Liquid purification or separation – With repair or assembling means – Hoist or handle means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-09
2001-08-07
Savage, Matthew O. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
With repair or assembling means
Hoist or handle means
C210S242100, C210S396000, C210S402000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270669
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to rotary drum strainers and particularly to rotary drum strainers that are self-cleaning.
2. Description of Related Art
Strainers are used in association with motor-driven pumps that suck water out of outdoor pits, reservoirs, streams, ponds, and the like, for mining, irrigation, or watering purposes. Typically, strainers are connected to pumps by a long intake conduit or hose that extends from the strainer in the body of water to a pump on land. Strainers are placed on the end of the intake to prevent debris, small stones and other objects from being sucked into the pump while pumping. As a pump is operated, the strainer may be covered with leaves and other large pieces of debris that are drawn to the strainer. This material eventually blocks the strainer openings, thereby reducing the flow of water through the strainer, possibly even shutting it off entirely. Once plugged, the strainer must be removed from the water and cleaned. During this time, no water can be pumped. Depending on the water source, this cleaning operation can be frequently required, making the pumping operation inefficient.
To overcome this problem, self-cleaning strainers have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,275,656, 5,108,592, and 4,822,486 use water fed from the pressure side of the pump to rotate and clean the screen. This water washes debris from the screen while the pump is in operation. However, the volume of water delivered to a pump is reduced using this method because some water is redirected to the strainer. Moreover, this method of cleaning and rotating the screen depends on pump pressure being high enough to effectively clean and rotate the screen. Finally, although the devices clean the strainer, the debris removed from the strainer remains in the body of water near the strainer. This debris is then pulled right back onto the strainer where it must be washed off again. Thus, this method is not efficient.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,822 illustrates a drum-like screen that is placed horizontally in a ditch and held partially out of the water by attached legs. It is designed to be transportable. However, it is designed to be used primarily in only irrigation ditches. Although this device is an improvement over the others, it benefits from two advantages of controlled operating circumstances. First, because it is intended for use in irrigation ditches, the movement of water can be controlled. Second, the water level can be controlled. Thus, the strainer may rest on the ditch floor and does not have to be raised or lowered with changes in water level. These conditions are not often found in many bodies of water.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention overcomes the problems and limitations of the previously mentioned devices. It is an object of this invention to provide a rugged, self-cleaning rotary intake filter that can be transported and quickly set up for adverse conditions in a variety of water bodies.
It is another object of the invention to provide a simple, effective and efficient way of rotating and cleaning the screen.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a means to carry the screen during transport, and to place the screen for operation.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a means whereby the invention can be suspended from a lifting source such as a boom extending from the pump frame.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a means for flotation whereas the invention floats at the correct level in the water for efficient operation in different depths of water.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a means for containment of debris being cleaned off the screen
It is a further object of the invention to provide a means for supporting the invention so that the device may be placed on the floor of the water body if so desired.
With these objects in mind, the invention is a rotary water intake drum that has a self-cleaning system attached. This system uses a rotating brush, mounted on the outside of a drum, to brush debris from the surface of the drum. The debris is collected in a holding bin located under the brush. The system uses a collector to remove debris from the holding bin when it is filled. In this way, debris is removed completely from the intake, rather than merely brushing it from the drum into the water flow, where it is immediately sucked onto the drum again. As the brush rotates, the drum rotates. As the drum rotates, the flexible bristles on the brush flick the debris from the screen on the drum into the holding bin. This action automatically removes debris as the drum is working. Other features of the invention include a framework for placing and operating the drum and the collection system. Moreover, this system is designed for use in different types of water and at different depths.
REFERENCES:
patent: 658196 (1900-09-01), Whitney
patent: 793720 (1905-04-01), Godbe
patent: 3347379 (1967-10-01), Miller
patent: 4017394 (1977-04-01), Hensley
patent: 5052855 (1991-10-01), Chapman et al.
Savage Matthew O.
Tavella Michael J.
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