Filter cartridge with check valve protection

• US 7,419,591 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Issued: 09/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Contech Engineered Solutions, LLC (THE QUIKRETE Cos. LLC)
• Original Assignee: Contech Stormwater Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Aberle, Daniel W., Lenhart, James H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Menon; Krishnan S
• Application Number:
  US11/738,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20070187307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 210/170.03
• US Class Current: 210/170.03
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2201/206 by the weight of the liquid in a tube, e.g. siphon, barometric leg
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 24/08 the filtering material being supported by at least two pervious coaxial walls
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 24/4621 by nozzles acting on the cake side of the filter material, or by fluids acting in co-current direction with the feed stream
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 35/153 Anti-leakage or anti-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/28 by sorption using ion-exchange C02F1/42; sorbent compositions B01J
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/281 using inorganic sorbents
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/286 using natural organic sorbents or derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/001 Runoff or storm water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/06 using submerged filters
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 1/00 Methods, systems, or installations for draining-off sewage or storm water
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 5/0404 with a permanent or temporary filtering device; Filtering devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 5/105 Accessories, e.g. flow regulators or cleaning devices
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 5/107 Active flow control devices, i.e. moving during flow regulation
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 5/125 providing screening of overflowing water
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 5/14 Devices for separating liquid or solid substances from sewage, e.g. sand or sludge traps, rakes or grates for use in sewage purification plants or both in sewage purification plants or in sewer systems B01D, C02F ; gullies with sediment traps E03F5/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/10 Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2829 With strainer, filter, separator or sediment trap

Abstract

A filter assembly is provided that includes a hood, a drain manifold, a filter disposed between the hood and the drain manifold, a drainage space that is disposed between and in fluid communication with both the filter medium and the drain manifold, a check valve that is configured to permit air to escape but not to enter the drainage space so that a siphon can be established that draws additional fluid through the filter medium and into the drain manifold, the siphon continuing until air entering the hood disrupts the siphon, and a check valve cap that is configured to permit air to escape the check valve while preserving an air-filled void above the check valve when the filter assembly is submerged.

Claims

1. A filter cartridge for removing pollutants from stormwater, comprising:

a housing having a water inlet and a filtered water outlet;

a filter medium disposed along a flow path between the water inlet and the filtered water outlet;

a drainage space that forms at least part of the flow path and that is disposed between a downstream side of the filter medium and the filtered water outlet;

a check valve that is configured to permit air to escape but not to enter the drainage space, such that a negative pressure can be established in the housing that draws fluid through the filter medium, the negative pressure continuing until air enters the housing to disrupt the negative pressure; and

a check valve cap that is configured to permit air to escape the check valve while preserving an air-filled void above the check valve when the filter cartridge is submerged in stormwater.

2. The filter cartridge of claim 1, where the check valve cap is further configured to preserve an air-filled void beneath a level of the check valve when the filter cartridge is submerged.

3. The filter cartridge of claim 2, where the check valve cap has a lower lip that is disposed below the level of the check valve.

4. The filter cartridge of claim 3, where the check valve cap has an interior surface that includes at least one channel configured to permit air to escape from beneath the check valve cap.

5. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a substantially vertical wall having a lower horizontal edge, and the negative pressure can continue until air enters the housing under the lower horizontal edge of the substantially vertical wall.

6. The filter cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a float valve assembly within the housing for allowing more water to flow from the drainage space to the outlet when the housing fills with water and the valve is opened.

7. The filter cartridge of claim 1, wherein the filter cartridge is installed in a containment structure that is connected to receive stormwater runoff.

8. A filter cartridge for removing pollutants from stormwater, comprising:

a housing having a water inlet and a filtered water outlet;

a filter medium disposed within the housing;

a one-way check valve that is configured to permit air to escape the housing, such that a negative pressure can be established in the housing that draws water through the filter medium; and

a check valve cap that is configured to permit air to escape the one-way check valve while preserving the one-way check valve in an air-filled void when the filter cartridge is submerged in stormwater.

9. The filter cartridge of claim 8, where the check valve cap is further configured to preserve an air-filled void beneath a level of the check valve when the filter cartridge is submerged.

10. The filter cartridge of claim 9, where the check valve cap has a lower lip that is disposed below the level of the check valve.

11. The filter cartridge of claim 10, where the check valve cap has an interior surface that includes at least one channel configured to permit air to escape from beneath the check valve cap.

12. The filter cartridge of claim 8, wherein the housing includes a substantially vertical wall having a lower horizontal edge, and the negative pressure can continue until air enters the housing under the lower horizontal edge of the substantially vertical wall.

13. The filter cartridge of claim 8, further comprising a float valve assembly within the housing for allowing more water to flow from the drainage space to the filtered water outlet when the housing fills with water and the valve is opened.