Abstract: A rotary distributor speed control system that uses hydraulic forces is provided. This rotary distributor speed control system is part of a trickling filter used in wastewater treatment. The trickling filter includes a tank which is filled with a porous filter media, a center column that extends through the center of the tank and holds a feed pipe through which influent wastewater flows, and distribution arms that extend radially from the center well. Each distribution arm has a forward side and a reverse side. The forward side and the reverse side each define at least one orifice. Slide gates are coupled with the distribution arms, and these gates can be moved so as to cover the orifices. A slide gate valve operator is also coupled with each arm for mechanically moving the slide gates in response to a change in influent feed flow, a change in arm speed, or external conditions.

Abstract: An improved stacker assembly includes a base assembly and a hollow mast which extends upwardly from the base assembly. A cap assembly is disposed on the upper end portion of the hollow mast. A carriage is movable up and down along the mast to raise and lower a load. The base assembly includes an upwardly extending mast support assembly which is telescopically received in the lower end portion of the hollow mast. The mast support assembly includes a gripper assembly which is operable to grip the inside of the lower end portion of the hollow mast. The cap assembly includes a downwardly extending cap support which is telescopically received in an upper end portion of the hollow mast and is expandable to grip the inside of the hollow mast. In the event of a loss of tension in a support cable for the carriage, a brake assembly on the carriage grips elongated brake bars which are separate from the mast to support the carriage.

Abstract: A novel vertical drive assembly for a storage and retrieval vehicle wherein a cable drive motor is horizontally juxtaposed between a lift cable winding and unwinding drum. The vertical drive assembly is modularly assembled on a frame and is attachable and detachable from the vehicle as a unit. The vertical drive assembly comprises, in seriatim, the motor, a belt drive sprocket wheel, a drive belt, a belt driven sprocket wheel, and, juxtaposed and on the same axis as the driven sprocket wheel, an input adapter, a speed reducer, and the drum. The motor is attached to the frame by jacks used to raise and lower the motor to adjust tension in the belt. To stay within the width of the vehicle, the input adapter and speed reducer are at least partly disposed within the core of the drum with the speed reducer providing a bearing for the drum. To reduce starting inertia, sprocket wheels are fabricated from lightweight material.

Abstract: A novel dual mast storage and retrieval vehicle comprising structure which maintains each mast essentially vertical as variably weighted heavy loads are placed on a carriage disposed between the masts. Each mast is disposed near the center of a separately supported base such that bending of the base under such loads induces little off-vertical deflection to the mast. The separately supported bases are coupled by a connector which comprises cross-aisle and vertical degrees of freedom but is strictly constrained in the down-aisle direction. In the currently preferred embodiment, two down-aisle drive motors, in master/slave relationship, provide a synchronous drive for the vehicle. Further, interconnecting joints a strut at the top of the masts and of the carriage comprise hinges which resist propagation of mast induced moments caused by beam deflection or vehicle dynamics.

Abstract: A draft tube mixer is disclosed particularly adapted for use with digestion processes and apparatus wherein a vertical shaft (13) is driven by motor (15) through a suitable drive (14) to rotate a ragless propeller (12). The propeller (12) has a series of three lobes or blades (40-42) which are concentrically arranged at 120.degree. apart positions so that the minimum diameter of the blades are at the ends of a hub (43) from which the blades integrally extend. The blades extend over the length of the hub over about a 360.degree. of rotary motion helix. The blades (40-42) are symmetrical from their ends to the mid points on the vanes from either direction top or bottom so that the propeller is reversible without loss of efficiency.

Abstract: A lifting mechanism for a raking structure in a solids-liquid separation tank comprising a fixed column adapted to extend vertically within the tank, a movable column being adapted to support a raking structure for the tank, and a lift device for raising and lowering said movable column telescopically with respect to said fixed column. The lift device includes an elongate flexible tension member; a first series of load points on the fixed column at spaced intervals on the fixed column; and a second series of lift points on the movable column below said first series of points and at spaced intervals on the movable column, the tension member being alternately threaded between load and lift points of said first and second series of points, with the tension member thus being led over one of said load points, down and below one of said lift points and back up and over the next load point.

Abstract: Apparatus for backwashing the filter media of a liquid filtering machine while at the same time enabling the machine to filter liquid. The machine is of the type having a tank and a continuous bed of granular filter media in the tank through which liquid having suspended solids therein for removing the solids. The apparatus comprises a partitioning chamber and a carriage for selectively supporting and conveying the chamber above the media bed, with the chamber being insertable into the bed to isolate a portion thereof from the remainder of the bed. The apparatus further comprises a mechanism to selectively allow insertion of the chamber into the bed and to remove it, and a pump to draw liquid through the isolated portion of the bed to backwash it, while filtration may proceed in the remainder of the bed. Apparatus for removing the media from the chamber and replacing it with new, cleaned or regenerated media is also disclosed.

Abstract: A draft tube mixer is disclosed particularly adapted for use with digestion processes and apparatus wherein a vertical shaft (13) is driven by motor (15) through a suitable drive (14) to rotate a ragless propeller (12). The propeller (12) has a series of three lobes or blades (40-42) which are concentrically arranged at 120.degree. apart positions so that the minimum diameter of the blades are at the ends of a hub (43) from which the blades integrally extend. The blades extend over the length of the hub over about a 360.degree. of rotary motion. The blades (40-42) are symmetrical from their ends to the mid points on the vanes from either direction top or bottom so that the propeller is reversible without loss of efficiency.

Abstract: A lifting mechanism for a rake arm and rake structure employed to move sediments settling out from a solids-liquid slurry in a sedimentation tank, includes a fixed center column (27) in the tank and a concentric movable column (28) in telescoping relation to the fixed column. A first series of sheave assemblies (40) are attached to or fixed with respect to the fixed column and a second series of sheave assemblies (51-55) attached to the movable column at a vertically displaced distance from the first series. The respective sheave assemblies may extend in part in an annulus (34) between the fixed and movable columns and are positioned around the peripheries of the respective columns. A continuous cable (45) extends alternately between individual sheaves in each series and the ends of the cable are attached to a vertical take-up drum (38).

Abstract: An improved filtering machine of the down-flow type is disclosed wherein a particular section of a granular media filtration bed is isolated for backwashing while allowing filtration to proceed in the remainder of the bed. The filter machine includes a liquid-holding tank containing a bed of granular media, structure permitting passage of filtrate through the bed from below, a flume for distributing influent liquid containing suspended solids across the bed for downward percolation therethrough, and a partitioning chamber mounted on a carriage mechanism which selectively conveys the partitioning chamber across the surface of the bed. The partitioning chamber is reciprocatably insertable into the bed to isolate selected sections from the remainder of the bed. A pump is in communication with the partitioning chamber to draw liquid upward through the bed within the isolated section.