Sludge harvester improvements

Apparatus for collecting solids settling at the bottom of a liquid reservoir, the apparatus including:

• a) a plurality of suction head assemblies, each suction head assembly including a hollow suction head configured to cause agitation of solids settling in or around the suction head and to draw the solids entrained in a liquid flow into one or more outlets of the suction head, wherein the plurality of suction head assemblies are arranged side-by-side and supported on skids to assist the apparatus traverse along the bottom of the liquid reservoir and wherein each suction head includes an elongated dome shaped housing which has an open lower side defining a mouth and a skirt disposed around the mouth to at least one of improve containment of the collected solids;
• b) a manifold connected to the plurality of suction head assemblies, the manifold including a body having:
• i) one or more inlets coupled to the one or more outlets of each suction head to permit the collected solids entrained in the liquid flow to pass into the manifold, the one or more inlets being disposed in a horizontal portion of the manifold to promote mixing of solids and entrained liquid flow from each suction head assembly, coupling members extending upwardly from the top of each suction head to the horizontal portion, which is centrally aligned with respect to the plurality of suction heads;
• and,
• ii) one or more discharge ports configured to expel the collected solids entrained in the liquid flow from the manifold;
• and,
• c) a pumping arrangement that draws in liquid and entrained solids from the suction head assemblies via the manifold and discharges the liquid and entrained solids via a discharge pipe.