Curb inlet filter

Details Curb inlet filter Curb inlet filter

2002-01-24

2004-03-23

Upton, Christopher (Department: 1724)

Liquid purification or separation

Structural installation

Grated inlet surface drain

C210S474000, C210S497010, C210S499000, C404S004000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06709579

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to devices for filtration of water entering storm water drainage systems through a roadway curb opening, and in particular to a barrier filter for a curb inlet of a storm water drainage system adapted to filter silt and debris from storm water passing through the curb inlet and into the storm water drainage system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the construction of streets, highways, residential housing developments, commercial developments, schools, airports and similar other types of construction projects, the road system generally is first marked out and the streets of the development are cleared and graded. Thereafter, the storm water drainage system for the development is constructed, which typically includes the underground drainage pipes, collection basins, culverts, and drop inlets that form the connection between the storm water drainage system and the finished street side curb inlet. At which time, the storm water drainage system connected to the curb inlets must be kept substantially free of silt and sediment during the remaining phases of construction, pursuant federal, state and local clean water regulations and building codes. Keeping silt and sediment out of the collection basins is, however, difficult given additional grading on site wherein silt and sediment tends to remain unstable and easily migrates towards the sides of the street by wind, water and construction activity and consequently into the open curb inlets. If silt and sediment are washed into or otherwise collected within the collection basins and/or other parts of the drainage system, the collection basins can become clogged and it becomes necessary to send workers down into the collection boxes to manually clean out the dirt and/or debris that has been washed or accidentally dropped into the collection basins to comply with clean water regulations. Such cleaning operations are difficult as the pipes are somewhat cramped, making it difficult to maneuver, and there is also the danger of cave-ins or collapses of the silt, sediment, dirt, and etc. that has built up around the sides of the collection basins, creating a significant risk of injury or even death to the workers below, as well as the negative environmental impact and clean water regulation violations from the migrating sediment.
Although the simplest solution to this problem would seem to be to completely seal the curb inlet, this solution is not feasible as storm water must be permitted to drain through the drainage system of the development during construction to permit the ground to dry and to prevent storm water from eroding the work site and carrying soil and debris to adjacent lots, buildings or state waters. The streets and roadways must also be kept clear to prevent a potential traffic hazard from standing water.
In the past, various filter systems for protecting the curb inlets of the storm water drainage system have been utilized. Unfortunately, most of these systems have suffered from various disadvantages, including lack of portability and ineffective anchoring to maintain the filter system in place during heavy flows of storm water. Such systems include weir arrangements constructed of gravel supported by a wire screen and the like; rolled bundles of filter material, such as coir wattle; arrangements of cinder blocks loosely wrapped with geotextile fence material and arrangements of filtering rocks contained within loosely woven cloth, these latter two arrangements being commonly referred to as “pigs-in-a-blanket.” These types of filter systems, however, often tend to be either difficult to transport and deploy or, after being deployed, tend to be insufficiently stable to maintain their position in the face of rushing water, wind or other forces and do not meet current clean water regulations.
Accordingly, it can be seen that a need exists for a system for covering and protecting curb inlets of a storm water collection basin of a drainage system to prevent silt and sediment from migrating into the inlet while still allowing for the free and substantially complete drainage of storm water runoff into the curb inlet.
SUMMARY
Briefly described, the present invention generally comprises a curb inlet filter that forms a temporary barrier or filter for filtering runoff water entering a curb inlet connected to a storm water drainage system. The curb inlet filter enables water to pass therethrough and into the curb inlet, while preventing a substantial portion of silt and debris flowing with the water from passing into the curb inlet. The curb inlet filter generally includes an elongated body having a first end and a second end to which first and second weighted anchors are attached, respectively. The elongated body further typically includes one or more support members encapsulated within a filter medium that assists in the filtering of water running to the curb inlet by blocking silt and debris, while allowing water to pass therethrough. Other support member arrangements are also contemplated, including those where at least a portion of the filter media provides support to the body. The filter medium generally includes geosynthetic materials, wire screens, meshes, polyesters, nylons, natural woven fibers and combinations thereof, or other appropriate filtration material. The filter medium typically is formed into a sleeve or cover that encloses one or more support members of the body.
The body support members generally include rigid supports or ribs, such as polymeric pipes, beams or tubing, and generally also will include a polymeric grating or similar structure that serves to provide structure, form and support to the filter medium while allowing water to pass therethrough. The polymeric grating may, for example, include a rolled section of a high-density polyethylene geo-grid material. The polymeric geo-grid material also can be disposed in one or more sections of the support members, which thus combine to form the body of the barrier having a desired configuration and dimensions to fit the dimensions of the curb inlet. For example, the body of the curb inlet filter may be about 4 inches to about 9 inches or more in diameter and about 3-4 feet to about 15 feet in length, depending on the particular dimensions of the curb inlet to be protected.
The weighted anchors of the curb inlet filter are attached to the body of the curb inlet filter and provide sufficient weight to the ends of the elongated body in order to assist in maintaining the placement of the filter. With the ends of the body so weighted, the curb inlet filter is better able to maintain its position adjacent a curb inlet even when wind, rushing water or other forces that may otherwise unintentionally move the filter are applied thereto. The weighted anchors generally include one or more bags formed at the ends of the elongated body of the filter and filled with a weighted material, typically including various types of loose material, such as, for example, rock, dirt, sand and combinations thereof, which can be found at the construction site.
In one embodiment, the sleeve of the filter medium typically extends beyond the ends of the body thereby providing enough fabric on either end to form the bags for the anchors at each end of the body. Each bag may be closed adjacent each body end by twisting the sleeve and/or applying a tie or other fastener thereto. The distal ends of the bags generally are open to allow for the deposit of weighted matter therein. After weighted matter has been deposited in the bags, the distal ends of each bag typically are then closed with a fastener such as a tie, staples, clamps or the like. Thus, the weighted anchors can be attached to the ends of the body or can be integrally formed with the elongated body of the curb inlet filter.
In use, the temporary barrier or curb inlet filter generally is placed adjacent a curb inlet so that the curb inlet filter substantially blocks path from the spillway to the curb. The weighted anchors on either end of the elongated body of the curb inl

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