USRE19146E - Sewage disposal apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 24, 1934.

M. B. TARK SEWA/GE DISPOSAL" APPARATUS Original F1164 MaI ch 22. 1927 v, s Sheets-Sheet 2 may April 24, 1934. M. TARK SEWAGE DISPOSAL APPARATUS Original Filed March 22. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet v 3 :Reissued Apr. 24, 1934 19.14;: snwson DISPOSAL APPARATUS Marcus B. Tark, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Link-Belt Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of .lllinois Original No. 1,763,412, dated June 10, 1930, Serial No. 177,372, March 22, 1927. Application for reissue April 23, 1931, Serial No. 532,381

14 as. (c1. 210-3) This invention relates to improvements in sewage disposal apparatus, and has for its principal object the provision of novel and highly advantageous means for removing the precipitated sludge from the sedimentation'ta'nks and accumulations from analogous operations.

Considerable difficulty has been experienced in the past in removing precipitated sludge accumulating in the bottoms of tanks constituting a part of sewage disposal systems, and the present invention contemplates the provision inthe tanks of mechanical means for collecting the sludge in suitable chambers or hoppers from which it may be removed by gravity or by means of a pump or other conveyer.

The invention further comprehends certain novel structural features of the mechanical sludge-collecting means and of the tanks in which they operate, whereby the operation of the said Fi 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33,

Fig. 1; k

. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional enlargement showing the efliuent endof the tank and illustrating detailsof the mechanical collector;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of one of the flights forming a part of the collector;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but illustrating a modification in the construction of the collector;

Fig. illustrating -details of the collector construction shown in Fig. 6; h Fig. 8 is a fragmentary front elevation of the flight shown in Fig. 7; v

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 6, illustrating a still further modification of the col- 'necting with the channel 6.

collecting means and the apparatus as a whole stitute the sump in which the sludge is collected Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2-2,

v the tank. A large part of the suspended solids in 7 is an' end elevation of one or the flights" Fig. 11 is a fragmentary front elevation of the flight shownin Fig. 10. r

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus illus-* trated comprises a main .tank 1 having four independent longitudinal sludge chambers, 2, 3, 6a 4 and 5, respectively. Sewage is fed to these chambers from a common influent channel 6 and through independent branch channels 7 con- The sludge-free liquid is collected and drawn 011 from the various chambers through a commonneffluent channel 8 v at the opposite end of the tank structure from the infiuent channel 6. In that the individual chambers and the associated. apparatus are. identical, further description willbe confined for the sake of brevity to a single chamber.

The tank chamber, the length of which preferably is from three to five times its width, has at its influent end one or more hoppers 9 extending below the floor level of the major portion of the tank, the hoppers in the present instance numbering two and being separated by a wall 10 tapered at the top and with its upper edge substantially on a line with the floor level of the major portion of the tank. The hoppers 9, 9 conin' a 'manner hereinafter described and from which it maybe dra'wnthrough pipes 11 extendingtothe bottom of the-hoppers, as illustrated,

- and connected through the wall of the tank with a pipe line 12 extending to suitable pumping apparatus (not shown). p

The sewage is admitted to the tanks from the. channels 7 through submerged pipes 13, there being two of these pipes for each chamber, in thepresent'instance', located respectively above the hoppers 9,-as shown in Fig. 3. The pipes '13 discharge horizontally, indicated in Fig. 2, so that the influent substance is projected against the wall of the liquid entering the tank settles immediately into the hoppers 9, the remainder being carried towards the efliuent end and settling out to the bottom of the major portion of the-tank, leaving a clear liquid eventually which discharges over a weir 14 into the eflluent channel 8 at the opposite end or the tank. The weir preferably is vertically adjustable. V

In order to eliminate the sludge which collects in the bottom of the tank, I provide a submerged sludge collector mechanism, whichconsists in a preferred form of two endless strands of chain 15 and 16 which operateupon a series of sprockets 1'7, as shown in Fig. 2., These sprockets are carried respectively upon a head shaft 18, a foot shaft 19, and upper and lower turn shafts 20 and 21- respectively. The shaft 18 is connected through a chain 22 with a countershaft 23, and this countershaft is connected by suitable gearing with a motor 24 which constitutes the prime mover for the chains 15 and 16. The chains are connected at'predetermined intervals with cross pieces or flights '25 which project from the outer sides of the chains, and the foot shaft 19 and turn shaft 21 are so mounted in the tank that these flights wipe the bottom of the tank, as clearly illustrated. The flights 25 may be made of any suitable material such as steel or wood.

In the top of the tank are mounted rails 26, these being supported in the present instance on transverse beams'2'7, these rails being adapted to support and guide'the upper run of the chains at a predetermined level in the tank. This level corresponds closely to the normal liquid level so that the flights 25 are only partially submerged in the top run of the chains. The chains moved in the direction iiidicated by the'arrows in Fig. 2, and in the lower run ofthe chains, the flights 25 function to sweep the precipitated sludge from the tank into the sump. In the arrangement described, the flights 25 are utilized in the upper or return run'ofthe chains to collect the scum, grease and oil at the surface of the liquid, and to carry it into a scum trough 28at the eflluent end of' the'tank, the scum being conducted away or withdrawn from the trough in suitablemanner.

It is essential that all of the settled sludge be removed from the tank, and as it is diflicult to fluish concrete to give accurately smooth surfaces, I provide means in the collectors to compensate for unevenness in the masonry and to compensate also for wear in the flights'or scrapers. This means I have illustrated in Figs. 4 to 11, inclucontact with the surface of the tank at the top of this curved corner. This prevents accumulations sive. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the flights are carried by arms 29 which are pivotally secured to the carrying links 30 of the chains. With this arrangement, when the flight travels over the upper turn shaft 20, it drops forward until it comes into contact with the bottom wall of the tank. Inorder to make the action of 'the flights embrasiveof th entire length of the tank, the comer'where the bottom ofthe tank joins the front wall is rounded out, as indicated at 81, and as shown in Fig 4, thejcurve 31 is so related to the shaft 19 thatthe flight comes into at the comer which would prevent a thorough cleaning action of the flights and which might tend to clog the apparatus. 7

In the embodiment shown: in-ligs. 4 and 5, the arm 29 is providedwith a stop'32 which by en- 88861116111; of the 30- positively limits the downward movement. of the flight and prevents Another em nt of the device is shown in ml, 7 and 8. In this instancethe flight 25 is mounted in abrac'ket 33 secured to the carrying link 3, Also pivoted on the link. 34 is a lever 35, one arm'of which is weighted at 36,

whiletheotherarmii'lengages the inneredge lever 35 fimctions during the downward,

of the flight. Thearrangementissuchthatwhen the flight passes over the shaft 20, the arm 37 is broughtbytheacflonofthew shtflllaimtthe ianeredseoi'theflight ztandtendstoforcethe' outwardly on the supporting bracket 33.

v oftheflightamund'tbecurvedcomer SL-hut Y er'tlielightJi ldmsfli nflyinoontsct to carry the entire mass diningthemaiorwr innoftherearwardwith the bottom of the tank by its own weight.

A'somewhat similar arrangement is shown in Figs. 9, l0 and 11. In this instance also, the flight 25 is slidably mounted on an arm 38 on the carrying link 39, but a spring 40 replaces the weighted arm 35 and functions after the manner of said weight to resiliently hold the flight in an extended position on the brackets 38.

In each of the aforesaid devices, it will be noted that the flight resiliently or flexibly engages the surface of the tank whereby irregularities and unevenness in the said surface are fully compensated.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be noted. that at the inner edge of the hopper 9, overhanging rails-"41 are provided which form an extension of the track in the bottom of the main portion of the tank. projecting over the forward edges of the hopper and bey nd the centre line of the lower turn shaft. These overhanging tracks prevent a sudden drop of the pivoted flights. Such a. drop will agitate the settled solids and cause a portion of them to so again intp suspension.

It will be obvious modification in the detailstructure of the tanks and of the collector apparatus without departure from the essential features of the invention.

I claim: I

1. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a settling tank having a substantially vertical end wall and where the bottom joins the said wall a rounded corner, ofsludge-removing means at the opposite end of the tank, an endless conveyer having rigid transverse flights adapted to sweep the accumulated sludge, in the bottom ofthetanktosaidremovingmeanaandmeans affording free movement of the flights away from the conveyer and into engagement with the rounded corner and the bottom of the tank to thereby .eifect a substantially complete removal of said sludge from thetank.

2. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a settling tank havinga depressed hopper'at one end and having the lower transversecorner at the opposite end where the, end wall'meets the bottom of the rounded subthat there may be much stantially on the arc ofa circle, a sludge collector in said tank including a pair of transverse shafts,

and an endless conveyer operating on said shafts, the shaft adjacent the rounded end of the tank being arranged concentrically with the aforesaid rounded transverse corner, and flights carried by" I 'saidconvey'er and adapted to sweep the said rounded comer and'thebottom of the tank so as of accumulated sludge toward and into the said hopper.

3. In a sewage disposal apparatus, the com tially vertical end wall and where the bottom joins the said wall a rounded corner, the side walls of saidtank and said end wall being formed 'bination with a settling tank' having assubstan with upwardly extending surfaces confining the entire massofaccumulated sludge, of sludge-. removing means at the end of the tank opposite said rounded comer, an endless conveyer having rigid transverse flights to sweep the entire-mass of sludge in the bottom.

of the tank to said and means ailording free movement of the flights away from the conveyer and into engagement'with'the said rounded corner and the bottom 'of'the tank t meet a comp t ova f the said sludge from the tank.

.4. In a" sewage d sposal the coniblnation with a tank having a substantank tothereby effect a substantially complete removal of said sludge from the tank and to maintain said cooperative engagement after wear in the flights occursa 5. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a settling tank having a substantially vertical end wall and where the bottom joins said walla rounded corner, of sludge removing means at the opposite end of the tank, an endless conveyer having rigid transverse flights adapted to sweep the accumulated sludge in the bottom of the tank to said removing means, arms secured to said conveyer for supporting said flights, and means affording free movement ofthe flights away from the conveyer and into engagement with the said rounded'corner and the bottom' of the tank to thereby effect a substantially com-- plete removal of the said sludge from the tank.

6. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a settling tank having a substantially vertical end wall and where the bottom joins saidv wall a rounded corner, of sludge-removing means at the opposite end of the tank,;an endless conveyer having rigid transverse flights adapted to sweep the accumulated sludge in the bottom of the, tank to said removing means, and arm supporting said flights and'pivotally attached to the h conveyer whereby the flights are freely movable by gravity into engagement with the said rounded corner and the bottom of the tank to thereby effect a substantially complete removal of said sludge from the tank.

7. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a-settling, tank having the corner at one end where the'bottom. joins the end wall rounded and having at theotherend a depressed hopper, of an endless conveyer extending from one end of the tank to the other, flights mounted on said conveyer upon axes transverse to the tank, and means affording free movement of said flights into engagement with the bottom of the tank, said conveyer being so mounted that said flights are adapted to engage the end wall of the tank above said rounded corner and to sweep over the latter in a downward movement whereby they are effective tosweep the settled sludge from the rounded corner and from the entire bottom suri ace of the tank into the hopper.

8. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a settling tank having the corner at one end where .the bottom joins the end wall rounded and having at the otherend a depressed hopper, of an endless conveyer extending from one end of the tank to the other and having flights pivotally mounted thereon on axes transverse to the tank and adapted to move around said pivots in the lower run of the conveyer to engage the bottom of the tank, said conveyer being so mounted that said flightsare adapted to engage the end wall of the tank above said rounded corner and to sweep over the latter in a downward movement whereby they are effective to sweep the entire mass of settled sludge iromv 9. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a settling tank having a substantially vertical end wall and where the bottom joins the said wall a rounded corner, of sludge-removing means at the opposite end of the tank, an endless conveyer operating in said tank, arms pivotally secured to said conveyer, flights carried by said arms and adapted to contact with said rounded corner and the bottom-of the tank to thereby effect a substantially complete removal of said sludge from said tank and to the sludgeremoving means, said arms extending rearwardly with respect to the direction of movement of said conveyer and forming an acute angle with the latter, and means associated with said arms for maintaining an acute angle while permitting a' predetermined angular movement of the arms with respect to .the conveyer.

10. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a settling tank having asubstantially vertical end wall and where thebottom joins the said wall a rounded corner, sludge removing means at the opposite end of the tank, an end- ,less conveyer operating in said tank, arms pivotally secured to said conveyer, flights carried by said arms and adapted to contact with the said .the 'bottom surface of thetank into the hopper.

rounded corner and the bottom of the tank to thereby effect a substantially complete removal of said sludge from said tank and to the sludgeremoving means, and shoulders on said arms adapted to engage portions of the conveyer to limit the swinging movement of said arms with respect to the conveyer.

11. In sewage disposal apparatus, thecombination with a settling tank having a substantially vertical end wall and where the bottom joins the said side wall a rounded corner, of sludge-removing means at theopposite end of the tank, an endlessconveyer operating in said tank, arms projecting from said conveyer; flights slidably secured to said arms permitting adjustment thereof to and from the conveyer, said flights adapted to contact with the said rounded corner and the bottom of the, tank to thereby effect a substantially complete removalof said sludge from said tank and to the sludge-removing means, and means; carried by the conveyer and acting on said flights f maintain th siliently in an extended ionrelativ to said arms. i ,1

12. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a settling tank having a substantially vertical end wall and where the bottom joins the said end wall a rounded corner, oi sludge-removing means at the opposite end of'the tank, an endless conveyer operating in said tank, arms projecting from said conveyer, flights slidably secured to said arms permitting adjustment thereofto and from the, conveyen said flights adapted to contact with the said rounded corner and the bottom of the tank tothereby effect a substantially complete removal of said sludge from said tank and to the sludge-removing means, and gravity actuated means carried by the conveyer and acting on said flights to main-. tain them resiliently in an extendedv position relative to the conveyer.

13. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a settling tank having a substantially vertical end wall and wherethebottom joins the said end wall a rounded corner, of sludge removing means at the opposite end of the tank, an endless conveyer operating in said tank, arms projecting from said conveyer, flights flights adapted to contact with the said rounded corner and'the bottom of the tank to thereby efiect a substantially wmplete removal of said sludge from sai'd'tank'and to the sludgeerem'oving means, and weighted levers pivotally mounted on the conveyer and operatively engaging said flights to maintain them in an extended position.

relative to the conveyor,

14. In sewage disposal apparatus, the combination with a, settling tank having a substantially vertical end wall and where the bottom joins the said end wall a rounded corner, of sludge-removslidably secured to said arms permitting adjustment thereof to and from the conveyer, said ing means at the opposite end of the tank, an

endless conveyer operating in said tank, aims projecting from said eonveyer, flights slidably secured to said arms permitting adjustment thereof to and from the conveyer, said flights adapted to contact with the said rounded comer and the bottom of the tank to thereby effect a subsantially complete removal of "said sludge from said tank and to the sludge removing means, and springs operative on the flights to an extended position relative maintain them in tothe conveyer.

i MARCUS B. TARK.

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