The present invention generally relates to a treatment system for drainage systems. In particular the invention provides a means whereby debris entering a drain is collected for easy removal therefrom.

Background Art

A common problem associated with drainage systems is the tendency for debris to collect in the drainage system, resulting In blockages. Once the drain becomes blocked the area around the drain floods. This can be extremely hazardous, particularly where traffic is involved.

Debris passing though drainage systems can also be problematic in water treatment facilities, and may also leak from the drainage system and prove hazardous to the environment. It is therefore advantageous to prevent the debris entering the drainage system. Several systems have been devised to filter debris from the liquid as it passes through the grate or opening of the drain. At some point the collected debris needs to be removed from the system. In the prior art, this usually entails the use of a vacuum to suck the collected debris from the system. These systems incorporate filter plates/screens which slide into a housing. These plates/screens also require cleaning. In order to do this they must first be removed and a high pressure hose used to clean the filter. These systems are complicated in their construction and do not allow for the easy removal of debris collected therein.

The preceding discussion of the background to the invention is intended only to facilitate an understanding of the present Invention. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgment or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application. It Is an object of this invention to provide a treatment system for drainage systems which remove at least part of the debris from the liquid flowing into a drainage system in a manner which will allow easy removal of the debris from the treatment system. Summary of the Invention

Throughout the specification the term 'debris' is taken to mean any item entrained in a liquid. Typically this would mean leaves, branches, rubbish and sand but in some applications can also include chemical pollutants.

The present invention provides a treatment system for minimising debris entering a drainage system, the treatment system comprises: a support housing which is supportingly received in the drainage system downstream of an opening of the drainage system, the support housing comprising a first drainage means for allowing liquid to flow therethrough; an first insert for collecting debris, the first insert comprising a second drainage means for allowing liquid to flow therethrough whilst preventing the flow through of debris, the first Insert being removably supported within the housing such that when in place the first drainage means and second drainage means align, allowing liquid to pass through the treatment system; wherein the debris collected in the treatment system is removed therefrom by removing the first insert from the support housing.

In contrast to the prior art, the treatment system of the current invention enables collection of the debris from the liquid passing into the drainage system but also allows the debris to be removed from the treatment system without the need of a vacuum or other machinery. In the case of the present Invention, the treatment system can quickly be cleaned by removing the first insert and then placing a new one In its place. Alternatively, the debris in the first insert can be discharged into a bin and then the first insert may be placed back into the support housing.

The support housing may comprise a first housing for receiving the first insert, and a securing means to removably support the treatment system relative to the drainage system.

The first housing may be tapered inwardly such that an opening of the first housing is larger than the bottom thereof.

The first housing may support one or more fixings to which the first insert may be fixed. The fixings may be in the form of brackets located on the inner surface of the first housing.

Preferably the entire first housing provides the first drainage means. in one aspect of the invention the first drainage means is in the form of a mesh material. The first housing may be formed from the mesh material.

In another aspect of the invention the first drainage means is formed of perforated sheet metal. The first housing may be formed from the perforated sheet metal.

The support housing may be received within the opening of the drainage system.

In one aspect of the invention the securing means comprises two or more arms extending upwardly from the first housing. The distal end of each arm may have an outwardly extending projection adapted to engage a surface of the drainage system. The surface may be the surface upon which the grate is supported when the grate is in place over the drain opening.

In another aspect of the invention the securing means is provided by the top portion of the first housing. The top portion may extend outwardly such that it is adapted to engage the surface upon which the grate is supported when the grate is in place.

The support housing may also comprise a second housing. The second housing may be located below the first housing such that in use it is downstream therefrom. The second housing may have a third drainage means. Preferably the entire second housing provides the third drainage means.

In one aspect of the invention the third drainage means is in the form of a mesh material. The second housing may be formed from the mesh material.

In another aspect of the invention the third drainage means is in the form of perforated sheet metal. The second housing may be formed from the perforated sheet metal.

Preferably the entire first insert provides the second drainage means. The first insert may be formed from a porous woven material, the material being selected according to the minimum sized particle which is to be separated from the liquid. The first insert may be snugly received within the first housing. The first insert may be tapered. By having the first housing and first insert tapered, the first insert may easily be removed from, and inserted into the first housing.

The first insert may be slightly shorter than the first housing. This will allow liquid flowing into the drain to bypass the first insert in the event that the first insert is full of debris.

The first insert may have one or more handles to allow easy removal of the first insert from the first housing, Each handle may be located on the bracket of the first housing. This will ensure the walls of the first insert remain adjacent to the wall of the first housing, preventing the first Insert from collapsing and therefore not effectively collecting debris as it passes into the drainage system. The treatment system may also comprise a second insert which may be received in the second housing. When in place the second insert may be located below the first housing. The second insert may be in the form of a filter for filtering chemicals, oils and/or other similar contaminants from the fluid passing into the drainage system.

The present invention provides a treatment system for minimising debris entering a drainage system, the treatment system comprises: a support housing which is supportingly received in the drainage system, the support housing comprising a first drainage means for allowing liquid to flpw therethrough; a first insert, removably supported within the support housing, for collecting debris, the first insert comprising a second drainage means for allowing liquid to flow therethrough whilst preventing the flow through of debris. Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of several specific embodiments thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the treatment system according to a first embodiment

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a support housing of the treatment system shown in figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the support housing shown in figure 2; Figure 4 is a front view of the support housing shown in figure 2; Figure δ is a plan view of the support housing shown In figure 2;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a first insert according to the first embodiment;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a treatment system of figure 1 located in a drainage system;

Figure 8 shows the support housing located in a drainage system with the first insert full of debris and removed from the first housing;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the treatment system according to a second embodiment; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a support housing of the treatment system shown in figure 9;

Figure 11 is a side view of the support housing shown in figure 10;

Figure 12 is a front view of the support housing shown in figure 10; and

Figure 13 is a plan view of the support housing shown in figure 10, In the drawings like structures are referred to by like numerals throughout the several views. The drawings shown are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the present invention.

Best Mode(e) for Carrying out the Invention Referring to figures 1 to 8, the invention according to a first embodiment is in the form of a treatment system 11 for removing debris from a liquid as it passes into a drainage system. The treatment system is generally designed to be located within the opening of a drainage system adjacent, but downstream of the grate. However, it is to be understood that the treatment system may be located anywhere within the drainage system.

The treatment system 11 of this embodiment is formed to remove both hard debris (e.g. sand, leaves, rubbish) from the liquid flowing into the drainage system, as well as chemical contaminants. Other embodiments as covered by the scope of this specification also Include those treatment systems which may be used to remove only one of these forms of debris.

The treatment system 11 comprises a support housing 13. As best show in figures 2 to 5 the support housing 13 comprises a first housing 15, a second housing 17 and securing means in the form of four elongate arms 19. The first housing 15 is formed from perforated sheet metal and provides a first drainage means 21. The first housing 15 is in the shape of a basket having tapered sides. Inner surfaces of the first housing support fixings in the form of brackets 23.

The first housing 15 is adapted to receive a first insert 25. The first insert 25 is formed from a woven, porous material to provide a second drainage means 27. The woven, porous material allows liquid to readily pass therethorough whilst blocking debris and therefore removing the debris from the liquid. The first Insert 25 Is snugly received in the first housing 15, and is in the same tapered, basket shape. This allows the debris to collect in the first insert whilst the liquid can pass into the drainage system minus the debris, and enables the first insert 25 to be easily removed from the first housing 15.

The first insert 25 also incorporates a set of handles 29 to assist in removing the first insert 25 from the first housing 15. As best shown In figure 7, the handles 29 are adapted to be positioned over the brackets 23, ensuring the first insert 25 does not collapse as debris collects therein.

The second housing 17 is located in spaced relation from the first housing 15 such that in use It Is located downstream from the first housing 15. The second housing 17 is also formed from perforated sheet metal and provides a third drainage means 31. The second housing 17 is adapted to receive a second insert 33 which is designed to remove contaminants such as oils and other chemicals from the liquid flowing therethrough.

The arms 19 removably support the treatment system 11 in position. The arms 19 are attached to the side of the first and second housings. At a distal end 35, each arm has an outwardly extending projection 37. When the treatment system 11 is in the drainage system, each projection 37 is adapted to be located on a surface upon which the drainage system's grate 41 rests, as best shown in figure 7. With this arrangement the treatment system 11 is suspended from the drain opening. As it utilises existing structures the treatment system 11 can be readily fitted to an opening without first requiring modification.

In use, liquid flowing through the grate 41 passes into and through the first insert 25, leaving behind hard debris such as leaves and sand, etc. The size of the debris removed from the liquid is governed by the material chosen to form the first insert 25. After the liquid passes through the first insert 25 and first housing 15, it flows through the second insert 33, which filters contaminants from the liquid, before passing through the second housing 17 and into the drainage system, relatively free of debris. At regular intervals, or after major downpours, the treatment system 11 may be checked by an operator and the first insert 25 removed from the first housing 15 to empty the debris from the first insert 25. The first insert 25 may be emptied on the spot into a bin, or a replacement insert may be placed in the first housing and the full insert may be cleaned at a later time.

The second insert 33 will not need replacing for several years. When it is time to replace the second insert 33 the treatment system 11 is removed from the drainage system and overall maintenance can be carried out before the system is placed back into position..

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in figures 9 to 13. This embodiment is identical to that of the first embodiment with the exception of its shape. The treatment system 111 of this embodiment is particularly adapted to those drainage systems having a round opening.

The advantages of the present invention include:

- easily installed and removed, whilst having no visual impact; - easy to remove collected debris;

- degree of filtering can be varied by using different materials for the inserts;

- can provide clean water supply for use in other areas and can enable water harvesting.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to the skilled addressee are considered to fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, the first insert may be formed from two or more layers whereby one layer may remove hard debris whilst the other layer removes chemical contaminants.

Reference to positional descriptions, such as lower and upper, are to be taken in context of the embodiments depicted in the figures, and are not to be taken as limiting the invention to the literal interpretation of the term but rather as would be understood by the skilled addressee.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.