Gravitational separator and drainwater treatment system for use in a horizontal passageway

Claim 2

A gravitational separator positionable within a drainage system having an upstream pipe portion having an outlet through which drainwater enters the separator and a downstream pipe portion having an inlet through which drainwater exits the separator, the gravitational separator comprising: means for defining a collection cavity having substantially circular sidewalls, a bottom, an entrance opening through which drainwater enters the collection cavity from the upstream pipe portion, and an exit opening through which drainwater exits the collection cavity and which is connectable to the downstream pipe portion, and wherein the entrance and exit openings are disposed in an elevated and spaced condition above the bottom; the collection cavity-defining means being connectable to the upstream pipe portion at such an angle with respect thereto so that drainwater which enters the collection cavity through the entrance opening thereof is directed by the upstream pipe portion substantially tangentially along the inside surface of the sidewalls to impart a swirling motion to drainwater collected within the collection cavity of the cavity-defining means; and baffle means supported within the collection cavity of the cavity-defining means and adjacent the exit opening of the cavity-defining means for isolating the exit opening from swirling motion of the drainwater within the collection cavity of the cavity-defining means yet permit drainwater to exit the cavity-defining means through the exit opening when the level of drainwater collected within the cavity-defining means reaches the level of the exit opening.

Claim 3

The separator as defined in claim 1 wherein the exit opening has a mouth and the baffle means includes a plate which is joined to the sidewalls of the cavity-defining means at locations situated on opposing sides of the exit opening so that the plate spans the mouth of the exit opening.

Claim 4

The separator as defined in claim 2 wherein the plate of the baffle means is joined to the sidewalls so as to be in relatively close proximity to the mouth of the exit opening.

Claim 5

The separator as defined in claim 3 wherein the plate is spaced from the mouth of the exit opening by no more than about 4.0 inches.

Claim 6

The separator as defined in claim 2 wherein the plate of the baffle means is flat in shape.

Claim 7

The separator as defined in claim 2 wherein the plate of the baffle means is arcuate in shape.

Claim 8

The separator as defined in claim 1 wherein the diameter of the cavity-defining means is between about 50 and 60 inches, and each of the entrance and exit openings are spaced from the bottom of the cavity-defining means by at least about 50 inches.

Claim 9

The separator as defined in claim 1 wherein the exit opening is spaced from the bottom of the cavity-defining means by a distance which is no greater than the distance that the entrance opening is spaced from the bottom of the cavity-defining means.

Claim 10

The separator as defined in claim 1 in combination with a drainwater filtration system disposed downstream of the exit opening of the cavity-defining means so that drainwater which exits the cavity-defining means is subsequently routed through the filtration system.

Claim 11

A drainwater treatment system positionable within a drainage system having an upstream pipe portion having an outlet through which drainwater enters the system and a downstream pipe portion having an inlet through which drainwater exits the system, the treatment system comprising: a gravitational separator including a) means for defining a collection cavity having substantially circular sidewalls, a bottom, an entrance opening through which drainwater enters the collection cavity from the upstream pipe portion, and an exit opening through which drainwater exits the collection cavity and which is connectable to the downstream pipe portion, and wherein the entrance and exit openings are disposed in an elevated and spaced condition above the bottom; b) the collection cavity-defining means being connectable to the upstream pipe portion at such an angle with respect thereto so that drainwater which enters the collection cavity through the entrance opening thereof is directed by the upstream pipe portion substantially tangentially along the inside surface of the sidewalls to impart a swirling motion to drainwater collected within the collection cavity of the cavity-defining means; and c) baffle means supported within the collection cavity of the cavity-defining means and adjacent the exit opening of the cavity-defining means for isolating the exit opening from swirling motion of the drainwater within the collection cavity of the cavity-defining means yet permit drainwater to exit the cavity-defining means through the exit opening when the level of drainwater collected within the cavity-defining means reaches the level of the exit opening; and a filter disposed downstream of the exit opening of the cavity-defining means so that drainwater which exits the cavity-defining means is subsequently routed through the filter.

Claim 12

A drainwater treatment system positionable within a drainage system having an upstream pipe portion having an outlet through which drainwater enters the system and a downstream pipe portion having an inlet through which drainwater exits the system, the treatment system comprising: a gravitational separator including a) means for defining a collection cavity having substantially circular sidewalls, a bottom, an entrance opening through which drainwater enters the collection cavity from the upstream pipe portion, and an exit opening through which drainwater exits the collection cavity and which is connectable to the downstream pipe portion, and wherein the entrance and exit openings are disposed in an elevated and spaced condition above the bottom; b) the collection cavity-defining means being connectable to the upstream pipe portion at such an angle with respect thereto so that drainwater which enters the collection cavity through the entrance opening thereof is directed by the upstream pipe portion substantially tangentially along the inside surface of the sidewalls to impart a swirling motion to drainwater collected within the collection cavity of the cavity-defining means; and c) baffle means supported within the collection cavity of the cavity-defining means and adjacent the exit opening of the cavity-defining means for isolating the exit opening from swirling motion of the drainwater within the collection cavity of the cavity-defining means yet permit drainwater to exit the cavity-defining means through the exit opening when the level of drainwater collected within the cavity-defining means reaches the level of the exit opening; and a filter disposed downstream of the exit opening of the cavity-defining means so that drainwater which exits the cavity-defining means is subsequently routed through the filter.

Claim 13

The system as defined in claim 10 further comprising a downstream chamber which is situated downstream of the cavity-defining means so that drainwater which exits the cavity-defining means is subsequently routed through the downstream chamber, and the filter is supported within the downstream chamber so that drainwater which enters the downstream chamber is directed through the filter.

Claim 14

The system as defined in claim 11 wherein the downstream chamber includes a floor and an entrance opening into which the drainwater enters the downstream chamber from the cavity-defining means, the entrance opening of the downstream chamber is spaced above the floor thereof, and the filter is bodily supported above the floor of the downstream section so that drainwater which is directed through the filter is gravitationally directed downwardly therethrough toward the floor of the downstream chamber.

Claim 15

The system as defined in claim 12 wherein the downstream chamber includes an exit opening through which drainwater is permitted to exit the downstream chamber.

Claim 16

The system as defined in claim 13 wherein the exit of the downstream chamber is spaced above the floor of the downstream chamber so that drainwater is permitted to exit the downstream chamber when the level of the drainwater which is collected within the downstream chamber reaches the level of the exit opening thereof.

Claim 17

The system as defined in claim 10 wherein the filter includes a hydrophobic material.

Claim 18

A gravitational separator positionable within a drainage system having an upstream pipe portion having an outlet through which drainwater enters the separator and a downstream pipe portion having an inlet through which drainwater exits the separator, the gravitational separator comprising: means for defining a collection cavity having substantially circular sidewalls, a bottom, an entrance opening through which drainwater enters the collection cavity from the upstream pipe portion, and an exit opening through which drainwater exits the collection cavity and which is connectable to the downstream pipe portion, and wherein the entrance and exit openings are disposed in an elevated and spaced condition above the bottom; a length of conduit having two opposite ends, one end of which is joined to the collection cavity-defining means about the entrance opening thereof and the other end of which is connectable to the upstream pipe portion for receiving drainwater delivered therefrom; the length of conduit being disposed in such a relation to the circular sidewalls of the collection cavity so that drainwater which enters the collection cavity through the entrance opening thereof is directed by the length of conduit substantially tangentially along the inside surface of the sidewalls to impart a swirling motion to drainwater collected within the collection cavity of the cavity-defining means; and baffle means supported within the collection cavity of the cavity-defining means and adjacent the exit opening of the cavity-defining means for isolating the exit opening from swirling motion of the drainwater within the collection cavity of the cavity-defining means yet permit drainwater to exit the cavity-defining means through the exit opening when the level of drainwater collected within the cavity-defining means reaches the level of the exit opening.

Claim 19

A gravitational separator positionable within a drainage system having an upstream pipe portion having an outlet through which drainwater enters the separator and a downstream pipe portion having an inlet through which drainwater exits the separator, the gravitational separator comprising: means for defining a collection cavity having substantially circular sidewalls, a bottom, an entrance opening through which drainwater enters the collection cavity from the upstream pipe portion, and an exit opening through which drainwater exits the collection cavity and which is connectable to the downstream pipe portion, and wherein the entrance and exit openings are disposed in an elevated and spaced condition above the bottom; a length of conduit having two opposite ends, one end of which is joined to the collection cavity-defining means about the entrance opening thereof and the other end of which is connectable to the upstream pipe portion for receiving drainwater delivered therefrom; the length of conduit being disposed in such a relation to the circular sidewalls of the collection cavity so that drainwater which enters the collection cavity through the entrance opening thereof is directed by the length of conduit substantially tangentially along the inside surface of the sidewalls to impart a swirling motion to drainwater collected within the collection cavity of the cavity-defining means; and baffle means supported within the collection cavity of the cavity-defining means and adjacent the exit opening of the cavity-defining means for isolating the exit opening from swirling motion of the drainwater within the collection cavity of the cavity-defining means yet permit drainwater to exit the cavity-defining means through the exit opening when the level of drainwater collected within the cavity-defining means reaches the level of the exit opening.