Screening device having pivotable screening panels

A screening device for mechanically separating and extracting solid elements, solid bodies or solid matter from a stream of liquid of a liquid flowing in a sluice channel, in particular, a screen or filter grating for process, cooling water or effluent currents or for use in sewage treatment plants or hydroelectric power stations, the screening device comprising:

• a plurality of screening panels, which are substantially oriented transversely to a flow direction of the stream of liquid, and which each have a screening surface with a plurality of screening surface openings, wherein the screening panels form a circulating, continuous screening belt, which are adapted to be partially immersed in the stream of liquid and in which a plurality of successive screening panels, arranged adjacent to one another in a direction of motion of the continuous screening belt, form a common screening surface in the sluice channel;
• and
• a drive to drive the continuous screening belt in a circulatory motion,
• wherein the screening panels are arranged successively in the continuous screening belt such that the circulatory motion of the continuous screening belt is kept completely within a single plane,
• wherein pivot axes, about which the screening panels are pivoted at return points of the continuous screening belt, lie perpendicular to the common screening surface,
• wherein the screening surface of the plurality of screening panels has a plurality of recesses and/or elevations running adjacent to one another across the screening surface, and
• wherein, the plurality of screening panels have, on an inflow side thereof, a fish-lifting trough, the fish-lifting trough being arranged and designed such that, with respect to the screening panels moving upwards it is located at a lower end, with respect to the screening panels moving upwards it forms a liquid-filled collection recess for aquatic animals located in the particular screening panel, which collecting recess is lifted, in the movement direction of the continuous screening belt out of the stream of liquid together with the screening panel, together with the liquid contained in the collecting recess and together with aquatic animals caught in the liquid, when the continuous screening belt moves, and is emptied out into a collecting channel in the upper return area of the continuous screening belt in an emptying area of the screening device by tipping the screening panel and the collecting recess, the cleaning area of the screening device, which has a device for cleaning the debris from the screening surfaces is arranged so far behind the emptying area in the direction of motion of the continuous screening belt that the collecting recesses are emptied before they reach the cleaning area.