Fixed shape retainer for absorbent material for storm drains
The present invention is directed to a retainer assembly for anchoring environmental containment and remediation materials in a desired location. The retainer assembly includes a buoyant retainer structure and an anchor assembly attached thereto. The anchor assembly defines the limits of motion of the retainer in three dimensions with respect to a selected anchor point and permits the anchor assembly to float within these limits. The anchor assembly also includes an attachment mechanism to secure the remediation materials to the retainer structure.
This present invention is directed to environmental containment and remediation technologies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONEnvironmental pollution can result from the release of environmentally harmful contaminants, for example oil and other petrochemical products, into surface water and groundwater aquifers. Releases into the environment can result from catastrophic accidents such as oil taker spills and from storm water runoff from roads and parking lots. Once a release occurs, the contaminants need to be contained, collected and removed.
Absorbent materials have been developed to contain environmental contaminants released into the environment. These absorbent materials are formulated to attract and retain oils and can be applied as a loose granular product or can placed in an outer fabric “sock”. The absorbent materials are deployed in parking lots, streams, roadways, lakes and ponds and around storm drains and catch basins.
The absorbent materials must be placed and maintained in the proper location to collect the contaminants. For example, oil floats on water, and the absorbent material should also float so that it comes into contact with the oil. In addition, absorbent materials, such as the fabric socks, are placed around storm drains and catch basins to intercept the flow of contaminants into the storm water system.
Granular products, however, are hard to contain. The fabric socks have no fixed shape, are very flexible and, therefore, can be moved under the force of running water as would be encountered during heavy rain events. Once moved, the contaminated water could by-pass the absorbent material and enter the storm water system. In addition, a dislodged fabric sock could enter the system and potentially clog a storm pipe. If the fabric sock becomes sufficient water logged or covered with dirt and debris, it may not float, reducing its effectiveness.
Therefore, the need exits for a fixed shaped retainer to be used in conjunction with existing absorbent materials. The retainer would maintain the absorbent material in the proper location and would permit movement to compensate for the highly variable water flows associated with rain events. In addition, the retainer could be buoyant to assist in maintaining the absorbent material on top of the water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a retainer assembly that imparts shape and stability to a flexible or loose remediation material. The retainer assembly anchors the remediation material in a desired location so that the remediation material is always in the proper position to provide the desired absorption or adsorption of environmental contaminants. In addition, the retainer assembly defines and permits a range of motion for the remediation material to accommodate, for example, a rising water level.
A retainer assembly in accordance with the present invention includes a retainer structure and an anchor assembly attached to the retainer structure. The anchor assembly is arranged to define the limits of motion of the retainer in three dimensions with respect to a selected anchor point. The anchor assembly also includes an attachment mechanism to secure one or more remediation materials to the retainer structure.
The retainer structure can be a buoyant structure or can be heavier than water. In addition, the retainer structure can be a fixed shape or can include a plurality of sections that are moveably attached to each other so that the retainer structure is selectively positionable in a plurality of shapes.
The anchor assembly includes a plurality of spoke members and at least one tether element. The spoke members are attached to distinct locations on the retainer structure and to the tether element. The tether element is attached to the spoke members and to an anchor point to hold the retainer assembly in the desired location. The spoke members and tether elements can be rigid or flexible structures, and the connections among the retainer structure, spoke members, tether elements and anchor point can be fixed connections or releasable connections.
The attachment mechanism fixedly or releasably attaches the remediation material to the retainer structure at various points along the retainer structure. The attachment mechanism can form a unitary structures with the anchor assembly or can be an independent structures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring initially to
In another embodiment as illustrated in
In another embodiment as illustrated in
The retainer assembly 10 also includes an anchor assembly 22 attached to the retainer structure 12 and arranged to define the limits of motion of the retainer 12 in three dimensions, for example the three dimensions of the Cartesian coordinate system, with respect to one or more anchor points 24. The anchor point 24 is selected based upon the location or object around which the retainer assembly 10 is placed. Suitable anchor points 24 are associated with storm grates, manhole covers, road surfaces and surfaces adjacent to or inside grates and manhole covers.
In one embodiment as illustrated in
The spoke members 26 and tether elements 28 can be constructed as either rigid or flexible elements. In one embodiment, both the spoke members 26 and tether elements 28 are constructed as flexible structures. In another embodiment, the spoke members 26 are constructed as rigid structures, and the tether elements 28 are constructed as flexible structures. In another embodiment, the spoke members 26 are constructed as flexible structures, and the tether elements 28 are constructed as rigid structures. In yet another embodiment, both the spoke members 26 and the tether elements 28 are constructed as rigid structures. Suitable flexible structures include cord, rope, cable and combinations thereof. Suitable rigid structures include rods, shafts, pipes, bars, cantilevered and gusetted arms and combinations thereof. As illustrated, the spoke members 26 and the tether element 28 are constructed of flexible rope.
In one embodiment as illustrated in
In another embodiment as illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrated in
The retainer assembly 10 also includes an attachment mechanism 40 to secure one or more remediation materials 42 to the retainer structure 12. The attachment mechanism 42 can be arranged to provide for fixed attachment of the remediation material 42 to the retainer structure 12 or to provide for releasable attachment of the remediation material 42 to the retainer structure 12. Suitable attachment mechanisms include mechanical fasteners, hook and loop type fasteners, adhesives, cable ties, straps and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the attachment mechanism 42 includes a plurality of straps. A sufficient number of straps, disposed around the retainer structure 12, are provided to adequately anchor the remediation material 42 to the retainer structure 12. The attachment mechanism 40 can be a separate structure or as illustrated in
In one embodiment as illustrated in
In another embodiment as illustrated in
As illustrated in the various embodiments, the retainer assembly 10 can be arranged to have the remediation material 42 located on top of (
Suitable remediation materials 42 for use with the retainer structure 12 include materials that provide the desired absorption or adsorption of contaminants. Examples of these suitable materials include, but are not limited to, oleophilic, oleophobic, hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials, polymers, activated charcoal, diatomaceous earth, spun glass and combinations thereof. These materials can be provided in any desired form including granular, fibrous and sheet form. In addition, the material can be provided loose or contained or enclosed in a porous container. In one embodiment, the remediation material is fixed to the retainer structure 12 and included in the retainer assembly 10. In this embodiment, the remediation material 42 is constructed as one or more tubular fabric structures or “socks” containing an oleophilic material.
While it is apparent that the illustrative embodiments of the invention disclosed herein fulfill the objectives of the present invention, it is appreciated that numerous modifications and other embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art. Additionally, feature(s) and/or element(s) from any embodiment may be used singly or in combination with other embodiment(s). Therefore, it will be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and embodiments, which would come within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A retainer assembly comprising:
- a retainer structure arranged to impart a desired shape to the retainer assembly;
- an anchor assembly attached to the retainer structure and arranged to define the limits of motion of the retainer structure in three dimensions with respect to a selected anchor point; and
- an attachment mechanism to secure one or more remediation materials to the retainer structure.
2. The retainer assembly of claim 1, wherein the retainer structure comprises a buoyant retainer structure.
3. The retainer assembly of claim 1, wherein the retainer structure is selectively positionable in a plurality of desired shapes.
4. The retainer assembly of claim 3, wherein the retainer structure comprises a plurality of sections, wherein each section is moveably attached to at least one other section.
5. The retainer assembly of claim 1, wherein the retainer structure comprises plastic tubing, inflatable tubing, closed cell foam material or combinations thereof.
6. The retainer assembly of claim 1, wherein the anchor assembly comprises a plurality of spoke members and at least one tether element, wherein each spoke member comprises a first end attached to a distinct location on the retainer structure and a second end in contact with the tether element.
7. The retainer assembly of claim 6, wherein the spoke members comprise flexible elements.
8. The retainer assembly of claim 7, wherein the flexible elements comprise cord, rope, cable or combinations thereof.
9. The retainer assembly of claim 6, wherein the spoke members are releasably attached to the retainer structure.
10. The retainer assembly of claim 6, wherein the tether element comprises a flexible element.
11. The retainer assembly of claim 6, wherein the tether element comprises a substantially rigid shaft and each spoke member includes at least one hole disposed adjacent the second end and wherein the tether element extends through the spoke member holes such that each spoke member can move along the shaft.
12. The retainer assembly of claim 6, wherein the spoke members and attachment mechanism comprise a unitary structure.
13. The retainer assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism is arranged to provide for releasable attachment of the remediation materials to the retainer structure.
14. The retainer assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a slot and a cavity in the retainer structure sufficient to accept the remediation material.
15. The retainer assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises at least one tray member attached to the retainer structure and arranged to hold the remediation material.
16. The retainer assembly of claim 1, wherein the remediation materials comprises one or more tubular fabric structures comprising an oleophilic material.
17. A retainer assembly comprising:
- a buoyant retainer structure arranged to impart a desired shape to the retainer assembly;
- an anchor assembly attached to the retainer structure and arranged to define the limits of motion of the retainer structure in three dimensions with respect to a selected anchor point, wherein the anchor assembly comprises a plurality of spoke members and at least one tether element and wherein each spoke member comprises a first end attached to a distinct location on the retainer structure and a second end in contact with the tether element; and
- an attachment mechanism to secure one or more remediation materials to the retainer structure.
18. The retainer assembly of claim 17, wherein the retainer structure comprises plastic tubing, inflatable tubing, a closed cell foam material or combinations thereof.
19. The retainer assembly of claim 17, wherein the remediation materials comprises one or more tubular fabric structures comprising an oleophilic material.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 29, 2004
Publication Date: Aug 4, 2005
Inventor: Robert DeAngelis (Yorktown Heights, NY)
Application Number: 10/767,289