Apparatus for cleaning pipes having pumping and vacuuming capability

Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning waste collection systems of solid materials. The apparatus is capable of cleaning waste systems in two known ways. First, a pumping method uses normal and injected water flow to suspend the solids in a slurry. A submersible pump moves the slurry from a collection point up to a pressurized container where the water content of the slurry is decanted and reused as injection water while the particulate material settles to the bottom of the pressurized container. Second, a vacuum system may be used to move the slurry from the waste system to the waste container. The vacuum system creates a negative pressure differential, causing material to be pulled through a vacuum tube and into the waste container. When the container becomes substantially full of solid particles, it may be emptied at a dumpsite.

Claims

1. A method of cleaning a waste collection system containing liquid and solid materials, the method comprising: inserting a cleaning head into the waste collection system; dispersing high pressure liquid into the waste collection system through a pump positioned on a mobile platform through the cleaning head; inserting a submersible pump into the waste collection system; pumping the liquid and solid materials via positive pressure into a waste container on the mobile platform from the submersible pump; and vacuuming the liquid and solid materials via negative pressure into the waste container on the mobile platform through a vacuum system positioned on the mobile platform, wherein the pumping and vacuuming are not performed simultaneously.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the waste collection system includes at least one of a sewer, sump, wet well, collection tank, digester, clarifier, and classifier.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vacuuming is converted to the pumping.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the submersible pump pushes the liquid and solid materials into the waste container.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vacuum system lifts the liquid and solid materials.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising releasing air to atmosphere during vacuuming.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the pumping is converted to the vacuuming.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising decanting liquid from the waste container while pumping, but not while vacuuming.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of pumping the liquid and solid materials via positive pressure into the waste container on the mobile platform from the submersible pump occurs when there is more liquid material in the liquid and solid materials.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of vacuuming the liquid and solid materials via negative pressure into the waste container on the mobile platform through the vacuum system occurs when there is more solid material in the liquid and solid materials.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a view of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention wherein a submersible pump is utilized to pump the waste slurry into the waste container;

(2) FIG. 2 is a view of an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention wherein a vacuuming system is utilized to move the waste slurry into the waste container;

(3) FIG. 3 is a rear view of a cleaning head;

(4) FIG. 4 is a view of a kite as used in the present invention;

(5) FIG. 5 is a front view of the kite of FIG. 4; and

(6) FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a Wayne ball as used in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(7) Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the system of the present invention comprises a high pressure water pump assembly 10 for generating high pressure water, a high pressure water hose 12, a hose reel 13, a bullet-shaped cleaning head 14 for receiving high pressure water and cleaning a sewer, a submersible pump 16 for pumping a slurry of solids and liquids out of the sewer when the slurry contains a large amount of liquid, a power source 17 for the submersible pump 16, a slurry hose 18, a waste container 20 for receiving the pumped slurry, a decant water hose 22, a decant water outlet 24 for releasing the water from the container, main supply water line 32, and main supply water source 34. The invention may be mounted to a truck 40 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, or to an immobile unit that must be towed to and from a jobsite. For consistency, the unit will be described as a truck throughout this document.

(8) The high pressure water pump assembly 10 and pump power source 17 are mounted on, for example, a truck 40 and may use the truck engine for power. The purpose of the pump assembly 10 is to pressurize water for use in washing sewer lines 42 by means of cleaning head 14 attached to and in communication with high pressure water hose 12. The source of water for pump assembly 10 may be derived from any water source 34, including a fire hydrant, a tank on the truck 40, or from the sewer 42 itself.

(9) The cleaning head 14 is bullet-shaped with a front and rear face. The rear face of the cleaning head 14 has water jet outlets 15 directed backwardly. The truck 40, high pressure water hose 12 and cleaning head 14 may be of any suitable conventional equipment. When the cleaning head 14 is lowered through a manhole 41, and into a sewer 42, high pressure water, such as 2000 psi is applied through the hose 12 to the cleaning head 14. The high pressure water applied to the cleaning head 14 has several functions. First, the water sprays out of the outlets 15 and the exiting high pressure water washes the solid material from the walls of the sewer 42 and suspends the sewer pipe solid material in a slurry. Additionally, the high pressure water being applied to the cleaning head 14 moves the cleaning head 14 in a direction 43. After cleaning the sewer 42, the cleaning head 14 may be retrieved by retracting the high pressure water hose 12 by means of hose reel 13 as is conventional.

(10) If conditions dictate that a submersible pump 16 should be used, i.e., if a relatively high volume of liquid exists in the sewer 42, a submersible pump 16 is provided with a capacity of more than the total flow of water being injected to the cleaning head 14 as well as any normal sewer flow. It is desirable to have a large water content in the sewer 42 for efficiently cleaning the sewer 42 by suspending the solid particles and material in the sewer 42 in a liquid slurry. The submersible pump 16 is capable of pumping a slurry having up to 80% solids.

(11) For example only, if the high pressure water pump provides a flow of 60 gallons per minute, a suitable submersible pump 16 capable of removing 2000 gallons a minute of 80% solid material is desirable for allowing the present invention to clean an operating sewer having flowing fluids therein. While any suitable submersible pump 16 may be provided, pump series 53, sold by Garner Environmental Services, Inc., is satisfactory. Such pumps can be powered hydraulically and powered by diesel, electric motors, gasoline engines or any other available power source.

(12) The fluidized slurry from the submersible pump 16 is transmitted through the slurry hose 18 to a waste container 20. The fluidized slurry enters the top of the container 20, where the solids and water separate and the solids settle to the bottom of the container by gravity. If desired, baffles may be provided in the container 20 to assist in the separation. The water is then decanted from the container 20 and as the container 20 fills up, the decanted water is released from the container 20 by means of the positive pressure forcing the water through a decant water hose 22.

(13) The waste container 20 may be either permanently affixed to the truck 40, or may be removable therefrom. If the waste container 20 is removable, when the container 20 is substantially filled up with solid particles, it may be removed and a replacement container 20 may be rolled into place and connected to hoses 18 and 22. The filled container 20 may then be removed to a dump site while the truck 40 remains on site and continues the cleaning operation. If the waste container 20 is permanently affixed to the truck 40, the truck 40 must go to the dump site each time the waste container 20 becomes substantially filled up with solid materials.

(14) When the submersible pump 16 is used, the more water that flows through the cleaning head 14 and sewer 42 the better the cleaning operation. In the present system, the decanted water can be used to provide additional washing by injecting it upstream of the cleaning head 14 and pump 16. This allows keeping the solid materials in the sewer in suspension so that they can more easily be removed by the pump 16. The decanted water is transmitted through decant water outlet 24 to decant waterline 22 and then to a manhole 41 into the sewer 42 upstream of the cleaning head 14 for increasing the water in the sewer flow.

(15) This additional water, applied to the sewer 42 aids in more efficiently cleaning the sewer 42, and the pump 16 has the capacity to completely remove the water in the system. Thus, the present embodiment is in effect a closed loop and the decanted water, all water injected or decanted, is utilized in cleaning the upstream portion of the sewer. Furthermore, the water need not be disposed of by trucking. After the sewer 42 is cleaned, the cleaned decanted water may be disposed of in the sewer 42. For example, present systems utilize 60 gallons of water per minute for injection from the cleaning head 14. If additional water is available for supply to the cleaning head 14, a better water injection system and cleaning system can be provided. When cleaning a fully charged sewer, i.e., sewer capacity at maximum, the decanted water may be disposed of in a downstream sewer.

(16) Referring now to FIG. 2, the system comprises a truck-mounted high pressure water pump assembly 110 for generating high pressure water, a high pressure water hose 112, a hose reel 113, a bullet-shaped cleaning head 114 for receiving high pressure water and cleaning a sewer, a vacuum system comprising a vacuum tube 118 held in place by a boom 119, an air pump 150 used to create the vacuum, generally located at or near a silencer 151 and a discharge point 152 where air is released to the atmosphere. The system further comprises a waste container 120 for receiving the pumped slurry, a main supply water line 132, and a main supply water source 134.

(17) The high pressure water pump assembly 110 is mounted on, for example, a truck 140. The purpose of the pump assembly 110 is to pressurize water for use in washing sewer lines 142 by means of cleaning head 114 attached to and in communication with high pressure water hose 112. The source of water for the pump assembly 110 may be derived from any water source 134, including a fire hydrant, a tank on the truck 140, or from the sewer itself.

(18) The cleaning head 114 is bullet-shaped with a front and rear face. The rear face of the cleaning head 114 has water jet outlets directed backwardly. The truck 140, high pressure water hose 112 and cleaning head 114 may be of any suitable conventional equipment. When the cleaning head 114 is lowered through a manhole 141, and into a sewer 142, high pressure water, such as 2000 psi is applied through the hose 112 to the cleaning head 114. The high pressure water applied to the cleaning head 114 has several functions. First, the water sprays out of the outlets and the exiting high pressure water washes the solid material from the walls of the sewer 142 and suspends the sewer pipe solid material in a slurry. Additionally, the high pressure water being applied to the cleaning head 114 moves the cleaning head 114 in a direction 143. After cleaning the sewer 142, the cleaning head 114 may be retrieved by retracting the high pressure water hose 112 by means of the hose reel 113 as is conventional.

(19) If conditions dictate that a vacuum system be used, i.e., if a relatively small volume of liquid exists in the sewer 142, a vacuum system comprising a vacuum tube 118 held in place by a boom 119, an air pump 150, generally located at or near a silencer 151 and a discharge point 152 where air is released to the atmosphere, is provided. The air pump 150 creates a negative pressure in the system, causing slurry to be sucked up through the vacuum tube 118 and into the waste container 120. The solid material in the waste slurry then falls to the bottom of the waste container 120. The air pump 150 continues to pull the air in the container through the air pump 150, and through the silencer 151 before being released to the atmosphere through the discharge point 152.

(20) The embodiment depicted in FIG. 2 is less efficient than that depicted in FIG. 1, because a submersible pump is capable of moving waste slurry at a faster rate than a vacuum system. Further, use of a submersible pump allows for decanting of water simultaneously while performing the cleaning operation. This is not possible with a vacuum system. However, because a submersible pump cannot be used effectively when little or no water exists in the pipe to be cleaned, the vacuum system is necessary to deal with these types of situations.

(21) Loosening solid materials, i.e. debris, mud, etc. from the walls of the waste collection system and getting the solid materials to the submersible pump 16 requires a high pressure stream of water. A pressurized water pumping system as described above is not always available or practical for cleaning the waste collection system. Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a kite 44 is illustrated schematically. The kite 44 is placed in sewer 42a upstream of submersible pump 16a. Water flowing in sewer 42a is blocked by the kite 44 acting effectively as a dam. The only exit for the dammed water is through opening 46. Water builds up behind kite 44 forming a hydrostatic head pressure that creates a high pressure stream of water emitting from the opening 46 of the kite 44 apex. This high pressure stream of water effectively breaks loose solid material attached to the walls of sewer 42a and allows sufficient flow rate to suspend the solid materials in the water for subsequent removal by submersible pump 16a.

(22) The position of kite 44 in the sewer 42a is controlled by cable 50 attached to the kite 44 by lines 48. Kite 44 is made of a flexible water proof material such as, for example, canvas. The flexible material is formed into the shape of a funnel and restrained by lines 48 which in turn are attached to the cable 50.

(23) Referring now to FIG. 6 a Wayne ball 54 is illustrated schematically. The Wayne ball 54 is a ball having a diameter approximately the same size as the inside diameter of the pipe to be cleaned. The Wayne ball 54 has concentric helical grooves 56 on its face in which water flows at high pressure while rotating the Wayne ball 54. The position of Wayne ball 54 is controlled by cable 60 which is pivotally attached by means of pivot 58. The rotation of Wayne ball 54 and the high pressure streams of water emitting from grooves 56 agitates the solid materials built up on the walls of sewer 42b. In addition, the high pressure water effectively washes and cleans the material from the walls while moving the suspended solids down toward the submersible pump 16b.

(24) The present invention is not limited to just cleaning sewers, any waste collection system such as but not limited to sewers, sumps, wet wells, collection tanks, digesters, clarifiers, classifiers, etc. where cleaning and removal of solid and liquid materials is required. The present invention is a new, novel and more efficient way of capturing solid and liquid waste by emulsifying the solids in suspension and capturing it by the means disclosed above. The apparatus of the present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.