Vehicle Vacuum Suction Head In-Situ Sludge Dewatering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle-mounted vacuum systems for cleaning septic tanks require complex and costly dewatering arrangements on the vehicle, which are not available during operation and result in inefficient separation of liquid and solids fractions, leading to a high proportion of liquids being transported with the solids.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-mounted vacuum system that dewatering occurs directly within the septic tank using a suction head with a static dewatering screen filter and a screen-washing arrangement, where the liquid fraction is aspirated and stored separately from the solids fraction, allowing for efficient separation and return of the liquid fraction to the tank while minimizing the volume of solids transported.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional vacuum systems use complex dewatering arrangements on the vehicle, then liquid and solids separation is attempted, but the system complexity increases and the dewatering arrangement is not available during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the dewatering function from the vehicle-mounted system and relocates it to the container itself. The suction head with screen filter is inserted directly into the sludge mixture in the container, allowing dewatering to occur in situ rather than requiring complex onboard equipment. This eliminates the need for complex vehicle-mounted dewatering arrangements while maintaining separation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing dewatering before the solids are transported away from the container. The screen filter separates liquid and solids fractions in the container before the solids are removed, allowing the liquid to be returned to the container while only minimally wet solids are transported. This preliminary separation reduces the volume and complexity of subsequent transport requirements.
2Reliability
If the entire sludge mixture is vacuum pumped onto the vehicle, then complete removal is achieved, but the solids and liquid fractions become difficult to separate and more liquids must be transported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sludge mixture into liquid and solids fractions using a screen filter before transport. The screen filter physically separates the liquid fraction from the solids fraction, allowing them to be handled separately. The liquid can be returned to the container while only the solids fraction is transported, simplifying the separation process and reducing transport volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The screen filter acts as an intermediary element between the sludge mixture and the vacuum pumping system. It mediates the separation process by allowing liquid to pass through while retaining solids, preventing the mixture from being pumped onto the vehicle in its original undifferentiated state. This intermediary device simplifies subsequent separation and reduces transport complexity.
3Productivity
If dewatering is performed on the vehicle, then separation occurs, but the internal components are not available to the operator during cleaning procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the dewatering components from the vehicle and places them in the container. The suction head with screen filter is inserted into the container, allowing the operator to access and control the dewatering process directly at the worksite. This eliminates the need for complex onboard equipment while maintaining separation efficiency and improving operator accessibility.
4Reliability
If liquid fraction is returned to the container, then micro-organisms are preserved, but the separation process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses segmentation through the screen filter to separate liquid and solids fractions before any return to the container. The screen filter creates distinct pathways for liquid and solids, allowing the liquid fraction to be selectively returned to the container while solids remain in the suction head. This simple segmentation approach preserves micro-organisms without requiring complex separation processes.
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 reduces the complexity and cost of the dewatering process, allows for more efficient separation of liquid and solids, and enables the vehicle to clean twice as many septic tanks before emptying, thereby saving time, energy, and costs.
Implementation Method 1
a suction head immersed directly into the sludge-like mixture inside the container. The liquid fraction and the solids fraction are also never mixed together on the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
The liquid fraction is aspirated through a screen filter mounted on the suction head
Implementation Method 3
a screen-washing arrangement cooperating with the screen filter, the screen-washing arrangement being in fluid communication with the liquid matter compartment through a high-pressure liquid circuit and using the liquid matter from the liquid matter compartment as a washing fluid
Data Source
AI summary
The vacuum system (100) is mounted on a vehicle (102). It includes a dewatered solid matter compartment (142), a liquid matter compartment (144), a main flexible hose (130), and an immersible suction head (120) connected to a distal end of the main flexible hose (130). The suction head (120) includes a static dewatering screen filter (150) and a screen-washing arrangement (170) cooperating with the suction head (120). The screen-washing arrangement (170) is in fluid communication with the liquid matter compartment (144) through a high-pressure liquid circuit. The screen-washing arrangement (170) using the liquid matter from the liquid matter compartment (142) as a washing fluid. A method of separating solids and liquid fractions is also disclosed.