Abstract:
A system designed to control and filter runoff water in storm drains is presented. Drain water frequently carries trash, organic matter, suspended solids, hydrocarbons, metals, nutrients and bacteria collected from streets and parking lots into a storm drain inlet, which enters storm water drain pipe systems. 
     The present invention supplies a series of baffle boxes inserted in the drain water stream with a final box possessing an upflow filter comprising filtration media and filter cartridges. The system can also support a storm flow bypass that directs high-flow storm runoff water directly to the outlet to protect the filter system.

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/902,614, filed Nov. 11, 2014, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the fields of water filtration systems and storm water control systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is designed to control and filter runoff water in storm drains. Drain water frequently carries trash, organic matter, suspended solids, hydrocarbons, metals, nutrients and bacteria collected from paved surfaces and other areas into a storm drain inlet, then sent into a storm water drain pipe system. Drain water often carries oil collected from the streets. 
     Various water bodies including ponds, rivers, and oceans can tolerate a certain amount of pollutant loading, but the amount allowed to flow into these collection areas should be minimized. The present invention is an in-line storm water drain filter system having a series of separation chambers for removing larger material followed by an upflow filter for smaller and dissolved material. The filter box is installed within a storm water drain pipe; this pipe directs drain water through the separation chambers and upflow filter to the storm water drain passing through an outfall into a lake, pond or retention area. There is an upflow filter between the separation chambers and the outflow to address collection of fine particulates and organics. A hydrocarbon collecting boom in a cage is placed at the last separation baffle on the influent side to absorb hydrocarbons. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inline partitioned separator and upflow filter system is installed inline with the drain water flow path, and can be buried underground with access ports. The filter system includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a plurality of separation chambers formed therein. The separation chambers collect various densities of sediment for later cleaning. A housing cover allows access into the housing and a plurality of separation chambers and media cages. 
     An oil collection boom is removably mounted on one or more of the baffles near the outlet for collecting hydrocarbons in the drain water entering the system. 
     The separation chambers closest to the outflow are each equipped with an upflow filter. The upflow filter has two main components: the filter housing and the filtration media. The filter housing is constructed of a cage that holds the media. It has top doors that open to allow the media to be changed out. 
     The media is a filter that removes fine TSS, nutrients, metals, bacteria, and emulsified hydrocarbons from the drain water as it flows upward through the last separation chamber. 
     One of the unique features of this system is that fall between the inflow and outflow pipes is not necessary as with downward flow systems. The internal weir, located on the side of the upflow filter opposite of the outflow pipe allows water pressure to build behind it which drives water through the upflow filter. 
     A standard 2 chambered separator works well enough to provide the necessary drain water pretreatment to prevent larger particles and solid pollutants from prematurely clogging the upflow filter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1 . Cut-out, side view of an embodiment of the invention in low flow configuration. 
         FIG. 2A . Side view of an embodiment of a filter cartridge of the invention. 
         FIG. 2B . Top view of an embodiment of a bottom panel of a media filtration unit of the invention. 
         FIG. 3 . Cut-out, side view an embodiment of the invention in high flow configuration. 
         FIG. 4 . Cut-out, side view of an embodiment of the invention in low flow configuration. 
         FIG. 5 . Cut-out, side view of an embodiment of the invention in low flow configuration. 
         FIG. 6 . Cut-out, side view of an embodiment of the invention in high flow configuration. 
         FIG. 7A . Cut-out, side view of an embodiment of the invention in low flow configuration. 
         FIG. 7B . Cut-out, side view of an embodiment of the invention in after flow configuration. 
         FIG. 7C . Side view of an embodiment of a filter drain cartridge of the invention. 
         FIG. 8 . Cut-out, outflow-end view of an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9 . Offset, elevation view of an embodiment of a partitioned separator water treatment system with an upflow filter assembly and a hydrocarbon filtration unit. 
         FIG. 10 . Offset, iso view of an embodiment of an upflow filter assembly. 
         FIG. 11 . Offset view of an embodiment of a filter cartridge-filtration medium assembly coupler. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a cut-out, side view of an embodiment of a partitioned separator water treatment system with an upflow filter assembly is shown. The system comprises rectangular box  200  having inflow end  204  that comprises inflow opening  300  in inflow end wall  207  and outflow end  203  that comprises outflow opening  350  in outflow end wall  208 . Inflow opening  300  is configured to receive water from stormwater conveyance system infrastructure, such as pipes or channels. Box  200  comprises primary separation chamber  400  and secondary separation chamber  460 , established by separation chamber weir  420 . Separation chamber weir  420  is in sealed connection with floor  202  and lateral walls (not shown) of box  200 , but not the ceiling  206  of box  200 . The top  421  of primary separation chamber  400  or the top of weir  420  is positioned below the bottom of intake opening  300 . This configuration results in water entering inflow opening  300 , filling primary separation chamber  400 , and flowing over the top  421  of primary separation chamber  400  or the top of weir  420  into secondary separation chamber  460 . In the process, sufficiently dense and heavy waterborne sediment and debris is deposited in primary separation chamber  400  for later removal. Box  200  possesses openings in its ceiling  206  and removable covers  120 . 
     The system further possesses a bypass weir and an upflow filter assembly. The upflow filter assembly comprises a media filtration unit  610 , designed to hold granular media  800  and process water by passing through the media  800  in an upward path. and filter cartridges  700  designed by forming a pleated paper filter membrane  702  around the orifice  705 , which is a hollow center located in the center of the filter cartridge  700  and provides an exit point out of the filter cartridge  700 . The filter cartridge  700  processes water by passing through the pleated paper filter membrane  702  horizontally from all sides. Media filtration unit  610  is in sealed connection with outflow end wall  208 , lateral walls (not shown) of box  200 , and bypass weir  500 . Bypass weir  500  is in sealed connection with lateral walls (not shown) of box  200 , but not the floor  202  or the ceiling  206  of box  200 . Media filtration unit  610  is configured to support filter cartridges  700  in a manner that permits water to flow from secondary separation chamber  460  into outflow chamber  470  only by passing through filter cartridges  700  and then media filtration unit  610  via the connection between the filter cartridge orifice  705 , coupler  708 , and the inline orifices  614  located on the bottom panel  612  of the media filtration unit  610 . 
     Filter cartridges  700  each comprise a sheet of filter material, such as porous plastic, paper, or fiberglass, folded back into a series of pleats  702  formed into a hollow cylinder, the ends of the cylinder closed by bottom end  703  that is water impermeable and top end  704  that is only permeable to water through an orifice opening  705  ( FIGS 1 and 2A ). Bottom end  703  and top end  704  are made from strong, durable material such as metal, plastic, or fiberglass. Filter cartridges  700  are operative to remove, from water flowing therethrough, waterborne particulate matter such as large and fine sediments and debris. Media filtration unit  610  comprises top panel  611  made of strong, durable material(s) such as metal or plastic in a water permeable configuration capable of inhibiting the passage of filtration media  800  therethrough, such as grate or screen configurations ( FIG. 10 ). Referring again to  FIG. 1 , top panel  611  is sealingly fitted to solid side walls  613  (the central region of which is not illustrated to show filtration media  800 ) of media filtration unit  610 . Media filtration unit  610  comprises bottom panel  612  made of strong, durable materials such as metal or plastic. Bottom panel  612  comprises a water impermeable configuration other than inline orifices  614  (shown from a top view perspective in  FIG. 2B ) allowing for each of the filter cartridges  700 . Media filtration unit  610  is loaded with inorganic filtration media  800  such as zeolite, expanded aggregates, lava rock, oxide-coated inert material, alumina, activated carbon, perlite, stonewool, rockwool, and pumice. Media filtration unit  610  is operative to remove, from water flowing therethrough, waterborne particulate matter such as fine sediments and particulates and dissolved pollutants. 
     In the process of performing its filtration functions, the upflow filter assembly impedes the flow of water from secondary separation chamber  460  into outflow chamber  470 . This impedance makes possible conditions in which water enters inflow opening  300  at a rate greater than it flows from secondary separation chamber  460  into outflow chamber  470 . Under such conditions, the water level  900  can rise in the portion of box  200  frontward of bypass weir  500  to the point where water flows over the top  501  of bypass weir  500 , into outflow chamber  470 , and out outflow opening  350 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a cut-out, side view of an embodiment of a partitioned separator water treatment system with an upflow filter assembly that differs from the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  by comprising a second separation chamber weir  420  and a second primary separation chamber  400 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a cut-out, side view of an embodiment of a partitioned separator water treatment system with an upflow filter assembly that differs from the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  by comprising a hydrocarbon filtration unit  550  mounted on bypass weir  500 . 
       FIG 6  shows a cut-out, side view of an embodiment of a partitioned separator water treatment system with an upflow filter assembly that differs from the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  by comprising a bypass filtration basket  570  suspended in proximity with bypass weir  500  by posts  571  extending from ceiling  206  of box  200 . 
       FIG. 7A  shows a cut-out, side view of an embodiment of a partitioned separator water treatment system with an upflow filter assembly that differs from the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  by having a filter drain cartridge  975 , a smaller size version of the filter cartridge  700 , mounted on bottom panel  612  between outflow opening  350  and the lateral side wall  613  that faces the outflow endwall  208  of the box  200  and by having bottom panel  612  positioned higher in box  200 , even with the bottom of outflow opening  350 . This configuration results in water draining from media filtration unit  610  when water is not entering inflow opening  300 , as shown in  FIG. 11B , by flowing through filter drain cartridge  975 , and outflow opening  350 . Filter drain cartridge  975  comprises a sheet of filter material, such as porous plastic, paper, or fiberglass, folded back and forth to form a series of pleats  977  formed into a closed cylinder, the ends of which are sealed closed by solid bottom end  978  and top end  979  that is solid other than orifice opening  976  ( FIGS 7A, 7B, and 7C ). The filter drain cartridge  975  is smaller than filter cartridges  700  and therefor has a lower filter rate capacity, which is a preferred configuration because it reduces the amount of water that does not flow through filtration media  800  prior to flowing through outflow opening  350  during periods of low or high flow. A filter drain cartridge  975  can, however, be of comparable or even greater size and or filtering capacity as compared to a filter cartridge  700 . Once flow into box  300  recedes the water level in the media filtration unit  610  will drop as water continues to pass through filter drain cartridge  975  until the water level in chamber  600  is equal with the bottom of outflow opening  350 . This allows the filtration media  800  to dry out between periods of operation. 
       FIG. 8  shows a cut-out, outflow-end view of an embodiment of a partitioned separator water treatment system with an upflow filter assembly in which a section of top panel  611  of media filtration unit  610  is configured as an openable hatch that provides access to the center of media filtration unit  610  for purposes of loading and removing filtration media  800  and filter cartridges  700 . 
       FIG. 9  shows an offset, elevation view of an embodiment of a partitioned separator water treatment system according to the invention with an upflow filter assembly and a hydrocarbon filtration unit. 
       FIG. 10  shows an offset, elevation view of an embodiment of an upflow filter assembly according to the invention. 
       FIG. 11  shows a coupler  708  that connects the filter cartridge  700  and its orifice openings  705  to inline orifices  614  contained within the bottom filtration panel  612  (also see  FIG. 2B ). Coupler  708  seats into the orifice  705  of the filter cartridge  700  and the inline orifices  614  to form a water tight seal. Water is passed from the filter cartridge to an area above the bottom panel  612  by the coupler opening  709 . 
     In some embodiments, filter cartridges  700  comprise rigid housings made of strong, durable material such as metal, plastic, or fiberglass loaded with filtration material such as fiberglass, glass wool, and steel wool or filtration media and possessing screened or grated openings that permit water to pass through the filter cartridges and retain the filtration media within the filter cartridge housing. In some embodiments, filter cartridges are permanently attached to the bottom panel of a filtration media unit. In such embodiments, filter cartridges can be equipped with lids or hatches that provide access to the filtration media for removal or cleaning. In some embodiments, filter cartridges are reversibly mountable onto the bottom panel of a media filtration unit by, for instance, friction fittings, threaded fittings, bolts, screws, nails, clamps, and the like. 
     The content of U.S. Pat. No. 8,496,814 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     The apparatus and methods described are the preferred and alternate embodiments of this invention, but other methods are possible and are within the contemplation of this patent.