De-sludging systems
AssigneeThomas Willett & Co. Ltd.
InventorsJohn Matheson, Peter Hassall, Colin Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for periodically drawing accumulated sludge (12) from a settlement tank (10) includes a hydraulically powered ram type positive displacement pump (14), operation thereof being controlled automatically in a timed or other sequence in response to signals derived from a pressure transducer (34), conveniently in the hydraulic supply line (24), said signals being a function of the pressure exerted by the pump ram (22) in operation and hence the density or other properties of the material being handled by the pump, a higher pressure showing the presence of sludge and a lower pressure its absence.
Claims11
Pumping apparatus for automatic de-sludging including a ram-type positive displacement pump having a suction inlet connection for operatively drawing accumulations of sludge from a settling tank or other processing or holding vessel and a delivery outlet for onward transmission of said sludge;
- hydraulic drive means powering the pump for reciprocation of the pump ram;
- and control means including a pressure transducer providing a signal which is a function of the pressure exerted by said ram in the course of each delivery stroke of the pump, and feedback means regulating operation of the pump automatically as a function of said signal whereby said operation is suspended or deferred when said pressure exerted by said ram falls below a predetermined level due to the lower viscosity of the material passing through the pump once an accumulation of sludge has been substantially removed from said vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.