Systems for Removing Sludge from or Distributing Fluids in Sludge or Waste Collection Vessels

Abstract

Systems for use in one or more sludge or waste collection devices (e.g., containers, vessels or basins). One such system is a sludge removal system for removing sludge from one or more sludge collection devices. The sludge removal system includes one or more sludge removal grids disposed in one or more sludge collection devices. Each sludge removal grid preferably includes at least one header and a plurality of sludge collection laterals. Another such system includes a fluid distribution system for distributing one or more fluids in one or more sludge or waste collection devices. A movement restricting or prevention member is provided in both the fluid distribution and sludge removal systems to prevent or restrict movement of the sludge collection laterals and the fluid distribution laterals away from or towards a floor of a corresponding collection device without anchoring or fixing the laterals to the floor.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a sludge collection system having at least one sludge removal zone for removing sludge, said at least one sludge removal zone includes a sludge collection container and a fixed sludge removal grid disposed in said sludge collection container, said fixed sludge removal grid including a header and a plurality of floating collection laterals connected to said header such that during removal of sludge from said sludge collection container, sludge passes from said plurality of floating collection laterals to said header; and,   (b) connecting at least one movement restricting member to said plurality of floating collection laterals for restricting movement of said plurality of floating collection laterals away from and towards a floor of the sludge collection container, said at least one movement restricting member being spaced from said header and an upper portion of said at least one movement restricting member extending around an upper portion of an outer periphery of a corresponding floating collection lateral; and,   (c) exerting fluid pressure on said at least one movement restricting member to prevent said at least one corresponding floating collection lateral from moving upwardly away from the floor of said sludge collection container.   
     
     
         24 . The method as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein:
 (a) said at least one movement restricting member includes a first movement restricting member mounted on each of said plurality of floating collection laterals and wherein said first movement restricting member is one of the following: (i) L-shaped; and, (ii) T-shaped.   
     
     
         25 . The method as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein:
 (a) said first movement restricting member includes a first vertically extending segment mounted on each of said plurality of floating collection laterals.   
     
     
         26 . The method as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein:
 (a) said first vertically extending segment of said first movement restricting member includes a plurality of openings each of which is configured to receive a corresponding one of said plurality of floating collection laterals.   
     
     
         27 . The method as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein:
 (a) said first movement restricting member is L-shaped.   
     
     
         28 . The method as set forth in  claim 24 , wherein:
 (a) said first movement restricting member is T-shaped.   
     
     
         29 . The method as set forth in  claim 25 , wherein:
 (a) said first movement restricting member further includes a first horizontally extending member connected to the first vertically extending member, said first horizontally extending member has a plurality of portions, each of said plurality of portions being positioned directly below a corresponding portion of one of the plurality of floating collection laterals.   
     
     
         30 . A method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a header and a plurality of laterals operably connected to said header in a treatment container, each of said plurality of laterals can move upwardly away from a floor of the treatment container;   (b) connecting at least one movement restricting member to each of said plurality of laterals for restricting movement of said plurality of laterals upwardly away from the floor of the treatment container; and,   (c) preventing each of said plurality of laterals from moving upwardly away from the floor of the treatment container when a predetermined upward force acts on said plurality of laterals solely by exerting fluid pressure downwardly on said at least one movement restricting member.   
     
     
         31 . The method as set forth in  claim 30 , wherein:
 (a) each of said plurality of laterals are one of the following: (i) sludge collection laterals; and, (ii) fluid distribution laterals.   
     
     
         32 . The method as set forth in  claim 31 , wherein:
 (a) each of said plurality of laterals are sludge collection laterals.   
     
     
         33 . The method as set forth in  claim 31 , wherein:
 (a) each of said plurality of laterals are fluid distribution laterals.   
     
     
         34 . The method as set forth in  claim 30 , wherein:
 (a) said at least one movement restricting member includes an abutment portion that is configured to rest on and abut the floor of the treatment container to prevent said plurality of laterals from moving toward the floor of the treatment container and the fluid pressure acts on the abutment portion of said at least one movement restricting member to prevent said plurality of laterals from moving upwardly away from the floor of the treatment container.   
     
     
         35 . The method as set forth in  claim 34 , wherein:
 (a) said abutment portion includes an uppermost surface disposed below a lowermost portion of each of said plurality of laterals that fluid pressure acts on to prevent each of said plurality of laterals from moving upwardly away from the floor of the treatment container.   
     
     
         36 . A method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a header and a plurality of laterals operably connected to said header in a treatment container, each of said plurality of laterals can move upwardly away from a floor of the treatment container;   (b) connecting at least one movement restricting member to each of said plurality of laterals for restricting movement of said plurality of laterals upwardly away from the floor of the treatment container wherein said at least one movement restricting member includes a vertically extending portion and a horizontally extending portion connected to a lower portion of said vertically extending portion; and,   (c) preventing each of said plurality of laterals from moving upwardly away from the floor of the treatment container when a predetermined upward force acts on said plurality of laterals solely by exerting fluid pressure downwardly on said horizontally extending portion of said at least one movement restricting member.   
     
     
         37 . The method as set forth in  claim 36 , wherein:
 (a) each of said plurality of laterals are one of the following: (i) sludge collection laterals; and, (ii) fluid distribution laterals.   
     
     
         38 . The method as set forth in  claim 37 , wherein:
 (a) each of said plurality of laterals are sludge collection laterals.   
     
     
         39 . The method as set forth in  claim 37 , wherein:
 (a) each of said plurality of laterals are fluid distribution laterals.   
     
     
         40 . The method as set forth in  claim 36 , wherein:
 (a) said at least one movement restricting member is T-shaped.   
     
     
         41 . The method as set forth in  claim 36 , wherein:
 (a) said at least one movement restricting member is L-shaped.   
     
     
         42 . The method as set forth in  claim 36 , wherein:
 (a) said treatment container is a sludge collection container.