Common Drive System for Water Treatment Agitators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional water treatment installations are complex and costly due to the need for multiple agitators and drive motors in separate tanks, each requiring different agitation speeds, leading to increased maintenance and potential failures.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a common drive system for multiple agitators in separate tanks, allowing for different agitation gradients through adjustable mixing buckets and paddle wheels, which can generate various agitation levels without complex speed gradients, thus simplifying the structure and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate drive motors are used for each treatment tank, then different agitation speeds can be achieved for each tank, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple drive functions into a single motor located in the first treatment tank. This motor drives the first agitator directly and also transmits power through a fluid coupling device to drive the second agitator in the second treatment tank, thereby reducing the number of motors from two to one and simplifying the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The single motor in the first treatment tank performs multiple functions: it drives the first agitator for rapid mixing in its own tank, and simultaneously drives the second agitator in the separate second treatment tank through the fluid coupling device, making one motor serve dual purposes across two different tanks.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate drive motors are used for each treatment tank, then each tank can be operated independently, but the maintenance cost and potential failure sources increase
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the drive functions into a single motor, the patent reduces the number of potential failure points from two motors to one motor, while still maintaining independent agitation control in each tank through the adjustable fluid coupling device that can vary the transmission ratio.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate drive motors are used for each treatment tank, then each agitator can be optimized for its specific function, but the installation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces installation cost by combining multiple motor installations into a single motor installation in one tank, eliminating the need for separate motor mounts, electrical connections, and control systems in multiple locations, while still achieving optimized agitation in each tank through mechanical design of the agitators and fluid coupling.
4Device complexity
If a common drive system is used for multiple tanks, then the structure is simplified and costs reduced, but achieving different agitation gradients becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fluid coupling device as an intermediary between the single motor and the two agitators. This fluid coupling device acts as a mediator that can independently adjust the transmission ratio to the second agitator, enabling different agitation speeds in the two tanks while maintaining a simple single-motor drive structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid coupling device provides dynamic adjustability of the transmission ratio, allowing the system to adapt the agitation speed of the second agitator independently from the first agitator, even though both are driven by the same motor. This dynamic control capability resolves the conflict between structural simplicity and agitation gradient control.
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
This approach simplifies the water treatment installation structure, reduces maintenance, and minimizes sources of failure while maintaining effective mixing and agitation across different treatment phases, thereby lowering overall costs and enhancing reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a drive shaft and a motor whose output is connected in rotation to said drive shaft, said bucket wheels and blades being connected in rotation to said drive shaft
Implementation Method 2
said first stirring means comprise means for laterally deflecting at least part of the contents of said first treatment tank
Implementation Method 3
said means for conveying the contents of said first treatment tank into said second treatment tank, said conveying means comprising: lifting buckets secured to said bucket wheel, and a chute opening into said second treatment tank, said lifting buckets being oriented with respect to said chute to discharge their contents into said chute
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a water or industrial effluent treatment installation comprising at least: - a first treatment tank (15) and a second treatment tank (26); - first stirring means (23) housed in said first treatment tank (15) and second stirring means (28) housed in said second treatment tank (26); - drive means (19, 20) of said first (23) and second (28) stirring means to set said first (23) and second (28) stirring means in motion in order to generate agitation respectively in said first (15) and second (26) treatment tanks, said drive means (19, 20) being common to said first (23) and second (28) stirring means and configured to generate different agitation gradients in said first (15) and second (28) treatment tanks.