System for stirring and thereby reducing build up of bottom sediments in a storage tank

• US 5,445,173 A
• Filed: 07/18/1994
• Issued: 08/29/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matrix Service Incorporated (Matrix Service Company)
• Original Assignee: Matrix Service Incorporated (Matrix Service Company)
• Inventors: Aiken, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US08/276,270
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 134/167 R, 134/168 R, 134/181, 118/317, 239/263, 239/263.1
• US Class Current: 134/167.00R
• 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: B08B 9/0933 Removing sludge or the like from tank bottoms

Abstract

A system is provided for stirring and thereby reducing build up of bottom sediments in a storage tank, the system including a vertical outer casing having an intermediate opening communicating with a horizontal tubular member so that the vertical outer casing is supported within the interior of the tank and above the tank bottom. A perforated inner casing is rotatably supported within the vertical outer casing. An elbow fitting is affixed to one end of the inner casing. A nozzle is affixed to the elbow having an outlet directed to horizontally discharge fluid over the tank bottom. A stepping motor is secured to the outer casing and has an output shaft affixed to the inner casing by which the inner casing is rotated to discharge recirculated tank fluid over the tank bottom to stir up and suspend bottom sediments.

Claims

1. A system for removing sludge from the horizontal bottom of a tank having liquid stored therein which comprises:

a body member;

a casing rotatable with respect to said body member and provided with a horizontally extending nozzle arranged so that liquid discharged therefrom sweeps substantially in a plane above said tank bottom;

means to recycle liquid from said tank and back through said body member, said casing and said nozzle;

a stepping motor for rotating said casing with respect to said body member; and

means externally of said tank to control said stepping motor.

2. A system for removing sludge from the bottom of a tank according to claim 1 wherein said stepping motor is stepped in selectable angular increments.

3. A system for removing sludge from the bottom of a tank according to claim 2 wherein the time between each step at said stepping motor is selectable.

4. A system for removing sludge from the bottom of a storage tank according to claim 1 wherein said body member is supported by a horizontal tubular member extending from a sidewall of said tank.

5. A system for removing sludge from the bottom of a storage tank according to claim 1 wherein said means to control said stepping motor includes hydraulic means.

6. A system for removing sludge from the bottom of a storage tank according to claim 5 wherein said hydraulic means includes:

a source of hydraulic fluid;

a motor driven pump connected to said source of hydraulic fluid providing a pressurized fluid source;

fluid flow directing means in series with said pressurized fluid source, said source of hydraulic fluid, said motor driven pump and said fluid flow directing means being external of said storage tank; and

a pair of conduits extending through a wall of said tank connecting said fluid flow directing means and said stepping motor.

7. A system for removing sludge from the bottom of a storage tank according to claim 1 wherein said tank has a cylindrical sidewall and wherein said body member is positioned substantially at the center of said cylindrical sidewall.

8. Sludge removing system for stirring and reducing the build up of bottom sediments in a storage tank, the tank having a sidewall and a horizontal bottom, comprising:

a horizontal tubular member supported within said tank and spaced above said tank bottom and having an inner end and an outer end communicating with the exterior of said tank;

a vertical outer casing having a top and a bottom end and an intermediate opening communicating with said tubular member inner end;

a perforated inner casing positioned concentrically within said outer casing and having an upper and a lower end;

means for rotatably supporting said inner casing within said outer casing;

an elbow fitting affixed to said inner casing at one of said upper and lower ends;

a nozzle affixed to said elbow fitting having an outlet directed to discharge fluid over said tank bottom;

a stepping motor secured to said outer casing and having an output shaft affixed to said inner casing by which said inner casing and thereby said nozzle is rotated;

means to circulate fluid from out of the interior of said tank back through said horizontal tubular member, through said perforated inner casing to produce a jet of fluid out through said nozzle to stir said bottom sediments; and

means to control said stepping motor to rotate said inner casing and thereby said nozzle to sweep said jet of fluid over substantially the entirety of said tank horizontal bottom.

9. A system for removing sludge from the bottom of a storage tank according to claim 8 wherein said means to control said stepping motor includes hydraulic means.

10. A system for removing sludge from the bottom of a storage tank according to claim 9 wherein said hydraulic means includes:

a source of hydraulic fluid;

a motor driven pump connected to said source of hydraulic fluid providing a pressurized fluid source;

fluid flow directing means in series with said pressurized fluid source, said source of hydraulic fluid, said motor driven pump and said fluid flow directing means being external of said storage tank; and

a pair of conduits extending through a wall of said tank connecting said fluid flow directing means and said stepping motor.

11. A system for removing sludge from the bottom of a storage tank according to claim 8 wherein said tank has a cylindrical sidewall and wherein said body member is positioned substantially at the center of said cylindrical sidewall.

12. A system for removing sludge from the bottom of a tank according to claim 8 wherein said stepping motor is stepped in selectable angular increments.

13. A system for removing sludge from the bottom of a tank according to claim 12 wherein the time between each step at said stepping motor is selectable.

14. A system for removing sludge from the bottom of a storage tank according to claim 8 wherein said body member is supported by a horizontal tubular member extending from a sidewall of said tank.