Patent ID: 8932413
Filing Date: 2015-01-13
Classification: B08B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for re-suspending solids in fluid in an interior of a tank, the solids having accumulated on a bottom wall of the tank, the apparatus comprising: a housing pipe sealably attached to a sidewall of the tank at an opening therein located proximal to the bottom wall and extending inwardly into the interior of the tank, the housing pipe comprising two slots on diametrically opposite sides thereof extending a predetermined distance from an inner end of the housing pipe toward the sidewall; tubing at least partially positioned within the housing pipe and extending between an input end proximal to the sidewall and an output end at the inner end of the housing pipe, the tubing comprising a flexible hose and a nozzle attached to the flexible hose, the nozzle being positionable at the inner end of the housing pipe and coaxial therewith; a pump for pumping the fluid through the tubing to exit therefrom through the flexible hose at the nozzle; first and second control linkages, each said control linkage comprising a control rod extending between an outside end thereof located outside the sidewall and an inside end in the housing pipe, and a connector rod extending between a first end thereof pivotably connected to the inside end of the control rod of the control linkage thereof and a second end thereof attached to the nozzle; the first and second control linkages being positioned at least partially within the housing pipe and movable relative to the housing pipe, the connector rods of the first and second control linkages being attached to diametrically opposite sides of the nozzle and each of the first and second control linkages being positioned adjacent to corresponding diametrically opposite sides of the tubing, the connector rods being aligned with the slots in the housing pipe; each said control linkage being movable between a straight position, in which the hose is located substantially parallel to the housing pipe and the nozzle is located substantially coaxially with the housing pipe, and a bent position, in which the hose is at least partially located non-parallel to the housing pipe, to position the nozzle non-coaxially relative to the housing pipe and at least partially in one of the slots in the housing pipe, wherein the direction of the fluid flowing out of the nozzle is controllable via the control rods, for re-suspending the solids in the fluid in the tank; and at least one seal for providing a seal between the tubing and the respective control rods of the first and second control linkages with the housing pipe, said at least one seal permitting sliding movement of the respective control rods of the first and second control linkages through said at least one seal.