Flow control bypass basin apparatus

Claim 2

A flow control bypass basin for receiving runoff water from a surface and for passing a first portion of said runoff water to an inmiscible liquids separator and for bypassing a second portion of said runoff water not to said separator but instead to a drain, said bypass basin comprising: (a) a tank having a bottom and an interior, said interior having a lower portion adjacent to said bottom; (b) an inlet in communication with the interior of said tank, said inlet having a transverse cross-sectional area; (c) primary outlet means in communication with the interior of said tank for passing said first portion of said runoff water to said separator, said primary outlet means having a transverse cross-sectional area substantially smaller than the transverse cross-sectional area of said inlet; (d) bypass outlet means in communication with the interior of said tank for bypassing said second portion of said runoff water not to said separator but instead to said drain, said bypass outlet means having a transverse cross-sectional area such that the sum of said transverse cross-sectional area of said bypass outlet means plus the transverse cross-sectional area of said primary outlet means is at least as large as the transverse cross-sectional area of said inlet, said bypass outlet means being located a certain height substantially above said primary outlet means, thereby defining a liquid accumulation volume therebetween; and (e) riser tube means, interposed between said bypass outlet means and the interior of said tank, for placing said bypass outlet means in communication with the interior of said tank, said riser tube means having an open end disposed in said lower portion of said tank substantially below said primary outlet means and having an upper end closed to the interior of said tank.

Claim 3

The bypass basin as recited in claim 1, in which said bypass basin further includes pressure equalization means for equalizing the pressure within said tank to atmospheric pressure; and further in which said bypass basin further includes venting means for preventing siphoning by said riser tube means, said venting means including a vent pipe placing said upper end of said riser tube means in communication with the atmosphere.

Claim 4

The bypass basin as recited in claim 1, in which said inlet empties into said lower portion of said interior of said tank.

Claim 5

The bypass basin as recited in claim 3, in which said primary outlet means receives said first portion of said runoff water substantially above the bottom of said tank, and further in which said tank has a ceiling and said bypass basin further comprises a baffle extending upwardly from said bottom of said tank, said baffle having a top that is below said primary outlet means; and further in which said bypass basin further comprises a screen extending upwardly from the top of said baffle to the ceiling of said tank, said inlet being segregated from said primary outlet means and said open end of said riser tube means by said baffle and said screen.

Claim 6

The bypass basin as recited in claim 1, in which said primary outlet means receives said first portion of said runoff water substantially above the bottom of said tank, said primary outlet means having an upwardly-angled mouth and receiving said first portion of said runoff water through said upwardly-angled mouth.

Claim 7

The bypass basin as recited in claim 1, in which said tank has a ceiling and said bypass basin further comprises a baffle extending upwardly from said bottom of said tank, said baffle having a top that is below said primary outlet means; and further in which said bypass basin further comprises a screen extending upwardly from the top of said baffle to the ceiling of said tank, said inlet being segregated from said primary outlet means and said open end of said riser tube means by said baffle and said screen.

Claim 8

In combination, a flow control bypass basin, an immiscible liquids separator, and a drain; said separator having an inlet, a maximum rated flow rate thereinto, and a maximum permissible internal water level therewithin; said bypass basin receiving runoff water from a surface and passing a first portion of said runoff water to the inlet of said separator, said bypass basin bypassing a second portion of said runoff water not to said separator but instead to said drain, said bypass basin comprising: (a) a tank having a bottom and an interior, said interior having a lower portion adjacent to said bottom; (b) an inlet in communication with the interior of said tank, said inlet of said bypass basin having a transverse cross-sectional area; (c) primary outlet means in communication with the interior of said tank for passing said first portion of said runoff water to the inlet of said separator, said primary outlet means having a transverse cross-sectional area substantially smaller than the transverse cross-sectional area of said inlet of said bypass basin; (d) bypass outlet means in communication with the interior of said tank for bypassing said second portion of said runoff water not to said separator but instead to said drain, said bypass outlet means having a transverse cross-sectional area such that the sum of said transverse cross-sectional area of said bypass outlet means plus the transverse cross-sectional area of said primary outlet means is at least as large as the transverse cross-sectional area of said inlet of said bypass basin, said bypass outlet means being located a first certain height substantially above said primary outlet means, thereby defining a liquid accumulation volume therebetween within said tank, said bypass outlet means further being located a second certain height above said maximum permissible internal water level within said separator, said second certain height being not greater than that which would produce a hydraulic head pressure at the inlet of said separator that would cause the flow of said first portion of said runoff water into said separator to be in excess of said maximum rated flow rate of said separator; and (e) riser tube means, interposed between said bypass outlet means and the interior of said tank, for placing said bypass outlet means in communication with the interior of said tank, said riser tube means having an open end disposed in said lower portion of said tank substantially below said primary outlet means and having an upper end closed to the interior of said tank.

Claim 9

In combination, a flow control bypass basin, an immiscible liquids separator, and a drain; said separator having an inlet, a maximum rated flow rate thereinto, and a maximum permissible internal water level therewithin; said bypass basin receiving runoff water from a surface and passing a first portion of said runoff water to the inlet of said separator, said bypass basin bypassing a second portion of said runoff water not to said separator but instead to said drain, said bypass basin comprising: (a) a tank having a bottom and an interior, said interior having a lower portion adjacent to said bottom; (b) an inlet in communication with the interior of said tank, said inlet of said bypass basin having a transverse cross-sectional area; (c) primary outlet means in communication with the interior of said tank for passing said first portion of said runoff water to the inlet of said separator, said primary outlet means having a transverse cross-sectional area substantially smaller than the transverse cross-sectional area of said inlet of said bypass basin; (d) bypass outlet means in communication with the interior of said tank for bypassing said second portion of said runoff water not to said separator but instead to said drain, said bypass outlet means having a transverse cross-sectional area such that the sum of said transverse cross-sectional area of said bypass outlet means plus the transverse cross-sectional area of said primary outlet means is at least as large as the transverse cross-sectional area of said inlet of said bypass basin, said bypass outlet means being located a first certain height substantially above said primary outlet means, thereby defining a liquid accumulation volume therebetween within said tank, said bypass outlet means further being located a second certain height above said maximum permissible internal water level within said separator, said second certain height being not greater than that which would produce a hydraulic head pressure at the inlet of said separator that would cause the flow of said first portion of said runoff water into said separator to be in excess of said maximum rated flow rate of said separator; and (e) riser tube means, interposed between said bypass outlet means and the interior of said tank, for placing said bypass outlet means in communication with the interior of said tank, said riser tube means having an open end disposed in said lower portion of said tank substantially below said primary outlet means and having an upper end closed to the interior of said tank.

Claim 10

The combination as recited in claim 7, in which said bypass basin further includes pressure equalization means for equalizing the pressure within said tank to atmospheric pressure; and further in which said bypass basin further includes venting means for preventing siphoning by said riser tube means, said venting means including a vent pipe placing said upper end of said riser tube means in communication with the atmosphere.

Claim 11

The combination as recited in claim 7, in which said inlet of said bypass basin empties into said lower portion of said interior of said tank.

Claim 12

The combination as recited in claim 9, in which said primary outlet means receives said first portion of said runoff water substantially above the bottom of said tank, and further in which said tank has a ceiling and said bypass basin further comprises a baffle extending upwardly from said bottom of said tank, said baffle having a top that is below said primary outlet means; and further in which said bypass basin further comprises a screen extending upwardly from the top of said baffle to the ceiling of said tank, said inlet of said bypass basin being segregated from said primary outlet means and said open end of said riser tube means by said baffle and said screen.

Claim 13

The combination as recited in claim 7, in which said primary outlet means receives said first portion of said runoff water substantially above the bottom of said tank, said primary outlet means having an upwardly-angled mouth and receiving said first portion of said runoff water through said upwardly-angled mouth.

Claim 14

The combination as recited in claim 7, in which said tank has a ceiling and said bypass basin further comprises a baffle extending upwardly from said bottom of said tank, said baffle having a top that is below said primary outlet means; and further in which said bypass basin further comprises a screen extending upwardly from the top of said baffle to the ceiling of said tank, said inlet of said bypass basin being segregated from said primary outlet means and said open end of said riser tube means by said baffle and said screen.

Claim 15

The combination as recited in claim 7, in which local environmental regulations, where said separator and said bypass basin are situated, define a certain volume of rainfall runoff water required to substantially clean said surface, and in which said liquid accumulation volume of said tank, plus five minutes times the maximum rated flow rate of said separator, is at least as large as said certain volume of rainfall runoff water required to substantially clean said surface.

Claim 16

In combination, a flow control bypass basin, an immiscible liquids separator, and a drain; said separator having an inlet, a maximum rated flow rate thereinto, and a maximum permissible internal water level therewithin; said bypass basin receiving runoff water from a surface and passing a first portion of said runoff water to the inlet of said separator, said bypass basin bypassing a second portion of said runoff water not to said separator but instead to said drain, said bypass basin comprising: (a) a tank having a bottom and an interior, said interior having a lower portion adjacent to said bottom; (b) an inlet in communication with the interior of said tank, said inlet of said bypass basin having a transverse cross-sectional area and emptying into said lower portion of said interior of said tank; (c) primary outlet means in communication with the interior of said tank for passing said first portion of said runoff water to the inlet of said separator, said primary outlet means having a transverse cross-sectional area substantially smaller than the transverse cross-sectional area of said inlet of said bypass basin, said primary outlet means receiving said first portion of said runoff water substantially above the Bottom of said tank and said primary outlet means having an upwardly-angled mouth and receiving said first portion of said runoff water through said upwardly-angled mouth; (d) bypass outlet means in communication with the interior of said tank for bypassing said second portion of said runoff water not to said separator but instead to said drain, said bypass outlet means having a transverse cross-sectional area such that the sum of said transverse cross-sectional area of said bypass outlet means plus the transverse cross-sectional area of said primary outlet means is at least as large as the transverse cross-sectional area of said inlet of said bypass basin, said bypass outlet means being located a first certain height substantially above said primary outlet means, thereby defining a liquid accumulation volume therebetween within said tank, said bypass outlet means further being located a second certain height above said maximum permissible internal water level within said separator, said second certain height being not greater than that which would produce a hydraulic head pressure at the inlet of said separator that would cause the flow of said first portion of said runoff water into said separator to be in excess of said maximum rated flow rate of said separator; (e) riser tube means, interposed between said bypass outlet means and the interior of said tank, for placing said bypass outlet means in communication with the interior of said tank, said riser tube means having an open end disposed in said lower portion of said tank substantially below said primary outlet means and having an upper end closed to the interior of said tank; (f) pressure equalization means for equalizing the pressure within said tank to atmospheric pressure; and (g) venting means for preventing siphoning by said riser tube means, said venting means including a vent pipe placing said upper end of said riser tube means in communication with the atmosphere.

Claim 17

In combination, a flow control bypass basin, an immiscible liquids separator, and a drain; said separator having an inlet, a maximum rated flow rate thereinto, and a maximum permissible internal water level therewithin; said bypass basin receiving runoff water from a surface and passing a first portion of said runoff water to the inlet of said separator, said bypass basin bypassing a second portion of said runoff water not to said separator but instead to said drain, said bypass basin comprising: (a) a tank having a bottom and an interior, said interior having a lower portion adjacent to said bottom; (b) an inlet in communication with the interior of said tank, said inlet of said bypass basin having a transverse cross-sectional area and emptying into said lower portion of said interior of said tank; (c) primary outlet means in communication with the interior of said tank for passing said first portion of said runoff water to the inlet of said separator, said primary outlet means having a transverse cross-sectional area substantially smaller than the transverse cross-sectional area of said inlet of said bypass basin, said primary outlet means receiving said first portion of said runoff water substantially above the Bottom of said tank and said primary outlet means having an upwardly-angled mouth and receiving said first portion of said runoff water through said upwardly-angled mouth; (d) bypass outlet means in communication with the interior of said tank for bypassing said second portion of said runoff water not to said separator but instead to said drain, said bypass outlet means having a transverse cross-sectional area such that the sum of said transverse cross-sectional area of said bypass outlet means plus the transverse cross-sectional area of said primary outlet means is at least as large as the transverse cross-sectional area of said inlet of said bypass basin, said bypass outlet means being located a first certain height substantially above said primary outlet means, thereby defining a liquid accumulation volume therebetween within said tank, said bypass outlet means further being located a second certain height above said maximum permissible internal water level within said separator, said second certain height being not greater than that which would produce a hydraulic head pressure at the inlet of said separator that would cause the flow of said first portion of said runoff water into said separator to be in excess of said maximum rated flow rate of said separator; (e) riser tube means, interposed between said bypass outlet means and the interior of said tank, for placing said bypass outlet means in communication with the interior of said tank, said riser tube means having an open end disposed in said lower portion of said tank substantially below said primary outlet means and having an upper end closed to the interior of said tank; (f) pressure equalization means for equalizing the pressure within said tank to atmospheric pressure; and (g) venting means for preventing siphoning by said riser tube means, said venting means including a vent pipe placing said upper end of said riser tube means in communication with the atmosphere.

Claim 18

The combination as recited in claim 14, in which said tank has a ceiling and said bypass basin further comprises a baffle extending upwardly from said bottom of said tank, said baffle having a top that is below said primary outlet means; and further in which said bypass basin further comprises a screen extending upwardly from the top of said baffle to the ceiling of said tank, said inlet of said bypass basin being segregated from said primary outlet means and said open end of said riser tube means by said baffle and said screen.

Claim 19

The combination as recited in claim 14, in which local environmental regulations, where said separator and said bypass basin are situated, define a certain volume of rainfall runoff water required to substantially clean said surface, and in which said liquid accumulation volume of said tank, plus five minutes times the maximum rated flow rate of said separator, is at least as large as said certain volume of rainfall runoff water required to substantially clean said surface.