# US 5,347,877 A · Storm water runoff first flush sampler

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- Number: US 5,347,877 A
- Document ID: US5347877A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/125,008
- Filed: 1993-09-21
- Granted: 1994-09-20
- Earliest claimed: 1992-07-23
- Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
- Inventors: Laurence E. Gadbois
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5347877A

## CPC

- G01W 1/14: Rainfall or precipitation gauges (measuring volume in general G01F)
- G01N 1/20: for flowing or falling materials ({G01N1/2035} G01N1/12, G01N1/14 take precedence)
- G01N 2001/1043: {from sewers}
- G01W: METEOROLOGY (radar, sonar, lidar or analogous systems, designed for meteorological use G01S13/95, G01S15/88, G01S17/95)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

A storm water runoff first flush sampler is provided which includes at le one container which has a top and a bottom. A water collection device is also provided which has an inlet end for collecting water and an outlet end for discharging the collected water. The inlet end of the water collection device is located above the top of the container, and the outlet end of the water collection device opens into the container for filling the container with water. A device is also provided for venting air from the container as it is filled with water and discharging the vented air at a level above the top of the water collection device. This arrangement enables automatic termination of gravity flow to the container when water reaches the level of the water collection device. Also, the water collection device is provided with an aperture that releases the kinetic pressure resulting from water falling onto the inlet end of the water collection device, thereby preventing alteration of the composition of the original sample by additionally collected water. Further, the liquid collection device has a P trap which will prevent sediment from additional runoff water from entering the container after the container is full.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A liquid sampler having an interior and an exterior, an upstream end near a source of fluid discharge, and a downstream end comprising:
a closed container generally positioned at the downstream end, having a top and a bottom;
liquid collection means generally positioned at the upstream end, having an inlet end for collecting liquid and an outlet end for discharging the liquid, the inlet end having an inlet opening, the outlet end having an outlet opening, the inlet opening being larger than the outlet opening;
a fluid conduit having an open inlet end for receiving the liquid from the collection means and an open outlet end for discharging the liquid into the container, said fluid conduit having a conduit sidewall, said sidewall having means for releasing kinetic pressure due to falling liquid impinging on the collection means after the container is full of the liquid, and for providing a discharge directly to the exterior of the sampler of liquid impinging on the collection means after the container is full of the liquid, said means for releasing and providing a discharge comprising an aperture located downstream of the collection means outlet opening; and
means for venting air from the container as it is filled with liquid and discharging the vented air at a level above the top of the liquid collection means;
whereby the container takes on no more liquid after the venting means is filled with liquid to the level of the inlet of the liquid collection means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A liquid sampler as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
the fluid conduit includes a P trap between the aperture and the outlet end for trapping and preventing additional sediment from entering the container after the container is full;
whereby sediment content of the original sample filling the container is prevented from being altered by the presence of subsequent liquid at the inlet end of the liquid collection means.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A liquid sampler as claimed in claim 1 wherein the liquid collection means comprises a funnel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A liquid sampler as claimed in claim 3 wherein:
the venting means comprises a tube which has an air intake end connected to the container and an air discharge end which is located above the funnel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A liquid sampler as claimed in claim 4 including:
means for mounting the liquid sampler to a fixed structure with the funnel located above the top of the container.

### Claim 6

A first flush liquid sampler having an interior and an exterior and having an upstream end near a source of liquid discharge and a downstream end comprising:
a plurality of containers generally positioned at the downstream end, each container having a top and a bottom;
a funnel generally positioned at the upstream end having a large open top intake end for collecting liquid and a small open bottom discharge end for discharging the liquid;
a fluid conduit having an open inlet end for receiving the liquid from the funnel and an open outlet end for discharging the liquid into the containers, said fluid conduit having a conduit sidewall, said sidewall having means for releasing kinetic pressure due to falling fluid impinging on the funnel after the containers are full of the liquid and for providing a discharge directly to the exterior of the sampler of liquid impinging on the funnel after the containers are full of the liquid, said means for releasing and providing a discharge comprising an aperture located downstream of the small open bottom discharge end of the funnel; and
a set of discharge tubes, one end of each discharge tube being connected to one of the plurality of containers for venting air therefrom when the respective container fills with liquid and the other end of each tube extending above the large top intake end of the funnel for discharging the vented air.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A liquid sampler as claimed in claim 6, wherein:
the fluid conduit includes at least one P trap located between the funnel and the respective container for trapping and preventing additional sediment from entering the container after the container is full of liquid;
whereby sediment content of the original sample filling the container is prevented from being altered by the presence of subsequent liquid at the top intake end of the funnel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A liquid sampler as claimed in claim 7 wherein:
the plurality of containers comprises two containers;
the fluid conduit includes a T coupling coupled to the funnel; and wherein the fluid conduit further comprises:
first and second tubes each having one end thereof connected to a respective end of the T coupling.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A liquid sampler as claimed in claim 8 including:
a screen over the large top intake end of the funnel;
a cord extending over the top of the screen and around the bottom of the T coupling for retaining the screen to the top of the funnel and the funnel to the T coupling and yet enabling a quick release of the elements.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A liquid sampler as claimed in claim 9 wherein:
the fluid conduit and the set of discharge tubes are connected to the containers through the tops of the containers.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A liquid sampler as claimed in claim 10 including:
means for mounting the sampler to a fixed structure with the large top end of the funnel being located above the top of the container and with the other end of the tubes being located above the top end of the funnel.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A liquid sampler as claimed in claim 11 wherein the mounting means includes:
a saddle for each container which has support cords for attachment to the fixed structure.

### Claim 13

A method of sampling the sediment content of first runoff liquid comprising the steps of:
positioning a container below a liquid runoff area;
transmitting runoff liquid in a substantially closed fashion from a liquid collection location above the container to the container;
venting air from the container to a location above the liquid collection location;
trapping and preventing additional sediment from entering the container after the container is full of said first runoff liquid; and
releasing kinetic pressure from a location between the liquid collection location and the container when liquid runoff continues after the container is full;
whereby additional liquid due to runoff subsequent to the first runoff is prevented from entering the container.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A method as claimed in claim 13 including:
trapping sediment between the kinetic pressure releasing location and the container when liquid runoff with sediment continues after the container is full so that this additional sediment will not enter the container to alter the original sample contained therein.