Continuously operating sedimentation tanks

Claim 1

IN A SEDIMENTATION APPARATUS HAVING A SETTLING TANK, SAID SETTLING TANK HAVING A STATIONARY BASE PORTION THE COMBINATION WHICH COMPRISES A ROTARY SEDIMENT ENGAGING STRUCTURE ROTATABLE ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS AND PROVIDED WITH A CENTRAL VERTICAL CAGE PORTION, A TOOTHED BULL GEAR FIXED TO SAID CAGE PORTION CONCENTRIC WITH THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID SEDIMENT ENGAGING STRUCTURE, A TURNTABLE BASE SUPPORTED ON SAID BASE PORTION FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT THEREON, VERTICAL GUIDE MEANS SECURED TO SAID TURNTABLE BASE, ANNULAR THRUST BEARING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID TURNTABLE BASE AND SUPPORTING SAID CAGE PORTION AND BULL GEAR FOR ROTATION ON SAID TURNTABLE BASE, GEAR MEANS ON SAID TURNTABLE BASE IN DRIVING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BULL GEAR FOR ROTATING SAID CAGE AND SEDIMENT ENGAGING STRUCTURE RELATIVE TO SAID TURNTABLE BASE, A FIXED UPRIGHT GUIDE STRUCTURE SUPPORTED ON SAID BASE PORTION WITHIN THE AREA SURROUNDED BY SAID CAGE PORTION AND HAVING MEANS COOPERATING WITH THE GUIDE MEAND ON SAID TURNTABLE BASE FOR VERTICALLY GUIDING SAID TURNTABLE BASE WHILE SECURING THE SAME AGAINST ROTATION, ACTUATING MEANS RAISING OR LOWERING SAID TURNTABLE BASE TOGETHER WITH SAID THRUST BEARING MEANS, SAID GEAR, SAID GEAR MEANS, SAID CAGE PORTION, AND SEDIMENT ENGAGING STRUCTURE, AND MEANS FOR IMPARTING DRIVING POWER TO SAID GEAR MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SEDIMENT ENGAGING STRUCTURE ON SAID TURNTABLE BASE.