WO1999046452A1

WO1999046452A1 - Device for cleaning sewers

Info

Publication number: WO1999046452A1
Application number: PCT/DE1999/000669
Authority: WO
Inventors: Franz Janssen
Original assignee: Franz Janssen
Priority date: 1998-03-11
Filing date: 1999-03-11
Publication date: 1999-09-16
Also published as: DE19810322C2; AU3698999A; DE59903024D1; ATE225885T1; DE19810322A1; EP1068407B1; EP1068407A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for cleaning a sewer or similar, especially a sewer-cleaning vehicle. The aim of the invention is to make the device as efficient as possible. To this end, a separating and cleaning device is provided. This separating and cleaning device takes up a mixture of dirt and water into the device whilst simultaneously discharging from the device sediments which have been separated off and cleaned.

Description

Device for sewer cleaning

The invention relates to a device for cleaning a channel or the like with a) a rinsing device for rinsing the channel with water, b) a suction device for sucking in a mixture of dirt and water containing floating and sinking substances, c) a separating and cleaning device for separating and cleaning the suspended matter from the mixture of dirt and water, d) a chamber for receiving the water containing the floating matter, e) at least one discharge opening for suspended matter and f) at least one outlet opening for water containing floating matter.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for cleaning a sewer, the sewer being rinsed with water, the mixture of dirt and water containing floating and sinking substances being sucked up, the sinking substances being separated from the water, cleaned and discharged, and the water containing floating substances is returned to the channel.

The dirt transported through the sewage system is a mixture of sediments, essentially in the form of sand, and floating materials, which are also referred to as organics, such as faeces, sludge, paper, etc. The sediments settle on the sewer floor and narrow the sewer cross-section. It is therefore necessary to remove the sediments from the sewer.

The conventional sewer cleaning methods are very expensive. In a conventional process for sewer cleaning with a sewer cleaning vehicle, the sewer is first flushed with water under high pressure. The water used to rinse the sewer can be sensed in a chamber of the sewer cleaning vehicle provided for this purpose or can be removed from the public supply network via a hydrant. The mixture of water and - 2 - WO 99/46452 PCT / DE99 / 00669

Dirt is sucked up by the sewer cleaning vehicle and collected in a first chamber of the sewer cleaning vehicle. This first chamber is separated from a second chamber by an overflow weir. As soon as the water level in the first chamber exceeds the height of the overflow weir, the floating substances floating on the surface of the water flow into the second chamber. So there is a separation between sinking and floating materials.

Both chambers are provided with a water outlet so that the water can be drained from the chambers. The suspended matter and remaining floating matter are retained by sieves. When the chambers of the sewer cleaning vehicle are filled, the dirt picked up is taken to a landfill and disposed of there. Emptying the chambers into open containers at the site of the sewer cleaning vehicles is out of the question, since there is considerable odor nuisance due to the sediment contaminated with faeces.

This type of sewer cleaning is complex and expensive. On the one hand, high costs arise from the fact that the dirt cannot be stored as simple landfill material due to the contamination with faeces, but usually has to be disposed of as special waste. On the other hand, a sewer cleaning vehicle cannot be used permanently for sewer cleaning because it has to be emptied regularly at the landfill or at a depot.

In order to avoid these disadvantages, a method has been proposed in which the suspended matter is not only separated out but also cleaned, so that the cleaned suspended matter, in particular sand, can be emptied into a container at the place of use of the sewer cleaning vehicle.

For example, EP 0 769 593 A1 discloses a method and a device for carrying out this method, in which, after the channel has been rinsed, the loosened dirt is sucked up. The mixture of dirt and water is sucked up until the designated chamber of the sewer cleaning vehicle is filled. After the absorption process has ended, the water that has been sucked up is returned to the sewer. After this drainage, a cleaning process is carried out in which the suspended matter is separated from the floating matter mixed with it in the form of faeces, paper, sewage sludge, etc. using water and air. The floating substances are discharged into a second chamber via an overflow weir. After cleaning is complete, there is only water and sand in the first chamber. This sand can then be emptied through a discharge opening, for example into a container at the location of the sewer cleaning vehicle. - 3 -

WO 99/46452 PCT / DE99 / 00669

This process has the major disadvantage that the cleaning process is comparatively complex and time-consuming. It is not possible to clean the dirt that has already been sucked in during sewer flushing and simultaneous suctioning, or to suck dirt out of the sewer during cleaning. Since the sewer cleaning vehicle must first be completely filled with the mixture of water and dirt, a large part of the dirt sediments on the bottom of the chamber and solidifies. This makes subsequent separation and purification of the sediments considerably more difficult and the cleaning process is considerably extended. A cleaning of the sediments in such a way that at the end of the cleaning process they can either be disposed of in an inexpensive landfill or even recycled for building materials is not achieved in practice. Another disadvantage is that a complex hydraulic system is necessary which rocks the container holding the chamber up and down in order to loosen the dirt which is fixed on the chamber floor during suction and is compressed after the suction has ended.

Compared to this prior art, it is the object of the invention to provide a device which enables efficient sewer cleaning at the lowest possible operating costs and which in particular avoids the disadvantages mentioned. It is also an object of the invention to provide a corresponding method for the efficient cleaning of channels, in which the economy is considerably increased.

This object is achieved in a device of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the separating and cleaning device enables the mixture of dirt and water to be simultaneously taken up into the device and discharged and cleaned suspended matter to be discharged from the device.

A separating device operating in this way is fed continuously or intermittently with the mixture of water and dirt through the suction device. During loading, the dirt previously introduced into the separating and cleaning device is already separated into sinking and floating substances. At the same time, the sediments are cleaned and the cleaned sediments are discharged continuously or intermittently from the separation device into a container, for example. - 4 -

WO 99/46452 PCT / DE99 / 00669

The floating substances separated from the sediments during the separation and cleaning are discharged together with the water into the sewage system. The water and the floating substances can also be drained off at the same time as the separating and cleaning device is loaded.

It is thus possible to continuously carry out the sewer cleaning at a place of use of the device until the sewer section is completely cleaned. This results in considerable time savings compared to sewer cleaning with previously known sewer cleaning vehicles.

Such a separating and cleaning device preferably has a cleaning container with an inlet for the mixture of dirt and water with an outlet arranged in the bottom region for cleaned suspended matter and with an overflow for water containing floating substances, an agitator being arranged in the cleaning container and at least one on the cleaning container Fresh water inlet is provided.

The mixture of dirt and water is sucked up by negative pressure and, if necessary, reaches the cleaning container via an insertion funnel. As the suspended matter sinks in the cleaning tank, the floating matter collects on the water surface and is discharged via the overflow. The agitator mixes the suspended matter, whereby organics adhering to the suspended matter are detached from the suspended matter. The suspended matter is flushed out by fresh water that enters the cleaning tank through an inlet, the detached organics also being removed via the overflow.

In order to achieve an optimal cleaning effect, it is advantageous if the agitator is designed so that it extends to the discharge opening of the cleaning container. The inlet for the fresh water should also preferably be arranged in the bottom area of the cleaning container.

Alternatively, an air nozzle can be used in the area of the floor, the sediment being circulated by the air flow emerging from it. As a result, the floating substances are transported upwards and washed out via fresh water, which is additionally introduced into the cleaning container, via the outlet.

With this separating and cleaning device, a very high degree of purity of the sediments can be achieved, so that the discharged sediments can be deposited on the landfill as building rubble or reused for building materials or in road construction. - 5 -

WO 99/46452 PCT / DE99 / 00669

It is also advantageous if a discharge conveyor is arranged obliquely upwards between the outlet for the cleaned sediments and the discharge opening, the discharge opening being above the maximum height of the water level in the cleaning container. As a result, the water present in the cleaned sediments can flow off during discharge, so that the sediments are dry to the touch after discharge.

A controller is preferably provided for such a discharge conveyor, which controls the drive of the discharge conveyor as a function of the amount of sediment deposited in the cleaning container. Such a quantity determination can take place, for example, via the force absorption of the agitator drive. The conveying speed of the discharge conveyor can also be set via the control so that the sediments are continuously discharged.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the cleaning and separating device has a calming chamber for the mixture of dirt and water to be cleaned, with an inlet for the mixture of dirt and water connected to the suction device and with a conveying device for conveying sediment at the bottom of the calming chamber Has dirt at the inlet of the cleaning container. The mixture of water and dirt sucked in with high vacuum can be collected in this sedimentation tank before it reaches the cleaning tank. This is where the first separation of sediments that settle at the bottom of the sedimentation tank and floating substances that flow through the overflow can take place.

If the inlet of the cleaning container is arranged above the maximum water level of the calming container, the screw conveyor is directed obliquely upwards from the bottom of the calming container. In this case, the inlet of the cleaning container must be arranged above the overflow of the cleaning container so that the water to be discharged from the cleaning container runs over the overflow of the cleaning container and does not flow back into the sedimentation container. The screw conveyor can also be arranged essentially horizontally. In this case, the inlet of the cleaning container should be located above the area in which cleaned sand is sedimented and below the overflow of the cleaning container so that the mixture of dirt and water introduced into the cleaning container does not contaminate the cleaned sediments again. The overflow of the cleaning tank should also be above the overflow of the still tank. - 6 -

WO 99/46452 PCT / DE99 / 00669

The conveyor can be a screw conveyor. However, the conveying device can also have an essentially vertically arranged paddle wheel with at least one paddle which is guided over the course of one revolution of the paddle wheel along the bottom of the calming chamber and over the inlet of the cleaning container. A paddle wheel with two blades has proven to be practical.

In a further preferred embodiment, the device has an organic chamber, the overflow of the cleaning container opening into the organic chamber. The organic chamber is then separated from the calming chamber by a partition. In the organic chamber, organic substances contained in the water containing floating substances can be retained and discharged separately into the sewage system, while the rest of the water containing floating substances can pass into the calming chamber via openings in the partition wall which have a corresponding filtering effect. The organics collected in the organic chamber can either be returned to the sewage system via an outlet opening, possibly with the aid of a pump, or with excess pressure via a pipe system and the suction hose.

It is also advantageous if the chamber and the cleaning and separating device are arranged in a container, where the container has a lid at one end, and the cleaning container is held by the lid. If the lid of the trolley is opened, the cleaning container is thus simultaneously pivoted out of the interior of the container, so that the inner region of the container is freely accessible.

Finally, the device for cleaning sewers can be mobile as a fixed component of a sewer cleaning vehicle, preferably located on a vehicle. However, it can also be designed as a detachable attachment for a carrier vehicle, so that it can be brought to the application area and parked there and the vehicle can be used for other purposes during the cleaning work. It is also conceivable that, in addition to the sewer cleaning device, a container for receiving the suspended matter is carried on the sewer cleaning vehicle or attached to the sewer cleaning vehicle. - 7 - WO 99/46452 PCT / DE99 / 00669

The object on which the invention is based is also achieved by a method of the type mentioned in the introduction, in which, simultaneously with the suction of the mixture of dirt and water containing floating and sinking substances, the sinking substances are continuously or intermittently separated, cleaned and removed in a separating and cleaning device .

This ensures that a channel section to be cleaned can be carried out without any interruptions. This results in a considerable speed and cost advantage compared to the previously known methods.

The device according to the invention is explained below on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment.

Figure 1 shows a sewer cleaning vehicle according to a preferred embodiment in side view with a partial section;

Figure 2 shows another embodiment of the sewer cleaning vehicle also in side view with a partial section.

The sewer cleaning vehicle shown in FIG. 1 has a container 1. This container 1 serves on the one hand as a chamber for receiving the water containing the floating substances and has an outlet opening 2. Another outlet opening 3 is provided, which is provided with a filter drum 4.

A separating and cleaning device is arranged in the container 1. It comprises a calming tank 5 and a cleaning tank 6.

The calming container 5 can be fed via an inlet 7 arranged in its upper region. It has an outlet 8 for the dirt in its base area. In addition, an overflow 9 is provided for water containing floating substances.

The cleaning container 6 has an inlet 10 which is connected to the outlet 8 of the sedimentation container 5 via a conveyor device, here a screw conveyor 11 driven by a bevel gear with a hydraulic motor 32. The conveyor can protrude into the inlet 10 of the cleaning container 6, wherein it is not firmly connected to the cleaning container 6. The cleaning container 6 also has an outlet 12 for cleaned sediments and an overflow 13. Both the overflow 13 of the cleaning container 6 as - 8 - WO 99/46452 PCT / DE99 / 00669 also the overflow 9 of the still tank 5 are arranged lower than the inlet 10.

In the cleaning container 6, an agitator 14 with a centrally and vertically arranged shaft 15, which is driven by a bevel gear with a hydraulic motor 33, is arranged. The shaft 15 carries a sieve 16 and stirring finger 17. In the area of the bottom of the cleaning container 6, inlets for fresh water 18, 19 are provided.

At the outlet 12 of the cleaning container 6, a discharge conveyor 20, here a screw conveyor is connected, which is directed obliquely upwards and protrudes beyond the container 1. The discharge conveyor 20 is arranged in a tubular channel 21 and thereby separated from the container 1. The channel 21 has a discharge opening 22 at its upper end. The discharge opening 22 can be closed by a closure flap 31. The discharge opening 22 lies above the inlet opening of a container 23 arranged on the sewer cleaning vehicle. The discharge conveyor 20 is driven by a hydraulic motor 24.

A suction hose reel 25, which carries a suction hose 26, is arranged on the container 1. One end of the suction hose 26 is connected on one side to an insertion funnel 27 which correlates with the inlet 7 of the calming container 5. A flushing hose reel 28 for a high-pressure flushing hose 29 is arranged on the front side of the container 1 facing the driver's cab.

The side of the container 1 facing away from the driver's cab is closed with a pivotable cover 30, the cover 30 carrying the cleaning container 6.

After the high-pressure flushing hose 29 and the suction hose 26 have been drained side by side into the channel to be cleaned, the channel is flushed with water. At the same time, the container 1 is evacuated via a pump, not shown, so that a mixture of water and dirt is sucked up from the duct via the suction hose due to the negative pressure. The discharge opening 22 is initially closed by the closure flap 31.

The mixture of water and dirt passes through a coarse sieve, not shown, in which larger stones or the like which have been sucked up are retained in order to protect the separating and cleaning device from damage. The water laden with dirt is then introduced into the sedimentation tank 5 via the funnel 27 and the inlet 7. While the sediments in the sedimentation tank 5 - 9 -

WO 99/46452 PCT / DE99 / 00669 sink, the floating substances collect on the water surface and are washed away via the overflow 9. The sediments are removed by the screw conveyor

11 conveyed from the outlet 8 of the still tank 5 via the inlet 10 into the cleaning tank 6.

In the cleaning container 6, the sediments are stirred through the agitator 14, the sediments rubbing against one another. The cleaning is enhanced by the fact that the stirring fingers 17 reach down to the bottom of the cleaning container 6. The floating substances adhering to the suspended matter are separated off. In addition, the suspended matter is flushed out by water flowing into the cleaning tank 6 through the fresh water inlets 18, 19. As a result of this flushing out, the separated organics are discharged as floating substances via the overflow 13 of the cleaning container 6. When introducing the water into the cleaning container 6, care must be taken that the upward component of the water flow does not exceed the sinking rate of the sinking substances.

As soon as a certain layer height of the settled sediments or a certain density of the sediments is exceeded and as long as it is not fallen below again, the cleaned sediments are discharged from the outlet with the discharge conveyor 20

12 of the cleaning container 6 transported to the discharge opening 22, from where the sediments are discharged into the container 24. During the discharge, the closure flap 31 is open. The control necessary for the operation of the discharge conveyor 20 can be dependent, for example, on the force absorption of the motor for the agitator 14, provided the agitator fingers 17 extend to the bottom of the cleaning container 6.

The sieve 16, which is arranged on the shaft 15 of the agitator 14 and is located within the settled sediments during operation, prevents the formation of a hopper by the discharge of the sediments.

The flowing over the overflow 13 from the cleaning tank 6 mixture of separated from the suspended matter floating materials and water is returned from the tank 1 through the outlet opening 2 or with overpressure via a pipe system, not shown, and the suction hose 26 directly into the sewage system. However, some of the water from container 1 can also be supplied to the inlets for fresh water 18, 19 after cleaning by the filter drum 4 as water for flushing out the floating substances from the sediments. - 10 - WO 99/46452 PCT / DE99 / 00669

If the container 23 is full, it is completely emptied in a very short time using a hydraulic mechanism (not shown).

To clean or maintain the container 1 or the separating and cleaning device, the cover 30 of the container 1 is opened and, together with the pivoting of the cover 30, the cleaning container 6 is pivoted out of the container 1. The calming container 5 remains in place, but can also be released from a locked position and removed from the container 1.

The sewer cleaning vehicle shown in FIG. 2 differs from the previously described exemplary embodiment, inter alia in that the chamber 34 for receiving the water containing floating substances and the calming chamber 35 are arranged differently in the container 1. The chamber 34 for receiving the water containing float lies in a front region of the container 1 and is only separated from the calming chamber 35 by a vertical partition 37, the wall of the container 1 also being the wall of the calming chamber 35. The partition 37 between the chamber 34 and the calming chamber 35 is provided with small holes, so that water containing floating substances can pass from the calming chamber 35 into the chamber 34, dirt being retained in the calming chamber 35 and being sedimented there.

The cleaning container 36 is arranged inside the container 1 in the area of the calming chamber 35. So that sedimented dirt can be conveyed into the cleaning container 36 at the bottom of the settling chamber 35, a vertically arranged paddle wheel 38 is provided which is rotatably mounted about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container 1. It is driven by a motor system 44, the rotational speed of the blades 39, 40 being adjustable. The blades 39, 40 of the blade wheel are arranged such that they are guided over the bottom of the calming chamber 35 and over the upwardly open inlet 41 of the cleaning container 36 when the blade wheel 38 is rotated under the cleaning container 36 which is formed in a funnel shape in its lower region. so that the sedimented dirt can be picked up from the bottom of the calming chamber 35 and introduced into the cleaning container 36 via the inlet 41. - 11 - WO 99/46452 PCT / DE99 / 00669 open inlet 41 of the cleaning container 36 at the top so that the sedimented dirt can be taken up from the bottom of the calming chamber 35 and introduced into the cleaning container 36 via the inlet 41. An organic chamber 42 is provided in the container 1, which is separated from the calming chamber 35 by a partition wall 43. The overflow 43 of the cleaning container 36 opens into this organic chamber 42. which have a corresponding filtering effect, can pass into the calming chamber 35. The organics collected in the organic chamber can either be returned to the sewage system via an outlet opening, possibly with the aid of a pump, or with excess pressure via a pipe system (not shown) and the suction hose. The container also has a fresh water chamber 45 arranged in front of the chamber 34, which is separated from the chamber 34 by a partition 47 and is connected to the latter only via a filter (not shown). Through this filter, the water containing floating substances from chamber 34 can be processed in such a way that it can be reused from the fresh water chamber 45 either as fresh water in the cleaning container 36 or via a high-pressure pump (not shown) for channel flushing. In order to protect the high-pressure pump from increased wear, the fresh water then passes through an additional filter 46.

With the exemplary embodiments described above, it is possible to carry out a sewer cleaning method in which the sewer, which is loosened by the sewer flushing, is essentially flushed simultaneously, and the suspended matter, in particular sand, is separated and cleaned from the soiled dirt, and the cleaned suspended matter are discharged into a container and the floating substances, including the organics detached from the suspended matter, are returned to the sewer. - 12 - 6452 PCT / DE99 / 00669

Reference symbol list:

Container 31 closure flap

Outlet opening 32, 33 hydraulic motor

Outlet opening 34 chamber

Filter drum 35 calming chamber

Calming tank 36 cleaning tank

Cleaning container 37 partition

Inlet of the sedimentation tank 38 Paddle wheel 39, 40 paddle

Soil outlet 41 Inlet 42 Organic chamber

Overflow of the soothing partition 44 motor system

Inlet of the cleaning container 45 fresh water chamber

Screw conveyor 46 filters

Outlet of the cleaning container 47 partition

Overflow of the cleaning container 48 insert

Agitator

wave

scree

Stirring finger

Water inlets

Discharge conveyor

channel

Discharge opening

Container

Hydraulic motor

Suction hose reel

Suction hose

Throw-in funnel

Rinsing hose reel

High pressure flush hose

cover

Claims

-13-Patent claims

1. Device for cleaning a channel or the like with a) a flushing device for flushing the channel with water, b) a suction device for sucking in a mixture of dirt and water containing floating and sinking substances, c) a separating and cleaning device for separating and cleaning the suspended matter from the mixture of dirt and water, d) a chamber for receiving the water containing the floating matter, e) at least one discharge opening (22) for suspended matter and

0 at least one outlet opening (2) for water containing floating substances, characterized in that the separating and cleaning device enables a simultaneous absorption of the mixture of dirt and water into the device and discharge of separated and cleaned sediments from the device.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning and separating device has a cleaning container (6, 36) with an inlet (10, 41) for the mixture of dirt and water, with an outlet (12) arranged in the bottom region for cleaned Contains sediments and with an overflow (13) for water containing floating substances, an agitator (14) being arranged in the cleaning container (6, 36) and at least one inlet (18) for fresh water being provided on the cleaning container (6, 36).

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the agitator (14) extends to the bottom of the cleaning container (6, 36).

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the inlet for fresh water is arranged in the bottom region of the cleaning container (6, 36).

5. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that between the outlet (12) for the cleaned sediments and the discharge opening (22) an obliquely upward discharge conveyor (20) is arranged, the -14-

Discharge opening (22) is above the maximum height of the water level in the cleaning container (6, 36).

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that a control for the discharge conveyor (20) is provided which controls the drive of the discharge conveyor (20) in dependence on the amount of sediment deposited in the cleaning container (6, 36).

7. Device according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the cleaning and separating device a calming chamber (5, 35) with an inlet connected to the suction device for the mixture of dirt and water and with a conveyor for conveying to the floor the sedimentation chamber (5, 35) has sedimented dirt to the inlet (10, 41) of the cleaning container (6, 36).

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the conveyor is a screw conveyor (11).

9. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the conveying device has at least one substantially vertically arranged blade wheel (38) with at least one blade (39, 40) which in the course of one revolution of the blade wheel (38) along the bottom of the calming chamber ( 36) and over the inlet (41) of the cleaning container.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that the paddle wheel has two blades.

11. Device according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that an organic chamber (42) is provided and the overflow of the cleaning container (36) opens into the organic chamber (42).

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chamber and the cleaning and separating device are arranged in a container (1), the container (1) has a cover (30) at one end, and the cleaning container (6 , 36) is held by the cover (30).

-15- 13- Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is mobile, preferably located on a vehicle.

14. A method for cleaning a sewer or the like, wherein the sewer is rinsed with water, the mixture of dirt and water containing floating and sinking substances is sucked up, the sinking substances are separated from the water, cleaned and discharged and the water containing floating substances is taken into the Channel is returned, characterized in that at the same time to suck up the mixture of dirt and water containing floating and sinking substances, the sinking substances are continuously or intermittently separated, cleaned and removed in a separating and cleaning device.