Floating weir assembly and fluid flow management system comprising same

A weir assembly for maintaining a selected discharge rate of fluid from a fluid reservoir having a fluid surface into a discharge conduit, the weir assembly comprising:

• a body buoyantly supportable on the fluid surface;
• a weir positioned in the body to receive fluid at a selected discharge rate from the reservoir when the body is supported on the fluid surface in the reservoir;
• a weir gauge supported in the body and adapted to display the discharge rate of the weir;
• an outlet in the body positioned to direct fluid from the weir to the discharge conduit;
• and
• wherein the body comprises a baffle positioned to prevent surface matter from entering the weir when the body is supported on the fluid surface in the reservoir.

A fluid flow management system, comprising:

• a reservoir of fluid having a fluid surface;
• a reservoir inlet for directing fluid into the reservoir;
• a reservoir outlet for directing fluid out of the reservoir;
• a discharge conduit for directing fluid to the reservoir outlet;
• and
• a weir assembly for maintaining a selected discharge rate from the reservoir through the discharge conduit, wherein the weir assembly comprises:
• a body buoyantly supportable on the fluid surface;
• a weir positioned in the body so that the discharge rate of the weir varies with the depth to which the body is submerged in the fluid;
• a weir gauge supported in the body and adapted to display the discharge rate of the weir;
• an outlet in the body connected to the discharge conduit;
• and
• adjustable ballast in the body adapted to maintain the body partially submerged to a selected depth in the fluid according to the weir gauge.

A fluid flow management system, comprising:

• a reservoir of fluid having a fluid surface;
• a reservoir inlet for directing fluid into the reservoir;
• a reservoir outlet for directing fluid out of the reservoir;
• a discharge conduit for directing fluid to the reservoir outlet;
• and
• a weir assembly for maintaining a selected discharge rate from the reservoir through the discharge conduit, wherein the weir assembly, comprises:
• a body buoyantly supportable on the fluid surface;
• a weir positioned in the body so that the discharge rate of the weir varies with the depth to which the body is submerged in the fluid;
• a weir gauge supported in the body and adapted to display the discharge rate of the weir;
• an outlet in the body positioned to direct fluid from the weir to the discharge conduit;
• and
• wherein the body comprises a baffle positioned to prevent surface matter from entering the weir.

A weir assembly for maintaining a selected discharge rate of fluid from a fluid reservoir having a fluid surface into a discharge conduit, the weir assembly comprising:

• a body buoyantly supportable on the fluid surface;
• a weir positioned in the body so that the discharge rate of the weir varies with the depth of the body in the fluid when the weir assembly is operating in the fluid reservoir;
• an outlet in the body positioned to direct fluid from the weir to the discharge conduit;
• adjustable ballast in the body adapted to maintain the body at a selected depth in the fluid;
• wherein the body comprises a sidewall surrounding an intake chamber with an open bottom so that the sidewall baffles the fluid entering the intake chamber to prevent surface matter on the fluid surface from entering the intake chamber, wherein the sidewall of the body comprises an inner wall, an outer wall spaced a distance from the inner wall, and a bottom to form a ballast chamber and a collection chamber;
• wherein the collection chamber is arranged to direct fluid from the weir to the outlet;
• wherein the adjustable ballast comprises ballast material;
• and
• wherein the ballast chamber is sized and positioned to contain variable amounts of ballast material whereby the depth of the body in the surface of the fluid can be varied by varying the amount and position of the ballast material in the ballast chamber and whereby the body can be leveled.

A fluid flow management system, comprising:

• a reservoir of fluid having a fluid surface;
• a reservoir inlet for directing fluid into the reservoir;
• a reservoir outlet for directing fluid out of the reservoir;
• a discharge conduit for directing fluid to the reservoir outlet;
• and
• a weir assembly for maintaining a selected discharge rate from the reservoir through the discharge conduit, wherein the weir assembly comprises:
• a body buoyantly supportable on the fluid surface;
• a weir positioned in the body so that the intake rate of the weir varies with the depth to which the body is submerged in the fluid;
• an outlet in the body connected to the discharge conduit;
• adjustable ballast in the body adapted to maintain the body partially submerged to a selected depth in the fluid;
• wherein the body of the weir assembly comprises a sidewall surrounding an intake chamber having an open bottom, wherein the sidewall of the body comprises an inner wall, an outer wall spaced a distance from the inner wall, and a bottom to form a ballast chamber and a collection chamber;
• wherein the collection chamber is arranged to direct fluid from the weir to the weir outlet;
• and
• wherein the adjustable ballast comprises ballast material, and wherein the ballast chamber is sized and positioned to contain variable amounts of ballast material whereby the depth to which the body is submerged in the surface of the fluid can be varied and the body can be leveled by varying the amount of the ballast material in the ballast chamber.

A fluid flow management system, comprising:

• a reservoir of fluid having a fluid surface;
• a reservoir inlet for directing fluid into the reservoir;
• a reservoir outlet for directing fluid out of the reservoir;
• a discharge conduit for directing fluid to the reservoir outlet;
• and
• a weir assembly for maintaining a selected discharge rate from the reservoir through the discharge conduit, wherein the weir assembly comprises:
• a body buoyantly supportable on the fluid surface;
• a weir positioned in the body so that the discharge rate of the weir varies with the depth to which the body is submerged in the fluid;
• an outlet in the body connected to the discharge conduit;
• adjustable ballast in the body adapted to maintain the body partially submerged to a selected depth in the fluid;
• wherein the adjustable ballast comprises ballast material;
• and
• wherein the body comprises a sidewall defining a ballast chamber sized and positioned to contain variable amounts of ballast material whereby the depth to which the body is submerged in the surface of the fluid in the reservoir can be varied and the body can be leveled by varying the amount of the ballast material in the ballast chamber.

A weir assembly for maintaining a selected discharge rate of fluid from a fluid reservoir having a fluid surface into a discharge conduit, the weir assembly comprising:

• a body buoyantly supportable on the fluid surface;
• a weir positioned in the body, the weir being adjustable relative to the level of the fluid surface whereby the discharge rate of the weir assembly is controlled by positioning the weir;
• an outlet in the body positioned to direct fluid from the weir to the discharge conduit;
• and
• wherein the body comprises a solid sidewall defining an intake chamber with an intake opening, wherein the sidewall is configured so that the intake opening is a distance below the fluid surface when the weir assembly is supported on the fluid surface, so that the fluid from the reservoir enters the weir only through the intake opening, and so that the sidewall baffles the fluid entering the intake chamber to prevent surface matter on the fluid surface from entering the intake chamber.