Air Scour Removal Using Floats and Flexible Conduits

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for removing and replacing air scour systems and filter beds in water treatment units pose safety hazards and require time-consuming dismantling, as individuals must manually handle components while avoiding fluidized beds, and disconnecting from pressurized air sources is necessary for movement.

Innovation Solution

The use of floats and flexible conduits connected to air scour systems and pressurized air sources allows for safe, automated raising, lowering, and installation of components without disconnecting from the air source, enabling precise placement and minimizing manual handling risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual handling methods are used to remove and replace air scour systems and filter beds, then individuals can directly control component movement, but safety hazards increase and time-consuming dismantling is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual control of component movementVSAvoidsafety hazards to individuals

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an air buoyancy system as an intermediary mechanism between the component and manual operators. Pressurized air injected into the filter bed creates buoyant forces that lift and support the air scour system components, allowing individuals to guide movement with minimal force while avoiding direct contact with hazardous fluidized beds and heavy components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If traditional removal methods are used, then components can be moved out of the treatment unit, but time-consuming dismantling and reassembly is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of component removal and installationVSAvoidtime for dismantling and reassembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-embedding flexible conduits during the initial installation of the air scour system. These conduits are positioned to extend through the filter bed and connect to external air sources, so that when removal or replacement is needed, the components can be quickly extracted or replaced without time-consuming disconnection of rigid piping, significantly reducing maintenance downtime.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If rigid piping is used to connect air sources to air scour systems, then stable air supply is maintained, but flexibility in component movement and repositioning is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of air supplyVSAvoidflexibility in component repositioning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rigid piping with flexible conduits that connect the air distribution header to the air source. These flexible conduits maintain reliable air supply through their sealed construction while allowing the air scour system components to be freely moved, raised, lowered, and repositioned within the treatment unit without disconnection, enabling both operational stability and positioning versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates safe and efficient movement of air scour systems and filter beds, reducing manual intervention and time, while maintaining continuous air supply, thus enhancing safety and operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

at least one float which facilitates movement, removal and/or installation of one or more components of a treatment unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 2

a flexible piping/conduit operably connected to a pressurized air source and an air scour system to assist in raising, removing, lowering and/or installing the air scour system of a water filter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS12491454B2Devices and methods for moving, removing and/or installing one or more components of a treatment unit

Publication Date: 2025.12.09 ROBERTS MARKETING DE

AI summary

Devices and methods associated therewith for facilitating movement, removal and/or installation of components from treatment units (e.g., water treatment units and wastewater treatment units). The treatment unit can take the form of a granular media filter (e.g., upflow filter, downflow filter or bi-flow filter) or a sludge collection basin. One preferred device is one or more floats facilitating safe removal of components of a treatment unit. The float(s) can be operably associated with an air scour system of a water filter to remove the air scour system from a granular media filter bed. The float(s) can be operably associated with a collection grid of a sludge collection container facilitating safe removal of the collection grid from the sludge collection container. Another preferred device is a flexible piping/conduit operably connected to a pressurized air source and an air scour system to assist in removal/installation of the air scour system.