Portable system for dewatering contents of sanitary sewer traps

A vehicle for collecting and dewatering the contents of sanitary sewer traps which includes solids and water, said vehicle comprising:

• a frame;
• an elongated tank mounted on said frame, said tank having a rearward end and a forward end;
• means carried on said frame for elevating said forward end, said tank being pivotally connected to said frame adjacent said rearward end;
• a generally vertically positioned divider wall disposed inside said tank dividing said tank into a rearward compartment for receiving the contents of said traps and a forward compartment adjacent said forward end;
• a crossover pipe for conveying supernatant liquid from said rearward compartment to said forward compartment and having a first leg extending generally parallel to said wall from a location adjacent the floor of said rearward compartment, a second leg extending into said forward compartment, and an intermediate portion joining said legs;
• inlet conduit means extending into said rearward compartment for conveying the contents of said traps into said rearward compartment and having an outlet end positioned in said rearward compartment;
• pump means for selectively establishing a subatmospheric pressure in said rearward compartment or said forward compartment;
• and
• means for venting said rearward compartment to atmosphere whereby upon elevating the tank, venting said rearward compartment, establishing a subatmospheric pressure in the forward compartment and controllably lowering said tank, supernatant liquid is drawn into said forward compartment.