Launder cover for use in a clarifier tank

A cover system for use in a water treatment tank apparatus having an influent, at least one substantially vertical peripheral wall having an upper and interior surface, a peripheral scum baffle having inside and outside surfaces, a substantially vertical weir connected to said vertical peripheral wall, a spillway, and a launder channel having a width, said cover system comprising:

• a plurality of launder covers, each including at least one panel member, said cover means having first and second ends, said first end being secured to the tank and said second end positioned over at least a portion of the launder channel and radially outwards from said vertical weir, for preventing light from reaching interior surfaces thereof, said at least one panel member being dimensioned to span the width of said launder channel and being comprised of a substantially opaque material, whereby the growth of algae on fluid contacting surfaces of the launder channel is inhibited;
• support means coupled to said tank wall for supporting said first end of said cover means;
• a support flange for supporting said panel member at said substantially vertical wall so that said second end of said cover means is cantilevered over said vertical weir and terminates at a free end, said support flange having a first end and a second end distal to said first end, said first end secured to said launder channel;
• and
• pivot means coupled to said second end of said support flange and to said panel member for pivoting said cover means about said pivot axis between a first closed position and a second open position so as to allow access for cleaning of said launder channel;
• said plural covers being secured together such that a second side of a first launder cover is secured to a first side of a next adjacent one of said launder covers to form a cover system extending about the launder channel.

In a water treatment tank apparatus including an influent, a centrally mounted launder channel, said launder channel having a first weir end and a second weir end, a substantially vertical first weir connected to said first weir end, a substantially vertical second weir connected to said second weir end, said launder channel having a width, the improvement comprising:

• cover means, including at least one panel member, said cover means having first and second ends, said first end of said cover means being secured to said first weir end and said second end of said cover means secured to said second weir end and over at least a portion of the launder channel and radially outwards from said first and second vertical weirs, for preventing light from reaching interior surfaces thereof, said at least one panel member being dimensioned to span the width of said launder channel and being comprised of a substantially opaque material, whereby the growth of algae on fluid contacting surfaces of the launder channel is inhibited;
• first support means coupled to said first weir end for supporting said first end of said cover means;
• second support means coupled to said second weir end for supporting said second end of said cover means, said second support means support having first and second ends, said first end secured to said second weir end of said launder channel, said second end provided with a pivot axis of rotation;
• and
• pivot means coupled to said second end of said second support means and to said panel member for pivoting said cover means about said pivot axis away from said tank between a first closed position and a second open position so as to allow access for cleaning of said launder channel.