# US 4,381,237 A · Sludge robot

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- Number: US 4,381,237 A
- Document ID: US4381237A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/285,107
- Filed: 1981-07-17
- Granted: 1983-04-26
- Earliest claimed: 1979-11-20
- Inventors: Tord Svensson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4381237A

## CPC

- B01D 21/245: {Discharge mechanisms for the sediments}
- B01D 21/30: Control equipment
- H02K 5/167: using sliding-contact or spherical cap bearings
- 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)
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})

## Abstract

A sludge robot for the removal of sludge from sedimentation tanks having planar bottoms comprises a rising tube (3) and two tube arms (5, 8) which are interconnected by two motor couplings (1, 2), by means of which the tube arms can be steered along a predetermined track over the whole bottom of the tank and suck the whole bottom free from sludge through a suction opening. Steering of the motor couplings is carried out by means of a micro dator (18) programmed for the relevant tank size. The sludge robot operates close to the tank bottom all the time and permits other applications in the upper portion of the tank. Starting time and cycle time for the sludge robot are adjustable.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sludge robot for removal of sludge and sedimental particles from a sedimentation tank or the like and comprising a rising tube and at least two tube arms of which one is rotatably connected to the rising tube at its one end and the second tube arm is rotatably connected to the other end of said one tube arm and at its one end and has a suction inlet at its other, free end, characterized by the provision of motor couplings, which interconnect said one tube arm with the rising tube on one hand and the second tube arm on the other hand, for rotating the two tube arms which are provided in the lower portion of the tank, adjacent to its bottom according to a predetermined program, and control means for steering the motor couplings in such a way that the suction inlet moves in a predetermined movement pattern over substantially the whole bottom of the tank.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Sludge robot according to claim 1, characterized in that said control means is a micro-computer programmed for the relevant tank size.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

Sludge robot according to claim 2, characterized in that the motor couplings comprise induction motors.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

Sludge robot according to claim 3, characterized by the provision of transmitters and receivers associated therewith for the control of the micro-computer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

Sludge robot according to claim 1, characterized in that the motor couplings are manufactured of plastic which constitutes slide bearings for the couplings, which comprise a motor having a stator and a rotor which are embedded by molding in said plastic.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Sludge robot according to claim 1, characterized in that the motor couplings are constructed as step motors, which are steerable stepwise into fixed positions by said control means.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Sludge robot according to claim 1, characterized in that the motor couplings have the same inside diameter as the tube arms, so that no restriction of the sludge transport occurs.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

Sludge robot according to claim 1, characterized by the provision of a timing knob for the control of the length of the movement pattern or the sludge suction cycle.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

Sludge robot according to claim 1, characterized by the provision of a timer for starting a sludge sucking cycle.