Preferred forms of the present invention are directed to systems for use in one or more sludge or waste collection containers or vessels. More specifically, one preferred form of the present invention is directed to a sludge removal system for removing sludge from one or more sludge collection containers, compartments, basins or vessels. Another preferred form of the present invention is directed to a fluid distribution system for distributing one or more fluids in one or more sludge or waste collection containers, compartments, basins or vessels.
Various systems have been used in connection with sludge or waste collection containers, basins, compartments or vessels. One well known and effective sludge removal system used in connection with sludge or waste collection containers, basins, compartments or vessels is the SPYDER® sludge collection system one layout of which is depicted in
The sludge removal system A depicted in
Where one or more valves are opened or closed quickly, the collection laterals can move toward or away from the floor 8 of the collection basin 6. The movement can be so vigorous that one or more sludge collection laterals break or are otherwise damaged preventing the sludge collection lateral from functioning in its intended manner. To prevent this obviously undesirable occurrence, the SPYDER® sludge collection system includes a plurality of anchors 10 for fixing/anchoring each of the sludge collection laterals 4 to floor 8 of the collection basin 6.
Anchors 10 are anchored or fixed to floor 8 by drilling a suitable size slot, hole or opening so that the lower portion of anchor 10 can extend into the slot, hole or opening. An epoxy is applied to the lower portion of the anchor 10 to anchor or fix this member to floor 8. As is readily evident from the arrangement depicted in
An object of a preferred form of the present invention is to provide a sludge removal system which includes a plurality of sludge collection laterals that are prevented from being damaged by movement of the sludge collection laterals away from or towards the floor of a sludge collection device without anchoring the sludge collection laterals to the floor of the sludge collection device.
Another object of a preferred form of the present invention is to provide a fluid distribution system which includes a plurality of fluid distribution laterals that are prevented from being damaged by movement of the fluid distribution laterals away from or towards the floor of a sludge or waste collection device without anchoring the fluid distribution laterals to the floor of the sludge or waste collection device.
A further object of a preferred form of the present invention is to provide lateral movement restriction members that restrict or prevent movement of one or more laterals away from or toward a floor of a sludge or waste collection device without anchoring or fixing any portion of the lateral movement restriction members to the floor of the sludge or waste collection device.
Still another object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide lateral movement restriction members configured such that a lowermost surface of each of the lateral movement restriction members rests on the floor of the sludge or waste collection device to prevent the corresponding lateral or laterals from moving toward the floor without attaching, fixing or anchoring the lateral movement restriction members to the floor.
Still a further object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide lateral movement restriction members configured to use fluid pressure present in the sludge or waste collection device to prevent one or more laterals from moving away from the floor of sludge or waste collection device.
It must be understood that no one embodiment of the present invention need include all of the aforementioned objects of the present invention. Rather, a given embodiment may include one or none of the aforementioned objects. Accordingly, these objects are not to be used to limit the scope of the claims of the present invention. Further, the above is not an exhaustive list of the advantages and objects of the preferred forms of the present invention. Other advantages and objects of preferred forms of the present invention will be readily appreciated from the description of the preferred forms of the present invention.
In summary, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a sludge collection system for removing sludge from a sludge collection container. The sludge collection system includes at least one fixed sludge removal grid for removing sludge from at least a portion of the sludge collection container. The at least one fixed sludge removal grid includes a header and a plurality of collection laterals connected to the header such that during sludge removal sludge passes from the plurality of collection laterals to the header. At least one movement restricting member is operably associated with the plurality of collection laterals for restricting vertical movement of the plurality of collection laterals wherein a lowermost portion of the at least one movement restricting member rests on but does not penetrate a floor of the sludge collection container.
Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a sludge collection system for removing sludge from a sludge collection container. The sludge collection system includes at least one sludge removal zone for removing sludge from at least a portion of the sludge collection container. The at least one sludge removal zone includes a sludge collection container and a fixed sludge removal grid disposed in the sludge collection container. The fixed sludge removal grid includes a header and a plurality of floating collection laterals connected to the header such that during removal of sludge from the sludge collection container sludge passes from the plurality of floating collection laterals to the header. At least one movement restricting member is connected to the plurality of floating collection laterals for restricting movement of the plurality of floating collection laterals away from and towards a floor of the sludge collection container. The at least one movement restricting member is spaced from the header.
A further embodiment of the present invention is directed to a sludge collection system for removing sludge from a sludge collection container. The sludge collection system includes a sludge collection container and at least one sludge removal grid disposed in the sludge collection container for removing sludge from at least a portion of the sludge collection container. The at least one sludge removal grid includes a header and a plurality of collection laterals connected to the header such that during sludge removal sludge passes from the plurality of collection laterals to the header. At least one movement prevention member is connected to the plurality of collection laterals for preventing movement of the plurality of collection laterals towards or away from a floor of the sludge collection container, wherein a lowermost portion of the at least one movement restricting member rests on but does not penetrate the floor of the sludge collection container to prevent a corresponding collection lateral from moving toward the floor of the sludge collection container. The at least one movement prevention member has an exposed surface area of sufficient size such that fluid pressure acting on the exposed surface area prevents a corresponding collection lateral from moving upwardly away from the floor of the sludge collection container.
Still another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a fluid distribution system for distributing one or more fluids in a waste collection vessel. The fluid distribution system includes a waste collection vessel for containing waste and at least one fluid distribution grid disposed in the waste collection vessel for distributing one or more fluids in at least a portion of the waste collection vessel. The at least one fluid distribution grid includes a header and a plurality of distribution laterals connected to the header such that during fluid distribution fluid passes from the header to the plurality of distribution laterals and into the waste collection vessel. At least one movement prevention member is connected to the plurality of distribution laterals for preventing movement of the plurality of distribution laterals towards or away from a floor of the waste collection vessel, wherein a lowermost portion of the at least one movement restricting member rests on but does not penetrate the floor of the waste collection vessel to prevent a corresponding distribution lateral from moving toward the floor of the waste collection vessel. The at least one movement prevention member has an exposed surface area of sufficient size such that fluid pressure acting on the exposed surface area prevents a corresponding distribution lateral from moving upwardly away from the floor of the waste collection vessel.
The above summary describes preferred forms of the present invention and is not in any way to be construed as limiting the claimed invention to the preferred forms.
The preferred forms of the invention will now be described with reference to
“Floating collection lateral” as used herein is a collection lateral that is not fixed or anchored to the collection basin or container by one or more attachment, fastening or other anchoring devices that have a portion which is embedded in the collection basin or collection container or that penetrates a surface of the collection basin or collection container. For example, the prior art collection laterals depicted in
“Fixed sludge removal grid” as used herein is a sludge removal grid that stays in a first position in the collection basin or collection container at all times during sludge removal, i.e., a fixed sludge removal grid does not move across the floor of the collection basin or collection container to remove sludge in its path.
Referring to
Grids B, C and D can be used, for among other things, as sludge removal grids to remove sludge from a storage device storing waste or sludge. When used as sludge removal grids, grids B, C and D can be fixed sludge removal grids that stay in a first position in the collection basin or collection container at all times during sludge removal, i.e., the sludge removal grids when of the fixed type do not move across the floor of the collection basin or collection container to remove sludge in their path.
Grids B, C and D may also be used as fluid distribution grids for distributing one or more fluids (e.g., air or other fluid suitable for treating or otherwise processing sludge or waste) in a storage device storing waste or sludge.
Referring again to
Each of the laterals 22 are in communication with header 20 such that depending upon the environment in which grid B is deployed fluid and/or material passes from the laterals 22 into header 20 or fluid and/or material passes from header 20 into laterals 22. Header 20 preferably has two sealed ends. The laterals 22 preferably include a plurality of openings (not shown) for receiving or discharging fluid and/or material. The number, size and spacing of the openings may be varied as desired including but not limited to as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,911,241. For example, the openings could be uniformly or non-uniformly spaced along laterals 22.
When grid B is used in a sludge collection system, material, liquid and/or fluid enters laterals 22 and subsequently passes into header 20. As illustrated in
When grid B is used in a fluid distribution system, liquid and/or gas enters header 20 and passes into laterals 22 and is subsequently released into the corresponding container, device or vessel. Piping connector 24 may be connected directly or indirectly to a drop pipe supplying a pressurized fluid (e.g., air) from a fluid source I (e.g., a source of pressurized air).
Grid B preferably includes a plurality of movement restricting/prevention members 30. Preferably, movement restricting/prevention members 30 are each connected to a plurality of laterals 22. As seen in
Preferably, movement restricting/prevention members 30 include a horizontally or substantially horizontally extending member 32 and a plurality of vertically or substantially vertically extending members 34 attached along member 32 directly below each lateral 22 in a set of laterals. Members 34 are connected at a midpoint of the width of member 32 and extend perpendicular to laterals 22.
Referring to
Each component of the movement restricting/prevention members 30 can be made of plastic (e.g., PVC) or any other suitable material. Preferably, member 32 is made of a flimsy material (e.g., ⅛ inch plastic). Preferably, movement restricting/prevention members 30 are configured such that the lowermost surface (e.g., lower surface of member 32) rests on a floor of the corresponding storage or collection device without any portion of the movement restricting/prevention members 30 being fixed, attached or anchored to the floor. Because the lower most surface of members 30 are in direct contact with the floor of the corresponding storage or collection device, no portion of laterals 22 can move toward the floor. Members 32 have an exposed upper surface area of sufficient size such that the existing fluid pressure acting on the exposed upper surface area in the corresponding storage or collection device restricts or prevents any portion of laterals 22 from moving upward away from the floor of the corresponding storage or collection device. Hence, laterals 22 are not subject to being damaged by movement which may occur during operation of the system.
Referring to
Preferably, movement restricting/prevention members 40 each include a horizontally or substantially horizontally extending member 42 and a vertically or substantially vertically extending member 44 attached to member 42 adjacent a lower portion of member 44. While the shape of members 40 are illustrated as being L-shaped (see
Each component of the movement restricting/prevention members 40 can be made of plastic (e.g., PVC) or any other suitable material. Preferably, member 42 is made of a flimsy material (e.g., ⅛ inch plastic). Preferably, as illustrated in
Referring to
Preferably, movement restricting/prevention members 50 each include a horizontally or substantially horizontally extending member 52 and a vertically or substantially vertically extending member 54 attached to member 52 adjacent a lower portion of member 54. While the shape of members 50 are illustrated as being T-shaped (see
Referring to
Each component of the movement restricting/prevention members 50 can be made of plastic (e.g., PVC) or any other suitable material. Preferably, member 52 is made of a flimsy material (e.g., ⅛ inch plastic). Preferably, movement restricting/prevention members 50 are configured such that the lowermost surface (e.g., lower surface of member 52) rests on a floor of the corresponding storage or collection device without any portion of the movement restricting/prevention members 50 being fixed, attached or anchored to the floor. Because the lowermost surface of members 50 are in direct contact with the floor of the corresponding storage or collection device, no portion of laterals 22 can move toward the floor. Members 52 have an exposed upper surface area of sufficient size such that the existing fluid pressure acting on the exposed upper surface area in the corresponding storage or collection device restricts or prevents any portion of laterals 22 from moving upward away from the floor of the corresponding storage or collection device. Hence, laterals 22 are not subject to being damaged by movement which may occur during operation of the system.
While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, it is understood that the preferred design can be further modified or adapted following in general the principles of the invention and including but not limited to such departures from the present invention as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains. The claims are not limited to the preferred embodiment and have been written to preclude such a narrow construction using the principles of claim differentiation.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15604055 | May 2017 | US |
Child | 17136068 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17136068 | Dec 2020 | US |
Child | 18209395 | US |