APARELHO DE CONTROLE DE FLUXO

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a fluid flow control apparatus, comprising a flow guide (130) upstream of a downstream device (110, 300). The flow guide (130) is configured to adjust a trajectory of a fluid passing it such that the fluid flows toward the downstream device (110, 300) in a desired trajectory, wherein the desired trajectory differs with differing flow rates of the fluid passing the flow guide. A configuration of the flow guide (130) relative to the downstream device (110, 300) is adjustable responsive to a flow rate of the fluid passing the flow guide.

Description

1 / 13 FLOW CONTROL DEVICE Cross-Reference

[0001] This application claims priority over Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2023900727, filed on March 16, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Field of Invention

[0002] The invention contained herein relates to a flow control apparatus and an associated method; more particularly, to a flow control apparatus for a sieving apparatus that separates solids from a liquid and an associated method. State of the Art

[0003] There are a variety of known sieving apparatus and methods for separating solids from a liquid, such as for thickening a paste or removing solids from effluents like sewage. Some of these apparatus and methods involve passing the liquid through a drum screen.Several types of drum screen apparatus are known, including: an internally fed type, in which the liquid-carrying solid material is fed into the inside of the drum screen before passing through openings in the screen to separate the solid material from the liquid; or an externally fed type, in which the liquid-carrying solid material is fed into an outside of the drum screen before passing through openings in the screen to separate the solid material from the liquid; wherein, in both cases, the panel may be: a fixed or rotating panel in which the panel may rotate in the same direction as the liquid flows into the panel or in a direction opposite to that in which the liquid flows into the panel; and / or a horizontal screen or an inclined screen.

[0004] In an internally fed drum screen apparatus, the influent can be pumped or gravity-fed into a tank located inside the drum screen. The tank is designed to reduce the Petition 870250090142, dated 03 / 10 / 2025, p. 6 / 30 2 / 13 Influent turbulence. The influent exits the tank through a dam and falls from the dam onto the inner surface of the drum screen. As the influent passes through the screen openings, solids are removed from the influent and accumulate within the screen.

[0005] For optimal screening performance, the influent is introduced to the inner surface of the drum screen substantially tangentially. However, this can be difficult to achieve with known dam configurations, especially in cases where there is substantial variability in influent flow rate, where: the influent may be introduced to the inner surface of the drum screen substantially tangentially when the influent flow rate is lower, but may be introduced to the inner surface of the drum screen more radially when the influent flow rate is higher; and choking of the influent flow between the dam and the inner surface of the drum screen may occur when the influent flow rate is higher.

[0006] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this descriptive report should not be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the state of the art or were common knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention, as they existed prior to the priority date of each of the appended claims. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Here is disclosed a flow control apparatus comprising: a flow guide upstream of a downstream device, the flow guide being configured to adjust the path of a fluid passing through the flow guide so that the fluid flows towards the downstream device in a desired path, wherein the desired path differs with different flow rates of the fluid passing through the flow guide; wherein a configuration of the flow guide relative to the downstream device is adjustable in response to a flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide. Petition 870250090142, dated 03 / 10 / 2025, page 7 / 30 3 / 13

[0008] The configuration of the flow guide relative to the downstream device being adjusted may include a distance between a downstream end of the flow guide and the downstream device being adjusted and / or an orientation of at least a portion of the downstream end of the flow guide relative to the downstream device being adjusted. For example, the distance between the downstream end of the flow guide and the downstream device may increase in response to an increase in the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide and / or at least the portion of the downstream end of the flow guide may be reoriented from closer to perpendicular to a surface of the downstream device to closer to parallel to the surface of the downstream device in response to an increase in the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide.The flow guide can be adjusted between a configuration where it is substantially flat and a configuration where it is gently curved.

[0009] The flow guide may be resiliently deformable to facilitate configuration of the flow guide relative to the downstream device being adjusted. The bending stiffness of the flow guide may differ across its width (i.e., between its upstream and downstream ends). Differences in the bending stiffness of the flow guide across its width may, for example, be provided by varying the thickness of the flow guide across its width and / or by reinforcing different portions of the width of the flow guide to varying degrees. The flow guide may be configured to adopt a shape close to that of an ogive dam in response to an increase in the flow rate of fluid passing through the flow guide. The flow guide may be formed from a polymer such as: a synthetic or natural rubber, for example, nitrile rubber, nitrile butadiene rubber, EPDM rubber, neoprene rubber or silicone rubber; polypropylene; or a fluoroelastomer.The polymer can be a fiber-reinforced polymer.

[0010] Alternatively, or in addition, a spring may be connected to the flow guide to facilitate setting the flow guide relative to the downstream device being adjusted. Petition 870250090142, dated 03 / 10 / 2025, page 8 / 30 4 / 13

[0011] The flow guide configuration relative to the downstream device can be adjustable in response to the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide, responding to a force applied to the flow guide by the fluid.

[0012] The flow guide may take the form of a flange. In some embodiments, the flange may have a thickness of up to about 10 mm, or up to about 5 mm, or between about 2 mm and about 5 mm, or about 3 mm. In other embodiments, the flange may be tubular and may generally have a triangular shape in cross-section. Internal reinforcing elements may extend longitudinally within the tubular flange. The flange may decrease in thickness between its upstream end and its downstream end.

[0013] The flow guide may extend from a fixed component of the apparatus located upstream of the downstream device. An upstream end of the flow guide may be fixedly connected to the fixed component. The flow guide may be suspended in a cantilever manner from the fixed component. A downstream end of the flow guide may be a free end. The flow guide may be removablely connected to the fixed component, for example, by mechanical fasteners such as threaded fasteners.

[0014] The downstream device may be a screen with a series of openings to filter solids from a liquid carrying the solids, opposite sides of the panel defining an upstream surface to receive the liquid and a downstream surface from which the liquid is discharged, the openings extending between the upstream and downstream surfaces, the flow guide being configured to direct the flow of liquid to the upstream surface of the screen, and the configuration of the flow guide relative to the screen being adjustable in response to the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide. In an earlier family of such embodiments, the screen may be a screening drum of a drum screening apparatus. The drum screening apparatus may be of the internally fed type, with a tank located inside the screening drum to store the liquid, the tank with a Petition 870250090142, dated 03 / 10 / 2025, page 9 / 30 5 / 13 outlet weir through which the liquid overflows onto the screen, where the flow guide is connected and extends from the weir. In a second family of such embodiments, the screen may be a belt sieve of a continuous belt sieve apparatus.

[0015] A secondary flow control component may extend parallel to and spaced above the flow guide. The secondary flow control component may consist of a flap, which may be formed from the same material or a material similar to that of the flow guide. The secondary flow control component may be configured to move or flex in response to changes in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide. For example, in response to an increase in the flow rate of liquid passing through the flow guide, the secondary flow control component may move or flex to increase a defined liquid flow space between the flow guide and the secondary flow control component.

[0016] Also disclosed here is a flow control method for the flow control apparatus defined in paragraph

[0007] above, the flow control apparatus optionally including any one or more of the features mentioned in paragraphs

[0008] to

[0015] above, the method comprising: adjusting the setting of the flow guide relative to the downstream device in response to a change in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide.

[0017] The method may include adjusting the distance between a downstream end of the flow guide and the downstream device and / or orienting at least a portion of the downstream end of the flow guide relative to the downstream device in response to a change in the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide. The distance may be increased in response to an increase in the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide and / or at least the downstream end portion of the flow guide may be reoriented from closer to perpendicular to a surface of the downstream device to closer to parallel to the surface of the downstream device in response to an increase in Petition 870250090142, dated 03 / 10 / 2025, p. 10 / 30 6 / 13 flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide. The method may include adjusting the flow guide between a configuration where it is substantially flat and a configuration where it is gently curved.

[0018] The method may include resilient deformation, resilient movement, or resilient reorientation of the flow guide to adjust the flow guide configuration relative to the downstream device.

[0019] The adjustment of the flow guide configuration relative to the downstream device may be in response to a force applied to the flow guide by the liquid.

[0020] Also disclosed is an apparatus or method comprising any and all new combinations of steps, features, integers, compositions and / or compounds disclosed or indicated in the descriptive report of this application, regardless of whether those steps, features, integers, compositions and / or compounds are disclosed or indicated in relation to an embodiment that also includes additional steps, features, integers, compositions and / or compounds.

[0021] Throughout this descriptive report, the words understand, include, have and variations such as understand, include, has, understanding, including and having, will be understood as implying the inclusion of a given element, whole or stage, or group of elements, whole or stage, but not the exclusion of any other element, whole or stage, or group of elements, whole or stage. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] One or more embodiments of a device and method incorporating principles disclosed herein will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic view of an early embodiment of a solid-liquid sieving apparatus, in which part of Petition 870250090142, dated 03 / 10 / 2025, page 11 / 30 7 / 13 The device is shown cut away to reveal internal components, and the large arrows indicate a path of liquid flow through the device;

[0024] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus in Figure 1;

[0025] Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a flow control device from the apparatus in Figure 1, showing the flow control device in a low-flow configuration;

[0026] Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the flow control device of the apparatus in Figure 1, showing the flow control device in a high-flow configuration;

[0027] Figure 5 is a schematic view of part of the apparatus in Figure 1, but in which an alternative form of the flow guide is used; and

[0028] Figures 6 to 8 are schematic views of a fluid flow control device for directing fluid flow to a machine. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0029] Referring to Figures 1 to 5, a solid-liquid screening apparatus in the form of an internally fed drum screening apparatus (100) is shown. The apparatus (100) comprises a screen in the form of a screening drum (110) and a fluid holding tank (120) located within the screening drum. The tank (120) has an outlet weir (122) through which the fluid from the tank overflows into the screening drum (110).

[0030] The screening drum (110) has a series of openings for screening solids from the fluid received from the tank (120). In the illustrated embodiment, the screening drum (110) comprises a cylindrical arrangement of wedge wires, with gaps between the wedge wires defining the openings. The opposite sides (114, 116) of the screening drum (110) define, respectively, an upstream surface to receive the fluid from the tank (120) and a downstream surface from which the fluid is discharged, the drum openings being Petition 870250090142, dated 03 / 10 / 2025, page 12 / 30 8 / 13 screening (110) extending between the upstream surface and the downstream surface. The solids screened from the fluid by the screening drum (110) are retained within the screening drum. In some embodiments, the screening drum (110) rotates and has a screw flight formation (118) on its upstream surface to transport solids that accumulate in the screening drum towards one end of the screening drum (110).

[0031] A flow guide (130) extends from the dam (122) and is configured to direct the liquid overflow dam (122) to the surface upstream of the screening drum (110). An upstream end (132) of the flow guide is removablely connected and fixed to the dam (122), for example, by mechanical fasteners such as threaded fasteners (134). In the illustrated embodiment, the flow guide (130) is cantilevered from the dam (122), with a downstream end (136) of the flow guide (130) being a free end.

[0032] The configuration of the flow guide (130) relative to the screening drum (110) is adjustable in response to the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide. In the illustrated embodiment, this adjustment comprises a distance between the downstream end (136) of the flow guide (130) and the screening drum (110) being adjustable by adjusting the orientation of a downstream end portion of the flow guide relative to the screening drum. More specifically, the distance between the downstream end (136) of the flow guide (130) and the screening drum (110) increases in response to an increase in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide because the downstream end portion of the flow guide is reoriented from closer to perpendicular to the screening drum, as shown in Figure 3, to closer to parallel to the screen, as shown in Figure 4.When the flow rate is zero or low, the flow guide (130) is substantially flat as shown in Figure 3, while when the flow rate is higher, the flow guide (130) curves smoothly as shown in Figure 4. In some embodiments, the flow guide (130). Petition 870250090142, dated 03 / 10 / 2025, page 13 / 30 9 / 13 adopts a shape similar to that of an ogive dam in response to an increase in the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide.

[0033] The flow guide (130) is resiliently deformable from the flat configuration shown in Figure 3 to the gently curved configuration shown in Figure 4 in response to increasing flow rate from zero or low flow rate to high flow rate. The flow guide (130) can be formed from a polymer such as: a synthetic or natural rubber, for example, nitrile rubber, nitrile butadiene rubber, EPDM rubber, neoprene rubber or silicone rubber; polypropylene; or a fluoroelastomer. The polymer may be a fiber-reinforced polymer. The selection of the polymer for the flow guide (130) can be based on factors such as the nature of the fluid being screened, including the solids carried by that fluid. For example, depending on the nature of the fluid being screened, it may be advisable to select a polymer that has good resistance to one or more abrasions, chemicals such as cleaning agents and high temperature environments.In the embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, which are configured for flow rates up to 4000 L / min per meter of dam length (122), the flow guide (130) takes the form of a nitrile rubber flap approximately 3 mm thick and wide (i.e., distance from its upstream end (132) to its downstream end (136)) approximately 100 mm, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, or a polypropylene rubber flap approximately 100 mm wide and configured as shown in Figure 5. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the flow guide (130) comprises a tubular flap generally of triangular shape with internal reinforcing elements extending longitudinally within the tubular flap.In some embodiments, the flow guide (130) can be configured so that its bending stiffness is different along its width to configure the flow guide (130) to adopt the desired curvatures in response to changes in the flow rate of the fluid passing through it. For example, the bending stiffness of the flow guide (130) can be greater near its upstream end (132). Petition 870250090142, dated 03 / 10 / 2025, page 14 / 30 10 / 13 and smaller near its downstream end (136). The variation in bending stiffness along the width of the flow guide (130) can, for example, be provided by varying the thickness of the flow guide (130) across its entire width and / or reinforcing different portions of the width of the flow guide (130) to varying degrees.

[0034] In alternative embodiments (not shown), the flow guide (130) may be articulatedly connected to the dam (122) and formed from a rigid material, and a spring may be connected to the flow guide (130) to facilitate automatic adjustment of the flow guide (130) configuration relative to the screening drum (110).

[0035] As will be appreciated, changes in the flow rate of the fluid-passing flow guide (130) cause a corresponding change in the force applied to the flow guide by the liquid. This force is predominantly dictated by the weight of the fluid acting on the flow guide (130) at any given time and, to a lesser degree, by the frictional forces applied to the flow guide by the liquid. In the illustrated embodiment and in embodiments where the flow guide (130) is connected to a spring, these changes in the force applied to the flow guide (130) cause automatic and resilient reconfiguration of the flow guide (130) to increase the space between the downstream end of the flow guide (130) and the screening drum (110) when the flow rate increases.A subsequent decrease in flow rate results in a decrease in the force applied to the flow guide (130), thus resulting in the flow guide (130) resiliently returning to a configuration in which a downstream end of the flow guide (130) is closer to the screening drum (110). In the illustrated embodiment, the flow guide (130) resiliently reconfigures itself between the substantially flat configuration shown in Figure 3 when the flow rate is zero or low and the gently curved configuration shown in Figure 4 when the flow rate is higher. More specifically, an increase in flow rate results in an increase in the force applied to the flow guide (130), thus polarizing the flow guide (130) towards the curved configuration shown in Figure 4. A decrease. Petition 870250090142, dated 03 / 10 / 2025, page 15 / 30 11 / 13 subsequent in flow rate results in a decrease in the force applied to the flow guide (130), thus resulting in the flow guide (130) resiliently returning to the flat configuration shown in Figure 3. In other embodiments, however, a mechanical actuator controlled by an electronic controller can be connected to the flow guide (130) and configured to reconfigure the flow guide relative to the screening drum (110) in response to changes in the flow rate of liquid passing through the screening drum.

[0036] In some embodiments, a secondary flow control component may extend along the dam (122) parallel and spaced above the flow guide (130). The secondary flow control component may be in the form of a flap, which may be formed from the same material or similar material to that of the flow guide (130). The secondary flow control component is configured to move or flex in response to changes in the flow rate of the liquid-passing flow guide (130). For example, in response to an increase in the flow rate of the flow guide (130), the secondary flow control component may move or flex to increase a defined liquid flow space between the flow guide (130) and the secondary flow control component. The action of the secondary flow control component may contribute to the flow guide (130) responding in the desired manner to changes in the flow rate of the flow guide (130).

[0037] In addition to the addition of the flow guide (130) and, optionally, the secondary flow control component, the apparatus (100) is substantially the same as any of the embodiments of the apparatus described in U.S. Patent No. 4,236,999 from column 3, line 23 to column 6, line 11 with reference to Figures 1 to 6, 10 and 11, with this part of the invention of U.S. Patent No. 4,236,999 being incorporated herein by reference. The screening drum (110) may rotate in the same direction as the fluid from the tank (120) is fed to it, or in the opposite direction, or it may be stationary. Petition 870250090142, dated 03 / 10 / 2025, page 16 / 30 12 / 13

[0038] Although the flow guide (130) has been described with reference to a drum screening apparatus (100), it will be appreciated that it can also be incorporated into other types of screening apparatus or other types of apparatus for controlling the flow of liquids. For example, Figures 6 to 8 show an apparatus (200) in which the flow guide (130) is used to alter the trajectory of a fluid flow so that it interacts with different parts of a machine (300) depending on the flow rate of fluid passing through the flow guide.

[0039] It will be appreciated that the apparatus (100) offers a number of advantages, including: automatic reconfiguration of the flow guide (130) in a configuration in which the downstream end of the flow guide (130) is spaced further away from the drum screen (110) and / or oriented more closely parallel to the drum screen (110), in response to an increase in flow rate, resulting in the flow continuing to be introduced into the inner surface of the drum screen (110) substantially tangentially, despite the increase in flow rate; automatic reconfiguration of the flow guide (130) in a configuration in which the downstream end portion of the flow guide (130) is spaced further away from the drum screen (110) and / or oriented more closely parallel to the drum screen (110), in response to an increase in flow rate, reducing the choking of the incoming flow between the dam (122) and the inner surface of the drum screen (110);the flow guide (130) being removablely connected to the weir (122) facilitates the replacement of the flow guide if it is worn or if it is desired to install a flow guide with different properties (for example, due to a change in the nature of the fluid being screened, including the solids carried by that fluid, such as its abrasiveness, corrosiveness or temperature); automatic reconfiguration of the flow guide (130) into a shape that approximates an ogive weir in response to an increase in the influent flow rate.

[0040] It will be appreciated by people skilled in the art that numerous variations and / or modifications can be made to the embodiments described above, Petition 870250090142, dated 03 / 10 / 2025, page 17 / 30 13 / 13 without departing from the broad overall scope of the present invention. The present embodiments should therefore be regarded in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Petition 870250090142, dated 03 / 10 / 2025, p. 18 / 30

Claims

1 / 4 CLAIMS 1. FLUID FLOW CONTROL APPARATUS, characterized in that it comprises: a flow guide upstream of a downstream device, the flow guide being configured to adjust the trajectory of a fluid passing through the flow guide so that the fluid flows towards the downstream device in a desired trajectory, wherein the desired trajectory differs with different flow rates of the fluid passing through the flow guide; wherein a configuration of the flow guide relative to the downstream device is adjustable in response to a flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide.

2. APPARATUS, according to claim 1, characterized in that the configuration of the flow guide relative to the downstream device being adjustable comprises a distance between a downstream end of the flow guide and the downstream device being adjustable and / or an orientation of at least a portion of the downstream end of the flow guide relative to the downstream device being adjustable.

3. APPARATUS, according to claim 2, characterized in that it is configured so that the distance between the downstream end of the flow guide and the downstream device increases in response to an increase in the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide and / or at least the portion of the downstream end of the flow guide is reoriented from closer to perpendicular to a surface of the downstream device to closer to parallel to the surface of the downstream device in response to an increase in the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide.

4. APPARATUS, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the flow guide is adjustable between a configuration in which it is substantially flat and a configuration in which it is gently curved. Petition 870250090142, dated 10 / 03 / 2025, page 19 / 30 2 / 4 5. APPARATUS, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the flow guide is resiliently deformable to facilitate the configuration of the flow guide relative to the downstream device being adjusted.

6. APPARATUS, according to claim 5, characterized in that the flow guide is formed of a polymer.

7. APPARATUS, according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a spring connected to the flow guide to facilitate the setting of the flow guide relative to the downstream device being adjusted.

8. APPARATUS, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the configuration of the flow guide relative to the downstream device is adjustable in response to the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide, responding to a force applied to the flow guide by the fluid.

9. APPARATUS, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the flow guide comprises or takes the form of a flange, wherein the flange may have a thickness of up to about 10 mm, or up to about 5 mm, or between about 2 mm and about 5 mm, or about 3 mm, and wherein the flange may decrease in thickness between its upstream end and its downstream end.

10. APPARATUS, according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the flow guide comprises or takes the form of a tubular flange, wherein the tubular flange may generally have a triangular shape in cross-section, wherein internal reinforcing elements may extend longitudinally within the tubular flange, and wherein the tubular flange may decrease in thickness between its upstream end and its downstream end.

11. APPARATUS, according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the bending stiffness of the flow guide differs along its width. Petition 870250090142, dated 03 / 10 / 2025, page 20 / 30 3 / 4 12. APPARATUS, according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the flow guide is configured to adopt a shape approximating that of a dam in response to an increase in the flow rate of fluid passing through the flow guide.

13. APPARATUS, according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the flow guide is connected to and extends from a fixed component of the apparatus located upstream of the downstream device.

14. APPARATUS, according to claim 13, characterized in that the flow guide is suspended from the fixed component.

15. APPARATUS, according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the flow guide is removablely connected to the fixed component.

16. APPARATUS, according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that: the downstream device is a screen with a series of openings for filtering solids from a liquid that carries them, opposite sides of the screen defining an upstream surface for receiving the liquid and a downstream surface from which the liquid is discharged, the openings extending between the upstream surface and the downstream surface; and the flow guide is configured to direct the flow of the liquid to the upstream surface of the screen; wherein the configuration of the flow guide relative to the screen is adjustable in response to the flow rate of the liquid passing through the flow guide.

17. DRUM SCREENING APPARATUS, characterized in that it comprises the flow control apparatus of claim 16, wherein the screen is a screening drum of the drum screening apparatus.

18. APPARATUS, according to claim 17, characterized in that it is of the internally fed type having a tank located inside the screening drum to store the liquid, the tank having an outlet weir through which the liquid overflows onto the screen, where the flow guide is connected and extends from the weir.

19. CONTINUOUS BELT SCREENING APPARATUS, characterized in that it comprises the flow control apparatus of claim 16, wherein the screen is a belt sieve of the continuous belt sieve apparatus.

20. FLOW CONTROL METHOD, characterized in that it is applied to the apparatus of any of claims 1 to 19, the method comprising: adjusting the configuration of the flow guide relative to the downstream device in response to a change in the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide.

21. METHOD, according to claim 20, characterized in that it comprises adjusting a distance between a downstream end of the flow guide and the downstream device and / or an orientation of at least a portion of the downstream end of the flow guide relative to the downstream device in response to a change in the flow rate of the fluid passing through the flow guide.

22. METHOD, according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that it comprises resiliently deforming, resiliently moving, or resiliently reorienting the flow guide to adjust the flow guide configuration relative to the downstream device. Petition 870250090142, dated 10 / 03 / 2025, pp. 22 / 30

Images