Patent Application
20090279954
This invention relates to a debris and silt/sedimentation preventing apparatus for water drainage systems. More specifically, the apparatus disclosed herein reduces or eliminates litter, sediments, yard waste, and the like from entering a water drainage system through entry culverts and for preventing or reducing the clogging of said culverts.
A culvert is a conduit used to convey water from one area to another with each end of the culvert being open. For instance, a culvert could be used to transport water from one side of a road to another by providing a conduit beneath the road surface. Culverts also collect runoff and direct the runoff to natural waterways, marshes, or the like. The fluid flows in one direction through the culvert. Countermeasures have been developed to prevent debris from blocking or clogging the entries to culverts, which are often used for flood control.
Typically, countermeasures for culverts include structural measures/barriers that prevent debris from reaching the culvert entry point. These measures include debris deflectors, debris racks, debris risers, debris cribs, debris fins, debris dams and basins, or some combination thereof. For silt reduction or prevention, current structural countermeasures resort to dams or traps. Otherwise, structural countermeasures are concerned with very large debris members, such as logs or boulders, and are built accordingly. Non-structural measures consist of routine maintenance to remove the debris.
Culverts are increasingly used with water retention systems in residential and commercial real estate developments. These culverts collect runoff during a precipitation event and transport the water to a holding tank or storage reservoir. The reservoirs or tanks provide temporary storage to decrease the impact of a sudden precipitation event. The volume of fluid in the reservoir decreases between precipitation events, either through a physical reservoir outlet, evaporation, seepage, or the like. The retention systems can retain runoff so that existing storm, flood, or drainage systems stay within their designed capacity despite the addition of a newly developed area. These reservoirs are often open and accessible. However, underground water retention systems, wherein the reservoir acts as an underground storage tank, are becoming increasingly favored and important. With underground retention, more land is available for development. The danger of an open body of water, say for children in a residential development, is also eliminated. Some jurisdictions may even require fencing around such open man-made reservoirs. The fencing can be expensive to build and maintain.
Underground water retention reservoirs are, on the other hand, more difficult to maintain as any trash, yard waste, sediment, or the like cannot easily be accessed. It is not possible to simply dredge an underground water retention reservoir. Instead, trash, tree branches, and the like can clog the water retention culvert or eventually build up within the water retention reservoir. Sediment can also be transported to the reservoir via the culvert. Over time, the sediment and/or debris can reduce the overall storage capacity of the reservoir meaning the run-off culvert is more likely to ‘back up’ (i.e., fail to convey water from a run-off point to the reservoir). Catastrophic flooding can result from such a backup. It is essential that engineered storms solutions work effectively and efficiently with relatively little or no maintenance required.
Culverts of all types divert water to allow access to areas or otherwise prevent flooding. Therefore, it is important that culverts for any purpose remain unclogged. As culverts can feed into natural waterways, marshes, or the like, it is also important to prevent the transportation of debris (trash, yard waste, etc.) or silt/sedimentation. Existing culverts often lack any debris or sedimentation reduction apparatus despite the critical need for effective culvert operation. An apparatus that is capable of retroactively fitting to existing culverts to reduce debris and settlement intake is needed.
Fluid dynamics for collecting runoff often leads to unforseen problems. The problem of reducing debris and sedimentation intake into culverts is ongoing. Screens and known countermeasures are ineffective in many instances. Screens quickly become blocked and ineffective, filters clog, and structural countermeasures do not block the fine silt or debris, as needed. Known measures fail to provide dual protection from larger debris members while screening fine debris matter, such as silt. In other instances, traps or dams for silt and/or debris build up over time and are difficult to maintain.
There is a need for debris and silt preventing apparatus for culverts wherein the apparatus provides a high fluid intake volume to the culvert and the ability to reduce or prevent both large debris and silt. Ideally, such a solution would retroactively fit to existing culverts. The apparatus would also provide a low maintenance or self-cleaning construction. Preferably, the material, size and shape of the culvert should be inconsequential to the operation and efficacy of the new debris and silt preventing apparatus. The apparatus could be selectively removed entirely or in-part from the subject culvert. The apparatus taught and disclosed herein solves one or more of the above or other needs.
The apparatus disclosed herein overcomes one or more of the foregoing or other drawbacks with known culvert debris and sedimentation countermeasures. The apparatus comprises a mesh member inserted into but extending from a culvert and a cap secured over the mesh member. The apparatus is removably placed in a fluid inlet end of the culvert. The cap is selectively removable from the mesh member.
In further detail, the mesh member comprises a first end and a second end. The shape of the member conforms or corresponds to the shape of the culvert. In use, the second end of the member is inserted into the inlet end of the culvert. The member includes tabs or other structure that determine the distance into which the member can be inserted into the culvert. The tabs deter or prevent the member from being forced into the culvert due to hydrostatic or hydrodynamic pressure. In this embodiment, the member is not fastened to the culvert so that the member can be removed, repaired, cleaned, and/or reinstalled as needed. Installation is simple and inexpensive. It is also envisioned that other fastening mechanisms for connecting the member to the culvert might be used, including brackets, fasteners, or the like.
The first end of the member extends from the first (inlet) end of the culvert. In a preferred embodiment, the member comprises a mesh cylinder, such as a metal mesh cylinder. In another embodiment, the member extends at least ten inches from the culvert. Some extension from the culvert is desired to increase the inlet surface area, as described below. The member can be rigid or resilient structure made form various known materials. In other words, the member is a rigid frame or it exhibits resiliency in that it can be bent and returned to its original shape. Overall, the member acts as a support frame to be enclosed within the cap.
The cap comprises a body with a first closed end, a second open end, an upper portion and a lower portion. The shape of the cap body conforms or corresponds to the shape of the mesh member. In one preferred embodiment, the cap body defines an inside diameter or dimension greater than the outside diameter or dimension of the mesh member. The open end of the cap is inserted over the member, and the cap is selectively secured in place.
The cap body and first closed end comprise a plurality of apertures. For instance, in an embodiment, the cap comprises panels of a flexible, woven material. The weave includes apertures between the vertical and horizontal woven components. The apertures can be one or more sizes based on the weave pattern. The panels are joined to each other, as needed, to create the body, closed end, upper portion and lower portion. The apertures of the cap's lower portion being smaller than the apertures of the upper portion. In this manner, sediment carried into the culvert via runoff is reduced via the small apertures of the lower portion. The larger apertures of the upper portion allow a high flow rate while blocking floating debris. Debris can be any item in a fluid stream that would advantageously be excluded from a culvert or drainage pipe.
The relatively open structure of the upper portion allows a relatively higher flow rate into the upper portion of the cap. It is thought that some back pressure on the lower portion will be created. Therefore, silt that has collected against the outside of the lower portion may be washed away. Dynamic fluid flow around and over the upper, relatively open portion should also provide a self cleaning mechanism to remove leaves, trash, and the like that may otherwise obstruct the apertures of the upper portion. A second end of the culvert is fluidly connected to a natural or artificial reservoir or other waterway, including swamps, steams, marshes, ditches, rivers, or the like.
The debris and silt reduction apparatus of the present invention effectively addresses at least one of the problems associated with prior art debris and sedimentation countermeasure systems. For instance, the system of the present invention is selectively removable entirely or in-part from the culvert. In other words, the apparatus can be removed, repaired, or replaced, as desired. The apparatus reduces both large debris and sedimentation. It is easily, retroactively fit to existing culverts. The apparatus also provides a low maintenance or self-cleaning construction. The material, size and shape of the culvert it thought to be inconsequential to the operation and efficacy of the new debris and silt preventing apparatus.
The foregoing and additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The method and apparatus for the debris and sediment reduction apparatus for water drainage systems as disclosed herein efficiently addresses one or more shortcomings of the prior art, including the inability to provide a high fluid intake volume to a culvert while simultaneously reducing the intake of large debris and silt. The solution taught herein would retroactively fit to existing culverts. The apparatus would also provide a low maintenance or self-cleaning construction. The material, size and shape of the culvert is inconsequential to the operation and efficacy of the new debris and silt preventing apparatus. The apparatus is selectively removable entirely or in-part from the subject culvert. The subject apparatus provides one or more of the above or other advantages.
Referring now to
Culverts, in general are used for flood control or to otherwise divert fluid so as to maintain access to roadways, such as road 14, and property during a precipitation event Often, water drainage systems, which include culverts, are installed in new residential and commercial developments to supply a means to prevent storm run off from flooding or damaging properties. Roads, structures, and parking lots built to support such developments reduce the ability of storm water to drain or seep into natural ground water reservoirs or waterways. Water drainage systems are necessary to compensate and to protect the development's infrastructure and the people living or working in the development.
The size and shape of the culvert may vary based upon the design and needs of the water drainage and control system. Typically, culverts will comprise cylindrical conduits of various diameters. The subject apparatus is adaptable to all sizes and shapes of culvert designs.
Broadly, apparatus 10 comprises a mesh member 16 inserted into but extending from culvert 12. Member 16 acts as the support or frame for a debris cap 18. Debris cap 18 is selectively secured over mesh member 16. Apparatus 10 is removably placed in a fluid inlet end of the culvert. As illustrated in
In further detail, and with reference to
Member 16 comprises first end 30 and a second end 32 connected by opposing sides. For a cylindrical culvert 12, member 16 can be square-shaped or rectilinear with the ends 30, 32 being longer than the sides or vice versa. The ‘grid’ or mesh structure of member 16 is comprised of a flexible or resilient material. In one embodiment, member 16 comprises metal wire of a bendable or resilient gauge that would allow the member to be formed into a shape. Plastic or other materials would also be suitable. In use, an installer would shape member 16 to conform to the shape of the culvert to which the member would be inserted. Member 16 nests or frictionally fits within the culvert. Culvert 12 holds member 16 in the shape to which it has been formed.
Member 16 might also be pre-formed for specific culvert installation projects. Instead of presenting a flat grid that is formed into the shape of the culvert, a preformed culvert can be built as a rigid body. In other words, member 16 could be constructed or welded into a cylindrical or other shape with given or predetermined dimensions. Preformed member 16 would fit within a corresponding culvert 12 but, because the member is rigid, the culvert would not necessarily hold the member's shape.
Overall, the type of material or metal, gauge of the mesh, and other parameters would be selected on a case-by-case basis. The size of the culvert, the predicted volume of water to be conveyed through the culvert, whether the member is formed on-site or preformed, and other considerations are relevant to selecting the member's configuration. For instance, a relatively large culvert would be installed where a large volume of water would be predicted. The hydrodynamic and hydrostatic pressure of a fluid associated with an apparatus 10 installed into a relatively large culvert would typically necessitate a more robust member 16 capable of withstanding those forces. Therefore, member 16 might be a metal structure with large diameter segments forming the grid. Culverts designed to transport a relatively low volumes would permit the use of smaller size member and a relatively smaller diameter for the longitudinal and transverse segments 16.
To form member 16 on-site for use with cylindrical culverts, member 16 is ‘rolled’ into a cylindrical shape with a first end 30 and a second end 32, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In more detail, second end 32 of the member is inserted into the inlet end of the culvert. Member 16 can be held in place via frictional forces. In another embodiment, member 16 is inserted until tab(s) 34 engage the outer edge of culvert 12. The location of tabs 34 determine the distance into which the member can be inserted into the culvert. The tabs deter or prevent the member from being forced into the culvert due to hydrostatic or hydrodynamic pressure. In this embodiment, the member is not fastened to the culvert so that the member can be removed, repaired, cleaned, and/or reinstalled as needed. Installation of the apparatus is simple and inexpensive. With our without tabs, the member 16 can be selectively removed to facilitate repair, maintenance, or replacement. It is also envisioned, in another embodiment, that other, more permanent fastening mechanisms for connecting member 16 to culvert 12 might be used, including brackets, fasteners, or the like.
Once inserted into the culvert, the first end of the member extends from the first (inlet) end of the culvert. In one embodiment, the member extends at least ten inches from the culvert. As explained further below, the distance the member extends establishes the surface area available for filtering incoming fluid. At least some extension from the culvert is desired to increase the inlet surface area. It is also necessary to maintain a portion of member 16 to the exterior of culvert 12 so as to allow the placement of debris cap 18 over member 16. The distance the member extends should substantially correspond to the length of cap 18, as described below.
Debris cap 18, as further illustrated in
In one embodiment, cap 18 comprises panels of a flexible, woven material. Cap body 40 and first closed end 42 comprise a plurality of apertures. The apertures comprise the space between the warp and weft of the woven material. The apertures can be one or more sizes based on the weave pattern. The panels are joined to each other, as needed, to create body 40 including closed end 42, upper portion 46 and lower portion 48. As illustrated, the apertures of the cap's lower portion 48 are smaller than the apertures of the upper portion.
Lower portion 48 comprises relatively tightly woven panels. This weave pattern creates a filter through which water flows. The fabric of lower panel 48 will capture relatively small particles, such as silt (i.e., dirt particles suspended in the fluid flowing through culvert 12). In this manner, sediment carried into the culvert via runoff is reduced via the small apertures of the lower portion. The larger apertures of the upper portion allow a high flow rate while blocking floating debris (i.e., leaves, sticks, trash, etc.).
The relatively open structure of the upper portion allows a relatively higher flow rate into the upper portion of the cap in comparison to the relatively closed structure of the lower portion. The higher influx of fluid into the upper portion during a storm event will create some back pressure on the lower portion. Therefore, silt that has collected against the outside of the lower portion may be cleared as a self-cleaning mechanism. Dynamic fluid flow around and over the upper, relatively open portion should also provide a self-cleaning mechanism to remove leaves, trash, and the like that may otherwise obstruct the apertures of the upper portion. Cap is also selectively removable from member 16 so that cleaning, maintenance or replacement of the cap are easily accomplished. A second end of the culvert is fluidly connected to a natural or artificial reservoir or other waterway, including swamps, steams, marshes, ditches, rivers, or the like.
Cap 18 can be built from any material suitable to withstand the hydrodynamic pressure of an application. The panels of cap 18 can comprise fabric panels of woven polypropylene, nylon, a combination of fibers, or the like. In another embodiment, cap 18 might also comprise a resilient or rigid material. For instance, lower portion 48 could consist of a fine, metal mesh joined to an open grid forming the upper portion of body 40. As one of skill in the art will appreciate in light of the disclosure herein, other equivalent and operable materials are available.
In the exploded view of
Numerous characteristics and advantages of the invention have been set forth in the foregoing description. It will be understood, of course, that this disclosure is, in many respects, only illustrative. Changes can be made in details, particularly in matters of shape, size, in arrangement of parts without exceeding the scope of the invention. The invention's scope is defined by the language in which the appended claims are expressed.
