Non-metallic tooth segment and bar rack design

Abstract

The bar screen of the present invention includes a bar rack and a cleaning rake. The bar rack includes a plurality of aligned bars and is adapted to be at least partially positioned within the channeled water. The cleaning rake is movably coupled to the bar rack and includes a plurality of tooth segments. Each tooth segment includes a base portion and a plurality of teeth. The base portion is coupled to the cleaning rake, and the plurality of teeth is connected to the base portion. Each tooth of the plurality of teeth is adapted to be inserted between adjacent bars on the bar rack to remove debris that has accumulated on the upstream side of the bar rack. The teeth are breakable from the base when the teeth engage immovable debris trapped within the bar rack.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A bar screen for removing debris from channeled water, the bar screen comprising: 
 a bar rack including a plurality of aligned bars, the bar rack adapted to be at least partially positioned within the channeled water; and    a cleaning rake that is movably coupled to the bar rack, the cleaning rake including a plurality of tooth segments, each of the plurality of tooth segments including 
 a base portion coupled to the cleaning rake, and  
 a plurality of teeth connected to the base portion, each of the plurality of teeth adapted to be inserted between adjacent bars on the bar rack to remove debris that has accumulated on the upstream side of the bar rack, the teeth being breakable from the base when the teeth engage immovable debris trapped within the bar rack and when the teeth misalign with damaged bars.  
   
     
     
         2 . The bar screen of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of teeth are cantilever-mounted to the base portion.  
     
     
         3 . The bar screen of  claim 1 , wherein the teeth are glass filled polymers.  
     
     
         4 . The bar screen of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tooth segments are integrally formed with the base portion.  
     
     
         5 . The bar screen of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of teeth includes a notch located to initiate the fracture of such teeth when they engage trapped debris within the bar rack.  
     
     
         6 . The bar screen of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of teeth include a flange that extends outwardly from the base portion and a carrying shelf, the flange being substantially perpendicular to the carrying shelf and having a notch adjacent to the base portion.  
     
     
         7 . The bar screen of  claim 6 , wherein the flange divides the carrying shelf into first and second sides, the first side including a first notch adjacent to the base portion and the second side including a second notch adjacent to the base portion.  
     
     
         8 . The bar screen of  claim 7 , wherein the flange includes a leading edge having a full radius to enhance engagement with the bar rack.  
     
     
         9 . The bar screen of  claim 8 , wherein the carrying shelf narrows as it extends outwardly from the base portion.  
     
     
         10 . The bar screen of  claim 1 , wherein the bars are spaced approximately between ¼ and ⅜ inches apart from each other.  
     
     
         11 . The bar screen of  claim 10 , wherein the bars each include a width, each of the plurality of teeth penetrating into the bar rack a distance that is at least 60% of the bar width.  
     
     
         12 . The bar screen of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of teeth penetrates into the bar rack a distance that is at least 85% of the bar width.  
     
     
         13 . A tooth segment for a cleaning rake used in a bar screen, the bar screen including a bar rack having plurality of bars, the tooth segment comprising: 
 a base portion adapted to be coupled to the cleaning rake, and    a plurality of teeth connected to the base portion, each of the plurality of teeth adapted to be inserted between adjacent bars on the bar rack, the plurality of teeth configured to break from the base when subjected to a sufficient lateral force.    
     
     
         14 . The bar screen of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of teeth are cantilever-mounted to the base portion.  
     
     
         15 . The bar screen of  claim 13 , wherein the teeth are glass filled polymer.  
     
     
         16 . The bar screen of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of tooth segments are integrally formed with the base portion.  
     
     
         17 . The bar screen of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of teeth includes a notch located to initiate the fracture of such teeth when subjected to a sufficient force.  
     
     
         18 . The bar screen of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of teeth include a flange that extends outwardly from the base portion and a carrying shelf, the flange being substantially perpendicular to the carrying shelf and having a notch adjacent to the base portion.  
     
     
         19 . The bar screen of  claim 18 , wherein the flange divides the carrying shelf into first and second sides, the first side including a first notch adjacent to the base portion and the second side including a second notch adjacent to the base portion.  
     
     
         20 . The bar screen of  claim 19 , wherein the flange includes a leading edge having a full radius to enhance engagement with the bar rack.  
     
     
         21 . The bar screen of  claim 20 , wherein the carrying shelf narrows as it extends outwardly from the base portion.  
     
     
         22 . A bar rack for a bar screen that removes debris from channeled water, the bar rack comprising; 
 a plurality of bars,    a support plate having a plurality of grooves, the plurality of bars being connected to the support plate such that each bar of the plurality of bars is at least partially positioned within a separate one of the plurality of grooves.    
     
     
         23 . The bar rack of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of grooves are parallel to each other.  
     
     
         24 . The bar rack of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of bars are parallel to each other.  
     
     
         25 . The bar rack of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of bars are equally spaced apart from each other.  
     
     
         26 . The bar rack of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of grooves are equally spaced apart from each other.  
     
     
         27 . The bar rack of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of bars are substantially the same size.  
     
     
         28 . The bar rack of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of grooves are substantially the same size.  
     
     
         29 . The bar rack of  claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of bars includes a width, and wherein each of the plurality of grooves includes a depth, the depth of each of the plurality of grooves being greater than the width of each of the plurality of bars.  
     
     
         30 . The bar rack of  claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of bars includes a width, and wherein each of the plurality of grooves includes a depth, the depth of each of the plurality of grooves being less than the width of each of the plurality of bars.  
     
     
         31 . The bar rack of  claim 22 , wherein ends of the plurality of bars are connected to the support plate, and wherein the bar rack further comprises an additional support plate having a plurality of grooves, wherein other ends of the plurality of bars are connected to the additional support plate such that each bar of the plurality of bars is at least partially positioned within a separate one of the plurality of grooves in the additional support plate.