generally can include cylindrical concrete pipes that are installed vertically, but can also include square or V-grate type inlets, and/or other types or configurations. The lower ends of the inlets will connect to the collection boxes and the drainage pipes of the storm water drainage system, with their upper ends being substantially at or above street level.
During the construction of roads and drainage systems, until the street has been substantially completed, the drainage pipes and inlets must be kept substantially free of dirt and debris pursuant to state and county building codes. Keeping dirt and debris out of the drainage system is, however, very difficult to accomplish as during grading of the roads and curbs, as well as additional grading on site, dirt and debris typically is pushed to the sides of the street by the motor grader or bulldozer, and thus may pass into the upper ends of the inlets. In addition, rain, runoff and wind also tend to wash or blow dirt and debris into the open ends of the inlets, which will then collect in the collection boxes and sewer pipes.
Devices such as the Silt Saver® filter assembly have been developed to provide a system for temporarily protecting and preventing dirt and debris from enter the drainage pipes. Such devices have been effective in preventing dirt and debris from entering drop inlets and other, similar drainage pipes. However, drainage inlets and other, similar devices needing protection can vary in size and shape, particularly as new uses and new drainage structures are developed, and it is important for filter assemblies or structures for filtering silt for runoff water to be securely mountable to such newer and various existing inlet designs, so that silt and debris can be substantially filtered from runoff water flows and to guard against collapse or shifting of the filter assembly during high winds or other weather conditions.
Accordingly, a need exists for a silt retention and filter assembly that can remove silt, dirt, and debris from runoff water flows and prevent such materials being washed or blown into a stormwater drainage system, and that addresses the foregoing and other problems in the art.
SUMMARYBriefly described, the present disclosure is, in one aspect, directed to methods and systems for providing a temporary and substantially rigid silt retention assembly for protection of drainage openings or inlets of storm water drainage systems from ingress of silt and debris. The silt retention assembly of the present disclosure generally is designed for use at construction sites for enclosing the open upper end of inlets, such as a drop inlet, a V-grate type inlet, or other drainage opening or inlet of a storm drainage water system, for example, during the construction of the streets, curbs, and the construction of the drainage system itself. The silt retention assembly includes a silt retention device having a body that can be substantially generally cylindrically shaped, although other shapes/configurations also can be used, and a base for mounting the silt retention device over an inlet of the storm water drainage system. The silt retention device typically can be formed from a rigid, durable plastic material, although other materials, and various shapes and/or sizes may be envisioned for the silt retention device.
In one embodiment, the body of the silt retention device can include an upper end and a lower end, with a series of spaced, vertically extending slats or ribs or other frame structure extending therebetween. Flow passages will be formed in the body for passage of water; for example, the slats can be spaced from one another to define a series of spaced openings or passages that enable the flow of water through the silt retention device while blocking passage of large debris, dirt and silt. The silt retention device further can include a top portion at the upper end of the body, which can be substantially flat, curved or dome shaped, and also can include radially spaced slots or openings to provide extra pathways for storm runoff to drain into the inlet. In other embodiments, the top portion can be substantially solid, open, or can be formed a pivotable or removable cover or lid to enable further access therethrough.
The base plate of the temporary silt retention assembly can be formed with or can be attached to the lower end of the silt retention device. In some embodiments, the base plate extends outwardly from the lower end of the silt retention device. In other embodiments, a bottom rim can be formed about the lower end of the body, slightly overlapping the sides of the body, and can function similar to and/or in place of the base plate. The bottom rim or base plate can project radially outwardly from the body, and it will be understood that the rim or base plate can be formed in various configurations, can be flat or with a slope, and may be integrated/formed with the silt retention device body or separately formed and attached to the lower end of the silt retention device via suitable fasteners.
The temporary silt retention assembly further will include an adapter that can engage and attach to the base plate or the bottom rim at the lower end of the body. The adapter generally will include a frame configured to be mountable to and be substantially co-extensive with the base plate or bottom rim along one or more sides thereof. The adapter further can include foldable or extensible cover features configured to provide an extension of the filtering structure of the temporary silt retention assembly. The cover feature generally will be flexible and sized/configured to substantially overlap and/or cover gaps or other exposed areas between the inlet structure such as to drop inlet or a V-shaped grate inlet, and silt retention device and can help seat and secure the silt retention assembly over the inlet structure. The adapter thus can extend the protective coverage of the temporary silt retention assembly to peripheral or other portions of the inlet to enclose and/or substantially block additional open areas or portions of the inlet not directly covered by the silt retention device body and/or base plate/rim, enabling the silt retention assembly to be used with and accommodate a wide range of varying size and/or configuration inlets. In addition, slots or openings also can be formed in the foldable cover feature to provide extra pathways for stormwater runoff to drain into the inlet.
In one embodiment, the adapter may be separately formed, with a configuration that fits selected size(s) or a range of sizes of drainage inlets or other structures. The adapter then can be attached in the field to the base plate or to the bottom rim of the silt retention device via a fitted engagement therewith or by use of suitable fasteners or other connectors. The adapter, base plate and the silt retention device body also may be formed as a single structure in a molding process, and in some embodiments, the base plate or bottom rim may not be required and the adapter may be directly attached to or formed with the silt retention device body. In still another embodiment, the base plate or rim and/or the silt retention device may be attached to the adapter component via a releasable locking mechanism formed or otherwise provided in the base plate, the silt retention device body, and/or the adapter.
In some implementations, such as when the adapter, the base plate, and the silt retention device are formed separately, the adapter may be transported to site in a generally folded flat arrangement. The adapter can be initially seated on the drainage structure, with its foldable cover feature released and extended/seated over and secured about the inlet structure. The base plate or rim and the silt retention device body then can be fitted over the adapter, secured in place with the adapter being seated and supported thereon. If further desired or as needed, the baseplate and silt retention device can be locked in place via fasteners or other connector mechanisms.
The components of the silt retention assembly, including the silt retention device, the base plate, and the adapter can be constructed from a substantially rigid, durable plastic material such as Polyvinylchloride (PVC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), high density polyethylene (HDPE), high molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE), or an acetyl resin such as “DELRIN”, or any other similar rigid, durable, high strength materials, including metals such as aluminum, that are relatively lightweight for ease of handling. The components of the silt retention assembly further generally can be constructed by a molding process, including, for example, injection molding, rotational molding, blow molding, compression molding, extrusion molding, or thermoforming.
The molding process for the construction of the silt retention assembly, in one aspect, can include forming an initial mold of the silt retention device body of the silt retention assembly, with the base plates or rim portions and the adapters being formed in separate molds based on size and/or configuration needed. The base plate and adapter thereafter can be selected based on the size/configuration of the inlet(s) for which the silt retention assembly is to be used and separately transported and mounted to the silt retention device body in the field.
In other embodiments, the mold(s) for the components of the silt retention assembly can be integrated, either as a single mold, or may include provisions to selectively mount varying molds for the base plate and/or adapter portions to a mold for the silt retention device body, so that the base plate or rim, and/or the adapter components can be molded together as a single or substantially unitary structure. For example, molds for a base plate and/or an adapter having configurations based on an application to various inlet configurations can be selected and coupled to a mold for the silt retention device body, and thus molded with the silt retention device body to form a substantially integrated structure including the base plate/rim and adapter as part of the silt retention device body. Thus, a standardized mold can be used for the silt retention device body design, and can be customized to incorporate various base plate and/or adapter designs suitable for application in a wide variety of inlet configurations.
In use, a filter material formed from a silt screen, mesh or similar porous filtering material will be fitted over the silt retention assembly. The filter material generally can be sized and shaped to conform to the shape of the silt retention assembly typically being fitted over the top portion of the silt retention device body covering the slats thereof. For example, workers can wrap the body portion of the silt retention device with a silt screen or other filter material in place of the filter cap or cover. The silt screen material can be secured to the upper end of the silt retention device body, such as by fasteners, tape, or on hooks or similar fastening devices mounted to the body. The lower end of the silt screen material can be left overlapping the bottom portion of the silt retention device, the base plate or bottom rim, and the adapter, by a length selected to overlap the upper end of a drainage structure on which the silt retention assembly is mounted.
In some embodiments, the filter material can be formed as a cover or cap that also can be formed with or have attached thereto, a skirt portion that overlaps the bottom rim of the silt retention device, the base plate and/or the adapter. The top portion of the filtering material also can be painted or dyed a fluorescent color to make it easier to detect to warn of or signal the location of the inlet structure that is covered by the silt retention assembly. A ring or support tube also can be applied at the bottom of the cover (i.e. along the skirt portion), and can define a pocket or series of pockets about the bottom of the skirt portion, in which dirt and/or stones or other ballast materials can be placed to help hold the cover in place.
As dirt impounds against the silt retention device and adapter, the weight of the dirt further helps hold the silt retention device body on the inlet and hold the filter material against the silt retention device and adapter. The slats or ribs of the silt retention device body and the adapter provide strength and a substantially rigid support to the silt screen material against dirt and debris carried with stormwater flows so as to prevent the collapse of the silt screen material, thus blocking the passage of the dirt and debris into the drop inlet, while enabling rain and runoff water to pass therethrough and into the stormwater drainage system.
Once the curbs have been graded and are being poured, workers can dig out excess dirt from around the silt retention assembly and the inlet, and the silt retention assembly can be lifted upward and off of the drop inlet to enable a throat to be poured around the inlet to finish the drain or manhole. The filter material also will be removed from the silt retention device and adapter, which then can be cleaned of excess dirt and debris, leaving them ready for a next use.
Various objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a review of the following detail description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the Figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporating teachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respect to the drawings herein, in which:
The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe following description, taken in combination with the Figures is provided to assist in understanding the teachings disclosed herein. The description is focused on specific implementations and embodiments of the teachings, and is provided to assist in describing the teachings. This focus should not be interpreted as a limitation on the scope or applicability of the teachings.
In general, the present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for a temporary and substantially rigid silt retention assembly for inlets used in storm water drainage systems. The silt retention assembly of the present disclosure can be installed can be adapted to be used with a variety of inlets associated with storm water drainage systems, including ones with substantially complex and/or non-flat geometry. Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure contain molding processes to achieve flexible designs of the silt retention assembly.
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views,
By way of example only,
The silt retention assembly 10 of
In addition, while
The components of the silt retention device, the base plate, and the adapter further typically can be molded, extruded or otherwise formed from a durable plastic material such as in the polyvinylchloride (PVC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), high density polyethylene (HDPE), high molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE), or acetyl resin such as “DELRIN”, or any other similar rigid, durable, high strength materials, including metals such as aluminum, that are relatively lightweight for ease of handling. The silt retention device also generally will have an internal passage 21 (
As shown in
As also illustrated in
Referring again to
By way of example, in
Referring again to
The base frame 104 of
As also noted, the shape and configuration of the base frame 104 can be constructed to match the configuration of the inlet 11, and can be modified, i.e., the frame members can be extensible or can be constructed in sections or connectable pieces to enable the adapter to be assembled and fitted to the inlet structure with the silt retention device seated thereover as needed in the field. As illustrated in
Referring to
During installation, as shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring to
Referring now to
As shown in
The top portion 38 of the filter cap generally will rest and be supported on the top portion of the silt retention device, with the silt screen material of the skirt or body portion 37 covering and being laterally supported by the slats of the body portion of the silt retention device. As also shown in
It is also possible to use a sheet or roll of conventional silt screen material that is wrapped about the silt retention device instead of using the pre-formed filter cap or cover 35 illustrated in
In addition, the top portion of the silt screen material or the filter cap can be dyed or painted with a fluorescent color, such as a bright orange or red, either at its center or in its entirety. This will make the filter cap and thus the silt retention assembly itself stand out more prominently and provide a clear and easy to recognize visual indicator of the existence and position of the drop inlet for workers. If the filter cap is replaced with the application of a sheet of silt screen material about the body portion only, the domed top portion of the silt retention device itself can be painted a fluorescent color to make it more recognizable and identifiable.
As indicated above, the silt retention device can be framed with the base plate, or can be formed with a rim in place of the base plate, and can be framed as a separate, generally standardized component. Different size and/or configuration base plates and/or adapter also can be formed as individual or separate components that can be designed/configured for particular sizes and/or configurations (or ranges thereof) inlets or other drainage structures. The adapters and base plates (if needed) then can be selected to match a particular application and mounted to the silt retention device body as needed in the field to extend the coverage of the silt retention device and provide further stability to the mounting of the silt retention device, enabling its use with a variety of drainage structures.
In an alternative method of forming the silt retention assembly, such as the silt retention assembly 10 of
Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.
Claims
1. A temporary silt retention assembly for filtering stormwater entering an opening of a drainage structure of a stormwater drainage system, comprising:
- a silt retention device, comprising a body including an upper end and a lower end and a series of water permeable openings defined therein wherein the silt retention device is configured to seat over and substantially cover the opening of the drainage structure;
- an adapter formed with or coupled to the body of the silt retention device adjacent the lower end thereof, the adapter including at least one cover feature configured to extend along or about portions of the opening of the drainage structure not covered by the silt retention device; and
- a filter material applied along the body of the silt retention device and the cover feature of the adapter for filtering silt from the stormwater.
2. The temporary silt retention assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one cover feature of the adapter comprises a body of a flexible material and having a series of water permeable openings arranged therealong.
3. The temporary silt retention assembly of claim 1, wherein the silt retention device and the adapter are molded as a substantially unitary structure.
4. The temporary silt retention assembly of claim 1, further comprising a base plate arranged at the lower end of the silt retention device and projecting outwardly from the lower end of the silt retention device.
5. The temporary silt retention assembly of claim 4, wherein the adapter is configured to releasably couple to the base plate or rim.
6. The temporary silt retention assembly of claim 4, wherein the silt retention device, the base plate or rim, and the adapter are molded as a single structure.
7. The temporary silt retention assembly of claim 4, wherein the base plate or rim and/or the adapter are substantially square, rectangular, circular or oval-shaped.
8. The temporary silt retention assembly of claim 1, wherein the body of the silt retention device is substantially cylindrical.
9. The temporary silt retention assembly of claim 1, further comprising a detachable filter cover formed from a porous filtering material, the detachable filter cover configured to cover the silt retention device, the base plate, and the adapter of the silt retention assembly, wherein the detachable filter cover comprises a top potion supported by the upper end of the body and a body portion covering the framework structure of the silt retention device.
10. A temporary silt retention assembly,
- a silt retention device, comprising a body having a framework structure including a series of water permeable openings defined therethrough;
- a base plate or bottom rim arranged about a lower portion of the body;
- an adapter comprising a frame and at least one flexible cover feature extending along or about the frame, the flexible cover feature configured to overlap and enclose exposed portions of an inlet structure not covered by the silt retention device mounted thereover;
- a filter material applied to the silt retention device body and overlapping the adapter for filtering silt from stormwater flows, wherein the silt retention device and the adapter support the filter material against silt and debris collecting thereagainst and enable passage of the stormwater into the inlet structure.
11. A method of forming a temporary silt retention assembly, comprising:
- providing a first mold for molding a silt retention device body having an upper, and a lower end, and a framework structure including a series of water permeable openings therebetween;
- coupling a second mold to a portion of the first mold, the second mold configured to mold a base plate and/or an adapter for the temporary silt retention assembly; and
- applying a synthetic or composite material into the coupled first and second molds and molding the silt retention device body with the base plate and/or the adapter, as a substantially unitary structure.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 17, 2019
Publication Date: Jun 17, 2021
Inventor: Earl R. Singleton (Oxford, GA)
Application Number: 16/717,397