Claims
- 1. A method for cleaning sand of a sand bed of a facility including a slow sand filter, infiltration basin and pools having sand beds in water treatment works and plants, the method comprising the steps of:providing a remote-controlled cleaning machine including a chassis having a front end and a rear end; first and second caterpillar track assemblies mounted on respective longitudinal sides of said chassis; first and second drive wheels for engaging said first and second caterpillar track assemblies, respectively; a motor mounted on said chassis; electromagnetic clutches connected to said drive wheels; said motor being connected to said drive wheels via said electro-magnetic clutches for driving said caterpillar track assemblies for propelling said machine over said sand bed; and, a submersible pump having a nozzle and a hydrocyclone connected to the submersible pump; traversing said sand bed; removing sand to be cleaned of sludge from the top surface of said sand bed with said submersible pump and said nozzle thereof; discharging said sand to be cleaned to said hydrocyclone to separate said sludge from said sand; discharging the separated sludge suspended in water to a waste disposal location of said facility through a hose connected to said hydrocyclone; and, returning the cleaned sand to said sand bed.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine further includes a control apparatus including a control station at said facility; and, wherein the method comprises the further step of providing a power supply cable for said pump and a power supply cable for said motor and control wiring for controlling said machine; and, accommodating said cables and control wiring in a floating hose which extends between said control station and said machine.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
9801246 |
Apr 1998 |
SE |
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Parent Case Info
This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/283,237, filed Apr. 1, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,228,256.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
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2719485 |
Nov 1978 |
DE |
62183816 |
Aug 1987 |
JP |
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Dec 1987 |
JP |
5155441 |
Jun 1993 |
JP |
10118698 |
May 1998 |
JP |