# US 2014/0151310 A1 · Water Treatment Apparatus and Method of Use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151310 A1 - Document ID: US20140151310A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/083,596 - Filed: 2013-11-19 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-20 - Assignees: Newterra Ltd. - Applicants: Newterra Ltd. - Inventors: Jason Downey; Jeff Kempson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151310A1 ## CPC - B01D 21/0051: {Plurality of tube like channels} - B01D 21/0003: {Making of sedimentation devices, structural details thereof, e.g. prefabricated parts} - B01D 21/0057: {with counter-current flow direction of liquid and solid particles} - B01D 21/0069: {Making of contact surfaces, structural details, materials therefor} - B01D 21/10: {Settling tanks with multiple outlets for the separated liquids} - B01D 21/2416: {Liquid distributors with a plurality of feed points} - B01D 21/2444: {Discharge mechanisms for the classified liquid} - B01D 21/0045: {Plurality of essentially parallel plates} - B01D 21/245: {Discharge mechanisms for the sediments} - Y02W 10/10: Biological treatment of water, waste water, or sewage - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract Apparatus for treating water has a container having a clarification zone, a water entry arrangement for flowing water into the clarification zone, and skimmer elements mounted to the container for partial immersion in the water in the clarification zone. Each skimmer element has a transfer channel for transferring a flow of clarified water from a layer of the water to a predetermined depth in the clarification zone and to direct the received clarified water to a water exit arrangement. A height adjustment mechanism is used for differentially adjusting the heights of the skimmer elements and their transfer channels relative to the container so as to compensate for the clarifier being installed on sloping ground. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus for treating water comprising a container having a clarification zone, a water entry arrangement for flowing water into the clarification zone, a plurality of skimmer elements mounted to the container for partial immersion in the water in the clarification zone, each skimmer element having a transfer channel for transferring a flow of clarified water from a layer of the water to a predetermined depth in the clarification zone and to direct the received clarified water to a water exit arrangement, and a height adjustment mechanism for differentially adjusting the heights of the skimmer elements and their transfer channels relative to the container. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Apparatus for treating water as claimed in claim 1, the height adjustment mechanism being a screw mechanism. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Apparatus for treating water as claimed in claim 1, the height adjustment mechanism being an angular rotation mechanism. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, each skimmer element having a dedicated height adjustment mechanism. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the height adjustment mechanism linking a plurality of the skimmer elements, the height adjustment mechanism operable to adjust the heights of said plurality of skimmer elements in common. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, at least one of the skimmer elements including a generally horizontally extending hollow pipe, a lower part of the pipe interior defining a boundary part of the respective transfer channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Apparatus for treating water as claimed in claim 6, the position of the transfer channel relative to water when occupying the clarification zone determining the thickness of said layer of water. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Apparatus for treating water as claimed in claim 1, the transfer channel having a contiguous downwardly extending pipe section having an entrance aperture for defining a level within the clarification zone from which water when occupying the clarification zone flows through the respective skimmer element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Apparatus for treating water as claimed in claim 1, the water exit arrangement including an outlet trough to receive the clarified water flowing through the transfer channels. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) Apparatus for treating water as claimed in claim 9, the transfer channels and the outlet trough permitting gravity flow of water from the skimmer elements to the exit trough. ### Claim 11 A method for preparing apparatus for treating water, the apparatus having a container having a clarification zone, a water entry arrangement for flowing water into the clarification zone, a plurality of skimmer elements mounted to the container for partial immersion in the water in the clarification zone, each skimmer element having a transfer channel for transferring a flow of clarified water from a layer of the water to a predetermined depth in the clarification zone and to direct the received clarified water to a water exit arrangement, the method comprising differentially adjusting the heights of the skimmer elements relative to the container. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising individually adjusting the heights of the skimmer elements relative to the container. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising commonly adjusting the heights of the skimmer elements relative to the container. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising operating at least one screw mechanism to adjust the heights of the skimmer elements. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising operating at least one angular rotation mechanism to adjust the heights of the skimmer elements. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) A method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising gravity flowing the water from the clarification zone into each skimmer element, and from each skimmer element into the exit trough. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising setting a position of the skimmer element and thereby its transfer channel to predetermine the thickness of said layer of water, and flowing the water through said transfer channel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) A method as claimed in claim 16, the transfer channel having a contiguous pipe section having an entrance aperture, the method further comprising adjusting the contiguous pipe section and thereby said entrance aperture whereby to define a level from which water is drawn from the clarification zone into the skimmer element.