Method and apparatus for separating floating and non-floating particulate from rainwater drainage

Claim 1

An apparatus for separating floating and non-floating particulate from drain water comprising: (a) a tank for separating particulate; (b) an inlet for introducing water drainage; (c) a bulkhead substantially cylindrical containment wall for containing non-floating particulate under relatively higher drain water flow rates and under relatively lower drain water flow rates, wherein a design of said containment wall induces a swirling of said drain water within said tank; (d) a baffle for containing floating particulate under said relatively higher drain water flow rates and; under said relatively lower drain water flow rates; (e) an outlet; (f) an orifice plate for controlling drain water level within said tank as a function of the rate of discharge of said drain water under said relatively lower drain water flow rates; (g) a weir plate for controlling said drain water level as a function of the rate of discharge of said drain water under said relatively higher drain water flow rates such that said drain water level within said tank is greater than a level of said inlet; and (h) output receiving means for receiving said drain water from said outlet.

Claim 6

An apparatus for separating floating and non-floating particulates from drain water, said apparatus comprising: (a) a tank including inlet means for introducing said drain water into said tank and tank outlet means for discharging said drain water, (b) a first containment means for receiving said drain water and for trapping non-floating particulate under relatively higher drain water flow rates and relatively lower drain water flow rates in a manner that restricts said non-floating particulate from exiting one or more openings of said first containment means; (c) a second containment means for trapping floating particulate under said relatively higher drain water flow rates and said relatively lower drain water flow rates in a manner that restricts said floating particulate from exiting one or more openings of said second containment means; (d) means for controlling water level in said tank, wherein said means for controlling water level is designed to operate as a function of a flow rate of said drain water through said inlet means into said tank such that when said flow rate is relatively higher, said water level in said first containment means is greater than a level of said inlet means; and (e) output receiving means for receiving said drain water from said tank outlet means.

Claim 12

A method for separating floating and non floating particulate from drain water, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing said drain water to a separation tank under relatively higher flow rates and relatively lower flow rates; (b) containing all non-floating particulate with the use of a substantially cylindrical apertured containment wall forming part of said separation tank; (c) controlling the water level throughout said separation tank as a function of flow rate of said drain water by causing a level of said drain water within said separation tank to exceed a level of an inlet means of said separation tank when said flow rate of said drain water into said separation tank is said relatively higher flow rates; (d) trapping the floating particulate behind a baffle spaced above a floor of said separation tank; and (e) discharging said drain water from said separation tank to output receiving means.