Apparatus for trapping, signalling presence of and collecting debris in waterways

DETAILED DESCRIPTION It has been one object of the invention to provide underground, in-line apparatus for trapping and collecting debris in a sewer or storm flow conduit.
It has been a further object of this invention to provide a secondary trap which provides continued protection when primary collection traps are full.
It has been still a further object of this invention to provide a system which signals when primary bags are full and servicing is required.
It has been another object of this invention to provide a trapping facility in which bags may be replaced without loss of trapping protection during servicing.
To these ends, the present invention includes a substantially subterranean vault having a chamber with an inlet and an outlet each being adapted to be connected to a sewer or storm drain conduit.
An in-line trap is disposed within the chamber between the inlet and the outlet for trapping and collecting debris entering at the inlet and thereby providing for an out-flow of substantially debris-free water.
The vault includes an access opening comprising upper doors in the vault sized to allow the trap to be removed and replaced.
The doors are designed to be substantially flush with the surrounding terrain.
The trap specifically comprises a perforated container having an open end facing the inlet of the chamber.
Preferably, the perforated container is a flexible mesh bag attached to a frame structure having supports or handle means for allowing the frame, or at least a portion thereof connected to the bag, to be lifted out with the bag when the bag is full of captured debris.
A bypass weir is disposed adjacent the open end of the container and adjacent the inlet to the chamber.
Specifically, the bypass weir comprises a relatively short wall extending between an end wall of the chamber which includes the chamber inlet and the open end of the bag.
The wall of the bypass weir normally directs flow from the chamber inlet through the open end of the trap but allows flow to bypass the trap and flow to the chamber outlet when the trap is full of debris