Patent Publication Number: US-2022227642-A1

Title: Surface Skimmer Lifting Device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/139,536 filed on Jan. 20, 2021. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a lifting mechanism for a wastewater plant skimmer. More specifically, the present invention provides a lifting mechanism for a wastewater plant skimmer that has a clamp connected to a flat bar with a plurality of notches and a hook that engages a U-bolt mounted to a skimming arm containing a skimming blade. 
     In wastewater plants and in other treatment centers, there are typically one or more large tanks. Wastewater plants use these tanks in a treatment system in order to purify wastewater for other uses. To purify the water, each tank will remove debris and toxins until the end of the treatment system produces purified water. To remove the debris and toxins from the liquid, the tank will include a skimming arm. The skimming arm is used to remove the floating solids, such as scum and grease, from the surface of the liquid. Typically, the skimming arm makes constant revolutions around the surface of the liquid to properly remove the sludge. To have the toxins be properly removed by the skimming arm, it is important for the liquids to remain in a static state as the skimming arm makes its revolutions. If the liquid is in a dynamic state, it will prevent the skimming arm from efficiently removing the desired toxins. The skimming arm will push the debris along the surface of the liquid and, typically, will remove the debris from the tank when the extraction process is initiated. This process of purifying wastewater is tedious and requires a lot of precision. Any undesired alteration to the skimming arm may result in a setback that prevents the process from being completed in a timely manner. 
     Even in difficult weather, the wastewater treatment plants must remain operational. However, the cold winter months in certain areas result in the cold temperatures bringing an additional set of issues that can disturb the wastewater treatment process. Specifically, cold temperatures in the winter may lead to a wastewater treatment plant experiencing freezing. For example, freezing temperatures may cause clogging of the wastewater treatment system or the skimming arm to become frozen to the surface of the liquid or the surrounding surface of the tank. These issues can cause the skimming arm to garner debris and require extensive maintenance. If they are not corrected, the skimming arm may become jammed and may ultimately result in a breaking of the skimmer arm due to a torque overload. A broken skimming arm can render the entire wastewater treatment tank inoperable and can require a lot of resources to fix the skimming arm and correct the wastewater treatment tank. 
     In addition to the repairs that may be required because of freezing, the wastewater treatment plant may experience a diminished capacity and operational efficiency with the cold temperatures. When the wastewater treatment tanks experience such setbacks, it is often difficult to compensate for that loss. Moreover, the operators at the wastewater treatment plant will constantly monitor the wastewater treatment tanks to limit the effects of the freezing temperatures. Typically, the maintenance may include the lifting of the skimming arm up from the surface of the liquid. However, the design of the skimming arms on the wastewater treatment tanks are not conducive to preventing the freezing of the skimming arm by lifting the skimming arm, making it difficult to perform the necessary actions. Specifically, having the skimming arm remain in the desired position to prevent freezing. If an operator fails to correct the freezing effects in a timely matter or the wastewater treatment tank lacks the ability to limit the freezing, the wastewater treatment plant will experience the previously discussed setbacks. 
     Therefore, there is a defined need amongst the known prior art references for a lifting mechanism for a wastewater plant skimmer that allows the skimming arm to be properly lifted to limit the damages caused by freezing and to allow the skimming arm to be secured in a desired position. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of lifting mechanism for a wastewater plant skimmer now present in the known art, the present invention provides a flat bar with a plurality of notches and a hook that engages with a U-bolt to lift and secure the position of a skimming arm. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a flat bar that permits a skimming arm to be lifted and the skimming arm&#39;s position secured. When a wastewater plant skimming arm needs to be lifted to counter the effects of freezing, it is often difficult to do so with the commonly used devices. The present invention will include a flat bar. A hook on the end of the flat bar will lift the skimming arm via a U-bolt. The hook will engage with a rod within the U-bolt, so that when a user lifts the flat bar, the skimming arm will lift above the surface of the liquid in the wastewater tank. Additionally, when the operator lifts the skimming arm, the U-bolt may slide down the flat bar and engage with a notch of a plurality of notches so that the skimming arm may be secured in a desired, elevated position. In this way, the skimming arm will not be in direct contact with the liquid in the wastewater tank and limit the chances that the skimming arm experiences the difficulties that arise during freezing temperatures. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the lifting device for a wastewater plant skimming arm. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the lifting device for a wastewater plant skimming arm. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the lifting device for a wastewater plant skimmer device. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be limiting in any respect. 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a lifting device for a wastewater plant skimming arm. The surface skimmer lifting device  11  comprises a member  12 , a flat bar  15 , a skimming member  14 , and a pair of attaching members  13 . In the shown embodiment, the member  12  is rectangular shaped. The member  12  includes a top face and a bottom face. Each attaching member of the pair of attaching members  13  is connected to the bottom face of the member  12  via a hinge  16 . The hinge  16  allows for each attaching member of the pair of attaching members  13  to pivot about the member  12 . The pair of attaching members  13  are parallel and extend from opposing ends of the member  12  in a same direction. The end of the pair of the attaching members  13  most distal from the member  12  connect with the skimming member  14 . The skimming member  14  includes a top side and a bottom side. The flat bar  15  extends from the member  12  to the skimming member  14 . The flat bar  15  is parallel with the pair of attaching members  13 . Additionally, the flat bar  15  is centrally located between the pair of attaching members  13  while extending across the member  12  and the skimming member  14 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a lifting device for a wastewater plant skimming arm. The surface skimmer lifting device  11  includes a clamp  22  and a U-bolt  26 . The clamp  22  secures the flat bar  15  to the member  12 . A pair of supports are disposed on each side of the clamp  22 . Each support of the pair of supports includes an upper support  23 , a lower support  34 , and a pair of side supports  32 . Together, the upper support  23 , the lower support  34 , and the pair of side supports  32  encircles the member  12 . The upper support  23  is along the top face of the member  12 , the lower support  34  is along the bottom face of the member  12 , and the pair of side supports  32  are sandwiched between the upper support  23  and the lower support  34 . The clamp  22  further comprises a pin  31 . The flat bar  15  may pivot about the clamp  22  via the pin  31 . The clamp  22  allows the flat bar  15  to pivot along an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the member  12 . The clamp  22  will also prevent the flat bar  15  from experiencing any movement along an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the member  12 . When the flat bar  15  pivots about the clamp  22 , the pair of attaching members  13  also pivot about the respective hinge that connects the pair of attaching members  13  to the bottom face of the member  12 . 
     The skimming member  14  includes a top side and a bottom side. The bottom side of the skimming member  14  includes a skim blade  21 . The skim blade  21  is configured to skim the surface of a liquid placed within a tank that connects with the lifting surface skimmer lifting device  11 . When in contact with the liquid, the skim blade  21  may alter the position of any debris or undesirable along the surface of the liquid. A U-bolt  26  is disposed on the top side of the skimming member  14 . The U-bolt  26  is oriented in such a way that the ends of the U-shape are contacting the top side of the skimming member  14  and the rounded end of the U-shape extends upwardly from the skimming member  14 . The U-bolt  26  further includes a rod  27 . The rod  27  extends through the middle of the U-bolt  26 . The flat bar  15  has a distal end. The distal end of the flat bar  15  is the end further away from the clamp  22  secured on the member  12 . The distal end of the flat bar  15  extends through the U-bolt  26 . The flat bar  15  includes a plurality of notches  24 . The distal end of the flat bar  15  further includes a hook  25 . The hook  25  is configured to engage with the rod  27  of the U-bolt  26 . When engaged, the hook  25  will allow an operator to lift the skimming member  14 . The plurality of notches  24  is also configured to engage with the rod  27  of the U-bolt  26 . When engaged, the plurality of notches  24  will allow an operator to retain the skimming member  14  in an elevated position. 
     When the hook  25  engages with the rod  27  the skimming member  14  may be lifted by an operator. During the lifting of the skimming member  14  the flat bar  15  will pivot about the clamp  22  and the pair of attaching members will pivot about their respective hinge that connects the pair of attaching members to the bottom face of the member  12 . After lifting the skimming member  14  to a desired position, the hook  25  disposed on the distal end of the flat bar  25  will disengage with the rod  27 . The U-bolt  26  and the rod  27  will slide down the flat bar  15  towards the member  12 . The rod  27  will engage with a notch of the plurality of notches  24  along the flat bar  15 . When the rod  27  engages with a desired notch of the plurality of notches  24 , the skimming member  14  will remain static in a lifted position. The clamp  22  secures the flat bar&#39;s  15  position. The coupling of the notch of the plurality of notches  24  and the rod  27  allows the skimming member  14  to remain in a static, elevated position. When the skimming member  14  is in the static, elevated position, convenient cleaning and maintenance may be performed. The skimming member  14  will remain in the lifted position until an operator performs a proper action to release the rod  27  from the notch of the plurality of notches  24  and allow the U-bolt  26  and the rod  27  to slide down the flat bar  15  away from the member  14 . 
     Each hinge allows the respective attaching member of the pair of attaching member  13  to pivot at an angle independent of an angle that the flat bar  15  pivots about the clamp  22 . Allowing the pair of attaching member  13  and the flat bar  15  to pivot at different angles relative to the member  12  permits the position of the skimming member  14  along the length of the flat bar  15  to alter as the skimming member  14  is elevated. 
     It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.