US3926805A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Distribution inlet system with automatic tangential-gate adjustment
Assignee: WELLES PRODUCTS Corp A CORP OF NV
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Filing: 1973-03-09
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Granted: 1975-12-16
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Expires: 1993-03-09
Abstract
Abstract In a distribution inlet system which is especially suitable for distributing inflow from an entry chamber evenly between spaced points with agitation produced at each point within a predetermined range, tangential gates are made automatically adjustable. This minimizes variations in the height of the water level in the entry chamber, thereby reducing objectionable upstream conditions. It also achieves greater constancy in agitation, and especially in the over-all rotary movement often desired, as for example in a distribution chamber for a clarifier. The tangentially disposed or deflector gates, such as have heretofore been manually adjustable, are, according to the present invention, automatically shiftable. They may be yieldable resiliently to open wider with increased pressure, or may be float-controlled, or may be controlled by a plurality of such features acting cooperatively. A high degree of uniformity between different gates is achieved, or complete uniformity with gang-control.
Inventors
- 👤 James Donald Walker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:27
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D21/00; B01D21/24; B01D21/2405; B01D21/2411; B01D21/2427; B01D21/245; B01D21/30; B01D21/307; B01D21/34; B01D21/02; B01D21/08; B01D21/2488
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A DISTRUBITION INLET SYSTEM FOR A FLOCCULATION CHAMBER AND THE LIKE AN WHICH MAY BE USED WITH VARYING RATES OF LIQUID INFLOW INTO THE INLET SYSTEM, INCLUDING AN ENTRY CHAMBER PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR SUPPLYING THE INFLOW LIQUID TO BE DISTRIBUTED, AND CONNECTED TO A FLOCCULATION CHAMBER THROUGH A PLURALITY OF PORTS CONTROLLED BY ANGULARLY DISPOSED ADJUSTABLE GATES FOR CONSTRICTING THE FLOW AREA FOR FLOW THROUGH THE PORTS AND PAST THE GATES TO ENSURE AN EFFECTIVE VELOCITY AND FOR DEFLECTING THE FLOW TO SET UP AN OVER-ALL ROLLING ACTION IN THE FLOCCULATION CHAMBER; AND AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE GATES TO INCREASE THE FLOW AREA AND DECREASE THE ANGULARITY OF DEFLECTION WITH INCREASED INFLUX INTO THE ENTRY CHAMBER.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A DISTRUBITION INLET SYSTEM FOR A FLOCCULATION CHAMBER AND THE LIKE AN WHICH MAY BE USED WITH VARYING RATES OF LIQUID INFLOW INTO THE INLET SYSTEM, INCLUDING AN ENTRY CHAMBER PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR SUPPLYING THE INFLOW LIQUID TO BE DISTRIBUTED, AND CONNECTED TO A FLOCCULATION CHAMBER THROUGH A PLURALITY OF PORTS CONTROLLED BY ANGULARLY DISPOSED ADJUSTABLE GATES FOR CONSTRICTING THE FLOW AREA FOR FLOW THROUGH THE PORTS AND PAST THE GATES TO ENSURE AN EFFECTIVE VELOCITY AND FOR DEFLECTING THE FLOW TO SET UP AN OVER-ALL ROLLING ACTION IN THE FLOCCULATION CHAMBER; AND AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE GATES TO INCREASE THE FLOW AREA AND DECREASE THE ANGULARITY OF DEFLECTION WITH INCREASED INFLUX INTO THE ENTRY CHAMBER.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
144 words
A distribution inlet system for a flocculation chamber and the like and which may be used with varying rates of liquid inflow into the inlet system, including an entry chamber provided with means for supplying the inflow liquid to be distributed, and connected to a flocculation chamber through a plurality of ports controlled by angularly disposed adjustable gates for constricting the flow area for flow through the ports and past the gates to ensure an effective velocity and for deflecting the flow to set up an over-all rolling action in the flocculation chamber; and automatic means for adjusting the gates to increase the flow area and decrease the angularity of deflection with increased inflow into the entry chamber, said means including means yieldably biasing the gates toward their more closed condition with increasing biasing strength as the gates move toward their more open position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
144 words
A distribution inlet system for a flocculation chamber and the like and which may be used with varying rates of liquid inflow into the inlet system, including an entry chamber provided with means for supplying the inflow liquid to be distributed, and connected to a flocculation chamber through a plurality of ports controlled by angularly disposed adjustable gates for constricting the flow area for flow through the ports and past the gates to ensure an effective velocity and for deflecting the flow to set up an over-all rolling action in the flocculation chamber; and automatic means for adjusting the gates to increase the flow area and decrease the angularity of deflection with increased inflow into the entry chamber, said means including means yieldably biasing the gates toward their more closed condition with increasing biasing strength as the gates move toward their more open position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
177 words
A distribution inlet system for a flocculation chamber and the like and which may be used with varying rates of liquid inflow into the inlet system, including an entry chamber provided with means for supplying the inflow liquid to be distributed, and connected to a flocculation chamber through a plurality of ports controlled by angularly disposed adjustable gates for constricting the flow area for flow through the ports and past the gates to ensure an effective velocity and for deflecting the flow to set up an over-all rolling action in the flocculation chamber; and automatic means for adjusting the gates to increase the flow area and decrease the angularity of deflection with increased inflow into the entry chamber, said means including means yieldably biasing the gates toward their more closed condition with increasing biasing strength as the gates move toward their more open position, said ports being located to extend both above and below normal water level in the entry section so that any rising water level in the entry section applies pressure to more gate area.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
177 words
A distribution inlet system for a flocculation chamber and the like and which may be used with varying rates of liquid inflow into the inlet system, including an entry chamber provided with means for supplying the inflow liquid to be distributed, and connected to a flocculation chamber through a plurality of ports controlled by angularly disposed adjustable gates for constricting the flow area for flow through the ports and past the gates to ensure an effective velocity and for deflecting the flow to set up an over-all rolling action in the flocculation chamber; and automatic means for adjusting the gates to increase the flow area and decrease the angularity of deflection with increased inflow into the entry chamber, said means including means yieldably biasing the gates toward their more closed condition with increasing biasing strength as the gates move toward their more open position, said ports being located to extend both above and below normal water level in the entry section so that any rising water level in the entry section applies pressure to more gate area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
159 words
A distribution inlet system for a flocculation chamber and the like and which may be used with varying rates of liquid inflow into the inlet system, including an entry chamber provided with means for supplying the liquid to be distributed, and connected to a flocculation chamber through a plurality of ports vontrolled by angularly disposed adjustable gates for constricting the flow area for flow through the ports and past the gates to ensure an effective velocity and for deflecting the flow to set up an over-all rolling action in the flocculation chamber; and automatic means for adjusting the gates to increase the flow area and decrease the angularity of deflection with increased inflow into the entry chamber, said means including a float-like member partially submerged in the entry section and in part at least controlling the gates to effectuate an increase of flow area as the water level in the entry section rises as a result of increased inflow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
159 words
A distribution inlet system for a flocculation chamber and the like and which may be used with varying rates of liquid inflow into the inlet system, including an entry chamber provided with means for supplying the liquid to be distributed, and connected to a flocculation chamber through a plurality of ports vontrolled by angularly disposed adjustable gates for constricting the flow area for flow through the ports and past the gates to ensure an effective velocity and for deflecting the flow to set up an over-all rolling action in the flocculation chamber; and automatic means for adjusting the gates to increase the flow area and decrease the angularity of deflection with increased inflow into the entry chamber, said means including a float-like member partially submerged in the entry section and in part at least controlling the gates to effectuate an increase of flow area as the water level in the entry section rises as a result of increased inflow.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A distribution inlet system according to claim 4, in which said means also includes means yieldably biasing the gates toward their more closed condition with increasing biasing strength as the gates move toward more open position, and in which the ports are located to extend both above and below normal water level in the entry section so that the rising water level applies pressure to more gate area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
128 words
A distribution inlet system for a flocculation chamber and the like including an entry chamber provided with means for supplying the liquid to be distributed, and connected to a flocculation chamber through a plurality of ports contRolled by angularly disposed adjustable gates for constricting the flow area for flow through the ports and past the gates to ensure an effective velocity and for deflecting the flow to set up an over-all rolling action in the flocculation chamber; and automatic means for adjusting the gates to sufficiently increase the flow are and decrease the angularity of deflection wiht increased inflow into the entry chamber as to accommodate a doubling of the total inflow with not more than a doubling of the differential head on opposite sides of the gate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
128 words
A distribution inlet system for a flocculation chamber and the like including an entry chamber provided with means for supplying the liquid to be distributed, and connected to a flocculation chamber through a plurality of ports contRolled by angularly disposed adjustable gates for constricting the flow area for flow through the ports and past the gates to ensure an effective velocity and for deflecting the flow to set up an over-all rolling action in the flocculation chamber; and automatic means for adjusting the gates to sufficiently increase the flow are and decrease the angularity of deflection wiht increased inflow into the entry chamber as to accommodate a doubling of the total inflow with not more than a doubling of the differential head on opposite sides of the gate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A distribution inlet system according to claim 6 in which the automatic means has such characteristics that fine scale turbulence in the flocculation chamber is maintained in the range in which the G value is of the order of 25-50 sec. 1.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
116 words
A distribution inlet system for a flocculation chamber and the like including an entry chamber provided with means for supplying the liquid to be distributed, and connected to a flocculation chamber through a plurality of ports controlled by angularly disposed adjustable gates for constricting the flow area for flow through the ports and past the gates to ensure an effective velocity and for deflecting the flow to set up an over-all rolling action in the flocculation chamber; and automatic means for adjusting the gates to increase the flow area and decrease the angularity of deflection with increased inflow into the entry chamber; said means maintaining equality of flow through the respective gates at their various adjustments.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
116 words
A distribution inlet system for a flocculation chamber and the like including an entry chamber provided with means for supplying the liquid to be distributed, and connected to a flocculation chamber through a plurality of ports controlled by angularly disposed adjustable gates for constricting the flow area for flow through the ports and past the gates to ensure an effective velocity and for deflecting the flow to set up an over-all rolling action in the flocculation chamber; and automatic means for adjusting the gates to increase the flow area and decrease the angularity of deflection with increased inflow into the entry chamber; said means maintaining equality of flow through the respective gates at their various adjustments.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
117 words
A distribution inlet system for a flocculation chamber and the like including an entry chamber provided with means for supplying the liquid to be distributed, and connected to a flocculation chamber through a plurality of ports controlled by angularly disposed adjustable gates for constricting the flow area for flow through the ports and past the gates to ensure an effective velocity and for deflecting the flow to set up an over-all rolling action in the flocculation chamber; and automatic means for adjusting the gates to increase the flow area and decrease the angularity of deflection with increased inflow into the entry chamber, said gates being ganged to ensure equality of their respective adjustments at their various adjustments.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
117 words
A distribution inlet system for a flocculation chamber and the like including an entry chamber provided with means for supplying the liquid to be distributed, and connected to a flocculation chamber through a plurality of ports controlled by angularly disposed adjustable gates for constricting the flow area for flow through the ports and past the gates to ensure an effective velocity and for deflecting the flow to set up an over-all rolling action in the flocculation chamber; and automatic means for adjusting the gates to increase the flow area and decrease the angularity of deflection with increased inflow into the entry chamber, said gates being ganged to ensure equality of their respective adjustments at their various adjustments.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
125 words
An inlet and flocculation system for producing rotative action and mild turbulence in a body of floc-bearing liquid into which the inlet system discharges, including tank means forming entry and flocculation chambers separated by a common wall between them having a plurality of outflow parts through which the liquid flows from the entry chamber into the flocculation chamber, angularly disposed adjustable gates controlling said ports for constricting the flow areas for flow through the ports and past the gates to ensure an effective velocity and for deflecting the flow to set up an over-all rolling action in the flocculation chamber; and automatic means for adjusting the gates to increase the flow area and decrease the angularity of deflection with increased inflow into the entry chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
125 words
An inlet and flocculation system for producing rotative action and mild turbulence in a body of floc-bearing liquid into which the inlet system discharges, including tank means forming entry and flocculation chambers separated by a common wall between them having a plurality of outflow parts through which the liquid flows from the entry chamber into the flocculation chamber, angularly disposed adjustable gates controlling said ports for constricting the flow areas for flow through the ports and past the gates to ensure an effective velocity and for deflecting the flow to set up an over-all rolling action in the flocculation chamber; and automatic means for adjusting the gates to increase the flow area and decrease the angularity of deflection with increased inflow into the entry chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
An inlet and flocculation system according to claim 10 in which the automatic means has such characteristics that, with a doubling of the inflow, the fine scale turbulence in the flocculation chamber is maintained in a range such that the G value is of the order of 25-50 Sec. 1.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
An inlet and flocculation system according to claim 10 in which the automatic means has characteristics such that the differential head on opposite sides of the common wall increases no more than 50% as the inflow doubles.
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) | 1978-12-15 | 1979-06-16 | 1979-12-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-15 | 1983-06-16 | 1983-12-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-15 | 1987-06-16 | 1987-12-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |