Patent ID: 12194399

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Turning now to the detailed description of the disclosure, there is shown inFIG.1, a prior art flex rake apparatus1having a thin plate apparatus for removing debris from water. The purpose of inclusion of this in the disclosure is to show the conventional parts of such an apparatus.

There is shown inFIG.2A, which is a schematic of the internal apparatus of a flex rake, a portion of the first novel component of this disclosure. There is shown two, parallel elongated rails33(only one shown). There is a first support arm2used in conjunction with the pivotal head8(FIG.4A) of the flex rake to move the drive chain3out of line with regard to any large object4(e.g., debris) (FIG.2B) that is brought from the water to the surface for disposal and at the same time, maintaining the skimmers5in position near the screen6. The large object4has a tendency to obstruct the apparatus and make it ineffective for the work that it is supposed to do.FIG.2Ashows the normal position of the chain3, andFIG.2Bshows the chain3in a flexed position.FIG.2Cis an enlarged figure to show the mounting10of an upper and a lower first support arm2and the elongated rail33. The distal end42of the upper first support arm2may be attached to a side wall40of a housing for the flex rake apparatus at attachment point41and the distal end of the lower first support arm2may be attached to the side wall40at attachment point45. Also shown is a guide device34(e.g., a roller, a guide, a contour member, and/or an engagement feature) mounted at or about the top43and at or about the bottom44of the elongated rail33. Each of the support arms2may have mounted on it at a distal end a guide device35(e.g., a roller, a guide, a contour member, and/or an engagement feature) configured to assist the movement of and/or engage the chain7.

The pivoting drive head is comprised of a hinging drive head8, drive sprocket9, parallel support members53.

When the flex rake is installed at 30 degrees from vertical, two mechanisms accomplish this. First, the weight of the chain3and skimmers5leaning at 30 degrees along the surface of the screen6along with the flexing capability of the flex links7(FIG.2A) of the chain3creates skimmer contact with the screen6along with the ability to flex away for larger debris. The second feature that creates this functionality at 30 degrees is the hanging drive head (pivotal drive head)8,FIGS.4A to4E. The pivotal drive head8and the drive sprocket9swing out of the way (SeeFIG.4B) when large debris moves up to the top of the screen6. In a vertical or near vertical application, this functionality is lost. At vertical or near vertical, the skimmers5do not push up against the screen6, but instead they hang freely from the drive sprocket9. This creates a problem because without the pressure of the skimmers5to the screen6, debris can get between the skimmers5and the screen6and fall back down into the water channel.

In order to create this functionality at all angles including vertical, the inventors herein have created a novel disclosure that gives the same functionality at all angles. The pivotal head8, the drive sprocket9, and the support arm2are attached to the structure of the machine in such a way that they pivot to engage with the chain3in order to apply pressure to the skimmers5into the screen6while still allowing the chain links7to flex away from the screen6by pivoting out of the way.

This apparatus can be used in flex rakes having fixed drive heads, as well as pivotable drive heads. In prior apparatuses, the drive heads were not fixed, that is, they had to be pivotable in order to pass the obstructions provided by large objects. Now, there is a means of using fixed heads in such apparatuses. This component allows the flex rake to be used essentially vertically, or it can allow the flex rake to be used on an angle relative to vertical.

The pivotal drive heads8of this disclosure are also novel, in that, the same functionality can be had in all configurations of the flex rake. The pivoting drive head8can be used without the flexing apparatus in flex rakes installed at 15 degrees from vertical or higher.

A shown inFIG.4A, the pivotal drive8head comprises a pair of space-apart, parallel support members54, wherein each such member54has a near end55, a distal end56and a middle portion57(seeFIG.4D). Each of the near ends55is pivotally attached at58to a framework59of the rake screen. Each member54is pivotally attached at60to a drive sprocket9that is mounted on the ends of a common drive shaft62. Each of the drive sprockets9is attached to each respective parallel support member63near the middle portion57of the parallel support member54. The distal end of the member54has attached thereto a stop foot65for the apparatus (seeFIGS.4F and4G). The stop foot65has mounted on it a foot68having two faces66and67. These two faces66and67are stop points for the rotation of the pivot head and essentially stop the pivot head8from a full rotation. The pivot head8can only rotate to the extent that it engages with one of the two faces66and67. Each of the support members54, sprocket9and the common drive shaft62are pivotable away from the rake screen framework to that extent.

The flexible chain links7function by holding pressure to the screen6using the weight of the chain links7and skimmers5, then flexing out of the way for large debris4when the large debris4gets to the top of the screen. Instead of the drive head8swinging out of the way with the anchor points30above the drive head8, it pivots out of the way with the anchor points30below the drive head8. The pivoting drive head8can also be used in applications installed at 0 to 15 degrees in conjunction with the flexing apparatus.

Turning now to the duel wiping blades11of this disclosure, there are several known debris blades currently in use, however, they are single wiper blade apparatuses. Wiper blades of this disclosure are shown inFIGS.3A to3H. One of the largest problems in the industry with cleaning skimmers5is the fact that they may not completely clean each skimmer or wipe the wrapped “rags” off when they swipe the skimmers5. The novel duel blades11of this disclosure wipe each skimmer5twice each time that the skimmer5passes this cleaning mechanism. This ensures that debris is cleaned off the skimmer5by fully wiping the skimmer5at least two times. Shown inFIGS.3A,3B, and3C, is the position of the dual wiper blades11within the flex rake apparatus.

Shown inFIG.3Dis the first wiping blade47that is fixed in a first notch37in support38and second wiping blade48is fixed in a second notch37in support38. Moving fromFIG.3DtoFIG.3H, the operation of the dual wiper blades11is shown.

The enclosure cap12of this disclosure is designed to cover the top of the flex rake and its top most components (SeeFIG.6A). The enclosure cap12of this disclosure is also designed to allow the enclosure cap12to pivot out of the way (SeeFIG.6B) when a large object4arrives at the top of the mechanism. In addition, the enclosure cap12of this disclosure will open widely to allow for the inspection and removal of debris that may become jammed in the apparatus (SeeFIG.6C). the closure cap12is comprised of a top panel49, a bottom panel50, two side panels51(only one side shown) and a front panel52. As shown inFIG.6C, the cap12opens, or pivots away from the top of the flex rake apparatus to allow access into the interior of the flex rake upper area.

A very novel feature of this disclosure is the modularity that is built into the flex rake. The newest versions of the flex rake that are covered by this disclosure are designed in modules such that each section of the machine houses different components. The flex rake has a screen module13,FIGS.5A and5B, a drive module14,FIGS.5C and5D, an enclosure module15,FIGS.5E and5F, and an effector module16.FIGS.5H, and a portion of an effector module5I, can also be added as different modules to the flex rake. Each section can be used or exchanged to accommodate various functionalities as needed.FIG.5Gshows the drive module14and screen module13in combination.FIG.5Hshows a combination of a drive module14, a screen module13and an effector module16in combination.

For example, in order to modify a ¼ inch teardrop bar screen17as shown inFIG.5G, to a ¾ inch teardrop bar screen the only module affected would be the screen module13. The drive module14and enclosure module15would remain the same. This modularity allows for greater flexibility in design and functionality for the new flex rake equipment. The new equipment could have a ¼ inch teardrop bar screen that has been unchanged except for the screen module that has been changed to a ¾ inch teardrop bar screen. If a customer had this need the flex rake can be adapted to that need without replacing the whole piece of equipment.

The disclosure herein has another novel feature, and that is the capability of not only replacing individual modules, but also to add modules as necessary to increase or change the functionality of the flex rake.

With reference toFIGS.5G and5H, there is shown a machine with a ¼ inch teardrop screen in the screen section that is replaced by a 2 mm perforated screen6for that section (FIG.5G). A flexing apparatus is added to the machine to work in conjunction with the 2 mm perforated screen (FIG.5H). The existing drive section14and enclosure sections15remain the same except for the addition of a drive shaft and gearbox that is used to power the flexing apparatus module.

Various screen sizes and configurations can be exchanged in the screen section without affecting the other modules. The enclosure section can be modified or exchanged to accommodate larger debris as required without affecting the other sections of the machine. The drive section can be modified to accommodate higher speeds or lifting capacity without affecting the other modules, and other modules can be added to the machine for other capabilities such as the flexing apparatus modules as shown in theFIG.5H.

It is also contemplated within the scope of this disclosure to completely enclose the flex rake of this disclosure with all of its component parts. Such an enclosure is illustrated inFIGS.5E and5F.

The novel effector module16of this disclosure is illustrated inFIG.5Iand consists of a frame32consisting of two sides18and18′ and a common axle19between them which is located near the top20of the effector module16.

There is also shown a second common axle21which is located between the sides18and18′. Shown at one end of the axle is a drive mechanism that in this particular case, is commonly driven by a motor22shown inFIG.5Hand a drive mechanism23consisting of normal accompanying gears and the like. The second common axle21is driven by the drive mechanism23and drives sprockets (not shown) that have flex linked chains24on each end of the second common axle21that has attached to it a series of effector plates25, which effector plates25are configured to align with the perforated screen6(best shown inFIG.5H). The effector plates25are perforated26such that water can flow from them.

The effector plates25are equipped to receive water from a delivery system illustrated generally as27, and are synchronized to allow the flow of water when they are aligned with the perforated plate6. Only one series of effector plates is shown for clarity, it being understood that there are multiple cross members25and multiple series of effector plates25in the apparatus.

The removal of debris from a statically positioned perforated screen for the purpose of water filtration requires a very distinct series of dynamics to effectively remove the debris without applying destructive forces to the perforated screen element.

The application of a statically positioned screen inherently requires the debris to be removed from the screen area that is at the effect of the hydrostatic and flow forces of the incoming dirty water. The first dynamic necessity is to reduce or remove the hydrostatic pressure holding the debris against the screen over an area large enough to dislodge the debris relative to the size of the debris.

In the case of the application of a statically positioned perforated screen in municipal waste water, this debris can range from essentially 0.0001 m2 to 0.1 m2. Failure to reduce or remove the hydrostatic force holding the debris to the screen element will result in the failure to effectively remove the debris, unless scraping forces that exceed the hydrostatic forces are applied to the moving of the debris along the screen surface, which in prior art devices, damage occurs to the screen element.

To reduce or remove this hydrostatic force in the case of the perforated plate screen, a device called an Effector™ (Duperon Innovations, Saginaw, Michigan USA) is positioned very near to or intimate to the downstream side of the perforated screen. This device reduces or removes the hydrostatic on the debris by transferring these forces to the surface of the device near or intimate to the screen. In addition to this transfer of force, a diverted flow pattern is created about the device.

This diverted flow pattern has a distinct effect on any debris that is dislodged. This effect can and will move debris along the surface of the screen by utilizing the higher velocity flows diverting around the surface of the Effector device that is near or intimate to the screen. In addition and related to this diverted flow pattern, a low force pocket is formed on the upstream side of the screen in front of the Effector, relative to the size of the Effector and the velocity of the incoming water stream.

This low force pocket forms a space for the debris to gather after it has been removed from the screen. In addition to the function of the Effector, there is a sprayer integrated into the Effector, spraying from the downstream through the screen to the upstream side of the screen. The purpose of the sprayer is to positively dislodge the debris from the screen that has stapled (reached through) the perforations of the screen. The sprayer is positioned relative to the low force pocket.

To collect the dislodged debris and transfer it to discharge point, a skimmer device5positioned on the upstream side of the screen17moves relative to the position of the Effector plate25. The position of the skimmer device, relative to the Effector, is critical to the distinct formation of the low force pocket and the direction of the diverted flow pattern in front of the Effector plate25.

Each of these dynamics are interdependent. The reduction or exclusion of any of these dynamics greatly reduces or negates the ability to remove the debris from the statically positioned perforated screen in the design of the perforated plate. For example, by eliminating the low force pocket in front of the Effector, the sprayer, in and of itself, is unable to neatly remove the range of debris from the screen so the skimmer device can collect the debris for transport. This is due to the effective spray force required for debris with a large area which differs greatly from that required for small debris, in an uncontrolled environment. The combined effects of the low force pocket and the diverted flow patterns, equilibrate the spray forces required to neatly dislodge the debris from the screen and allows the skimmer device5to collect the debris.

In addition to the primary debris removal device used in the clearing of debris from a perforated plate filtration screen, such as a skimmer, scraper or sprayer, a novel secondary skimming device28follows after the primary, attached to, or near to the primary device (trash screen), or in a position preceding the introduction of more debris to the perforated screen. Preferred mounting is to have the secondary skimmer mounted on the bottom of the primary skimmer, and extending forward past the leading edge of the primary skimmer, (SeeFIGS.7and8), using a mounting plate29as shown inFIG.9.

The purpose of this device is to clear fibrous material from the screen that has reached through the perforated screen and is unaffected by typical primary removal devices. This failure of fibrous debris remaining on the screen is called “stapling”.

The device is a thin and flexible sheet that is formed, or fixed to its attachment point, in a manner to allow consistent force along its edge, to the surface of the perforated screen. The material hardness of the sheet is designed to be sacrificial to the perforated screen and the thickness of the sheet is designed to maintain a consistent effective sharpness along its edge regardless of wear along the edge of the sheet.

The ability of the device to remove singular fiber or masses containing multiple fibers lies in the combination of the low consistent force and consistent effective sharpness. As the device moves along the inlet side surface of a perforated screen, the sharp edge gathers the fibrous material and moves it along the surface of the perforated screen to a point where it can be discharged.

This device is affixed to the bottom surface of the primary skimmers such that it touches the perforated screen, and hence, the fibrous material positioned in the perforations of the perforated screen. (SeeFIG.4A).