Sewage Grate Cleaning Mechanism for Clog Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sewage systems face clogging issues due to solid objects in the liquid, leading to reduced liquid discharge into side channels and potential overflow at collection points, as existing filtering devices are prone to clogging and unable to efficiently manage increased water levels during rain or storms.
Innovation Solution
A filtering device with a grate and a cleaning mechanism, including rake elements with a 'V'-shaped front portion and hydraulic actuator, that automatically removes trapped solids when the liquid level exceeds a preset threshold, using vegetable oil to minimize contamination and employing guide means for effective cleaning during both forward and backward strokes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a filtering device with a grate is used to prevent solid objects from passing into the side discharge channel, then the pollution of the river is reduced, but the grate easily clogs and the quantity of liquid discharged into the side channel drastically decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device performs preliminary action by automatically removing solid objects from the grate before they can cause complete clogging. The rake element with cleaning members proactively clears the grate surface and bars, maintaining discharge capability and preventing the contradiction from fully manifesting.
Solution Approach 2:
The filtering device serves itself through the automated cleaning mechanism. The control device detects when the grate is becoming clogged and activates the cleaning device to self-clean, eliminating the need for external manual intervention and maintaining continuous operational effectiveness.
2Productivity
If the cleaning device moves quickly to remove solids efficiently, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the rake element is more prone to deformation when removing heavy solid objects
Solution Approach 1:
The rake element is constructed as a composite structure combining multiple materials with different properties. The body is made of a material resistant to deformation for structural integrity, while the cleaning members are made of a different material optimized for effective solid object removal, allowing the rake element to withstand heavy loads while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The rake element is divided into distinct functional segments: a robust body structure for strength and a separate cleaning member portion for effective solid removal. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function - the body resists deformation while the cleaning members efficiently remove solids.
3Device complexity
If a single rake element is used to clean the grate, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cleaning effectiveness during both forward and backward strokes is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Two rake elements are merged into a single integrated cleaning device that operates together. Both rake elements are connected to the same driving device and move in coordination, allowing one element to clean during the forward stroke while the other prepares for the backward stroke, achieving comprehensive cleaning coverage without requiring separate cleaning devices for each direction.
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
The solution effectively prevents clogging, ensures efficient liquid discharge by removing solids from the grate, and reduces the risk of deformation during heavy object removal, maintaining the filtering device's functionality and reducing maintenance needs in a hostile sewage environment.
Implementation Method 1
the driving device may comprise a hydraulic actuator containing a working fluid
Implementation Method 2
The rake element has a plurality of passage holes, for example shaped as slots, each passage hole being arranged for receiving a longitudinal bar of the grate. This conformation of the rake element allows a cleaning member to be defined between two consecutive passage holes
Implementation Method 3
The "V" shape of the front portion is very effective for pushing toward the middle of the channel any solid objects that are removed from the grate by the rake element
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
A filtering device comprises a grate (5; 105; 205) suitable for being positioned in an opening (6), the opening (6) being made in a side wall (3; 203a) of a channel (1; 101; 201) of a sewage system, a cleaning device (10), a driving device (22) for moving the cleaning device (10) along the grate (5; 105; 205) so that the cleaning device (10) removes solid objects from the grate (5; 105; 205), a control device programmed for activating the driving device (22) when a liquid flowing in the channel (1; 101; 201) exceeds a preset level, the cleaning device (10) comprising at least one rake element (11, 12) having a plurality of passage holes, each passage hole receiving a longitudinal bar (7; 107) of the grate (5; 105; 205).