Dynamic device for separating debris from flowing water

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device with the purpose of separating leaves and solid debris from rain and river water. Said invention combines solutions to several problems that often occur when collecting water from streams, or from areas where river water is collected for irrigation purposes, fish farming, energy generation or even for storage for later use. Said device does not harm the living things in the water that is collected, and is capable of ensuring that its active components do not accumulate debris, especially debris with cohesive and adhesive properties, such as leaves in an advanced stage of decomposition or materials with similar characteristics such as pieces of paper and plastic bags.

Description

[0001] DYNAMIC DEVICE FOR SEPARATING DEBRIS IN WATER STREAMS

[0002] FIELD OF INVENTION

[0003] (01) The present invention relates to a Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows, which can be used in various applications in which the presence of larger debris may impair a downstream process, such as the fine filtration of rainwater for recycling purposes, the generation of electrical energy by mini power plants, or even the simple conduction of water through long ducts with a low slope rate and subject to clogging. The application is more particularly aimed at removing leaves from rainwater gutters or other catchment areas subject to the accumulation of debris or garbage.

[0004] RELATED TECHNIQUE

[0005] (02) Freshwater is an increasingly valued and essential resource in various segments of life and society. It guarantees life, through its direct purpose for human consumption. It is used as a component of other food products, or even in other daily processes, basic as hygiene, but also essential in complex industrial processes: refrigeration, energy production, transportation, irrigation, agriculture, fish farming, etc.

[0006] (03) The increasingly difficult-to-find sources of this highly valued resource require a search for ways to take advantage of all available resources. Rainwater harvesting is not uncommon on urban properties, and water from streams and small creeks is also common on rural properties. These sources, in particular, can be used for irrigation, livestock, or hygiene purposes. However, whatever the purpose, the water typically undergoes a minimal, coarse filtration process at its source, which removes larger debris, especially leaves in all stages of deterioration.

[0007] (04) If the source is a stream or creek, it is necessary to remove larger gravel and material that normally floats on the surface of the water, such as small dead insects and especially leaves in various stages of decomposition. This is done not only to remove this potentially contaminating biological material, which poses a risk of early pathogen development in water that is subsequently stored for a period of time, but also to prevent clogging of the pipes that carry the collected water from the source to storage, which generally have a low slope along the route.

[0008] (05) Water collected from a stream or creek can also be directed to a small power plant, common on small rural properties, and can also be adopted in the form of mini generators on urban properties, according to the technologies currently developed that also use rainwater for this purpose. In this case, filtering out larger debris, especially leaves, is important for the proper functioning of the turbine, which is generally small and therefore subject to clogging or damage due to the passage of this debris.

[0009] (06) Regarding the use of freshwater from rainwater, as previously mentioned, the process begins with the concentration and capture of rainwater that falls on large waterproofed areas, normally roofs of various buildings, but also large cemented areas such as grain drying yards, patios, sidewalks, etc.

[0010] (07) The most common materials accumulated in any rainwater catchment area, in addition to typical debris such as gravel, are plant leaves. These range from small to large, recently fallen or dried leaves. Leaves that have received dew or light rain and, because they are not carried away, may be found in various stages of decomposition on the catchment surface. All of these leaf categories are also found floating, or semi-submerged, in the water depths of streams and creeks.

[0011] (08) Thus, in addition to the need to clean the various debris found in water coming from one of these sources mentioned, leaves carried from water collection surfaces or in the water layers of streams represent the largest load of materials that needs to be processed by filtering devices, and which in most cases causes loss of efficiency, or even clogging in devices and equipment available on the market.

[0012] (09) The largest number of devices and / or equipment that perform this type of filtration are with static filter elements. The predominant filtration media in these devices are inclined surfaces placed directly under the flow of water to be treated. The inclined filter surface retains debris, but the water flow passes through this surface, being directed to its intended purpose. These are referred to in the market as self-cleaning filters.

[0013] (10) These surfaces vary in shape, inclination, and composition. Some are made of plastic mesh, metal mesh, and even metal laminated with special polymers. These meshes are available in a wide variety of mesh openings.

[0014] (11) The function of the screen, arranged as an inclined surface, is to allow the flow of water to pass through and retain debris and leaves, which, due to the inclination of the surface, tend to descend beyond the direction of the flow of water passing through the screen, draining cleanly to be used for a variety of purposes. Thus, leaves, even the heaviest or largest, when retained by the inclined surface are pushed by the tangential force of the continuous flow of water, leaving the passage of water free in that area of ​​the inclined screen where the flow of water is passing.

[0015] (12) Several problems can occur with this type of filtration, and one of them is the accumulation of successive leaves on the inclined surface of the screen just below the direction of the current water flow, partially obstructing the filtration and generally diverting part of the water flow to be filtered to an overflow, with consequent waste of water resources.

[0016] (13) The weight of the set of leaves retained in this position of the inclined screen may cause the entire cake of accumulated leaves to detach and move. However, for some reason, the cake of retained leaves may remain adhered to the surface of the inclined screen, gradually accumulating more and more leaves until the water flow through the filter screen is completely blocked.

[0017] (14) The main cause of this adhesion was identified as originating from leaves in a more advanced process of decomposition. This category of leaves has on its surface a substance derived from the decomposition process that makes them more adhesive when paired with another surface, whether another leaf or not. Thus, when leaves of this category are retained by the inclined filter screens, they tend to adhere to the surface.

[0018] (15) As already mentioned, sometimes the tangential force of the water flow is enough to carry them downwards and expel them from the filter element, but most of the time these leaves remain adhered to the inclined filter screens in a position further down the direction of the water flow, and tend to be the adhesion point for other leaves with the same property, forming large accumulations of leaves that carry a high risk of causing clogging of the filtering device.

[0019] (16) There are filtration devices and equipment in which the screens have been replaced by parallel and inclined blades, such as a set of knives. The purpose of this different arrangement is to reduce the contact area with the leaves and prevent accumulation. However, even in these models with inclined surfaces, leaf accumulation and the risk of clogging can be detected.

[0020] (17) The other problem with adopting this set of parallel blades as a means of filtration is that if there is little spacing between the parallel and inclined blades, the contact area increases and the tendency for leaves to accumulate increases. However, if the spacing between the parallel blades is greater, non-leaf debris can pass between the blades and reduce the quality of the collected water.

[0021] (18) The aforementioned self-adhesion property of more deteriorated leaves is also the main reason for clogging of pipes downstream of the water intake point, especially if the pipes have a low slope along their route to the filtered water discharge point, and the water flow is not strong enough to wash away the adhered leaves. Hence the importance, in these scenarios, of primarily removing this category of debris from the water when performing an initial filtration treatment. In more urban environments, plastic bags and paper sheets also tend to behave in the same cohesive manner as more deteriorated leaves, and cause the same problems. é / 20

[0022] (19) There is another category of filtering devices that create a specific dynamic in the flow of water to be filtered, in order to take advantage of the properties resulting from the imposed movement, such as cyclonic filters. At the inlet of the device, the captured water is forced to adopt a circular movement, and from there, the different construction elements of the device attempt to eliminate the different debris carried along with the water intake.

[0023] (20) Again, it is not uncommon to observe problems with loss of efficiency or failure in some filter devices in this category caused by excessive adhesion of debris, such as those described above. Changes in water flow during the filtration process, such as a sudden reduction in rainfall density or a drop in stream flow, can reduce the strength or size of the cyclone within the device structure and leave leaves adhered to the inner wall of the cyclonic filter, which subsequently fall into the filtered water discharge zone.

[0024] (21) This characteristic of abrupt reduction in the cyclonic filter's supply by a water flow is more commonly observed in rainwater collection systems, where a heavy rain may occur that carries a large amount of debris into the filtering devices, and suddenly the rain reduces in intensity or even stops.

[0025] (22) Furthermore, these filters need to operate at a minimum flow rate so that the properties resulting from the cyclonic movement of the water emerge with sufficient intensity to separate the heavier or bulkier debris. Therefore, this is not a filter category that has a wide application, regardless of the volume of water flow captured. (23) There is also a category of filters equipped with some moving components and which exhibit dynamic operating behavior, which attempt to retain all this debris, but which do not always work effectively.

[0026] (24) These filters generally have mobile chambers that accumulate debris and discard it in a cyclical operation. The movement of the chambers, whether angular, circular or pendular, is caused by the accumulation of debris that alters the center of gravity, causing them to move.

[0027] (25) It is not uncommon for the properties observed in leaves with a higher degree of decomposition, and also in similar materials such as plastic bags and paper sheets, to impair efficiency or cause filtration failures in this category of filtering devices as well. The presence of debris with the properties mentioned above inside one of the filtering chambers can hinder the movements caused by the change in the center of gravity, which are necessary for the efficiency of the device.

[0028] (26) Reduced efficiency occurs when material adhered to the filtration chamber remains adhered to the surface of the moving chambers, even after they have changed from the collection position to a discharge position. Thus, another moving chamber receives more material for discharge, without the chamber with adhered material having completely discarded the debris. This alters the balance point of the chambers' center of gravity, and consequently, the correct operation of the device is impaired.

[0029] (27) A filtration failure situation may occur when material stuck in the filtration chamber ends up being discharged late / erroneously outside the waste disposal area, or even into the clean water discharge area, and not into the waste disposal area. á / 20

[0030] (28) Finally, another filtration scenario, no less important, should be highlighted: in which the presence of leaves impairs filter function. The most common and inexpensive solution is manual leaf collection with leaf nets. Even with manual leaf collection, leaves that are more advanced in the process of decomposition interfere with the manual collection process, as they adhere to the net when discarded. This scenario occurs in swimming pools, which need to be cleaned daily of wind-blown leaves that often float on the top layer of water. If not collected before filtration, the fine filtration efficiency of the water is generally reduced due to the accumulated amount of leaves in the pre-filtration system.

[0031] (29) There are also specific filters, equipped with motors and / or various other mechanisms, aligned in a sequence of treatment steps, but suitable only for operating with large volumes of water, such as for cleaning sludge, removing garbage and other debris on a large scale and volume, which are not the objective of the current invention.

[0032] (30) It should be noted that despite the existence of a variety of filtration equipment, with a wide variety of construction arrangements, operating under various filtration principles or combinations thereof, and constructed from a wide variety of materials, there remains a significant risk of loss of efficiency or filtration failure. This is primarily due to the origin of leaves in a more advanced stage of decomposition. This category of leaves has a substance on its surface derived from the decomposition process that gives them greater adhesion power when paired with another surface, whether another leaf or not, or with materials, such as plastic bags and paper sheets, which behave similarly with respect to their self-adhesion capacity to the filtration surfaces.(31) In addition to these problems caused by the self-adhesive properties of leaves in a more advanced process of decomposition, there are still ecological problems when the collection is made from waters of streams and small creeks or lakes. In these scenarios, it is not uncommon for collection and filtration systems to cause harm to small animals or fish that may occasionally be collected during water collection.

[0033] (32) Thus, the current invention aims to overcome these problems, creating a technically and economically viable solution that is still capable of operating with different types of freshwater capture.

[0034] (33) As a result of research, a dynamic device was invented to separate debris in water flows that allows the removal of the most diverse types of debris from the collected water, mainly leaves in their varying degrees of deterioration, ensuring a flow of clean water downstream, without the risk of clogging, for the most diverse purposes.

[0035] (34) The concern in developing this new device aims primarily to provide the combination of known elements in filtration equipment so that they operate in a unique way and are capable of increasing filtration efficiency, achieving the best use of the captured resource, regardless of the variation in the volume or flow of water to be treated.

[0036] (35) The Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows, which is the object of the present invention, aims to:

[0037] - reduce the costs of rainwater harvesting projects from different sources;

[0038] - ensure that filtered water flows through pipes without the risk of clogging;

[0039] - ensure the removal of debris carried from rainwater collection surfaces; i°0 / 20

[0040] - ensure the removal of suspended debris from water layers in streams or rivers;

[0041] - ensure that leaves are removed from the collected water;

[0042] - ensure that plastic bags and sheets of paper are removed from the collected water;

[0043] - ensure that the active components of the filtering device do not accumulate debris, especially those with cohesion and adhesion properties;

[0044] - ensure that the filter elements do not become clogged;

[0045] - reduce and / or eliminate water waste in the filtration process.

[0046] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0047] (36) The present invention, Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows, comprises a housing provided with an upper inlet and a lower outlet for debris, provided with a circular-shaped filtering element capable of rotating with the action of the water flow. The filter is formed by a mesh in the shape of a cylindrical cup provided with an axis embedded perpendicularly to the rear face of the housing.

[0048] (37) The flow of captured water that descends through the upper inlet is directed towards the surface of the filter mesh, but concentrated on just one side of the shaft, which fixes the filter, so that it produces a tangential force on the filter in question, causing a rotation, always in the same direction.

[0049] (38) A settling chamber is provided at the base of the housing, adjacent to the filter. This chamber is provided with an inclined surface, which extends close to the front face of the housing and retains, by precipitation, solid particles of dimensions smaller than that of the filter mesh. ¥l / 20

[0050] (39) Positioned in the lower half of the filter is a canoe-shaped collecting basin, with the lower surface curved and equivalent to half a cylindrical section, with its edges limited to the height of the filter axis. The front wall of said basin is provided with a window for the passage of filtered water to the settling chamber.

[0051] (40) Attached to the bottom of the filter, coaxial to the shaft, is a driving turbine, which rotates in conjunction with the filter and is positioned centrally in the collecting basin. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] (41) The invention will be described below in more detail, together with the drawings listed below, which, merely by way of example, accompany this report, of which it forms an integral part, and in which:

[0053] (42) Figure 1 depicts a general perspective view of the invention, without the side face and partially the front face, in order to visualize the constructive arrangement of the internal components.

[0054] (43) Figure 2 depicts a general perspective view of the invention, without the side face and a section parallel to the front wall, passing through the center of the decanting chamber, in order to visualize the constructive arrangement of the internal components.

[0055] (44) Figure 3 depicts a general perspective view of the invention, with two orthogonal sections, one section parallel to the front wall passing through the center of the settling chamber, and another section parallel to the side wall and passing through the middle of the filter, in order to visualize the constructive arrangement of the internal components of the filter.

[0056] (45) Figure 4 depicts an exploded perspective overview of the filter and its internal components. I 2 2 / 20

[0057] (46) Figure 5 depicts a sequence of schematic images of the Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows, under the effect of three different water flows;

[0058] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0059] (47) The present invention provides a Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows 100 that brings together solutions to various problems that in some way usually occur when collecting water from streams, or from rainwater catchment areas, and that ended up resulting in problems for those who expected to use a water flow completely free of the waste common to these catchment areas.

[0060] (48) Hereinafter, the terms “dynamic device for separating debris from water flows”, “dynamic device” and “device” will be used interchangeably in this report. Similarly, the use of the term “water source” is equivalent to any of the water sources already mentioned throughout the description of the “related art” in this document: streams, creeks or rainwater catchment areas.

[0061] (49) In the description that follows, similar components will always be mentioned and indicated in the Figures by the same indicative numerals. Terms such as “superior,” “inferior,” “vertical,” and “horizontal” that may be used in this description refer specifically to the position in which elements, parts, portions, regions, etc., are depicted in the Figures. Note that the Figures are not depicted to the same scale, as in some of them it was necessary to enlarge the objects for easier viewing. The terms “anterior” and “posterior,” when used in reference to objects, parts, components, etc., depicted in the Figures, must be understood in a viewing sequence from left to right of the Figure, or from the top to the bottom of the Figure, the term “anterior” relating to what is furthest to the left and / or highest, and the term “posterior” relating to what is furthest to the right and / or lowest, and there may be combinations of this positioning.

[0062] (50) Figure 1 shows a perspective view with the side and front walls open, and Figure 2 shows the side wall open and a section parallel to the front wall. Figures 1 and 2 better reveal the structure inside the housing 10 of the dynamic device 100. The housing 10 is provided at the top with an inlet 20 for captured water and at its base with an outlet 21 for the residues resulting from filtration.

[0063] (51) Inside the housing 10, parallel to the rear face 11 and fixed by an axis 12, a filter 30 is provided consisting of a mesh 31 in the shape of a cylindrical cup, open at its front edge 32 and provided with a bottom 33, closing its rear edge. The axis 12 is embedded perpendicularly to the rear face 11 and parallel to the base 13 of the housing 10, and allows the free rotation of the filter 30.

[0064] (52) The captured water inlet 20 is provided on the upper face of the housing 10, over the cylindrical mesh area 31 of the filter 30, and its axis can be directed in a range (x), between a position immediately beyond the axis 12 up to a distance equivalent to at most the radius of the filter 30.

[0065] (53) This ensures that all the collected water reaches the surface of the mesh 31 of the cylindrical cup-shaped filter 30, penetrating it. The projection of the penetration area of ​​the water inlet flow being concentrated only on one side of the axis 12, which fixes the filter 30, the collected water will not only pass through the mesh 31 of the filter 30, but will also produce a tangential force to it, giving it a rotation, always in the same direction. I 4 4 / 20

[0066] (54) Alternatively, the upper face of the housing 10 is provided with a slit-shaped opening 14, in which the captured water inlet 20 may have its position altered in relation to the distance (x), providing control of the total resulting tangential force that will be generated on the filter body 30.

[0067] (55) The outlet 21, for residues resulting from filtration, is provided at the base 13 of the housing 10 and aligned with the captured water inlet 20. The dimension of the opening of the outlet 21 at the base 13 extends, preferably, from the lower projection line of the axis 12 until the meeting with the adjacent side of the housing 10, and may alternatively extend along this side up to a height equivalent to the lateral projection line of the axis 12.

[0068] (56) On the base 13 of the housing 10, parallel to the filter 30, a settling chamber 40 is further provided, adjacent to the open front edge 32 of the filter 30.

[0069] (57) The decanting chamber 40 has an opening 45, in its bottom wall 42, for the passage of filtered water produced by the filter 30. Immediately below said opening 45, an inclined surface 41 extends close to the front face 15 of the housing, maintaining an open passage between its edge 44 and this front face 15.

[0070] (58) On one of the side walls of the settling chamber 40, immediately above the inclined surface position 41 and the opening 45, at least one outlet 46 for treated water is provided, which leaves the settling chamber 40 by overflow. And the base of the settling chamber 40 is provided with a drain and cleaning valve 47.

[0071] (59) This chamber retains by precipitation solid particles of dimensions smaller than that of the mesh 31 of the filter 30, thus being a second means of making the water freer of solid impurities. Small pebbles and grains of sand that pass through the mesh 31 tend to precipitate on the inclined surface 41, after losing kinetic energy with the impact, and are then pushed by the flow of water that enters through the opening 45 to the bottom of the settling chamber 40. Eventually, during maintenance periods of the dynamic device 100, the drain and cleaning valve 47 can be opened to clean the accumulated residue.

[0072] (60) However, if the installation design has lower requirements for the degree of impurity with which the water must be delivered, the settling chamber 40 can alternatively be devoid of the inclined surface 41 and the treated water outlet 46 can be installed directly at the bottom of the settling chamber 40.

[0073] (61) Figure 3 reveals a side cross-sectional view passing through the middle of the filter 30 of the dynamic device 100, which reveals components internal to the filter. The lower half of the filter 30 is provided with a canoe-shaped collection basin 50, the shape of which is best seen in Figure 4, which shows the main components of the dynamic device 100 in an exploded view.

[0074] (62) The collecting basin 50 is made up of three distinct surfaces: a curved lower surface 51, preferably equivalent to a half-cylindrical section, with its edges limited to the height of the axis 12; a rear wall 52 in the shape of a complete circumference, provided with a circular window 53; and a front wall 54 also in the shape of a complete circumference, provided with a window 55 for the passage of filtered water.

[0075] (63) The collecting basin 50 is suspended, in its operating position inside the filter 30, exclusively by fixing the edges of the window 55 to the opening 45 of the settling chamber 40, which are contiguous and have the same shapes and dimensions.

[0076] (64) An impeller turbine 60 is affixed to the bottom 33 of the filter 30, coaxial to the axis 12, and has a radius equal to or less than the distance (x). The impeller turbine I 6 6 / 20

[0077] 60 rotates in conjunction with filter 30 and is centrally located in the collection basin 50. Its function is to generate an extra torque, which is added to the resultant of the tangent forces generated by the flow of water over the mesh 31 of filter 30.

[0078] (65) Eventually, heavier leaves, or a wad of leaves, that may be captured by the inlet 20 of the dynamic device 100, will be retained by the mesh 31 of the filter 30, and at that moment the action of the water flow coming from the inlet 20 on the mesh 31 will be dispersed, by the influence of this volume of residue, and consequently the resulting tangential flow on the filter 30 may be altered.

[0079] (66) In these more severe scenarios, the increase in torque generated by the impeller turbine 60 in the rotation of the filter 30 ensures that there is no loss of rotation and, therefore, ensures that the centrifugal force applied to the residues adhered to the mesh 31 remains stable and capable of purging the most adherent or heavy residues.

[0080] (67) Figure 5, which depicts a sequence of images which best demonstrate the operating principle of the present invention, provides a conceptual and global understanding of the new Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows 100.

[0081] (68) Images A, B and C of Figure 5 represent three operating scenarios of the proposed device, in increasing gradations of water volume treated by the invention. Each of the images presents the main components of the device 100 represented schematically, and are presented in an increasing gradation of water volume captured and treated.

[0082] (69) As can be seen, the greater the volume of water flow passing through mesh 31 of filter 30, the greater the tangential force acting on said filter 30 and consequently the greater the centrifugal force generated on the residues adhered to mesh 31 and, therefore, the greater the self-cleaning power of the filtering surface.

[0083] (70) The water to be treated, despite the rotation, is able to pass freely through the mesh 31, which retains only the largest residues. After passing through the mesh 31, the water falls into the collection basin 50, and from there is directed to the settling chamber 40, accumulating and then being released by spillage through the treated water outlet 46.

[0084] (71) The installation simplifications resulting from the means of fixing the components together, the formats, dimensions or changes to the water flow accesses and outlets of the new Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows 100, as well as the possibility of increasing the number of water outlets, as needed and thus allowing the treatment of a greater volume of captured water, do not make the operating concept of the current proposed invention more flexible or alter it.

[0085] (72) The new Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows 100 demonstrates its efficiency in solving the main problems observed in various filter models when exposed to debris such as leaves in a more advanced process of decomposition, which have an adhesive substance on their surfaces. Or other debris such as pieces of paper or plastic bags that exhibit the same behavior.

[0086] (73) The centrifugal force generated on this debris and its obstacle-free purging by device 100 ensures the passage of treated water through long ducts, with a low slope, without the risk of clogging, or the activation of mini electric turbines without the risk of blocking. Roof water can be reused without traces of biological material in 8 8 / 20 putrefaction, such as leaves, fruits and seeds occasionally carried by heavier rains.

[0087] (74) Another ecological advantage not yet mentioned, the preservation of life, which the Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows 100 provides, cannot be disregarded, such as when water is collected from streams, as it has a characteristic that guarantees the integrity of small living beings, including fish, that may be carried along with the collected water.

[0088] (75) The impact of small living beings against the structure of the device 100 is greatly reduced due to the small distance between the inlet 20 of the captured water and the point of contact of the downward water flow on the curved surface of the mesh 31 of the filter 30, and to the rotary movement in which the mesh 31 is located. These combined characteristics reduce the impact and contact time of the beings against the filtering mesh 31, directing them to the outlet 21 back to their habitat without causing external physical damage or to their internal organs.

[0089] (76) The constructive configuration of the current invention, provided with a rotating component always in the same direction, and a turbine that increases the torque, allows the installation of a low-power micro-generator (not shown in the Figures), on its shaft 12 and connected to the filter 30, which powers an electronic circuit and sensors capable of providing the flow of filtered water over time. Or other measures useful for some agricultural applications, such as irrigation, fish farming, etc.

[0090] (77) It should be emphasized once again that the construction configurations materialized in the Figures presented are merely illustrative and schematic, for the purposes of describing the current proposal. (78) It should be emphasized that the Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows 100 can alternatively assume a construction configuration (not represented in the images), and the body of the casing, chamber or outlets can assume other formats.

[0091] (79) Thus, modifications may be introduced into the present invention without, however, departing from the inventive concept of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not limited to applications described in this report, but is only limited to the content of the claims that follow.

[0092] LIST OF COMPONENTS

[0093] (80) Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows 100; housing 10; rear face 11 of the housing; shaft 12; base 13 of the housing; slit-shaped opening 14; front face 15 of the housing; inlet 20 of captured water; outlet 21 of the residues resulting from filtration; filter 30; cylindrical mesh 31; front edge 32; closed bottom 33; settling chamber 40; inclined surface 41; bottom wall 42; edge 44; opening 45; outlet 46 of treated water; drain and cleaning valve 47; collecting basin 50; curved lower surface 51; rear wall 52 in the shape of a circle; circular window 53; front wall 54 in the shape of a circle; water passage window 55; impeller turbine 60; distance (x).

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows (100) comprising a housing provided with an upper inlet for captured water, lower outlets for treated water and debris; provided with a circular-shaped filtering element capable of rotating with the action of the inlet water flow, characterized in that the housing (10) is provided at the top with an inlet 20 for captured water and at its base with an outlet 21 for the waste resulting from filtration; inside the housing 10, parallel to the rear face 11 and attached by an axis 12, a filter 30 is provided consisting of a mesh 31 in the shape of a cylindrical cup, open at its front edge 32 and provided with a bottom 33, closing its rear edge; the axis 12 is set perpendicularly to the rear face 11 and parallel to the base 13 of the housing 10, and allows the free rotation of the filter 30;the captured water inlet 20 is provided on the upper face of the housing 10, over the cylindrical mesh area 31 of the filter 30, and can be directed in a range (x), between a position immediately beyond the axis 12 up to a distance equivalent to at most the radius of the filter 30; the outlet 21, for the residues resulting from filtration, is provided at the base 13 of the housing 10 and aligned with the inlet 20 for the captured water; the dimension of the outlet opening 21 in the base 13 extends from the lower projection line of the shaft 12 to the meeting with the adjacent side of the housing 10; on the base 13 of the housing 10, parallel to the filter 30, a settling chamber 40 is also provided, adjacent to the open front edge 32 of the filter 30; said decanting chamber 40 has an opening 45, in its bottom wall 42, for the passage of filtered water produced by filter 30; immediately below said opening 45 an inclined surface 41 extends up to near the front face 15 of the housing, maintaining an open passage between its edge 44 and said front face 15; in one of the side walls of the settling chamber 40, immediately above the position of the inclined surface 41 and the opening 45, at least one outlet 46 for treated water is provided; and the base of the settling chamber 40 is provided with a drain and cleaning valve 47; the lower half of the filter 30 is provided with a canoe-shaped collecting basin 50; said collecting basin 50 is formed by three distinct surfaces: (i) a curved lower surface 51, with its edges limited to the height of the axis 12, (ii) a rear wall 52 in the shape of a complete circumference, provided with a circular window 53, and (iii) a front wall 54 also in the shape of a complete circumference, provided with a water passage window 55;the collecting basin 50 is suspended, in its operating position, inside the filter 30; an impeller turbine 60 is affixed to the bottom 33 of the filter 30, coaxial to the axis 12, and has a radius equal to or less than the distance (x), between a position immediately beyond the axis 12 to a distance equivalent to at most the radius of the filter 30.; 2. Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows (100) according to the main claim, characterized in that the flow of captured water that descends through the inlet 20 is directed in a concentrated manner only on one side of the axis 12, which fixes the filter 30, produces a tangential force on said filter 30, and imparts a rotation, always in the same direction.

3. Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows (100) according to the main claim, characterized in that alternatively the upper face of the housing 10 is provided with a slit-shaped opening 14, in which the captured water inlet 20 may have its position changed in relation to distance (x).

4. Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows (100) according to the main claim, characterized in that the dimension of the outlet opening 21 in the base 13 extends from the lower projection line of the axis 12 to the meeting with the contiguous side of the housing 10, and extends along this side to a height equivalent to the lateral projection line of the axis 12.

5. Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows (100) according to the main claim, characterized in that the collecting basin 50 is suspended, in its operating position inside the filter 30, exclusively by fixing the edges of the window 55 to the opening 45 of the decanting chamber 40, which are contiguous and have the same shapes and dimensions.

6. Dynamic device for separating debris in water flows (100) according to the main claim, characterized in that the inclined surface 41 promotes, by impact, the loss of kinetic energy of small gravel or sand grains passing through the mesh 31, and facilitates the precipitation of these debris.

7. Dynamic device for separating debris in water flows (100) according to the main claim, characterized in that the impeller turbine 60 rotates integrally with the filter 30 and is disposed centrally in the collecting basin 50.

8. Dynamic device for separating debris in water flows (100) according to the main claim, characterized in that the impeller turbine 60 generates an extra torque, which is added to the resultant of the tangential forces generated by the water flow on the mesh 31 of the filter 30.

9. Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows (100) according to the main claim characterized by the increase in torque generated by the impeller turbine 60, in the rotation of the filter 30, ensure that there is no loss of rotation of the filter 30, and that the centrifugal force applied to the residues adhered to the mesh 31 remains stable.

10. Dynamic Device for Separating Debris in Water Flows (100) according to the main claim, characterized in that a low-power micro energy generator is provided on its axis 12 and attached to the filter 30, capable of powering small electronic circuits and sensors.

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