Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
8 ~
I
IMPROVED RUNOEF AND WASTI:-WATF~ INITD('~PIOR
This invention relates generally to separator tar~s, sometimes called
h~ ul~, adapted to receive primarily ramwater from a storm sewer or drain, and
additionally to perform the function of separating and entrapping any oil- or gasoline-
5 based materials and suspended solids that may enter, allowing the water fraction todischarge into municipal receiving sewers. Prior art devices of this kind are typically
equipped with various baffles and chambers operating in such a way as to collectspecific ~,ULUr of the waste fluid and separate them from others.
In this c nnnPctif)n~ reference may be had to U.S. Patent No. 4,136,010, issued
10 January 23, 1979 to Pilie et al.
Other patents, only peripherally related to the subject maKer of this
~1,.. ;1;. -1;.)-- are as follows:
U.S. Patent No. 1,844,443, Schmidt, February 9, 1932;
U.S. Patent No. 942,907, Huff, December 14, 1909;
U.S. Patent No. 3,567,024, ~' ~nnni~L-, March 2, 1971;
U.S. Patent No. 3,221,881 Weiler et al, December 7, 1965.
pRlOR ART
An improved ~;ULli~t~UlliUU is the subject of U.S. Patent No. 4,985,148, issued
January 15, 1991 to Joseph G. Monteith, and entitled, "Improved Separator Tank
Construction". The purpose of the tank interceptor set forth in the latter patent is to
provide two distinct responses to two different operating conditions:
(1) When the materials enoering the inoerceptor system are from storm
water drainage sources from amy developed site (includimg industrial,
cnmmf ~i~l and residential), the nu aqll~o~e maoerials are collected within the
interceptor. The aqueous fraction is allowed to leave the interceptor and pass
on to a storm sewer or the like, but the liquid fraction made up of oil or fat
of animal, vegetable or mineral origin, gasolme and the like, remains trapped
within the inoerceptor ur~il the same is pumped out. Further, any heavier-
than-water materials sink to the bottom of the inoerceptor and are confined to
a particular location from where they can also be pumped out at inoervals.
(2) The interceptor of the prior invention is also adapted to deal with
inflow resulting from heavy rain during a storm. Such inflow would typically
,, _ . _ . .. .. . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. . .
. 21 ~383
be a combination of storm drainage from an adjacent industrial property,
garage or the like, as well as inflow from storm drains adapted to catch
rainwater. When a large quantity of rainwater arrives at the interceptor of the
prior invention, the mterceptor ~ lly diverts most of this flow directly
to an outlet opening which passes it directly to a storm sewer. Only a portion
of the flow of the incommg rainwater is allowed through the treatment/storage
chamber of the interceptor.
To :Irrr,mpli~h the aforesaid goals, the prior art separator provides, within the
tank-like interceptor, a ~ ..r extending substantially directly between the inlet
and the outlet. The ~ .y is essentially sealed from I with the
remainder of the interior of the tank interceptor, except for an opening adjacent the
inlet and an opening adjacent the outlet. Fach opening ~ the 1~
with the remamder of the tanlc interior, which may be regarded as a treatment
chamber. Finally, a weir means is provided within the 1 v ~.~, disposed with
respect to the first opening such that, under relatively low entry flow rates, all
entering materials are contained by the weir and flow through the first opening and
into the treatment chamber, whereas under relatively high entry flow rates, part of
the entering materials overflow the weir and are delivered by the 1 v ~.r to theoutlet.
It has now been recognized that it is possible to assemble the equivalent of a
separator tarik without having to design a special ~ v for the different
portions, since it is possible to utilize several ~ liuual ~r~ defming
structures, along with various conduits, pipes, etc., in order to achieve what amounts
to the same thing.
Accordingly, it is an aim of one aspect of this invention to provide a separatortank CUU~IlU~,~iU._ utilizing a plurality of widely available, ~uu~,utiuu~ll units which
do not need to be redesigned or altered, while still p~.ru.uuh~ the basic function that
is described in U.S. patent No. 4,985,148.
It is an aim of a further aspect of this invention to provide flexibility as to the
relative positions of the inlet and outlet.
GE~D~l~ DFc(~RTplloN OF TETT.~ INVENTION
More ,u~ti~.ulall~, this invention provides a runoffand ~ interceptor
2~ 83
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~:U~~
first means defining a treatment chamber for receiving liquid,
second means defining an inlet basin,
third means defining an outlet basin,
5 an inlet into said inlet basin, adapted to permit liquid to flow into said inlet basin,
an outlet from said outlet basin, adapted to permit liquid to flow out of said outlet
basin,
a furst conduit having a first end e(v with said inlet basin at a level
below the level of said inlet, and a second end l,, with said treatment
chamber,
a second conduit having a first end:v with said outlet basm at a level
below the level of said outlet, and a second end ~g with said treatment
chamber,
and a by-pass conduit having a first end ._ with the inlet basin at a
15 level above the first end of said first conduit, and having a second end c,
with the outlet basin at a level above the first end of said second conduit,
such that, under low flow conditions, all of the liquid entering said inlet basin
through said inlet flows through said first conduit and into said treatrnent chamber,
and any liquid leaving the treatrnent charnber flows through said second conduit into
20 said outlet basin, thence out through said outlet; and such that, under high flow
conditions, when liquid enters said inlet basin through said inlet fasoer than it can exit
therefrom through said fu-st conduit, the excess liquid ~ ~ in said inlet basin
until it rises to the first end of said by-pass conduit, whereupon it travels along said
by-pass conduit to said outlet basin, from where it exits through said outlet.
25 RDTli,R DES(~RIPIION OF TRli DRAWINGS
Two ~;lub- " of this invention are illustrated in the a._vu~ ying
drawings, in which like numerals denote like parts throughout the several views, and
in which:
Figure 1 is a somewhat schematic elevational view of apparatus intended to
30 constitute the tank interceptor for rainwater and waste-water, and providing a first
.... l,o,l;.. l of the invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view of apparatus . g a second, ' " of this
21 8~83
invention; and
Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken at the line 3-3 in Figure 2.
DETA~ED DF:SCRII'TION OF THE DRAWING
Turning first to the ~ of Figure 1, the tank intercepto} includes a
5 larger central container 10 defining an internal treatment chamber 12 for receiving
liquid, an inlet basin 14 defining an entry chamber 16, and an outlet basin 18 defining
an exit chamber 20.
An inlet 22 opens into the inlet basin 14, while an oudet 24 opens out of the
outlet basin 18. The inlet 22 permits liquid to flow mto the inlet basm 14, while the
10 outlet 24 permits liquid to flow out of the outlet basin 18.
As further seen in the drawing, a first conduit 26 has a first end 28
~ with the inlet basin 14 at a level below the level of the inlet 22, and
a second end 30 which is located within the fflatment chamber 12. More
specifically, the first conduit 26 starts at a lower region in the entry chamber 16, then
15 proceeds through the side wall of the container 10, then undergoes a sharp bend at
32, from where it extends du.. ~dly to terminate at a T-fitting constituted by a
short length of pipe (which is viewed axially in the figure). Thus, the liquid entering
the inlet 22 and the inlet basim 14 passes into the first conduit 26 and is finally
delivered into the treatment chamber 12 in a direction substantially parallel to the wall
20 of the container 10 (i.e., situated, r ' 'Iy on the lcnl-~p~i,,n that the
container 10 is in the shape of a circular cylinder).
A second conduit 34 is also provided, having a first end 36 .,.. ,.,.. ;. ~
with tbe outlet basin 18 at a level below the level of the outlet 24, and a second end
40 . ~ with the treatment chamber 12. More specifically, the second
25 conduit 34 begins at the outlet basin 18, extends horizontally through the wall of the
container 10, then undergoes a sharp bend at 38, and terminates in an open lower end
40 located at about the same vertical height as the T-fitting 30 of the first conduit 26,
but positioned .l; --. u ;~ -lly opposite from the location of the first conduit 26. This
is important in order to avoid a "short circuit" which could arise if the second ends
30 of the conduits 26 and 34 were too close together. This would lead to a direct take-
up by the second conduit 34 of materials delivered by the first conduit 26, without
giving the materials a chance to separate into the lighter-than-water C~Li~u.,.l.,
~1 8~3~
s
(which would float upwardly) and the solid particles (sand, grit, gravel, etc.).There is further provided, in this ....l~l; . ,l a by-pass conduit 42 having
a first end 44 c ,, with the inlet basin 14 at a level above the first end of
the first conduit 26, and also above the level of the inlet 22. The by-pass conduit 42
5 also has a second end 46 ~ ~ with the outlet basin 18 at a level above the
first end 36 of the second conduit 34, and also above the level of the outlet 24.
In the; ' ' shown, the two basins 14 and 18 and the main container
10 are all sealed except for the openings described above. More ~uLi~.ukuly, each
of these containers has a sealable access cover at the top, identified by the nurnerals
10 48, S0 and 52, ~ . Alternatively, the access cover 48 on the inlet basin 14
may have openings and serve as an open inlet grating, with or without the inlet 22.
In operation, the system functions as follows:
Under low flow conditions, all of the liquid entering the inlet basin 14 throughthe inlet 22 (or cover 48) flows through the first conduit 26 and into the treatment
IS chamber 12, and any liquid leaving the treatment chamber 12 flows out through the
second conduit 34 into the outlet basin 18, thence out through the outlet 24.
However, under high flow conditions, for example during a storrn or in the case of
a sudden downpour, the liquid will enter the inlet basin 14 through the inlet 22 (48)
at a flow rate greater than it cam exit therefrom through the first conduit 26, and as
20 a result the excess liquid will r ' in the inlet basin 14 until its level rises to
the first end of the by-pass conduit 42, whereupon it travels along the by-pass conduit
42 to the outlet basin 18 from where it exits tbrough the outlet 24.
Preferably, the cross-sectional area of each of the first and second conduits 26and 34 is smaller than that of any one of: the inlet 22, the outlet 24 and the by-pass
25 conduit 42.
In the e ' ' illustrated and described above, the treatment chamber 12,
the entry chamber 16 and the exit chamber 20 are all defined by separate containers
of a cuu.~.ltiu.~l kind readily available on the market. However, it is cuu~,c;~lJle
that a special design could be crmc~n-r~d m which a single integral body defines all
30 three chambers, together with the various conduits.
Attention is now directed to Figures 2 and 3, for a discussion of the second
r..~l,. .1;.. - ..l of this invention.
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1~
As illustrated, dle tank interceptor includes a larger central container 110
defining an internal treatment chamber 112 for receiving liquid. In dle particular
r~ illustrated, dhe container 110 is cylindrical, although dlis is not regarded
as a limiting ~ The container 110 has a lower portion clearly seen in
5 section in Figure 3, and also has an eccentric or off-set riser portion 113 which
widh dhe lower portion. The reason for dhe eccentric positioning of dle
~ upper part 113 will be evident from what follows.
The tank interceptor further includes an inlet basin 114 defining an entry
chamber 116, and an oudet basin 118 defning an exit chamber 120.
An inlet 122 opens into dhe inlet basin 114, while an oudet 124 opens out of
dhe outlet basin 118.
As further seen in Figures 2 and 3, a first conduit 126 has a first end 128
. ,.., .".., .;. ~;, .~ with dhe bottom of dhe inlet basin 114 at a level below dhe level of dhe
inlet 122, and a second end 130 located within the treatment chamber 112. The first
15 conduit 126 includes a right-angle bend at 132, and terminates at a T-fitting within
the treatment chamber 112, constituted by a short length of pipe (which is viewed
axially in Figure 3). Thus, liquid entering the inlet 122 and the inlet basin 114 passes
into dhe first conduit 26 and is delivered into dhe treatment chamber 112 in a direction
substantially parallel to dhe wall of dhe container 110 (i.e., situated ~h~ ,ially
20 on dle: , dlat dhe container 110 is in dhe shape of a circular cylinder).
A second conduit 134 is also provided, having a first end 136 ... " ., .... ,;. ~
with dhe oudet basin 118 at the bottom thereof, and thus at a level below dhe level of
dhe oudet 124, and a second end 140 ~ ~ ~ with dhe treatment chamber 112.
More specifically, the second conduit 134 begins at the bottom of dhe outlet basin
118, thus below dhe level of dhe oudet 124, undergoes a sharp bend at 138, and
~ terminates at the above-mentioned end 140, which is located at about the same
vertical height as the T-fitting 130 of the first conduit 126, but is positioned generally
opposite the location of the first conduit 126. As widh the first . .h~; . .. ~ .I described
earlier, the opposing positions contribute to the avoidance of a "short circuit" which
could arise if dhe second ends of dhe conduits 126 and 134 were too close togedher.
The ~ bl " shown in Figures 2 and 3 further includes a by-pass conduit
142 having a first end 144, ~ with the inlet basin 114 at a level above
. _, .. .... ... . _ . .. . . .. . . . . .. .. _ . _ . . .
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the level of the inlet 122 and the end 128 of the fust conduit 126. The by-pass
conduit 142 has also a second end 146 ~ ~ v with the outlet basm 118 at a
level above the outlet 124 and also above the end 136 of tne second conduit 134
In the ~."l,~ illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the inlet and outlet basins
14 and 18 are provided with sealable access covers 148 and 150, however the upper
portion 113 of the central treatment container 10 is shown as open. It is to be
understood that the upper part of the portion 113 can be covered with a manhole, or
sealed in any desired manner.
In the, _b- ' shown in Figures 2 and 3, the off-set or ~ ;ly of the
portion 113 of the central container 10 allows the bi-pass conduit 42 to be straight,
without any mechanical i., ~ r,,~ - with the portion 113. As seen in Figure 2, wbile
the inlet and outlet basins 114 and 118 are not exactly disposed ~" lly with
respect to the container 110, there are close enough to being diametrical to allow the
inner ends of the conduits 126 and 134 to be disposed close to their furthest possible
separation within the contam 110.
While two; '~" of this invention have been illustrated in the
au~vulu~uauyulg drawings and described hc., ~ u . _, it will be evident to those skilled
in the art that changes and . l.l;ri. -l;,~,.~ may be made therein without departing from
the essence of this invention, as set forth in the appended clairns.
