US3831767A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for removing sludge from a rectangular flotation tank
Assignee: Suez International SAS
•
Filing: 1973-05-18
•
Granted: 1974-08-27
•
Expires: 1993-05-18
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for extracting sludge from a rectangular sewage flotation tank comprises a bridge structure having rotatably mounted thereon a horizontal drum driven for rotation and provided with suitably shaped vanes, the direction of rotation of the drum and vane assembly being such that at the point of contact thereof with the scraped surface the direction of its velocity vector is opposed to the direction of travel of the bridge structure. The bridge structure also includes a suitably shaped scraper blade pushing the sludge continuously towards the front of the movable vanes of the drum, whereby the extracted sludge is fed to a discharge device mounted inside the tubular shaft of the drum and provided with means for directing the sludge into a container secured to the bridge.
Inventors
- 👤 J Lefur
- 👤 R Louboutin
- 👤 V Savall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:10
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/24; B; B01; B01D; B01D21/00; B01D21/02; B01D21/04; B01D21/18; B01D21/24; B01D21/2433; B01D21/245; B01D21/2477
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
An apparatus for extracting sludge from the upper surface of liquid sewage contained in a rectangular flotation tank, said apparatus comprising: a movable bridge structure positioned above said tank to extend thereacross; a drum assembly including a horizontal tubular shaft rotatably mounted on said bridge structure, a pair of parallelly spaced circular flanges vertically rigidly attached to said tubular shaft adjacent opposite lateral walls of said tank, a plurality of extraction vanes horizontally mounted and rigidly connected to said flanges, said vanes being positioned such that upon rotation of said drum assembly said vanes move into and pickup said sludge; means for moving said bridge structure and drum assembly longitudinally above said tank; at least one scraper blade pivotally mounted on said bridge structure at a position to scrape said sludge toward said vanes upon movement of said bridge structure; means for rotating said drum assembly about a horizontal axis to sequentially pick up sludge scraped by said at least one scraper blade; and the direction of rotation of said drum assembly and said vanes being such that at the point of contact between said vanes and said sludge the direction of the velocity vector of said drum assembly is opposed to the direction of travel of said bridge structure, whereby during the operation of said apparatus said scraper blade continuously pushes said sludge toward said rotating vanes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
228 words
An apparatus for extracting sludge from the upper surface of liquid sewage contained in a rectangular flotation tank, said apparatus comprising: a movable bridge structure positioned above said tank to extend thereacross; a drum assembly including a horizontal tubular shaft rotatably mounted on said bridge structure, a pair of parallelly spaced circular flanges vertically rigidly attached to said tubular shaft adjacent opposite lateral walls of said tank, a plurality of extraction vanes horizontally mounted and rigidly connected to said flanges, said vanes being positioned such that upon rotation of said drum assembly said vanes move into and pickup said sludge; means for moving said bridge structure and drum assembly longitudinally above said tank; at least one scraper blade pivotally mounted on said bridge structure at a position to scrape said sludge toward said vanes upon movement of said bridge structure; means for rotating said drum assembly about a horizontal axis to sequentially pick up sludge scraped by said at least one scraper blade; and the direction of rotation of said drum assembly and said vanes being such that at the point of contact between said vanes and said sludge the direction of the velocity vector of said drum assembly is opposed to the direction of travel of said bridge structure, whereby during the operation of said apparatus said scraper blade continuously pushes said sludge toward said rotating vanes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means positioned within said drum assembly for receiving the sludge removed by said vanes and transporting said removed sludge away from said apparatus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one scraper blade comprises two scraper blades pivotally attached to said bridge structure and arranged symmetrically on opposite sides of said drum assembly; said means for moving said bridge structure comprises means for selectively moving said bridge structure in opposite directions longitudinally over said tank; and said means for rotating comprises means for selectively rotating said drum assembly in opposite directions about said horizontal axis, as a function of the direction of longitudinal movement of said bridge structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said extraction vanes has a symmetrical lateral cross-sectional profile capable of picking-up sludge upon rotation of said drum assembly in either of said opposite diRections about said horizontal axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tubular shaft comprises cylindrical extensions extending laterally from the outer lateral sides of said flanges, and further comprising rollers mounted on said bridge structure and bearing on said cylindrical extensions for allowing rotation of said drum assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising means positioned coaxially within said drum assembly for receiving sludge removed by said vanes and transporting said removed sludge away from said apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for receiving and removing sludge comprises a trough and an Archimedean screw.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-26 | 1978-02-25 | 1978-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-26 | 1982-02-25 | 1982-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-26 | 1986-02-25 | 1986-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |