Abstract: A guide assembly for a floating cover of a sludge digester tank includes a track having a pair of opposing surfaces facing one another to define a vertical guide channel or track connected to the tank or the floating cover. At least one slider member is disposed in the channel for vertical motion therein. The slider member is connected to the other of the tank or the floating cover. Two bearing strips are attached to the slider member for engaging opposing surfaces of the track in a low-friction slidable contact. The bearing strips are vertically removable from the slider member, so that the bearing strips may be replaced without removing the slider member from the guide channel.

Abstract: A header conduit assembly for a sediment collecting apparatus includes a tubular member having a plurality of mutually spaced (suction) orifices disposed in a linear array extending parallel to an axis of the tubular member. The conduit assembly further includes at least one elongate deflector member mounted to the tubular member in effective proximity to at least some of the orifices to guide sediment toward the orifices during a sediment evacuation process. Preferably, the deflector member extends parallel to the axis of the tubular member. Inasmuch as the tubular conduit member extends perpendicularly to a direction of movement of the conduit assembly on the floor of a clarification basin or tank, the deflector is oriented orthogonally to the path of the conduit assembly.