Storm Drain Basin Gate System

Abstract

A gate system for an opening through which fluid flows, such as the opening to a storm drain typically found in the curb of an urban street. The system is biased to a closed condition to keep trash out of the drain during dry and low fluid flow situations, then automatically converts to an open condition during heavy fluid flow situations, and then returns to a closed condition when the heavy fluid flow condition abates. The system has a gate portion that rotates between an open position and a closed position adjacent the opening, being biased to the closed position, and a trip plate, which is also biased to a closed position. The trip plate has one or more pins that communicate with one or more grooves and/or detents in one or more adjacent bracket assemblies to hold the gate portion in the closed position until the fluid flow on or against the trip plate reaches a predetermined level such that the trip plate rotates from the closed position, releasing the gate portion and allowing the fluid flow to push the gate portion into an open position. After the fluid flow abates, both the gate portion and the trip plate rotate back to their closed positions automatically.

1 . A gate system for attachment to a structure that has an opening through which fluid flows, the system comprising:
 a) a gate assembly designed and constructed to allow fluid flow therethrough while preventing the passage of particular matter of a predetermined size and shape, said gate assembly rotatably attached to at least one bracket assembly attached to said structure such that said gate assembly can rotate between a closed position and an open position relative to said opening;   b) said gate assembly being biased to said closed position;   c) said gate assembly having a portion that in the closed position engages a section of a second bracket assembly attached to said structure, the arrangement between said portion and said section holding said gate assembly in said closed position;   d) a trip plate rotatably attached to said gate assembly such that it can rotate from a closed position to an open position;   e) said trip plate having at least one portion that when said trip plate is in said closed position engages at least one section of said second bracket assembly attached to said structure such that when said trip plate is in said closed position, said second bracket assembly holds said gate assembly in said closed position;   f) said trip plate being biased to said closed position, but designed and constructed such that when the fluid flow through the opening against said trip plate reaches a pre-determined amount, the biasing force holding said trip plate in the closed position is overcome such that said trip plate rotates from said closed position, thereby releasing said gate assembly for the closed position, allowing it also to rotate to said open position.