JP7618312B2 - Sludge scraper - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sludge scraper that is installed in a sedimentation tank where sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank as the water containing sludge flows.

A known sludge scraping device is equipped with an endless chain having scraping members that extend in the width direction of the pond, perpendicular to the water flow direction of the sludge-containing water. In this sludge scraping device, a part of the endless chain is wound around a drive wheel, and the endless chain receives driving force from the drive wheel and travels, circulating the scraping members between the bottom side and the water surface side of the sedimentation pond. The sedimentation pond also has a driven wheel around which a part of the endless chain is wound and which rotates following the movement of the endless chain. When the scraping members travel on the bottom of the sedimentation pond, they scrape sludge that has settled on the bottom, and when they travel on the water surface side, they scrape scum that has floated to the water surface. The sedimentation pond is also provided with a rail member that extends in the water flow direction, on which the scraping members are placed when the endless chain travels, and has a sliding contact portion against which the scraping members slide.

In a settling tank where a sludge scraping device is installed, an earthquake can cause the endless chain to come off the rotating wheels, such as the drive and driven wheels. The reason the endless chain comes off the rotating wheels is not so much due to the direct impact of the shaking caused by the earthquake, but rather due to the impact of sloshing, which is when the water in the settling tank ripples violently due to the earthquake. When sloshing occurs, the endless chain swings violently, and the force of this swing is transmitted to the part of the endless chain that is wrapped around the rotating wheels, which can cause the endless chain to come off the rotating wheels.

As a countermeasure against earthquakes, it has been proposed to provide a regulating member on the scraping member (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The regulating member described in Patent Document 1 comes into contact with the rail member when the endless chain sways, regulating the swaying of the endless chain. When the endless chain runs, this regulating member enters from one end side of the rail member below the sliding contact part of the rail member, leaving a gap between it and the rail member, and passes through the rail member as the endless chain runs.

JP 2011-5400 A

However, when the restricting member enters from one end of the rail member below the sliding contact portion of the rail member, it may come into contact with the rail member from above. When the restricting member comes into contact with the rail member, the movement of the endless chain becomes disrupted.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a sludge scraping device in which the restricting member is less likely to come into contact with the rail member.

The sludge scraper of the present invention, which solves the above-mentioned object, is
A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side;
a rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, the rail member having a sliding contact portion on which the collecting member is placed and against which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels,
the scraping member is provided with a protruding portion protruding in a width direction of the settling basin, and has a regulating member that abuts against the rail member when the endless chain sways, thereby regulating the sway of the endless chain,
The rail members include a first rail member having a first sliding contact portion on which a scraper member attached to a slack portion of the endless chain that is curved downward and slackened is placed and against which the scraper member slides, and a second rail member having a second sliding contact portion on which a scraper member attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction is placed and against which the scraper member slides,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the slack portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the slack portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the slack portion,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the water surface track portion,
the first rail member has a first space provided by retracting in the pond width direction in the vicinity of a region through which the protrusion passes as the endless chain travels,
The second rail member has a second space provided by retracting in the pond width direction in the vicinity of a region through which the protrusion passes as the endless chain travels,
the protruding portion enters from above the first rail member to below the first sliding contact portion by utilizing the first space, and enters from above the second rail member to below the second sliding contact portion by utilizing the second space,
The first space is longer than the second space.

The present invention provides a sludge scraping device in which the restricting member is less likely to come into contact with the rail member.

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a settling basin in which a sludge scraper according to one embodiment of the present invention is installed. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. 1 . 3(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2, (b) is a diagram showing the upstream return rail and the regulating member when sloshing occurs due to an earthquake and the water surface track part swings in the direction of the pond width, and (c) is a diagram showing the state when the protruding part of the regulating member comes into contact with the sliding part of the upstream return rail from above. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the downstream side of the water flow direction in the settling tank from below the scum removal device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a modification of the embodiment described above. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the return rail of the second embodiment as viewed from above. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the return rail of the second embodiment as viewed from above. 13A to 13C are diagrams showing, in stages, how the protrusion of the regulating member approaches the upstream end portion of the downstream return rail of the second embodiment from diagonally above and penetrates below the sliding contact portion of the downstream return rail. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a modified example of the second embodiment. 13A and 13B are diagrams showing the relationship between the downstream return rail and the protruding portion of the regulating member in the sludge scraping device of the third embodiment. A diagram showing the relationship between the downstream return rail 24 and the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 in the sludge scraping device of the fourth embodiment. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating modified examples of the restricting member.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a settling tank equipped with a sludge scraper, which is one embodiment of the present invention.

The sedimentation tank 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a tank that is surrounded by an upstream wall 1a, a downstream wall 1b, and a pair of side walls 1c and has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. This sedimentation tank 1 receives water containing sludge, such as wastewater or rainwater, from one end in the longitudinal direction (the left side in FIG. 1), causes the sludge contained in the received water to settle on the bottom 1d of the tank, and discharges the water from the other end (the right side in FIG. 1). Hereinafter, the left side in FIG. 1 will be referred to as the upstream side, the right side in FIG. 1 will be referred to as the downstream side, and the direction from the left side to the right side in FIG. 1 will be referred to as the water flow direction. The direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1 will be referred to as the tank width direction. Note that FIG. 1 is a view of the sedimentation tank viewed in the tank width direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the settling tank 1 is provided with the sludge scraping device 10 of this embodiment, a scum removal device 30, a drainage gutter 40, and a sludge pit 50. The drainage gutter 40 is provided in the downstream portion of the settling tank 1. The sludge pit 50 is provided in the upstream portion of the settling tank 1.

The sludge scraping device 10 of this embodiment is equipped with an endless chain 11. This endless chain 11 is provided at both ends of the sedimentation tank 1 in the tank width direction. Each of the pair of endless chains 11 provided at both ends of the tank width direction is a circular chain that runs on a circular track that connects a scraping track Tk extending along the tank bottom 1d, an upstream track Tu that rises from the scraping track Tk toward the water surface side on the upstream side of the sedimentation tank 1, a water surface track Tw that extends from the upstream side to the downstream side of the water flow direction on the water surface side but is shorter than the scraping track Tk, and a downstream track Tl that connects the water surface track Tw and the scraping track Tk on the downstream side of the sedimentation tank 1.

In addition, a number of scraping members 12 extending in the width direction of the pond are stretched across the pair of endless chains 11. As the endless chains 11 travel on a circular track, the scraping members 12 circulate between the pond bottom 1d side and the water surface WL side. In Figure 1, the endless chains 11 are shown on a circular track.

Sprockets 14-17 are arranged at both ends of each track (Tk, Tu, Tw, Tl). A portion of the endless chain 11 is wound around each sprocket 14-17, and the portion of the endless chain 11 wound around each sprocket 14-17 meshes with the sprockets 14-17.

The sprocket 14 is disposed upstream of the water surface trajectory Tw. In the following description, this sprocket 14 is referred to as the drive sprocket 14. A drive shaft 141 is fixed to the center of the drive sprocket 14. The drive shaft 141 extends in the pond width direction and is rotatably supported by bearings (not shown) fixed to each of the pair of side walls 1c. The drive shaft 141 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the motor 21 by a drive chain 211. When the motor 21 rotates, the drive sprocket 14 also rotates via the drive shaft 141. The drive sprocket 14 in this embodiment corresponds to an example of a drive wheel that transmits a driving force to the endless chain 11 to run the endless chain 11.

The motor 21 is a motor that can rotate in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions in FIG. 1. The motor 21 is normally driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. 1. As the motor 21 rotates clockwise, the drive sprocket 14 rotates clockwise, causing the endless chain 11 to run clockwise. Hereinafter, the clockwise rotation of the drive sprocket 14 in FIG. 1 is referred to as forward drive, and the clockwise running of the endless chain 11 in FIG. 1 is referred to as forward running. When the drive sprocket 14 is driven in the forward direction, the water surface track portion 11w of the endless chain 11 on the water surface track Tw runs from the upstream side to the downstream side.

The motor 21 also has a torque limiter function. For example, if a foreign object gets caught in the scraping member 12 attached to the endless chain 11 running on the pond bottom 1d and an excessive load is applied to the motor 21, the torque limiter function is activated and the motor 21 is temporarily stopped. Then, in order to release the foreign object, the motor 21 rotates in the reverse direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 1) for a short time. With the reverse rotation of the motor 21, the drive sprocket 14 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1, causing the endless chain 11 to run counterclockwise (so-called slight reverse operation). Hereinafter, the rotation of the drive sprocket 14 counterclockwise in FIG. 1 is referred to as reverse drive, and the running of the endless chain 11 counterclockwise in FIG. 1 is referred to as reverse running. When the drive sprocket 14 is driven in the reverse direction, the water surface track portion 11w runs from the downstream side to the upstream side.

The other sprockets 15-17 are driven sprockets that rotate following the movement of the endless chain 11. Fixed shafts 151, 161, and 171 pass through the center of the sprockets 15-17. Each of the fixed shafts 151, 161, and 171 is fixedly arranged so that it cannot rotate around its axis. Each of the sprockets 15-17 can rotate freely about its fixed shaft 151, 161, and 171. Each of the sprockets 14-17 is a rotating wheel that rotates around the drive shaft 141 or the fixed shafts 151, 161, and 171 as the rotating axis. In the following explanation, the sprocket 15 arranged downstream of the water surface trajectory Tw is referred to as the intermediate sprocket 15. This intermediate sprocket 15 is an example of a driven wheel.

The scraping members 12 are attached at equal or approximately equal intervals in the circulation direction around the entire circumference of the orbit of the endless chain 11. A bottom rail 23 is fixed to the bottom 1d of the settling tank 1, extending in the longitudinal direction of the settling tank 1 along the bottom 1d. At the bottom 1d, the scraping members 12 move while being guided by the bottom rail 23, traveling along the scraping track Tk and scraping up the sludge that has settled at the bottom 1d.

When the endless chain 11 runs forward, the scraping member 12 located on the scraping track Tk moves from downstream to upstream along the pond bottom 1d. The sludge that has settled at the pond bottom 1d is scraped toward the upstream sludge pit 50 by the scraping member 12 moving along the pond bottom 1d. The sludge scraped into the sludge pit 50 is discharged outside the settling pond 1 by a sludge pump (not shown).

Scum floats on the water surface WL of the sedimentation tank 1. When the endless chain 11 runs forward, the scraper 12 located on the water surface track Tw moves along the water surface WL from the upstream side to the downstream side. The scum floating on the water surface WL is scraped toward the downstream scum removal device 30 by the scraper 12 moving on the water surface track Tw. The scum scraped toward the scum removal device 30 is discharged outside the sedimentation tank 1 by the scum removal device 30 together with the water in the sedimentation tank 1. In addition, the water in the sedimentation tank 1 from which the scum and sludge have been removed flows under the scum removal device and into the drainage gutter 40, and from the drainage gutter 40 flows into a drainage channel not shown, and is drained outside the sedimentation tank 1.

The endless chain 11 is installed in the sedimentation tank 1 with an appropriate amount of slack in the circulation direction from the beginning, in order to prevent an increase in the driving force for running the endless chain 11. The endless chain 11 has an amount of slack corresponding to this slack. In addition, for a period of time after the endless chain 11 starts running, the endless chain 11 is prone to stretching due to the break-in and creep phenomenon of the endless chain 11, and as a result, the slack tends to gradually increase compared to when it was installed. After the endless chain 11 has been running for a certain amount of time, the stretching almost completely disappears.

When the endless chain 11 runs, the running load caused by the sludge being collected by the collecting member 12 is applied to the collecting track portion 11k of the endless chain 11 located on the collecting track Tk. When the endless chain 11 runs forward, tension corresponding to the running load is generated in the collecting track portion 11k and the upstream track portion 11u located on the upstream track Tu of the endless chain 11. On the other hand, slack occurs in the water surface track portion 11w and the downstream track portion 11l located on the downstream track Tl of the endless chain 11. Figure 1 shows a state in which slack occurs in the water surface track portion 11w and the downstream track portion 11l. As shown in Figure 1, the downstream track Tl is longer than the water surface track Tw, and while the water surface track Tw is horizontal or nearly horizontal, the downstream track Tl is greatly inclined, and the slack in the downstream track portion 11l is greater than the slack in the water surface track portion 11w.

Next, we will explain the return rail, which is an example of a rail member. The sludge collector 10 shown in Figure 1 is provided with a downstream return rail 24 and an upstream return rail 25 as rail members.

At a predetermined height from the bottom 1d of the sedimentation tank 1 on the downstream side, a downstream return rail 24 is fixed that is approximately parallel to the bottom 1d and extends in the longitudinal direction of the sedimentation tank 1. The downstream return rail 24 is attached to a downstream pedestal 247 fixed to each of a pair of side walls 1c. When the endless chain 11 is running forward, the scraping member 12 attached to the endless chain 11 moves guided by the downstream return rail 24 on the scraping track Tk side (also called the downstream side) of the downstream track Tl that is greatly slack. That is, the downstream return rail 24 is installed on the scraping track Tk along the scraping track Tk, and the scraping member 12 attached to the underwater track portion 11l-1 that runs on the scraping track Tk side of the downstream track Tl of the endless chain 11 is placed on the downstream return rail 24, and the scraping member 12 slides on the downstream return rail 24, which corresponds to an example of a first rail member. As shown in FIG. 1, the orbit on the downstream orbit Tl on the side of the scraping orbit Tk is a horizontal orbit.

Furthermore, an upstream return rail 25 is fixed on the upstream side of the sedimentation tank 1 near the water surface WL, extending in the water flow direction along the water surface WL. That is, the upstream return rail 25 is installed on the water surface side, and the scraper member 12 attached to the water surface track portion 11w of the endless chain 11 is placed on the upstream return rail 25, on which the scraper member 12 slides, and corresponds to an example of a second rail member. This upstream return rail 25 is attached to upstream pedestals 257 fixed in multiple locations to each of the pair of side walls 1c. The scraper member 12 attached to the endless chain 11 moves guided by the upstream return rail 25 on the water surface track Tw.

Figure 2 is a partially enlarged view of part A in Figure 1. In Figure 2, the endless chain 11 is shown with dashed lines, with some exceptions.

The endless chain 11 is a metal chain to which a plurality of link members 110 are connected. A resin chain may also be used as the endless chain 11. Each link member 110 is connected by a connecting pin (not shown). In this embodiment, a link member 110 provided with a stay 113 is arranged for every 20 link members 110 connected in the circulating direction of the endless chain 11. In FIG. 2, the link member 110 provided with the stay 113 is shown at the left end. This stay 113 is for connecting the link member 110 and the scraper member 12. The stay 113 and the scraper member 12 shown at the left end of FIG. 2 are connected with a screw (not shown). In FIG. 2, two more scraper members 12 are shown, but the link members to which these two scraper members 12 are connected are not shown, and the stays are also not shown.

The scraping member 12 has a flight plate 121, a return shoe 122, and a regulating member 123. The flight plate 121 is made of stainless steel and has a U-shaped cross section extending in the width direction of the pond. The scraping surface 121c located between the bent surfaces 121a and 121b of the flight plate 121 is rectangular in shape. The return shoe 122 and the regulating member 123 are provided on both ends of the flight plate 121. The flight plate 121 shown in FIG. 2 also has a protruding edge 121d that protrudes from the bent surface 121a on the side opposite the endless chain 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upstream return rail 25 is a rail member that extends from the drive sprocket 14 to the intermediate sprocket 15. To explain in more detail, the upstream return rail 25 shown in FIG. 2 extends from directly above the center of the drive sprocket 14 to directly above the center of the intermediate sprocket 15, but it may also extend from a position on the intermediate sprocket 15 side from directly above the center of the drive sprocket 14, or from a position on the upstream wall 1a (see FIG. 1) side from directly above. It may also extend to a position on the drive sprocket 14 side from directly above the center of the intermediate sprocket 15, or from a position on the downstream wall 1b (see FIG. 1) side from directly above.

The upstream return rail 25 is composed of a sliding contact portion 250 and a mounting portion 251 at the lower portion.

Figure 3(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in Figure 2. Figure 3(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical line passing through the center of the drive sprocket 14, and the left-right direction in the figure corresponds to the width direction of the sedimentation basin 1. Note that the drive chain 211 (see Figure 1) that transmits rotational force to the drive sprocket 14 is omitted from Figure 3(a).

As shown in FIG. 3(a), the link member 110 is composed of a pair of left and right link plates 111, 111 facing each other in the pond width direction, and a barrel portion 112 connecting the pair of left and right link plates 111, 111.

The scraper member 12 shown in FIG. 3(a) is the scraper member 12 attached to the water surface track portion 11w shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and the scraper member 12 is provided with a scraper shoe 124 on the upper part that faces the water surface in the state of FIG. 3(a). When the link member 110 to which the scraper member 12 shown in FIG. 3(a) is attached travels along the scraper track Tk, the scraper member 12 is turned upside down, and the scraper shoe 124 is on the lower side and slides against the pond bottom rail 23 shown in FIG. 1.

In addition, a return shoe 122 and a regulating member 123 are provided at the bottom of the end of the collecting member 12 in the pond width direction, opposite the water surface, as shown in Figure 3 (a).

The lower end portion of the return shoe 122 shown in FIG. 3(a) protrudes downward from the flight plate 121, and the lower end of the return shoe 122 is placed on the sliding contact portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25. When the link member 110 to which the scraper member 12 shown in FIG. 3(a) is attached travels along the water surface track Tw, the return shoe 122 slides against the upstream return rail 25. The outer edge of the return shoe 122 in the pond width direction coincides with the upper and lower edges of the flight plate 121. On the other hand, a protrusion 1221 protruding downward is provided at the lower corner of the return shoe 122 on the inner side in the pond width direction. In other words, this protrusion 1221 protrudes further downward than the lower end portion of the return shoe 122 that protrudes downward from the flight plate 121.

The regulating member 123 has a base portion 1231, an arm portion 1232, and a protrusion portion 1233. The base portion 1231 of the regulating member 123 is bolted to the scraping member 12 with the return shoe 122 sandwiched therebetween, making it easy to replace the return shoe 122. The arm portion 1232 is a portion that extends downward from the inside of the base portion 1231 in the pond width direction. The protrusion portion 1233 is provided at the tip of the arm portion 1232, and is bent 90 degrees from the arm portion 1232 to protrude outward in the pond width direction. The shape formed by the arm portion 1232 and the protrusion portion 1233 is hook-shaped.

Also, FIG. 3(a) shows the downstream end surface of the upstream return rail 25. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the upstream return rail 25 has an upside-down L-shaped cross section. The mounting portion 251 of the upstream return rail 25 is fixed to the upstream base 257 with a screw (not shown). The sliding portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25 protrudes toward the inside in the pond width direction. That is, it protrudes so as to face the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123, which protrudes toward the outside in the pond width direction, with a vertical position shift. To explain in more detail, the sliding portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25 and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 3(a) are spaced apart in the vertical direction (for example, 10 mm). In addition, there is a gap (for example, greater than 0 mm and less than 25 mm) between the protruding end (widthwise end) 2501 of the sliding contact portion 250 and the protruding end 1233t of the protruding portion 1233 in the pond width direction.

Furthermore, the protruding tip 2501 of the sliding contact portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25 faces the protrusion 1221 of the return shoe 122 with a gap in the pond width direction, aligned in the vertical direction. If the scraper member 12 shifts in the pond width direction, the protrusion 1221 of the return shoe 122 abuts against the protruding tip 2501 of the sliding contact portion 250, preventing the scraper member 12 from shifting further in the pond width direction. The scraper shoe 124 described above also has a protrusion 1241 that abuts against the pond bottom rail 23 to prevent the scraper member 12 from shifting in the pond width direction.

Figure 3(b) shows the upstream return rail 25 and the regulating member 123 when sloshing occurs due to an earthquake and the water surface track portion 11w swings in the direction of the pond width.

In FIG. 3(b), the shaking caused by the earthquake has also been added, causing the protruding tip 2501 of the sliding part 250 to slip under the protrusion 1221 of the return shoe 122. However, the base of the protruding part 1233 relative to the arm part 1232 abuts against the protruding tip 2501, preventing the water surface track part 11w (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) from swinging further in the pond width direction. Therefore, the base of the protruding part 1233 corresponds to an example of a lateral direction restricting part. If the arm part 1232 extended further downward, the arm part 1232 would abut against the protruding tip 2501 of the sliding part 250. In this case, the arm part 1232 corresponds to an example of a lateral direction restricting part.

In addition, the protruding portion 1233 may protrude further outward in the pond width direction, and before the base portion of the protruding portion 1233 abuts against the protruding tip 2501 of the sliding portion 250, the protruding tip 1233t of the protruding portion 1233 may abut against the base portion of the sliding portion 250 relative to the attachment portion 251. Furthermore, if the arm portion 1232 extends further downward, the protruding tip 1233t of the protruding portion 1233 will abut against the attachment portion 251.

Figure 3 (c) shows the state when the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 comes into contact with the sliding contact portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25 from above.

As shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2, the upstream return rail 25 is installed below the portion of the endless chain 11 that passes through the 12 o'clock position of the drive sprocket 14. Therefore, the portion of the endless chain 11 that passes through the 12 o'clock position of the drive sprocket 14 approaches the upstream end portion of the upstream return rail 25 from diagonally above, and the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 enters below the sliding contact portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25.

The position of the scraper member 12 to which the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 3(c) is attached is shifted in the pond width direction (shifted to the left in FIG. 3(c)), and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 may come into contact with the sliding portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25 from above.

In this embodiment, the surface connecting the protruding tip 1233t of the hook-shaped protruding portion 1233 and the lower end is gradually inclined downward from the protruding tip 1233t to the lower end. Hereinafter, the downwardly inclined surface connecting the protruding tip 1233t of the hook-shaped protruding portion 1233 and the lower end is referred to as the contact surface 1233s because it may come into contact with the sliding contact portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25 as shown in FIG. 3(c).

3(c) is in contact with the protruding tip 2501 of the sliding portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25. As described above, the part of the endless chain 11 that has passed the 12 o'clock position of the drive sprocket 14 approaches the upstream end of the upstream return rail 25 from diagonally above, and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 would normally travel on a downward track to get below the sliding portion 250 of the upstream return rail 25. In addition, the protruding portion 1233 provided with the contact surface 1233s that has contacted the protruding tip 2501 is forced downward in accordance with the inclination of the contact surface 1233s as the endless chain 11 travels. As a result, the regulating member 123, which has a contact surface 1233s that contacts the protruding end 2501, moves smoothly downward, preventing the endless chain 11 from being disturbed.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the downstream side of the water flow direction in the sedimentation tank 1 from below the scum removal device 30 shown in Figure 1. The endless chain 11 is made up of multiple linked members 110 (see Figure 2), but in Figure 4 it is represented by a single thick black line.

In Figure 4, the front side of the page is the upstream side of the water flow direction, and the back side of the page is the upstream side of the water flow direction. The left-right direction is the width direction of the sedimentation tank 1. In Figure 4, the downstream track Tl of the endless chain 11 extends toward the sprocket 16 shown in gray on the back side of the page, and the scraping track Tk returns from the back side of the page to the front side of the page.

Figure 4 shows the scraping members 12 attached to the endless chain 11 via stays 113. Five scraping members 12 are shown in Figure 4. A return shoe 122 and a regulating member 123 are provided at both ends of each scraping member 12. In the scraping member 12 attached to the downstream track portion 11l of the endless chain 11 shown in Figure 4, the protruding portion of the return shoe 122 protrudes downward, and the arm portion 1232 of the regulating member 123 also extends downward. The bent surfaces 121a and 121b of the flight plate 121 protrude toward the front.

On the other hand, in the scraping member 12 attached to the scraping track portion 11k of the endless chain 11 shown in FIG. 4, the protruding portion of the return shoe 122 protrudes upward, and the arm portion 1232 of the regulating member 123 also extends upward. In addition, the scraping shoe 124 is on the lower side and is in sliding contact with the pond bottom rail 23. The scraping surface 121c of the flight plate 121 is located on the front side.

In addition, in FIG. 4, downstream return rails 24 attached to the downstream bases 247 shown in gray are shown at both ends of the pond width direction, and pond bottom rails 23 are shown at both ends of the pond bottom 1d in the pond width direction.

The downstream return rail 24, like the upstream return rail 25, has an inverted L-shaped cross section and is composed of a sliding portion 240 and a mounting portion 241 at the lower portion. The mounting portion 241 of the downstream return rail 24 is fixed to the downstream base 247 with a screw (not shown). Also, like the upstream return rail 25, the sliding portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24 also protrudes toward the inside in the pond width direction. That is, the sliding portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24 protrudes toward the outside in the pond width direction of the regulating member 123 of the scraping member 12 of the underwater track portion 11l-1, and protrudes so as to face each other with a vertically shifted position. To explain in more detail, in the downstream return rail 24, the sliding portion 240 and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 are spaced apart in the vertical direction (for example, 10 mm). In addition, there is a gap (for example, greater than 0 mm and less than 25 mm) between the protruding end (widthwise end) 2401 of the sliding contact portion 240 and the protruding end of the protruding portion 1233 in the pond width direction.

Furthermore, the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24 also faces the protrusion 1221 (see FIG. 3(a)) of the return shoe 122 with a gap in the pond width direction, aligned vertically. If the scraper member 12 shifts in the pond width direction, the protrusion 1221 (see FIG. 3(a)) of the return shoe 122 abuts against the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding portion 240, preventing the scraper member 12 from shifting further in the pond width direction.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 1, the part of the endless chain 11 that runs on the water surface track Tw side of the downstream track Tl is curved downward and slack. Hereinafter, the part of the endless chain 11 that runs on the water surface track Tw side of the downstream track Tl is referred to as the slack part 11l-2. This slack part 11l-2 approaches the downstream return rail 24 from diagonally above, and the protruding part 1233 of the regulating member 123 originally runs on a track that goes downward in order to enter below the sliding part 240 of the downstream return rail 24. In addition, as in the case of the upstream return rail 25 described in FIG. 3(c), the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding part 240 of the downstream return rail 24 may come into contact with the contact surface 1233s of the protruding part 1233. The protruding portion 1233 provided with the contact surface 1233s that contacts the protruding end 2401 of the downstream return rail 24 is also directed downward in accordance with the inclination of the contact surface 1233s as the endless chain 11 runs. As a result, the regulating member 123 provided with the contact surface 1233s that contacts the protruding end 2401 of the downstream return rail 24 moves smoothly downward, and the running of the endless chain 11 on the downstream return rail 24 can be prevented from becoming disturbed. In particular, the slack portion 11l-2 of the endless chain 11 is curved downward and slack, so the track is unstable, and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 is more likely to contact the downstream return rail 24 than the upstream return rail 25, so the effect of the downwardly inclined contact surface 1233s of the protruding portion 1233 is beneficial.

Figure 5 shows a modified example of the embodiment described so far. In the following explanation, components with the same names as components described so far will be assigned the same reference numerals as those used so far. Note that in Figure 5, the left-right direction of the figure corresponds to the width direction of the sedimentation tank 1, with the right side of the figure being the inside in the width direction of the tank and the left side being the outside in the width direction of the tank.

In FIG. 5(a), the shape of the downstream return rail 24 is different from the shape of the downstream return rail described so far. The downstream return rail 24 shown in FIG. 5(a) is provided with a guide portion 242 in addition to a sliding portion 240 and an attachment portion 241. The sliding portion 240 shown in FIG. 5(a) protrudes toward the outside in the pond width direction. The guide portion 242 is provided with a guide surface 242s that slopes downward as it approaches the inside in the pond width direction. This guide surface 242s slopes from a point one step below the sliding portion 240. On the other hand, the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 5(a) does not have a surface that slopes downward.

In the diagram shown on the left side of Figure 5 (a), the lower end of the protruding portion 1233 in the protruding direction is in contact with the guide portion 242 of the downstream return rail 24.

As the endless chain 11 travels, the protrusion 1233 shown in FIG. 5(a) is guided by the guide surface 242s of the guide portion 242 of the downstream return rail 24, and the regulating member 123 moves smoothly downward, and the lower end of the return shoe 122 is placed on the sliding portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24, as shown in the right side of FIG. 5(a). Note that a protrusion 1221 for preventing slippage, similar to the protrusion 1221 shown in FIG. 3(a), is provided at the lower corner of the outer side of the pond width direction of the return shoe 122 shown in FIG. 5(a), protruding downward, and faces the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding portion 240 protruding toward the outer side of the pond width direction.

The shape of the downstream return rail 24 has also changed in Figure 5(b). The downstream return rail 24 shown in Figure 5(b) also has a guide portion 242 in addition to a sliding contact portion 240 and an attachment portion 241 that protrude outward in the pond width direction, but the guide portion 242 is inclined from the height position of the sliding contact portion 240. In addition, the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in Figure 5(b) has a contact surface 1233s that is inclined downward. The protruding portion 1233 shown in Figure 5(b) is slightly smaller than the protruding portion 1233 shown in Figure 3(a), but the basic configuration is the same.

In the diagram shown on the left side of FIG. 5(b), the contact surface 1233s of the protrusion 1233 is in surface contact with the guide surface 242s of the downstream return rail 24. That is, the inclination angle of the contact surface 1233s of the protrusion 1233 is the same as the inclination angle of the guide surface 242s of the downstream return rail 24.

As the endless chain 11 travels, the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 5(b) moves smoothly downward due to the inclination of the contact surface 1233s of the protrusion 1233 and the inclination of the guide surface 242s of the downstream return rail 24, and the lower end of the return shoe 122 is placed on the sliding part 240 of the downstream return rail 24 as shown in the right side of FIG. 5(b). In addition, a slip prevention protrusion 1221 is also provided at the lower corner of the return shoe 122 on the outer side of the pond width direction shown in FIG. 5(b), and faces the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding part 240 that protrudes toward the outer side of the pond width direction.

In the modified examples described above, the shape of the downstream return rail 24 was different, but the shape of the upstream return rail 25 may also be the same as the shape of the downstream return rail 24 described here, and the shape of the upstream return rail 25 may also be the same as the shape of the upstream return rail 25 shown in Figure 3.

Next, a sludge scraping device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the sludge scraping device according to the second embodiment, components with the same names as those described in the description of the sludge scraping device according to the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in the description of the sludge scraping device according to the first embodiment.

Figures 6 and 7 are views of the return rail of the second embodiment as seen from above. In other words, they are plan views of the upstream return rail 25 and the downstream return rail 24, respectively. In both Figures 6 and 7, the left-right direction of the figure is the pond width direction.

In both Figures 6(a) and 6(b) and Figures 7(a) and 7(b), a pair of upstream return rails 25 are shown close together on the upper side, and a pair of downstream return rails 24 are shown close together on the lower side. As described above, both the pair of upstream return rails 25 and the pair of downstream return rails 24 are provided on both sides of the sedimentation tank 1 in the width direction, and are originally installed apart, but are shown close together in Figures 6 and 7 due to space constraints. Also, for both the upstream return rails 25 and the downstream return rails 24, the middle part is omitted, with the upper side being the upstream side and the lower side being the downstream side.

Furthermore, the upstream return rail 25 and downstream return rail 24 shown in FIG. 6(a) and the upstream return rail 25 and downstream return rail 24 shown in FIG. 6(b) have an upside-down L-shaped cross section, as in the first embodiment, with the mounting parts 251, 241 facing outward in the pond width direction, and the sliding parts 250, 240 protruding inward in the pond width direction.

In addition, both of the return rails of the upstream return rail 25 and downstream return rail 24 shown in FIG. 7(a) are made by connecting (for example, by welding or bolting) three rail members: upstream rail members 25-1, 24-1, intermediate rail members 25-2, 24-2, and downstream rail members 25-3, 24-3. All three of these rail members (25-1, 25-2, 25-3, 24-1, 24-2, 24-3) have an upside-down L-shaped cross section, with the attachment parts 251, 241 facing outward in the pond width direction, and the sliding parts 250, 240 protruding inward in the pond width direction.

On the other hand, the upstream return rail 25 and the downstream return rail 24 shown in FIG. 7(b) are each formed by bending a single rail member. That is, the mounting parts 251, 241 are located in the center, and the upstream end and downstream end have the sliding parts 250, 240 bent outward in the pond width direction, respectively, and the intermediate part has the sliding parts 250, 240 bent inward in the pond width direction. Note that, like the upstream return rail 25 and the downstream return rail 24 shown in FIG. 7(a), it may be configured by connecting three rail members. That is, it may be configured by connecting an upstream rail member in which the sliding parts 250, 240 are bent outward in the pond width direction, an intermediate rail member in which the sliding parts 250, 240 are bent inward in the pond width direction, and a downstream rail member in which the sliding parts 250, 240 are bent outward in the pond width direction.

In the first embodiment, the sliding contact parts 240, 250 are the same regardless of the position (upstream end, middle part, downstream end) for both the downstream return rail 24 and the upstream return rail 25. On the other hand, in the downstream return rail 24 and the upstream return rail 25 in Figures 6(a) and 6(b), notches and evacuation spaces are provided at the upstream end and downstream end of the sliding contact parts 240, 250, respectively, and are different depending on the position.

That is, the sliding contact portion 250 of each of the pair of upstream return rails 25 shown in the upper part of Figures 6(a) and 6(b) has notches 25c1 and 25c2 at the upstream end and downstream end. The notch 25c1 shown in Figure 6(a) is a rectangular cutout of the inner part in the pond width direction, and the notch 25c2 shown in Figure 6(b) is a triangular cutout of the inner part in the pond width direction. The space provided by the cutout can also be said to be a space provided by retreating from the inside to the outside in the pond width direction. Hereinafter, the space provided by the cutout and the space provided by retreating will be simply referred to as space. The sliding contact portion 250 of each of the pair of upstream return rails 25 shown in the upper part of Figures 6(a) and 6(b) has a space S provided at the inner part in the pond width direction of the upstream end and the inner part in the pond width direction of the downstream end.

Also, the sliding contact portion 240 of each of the pair of downstream return rails 24 shown in the lower part of Figures 6(a) and 6(b) has notches 24c1 and 24c2 at the upstream end and downstream end. The notch 24c1 shown in Figure 6(a) is also a rectangular cutout of the inner part in the pond width direction, and the notch 24c2 shown in Figure 6(b) is also a triangular cutout of the inner part in the pond width direction. Here again, the space provided by the cutout can be said to be a space provided by retreating from the inner side to the outer side in the pond width direction, and the sliding contact portion 240 of each of the pair of downstream return rails 24 shown in the lower part of Figures 6(a) and 6(b) has a space S' at the inner part in the pond width direction of the upstream end and the inner part in the pond width direction of the downstream end.

In addition, the upstream return rail 25 and downstream return rail 24 shown in Figure 7 (a) are arranged such that the upstream rail members 25-1, 24-1 and the downstream rail members 25-3, 24-3 are shifted outward in the pond width direction relative to the intermediate rail members 25-2, 24-2, and the space created inside the upstream rail members 25-1, 24-1 can be said to be a space created by retracting the upstream rail members 25-1, 24-1 outward in the pond width direction, and the space created inside the downstream rail members 25-3, 24-3 can be said to be a space created by retracting the downstream rail members 25-3, 24-3 outward in the pond width direction. A space S is provided at the inner portion of the upstream end of the upstream return rail 25 shown in FIG. 7(a) in the direction of the pond width and at the inner portion of the downstream end of the upstream return rail 25 shown in FIG. 7(a), and a space S' is provided at the inner portion of the upstream end of the downstream return rail 24 shown in FIG. 7(a) in the direction of the pond width and at the inner portion of the downstream end of the downstream return rail 24 shown in FIG.

Furthermore, the upstream end and downstream end of the sliding contact portion 250, 240 of the upstream return rail 25 and downstream return rail 24 shown in FIG. 7(b) are folded outward in the pond width direction, so that they are retreated outward in the pond width direction. The space created inside the upstream end can be said to be a space created by retreating the upstream end outward in the pond width direction, and the space created inside the downstream end can be said to be a space created by retreating the downstream end outward in the pond width direction. A space S is provided at the inner part of the upstream end of the upstream return rail 25 shown in FIG. 7(b) and the inner part of the downstream end in the pond width direction, and a space S' is provided at the inner part of the upstream end of the downstream return rail 24 shown in FIG. 7(b) and the inner part of the downstream end in the pond width direction.

Whether it is the space S in the upstream return rail 25 in Fig. 6(a) and Fig. 6(b) and the upstream return rail 25 in Fig. 7(a) and Fig. 7(b), or the space S' in the downstream return rail 24 in Fig. 6(a) and Fig. 6(b) and the downstream return rail 24 in Fig. 7(a) and Fig. 7(b), it is a space to avoid interference with the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123. That is, the upstream space S in the upstream return rail 25 is a space near the area through which the endless chain 11 passes by the regulating member 123 of the scraping member 12 attached to the slack portion 11l-2 running on the water surface track Tw side of the upstream track Tu of the endless chain 11. In the example shown in Fig. 6, since there is no sliding contact portion 250 in this space S, the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 can use this space S to enter below the sliding contact portion 250. In the example shown in FIG. 7B, since there is no sliding portion 250 in the space S, the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 can use this space S to get in below the sliding portion 250 in the middle part. In the example shown in FIG. 7A, since there is no rail member itself, the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 can use this space S to get in below the sliding portion 250 in the intermediate rail member 25-2. In addition, the upstream space S' in the downstream return rail 24 is a space near the area through which the regulating member 123 of the scraping member 12 attached to the slack portion 11l-2 of the endless chain 11 passes as the endless chain 11 travels. In the example shown in FIG. 6, since there is no sliding portion 240 in the space S', the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 can use this space S' to get in below the sliding portion 240. In the example shown in FIG. 7(b), since there is no sliding contact portion 240 in this space S', the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 can use this space S' to get below the sliding contact portion 250 in the middle portion. In the example shown in FIG. 7(a), since there is no rail member itself, the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 can use this space S' to get below the sliding contact portion 240 in the intermediate rail member 24-2.

Here, in both Figs. 6(a) and 6(b) and Figs. 7(a) and 7(b), when comparing the upstream space S in the upstream return rail 25 with the upstream space S' in the downstream return rail 24, the latter is a longer space than the former. That is, in the example shown in Fig. 6, the notch width (retraction width) is the same, but the notch length (retraction length) is longer in the downstream return rail 24 than in the upstream return rail 25. Also, in the example shown in Fig. 7(a), the length of the upstream rail members 25-1, 24-1 and the length of the downstream rail members 25-3, 24-3 are longer in the downstream return rail 24 than in the upstream return rail 25. Furthermore, in the example shown in Fig. 7(b), the length of the portion bent outward in the pond width direction (upstream end and downstream end) is longer in the downstream return rail 24 than in the upstream return rail 25. As described above, the slack portion 11l-2 of the endless chain 11 is slack, so that the track is unstable, and the downstream return rail 24 has a long space to avoid interference with the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123. The upstream space S' in the downstream return rail 24 may be wider than the upstream space S in the upstream return rail 25. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the notch width (retraction width) may also be wider in the downstream return rail 24 than in the upstream return rail 25. In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 7(a), the mounting positions of the upstream rail members 25-1 and 24-1 in the downstream return rail 24 may be further outward in the pond width direction than in the upstream return rail 25. Furthermore, in the example shown in FIG. 7(b), the downstream return rail 24 and the upstream return rail 25 have the same bending width, but the downstream return rail 24 may have a bending width wider in the pond width direction bending inward than in the pond width direction bending outward. In other words, the position of the attachment portion 241 may be shifted outward in the pond width direction from the center position.

In addition, whether it is the upstream return rail 25 in FIG. 6(a) and FIG. 6(b) and the upstream return rail 25 in FIG. 7(a) and FIG. 6(b) or the downstream return rail 24 in FIG. 6(a) and FIG. 6(b) and the downstream return rail 24 in FIG. 7(a) and FIG. 7(b), the downstream space S, S' is a space for preventing interference when the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 exits the return rail, or for preventing interference with the protrusion 1233 when the endless chain 11 runs in reverse. In addition, whether it is the upstream return rail 25 or the downstream return rail 24, the downstream space S, S' has the same length as the upstream space S, S', but the downstream space S, S' may be shorter than the upstream space S, S'. The width is also the same, but the downstream space S, S' may be narrower than the upstream space S, S'.

It is preferable to make contact with the protrusion 1233 easier to avoid at the downstream end of the downstream return rail 24 than at the downstream end of the upstream return rail 25, and it is preferable to make contact with the upstream end of the upstream return rail 25 easier to avoid than the downstream end of the downstream return rail 24, and it is preferable to make contact with the upstream end of the downstream return rail 24 easier to avoid than the upstream end of the upstream return rail 25.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing the stages in which the protruding portion of the regulating member approaches the upstream end portion of the downstream return rail of the second embodiment from diagonally above, until it penetrates below the sliding contact portion of the downstream return rail. In Figure 8, the left-right direction of the figure corresponds to the pond width direction of the sedimentation pond 1, and only both ends in the pond width direction are shown, with the pond width direction intermediate portion of the scraper member 12 being omitted. The endless chain 11 is also omitted from the illustration.

Figure 8 (a) is a view showing from the downstream side how the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 approaches the upstream end portion of the downstream return rail 24 shown in Figure 6 (a) from diagonally above. The regulating member 123 in the second embodiment is the same as the regulating member 123 in the first embodiment, and has a base portion 1231, an arm portion 1232, and a protrusion 1233. The arm portion 1232 is a portion that extends downward, and the protrusion 1233 is bent 90 degrees from the arm portion 1232 and protrudes outward in the pond width direction. The scraper member 12 shown in Figure 8 (a) has shifted to one end side in the pond width direction (left side in Figure 8). Therefore, the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 on one end side attached to the scraper member 12 approaches the upstream side of the sliding contact portion 240 on the downstream return rail 24. A notch 24c1 is provided at the upstream end of the sliding contact portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24 shown in FIG. 6(a), and the portion where the notch 24c1 is provided is a space S' that opens from the inside to the outside in the pond width direction. Therefore, the approaching protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 on one end side may be able to use this space S' to get below the sliding contact portion 240. In other words, it may be possible to prevent the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 from coming into contact with the downstream return rail 24.

In the example shown in Figure 8, the deviation of the scraper member 12 in the pond width direction is quite large, and even though a space S' is provided, the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 comes into contact with the downstream return rail 24 as shown in Figure 8(b). However, since the contact surface 1233s of the protrusion 1233 is a surface that gradually slopes downward toward the other end in the pond width direction, the protrusion 1233 is forced downward in accordance with the slope of the contact surface 1233s as the endless chain 11 runs. This is the same as what was explained in the first embodiment using Figure 3(c).

In Figure 8(c), the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 is below the sliding contact portion 240, and the lower end of the return shoe 122 is placed on the sliding contact portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24. In addition, the deviation of the scraper member 12 toward one end in the pond width direction is eliminated, and the scraper member 12 is in the correct position. The protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in Figure 8(c) has not yet exceeded the notch 24c1 of the downstream return rail 24 shown at the bottom of Figure 6(a), and is in the position of arrow c shown in Figure 6(a).

As the endless chain 11 continues to run, the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 8(c) eventually passes over the notch 24c1 of the downstream return rail 24 and reaches below the sliding contact portion 240 where no space S' is provided. The protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 8(d) is at the position indicated by the arrow d in FIG. 6(a). The protruding tip of the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 8(d) is located directly below the protruding tip of the sliding contact portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24.

When sloshing occurs due to an earthquake and the underwater track portion 11l-1 (see Figures 1 and 4) swings in the pond width direction, the protruding tip 1233t of the protruding portion 1233 abuts against the base portion of the sliding portion 240 that contacts the mounting portion 241 in the downstream return rail 24, preventing the underwater track portion 11l-1 from swinging further in the pond width direction. However, when sloshing occurs due to an earthquake and the underwater track portion 11l-1 swings upward, the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in Figure 8(c) does not abut anywhere on the downstream return rail 24 and is unable to prevent the upward swing. On the other hand, even if sloshing occurs due to an earthquake and the underwater track portion 11l-1 swings upward, the protruding tip of the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 8(d) abuts against the protruding tip of the sliding portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24 from below, preventing the underwater track portion 11l-1 from swinging upward any further. The protruding tip of the protruding portion 1233 shown in FIG. 8(d) corresponds to an example of an upward regulating portion. Also, when the underwater track portion 11l-1 swings in the pond width direction, the protruding tip 1233t of the protruding portion 1233 shown in FIG. 8(d) abuts against the downstream return rail 24, and also functions as a lateral regulating portion.

The relationship between the downstream return rail 24 and the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 in the second embodiment has been described above, but in this second embodiment, the relationship between the upstream return rail 25 and the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 is also the same.

Although it depends on the degree of displacement of the scraper member 12 in the pond width direction, in most cases the space S' can prevent the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 from contacting the downstream return rail 24. For this reason, the space S' may be provided and the inclined contact surface 1233s (see FIG. 8(b)) of the protruding portion 1233 may be omitted. For example, the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 5(a) may be used.

Figure 9 shows a modified example of the second embodiment. As with Figure 8, the left-right direction of Figure 9 corresponds to the width of the sedimentation basin 1, and only both ends in the width direction of the basin are shown, with the middle portion of the scraper member 12 in the width direction of the basin omitted. The endless chain 11 is also omitted.

Even in the modified example of the second embodiment, the sliding contact portion 240 of each of the pair of downstream return rails 24 has a notch 24c1 at the upstream end and downstream end. On the other hand, the regulating member 123 attached to the scraper member 12 is different from the regulating member 123 attached to the scraper member 12 shown in FIG. 8. That is, the arm portion 1232 in the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 9 is a portion that extends downward from the outer side of the base portion 1231 in the pond width direction. The protruding portion 1233 bends 90 degrees from the tip of the arm portion 1232 and protrudes toward the inside in the pond width direction.

The protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 9(a) is located at the position of the arrow d shown in FIG. 6(a), and the protruding tip of this protruding portion 1233 is located directly below the protruding tip of the sliding contact portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24.

Figure 9(b) shows a state in which sloshing occurs due to an earthquake, causing the underwater track portion 11l-1 (see Figures 1 and 4) to swing to one end of the pond width (left side in Figure 9). The arm portion 1232 located on the outer side in the pond width direction of the regulating member 123 at the other end of the pond width direction (right side in Figure 9) shown in Figure 9(b) abuts against the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding portion 240 on the downstream return rail 24 at the other end of the pond width direction, preventing the underwater track portion 11l-1 from swinging any further toward one end of the pond width direction.

Figure 9(c) shows the state when sloshing occurs due to an earthquake, and the underwater track portion 11l-1 now swings to the other end of the pond width direction (the right side in Figure 9). The arm portion 1232 located on the outer side in the pond width direction of the regulating member 123 at one end of the pond width direction (the left side in Figure 9) shown in Figure 9(c) abuts against the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24 at one end of the pond width direction, preventing the underwater track portion 11l-1 from swinging any further toward the other end of the pond width direction.

Next, a sludge scraping device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of the third embodiment of the sludge scraping device, components with the same names as those described in the description of the sludge scraping device according to the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in the description of the sludge scraping device according to the first embodiment.

Figure 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the downstream return rail 24 and the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 in the sludge scraping device of the third embodiment. This Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical line passing through the center of the driven sprocket 16, and the left-right direction of the figure corresponds to the width direction of the sedimentation basin 1.

In the sludge scraping device of the third embodiment, the relationship between the upstream return rail 25 and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 is the same as in the sludge scraping device of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3(a). In FIG. 10, the upstream return rail 25 shown in FIG. 3(a) is indicated by a dashed line for reference.

On the other hand, the downstream return rail 24 is installed outside the upstream return rail 25 in the pond width direction. In FIG. 10, the downstream return rail 24 is shown in gray. This downstream return rail 24 has the same shape as the upstream return rail 25, and its cross-sectional shape is an upside-down L-shape, and is composed of a sliding contact portion 240 and a mounting portion 241 at the lower portion. In this third embodiment, the distance in the pond width direction between the downstream return rail 24 and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 in the scraper member 12 sliding on the upstream return rail 25 is longer than the distance in the pond width direction between the upstream return rail 25 and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 in the scraper member 12 sliding on the upstream return rail 25. As described above, since the slack portion 11l-2 of the endless chain 11 is slack, the track is unstable, and the scraper member 12 attached to the slack portion 11l-2 is likely to shift in the pond width direction. For this reason, the downstream return rail 24 has a longer gap in the pond width direction from the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 than the upstream return rail 25, making it easier to avoid contact with the protruding portion 1233. If the downstream return rail 24 is installed outside the upstream return rail 25 in the pond width direction, it may not be necessary to provide the notches 24c1 and 24c2 described using FIG. 6 on the downstream return rail 24. However, the further outward the downstream return rail 24 is installed in the pond width direction, the more difficult it becomes to regulate the upward direction with the regulating member 123. Therefore, it may be preferable to install the downstream return rail 24 somewhat outside in the pond width direction while providing a wide portion in the sliding contact portion 240.

In addition, by offsetting the installation locations of the downstream return rail 24 and the upstream return rail 25 in the pond width direction, the sliding contact points of the return shoe 122 are different, and wear on the return shoe 122 can be dispersed.

The further outward the downstream return rail 24 is located in the pond width direction, the easier it is to prevent the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 from coming into contact with the downstream return rail 24. Therefore, the downstream return rail 24 may be located outward in the pond width direction, and the inclined contact surface 1233s of the protruding portion 1233 may be omitted. For example, the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 5(a) may be used.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the sludge scraping device of the present invention will be described. In the description of the fourth embodiment of the sludge scraping device, components with the same names as those described in the description of the sludge scraping device of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals as those used in the description of the sludge scraping device of the first embodiment.

Figure 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the downstream return rail 24 and the protrusion 1233 of the regulating member 123 in the sludge scraping device of the fourth embodiment. Like Figure 10, Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical line passing through the center of the driven sprocket 16, and the left-right direction of the figure corresponds to the width direction of the sedimentation basin 1.

The relationship between the upstream return rail 25 and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 in the sludge scraping device of the fourth embodiment is the same as that in the sludge scraping device of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3(a). In FIG. 11, the upstream return rail 25 shown in FIG. 3(a) is also shown by a dashed line for reference. The upstream return rail 25 has the protruding tip 2501 of the sliding portion 250 facing inward in the pond width direction.

On the other hand, the downstream return rail 24 has the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding portion 240 facing outward in the pond width direction. In Figure 11, the downstream return rail 24 is also shown in grey. This downstream return rail 24 has the same shape as the upstream return rail 25, and its cross-sectional shape is an upside-down L-shape, and is made up of a sliding portion 240 and a mounting portion 241 at the lower part. However, as mentioned above, the protruding direction of the sliding portion 240 is different. This is because the mounting directions of the upstream return rail 25 and the downstream return rail 24 are opposite. In other words, the upstream return rail 25 has a protruding portion (sliding portion 250) on the side where the regulating member 123 of the scraper member 12 attached to the water surface track portion 11w (see Figures 1 and 2) is provided, whereas the downstream return rail 24 does not have a protruding portion on the side where the regulating member 123 of the scraper member 12 attached to the underwater track portion 11l-1 (see Figures 1 and 4) is provided, and the downstream return rail 24 has a protruding portion (sliding portion 240) on the opposite side to the side where the regulating member 123 of the scraper member 12 attached to the underwater track portion 11l-1 is provided. As a result, the distance in the pond width direction between the downstream return rail 24 and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 12 of the scraper 12 sliding on the downstream return rail 24 is longer than the distance in the pond width direction between the upstream return rail 25 and the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 of the scraper 12 sliding on the upstream return rail 25. Even in the sludge scraper device of the fourth embodiment, the downstream return rail 24 is less likely to interfere with the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 than the upstream return rail 25. As described above, since the slack portion 11l-2 of the endless chain 11 is slack, the track is unstable, and the scraper 12 attached to the slack portion 11l-2 is likely to shift in the pond width direction. For this reason, the distance between the downstream return rail 24 and the protruding tip 1233t of the protruding portion 1233 is longer than that of the upstream return rail 25, making it easier to avoid contact with the protruding portion 1233.

In addition, by orienting the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding contact portion 240 of the downstream return rail 24 outward in the pond width direction, it becomes easier to prevent the protruding portion 1233 of the regulating member 123 from coming into contact with the downstream return rail 24. Therefore, the downstream return rail 24 may be arranged with the protruding tip 2401 of the sliding contact portion 240 facing outward in the pond width direction, and the inclined contact surface 1233s of the protruding portion 1233 may be omitted. For example, the regulating member 123 shown in FIG. 5(a) may be used.

In addition, whether it is the downstream return rail or the upstream return rail, it may have an inverted L-shaped cross section, a T-shaped cross section, a C-shaped cross section, or a U-shaped cross section.

Furthermore, in the case of an endless chain that omits the intermediate sprocket 15, eliminates the water surface track Tw, and runs on an approximately triangular orbit that connects the scraping track Tk, the upstream track Tu which is the rising track, and the inclined track that connects the drive sprocket 14 and sprocket 16, the upstream return rail 25 becomes unnecessary and the downstream return rail 24 exists, but the technology described here can also be applied to a sludge scraping device that has an endless chain that runs on such an approximately triangular orbit.

Finally, we will explain modified examples of the restricting member.

Figure 12 shows a modified example of the regulating member. Like Figure 3(a), Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along a vertical line passing through the center of the drive sprocket 14, and the left-right direction in the figure corresponds to the width direction of the sedimentation basin 1. Note that, like Figure 3(a), the drive chain 211 (see Figure 1) that transmits rotational force to the drive sprocket 14 is omitted from Figure 12.

The conventional regulating member 123 was attached to the collecting member 12 and was located below the water surface WL. The regulating member 123 also had a protrusion 1233. On the other hand, the regulating member 19 shown in FIG. 12 is not attached to the collecting member 12, but is fixedly positioned above the water surface WL. In other words, it is provided near the upper corner of the collecting member 12. A return shoe 122 is attached to the collecting member 12.

The regulating member 19 shown in FIG. 12 has an upside-down L-shaped cross section, similar in shape to the upstream return rail 25, and extends in the water flow direction in the same way as the upstream return rail 25. The regulating member 19 is attached to mounting members (not shown) fixed to each of the pair of side walls 1c in multiple locations, but these mounting members can be shorter in length in the pond width direction than the upstream base 257. In other words, the mounting members only need to extend to the vicinity of the upper corners of the collecting member 12.

The regulating member 19 shown in FIG. 12 has a lateral regulating portion 191 and an upward regulating portion 192. When sloshing occurs due to an earthquake and the water surface track portion 11w (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) swings in the pond width direction, the vertical edge 12a of the scraper member 12 abuts against the lateral regulating portion 191, preventing the water surface track portion 11w from swinging further in the pond width direction. Also, when sloshing occurs due to an earthquake and the water surface track portion 11w swings upward, the pond width edge 12b of the scraper member 12 abuts against the upward regulating portion 192, preventing the water surface track portion 11w from swinging further upward.

As a measure to prevent the underwater track section 11l-1 from shaking due to sloshing caused by an earthquake, a restricting member may be extended near the upper corner of the scraping member 12 attached to the underwater track section 11l-1, similar to the downstream return rail 24. In this case, the restricting member is fixedly positioned underwater.

The sludge scraping device provided with the regulating member 19 of the modified example described above can be summarized as follows:
"A sludge scraper is provided in a sedimentation tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side;
a rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels;
and a regulating member that, when the endless chain sways, contacts the regulating member that slides on the first rail member, thereby regulating the swaying of the endless chain.
It becomes.

This sludge scraping device can reliably prevent the endless chain from coming off the sprocket even in the event of an earthquake.

Here, when the endless chain sways, the regulating member comes into contact with the outer periphery of the scraping member that slides along the rail member, thereby regulating the swaying of the endless chain. The shape of the outer periphery may be protruding or recessed.

The regulating member has a portion that abuts against the edge of the scraper member in the width direction of the pond, and a portion that abuts against the edge of the scraper plate in the up-down direction. In other words, it has a lateral regulating portion that regulates the water surface track portion from swinging in the width direction of the pond, and an upward regulating portion that regulates the water surface track portion from swinging upward.

In addition, the regulating member is disposed near the upper corner of the scraping member that slides along the rail member, and when the endless chain sways, it comes into contact with the upper corner of the scraping member, thereby regulating the swing of the endless chain.

The scraping member has a rectangular scraping surface, but the upper corners may be rounded instead of being square.

The regulating member is attached to the side wall located at the end in the width direction of the pond via an attachment member. The attachment member only needs to extend from the side wall to the vicinity of the upper corner of the scraper plate on which the rail member slides, and as described above, the attachment member can be made shorter.

The rail member extends on the water surface side in the direction of the water flow, and a scraper plate attached to the water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface side is placed on the rail member and slides on the scraper plate. The regulating member is disposed near the upper corner of the scraper member attached to the water surface track portion, and when the water surface track portion vibrates, it abuts against the upper corner of the scraper member, regulating the vibration of the water surface track portion.

In addition, in the previous description,
"A sludge scraper is provided in a sedimentation tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
a plurality of the scraper members are attached at intervals, a scraper track extending along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track rising from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track extending on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction in which the water flows but which is shorter than the scraper track, and an endless chain running on a circular track connecting the water surface track and the downstream track connecting the scraper track;
a first rail member on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides; the first rail member is disposed on and along the scraper track, the first rail member being attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track;
a second rail member extending in the water flow direction on the water surface side, on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides and which is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track;
The scraping member has a regulating member that regulates the oscillation of the endless chain,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the underwater track portion,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the water surface track portion,
The sludge scraping device is characterized in that the regulating member has a contact surface that may come into contact with the second rail member from above as the endless chain travels, and the contact surface is inclined downward.
He explained:

Also,
"A sludge scraper is provided in a sedimentation tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
a plurality of the scraper members are attached at intervals, a scraper track extending along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track rising from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track extending on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction in which the water flows but which is shorter than the scraper track, and an endless chain running on a circular track connecting the water surface track and the downstream track connecting the scraper track;
a first rail member on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides; the first rail member is disposed on and along the scraper track, the first rail member being attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track;
a second rail member extending in the water flow direction on the water surface side, on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides and which is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track;
The scraping member has a regulating member that regulates the oscillation of the endless chain,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the underwater track portion,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the water surface track portion,
The first rail member is a sludge collector that is provided with a space near an area through which the endless chain passes as it travels, for the regulating member of the collector member that is attached to a portion of the endless chain that travels on the water surface track side of the downstream track.
He also explained:

The space may be created by cutting out or by retracting, and this space prevents the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the downstream track from interfering with the first rail member.

The second rail member may have a space provided near the area through which the endless chain passes as it travels, for the regulating member of the scraper member attached to the portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the upstream track. The space may be provided by cutting out or by retracting, and this space prevents the regulating member of the scraper member attached to the portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the upstream track from interfering with the second rail member.

In addition,
"A sludge scraper is provided in a sedimentation tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
a collecting track to which a plurality of the collecting members are attached at intervals and which extends along the bottom of the pond, a rising track which rises from the collecting track toward the water surface, and an inclined track which extends from the water surface to the collecting track; and an endless chain which runs on a circulating track which is connected to the collecting track;
a first rail member that is installed on and along the scraper track, and on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides; the scraper member is attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the inclined track,
The scraping member has a regulating member that regulates the oscillation of the endless chain,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the underwater track portion,
The first rail member is a sludge collector that is provided with a space near an area through which the endless chain passes as it travels, for the regulating member of the collector member that is attached to the portion of the endless chain that travels on the water surface side of the inclined track.
may be also possible.

Also,
"A sludge scraper is provided in a sedimentation tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
a plurality of the scraper members are attached at intervals, a scraper track extending along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track rising from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track extending on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction in which the water flows but which is shorter than the scraper track, and an endless chain running on a circular track connecting the water surface track and the downstream track connecting the scraper track;
a first rail member on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides; the first rail member is disposed on and along the scraper track, the first rail member being attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track;
a second rail member extending in the water flow direction on the water surface side, on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides and which is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track;
The scraping member has a regulating member that regulates the oscillation of the endless chain,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the underwater track portion,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the water surface track portion,
The sludge scraping device is characterized in that the first rail member is installed on the outer side of the second rail member in the width direction of the settling basin.
He also explained:

Also,
"A sludge scraper is provided in a sedimentation tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
a plurality of the scraper members are attached at intervals, a scraper track extending along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track rising from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track extending on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction in which the water flows but which is shorter than the scraper track, and an endless chain running on a circular track connecting the water surface track and the downstream track connecting the scraper track;
a first rail member on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides; the first rail member is disposed on and along the scraper track, the first rail member being attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track;
a second rail member extending in the water flow direction on the water surface side, on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides and which is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track;
The scraping member has a regulating member that regulates the oscillation of the endless chain,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the underwater track portion,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the water surface track portion,
A sludge scraping device characterized in that the distance between the first rail member and the regulating member for the scraping member sliding on the first rail member is longer than the distance between the second rail member and the regulating member for the scraping member sliding on the second rail member.
He also explained:

The scraping member may extend in the width direction of the settling tank, and the first rail member may be installed on both sides of the settling tank in the width direction. The second rail member may also be installed on both sides of the settling tank in the width direction.

The second rail member may have a protruding portion on the side of the scraper member attached to the water surface track portion where the regulating member is provided, whereas the first rail member may not have a protruding portion on the side of the scraper member attached to the underwater track portion where the regulating member is provided. Furthermore, the first rail member may have a protruding portion on the side opposite to the side of the scraper member attached to the underwater track portion where the regulating member is provided.

The first rail member and the second rail member may be rail members of the same shape but mounted in opposite directions, such that the first rail member is less likely to interfere with the restricting member than the second rail member.

Also,
A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side;
a first rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels,
the scraping member has a regulating member that comes into contact with the first rail member when the endless chain sways, and regulates the swaying of the endless chain,
the regulating member has a contact surface that may come into contact with the first rail member from above as the endless chain travels therethrough, and the contact surface is inclined downward;
the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track,
the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member;
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the underwater track portion,
The first rail member is characterized in that the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the downstream track has a space provided near the area through which the endless chain passes as it runs.

Also,
A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side;
a first rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels,
the scraping member has a regulating member that comes into contact with the first rail member when the endless chain sways, and regulates the swaying of the endless chain,
the regulating member has a contact surface that may come into contact with the first rail member from above as the endless chain travels therethrough, and the contact surface is inclined downward;
the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track,
the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member;
The endless chain further includes a second rail member that is installed on the water surface side and on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides. The scraper member is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track.
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the underwater track portion,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the water surface track portion,
The first rail member is characterized in that it is installed on the outer side in the width direction of the sedimentation tank than the second rail member.

Also,
A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side;
a first rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels,
the scraping member has a regulating member that comes into contact with the first rail member when the endless chain sways, and regulates the swaying of the endless chain,
the regulating member has a contact surface that may come into contact with the first rail member from above as the endless chain travels therethrough, and the contact surface is inclined downward;
the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track,
the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member;
The endless chain further includes a second rail member that is installed on the water surface side and on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides. The scraper member is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track.
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the underwater track portion,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the water surface track portion,
The present invention is characterized in that the distance between the first rail member and the regulating member for the scraping member sliding on the first rail member is longer than the distance between the second rail member and the regulating member for the scraping member sliding on the second rail member.

Also,
A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side;
a first rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels,
the scraping member has a regulating member that comes into contact with the first rail member when the endless chain sways, and regulates the swaying of the endless chain,
the first rail member is provided with a guide surface that guides the regulating member downward when the regulating member comes into contact with the first rail member from above as the endless chain travels,
the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track,
the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member;
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the underwater track portion,
The first rail member is characterized in that a space is provided near the area through which the endless chain passes as it travels, for the regulating member of the collector member attached to the portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the downstream track.

Also,
A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side;
a first rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels,
the scraping member has a regulating member that comes into contact with the first rail member when the endless chain sways, and regulates the swaying of the endless chain,
the first rail member is provided with a guide surface that guides the regulating member downward when the regulating member comes into contact with the first rail member from above as the endless chain travels,
the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track,
the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member;
The endless chain further includes a second rail member that is installed on the water surface side and on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides. The scraper member is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track.
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the underwater track portion,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the water surface track portion,
The first rail member is characterized in that it is installed on the outer side in the width direction of the sedimentation tank than the second rail member.

Also,
A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side;
a first rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels,
the scraping member has a regulating member that comes into contact with the first rail member when the endless chain sways, and regulates the swaying of the endless chain,
the first rail member is provided with a guide surface that guides the regulating member downward when the regulating member comes into contact with the first rail member from above as the endless chain travels;
the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track,
the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member;
The endless chain further includes a second rail member that is installed on the water surface side and on which a scraper member is placed and which is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track, and on which the scraper member slides.
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the underwater track portion,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the water surface track portion,
The present invention is characterized in that the distance between the first rail member and the regulating member for the scraping member sliding on the first rail member is longer than the distance between the second rail member and the regulating member for the scraping member sliding on the second rail member.

Also,
A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side;
a first rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels,
the scraping member has a regulating member that comes into contact with the first rail member when the endless chain sways, and regulates the swaying of the endless chain,
The regulating member has a contact surface that may come into contact with the first rail member from above as the endless chain travels, and the contact surface is inclined downward.

The first rail member may be installed on the water surface side or on the bottom side of the pond.

The contact surface may be an inclined surface that gradually slopes downward in the width direction of the settling tank.

The scraping member may extend in the width direction of the settling tank, and the first rail member may be installed on each side of the settling tank in the width direction.

According to the sludge scraping device, when the regulating member comes into contact with the first rail member from above, the regulating member moves smoothly downward following the inclination of the contact surface in accordance with the movement of the endless chain, thereby preventing the movement of the endless chain from being disrupted.

Also,
the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track,
the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member;
The endless chain further includes a second rail member that is installed on the water surface side and on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides. The scraper member is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track.
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the underwater track portion,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the water surface track portion,
The contact surface may be such that, as the endless chain travels, it may also come into contact with the second rail member from above.

The second rail members may be installed on both sides of the sedimentation tank in the width direction (hereinafter the same).

A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side;
a first rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, on which the collecting member is placed and on which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels,
the scraping member has a regulating member that comes into contact with the first rail member when the endless chain sways, and regulates the swaying of the endless chain,
The first rail member is characterized in that it is provided with a guide surface that guides the regulating member downward when the regulating member comes into contact with the first rail member from above as the endless chain travels.

The first rail member may be installed on the water surface side or on the bottom side of the pond.

The guide surface may be an inclined surface that gradually slopes downward in the direction of the width of the settling tank.

The scraping member may extend in the width direction of the settling tank, and the first rail member may be installed on each side of the settling tank in the width direction.

According to the sludge scraping device, when the regulating member comes into contact with the first rail member from above, the regulating member is smoothly guided downward by the guide surface in accordance with the movement of the endless chain, thereby preventing the movement of the endless chain from being disrupted.

the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track,
the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member;
The endless chain further includes a second rail member that is installed on the water surface side and on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides. The scraper member is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track.
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the underwater track portion,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the water surface track portion,
The second rail member may also be provided with a guide surface that guides the regulating member downward when the regulating member comes into contact with the second rail member from above as the endless chain travels.

the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track,
the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member;
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the underwater track portion,
The first rail member may be such that a space is provided near the area through which the endless chain passes as it travels, the regulating member of the scraper member attached to the portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the downstream track.

The space may be created by cutting out or by retracting, and this space prevents the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the downstream track from interfering with the first rail member.

In addition, in an embodiment in which a second rail member is provided on the water surface side and on which a scraper member attached to the water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track is placed and the scraper member slides, the second rail member may have a space provided in the vicinity of an area through which the endless chain passes as it runs, the regulating member of the scraper member attached to the portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the upstream track. The space referred to here may be a space provided by cutting out or by retracting, and this space prevents the regulating member of the scraper member attached to the portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track side of the upstream track from interfering with the second rail member.

Also,
the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track,
the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member;
The endless chain further includes a second rail member that is installed on the water surface side and on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides. The scraper member is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track.
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the underwater track portion,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the water surface track portion,
The first rail member may be installed on the outer side in a width direction of the settling basin than the second rail member.

Also,
the endless chain travels on a circular track that is connected to a scraper track that extends along the bottom of the pond, an upstream track that rises from the scraper track toward the water surface, a water surface track that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction but is shorter than the scraper track, and a downstream track that connects the water surface track and the scraper track,
the first rail member is installed on and along the scraper track, and a scraper member attached to an underwater track portion of the endless chain that runs on the scraper track side of the downstream track is placed on the first rail member and slides against the scraper member;
The endless chain further includes a second rail member that is installed on the water surface side and on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides. The scraper member is attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that runs on the water surface track.
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the underwater track portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the underwater track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the underwater track portion,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the water surface track portion,
In an embodiment, the distance between the first rail member and the regulating member of the scraping member sliding on the first rail member is longer than the distance between the second rail member and the regulating member of the scraping member sliding on the second rail member.

The second rail member may have a protruding portion on the side of the scraper member attached to the water surface track portion where the regulating member is provided, whereas the first rail member may not have a protruding portion on the side of the scraper member attached to the underwater track portion where the regulating member is provided. Furthermore, the first rail member may have a protruding portion on the side opposite to the side of the scraper member attached to the underwater track portion where the regulating member is provided.

The first rail member and the second rail member may be rail members of the same shape but mounted in opposite directions, such that the first rail member is less likely to interfere with the restricting member than the second rail member.

Also,
The regulating member may have a lateral regulating portion that regulates the endless chain from swinging in a width direction of the settling basin,
The regulating member may have an upward regulating portion that regulates the endless chain from swinging upward.

Also,
A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side;
a rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, the rail member having a sliding contact portion on which the collecting member is placed and against which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels,
The scraping member has a protruding portion protruding outward in a width direction of the settling basin, and has a regulating member that abuts against the rail member when the endless chain sways, thereby regulating the sway of the endless chain,
the rail member includes a second rail member having a second sliding contact portion on which a scraper member is placed and on which the scraper member slides, the second rail member being attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the water surface track portion,
The second rail member has a second space provided by retracting the second rail member from the inside to the outside in the pond width direction in the vicinity of a region through which the protrusion passes as the endless chain travels,
The sludge scraping device may be characterized in that the protrusion portion extends from above the second rail member to below the second sliding contact portion by utilizing the second space.

Also,
the rail member further includes a first rail member having a first sliding contact portion on which a scraping member is placed and on which the scraping member is slid, the first sliding contact portion being attached to a slack portion of the endless chain that is curved downward and slack,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the slack portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the slack portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the slack portion,
The first rail member has a first space provided by retracting the first rail member from the inside to the outside in the pond width direction in the vicinity of a region through which the protrusion passes as the endless chain travels,
The protruding portion may be configured to enter from above the first rail member to below the first sliding contact portion by utilizing the first space.

In addition,
A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side;
a rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, the rail member having a sliding contact portion on which the collecting member is placed and against which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels,
The scraping member has a protruding portion protruding outward in a width direction of the settling basin, and has a regulating member that abuts against the rail member when the endless chain sways, thereby regulating the sway of the endless chain,
The rail member has a space provided by retracting from the inside to the outside in the pond width direction in the vicinity of a region through which the protrusion passes as the endless chain travels,
The sludge scraping device may be characterized in that the protrusion portion enters from above the rail member to below the sliding contact portion by utilizing the space.

Although several embodiments and variations have been described above, each embodiment and variation is a high-quality sludge scraper.

Note that even if a component is included only in the description of each of the embodiments and variations described above, that component may be applied to other embodiments or variations.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Sedimentation tank 1d Tank bottom 10 Sludge scraping device 11 Endless chain 12 Scraping member 123 Regulating member 1233 Protruding portion 1233s Contact surface 1233t Protruding direction tip 16 Sprocket 24 Downstream return rail 240 Sliding portion 242s Guide surface 25 Upstream return rail 250 Sliding portion Tw Water surface track Tl Downstream track Tk Scraping track Tu Upstream track 11w Water surface track portion 11l Downstream track portion 11l-1 Underwater track portion 11l-2 Slack portion 11k Scraping track portion 11u Upstream track portion

Claims (1)

A sludge scraper is provided in a settling tank in which sludge contained in water settles to the bottom of the tank while the water containing sludge flows,
A scraping member for scraping up sludge that has settled at the bottom of the pond;
An endless chain to which a plurality of the scraping members are attached at intervals and which travels to circulate the scraping members between the bottom side of the pond and the water surface side;
a rail member extending in a water flow direction in which the water flows, the rail member having a sliding contact portion on which the collecting member is placed and against which the collecting member slides when the endless chain travels,
the scraping member is provided with a protruding portion protruding in a width direction of the settling basin, and has a regulating member that abuts against the rail member when the endless chain sways, thereby regulating the sway of the endless chain,
The rail members include a first rail member having a first sliding contact portion on which a scraper member attached to a slack portion of the endless chain that is curved downward and slackened is placed and against which the scraper member slides, and a second rail member having a second sliding contact portion on which a scraper member attached to a water surface track portion of the endless chain that extends on the water surface side from the upstream side to the downstream side in the water flow direction is placed and against which the scraper member slides,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the slack portion comes into contact with the first rail member when the slack portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the slack portion,
the regulating member of the scraping member attached to the water surface track portion comes into contact with the second rail member when the water surface track portion sways, thereby regulating the swaying of the water surface track portion,
the first rail member has a first space provided by retracting in the pond width direction in the vicinity of a region through which the protrusion passes as the endless chain travels,
The second rail member has a second space provided by retracting in the pond width direction in the vicinity of a region through which the protrusion passes as the endless chain travels,
the protruding portion enters from above the first rail member to below the first sliding contact portion by utilizing the first space, and enters from above the second rail member to below the second sliding contact portion by utilizing the second space,
A sludge scraping device, wherein the first space is longer than the second space.

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