Flow Restricting Member for Storm Drain Inlets
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Solution Overview
Problem
The public cost for processing and cleaning materials that flow through curb inlet openings of street storm drains is burdensome due to the unrestricted flow of contaminants, necessitating a solution to restrict the size of flow openings and prevent access by children and unwanted persons.
Innovation Solution
A flow restricting member with a face plate made of weathering steel, featuring radially arranged flow slots and a mounting apparatus with C-shaped brackets and securement sections, is designed to securely attach over curb inlet openings, restricting flow and access while accommodating various drain sizes and configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If curb inlet openings are left unrestricted to allow stormwater drainage, then water flow capacity is improved, but contaminant ingress and public processing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The face plate is segmented into multiple flow slots of restricted size, distributing the drainage function across numerous small openings. This segmentation allows water to pass through while blocking contaminants that are larger than the individual slots, resolving the contradiction between maintaining drainage capacity and preventing contaminant ingress.
Solution Approach 2:
The face plate functions as a porous barrier with controlled aperture sizes. The plurality of flow slots creates a porous structure that permits fluid passage (stormwater) while restricting solid particle passage (contaminants), thereby achieving both drainage functionality and contaminant exclusion.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If flow opening size is reduced to restrict contaminant flow, then contaminant ingress is minimized, but water flow capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using a single large opening that would allow contaminants, the system segments the flow path into numerous small slots. The collective area of these slots maintains adequate water flow capacity while each individual slot's restricted size prevents contaminant passage, resolving the trade-off between flow capacity and contaminant restriction.
Solution Approach 2:
The face plate provides more flow paths (numerous slots) than a single opening would, creating excess flow capacity at the individual slot level. This partial action at multiple locations collectively achieves the required total flow capacity while maintaining contaminant restriction at each location.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover is placed over curb inlet openings to prevent access by children, then safety is improved, but stormwater drainage capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The face plate acts as a porous barrier that physically blocks access by children and unwanted persons while simultaneously allowing stormwater to drain through its plurality of flow slots. The porous structure with restricted slot sizes enables this dual function of safety protection and drainage maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage function is segmented into multiple small flow slots within the protective face plate. This segmentation allows the plate to maintain structural integrity for safety purposes while providing sufficient cumulative opening area for stormwater drainage, resolving the contradiction between access prevention and drainage capability.
4Reliability
If a mounting apparatus is added to secure the face plate, then attachment reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting apparatus is merged with the face plate structure itself, where mounting brackets are integrated into the face plate design. This combination eliminates the need for separate mounting components, achieving reliable attachment while minimizing the increase in device complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The face plate serves multiple functions: it acts as the protective barrier against unauthorized access, provides the drainage surface with flow slots, and incorporates mounting brackets for secure attachment. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by eliminating the need for separate components for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for restricting flow through a curb inlet opening defined in a street storm drain by secure positioning a face plate extending thereover. Multiple flow slots are defined extending through the face plate to allow limited flow therethrough. The face plate is securable to the drain by mounting apparatus which includes one or more mounting brackets along with an engagement device attachable to the flow limiting slots and the brackets to hold the face plate in position extending over the curb inlet opening. Mounting brackets can have teeth for engaging storm drain for enhanced securement therewith. The flow restricting slots are preferably radially arranged with respect to one another and can include lateral slots further engageable with the mounting bracket to prevent rotation thereof during tightening thereof. Conical washers can extend over the head of mounting bolts for protection thereof.