Mast-Mounted Float Support for External Wastewater Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wastewater lifting installations, maintenance of accessories like floats is challenging due to operational conditions, requiring external assistance and costly preliminary tank emptying, posing safety risks for workers.
Innovation Solution
A support system with a slider and elastic tongue mechanism allows for external replacement and repair of accessories without entering the tank, enabling disassembly and reassembly without emptying the tank, using a mast that can be removed and repositioned for safe access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If accessories are installed on a fixed support inside the tank, then the accessories can be securely retained, but the interventions to replace faulty accessories become difficult requiring tank emptying and worker entry into the tank
Solution Approach 1:
The support is divided into a fixed part attached to the tank and a movable part that can be detached. The cable guide assembly can be removed from the fixed support without emptying the tank, allowing maintenance workers to access and replace accessories externally while the fixed support remains in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable guide and accessory assembly is extracted from the fixed support structure, allowing it to be removed and replaced externally. This separation enables the accessory to be taken out for maintenance without requiring tank emptying, while the fixed support remains installed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the tank is emptied before intervention, then safe access for workers is achieved, but the cost of intervention increases and preliminary emptying is required
Solution Approach 1:
The cable guide and accessory assembly is extracted and made removable from the fixed support. This allows workers to perform maintenance externally without entering the tank, eliminating the need for tank emptying while maintaining safety through external access points.
Solution Approach 2:
A removable cable guide assembly acts as an intermediary between the fixed support and the accessory. This intermediary component can be detached and replaced externally, serving as a safe access point that eliminates the need for workers to enter the hazardous tank environment.
3Ease of manufacture
If accessories are installed in a pendulum version on the electric cable, then installation is simple, but the accessories are sensitive to liquid flow and cable entanglement
Solution Approach 1:
The support system is segmented into a fixed support attached to the tank structure and a separate cable guide assembly. This separation stabilizes the accessory positioning independent of cable movement, reducing sensitivity to liquid flow and cable entanglement while maintaining installation simplicity.
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 maintenance by eliminating the need for technicians to enter the tank, reducing costs and safety hazards, and allowing for efficient replacement of accessories without prior tank drainage.
Implementation Method 1
the plate has an elastic upper tongue projecting outwards and the free edge of which faces downwards, which is arranged above the slider. This upper tab prevents the slider from rising.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The installation has a slide (8) sliding over a lower flap of a flat part of a retaining unit, and provided with a lower attachment (9) projected towards an exterior. A support has an upper lug locked between the attachment of the slide and a main portion (3) of the flat part, and a lower lug locked between a lower tab (7) of the flat part and the main portion. A U-shaped cable-guide is carried by the support, and has a passage that allows passage of a loop knotted around a cable housed in the cable-guide. An accessory i.e. float, is suspended with the cable.