Patent ID: 7718076
Filing Date: 2010-05-18
Classification: B01D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for separating particles from a fluid flow stream, the particles having a plurality of types of characteristics, the apparatus comprising: a basin in which the fluid flow stream may flow in a flow direction; a settler structure for configuring the fluid flow stream into a first of a plurality of serial flow paths in the basin, the first flow path being configured to separate from the flow stream a type of particle that is settleable, the settler structure being configured with a pocket to retain settled particles spaced in a depth direction from the first flow path so that the fluid flow stream without the separated settled particles and with a non-settleable type of particles flows past the first flow path; a filter structure for configuring the fluid flow stream into a second of the plurality of serial flow paths downstream of the first flow path in the basin, the filter structure being configured in the depth direction and in a width direction transverse to the flow and depth directions to separate from the flow stream a non-settleable type of particle; a gantry structure configured with a pair of arms hanging in the depth direction and straddling the settler structure, the gantry structure being further configured with a pusher extending through the pocket and between the pair of gantry arms, the gantry structure being further configured with a third arm hanging in the depth direction parallel to and across the filter structure, the third arm being configured to apply a cleaning action to the filter structure; and a gantry drive for simultaneously moving all of the arms in the width direction transverse to the flow and depth directions, the moving pair of arms causing the pusher to remove the settled particles from the pocket and the moving third arm removing the separated non-settleable type of particles from the filter structure.