Sludge scraper

Abstract

To make a regulation member hardly contact with a rail member, in a mud gathering device arranged at a precipitation basin in which mud is precipitated at a basin bottom part while water containing mud flows.SOLUTION: A first rail member 24 has a first space S' which is formed in the vicinity of a region in which a salient part 1233 passes by the traveling of an endless chain 11 by evacuating in a basin width direction, and a second rail member 25 has a second space S in the vicinity of the region in which the salient part 1233 passes by the traveling of the endless chain 11 by evacuating in the basin width direction. The salient part 1233 intrudes into a lower side lower than a first slide-contact part 240 from an upper part rather than the first rail member 24 by using the first space S', and also intrudes into a lower side lower than a second slide-contact part 250 from an upper part rather than the second rail member 25 by using the second space S. The first space S' is longer than the second space S.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sludge scraper that is provided in a settling basin in which sludge contained in sludge-containing water settles to the bottom of the basin as the sludge-containing water flows. [Background technology]

[0002] A sludge scraping device is known that includes an endless chain having scraping members extending in the width direction of the pond perpendicular to the water flow direction of the water containing sludge. In this sludge scraping device, a part of the endless chain is wound around a driving wheel, and the endless chain runs by receiving a driving force from the driving wheel, circulating and moving the scraping members between the bottom side and the water surface side of the sedimentation pond. In addition, a driven wheel is also arranged in the sedimentation pond, around which a part of the endless chain is wound and which rotates following the running of the endless chain. When the scraping members run on the bottom of the sedimentation pond, they scrape sludge that has settled on the bottom, and when they run on the water surface side, they scrape scum that has floated to the water surface. In addition, the sedimentation pond is provided with a rail member that extends in the water flow direction, on which the scraping members are placed when the endless chain runs, and has a sliding contact portion on which the scraping members slide.

[0003] Incidentally, in a settling tank where a sludge scraping device is installed, an earthquake can cause the endless chain to come off the rotating wheels, such as the drive and driven wheels. The reason the endless chain comes off the rotating wheels is more due to the effect of sloshing, which is caused by the water in the settling tank rippling violently due to the earthquake, rather than the direct effect of the shaking caused by the earthquake. When sloshing occurs, the endless chain swings violently, and the force of the swing is transmitted to the part of the endless chain that is wrapped around the rotating wheels, causing the endless chain to come off the rotating wheels.

[0004] As a countermeasure against earthquakes, it has been proposed to provide a regulating member on the collecting member (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The regulating member described in Patent Document 1 comes into contact with the rail member when the endless chain sways, regulating the swaying of the endless chain. When the endless chain runs, this regulating member enters from one end side of the rail member below the sliding contact part of the rail member, and passes through the rail member as the endless chain runs, leaving a gap between it and the rail member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-5400 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, when the restricting member enters from one end side of the rail member below the sliding contact portion of the rail member, the restricting member may come into contact with the rail member from above, causing the endless chain to become disrupted.

[0007] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a sludge scraping device in which a regulating member is less likely to come into contact with a rail member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The sludge scraper of the present invention, which solves the above-mentioned object, is A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side; a rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, the rail member having a sliding contact portion on which the collecting member is placed and against which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels, the scraping member is provided with a protruding portion protruding in a width direction of the settling basin, and has a regulating member that abuts against the rail member when the endless chain sways, thereby regulating the sway of the endless chain, The rail members include a first rail member having a first sliding contact portion on which a collecting member attached to a slack portion of the endless chain that is curved downward and slackened is placed and against which the collecting member slides, and a second rail member having a second sliding contact portion on which a collecting member attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction is placed and against which the collecting member slides, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the slack portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the slack portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the slack portion, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the water surface track portion, The first rail member has a first space provided by retracting in the pond width direction in the vicinity of a region through which the protrusion passes as the endless chain travels, The second rail member has a second space provided by retracting in the pond width direction in the vicinity of a region through which the protrusion passes as the endless chain travels, the protruding portion enters from above the first rail member to below the first sliding contact portion by using the first space, and enters from above the second rail member to below the second sliding contact portion by using the second space, The first space is longer than the second space. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a sludge scraping device in which the regulating member is less likely to come into contact with the rail member. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a settling basin in which a sludge scraper according to one embodiment of the present invention is installed. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. [Diagram 3] (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in Figure 2, (b) is a diagram showing the upstream return rail and the regulating member when sloshing occurs due to an earthquake and the water surface track part swings in the direction of the pond width, and (c) is a diagram showing the state when the protruding part of the regulating member comes into contact with the sliding part of the upstream return rail from above. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the downstream side of the water flow direction in the sedimentation basin as viewed from below the scum removal device shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a modification of the embodiment described above. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the return rail of the second embodiment as viewed from above. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the return rail of the second embodiment as viewed from above. [Figure 8] 13A to 13C are diagrams showing, in stages, how the protrusion of the regulating member approaches the upstream end portion of the downstream return rail of the second embodiment from diagonally above and penetrates below the sliding contact portion of the downstream return rail. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a modified example of the second embodiment. [Figure 10] 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between a downstream return rail and a protruding portion of a regulating member in a sludge collector of a third embodiment. FIG. [Figure 11] 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between a downstream return rail 24 and a protruding portion 1233 of a regulating member 123 in a sludge collector of a fourth embodiment. FIG. [Figure 12] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating modified examples of the restricting member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a settling basin in which a sludge scraper according to one embodiment of the present invention is installed.

[0013] The sedimentation tank 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a tank surrounded by an upstream wall 1a, a downstream wall 1b, and a pair of side walls 1c, and has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. The sedimentation tank 1 receives water containing sludge, such as wastewater or rainwater, from one end (the left side in FIG. 1) in the longitudinal direction, settles the sludge contained in the received water to the bottom 1d of the tank, and discharges the water from the other end (the right side in FIG. 1). Hereinafter, the left side in FIG. 1 is referred to as the upstream side, the right side in FIG. 1 is referred to as the downstream side, and the direction from the left side to the right side in FIG. 1 is referred to as the water flow direction. The direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1 is referred to as the tank width direction. FIG. 1 is a view of the sedimentation tank viewed in the tank width direction.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 1, the settling tank 1 is provided with a sludge scraper 10 of this embodiment, a scum remover 30, a drainage gutter 40, and a sludge pit 50. The drainage gutter 40 is provided in the downstream portion of the settling tank 1. The sludge pit 50 is provided in the upstream portion of the settling tank 1.

[0015] The sludge scraping device 10 of this embodiment is equipped with an endless chain 11. This endless chain 11 is provided at both ends of the sedimentation tank 1 in the tank width direction. Each of the pair of endless chains 11 provided at both ends of the tank width direction is a circular chain that runs on a circular track that is connected to a scraping track Tk extending along the tank bottom 1d, an upstream track Tu that rises from the scraping track Tk toward the water surface side on the upstream side of the sedimentation tank 1, a water surface track Tw that extends from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction on the water surface side but is shorter than the scraping track Tk, and a downstream track Tl that connects the water surface track Tw and the scraping track Tk on the downstream side of the sedimentation tank 1.

[0016] In addition, a plurality of scraping members 12 extending in the pond width direction are stretched across the pair of endless chains 11. As the endless chains 11 travel on a circular track, the scraping members 12 circulate between the pond bottom 1d side and the water surface WL side. In Fig. 1, the endless chains 11 are shown on a circular track.

[0017] Sprockets 14 to 17 are disposed at both ends of each track (Tk, Tu, Tw, Tl). A portion of the endless chain 11 is wound around each of the sprockets 14 to 17, and the portions of the endless chain 11 wound around each of the sprockets 14 to 17 mesh with the sprockets 14 to 17.

[0018] The sprocket 14 is disposed on the upstream side of the water surface trajectory Tw. In the following description, this sprocket 14 is referred to as the drive sprocket 14. A drive shaft 141 is fixed to the center of the drive sprocket 14. The drive shaft 141 extends in the pond width direction and is rotatably supported by bearings (not shown) fixed to each of the pair of side walls 1c. The drive shaft 141 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the motor 21 by a drive chain 211. When the motor 21 rotates, the drive sprocket 14 also rotates via the drive shaft 141. The drive sprocket 14 in this embodiment corresponds to an example of a drive wheel that transmits a driving force to the endless chain 11 to make the endless chain 11 run.

[0019] The motor 21 is a motor that can rotate in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions in FIG. 1. The motor 21 is normally driven to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1. As the motor 21 rotates in the clockwise direction, the drive sprocket 14 rotates clockwise, causing the endless chain 11 to run clockwise. Hereinafter, the clockwise rotation of the drive sprocket 14 in FIG. 1 is referred to as forward drive, and the clockwise running of the endless chain 11 in FIG. 1 is referred to as forward running. When the drive sprocket 14 is driven in the forward direction, the water surface track portion 11w of the endless chain 11 on the water surface track Tw runs from the upstream side to the downstream side.

[0020] The motor 21 also has a torque limiter function. For example, if a foreign object gets caught in the scraping member 12 attached to the endless chain 11 running on the pond bottom 1d and an excessive load is applied to the motor 21, the torque limiter function is activated and the motor 21 is temporarily stopped. Then, in order to release the caught foreign object, the motor 21 rotates in the reverse direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 1) for a short time. With the reverse rotation of the motor 21, the driving sprocket 14 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1, causing the endless chain 11 to run counterclockwise (so-called slight reverse operation). Hereinafter, the rotation of the driving sprocket 14 counterclockwise in FIG. 1 is referred to as reverse drive, and the running of the endless chain 11 counterclockwise in FIG. 1 is referred to as reverse running. When the driving sprocket 14 is driven in the reverse direction, the water surface track portion 11w runs from the downstream side to the upstream side.

[0021] The other sprockets 15-17 are driven sprockets that rotate following the movement of the endless chain 11. Fixed shafts 151, 161, and 171 pass through the centers of the sprockets 15-17. Each of the fixed shafts 151, 161, and 171 is fixedly disposed so as not to rotate around its axis. Each of the sprockets 15-17 is rotatable about its fixed shaft 151, 161, and 171. Each of the sprockets 14-17 is a rotating wheel that rotates around the drive shaft 141 or the fixed shafts 151, 161, and 171 as a rotating axis. In the following description, the sprocket 15 disposed downstream of the water surface trajectory Tw is referred to as the intermediate sprocket 15. This intermediate sprocket 15 corresponds to an example of a driven wheel.

[0022] A plurality of scraping members 12 are attached at equal or approximately equal intervals in the circulation direction around the entire circumference of the orbit of the endless chain 11. A bottom rail 23 extending in the longitudinal direction of the sedimentation tank 1 along the bottom 1d is fixed to the bottom 1d of the sedimentation tank 1. At the bottom 1d, the scraping members 12 move while being guided by the bottom rail 23, traveling on the scraping track Tk and scraping up the sludge that has settled at the bottom 1d.

[0023] When the endless chain 11 runs in the forward direction, the collector 12 located on the collector track Tk moves from downstream to upstream along the pond bottom 1d. The sludge that has settled on the pond bottom 1d is collected by the collector 12 moving along the pond bottom 1d toward the upstream sludge pit 50. The sludge collected in the sludge pit 50 is discharged outside the settling pond 1 by a sludge pump (not shown).

[0024] Scum floats on the water surface WL of the sedimentation tank 1. When the endless chain 11 runs forward, the scraper 12 located on the water surface track Tw moves along the water surface WL from the upstream side to the downstream side. The scum floating on the water surface WL is scraped toward the scum removal device 30 on the downstream side by the scraper 12 moving on the water surface track Tw. The scum scraped toward the scum removal device 30 is discharged outside the sedimentation tank 1 by the scum removal device 30 together with the water in the sedimentation tank 1. In addition, the water in the sedimentation tank 1 from which the scum and sludge have been removed flows under the scum removal device and into the drainage gutter 40, and from the drainage gutter 40 flows into a drainage channel (not shown) and is drained outside the sedimentation tank 1.

[0025] In order to prevent an increase in the driving force for running the endless chain 11, the endless chain 11 is installed in the sedimentation basin 1 with an appropriate amount of slack in the circulation direction from the beginning. The endless chain 11 has an amount of slack corresponding to this slack. For a while after the endless chain 11 starts running, the endless chain 11 is likely to stretch due to the break-in and creep phenomenon of the endless chain 11, and as a result, the slack tends to gradually increase from when the endless chain 11 was installed. After the endless chain 11 has been running for a certain amount of time, the stretching almost completely disappears.

[0026] When the endless chain 11 runs, a running load caused by the sludge being collected by the collecting member 12 is applied to the collecting track portion 11k of the endless chain 11 located on the collecting track Tk. When the endless chain 11 runs forward, tension corresponding to the running load is generated in the collecting track portion 11k and the upstream track portion 11u located on the upstream track Tu of the endless chain 11. On the other hand, slack is generated in the water surface track portion 11w and the downstream track portion 11l located on the downstream track Tl of the endless chain 11. FIG. 1 shows a state in which slack is generated in the water surface track portion 11w and the downstream track portion 11l. As shown in FIG. 1, the downstream track Tl is longer than the water surface track Tw, and the downstream track Tl is largely inclined while the water surface track Tw is horizontal or nearly horizontal, and the slack of the downstream track portion 11l is greater than the slack of the water surface track portion 11w.

[0027] Next, a description will be given of the return rail, which is an example of a rail member. The sludge collector 10 shown in Fig. 1 is provided with a downstream return rail 24 and an upstream return rail 25 as rail members.

[0028] A downstream return rail 24 is fixed at a predetermined height from the bottom 1d of the sedimentation tank 1 on the downstream side of the sedimentation tank 1, and extends in the longitudinal direction of the sedimentation tank 1 in parallel with the bottom 1d. The downstream return rail 24 is attached to a downstream base 247, which is fixed to each of the pair of side walls 1c. When the endless chain 11 runs forward, the collecting member 12 attached to the endless chain 11 moves guided by the downstream return rail 24 on the collecting track Tk side (which can also be said to be the downstream side) of the downstream track Tl, which is largely slack. That is, the downstream return rail 24 is installed on the collecting track Tk along the collecting track Tk, and the collecting member 12 attached to the underwater track portion 11l-1 of the endless chain 11 running on the collecting track Tk side of the downstream track Tl is placed on the downstream return rail 24, and the collecting member 12 slides on the downstream return rail 24, which corresponds to an example of a first rail member. As shown in FIG. 1, the track on the collecting track Tk side of the downstream track Tl is a horizontal track.

[0029] Furthermore, an upstream return rail 25 is fixed near the water surface WL on the upstream side of the settling basin 1, extending in the water flow direction along the water surface WL. That is, the upstream return rail 25 is installed on the water surface side, and the collecting member 12 attached to the water surface track portion 11w of the endless chain 11 is placed on the upstream return rail 25, on which the collecting member 12 slides, and corresponds to an example of a second rail member. This upstream return rail 25 is attached to upstream pedestals 257, multiple of which are fixed to each of the pair of side walls 1c. The collecting member 12 attached to the endless chain 11 moves on the water surface track Tw while being guided by the upstream return rail 25.

[0030] Fig. 2 is a partially enlarged view of a portion A in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, the endless chain 11 is shown by a dashed line with a portion omitted.

[0031] The endless chain 11 is a metal chain to which a plurality of link members 110 are connected. A resin chain may be used as the endless chain 11. Each link member 110 is connected by a connecting pin (not shown). In this embodiment, a link member 110 provided with a stay 113 is disposed for every 20 link members 110 connected in the circulating direction of the endless chain 11. In FIG. 2, the link member 110 provided with the stay 113 is shown at the left end. This stay 113 is for connecting the link member 110 and the scraper member 12. The stay 113 and the scraper member 12 shown at the left end of FIG. 2 are connected by a screw (not shown). In FIG. 2, two more scraper members 12 are shown, but the link members to which these two scraper members 12 are connected are not shown, and the stays are also not shown.

[0032] The scraping member 12 has a flight plate 121, a return shoe 122, and a regulating member 123. The flight plate 121 is made of stainless steel and has a U-shaped cross section extending in the width direction of the pond. The scraping surface 121c located between the bent surfaces 121a and 121b of the flight plate 121 is rectangular in shape. The return shoe 122 and the regulating member 123 are provided on both ends of the flight plate 121. The flight plate 121 shown in FIG. 2 also has a protruding edge 121d that protrudes from the bent surface 121a on the side opposite to the endless chain 11 side toward the opposite side.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 2, the upstream return rail 25 is a rail member extending from the drive sprocket 14 to the intermediate sprocket 15. To explain in more detail, the upstream return rail 25 shown in Fig. 2 extends from directly above the center of the drive sprocket 14 to directly above the center of the intermediate sprocket 15, but it may extend from a position closer to the intermediate sprocket 15 than directly above the center of the drive sprocket 14, or from a position closer to the upstream wall 1a (see Fig. 1) than directly above that position. Also, it may extend to a position closer to the drive sprocket 14 than directly above the center of the intermediate sprocket 15, or from a position closer to the downstream wall 1b (see Fig. 1) than directly above that position.

[0034] The upstream return rail 25 is composed of a sliding contact portion 250 and a mounting portion 251 at the lower portion.

[0035] Figure 3(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in Figure 2. Figure 3(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical line passing through the center of the drive sprocket 14, and the left-right direction in the figure corresponds to the width direction of the sedimentation basin 1. Note that in Figure 3(a), the drive chain 211 (see Figure 1) that transmits rotational force to the drive sprocket 14 is omitted from the illustration.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 3(a), the link member 110 is composed of a pair of left and right link plates 111, 111 facing each other in the pond width direction, and a barrel portion 112 connecting the pair of left and right link plates 111, 111.

[0037] The scraper member 12 shown in Fig. 3(a) is the scraper member 12 attached to the water surface track portion 11w shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, and the scraper member 12 is provided with a scraper shoe 124 on the upper part that faces the water surface in the state of Fig. 3(a). When the link member 110 to which the scraper member 12 shown in Fig. 3(a) is attached travels along the scraper track Tk, the scraper member 12 is turned upside down, and the scraper shoe 124 is on the lower side and comes into sliding contact with the pond bottom rail 23 shown in Fig. 1.

[0038] Further, at the end of the scraper member 12 in the pond width direction shown in FIG. 3(a), a return shoe 122 and a regulating member 123 are provided at the lower part opposite to the water surface side.

[0039] The lower end portion of the return shoe 122 shown in FIG. 3(a) protrudes downward from the flight plate 121, and the lower end of the return shoe 122 is placed on the sliding contact portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25. When the link member 110 to which the scraper member 12 shown in FIG. 3(a) is attached travels on the water surface track Tw, the return shoe 122 slides against the upstream return rail 25. The outer edge of the return shoe 122 in the pond width direction coincides with the upper and lower edges of the flight plate 121. Meanwhile, a protrusion 1221 protruding downward is provided at the lower corner of the return shoe 122 on the inner side in the pond width direction. That is, the protrusion 1221 protrudes further downward than the lower end portion of the return shoe 122 that protrudes downward from the flight plate 121.

[0040] The regulating member 123 has a base portion 1231, an arm portion 1232, and a protruding portion 1233. The base portion 1231 of the regulating member 123 is bolted to the scraping member 12 with the return shoe 122 sandwiched therebetween, making it easy to replace the return shoe 122. The arm portion 1232 is a portion that extends downward from the inside of the base portion 1231 in the pond width direction. The protruding portion 1233 is provided at the tip of the arm portion 1232, and is bent 90 degrees from the arm portion 1232 to protrude outward in the pond width direction. The arm portion 1232 and the protruding portion 1233 form a hook-like shape.

[0041] FIG. 3(a) also shows the downstream end surface of the upstream return rail 25. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the upstream return rail 25 has an upside-down L-shaped cross section. The mounting portion 251 of the upstream return rail 25 is fixed to the upstream base 257 with a screw (not shown). The sliding contact portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25 protrudes toward the inside in the pond width direction. That is, the sliding contact portion 250 protrudes toward the outside in the pond width direction of the regulating member 123, and faces the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123, with a vertical position shift. More specifically, the sliding contact portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25 and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 3(a) are spaced apart in the vertical direction (for example, 10 mm). Further, a protruding direction tip (width direction tip) 2501 of the sliding contact portion 250 and a protruding direction tip 1233t of the protruding portion 1233 are spaced apart in the pond width direction (for example, greater than 0 mm and equal to or less than 25 mm).

[0042] Furthermore, the tip 2501 in the protruding direction of the sliding contact part 250 of the upstream return rail 25 faces the protrusion 1221 of the return shoe 122 with a gap in the pond width direction, aligned in the up-down direction. If the scraper member 12 shifts in the pond width direction, the protrusion 1221 of the return shoe 122 abuts against the tip 2501 in the protruding direction of the sliding contact part 250, preventing the scraper member 12 from shifting further in the pond width direction. The scraper shoe 124 described above is also provided with a protrusion 1241 that abuts against the pond bottom rail 23 to prevent the scraper member 12 from shifting in the pond width direction.

[0043] FIG. 3(b) is a diagram showing the upstream return rail 25 and the regulating member 123 when sloshing occurs due to an earthquake and the water surface track portion 11w swings in the width direction of the pond.

[0044] In FIG. 3(b), the vibration caused by the earthquake is also present, and the protruding tip 2501 of the sliding contact part 250 is submerged under the protrusion 1221 of the return shoe 122. However, the root part of the protruding part 1233 relative to the arm part 1232 abuts against the protruding tip 2501, and the water surface track part 11w (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) is prevented from swinging further in the width direction of the pond. Therefore, the root part of the protruding part 1233 corresponds to an example of a lateral direction restricting part. If the arm part 1232 extends further downward, the arm part 1232 abuts against the protruding tip 2501 of the sliding contact part 250. In this case, the arm part 1232 corresponds to an example of a lateral direction restricting part.

[0045] Moreover, the protruding portion 1233 may protrude further outward in the pond width direction, and before the root portion of the protruding portion 1233 abuts against the protruding direction tip 2501 of the sliding contact portion 250, the protruding direction tip 1233t of the protruding portion 1233 may abut against the root portion of the sliding contact portion 250 with respect to the attachment portion 251. Furthermore, if the arm portion 1232 extends further downward, the protruding direction tip 1233t of the protruding portion 1233 will abut against the attachment portion 251.

[0046] FIG. 3(c) is a diagram showing a state where the protruding portion 1233 of the restricting member 123 comes into contact with the sliding contact portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25 from above.

[0047] 2, the upstream return rail 25 is installed below the portion of the endless chain 11 that passes through the 12 o'clock position of the drive sprocket 14. For this reason, the portion of the endless chain 11 that has passed the 12 o'clock position of the drive sprocket 14 approaches the upstream end portion of the upstream return rail 25 from diagonally above, and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 enters below the sliding contact portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25.

[0048] The position of the scraper member 12 to which the regulating member 123 shown in Figure 3(c) is attached is shifted in the pond width direction (shifted to the left in Figure 3(c)), and the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 may come into contact with the sliding portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25 from above.

[0049] In this embodiment, the surface connecting the protruding tip 1233t of the hook-shaped protruding portion 1233 and the lower end is gradually inclined downward from the protruding tip 1233t to the lower end. Hereinafter, the downwardly inclined surface connecting the protruding tip 1233t of the hook-shaped protruding portion 1233 and the lower end is referred to as a contact surface 1233s because it may come into contact with the sliding contact portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25 as shown in FIG. 3(c).

[0050] The contact surface 1233s shown in FIG. 3(c) is in contact with the protruding end 2501 of the sliding portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25. As described above, the part of the endless chain 11 that has passed the 12 o'clock position of the driving sprocket 14 approaches the upstream end of the upstream return rail 25 from diagonally above, and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 originally runs on a downward track to get below the sliding portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25. In addition, the protruding portion 1233 provided with the contact surface 1233s that has contacted the protruding end 2501 is directed downward following the inclination of the contact surface 1233s as the endless chain 11 runs. As a result, the regulating member 123 provided with the contact surface 1233s that has contacted the protruding end 2501 moves smoothly downward, and the running of the endless chain 11 can be prevented from being disturbed.

[0051] Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the downstream side of the water flow direction in the water of the settling basin 1 as viewed from below the scum removal device 30 shown in Fig. 1. The endless chain 11 is made up of multiple linked members 110 (see Fig. 2) connected together, but in Fig. 4 it is represented by a single thick black line.

[0052] In Fig. 4, the front side of the page is the upstream side of the water flow direction, and the back side of the page is the upstream side of the water flow direction. The left and right direction is the width direction of the sedimentation basin 1. In Fig. 4, the downstream track Tl of the endless chain 11 extends toward the sprocket 16 shown in gray on the back side of the page, and the scraping track Tk returns from the back side of the page to the front side of the page.

[0053] 4 shows the collecting members 12 attached to the endless chain 11 via stays 113. Five collecting members 12 are shown in FIG. 4. A return shoe 122 and a regulating member 123 are provided at both ends of each collecting member 12. In the collecting member 12 attached to the downstream track portion 11l of the endless chain 11 shown in FIG. 4, the protruding portion of the return shoe 122 protrudes downward, and the arm portion 1232 of the regulating member 123 also extends downward. The bent surfaces 121a and 121b of the flight plate 121 protrude toward the near side.

[0054] On the other hand, in the collecting member 12 attached to the collecting track portion 11k of the endless chain 11 shown in Fig. 4, the protruding portion of the return shoe 122 protrudes upward, and the arm portion 1232 of the regulating member 123 also extends upward. Also, the collecting shoe 124 is on the lower side and is in sliding contact with the pond bottom rail 23. The collecting surface 121c of the flight plate 121 is located on the front side.

[0055] In addition, in Figure 4, downstream return rails 24 attached to downstream bases 247 shown in gray are shown at both ends of the pond width direction, and pond bottom rails 23 are shown at both ends of the pond bottom 1d in the pond width direction.

[0056] The downstream return rail 24, like the upstream return rail 25, has an inverted L-shaped cross section and is composed of a sliding portion 240 and a mounting portion 241 at the lower portion. The mounting portion 241 of the downstream return rail 24 is fixed to the downstream base 247 with a screw (not shown). Similarly to the upstream return rail 25, the sliding portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24 also protrudes toward the inside in the pond width direction. That is, the sliding portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24 protrudes toward the outside in the pond width direction of the regulating member 123 of the scraping member 12 of the underwater track portion 11l-1, and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 protrudes toward the outside in the pond width direction, so as to face each other with a vertically shifted position. To explain in more detail, in the downstream return rail 24, the sliding portion 240 and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 are also spaced apart in the vertical direction (for example, 10 mm). Further, a distance (for example, greater than 0 mm and equal to or less than 25 mm) is provided between a protruding end (widthwise end) 2401 of the sliding contact portion 240 and a protruding end of the protruding portion 1233 in the pond width direction.

[0057] Furthermore, the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding part 240 of the downstream return rail 24 also faces the protrusion 1221 (see FIG. 3(a)) of the return shoe 122 with a gap in the pond width direction, aligned in the up-down direction. If the scraper member 12 shifts in the pond width direction, the protrusion 1221 (see FIG. 3(a)) of the return shoe 122 abuts against the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding part 240, preventing the scraper member 12 from shifting further in the pond width direction.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 1, the part of the endless chain 11 that runs on the water surface track Tw side of the downstream track Tl is curved downward and slack. Hereinafter, the part of the endless chain 11 that runs on the water surface track Tw side of the downstream track Tl is referred to as the slack part 11l-2. This slack part 11l-2 approaches the downstream return rail 24 from above at an angle, and the protruding part 1233 of the regulating member 123 originally runs on a track that goes downward in order to enter below the sliding part 240 of the downstream return rail 24. In addition, as in the case of the upstream return rail 25 described in FIG. 3(c), the protruding direction tip 2401 of the sliding part 240 of the downstream return rail 24 may come into contact with the contact surface 1233s of the protruding part 1233. The protruding portion 1233 provided with the contact surface 1233s in contact with the protruding direction tip 2401 of the downstream return rail 24 is also directed downward following the inclination of the contact surface 1233s as the endless chain 11 travels. As a result, the regulating member 123 provided with the contact surface 1233s in contact with the protruding direction tip 2401 of the downstream return rail 24 moves smoothly downward, and the running of the endless chain 11 on the downstream return rail 24 can be prevented from being disturbed. In particular, the slack portion 11l-2 of the endless chain 11 is curved downward and slack, so that the track is unstable, and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 is more likely to contact the downstream return rail 24 than the upstream return rail 25, so the effect of the downwardly inclined contact surface 1233s of the protruding portion 1233 is beneficial.

[0059] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a modified example of the embodiment described so far. In the following description, components having the same names as components described so far will be assigned the same reference numerals as those used so far. In Fig. 5, the left-right direction of the figure corresponds to the width direction of the sedimentation basin 1, the right side of the figure is the inside of the basin width direction, and the left side is the outside of the basin width direction.

[0060] In FIG. 5(a), the shape of the downstream return rail 24 is different from the shape of the downstream return rail described above. The downstream return rail 24 shown in FIG. 5(a) is provided with a guide portion 242 in addition to a sliding contact portion 240 and an attachment portion 241. The sliding contact portion 240 shown in FIG. 5(a) protrudes toward the outside in the pond width direction. The guide portion 242 is provided with a guide surface 242s that is inclined downward toward the inside in the pond width direction. This guide surface 242s is inclined from a point one step below the sliding contact portion 240. On the other hand, the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 5(a) is not provided with a surface that is inclined downward.

[0061] In the diagram shown on the left side of FIG. 5( a ), the lower end of the protruding portion 1233 in the protruding direction is in contact with the guide portion 242 of the downstream return rail 24 .

[0062] As the endless chain 11 travels, the protrusion 1233 shown in Fig. 5(a) is guided by the guide surface 242s of the guide portion 242 of the downstream return rail 24, and the regulating member 123 moves smoothly downward, and as shown in the right side of Fig. 5(a), the lower end of the return shoe 122 is placed on the sliding contact portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24. Note that a protrusion 1221 for preventing slippage similar to the protrusion 1221 shown in Fig. 3(a) is provided at the lower corner of the outer side of the pond width direction of the return shoe 122 shown in Fig. 5(a) and protrudes downward, and faces the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding contact portion 240 protruding toward the outer side of the pond width direction.

[0063] The shape of the downstream return rail 24 has also been changed in Fig. 5(b). The downstream return rail 24 shown in Fig. 5(b) also has a guide portion 242 in addition to a sliding contact portion 240 and a mounting portion 241 protruding outward in the pond width direction, but the guide portion 242 is inclined from the height position of the sliding contact portion 240. In addition, the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in Fig. 5(b) has a contact surface 1233s inclined downward. The protruding portion 1233 shown in Fig. 5(b) is slightly smaller than the protruding portion 1233 shown in Fig. 3(a), but the basic configuration is the same.

[0064] 5(b), the contact surface 1233s of the protrusion 1233 is in surface contact with the guide surface 242s of the downstream return rail 24. That is, the inclination angle of the contact surface 1233s of the protrusion 1233 and the inclination angle of the guide surface 242s of the downstream return rail 24 are the same.

[0065] As the endless chain 11 travels, the regulating member 123 shown in Fig. 5(b) moves smoothly downward due to the inclination of the contact surface 1233s of the protruding portion 1233 and the inclination of the guide surface 242s of the downstream return rail 24, and as shown in the right side of Fig. 5(b), the lower end of the return shoe 122 is placed on the sliding contact portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24. Note that a slip prevention protrusion 1221 is also provided at the lower corner of the return shoe 122 on the outer side in the pond width direction shown in Fig. 5(b), and faces the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding contact portion 240 protruding toward the outer side in the pond width direction.

[0066] In the modified examples described above, the shape of the downstream return rail 24 was different, but the shape of the upstream return rail 25 may also be the same as the shape of the downstream return rail 24 described here, and the shape of the upstream return rail 25 may be the same as the shape of the upstream return rail 25 shown in Figure 3.

[0067] Next, a sludge scraper according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the sludge scraper according to the second embodiment, components having the same names as those described in the description of the sludge scraper according to the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in the description of the sludge scraper according to the first embodiment.

[0068] 6 and 7 are diagrams showing the return rail of the second embodiment as viewed from above. That is, they are plan views of the upstream return rail 25 and the downstream return rail 24. In both Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, the left-right direction of the drawing corresponds to the pond width direction.

[0069] In both Figures 6(a) and 6(b) and Figures 7(a) and 7(b), a pair of upstream return rails 25 are shown close to each other on the upper side, and a pair of downstream return rails 24 are shown close to each other on the lower side. As described above, both the pair of upstream return rails 25 and the pair of downstream return rails 24 are provided on both sides in the width direction of the sedimentation basin 1 and are originally installed apart, but are shown close to each other in Figures 6 and 7 due to space restrictions. Furthermore, the middle parts of both the upstream return rails 25 and the downstream return rails 24 are omitted, with the upper side being the upstream side and the lower side being the downstream side.

[0070] Furthermore, the upstream return rail 25 and downstream return rail 24 shown in Figure 6(a), and the upstream return rail 25 and downstream return rail 24 shown in Figure 6(b), have an upside-down L-shaped cross-sectional shape, as in the first embodiment, with the mounting portions 251, 241 on the outside in the pond width direction and the sliding portions 250, 240 protruding inward in the pond width direction.

[0071] 7(a), both of the upstream return rail 25 and downstream return rail 24 are formed by connecting (for example, by welding or bolting) three rail members: upstream rail members 25-1, 24-1, intermediate rail members 25-2, 24-2, and downstream rail members 25-3, 24-3. All three of these rail members (25-1, 25-2, 25-3, 24-1, 24-2, 24-3) have an upside-down L-shaped cross section, with mounting portions 251, 241 facing outward in the pond width direction, and sliding portions 250, 240 protruding inward in the pond width direction.

[0072] On the other hand, the upstream return rail 25 and the downstream return rail 24 shown in FIG. 7(b) are each formed by bending one rail member. That is, the mounting parts 251, 241 are located in the center, the upstream end and the downstream end are each bent at the sliding parts 250, 240 toward the outside in the pond width direction, and the intermediate part is bent at the sliding parts 250, 240 toward the inside in the pond width direction. Note that, like the upstream return rail 25 and the downstream return rail 24 shown in FIG. 7(a), a configuration in which three rail members are connected may be used. That is, a configuration in which an upstream rail member in which the sliding parts 250, 240 are bent toward the outside in the pond width direction, an intermediate rail member in which the sliding parts 250, 240 are bent toward the inside in the pond width direction, and a downstream rail member in which the sliding parts 250, 240 are bent toward the outside in the pond width direction may be connected.

[0073] In the first embodiment, the sliding contact portions 240, 250 are the same regardless of the position (upstream end, middle portion, downstream end) for the downstream return rail 24 and the upstream return rail 25. On the other hand, in the downstream return rail 24 and the upstream return rail 25 in Fig. 6(a) and Fig. 6(b), notches and escape spaces are provided at the upstream end and downstream end of the sliding contact portions 240, 250, respectively, and are different depending on the position.

[0074] That is, the sliding contact portion 250 of each of the pair of upstream return rails 25 shown in the upper part of Fig. 6(a) and Fig. 6(b) is provided with notches 25c1 and 25c2 at the upstream end and downstream end. The notch 25c1 shown in Fig. 6(a) is a rectangular cutout of the inner part in the pond width direction, and the notch 25c2 shown in Fig. 6(b) is a triangular cutout of the inner part in the pond width direction. The space provided by the cutout can also be said to be a space provided by retreating from the inner side to the outer side in the pond width direction. Hereinafter, the space provided by the cutout or the space provided by retreating will be simply referred to as a space. The sliding contact portion 250 of each of the pair of upstream return rails 25 shown in the upper part of Fig. 6(a) and Fig. 6(b) is provided with a space S at the inner part in the pond width direction of the upstream end and the inner part in the pond width direction of the downstream end.

[0075] In addition, the sliding contact portion 240 of each of the pair of downstream return rails 24 shown in the lower part of Figures 6(a) and 6(b) is also provided with notches 24c1 and 24c2 at the upstream end and downstream end. The notch 24c1 shown in Figure 6(a) is also a rectangular cutout of the inner part in the pond width direction, and the notch 24c2 shown in Figure 6(b) is also a triangular cutout of the inner part in the pond width direction. Here, too, the space provided by the cutout can be said to be a space provided by retreating from the inner side to the outer side in the pond width direction, and the sliding contact portion 240 of each of the pair of downstream return rails 24 shown in the lower part of Figures 6(a) and 6(b) is also provided with a space S' at the inner part in the pond width direction of the upstream end and the inner part in the pond width direction of the downstream end.

[0076] In addition, the upstream return rail 25 and downstream return rail 24 shown in Figure 7(a) are arranged such that upstream rail members 25-1, 24-1 and downstream rail members 25-3, 24-3 are shifted outward in the pond width direction relative to intermediate rail members 25-2, 24-2, and the space created inside upstream rail members 25-1, 24-1 can be said to be a space created by retracting upstream rail members 25-1, 24-1 outward in the pond width direction, and the space created inside downstream rail members 25-3, 24-3 can be said to be a space created by retracting downstream rail members 25-3, 24-3 outward in the pond width direction. A space S is provided in the inner portion of the upstream end of the upstream return rail 25 shown in Figure 7(a) in the pond width direction and in the inner portion of the downstream end, and a space S' is provided in the inner portion of the upstream end of the downstream return rail 24 shown in Figure 7(a) in the pond width direction and in the inner portion of the downstream end.

[0077] Furthermore, the upstream end and downstream end of the sliding contact parts 250, 240 of the upstream return rail 25 and downstream return rail 24 shown in Fig. 7(b) are folded outward in the pond width direction to retreat outward in the pond width direction, and the space formed inside the upstream end can be said to be a space formed by retreating the upstream end outward in the pond width direction, and the space formed inside the downstream end can be said to be a space formed by retreating the downstream end outward in the pond width direction. A space S is provided at the inner part of the upstream end of the upstream return rail 25 shown in Fig. 7(b) and the inner part of the downstream end in the pond width direction, and a space S' is provided at the inner part of the upstream end of the downstream return rail 24 shown in Fig. 7(b) and the inner part of the downstream end in the pond width direction.

[0078] The space S in the upstream return rail 25 in Fig. 6(a) and Fig. 6(b) and the upstream return rail 25 in Fig. 7(a) and Fig. 7(b), and the space S' in the downstream return rail 24 in Fig. 6(a) and Fig. 6(b) and the downstream return rail 24 in Fig. 7(a) and Fig. 7(b) are spaces for avoiding interference with the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123. That is, the upstream space S in the upstream return rail 25 is a space near the area through which the endless chain 11 passes by the regulating member 123 of the scraping member 12 attached to the slack portion 11l-2 running on the water surface track Tw side of the upstream track Tu of the endless chain 11. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the sliding contact portion 250 is not present in this space S, so the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 can enter below the sliding contact portion 250 by using this space S. In the example shown in FIG. 7(b), the space S does not have the sliding portion 250, so the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 can use this space S to get in below the sliding portion 250 in the middle part. In the example shown in FIG. 7(a), the rail member itself does not exist, so the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 can use this space S to get in below the sliding portion 250 in the intermediate rail member 25-2. In addition, the upstream space S' in the downstream return rail 24 is a space near the area through which the endless chain 11 travels and passes the regulating member 123 of the scraping member 12 attached to the slack portion 11l-2 of the endless chain 11. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the space S' does not have the sliding portion 240, so the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 can use this space S' to get in below the sliding portion 240. 7(b), since there is no sliding contact portion 240 in this space S', the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 can use this space S' to enter below the sliding contact portion 250 in the intermediate portion. In the example shown in Fig. 7(a), since there is no rail member itself, the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 can use this space S' to enter below the sliding contact portion 240 of the intermediate rail member 24-2.

[0079] Here, in both Figs. 6(a) and 6(b) and Figs. 7(a) and 7(b), when comparing the upstream space S in the upstream return rail 25 with the upstream space S' in the downstream return rail 24, the latter is longer than the former. That is, in the example shown in Fig. 6, the notch width (retraction width) is the same, but the notch length (retraction length) is longer in the downstream return rail 24 than in the upstream return rail 25. Also, in the example shown in Fig. 7(a), the length of the upstream rail members 25-1 and 24-1 and the length of the downstream rail members 25-3 and 24-3 are longer in the downstream return rail 24 than in the upstream return rail 25. Furthermore, in the example shown in Fig. 7(b), the length of the portion bent outward in the pond width direction (upstream end and downstream end) is longer in the downstream return rail 24 than in the upstream return rail 25. As described above, the slack portion 11l-2 of the endless chain 11 is slack, so that the track is unstable, and the downstream return rail 24 has a long space to avoid interference with the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123. The upstream space S' in the downstream return rail 24 may be wider than the upstream space S in the upstream return rail 25. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the notch width (retraction width) may also be wider in the downstream return rail 24 than in the upstream return rail 25. In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 7(a), the mounting positions of the upstream rail members 25-1 and 24-1 in the downstream return rail 24 may be further outward in the pond width direction than in the upstream return rail 25. Furthermore, in the example shown in FIG. 7(b), the downstream return rail 24 and the upstream return rail 25 have the same bending width, but the downstream return rail 24 may have a bending width wider in the pond width direction bending inward than in the pond width direction bending outward. In other words, the position of the attachment portion 241 may be shifted outward in the pond width direction from the central position.

[0080] In addition, whether it is the upstream return rail 25 in FIG. 6(a) and FIG. 6(b) and the upstream return rail 25 in FIG. 7(a) and FIG. 6(b) or the downstream return rail 24 in FIG. 6(a) and FIG. 6(b) and FIG. 7(a) and FIG. 7(b), the downstream spaces S, S' are provided to prevent interference when the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 exits the return rail, or to prevent interference with the protrusion 1233 when the endless chain 11 runs in the reverse direction. In addition, whether it is the upstream return rail 25 or the downstream return rail 24, the downstream spaces S, S' have the same length as the upstream spaces S, S', but the downstream spaces S, S' may be shorter than the upstream spaces S, S'. The width is also the same, but the downstream spaces S, S' may be narrower than the upstream spaces S, S'.

[0081] In addition, it is preferable to make it easier to avoid contact with the protrusion 1233 at the downstream end of the downstream return rail 24 than at the downstream end of the upstream return rail 25, and it is preferable to make it easier to avoid contact with the upstream end of the upstream return rail 25 than at the downstream end of the downstream return rail 24, and it is preferable to make it easier to avoid contact with the upstream end of the downstream return rail 24 than the upstream end of the upstream return rail 25.

[0082] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing in stages how the protruding portion of the regulating member approaches the upstream end portion of the downstream return rail of the second embodiment from diagonally above, until it enters below the sliding contact portion of the downstream return rail. In Fig. 8, the left-right direction of the figure corresponds to the pond width direction of the sedimentation basin 1, and only both ends in the pond width direction are shown, with the middle portion of the scraper member 12 in the pond width direction being omitted. The endless chain 11 is also omitted.

[0083] FIG. 8(a) is a view showing, from the downstream side, how the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 approaches the upstream end portion of the downstream return rail 24 shown in FIG. 6(a) from diagonally above. The regulating member 123 in the second embodiment is the same as the regulating member 123 in the first embodiment, and has a base portion 1231, an arm portion 1232, and a protruding portion 1233. The arm portion 1232 is a portion that extends downward, and the protruding portion 1233 is bent 90 degrees from the arm portion 1232 and protrudes outward in the pond width direction. The scraper member 12 shown in FIG. 8(a) is shifted toward one end side in the pond width direction (the left side in FIG. 8). Therefore, the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 on one end side attached to the scraper member 12 approaches the upstream side of the sliding contact portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24. 6(a), a notch 24c1 is provided at the upstream end of the sliding contact portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24, and the portion where the notch 24c1 is provided is a space S' that opens from the inside toward the outside in the pond width direction. Therefore, the approaching protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 on one end side may be able to use this space S' to get below the sliding contact portion 240. In other words, it may be possible to prevent the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 from coming into contact with the downstream return rail 24.

[0084] In the example shown in Fig. 8, the deviation of the scraper member 12 in the pond width direction is quite large, and even if a space S' is provided, the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 comes into contact with the downstream return rail 24 as shown in Fig. 8(b). However, since the contact surface 1233s of the protrusion 1233 is gradually inclined downward toward the other end in the pond width direction, the protrusion 1233 is caused to move downward following the inclination of the contact surface 1233s as the endless chain 11 travels. This is the same as that described in the first embodiment using Fig. 3(c).

[0085] In Fig. 8(c), the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 is below the sliding contact portion 240, and the lower end of the return shoe 122 is placed on the sliding contact portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24. In addition, the deviation of the scraper member 12 toward one end in the pond width direction is eliminated, and the scraper member 12 is in the correct position. The protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in Fig. 8(c) has not yet gone beyond the notch 24c1 of the downstream return rail 24 shown on the bottom of Fig. 6(a), and is in the position of arrow c shown in Fig. 6(a).

[0086] As the endless chain 11 continues to travel, the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in Fig. 8(c) eventually passes the notch 24c1 of the downstream return rail 24 and reaches below the sliding contact portion 240 where no space S' is provided. The protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in Fig. 8(d) is at the position indicated by the arrow d shown in Fig. 6(a). The tip portion in the protruding direction of the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in Fig. 8(d) is located directly below the tip portion in the protruding direction of the sliding contact portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24.

[0087] When sloshing occurs due to an earthquake and the underwater track section 11l-1 (see Figs. 1 and 4) swings in the pond width direction, the protruding end 1233t of the protruding section 1233 abuts against the base of the sliding contact section 240 against the mounting section 241 of the downstream return rail 24, and the underwater track section 11l-1 is prevented from swinging further in the pond width direction. However, when sloshing occurs due to an earthquake and the underwater track section 11l-1 swings upward, the protruding section 1233 of the restricting member 123 shown in Fig. 8(c) does not abut anywhere on the downstream return rail 24 and cannot suppress the upward swing. On the other hand, even if sloshing occurs due to an earthquake and the underwater track portion 11l-1 swings upward, the protruding end of the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 8(d) abuts against the protruding end of the sliding portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24 from below, and the underwater track portion 11l-1 is prevented from swinging upward any further. The protruding end of the protruding portion 1233 shown in FIG. 8(d) corresponds to an example of an upward regulating portion. Also, when the underwater track portion 11l-1 swings in the pond width direction, the protruding end 1233t of the protruding portion 1233 shown in FIG. 8(d) abuts against the downstream return rail 24, and also functions as a lateral regulating portion.

[0088] The relationship between the downstream return rail 24 and the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 in the second embodiment has been described above, but in this second embodiment, the relationship between the upstream return rail 25 and the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 is also the same.

[0089] Although it depends on the degree of displacement of the scraper member 12 in the pond width direction, in most cases the space S' can prevent the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 from contacting the downstream return rail 24. For this reason, the space S' may be provided and the inclined contact surface 1233s (see FIG. 8(b)) of the protruding portion 1233 may be omitted. For example, the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 5(a) may be used.

[0090] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a modified example of the second embodiment. As in Fig. 8, the left-right direction of the drawing corresponds to the width direction of the sedimentation basin 1, and only both ends in the width direction of the basin are shown, with the middle portion of the scraper member 12 in the width direction being omitted. The endless chain 11 is also omitted.

[0091] In the modified example of the second embodiment, the sliding contact portion 240 of each of the pair of downstream return rails 24 has a notch 24c1 at the upstream end and the downstream end. Meanwhile, the regulating member 123 attached to the scraper member 12 is different from the regulating member 12 attached to the scraper member 12 shown in Fig. 8. That is, the arm portion 1232 in the regulating member 123 shown in Fig. 9 is a portion that extends downward from the outer side in the pond width direction of the base portion 1231. The protruding portion 1233 is bent 90 degrees from the tip of the arm portion 1232 and protrudes toward the inner side in the pond width direction.

[0092] The protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in Figure 9(a) is located at the position of arrow d shown in Figure 6(a), and the protruding tip portion of this protrusion portion 1233 is located directly below the protruding tip portion of the sliding contact portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24.

[0093] Fig. 9(b) shows a state in which sloshing occurs due to an earthquake, causing the underwater track portion 11l-1 (see Figs. 1 and 4) to swing to one end in the pond width direction (left side in Fig. 9). The arm portion 1232 located on the outer side in the pond width direction of the regulating member 123 on the other end in the pond width direction (right side in Fig. 9) shown in Fig. 9(b) abuts against the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24 on the other end in the pond width direction, preventing the underwater track portion 11l-1 from swinging further toward the one end in the pond width direction.

[0094] Fig. 9(c) shows a state in which sloshing occurs due to an earthquake, and the underwater track portion 11l-1 then swings to the other end in the pond width direction (the right side in Fig. 9). The arm portion 1232 located on the outer side in the pond width direction of the regulating member 123 at one end in the pond width direction (the left side in Fig. 9) shown in Fig. 9(c) abuts against the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24 at one end in the pond width direction, and the underwater track portion 11l-1 is prevented from swinging further toward the other end in the pond width direction.

[0095] Next, a sludge scraper according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the third embodiment of the sludge scraper, components having the same names as those described in the description of the sludge scraper according to the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in the description of the sludge scraper according to the first embodiment.

[0096] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the downstream return rail 24 and the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 in the sludge collector of the third embodiment. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical line passing through the center of the driven sprocket 16, and the left-right direction of the figure corresponds to the width direction of the sedimentation basin 1.

[0097] In the sludge collector of the third embodiment, the relationship between the upstream return rail 25 and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 is the same as in the sludge collector of the first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3(a). In Fig. 10, the upstream return rail 25 shown in Fig. 3(a) is indicated by a dashed line for reference.

[0098] On the other hand, the downstream return rail 24 is installed on the outside of the upstream return rail 25 in the pond width direction. In FIG. 10, the downstream return rail 24 is shown in gray. The downstream return rail 24 has the same shape as the upstream return rail 25, and its cross section is an upside-down L-shape, and is composed of a sliding contact portion 240 and a mounting portion 241 at the lower portion. In this third embodiment, the distance in the pond width direction between the downstream return rail 24 and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 of the scraper member 12 sliding on the upstream return rail 25 is longer than the distance in the pond width direction between the upstream return rail 25 and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 of the scraper member 12 sliding on the upstream return rail 25. As described above, since the slack portion 11l-2 of the endless chain 11 is slack, the track is unstable, and the scraper member 12 attached to the slack portion 11l-2 is likely to be displaced in the pond width direction. For this reason, the downstream return rail 24 has a longer gap in the pond width direction from the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 than the upstream return rail 25, making it easier to avoid contact with the protruding portion 1233. If the downstream return rail 24 is installed further outward in the pond width direction than the upstream return rail 25, it may not be necessary to provide the notches 24c1 and 24c2 described with reference to FIG. 6 in the downstream return rail 24. However, since the further outward the installation location of the downstream return rail 24 is in the pond width direction, it becomes more difficult for the regulating member 123 to regulate the upward movement, it may be preferable to install the downstream return rail 24 somewhat outward in the pond width direction while providing a wide portion in the sliding contact portion 240.

[0099] In addition, by offsetting the installation locations of the downstream return rail 24 and the upstream return rail 25 in the pond width direction, the sliding contact points of the return shoe 122 differ, and wear of the return shoe 122 can be dispersed.

[0100] The closer the downstream return rail 24 is provided to the outside in the pond width direction, the easier it is to prevent the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 from contacting the downstream return rail 24. Therefore, the downstream return rail 24 may be provided to the outside in the pond width direction, and the inclined contact surface 1233s of the protruding portion 1233 may be omitted. For example, the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 5(a) may be used.

[0101] Next, a sludge scraper according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the fourth embodiment of the sludge scraper, components having the same names as those described in the description of the sludge scraper according to the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in the description of the sludge scraper according to the first embodiment.

[0102] Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the downstream return rail 24 and the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 in the sludge collector of the fourth embodiment. Like Fig. 10, Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical line passing through the center of the driven sprocket 16, and the left-right direction in the figure corresponds to the width direction of the sedimentation basin 1.

[0103] In the sludge collector of the fourth embodiment, the relationship between the upstream return rail 25 and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 is the same as in the sludge collector of the first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3(a). In Fig. 11, the upstream return rail 25 shown in Fig. 3(a) is also indicated by a dashed line for reference. In the upstream return rail 25, the protruding tip 2501 of the sliding portion 250 faces inward in the pond width direction.

[0104] On the other hand, in the downstream return rail 24, the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding contact portion 240 faces outward in the pond width direction. In Fig. 11, the downstream return rail 24 is also shown in grey. This downstream return rail 24 has the same shape as the upstream return rail 25, and its cross-sectional shape is an upside-down L-shape, and is made up of a sliding contact portion 240 and a mounting portion 241 at the lower part. However, as described above, the protruding direction of the sliding contact portion 240 is different. This is because the mounting directions of the upstream return rail 25 and the downstream return rail 24 are opposite to each other. In other words, the upstream return rail 25 has a protruding portion (sliding portion 250) on the side where the regulating member 123 of the scraper member 12 attached to the water surface track portion 11w (see Figures 1 and 2) is provided, whereas the downstream return rail 24 does not have a protruding portion on the side where the regulating member 123 of the scraper member 12 attached to the underwater track portion 11l-1 (see Figures 1 and 4) is provided, and the downstream return rail 24 has a protruding portion (sliding portion 240) on the opposite side to the side where the regulating member 123 of the scraper member 12 attached to the underwater track portion 11l-1 is provided. As a result, the distance in the pond width direction between the downstream return rail 24 and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 12 of the scraper 12 sliding on the downstream return rail 24 is longer than the distance in the pond width direction between the upstream return rail 25 and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 of the scraper 12 sliding on the upstream return rail 25. Even in the sludge scraper device of the fourth embodiment, the downstream return rail 24 is less likely to interfere with the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 than the upstream return rail 25. As described above, since the slack portion 11l-2 of the endless chain 11 is slack, the track is unstable, and the scraper 12 attached to the slack portion 11l-2 is likely to be displaced in the pond width direction. For this reason, the distance between the downstream return rail 24 and the protruding end 1233t of the protruding portion 1233 is longer than that between the downstream return rail 25 and the upstream return rail 25, making it easier to avoid contact with the protruding portion 1233.

[0105] In addition, by orienting the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding contact portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24 outward in the pond width direction, it becomes easier to prevent the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 from contacting the downstream return rail 24. Therefore, the downstream return rail 24 may be arranged so that the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding contact portion 240 faces outward in the pond width direction, and the inclined contact surface 1233s of the protruding portion 1233 may be omitted. For example, the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 5(a) may be used.

[0106] In addition, whether it is the downstream return rail or the upstream return rail, it may have an upside-down L-shaped cross-sectional shape, or it may have a T-shaped cross-sectional shape, a C-shaped cross-sectional shape, or a U-shaped cross-sectional shape.

[0107] Furthermore, in the case of an endless chain that omits the intermediate sprocket 15, eliminates the water surface orbit Tw, and runs on an approximately triangular circular orbit connecting the scraping orbit Tk, the upstream orbit Tu which is a rising orbit, and an inclined orbit connecting the drive sprocket 14 and sprocket 16, the upstream return rail 25 becomes unnecessary and the downstream return rail 24 exists, and the technology described here can also be applied to a sludge scraping device having an endless chain that runs on such an approximately triangular orbit.

[0108] Finally, modified examples of the restricting member will be described.

[0109] Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a modified example of the regulating member. Like Fig. 3(a), Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical line passing through the center of the drive sprocket 14, and the left-right direction in the figure corresponds to the width direction of the sedimentation basin 1. Note that, like Fig. 3(a), the drive chain 211 (see Fig. 1) that transmits rotational force to the drive sprocket 14 is omitted in Fig. 12.

[0110] The conventional regulating member 123 was attached to the collecting member 12 and was located below the water surface WL. The regulating member 123 also had a protrusion 1233. On the other hand, the regulating member 19 shown in Fig. 12 is not attached to the collecting member 12, but is fixedly disposed above the water surface WL. In other words, it is provided near an upper corner of the collecting member 12. A return shoe 122 is attached to the collecting member 12.

[0111] 12 has an upside-down L-shaped cross section, similar in shape to the upstream return rail 25, and extends in the water flow direction in the same manner as the upstream return rail 25. The regulating member 19 is attached to mounting members (not shown) fixed to each of the pair of side walls 1c, but the length of these mounting members in the pond width direction can be shorter than that of the upstream base 257. In other words, it is only necessary for the mounting members to extend to the vicinity of the upper corners of the collecting member 12.

[0112] The restricting member 19 shown in Fig. 12 has a lateral restricting portion 191 and an upward restricting portion 192. When sloshing occurs due to an earthquake and the water surface track portion 11w (see Figs. 1 and 2) swings in the pond width direction, the vertical edge 12a of the scraper member 12 abuts against the lateral restricting portion 191, preventing the water surface track portion 11w from swinging further in the pond width direction. When sloshing occurs due to an earthquake and the water surface track portion 11w swings upward, the pond width direction edge 12b of the scraper member 12 abuts against the upward restricting portion 192, preventing the water surface track portion 11w from swinging further upward.

[0113] As a measure against vibration of the underwater track section 11l-1 due to sloshing caused by an earthquake, a restricting member may be extended near the upper corner of the scraping member 12 attached to the underwater track section 11l-1, similar to the downstream return rail 24. In this case, the restricting member is fixedly disposed underwater.

[0114] The sludge scraping device provided with the regulating member 19 of the modified example described above can be summarized as follows: "A sludge scraper is provided in a sedimentation tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side; a rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels; and a regulating member that, when the endless chain sways, contacts the regulating member that slides on the first rail member, thereby regulating the swaying of the endless chain. It becomes.

[0115] This sludge scraping device can reliably prevent the endless chain from coming off the sprocket even in the event of an earthquake.

[0116] Here, when the endless chain sways, the regulating member comes into contact with the outer circumferential edge of the scraping member that slides along the rail member, thereby regulating the swaying of the endless chain. The outer circumferential edge may be either protruding or recessed.

[0117] The restricting member has a portion that contacts the edge of the collecting member in the pond width direction and a portion that contacts the edge of the collecting plate in the up-down direction. That is, the restricting member has a lateral restricting portion that restricts the water surface trajectory portion from swinging in the pond width direction and an upward restricting portion that restricts the water surface trajectory portion from swinging upward.

[0118] In addition, the regulating member is disposed near an upper corner of the collecting member that slides along the rail member, and when the endless chain sways, it abuts against the upper corner of the collecting member, thereby regulating the swing of the endless chain.

[0119] Further, the scraping member has a rectangular scraping surface, but the upper corners may be rounded instead of being corners.

[0120] The restricting member is attached to the side wall located at the end in the width direction of the pond via a mounting member. The mounting member only needs to be extended from the side wall to the vicinity of the upper corner of the scraper plate on which the rail member slides, and as described above, the mounting member can be made short.

[0121] The rail member extends on the water surface side in the water flow direction, and a scraper plate attached to the water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface side is placed on it and the scraper plate slides, and the regulating member is positioned near the upper corner of the scraper member attached to the water surface track portion, and when the water surface track portion vibrates, it abuts against the upper corner of the scraper member, regulating the vibration of the water surface track portion.

[0122] In addition, in the previous description, "A sludge scraper is provided in a sedimentation tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; a plurality of the scraper members are attached at intervals, a scraper track extending along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track rising from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track extending on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction in which the water flows but which is shorter than the scraper track, and an endless chain running on a circular track connecting the water surface track and the downstream track connecting the scraper track; a first rail member that is installed on and along the scraper track, and on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides; the scraper member is attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track; a second rail member extending in the water flow direction on the water surface side, on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides and which is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track; The scraping member has a regulating member that regulates the oscillation of the endless chain, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the underwater track portion, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the water surface track portion, The sludge scraping device is characterized in that the regulating member has a contact surface that may come into contact with the second rail member from above as the endless chain travels, and the contact surface is inclined downward. He explained:

[0123] Also, "A sludge scraper is provided in a sedimentation tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; a plurality of the scraper members are attached at intervals, a scraper track extending along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track rising from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track extending on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction in which the water flows but which is shorter than the scraper track, and an endless chain running on a circular track connecting the water surface track and the downstream track connecting the scraper track; a first rail member that is installed on and along the scraper track, and on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides; the scraper member is attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track; a second rail member extending in the water flow direction on the water surface side, on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides and which is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track; The scraping member has a regulating member that regulates the oscillation of the endless chain, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the underwater track portion, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the water surface track portion, The first rail member is a sludge collector that is characterized in that the regulating member of the collector member attached to the portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the downstream track has a space provided near an area through which the endless chain passes as it runs. He also explained:

[0124] The space may be created by cutting out or by retracting, and this space prevents the regulating member of the scraper member attached to the part of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the downstream track from interfering with the first rail member.

[0125] The second rail member may have a space provided in the vicinity of a region through which the endless chain passes as it travels, the regulating member of a collecting member attached to a portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the upstream track. The space referred to here may be a space provided by cutting out or by retracting, and this space prevents the regulating member of a collecting member attached to a portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the upstream track from interfering with the second rail member.

[0126] In addition, "A sludge scraper is provided in a sedimentation tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; a collecting track to which a plurality of the collecting members are attached at intervals and which extends along the bottom of the pond, a rising track which rises from the collecting track toward the water surface, and an inclined track which extends from the water surface to the collecting track; and an endless chain which runs on a circulating track which is connected to the collecting track; a first rail member that is installed on and along the scraper track, and on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides; the scraper member is attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the inclined track, The scraping member has a regulating member that regulates the oscillation of the endless chain, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the underwater track portion, The first rail member is a sludge collector that is provided with a space near an area through which the endless chain passes as it travels, for the regulating member of the collector member that is attached to the portion of the endless chain that travels on the water surface side of the inclined track. may be also possible.

[0127] Also, "A sludge scraper is provided in a sedimentation tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; a plurality of the scraper members are attached at intervals, a scraper track extending along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track rising from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track extending on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction in which the water flows but which is shorter than the scraper track, and an endless chain running on a circular track connecting the water surface track and the downstream track connecting the scraper track; a first rail member that is installed on and along the scraper track, and on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides; the scraper member is attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track; a second rail member extending in the water flow direction on the water surface side, on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides and which is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track; The scraping member has a regulating member that regulates the oscillation of the endless chain, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the underwater track portion, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the water surface track portion, The sludge scraping device is characterized in that the first rail member is installed on the outer side of the second rail member in the width direction of the settling basin. He also explained:

[0128] Also, "A sludge scraper is provided in a sedimentation tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; a plurality of the scraper members are attached at intervals, a scraper track extending along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track rising from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track extending on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction in which the water flows but which is shorter than the scraper track, and an endless chain running on a circular track connecting the water surface track and the downstream track connecting the scraper track; a first rail member that is installed on and along the scraper track, and on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides; the scraper member is attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track; a second rail member extending in the water flow direction on the water surface side, on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides and which is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track; The scraping member has a regulating member that regulates the oscillation of the endless chain, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the underwater track portion, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the water surface track portion, A sludge scraping device characterized in that the distance between the first rail member and the regulating member for the scraping member sliding on the first rail member is longer than the distance between the second rail member and the regulating member for the scraping member sliding on the second rail member. He also explained:

[0129] The scraping member may extend in the width direction of the settling basin, and the first rail members may be installed on both sides of the settling basin in the width direction. The second rail members may also be installed on both sides of the settling basin in the width direction.

[0130] The second rail member may have a protruding portion on the side of the scraper member attached to the water surface track portion where the regulating member is provided, whereas the first rail member may not have a protruding portion on the side of the scraper member attached to the underwater track portion where the regulating member is provided. Furthermore, the first rail member may have a protruding portion on the side of the scraper member attached to the underwater track portion opposite to the side where the regulating member is provided.

[0131] In addition, the first rail member and the second rail member may be rail members of the same shape but mounted in opposite directions, such that the first rail member is less likely to interfere with the regulating member than the second rail member.

[0132] Also, A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side; a first rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels, the scraping member has a regulating member that comes into contact with the first rail member when the endless chain sways, and regulates the swaying of the endless chain, the regulating member has a contact surface that may come into contact with the first rail member from above as the endless chain travels, and the contact surface is inclined downward; the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track, the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member; the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the underwater track portion, The first rail member is characterized in that the regulating member of the collector member attached to the portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the downstream track has a space provided near the area through which the endless chain passes as it runs.

[0133] Also, A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side; a first rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels, the scraping member has a regulating member that comes into contact with the first rail member when the endless chain sways, and regulates the swaying of the endless chain, the regulating member has a contact surface that may come into contact with the first rail member from above as the endless chain travels, and the contact surface is inclined downward; the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track, the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member; The endless chain further includes a second rail member on the water surface side, on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides. The scraper member is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track. the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the underwater track portion, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the water surface track portion, The first rail member is characterized in that it is installed on the outer side in the width direction of the sedimentation basin than the second rail member.

[0134] Also, A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side; a first rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels, the scraping member has a regulating member that comes into contact with the first rail member when the endless chain sways, and regulates the swaying of the endless chain, the regulating member has a contact surface that may come into contact with the first rail member from above as the endless chain travels, and the contact surface is inclined downward; the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track, the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member; The endless chain further includes a second rail member on the water surface side, on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides. The scraper member is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track. the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the underwater track portion, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the water surface track portion, The present invention is characterized in that the distance between the first rail member and the regulating member for the scraping member sliding on the first rail member is longer than the distance between the second rail member and the regulating member for the scraping member sliding on the second rail member.

[0135] Also, A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side; a first rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels, the scraping member has a regulating member that comes into contact with the first rail member when the endless chain sways, and regulates the swaying of the endless chain, the first rail member is provided with a guide surface that guides the regulating member downward when the regulating member comes into contact with the first rail member from above as the endless chain travels; the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track, the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member; the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the underwater track portion, The first rail member is characterized in that the regulating member of the collector member attached to the portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the downstream track has a space provided near the area through which the endless chain passes as it runs.

[0136] Also, A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side; a first rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels, the scraping member has a regulating member that comes into contact with the first rail member when the endless chain sways, and regulates the swaying of the endless chain, the first rail member is provided with a guide surface that guides the regulating member downward when the regulating member comes into contact with the first rail member from above as the endless chain travels; the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track, the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member; The endless chain further includes a second rail member on the water surface side, on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides. The scraper member is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track. the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the underwater track portion, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the water surface track portion, The first rail member is characterized in that it is installed on the outer side in the width direction of the sedimentation basin than the second rail member.

[0137] Also, A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side; a first rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels, the scraping member has a regulating member that comes into contact with the first rail member when the endless chain sways, and regulates the swaying of the endless chain, the first rail member is provided with a guide surface that guides the regulating member downward when the regulating member comes into contact with the first rail member from above as the endless chain travels; the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track, the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member; The endless chain further includes a second rail member on the water surface side, on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides. The scraper member is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track. the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the underwater track portion, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the water surface track portion, The present invention is characterized in that the distance between the first rail member and the regulating member for the scraping member sliding on the first rail member is longer than the distance between the second rail member and the regulating member for the scraping member sliding on the second rail member.

[0138] Also, A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side; a first rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels, the scraping member has a regulating member that comes into contact with the first rail member when the endless chain sways, and regulates the swaying of the endless chain, The regulating member is characterized in that a contact surface thereof, which may come into contact with the first rail member from above as the endless chain travels, is inclined downward.

[0139] The first rail member may be installed on the water surface side, or on the pond bottom side.

[0140] The contact surface may be an inclined surface that gradually slopes downward in the width direction of the settling basin.

[0141] The scraper member may extend in the width direction of the settling tank, and the first rail member may be installed on each side of the settling tank in the width direction.

[0142] According to the above-mentioned sludge scraping device, when the regulating member contacts the first rail member from above, the regulating member moves smoothly downward in accordance with the inclination of the contact surface in accordance with the movement of the endless chain, thereby preventing disruption of the movement of the endless chain.

[0143] Also, the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track, the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member; The endless chain further includes a second rail member on the water surface side, on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides. The scraper member is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track. the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the underwater track portion, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the water surface track portion, The contact surface may be such that, as the endless chain travels, it may also come into contact with the second rail member from above.

[0144] The second rail members may be installed on both sides of the settling basin in the basin width direction (the same applies below).

[0145] A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side; a first rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels, the scraping member has a regulating member that comes into contact with the first rail member when the endless chain sways, and regulates the swaying of the endless chain, The first rail member is characterized in that it is provided with a guide surface that guides the regulating member downward when the regulating member comes into contact with it from above as the endless chain travels.

[0146] The first rail member may be installed on the water surface side, or on the pond bottom side.

[0147] The guide surface may be an inclined surface that gradually slopes downward in the width direction of the settling basin.

[0148] The scraper member may extend in the width direction of the settling tank, and the first rail member may be installed on each side of the settling tank in the width direction.

[0149] According to the above-mentioned sludge scraping device, when the regulating member contacts the first rail member from above, the regulating member is smoothly guided downward by the guide surface in accordance with the movement of the endless chain, thereby preventing the movement of the endless chain from being disrupted.

[0150] the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track, the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member; The endless chain further includes a second rail member on the water surface side, on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides. The scraper member is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track. the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the underwater track portion, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the water surface track portion, The second rail member may also be provided with a guide surface that guides the regulating member downward when the regulating member comes into contact with the second rail member from above as the endless chain travels.

[0151] the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track, the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member; the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the underwater track portion, The first rail member may be such that a space is provided near the area through which the endless chain passes as it travels, the regulating member of the collector member attached to the portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the downstream track.

[0152] The space may be created by cutting out or by retracting, and this space prevents the regulating member of the scraper member attached to the part of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the downstream track from interfering with the first rail member.

[0153] In an embodiment including a second rail member that is installed on the water surface side and on which a guiding member attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track is placed and the guiding member slides, the second rail member may have a space provided in the vicinity of an area through which the endless chain passes as it runs, the regulating member of the guiding member attached to the portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the upstream track. The space referred to here may be a space provided by cutting out or a space provided by retracting, and this space prevents the regulating member of the guiding member attached to the portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the upstream track from interfering with the second rail member.

[0154] Also, the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track, the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member; The endless chain further includes a second rail member on the water surface side, on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides. The scraper member is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track. the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the underwater track portion, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the water surface track portion, The first rail member may be installed on the outer side in a width direction of the settling basin than the second rail member.

[0155] Also, the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track, the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member; The endless chain further includes a second rail member on the water surface side, on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides. The scraper member is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track. the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the underwater track portion, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the water surface track portion, In an embodiment, the distance between the first rail member and the regulating member for the scraping member sliding on the first rail member is longer than the distance between the second rail member and the regulating member for the scraping member sliding on the second rail member.

[0156] The second rail member may have a protruding portion on the side of the scraper member attached to the water surface track portion where the regulating member is provided, whereas the first rail member may not have a protruding portion on the side of the scraper member attached to the underwater track portion where the regulating member is provided. Furthermore, the first rail member may have a protruding portion on the side of the scraper member attached to the underwater track portion opposite to the side where the regulating member is provided.

[0157] The first rail member and the second rail member may be rail members of the same shape but mounted in opposite directions, such that the first rail member is less likely to interfere with the regulating member than the second rail member.

[0158] Also, The regulating member may have a lateral regulating portion that regulates the endless chain from swinging in a width direction of the settling basin, The regulating member may have an upward regulating portion that regulates the endless chain from swinging upward.

[0159] Also, A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side; a rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, the rail member having a sliding contact portion on which the collecting member is placed and against which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels, The scraping member has a protruding portion protruding outward in a width direction of the settling basin, and has a regulating member that abuts against the rail member when the endless chain sways, thereby regulating the sway of the endless chain, the rail member includes a second rail member having a second sliding contact portion on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides, the second rail member being attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion vibrates, thereby regulating the vibration of the water surface track portion, The second rail member has a second space provided by retracting the second rail member from the inside to the outside in the width direction of the pond in the vicinity of a region through which the protrusion passes as the endless chain travels, The sludge scraping device may be characterized in that the protruding portion enters from above the second rail member to below the second sliding contact portion by utilizing the second space.

[0160] Also, the rail member further includes a first rail member having a first sliding contact portion on which a scraping member is placed and on which the scraping member is slid, the first sliding contact portion being attached to a slack portion of the endless chain that is curved downward, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the slack portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the slack portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the slack portion, The first rail member has a first space provided by retracting the first rail member from the inside to the outside in the width direction of the pond in the vicinity of a region through which the protrusion passes as the endless chain travels, The protruding portion extends from above the first rail member to below the first sliding contact portion. It may also be characterized in that it utilizes one space to enter.

[0161] In addition, A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side; a rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, the rail member having a sliding contact portion on which the collecting member is placed and against which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels, The scraping member has a protruding portion protruding outward in a width direction of the settling basin, and has a regulating member that abuts against the rail member when the endless chain sways, thereby regulating the sway of the endless chain, The rail member has a space provided by retracting from the inside to the outside in the pond width direction in the vicinity of a region through which the protrusion passes as the endless chain travels, The sludge scraping device may be characterized in that the protrusion portion enters from above the rail member to below the sliding contact portion by utilizing the space.

[0162] A number of embodiments and modifications have been described above, but any of the embodiments and modifications provides a high-quality sludge scraping device.

[0163] In addition, even if a constituent element is included only in the description of each of the embodiments and modified examples described above, that constituent element may be applied to other embodiments or modified examples. [Explanation of symbols]

[0164] 1. Sedimentation tank 1d Pond bottom 10 Sludge scraper 11 Endless Chain 12. Collecting materials 123 Regulatory Materials 1233 Protrusion 1233s contact surface 1233t Tip of protrusion direction 16 Sprockets 24 Downstream return rail 240 Sliding contact part 242s Guide surface 25 Upstream return rail 250 Sliding contact part Tw water surface orbit Tl downstream track Tk scraping orbit Tu upstream orbit 11w water surface orbit part 11l Downstream track section 11l-1 Underwater orbit section 11l-2 Loose part 11k Sweeping track section 11u upstream track section

Claims

[Claim 1] A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows, A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond; An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side; a rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, the rail member having a sliding contact portion on which the collecting member is placed and against which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels, the scraping member is provided with a protruding portion protruding in a width direction of the settling basin, and has a regulating member that abuts against the rail member when the endless chain sways, thereby regulating the sway of the endless chain, The rail members include a first rail member having a first sliding contact portion on which a scraper member attached to a slack portion of the endless chain that is curved downward and slackened is placed and against which the scraper member slides, and a second rail member having a second sliding contact portion on which a scraper member attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction is placed and against which the scraper member slides, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the slack portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the slack portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the slack portion, the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the water surface track portion, the first rail member has a first space provided by retracting in the pond width direction in the vicinity of a region through which the protrusion passes as the endless chain travels, The second rail member has a second space provided by retracting in the pond width direction in the vicinity of a region through which the protrusion passes as the endless chain travels, the protruding portion enters from above the first rail member to below the first sliding contact portion by utilizing the first space, and enters from above the second rail member to below the second sliding contact portion by utilizing the second space, A sludge scraping device, wherein the first space is longer than the second space.

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