Wastewater screening, washing and dewatering system

A cleaning system for removing solid matter accumulating on the surface of a screen in a liquid stream comprising:

• a vacuum head having a suction orifice positionable proximate to surface of the screen;
• means for generating liquid suction forces at the suction orifice of the vacuum head;
• and
• means for moving the vacuum head across the surface of the screen with the suction orifice in close proximity to the surface of the screen, wherein liquid and solid matter accumulated on the screen are drawn into the vacuum head.

A method of removing solid particles from a contaminated fluid flow stream comprising the steps of:

• introducing the contaminated fluid into and through a screen having a surface containing a plurality of openings of a predetermined size and positioned across the width and height of said fluid flow path;
• removing the solid particles which become entrapped on the surface of said screen because their physical size prevents them from passing through the openings by suction forces from a suction conduit positioned in close proximity to the surface of said screen;
• communicating the suction conduit with a means of creating said suction forces;
• utilizing said means for creating said suction forces to effect the conveyance of said solid particles in a carrying liquid through a closed conduit to a discharge point an undetermined distance away from the fluid flow stream for subsequent washing and dewatering;
• reducing the physical size of a portion of said solid particles by causing them to pass through a means to create turbulence in the carrying liquid;
• removing the reduced size particles and most of the carrying liquid from said solids;
• and
• discharging the remaining solid particles wherein the discharged particles have minimal amounts of small materials and carrying liquid present.