Separator and method for separating a heterogeneous supply

Abstract

A separator and method for separating a heterogeneous supply into a liquid and a solid material. The separator includes a casing in which the supply can collect, and which has an inlet for receiving the supply and an outlet for conveying the supply. The separator also includes a screen which rotates relative to the casing. The screen has perforated sections having a plurality of perforations which permit passage of the liquid. The screen allows for the accumulation of the supply within it, which rises to a level corresponding to a supply height. As this supply height, a screening pressure acts against the perforated sections so as to compact the solid material against the perforations while the liquid passes therethrough. A suction unit sucks the compacted solid material from the perforations, and is disposed higher than the supply height. A supply level regulator regulates the level of the supply within the screen.

1 . A separator for separating a heterogeneous supply into a liquid and a solid material and for extracting the solid material, the separator comprising:
 a casing for containing the supply, the casing comprising an inlet for receiving the supply and an outlet for conveying liquid out from the casing;   a screen mountable within the casing and rotatable relative to the casing, the screen comprising at least one perforated section, the at least one perforated section comprising a plurality of perforations disposed thereabout so as to permit passage of liquid therethrough, the screen being positioned, shaped, and sized for receiving the supply from the inlet of the casing such that the supply accumulates within the screen to a supply height, the supply thereby providing a screening pressure acting against the at least one perforated section so as to compact the solid material against the perforations while the liquid passes therethrough, thereby separating the liquid from the solid material;   a suction unit disposed within the screen, the suction unit comprising a suction head disposed above the supply height and positioned for extracting the solid material from the perforations as the at least one perforated section rotates within an extractable distance from the suction head; and   a supply level regulator mountable within the screen, the supply level regulator regulating a level of the supply within the screen so as to maintain the level of the supply below the supply height.   
     
     
         2 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one perforated section comprises a perforated notch. 
     
     
         3 . A separator according to  claim 2 , wherein the perforated notch spans at least part of a width of the at least one perforated section. 
     
     
         4 . A separator according to  claim 2 , wherein the perforated notch is a substantially V-shaped projection projecting from the at least one perforated section in a direction away from a center of the screen. 
     
     
         5 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one perforated section comprises a plurality of interconnectable perforated sections. 
     
     
         6 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the suction shaft is disposed at an angle between about 84 degrees and about 135 degrees relative to a vertical line. 
     
     
         7 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the suction head comprises a suction extension extending from an end of the suction head to the at least one perforated section thereby forming a sealed contact between the suction head and the at least one perforation. 
     
     
         8 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the casing comprises a removable access door for accessing inside the casing. 
     
     
         9 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet of the casing is disposed about a center of the casing such that the screen receives the supply below the supply height. 
     
     
         10 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the perforations are substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         11 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the screen is a substantially hollow cylinder having a diameter of about 7 feet. 
     
     
         12 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the screen rotates at a rate between about 5 rpm and about 10 rpm. 
     
     
         13 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein a filter is placed upon the at least one perforated section. 
     
     
         14 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the screening pressure is about 7.0 kPa to about 8.4 kPa. 
     
     
         15 . A separator according to  claim 1 , wherein the supply level regulator comprises a float gage. 
     
     
         16 . A mobile unit for separating the supply provided by a source and for returning the supply to said source, the mobile unit comprising:
 a separator according to  claim 1  mounted to a frame of the mobile unit;   a feed tank in fluid communication with the separator, the feed tank feeding the supply to the separator;   a solid material container operatively connected to the suction unit of the separator, the solid material container storing the solid material extracted by the suction unit; and   a pump in fluid communication with the feed tank, the pump retrieving the supply from the source and returning the separated liquid to the source.   
     
     
         17 . A mobile unit according to  claim 16 , wherein the feed tank is positioned higher than the separator so as to feed the supply to the separator via gravity. 
     
     
         18 . A method for separating a heterogeneous supply into a liquid and a solid material, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) accumulating the supply within a rotatable screen until a level of the supply reaches a supply height, the supply thereby providing a screening pressure acting against the screen so as to compact the solid material against the screen while the liquid passes therethrough;   b) maintaining the level of the supply within the screen at the supply height;   c) rotating the screen and the solid material compacted thereon; and   d) extracting the solid material from the rotating screen upon the solid material being rotated to a height above the supply height.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein step d) comprises vacuuming the solid material from the rotating screen. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein step c) comprises rotating the drum at a rate between about 5 rpm and about 10 rpm. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 18 , further comprising the step of interrupting step a) when the level of the supply is above the supply height.