Storm water pollution full capturing system

Abstract

A storm drain full capturing system is provided for filtering trash and debris and similar contaminates from a stream of water passing through a storm drain. The capturing system comprises of a control gate panels having a multiplicity of openings mounted adjacent to the sidewalls of a storm drain such that the panels lies adjacent to an outlet through which water flow passing to the storm drain thereof, but filters trash and debris, a composite filter fits relatively close to the outlet and the adjacent sidewall and permits water to flow through the openings thereof, but filters polluted contaminates, and an insert composite collection system for trash and debris is held in place by a removable frame plate, configured to be suspended adjacent to a curb inlet and can be serviced through a conventional manhole entry.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the prevention of substantial amounts of contaminant from entering a storm drain system during a dry or rainy seasons and purification of water which may be storm runoff. Industrial process water or cleaning water pours into drains such as found in parking areas, gas stations, along streets in municipalities and similarly heavily traveled locations. This invention relates to a system that removes debris, trash, hydrocarbon and similar contaminates as well as other contaminates from storm water prior to releasing the water into the municipal disposal system of the environment.

Great concern has been generated among the public for ensuring the purity of the domestic water supply in view of the revelation that small traces of contaminants pose a serious threat to public health and particularly children. As a result of this concern, the Clean Water Act (1972) and the Water Quality Act (1987) resulted in establishing the NPDES Program (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System). The NPDES Program requires permitting in cases of storm water discharges associated with industrial, commercial, municipal, and/or residential activity which may be contaminating run-off water by over-burden, raw material, intermediate product, finished product, by-product or waste product. In addition, many cities, counties, and districts have enacted similar laws. The site of such activities can include large parking facilities where large amounts of run-off are generated containing significant amounts of gas and similar anthropogenic organics as well as heavy metals. Provisions of the program include establishing a monitoring program and instituting Best Management Practice (BMP) to achieve practicable pollutant reduction. These activities demonstrate the need for a system that removes debris, trash, metals, hydrocarbons and other contaminants from storm water, prior to release into a municipal disposal system, or environment.

Numerous techniques have been described for removing contaminants, particularly metals and hydrocarbons including oils, from storm water. None of such techniques, to my knowledge adequately meet the above described needs through provision of the unusually advantageous structures, modes of operation, and results as described herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a major objective of the invention to provide a prevention system disallowing trash from entering the storm drain by means of control gate apparatus attached to the sides of the catch basin of a storm drain and operated by an inserts placed inside the storm drain catch basin.

It is a major objective of the invention to provide one or more floating devices in order to prevent contaminants from re-entering into the downstream drainage system

Another object is to minimize construction retrofit to existing storm drains by adapting the shape and design of the apparatus to fit existing storm drain catch basins.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a weir allowing excess flow to pass before entering the connector pipe outlet to the storm drain.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide removable and replaceable inserts to remove contaminates, particularly debris, trash, metals, oils, fuels and other hydrocarbons and pesticides and organically bound inorganics from water being discharged from the surrounding into a public water disposal system such as a sanitary sewer or storm drain. Such inserts typically receive and contain trash and debris from runoff.

Another objective is provision of such bags to be removable and replaceable easily, through the man hole of the catch basin.

It is another object that the insert filters be constructed for removing contaminants having a wide range of filtering media properties for various contaminates.

It is another object that the drainage filters be constructed such that replacement of spent filters is easily accomplished with maximum protection to the operator in terms of cleanliness and personal safety.

An important object is to facilitate installation and maintenance of system components resulting in saving in labor and improved efficiency.

It is another object that the spent filter media may be disposable conveniently and economically.

It is another object that the filters in the drain be constructed to prevent malfunctions such as clogging or re-floating that might otherwise arise from circumstances such as unexpected flooding.

A yet further object is to provide an improved system as discussed herein, or as claimed herein.

These and other objects will become apparent from a study of the description and study of the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the basic control panel;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the basic control panel, filters and the suspended trash bags;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the basic control panel with the optional floating gate;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of the basic control panel;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a curb opening catch basin incorporating the invention at that location. The apparatus includes control perforated panels 4, 5 and 6 vertically spaced between the side walls. And an inclined solid plate 1, a vertical perforated panel 2 with guide filter 3 and 7.

FIG. 2 shows the control panel system with filter contaminates 8 and 9 and the inserts suspended trash bags 15 and the outlet connector pipe.

FIG. 3 shows street level 11, catch basin curb inlet 10, connector pipe 13 and the optional floating gate 14.

FIG. 4 shows front elevation view of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, A control panels 4, 5 and 6 extended from side wall to side wall of the catch basin 12 and having a solid inclined plate 1 to allow flow laden with trash, sediments and other contaminates entering from the street 11 and entering the basin through the curb inlet 10 to be captured by the suspended trash and sediments bags inserts 15 and then through the filters 8 and 9 for contaminates removal and then to the storm drain system through the connector pipe 13. When the flow rises over the top of panels 4, 5, 6 and by pass to the connector pipe 13 over the second weir of panel 6 and if the flow kept rising to the level of the second weir, trash may enter to the connector pipe 13 to avoid having trash entering to the connector pipe, a floating gate 14 can be placed over the second weir opening which will open and close according to the water flow level in the catch basin. Hence keeping the trash floating over water and over the floating gate 14 where it will be collected later when the flow recedes.

Drainage water laden with trash, sediment and other deposits enters, as shown from street level 11 into the curb opening 10 to the catch basin housing 12, and passes through a vertically extending filter 8 and 9 laden with media for absorbing hydrocarbons and oil passing within the water through screen panels 2, 4, 5 and 6 while collecting sediment and trash at the insert bags 15. If the filters get sufficiently stopped up, there is an overflow area weir opening on screen 6 to allow overflow to the outlet connector pipe 13 without blocking the drainage system.

As referred to herein, and as shown in the drawings, one preferred system includes:

A system for preventing, filtering and removing pollutants from storm water passing into a curb opening of a catch basin, said system comprising one or more control gate, said control gates have weirs to bypass excess flow, there being an insert suspended trash and debris bags in the catch basin and operatively connected to the control gates to capture trash and debris in response to storm water flow into the catch basin, there being an insert including water permeable pollutant filters, the bags filter material, whereby water flows through the mesh and then through the bag or bags, trash and debris being trapped by the mesh or the bag or bags.

As noted, the use of elements as referred to provides for multiple advantages including control gate to contain trash in-flow; clean (filtered) water contaminate collection to effect such operation; and removal of contaminants from the water to be collected by the multiple filters. Also, the filter bags are easily retrievable, without disturbing the functionality of the system.

Claims

1. A flow and debris control system at a storm drain catch basin comprising a flow control gate, having a perforated panels, in which travel of debris into the basin connector pipe outlet to the storm drain is blocked, and a water flow collector and filter in the path of water flows into the connector pipe via said perforated panels entrance, the collector including an insert having a mesh, a replaceable filter bag, in the insert and two or more filters.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said control gate includes an insert float canister providing means movable to avoid polluted trash from mixing with water flow discharging to the connector pipe outlet when the catch basin malfunctions or has high capacity run off.

3. A system for preventing, filtering and removing pollutant from storm water passing into a curb opening catch basin, said system comprising one or more control gates, the filtering device forms a perforated wall structure that extends between the sidewalls and which isolates the connector pipe outlet.

there being an insert suspended in the catch basin and operatively connected to the control gate, said control gate has a floatable canister for preventing pollutant from mixing with said flow when the catch basin malfunctions or has high capacity run off, there being a bag or bags carried by said insert frame, the insert defining a mesh, the bag or bags including water permeable filter material, whereby water flows through the bag or bags.

4. The system of claim 3 including a floatable canister at control gate whereby said canister will float when water rise causing the water to pass over the weir free of pollutants and closing the weir opening when water recedes.

5. The system in claim 3 whereas the frame is sized and positioned to carry the weight of trash and debris and flow in said insert bag or bags when storm water is received therein.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein each bag has a mesh size selected to permit flow of water through the mesh and out through a filter medium before discharging to the connector pipe outlet to the storm drain.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein each bag is replaceable and removable and positioned to collect trash and debris and with the filter medium in the outer side of said control gate collecting water contaminates.

8. A system comprising one or more floating devices providing a means to float collected trash or debris in order to prevent contaminants from re-entering into the downstream drainage system and to prevent clogging of said system in case of overflow or backflow.