Nozzle System for Tank Floor

• US 20110180152A1
• Filed: 01/11/2011
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vaughan Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vaughan Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Dorsch, Glenn R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,992,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/15.05
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/21 with submerged injectors, e.g. nozzles, for injecting high-pressure jets into a large volume or into mixing chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/50 Circulation mixers, e.g. wherein at least part of the mixture is discharged from and reintroduced into a receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0933 Removing sludge or the like from tank bottoms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0424 Liquid cleaning or flushing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4238 With cleaner, lubrication added to fluid or liquid sealing at valve interface

Abstract

A nozzle system for mixing contents in a tank and scouring surfaces of debris and sediment is disclosed. The system is capable of use either below or above a tank'"'"'s liquid content surface as well as being adaptable to flow channels and other surfaces which may become impeded with sediment and debris. The nozzle system includes at least one nozzle receiving fluid from a pump, and a splash plate positioned to deflect a discharged stream from the nozzle in a spread and downward direction. The number and positioning of additional nozzles in the system can be determined by mapping the discharge of each splash plate equipped nozzle and arranging for the desired area of coverage.

Claims

1. A system for moving solids accumulated on a surface, the system comprising:

a plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles positioned above the surface, each of the nozzles having an inlet for receiving pressurized liquid and an outlet for ejecting a liquid stream along a path; and

at least one splash plate positioned superiorly adjacent to the outlet of at least one nozzle in the path of the liquid stream and at an angle of inclination relative to the path; and

a liquid source for supplying each nozzle with pressurized fluid;

a pump coupling the liquid source to the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles,

wherein the at least one splash plate deflects the liquid stream toward the accumulated solids on the surface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination is in the range of from about five degrees to about 30 degrees.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the angle of inclination is in the range of from about 10 degrees to about 20 degrees.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the angle of inclination is about 15 degrees.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the splash plate is positioned in the liquid stream path such that the liquid stream is spread in a direction substantially perpendicular to the stream.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles is inclined toward the surface at an angle in the range of from about five to about 20 degrees.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles is inclined toward the surface at an angle of about 11.5 degrees.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one splash plate is substantially flat.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one splash plate is curved.

10. A system for removing sediment deposited on a surface, the system comprising:

a supply of liquid;

a liquid dispensing nozzle positioned above the surface, the nozzle having an inlet for receiving pressurized liquid and an outlet for ejecting a liquid stream along a path;

a splash plate positioned superiorly adjacent to the nozzle outlet in the path of the liquid stream at an angle of inclination relative to the path; and

a pump fluidly coupling the nozzle inlet to the supply of liquid and operating to pump material from the supply through the nozzle outlet.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the angle of inclination is in the range of from about 5 degrees to about 30 degrees.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the angle of inclination is in the range of from about 10 degrees to about 20 degrees.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the angle of inclination is about 15 degrees.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the splash plate is attached to the nozzle.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the nozzle outlet is angled to direct the path of the liquid stream toward the surface.

16. A wastewater storage tank system comprising:

a tank having an enclosed volume fed by an inlet for delivering wastewater into the tank and an outlet for discharging wastewater there from;

a nozzle positioned within the tank, the nozzle having an inlet for receiving pressurized liquid and an outlet for ejecting a liquid stream along a path;

a splash plate positioned superiorly adjacent to the nozzle outlet in the path of the liquid stream at an angle of inclination relative to the path; and

a pump having an inlet fluidly connected to the tank and operates to pump material from the tank through the nozzle outlet.

17. The wastewater storage tank system of claim 16, wherein the angle of inclination of the splash plate relative to the path of the liquid stream is in the range of from about five degrees to about 30 degrees.

18. The wastewater storage tank system of claim 17, wherein the angle of inclination is in the range of from about 10 to about 20 degrees.

19. The wastewater storage tank system of claim 18, wherein the angle of inclination is about 15 degrees.

20. A method for removing sediment deposited onto a surface using tank mixing nozzles, the method comprising the steps of:

aiming a liquid dispensing nozzle at an area of a surface having deposited sediment;

pumping liquid at a sufficient pressure from a liquid source to an outlet of the nozzle;

discharging the liquid from the nozzle in a concentrated stream along a path directed substantially at the deposited sediment; and

deflecting the liquid stream downward to spread the stream outward in a direction substantially perpendicular to the concentrated stream.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of deflecting the liquid stream comprises the step of securing a splash plate in the path of the concentrated stream.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the splash plate is secured at an angle to the concentrated stream.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the angle is in the range of from about 5 degrees to about 20 degrees.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the angle is about 15 degrees.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:

collecting the discharged liquid; and

adding the collected liquid to the liquid source to be pumped through the nozzle.

26. A method for preventing the deposit of sediment onto a surface using tank mixing nozzles, the method comprising the steps of:

aiming a liquid dispensing nozzle at an area of a surface prone to deposition of sediment;

pumping liquid at a sufficient pressure from a liquid source to an outlet of the nozzle;

discharging the liquid from the nozzle in a concentrated stream along a path directed toward the area of the surface subject to deposition of sediment; and

deflecting the liquid stream downward to spread the stream outward in a direction substantially perpendicular to the concentrated stream.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of deflecting the liquid stream comprises the step of securing a splash plate in the path of the concentrated stream.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the splash plate is secured at an angle to the concentrated stream.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the angle is in the range of from about 5 degrees to about 20 degrees.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the angle is about 15 degrees.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising the steps of:

collecting the discharged liquid; and

adding the collected liquid to the liquid source to be pumped through the nozzle.

32. A mixing system for driving floating debris into a liquid medium, the system comprising:

a supply of liquid stored within a tank and having debris floating at or near the liquid surface;

a liquid dispensing nozzle positioned above the liquid surface, the nozzle having an inlet for receiving pressurized liquid and an outlet for ejecting a liquid stream along a path;

a splash plate positioned superiorly adjacent to the nozzle outlet in the path of the liquid stream at an angle of inclination relative to the path; and

a pump fluidly coupling the nozzle inlet to the supply of liquid and operating to pump material from the supply through the nozzle outlet.

33. The mixing system of claim 32, wherein the angle of inclination is in the range of from about five degrees to about 30 degrees.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the angle of inclination is in the range of from about 10 degrees to about 20 degrees.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the angle of inclination is about 15 degrees.

36. The system of claim 32, wherein the splash plate is positioned in an initial liquid stream path such that a resulting liquid stream is spread in a direction substantially perpendicular to the initial liquid stream path.

37. The system of claim 32, wherein each of the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles is inclined toward the surface at an angle in the range of from about five to about 40 degrees.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein each of the plurality of liquid dispensing nozzles is inclined toward the surface at an angle of about 22.5 degrees.

39. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least one splash plate is substantially flat.

40. The system of claim 32, wherein the at least one splash plate is curved.