US 5,720,890 A · Weir cleaning apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning algae and debris from the inner and outer surfaces of a weir and the top surface and outer side wall of a spillway in a water treatment tank. A main frame is mounted on the revolving skimmer arm of the tank. A pair of brushes pivotally mounted to a lower end of a support arm have bristles facing in inwardly opposed relation to engage each side of the weir for cleaning both side surfaces of the weir. The support arm is connected to the main frame by a universal joint to pivot in a vertical plane and move in and out relative to the center of rotation to compensate for out-of-round weir surfaces. The brushes are spring biased downwardly in a vertical position and pivotally mounted to the support arm to allow pivotal movement when their lower ends engage a bracket or obstruction so that they pass thereover and return to the vertical position. A third brush connected with the pair of brushes engages and cleans the upper surface of the spillway adjacent the weir. A fourth brush pivotally mounted in a vertical position to the lower end of a second support arm engages and cleans the outer surface of the spillway. A tension spring connects the main frame and second support arm and allows the fourth brush to move in and out relative to the center of rotation to compensate for out-of-round spillway surfaces.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An apparatus for cleaning algae and other debris from the inner and outer surfaces of a generally circular weir supported on a spillway of a round water treatment tank including a central influent, a revolving skimmer arm, a generally circular baffle, and a peripheral clean water flow channel, comprising:

frame means mounted on said revolving skimmer arm and driven around the full circumference of said generally circular weir by said skimmer arm;
first cleaning means including a support arm pivotally connected at an upper end to said frame means to pivot in a vertical plane relative thereto and for movement in an inward and outward direction in relation to the center of rotation of said skimmer arm to compensate for out-of-round and imperfect circular weir surfaces, and a pair of brushes pivotally mounted at a lower end of said support arm with their bristles facing each other in laterally opposed relation to be received and engaged one on each side of said weir for cleaning said inner and outer surfaces of said weir.

A method for cleaning algae and other debris from the inner and outer surfaces of a generally circular weir supported on a spillway of a round water treatment tank having a central influent, a revolving skimmer arm, a generally circular baffle, and a peripheral clean water flow channel, comprising the steps of:

mounting a frame on said revolving skimmer arm;
said frame having a support arm connected thereto to pivot in a vertical plane and move in a horizontal inward and outward direction in relation to the center of rotation of said skimmer arm and a pair of brushes mounted to a lower end of said support arm with their bristles facing in laterally opposed relation, said pair of brushes spring biased downwardly by a positive spring force;
placing said pair of brushes on said weir to straddle said weir with said pair of brushes engaged on the inner and outer surfaces, respectively;
and
driving said skimmer arm around the full circumference of said generally circular weir such that said brushes are pulled along said weir to clean said inner and outer surfaces of said weir;
and
said support arm moves in a hirizontal inward and outward direction in relation to the center of rotation of said skimmer arm compensating for out-of-round and imperfect circular weir surfaces to maintain engagement of said brushes on said weir.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Weir cleaning apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Weir cleaning apparatus and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18