FR2853675A1 - Automatic flush for use in water purification station, has transversal bar and retention unit to fix floater on draining pipe, where bar and unit are unhooked to detach floater and pipe when liquid reaches predetermined level in tank - Google Patents

Abstract

The flush (1) has a floater (12), and a rigid draining pipe (3) equipped with a free end (4) in a tank (2) and an opposite end (5) connected to an evacuation pipe (6). A removable transversal bar (17) and a retention unit (19) fix the floater on the pipe. The bar and the unit are unhooked to detach the floater and pipe when a liquid reaches a predetermined level in the tank in order to trigger the liquid draining. An independent claim is also included for a water purification station including an automatic flush.

Description

Automatic flush for emptying a liquid contained in a tank and

  water treatment plant comprising such an automatic flush

  The invention relates generally to an automatic flush for emptying a liquid contained in a tank, particularly an automatic flush operating by siphoning, as well as a purification station equipped with such a flush.

  In sewage treatment plants, provision may be made for 10 tanks, vats or containers in which loaded water, rainwater or polluted water is recovered and temporarily stored before being transferred to a treatment basin.

  Document No. FR 2 774 110 discloses an automatic flush comprising a tank where a drain tube 15 and a float tank are arranged, fixed to one end of the drain tube, and a retaining means delimiting a determined level in the tank. . In operation, the float tank rises by floating on the surface of a liquid while maintaining the end of the drain tube on the surface of the liquid until the liquid reaches in the tank the predetermined level. Then, the float tank retained by the retaining means fills with its open upper part and then flows into the liquid, bringing the drain tube into the liquid. The tank is then emptied by siphoning through the drain tube.

  Such automatic flushing does not allow a sufficiently precise establishment of a maximum level of liquid in the tank. The triggering of automatic flushing by retaining the hose fitted with the float tank and filling the float tank is not satisfactory.

  The present invention relates to an automatic flush for emptying a liquid contained in a tank allowing a safe and reliable triggering of the automatic flush, and a reliable and rapid initiation of a drain, when the liquid has reached a predetermined level. in the tank.

  The present invention also relates to an automatic flush that is simple to operate and can be obtained with a low manufacturing cost.

  Such an automatic flush for the draining of a continuous liquid in a tank comprises a drain pipe provided with a movable free end opening into the tank and at least one float. According to one aspect of the invention, the float is dissociated from the pipe, the flush comprising a removable hooking device for fixing the float on the pipe, the removable hooking device being released when the liquid reaches a determined level in the tank to trigger a drain.

  When filling the tank, when the float is fixed on the pipe, the float rises by floating on the surface of the liquid and entrains the pipe by keeping it substantially on the surface. When the liquid exceeds a determined level in the tank, the float can detach from the pipe. As a result, the hose flows rapidly through the liquid towards the bottom of the tank, which allows rapid and safe priming of the suction of the liquid by siphoning. On the other hand, the float remains on the surface of the liquid.

  In one embodiment, the flush comprises at least one triggering element establishing a level and capable of unhooking the float from the pipe automatically when the liquid exceeds a determined level in the tank. The trigger acts on the removable hooking device to quickly and reliably unhook the float from the pipe.

  Preferably, provision is made for the removable attachment device to be able to hang up when the liquid drops below a determined level in the tank in order to allow subsequent operation of the automatic flush after an emptying or "covering".

  To do this, provision can be made for the removable hooking device to include a latching member and a retaining member disposed on the float and the pipe, and said members being able to cooperate in order to hook the float to the pipe automatically when the liquid drops below a determined level in the tank.

  Advantageously, the latching member can be moved against a return element.

  In one embodiment, the flush includes a flexible connection of determined length connecting the latching member to a fixed point. When filling the tank, the latching member fixed on the float or the pipe moves with the float and the pipe which are mutually hooked. When the float and the pipe reach a determined level corresponding to a determined level of liquid in the tank, the flexible connection is tensioned and retains the latching member and thus causes the opening of the latching member and the float and hose release. The flexible link forms the trigger element.

  Advantageously, the pipe comprises a rigid portion and a flexible connector, in order to allow movement of the rigid portion of the pipe.

  In one embodiment, the float is arranged at one end of an arm articulated around a horizontal axis.

  Advantageously, the pipe is articulated substantially around the same horizontal axis as the float.

  It can advantageously be provided that the pipe is provided with a ballast for a faster return of the pipe to the bottom of the tank when the pipe is detached from the float.

  The invention also relates to a water purification station comprising a tank provided with a water inlet and a water discharge, and further comprising an automatic flush according to one aspect of the invention.

  The present invention and its advantages will be better understood on studying the detailed description of an embodiment taken by way of nonlimiting example and illustrated by the appended drawings in which: FIGS. 1 to 6 are side views automatic flush disposed at the bottom of a tank, flush being shown in the figures in different positions to illustrate its operation; and - Figure 7 is a top elevation view of the automatic flush according to Figures 1 to 6.

  In Figures 1 and 7, an automatic flush referenced 1 10 as a whole is arranged on the bottom of a tank 2 of circular shape.

  The flush 1 comprises a rigid drain pipe 3 extending substantially horizontally at the bottom of the tank 2 and comprising a free end 4 open and bent downwards forming a bend, 15 and an opposite end 5 connected to a pipe. discharge 6 via a flexible connector 7 comprising a flexible sheath 8 and an articulated frame 9. The pipe 3 is provided with a ballast 10 fixed near the bent free end 4. The pipe 3 comes to bear on the bottom 11 of the tank 2 via the ballast 10 forming a stop.

  To ensure complete suction during a tarpaulin, and as can be seen in Figure 1, the bottom 11 consists of inclined walls forming a central depression in which protrudes the opening of the curved free end 4 down.

  A float assembly comprises floats 12, here two in number (FIG. 7), and located on either side of the pipe 3, being arranged substantially at the height of the ballast tank 10. The floats 12 are fixed on arms support 13 extending substantially parallel to the pipe 3. The support arms 13 comprise first ends 14 articulated in rotation on the bottom 11 of the tank 30 2 by means of yokes 15 located on either side of the connector flexible 7, and second ends 16 located at the end of the end 4 of the pipe 3, and connected by means of a transverse bar 17, passing just in front of the pipe 3, ie vertically vertical to the extreme edge of the free end 4 of the pipe, the transverse bar 17 being seen from above (FIG. 7) substantially tangent to the free end 4.

  The transverse bar 17 is articulated on the second ends 16 along a horizontal axis. To do this, the ends of the transverse bar 17 are fixed to legs 18 (FIG. 1) at a first point of the legs 18, said legs 18 being fixed at a second point of rotation about a horizontal axis at the second ends 16 of the arm 13. The transverse bar 17 can move along an arc of an axis passing through the second ends 16 of the arms 13.

  As can be better distinguished in FIG. 4, the free bent end 4 of the pipe 3 is provided with a retaining member 19 provided in the form of a tooth projecting towards the front of the free end 4 of the pipe 3 and having, when the pipe 3 rests on the bottom of the tank 2, an inclined upper surface 20 oriented upwards and on the side opposite to the pipe 3, and a lower retaining surface 21.

  The articulated frame 9 of the flexible connector 7 comprises a first rigid part 9a secured to the pipe 3 and a second rigid part 9b secured to the discharge pipe 6, the rigid parts being articulated mutually around a parallel and substantially coaxial axis. to the axis of rotation of the yokes 15.

  A flexible link 22 is fixed on the one hand to the bottom of the tank 25 11 at a fixed point 23 located in front of the free end 4 of the pipe 3, and on the other hand to the crossbar 17.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the floats 12 rest on the bottom 11 of the tank 2. In this position, the transverse bar 17 is situated at a level lower than that of the second ends 16 of the 30 arms 13, and passes transversely into below the retaining member 19. The crossbar 17 is brought against the free end 4 of the pipe 3 by its own weight or alternatively by a return element not shown, which tends to bring the crossbar 17 towards the floats 12 according to arrow FI.

  The operation of the automatic flush will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 showing different stages 5 of filling and emptying, and retaining the numerical references used previously.

  In Figure 1, the pipe 3 and the floats 12 rest on the bottom of the tank. The transverse bar 17 and the retaining tooth 19, forming a removable hooking device, cooperate with each other 10 for the fixing of the floats 12 on the pipe 3.

  In FIG. 2, the tank 2 is partially filled, but the pipe 3 and the floats 12 have not moved.

  In FIG. 3, the level of liquid in the tank 2 has increased.

  During the upward movement of the floats 12 due to their buoyancy, the transverse bar 17 passing under the retaining member 19 drives the free end 4 of the pipe 3 upwards. The free end 4 is thus kept close to the surface of the liquid. As shown, the flexible connection 22 is almost stretched. The arms 13, and therefore the crossbar 17 and the floats 12, 20 as well as the pipe 3 driven by the crossbar 17, move together in an arc having the center l horizontal axis of rotation defined by the yokes 15 and the flexible connector 7. The transverse bar 17 is also recalled in the position of cooperation with the retaining member 19. Consequently, during such a movement, the transverse bar 17 can drive the tube 3 without risk of stalling with the retaining member 19.

  In the range of movement of the transverse bar 17 corresponding to the filling of the tank 2 (FIGS. 1 to 3), the flexible connection 22 is not tensioned. In this range of movement, the transverse bar 17 moves in an arc of a circle with relatively little variation in distance relative to the fixed point 23. If the movement of the floats 12 and of the pipe 3 continues (FIGS. 3 and 4), the distance between the fixed point 23 and the transverse bar 17 increases, the flexible connection 22 tightens and retains the transverse bar 17. In doing so, the flexible link 22 exerts a force against the return member of the crossbar 17, tending to move the crossbar 17 away from the pipe 3, and to disengage the crossbar 17 from the retaining member 19, as illustrated by arrow F2 (figure 3).

  When the bar 17 is detached from the retaining member 19, as shown in FIG. 4, the pipe 3, the descent of which is accelerated by the ballast 10, flows to the bottom of the tank 2. The tank 2 is 10 then emptied by siphon effect in the pipe 3, the liquid flowing according to arrow F3.

  During the gradual emptying of the tank 2, the floats 12 descend with the level of liquid in the tank 2 as shown in FIG. 5.

  When the liquid level drops below a certain level, the transverse bar 17 is no longer spread by the flexible connection 22, and is returned by the return element. The transverse bar 17, descending with the floats 12, then comes to press on the upper inclined surface 20 of the retaining member 19. The floats 12 further descending, the transverse bar 17 is guided on the inclined surface 20 to gradually spread until the floats 12 rest on the bottom 11 of the tank 2. In this position, the bar 17 exceeds the lower end of the inclined surface 20 of the retaining member 19 and is repositioned under the 'retaining member 19 at 25 snapping, under the effect of the return element. The floats 12 and the pipe 3 are again hooked to each other using the removable hooking device. The flush is ready for the next use.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been illustrated. One could consider other removable snap fastening devices or other triggering elements. For example, one could provide a latching member fixed to the pipe and urged by a return element, the retaining member being formed by a transverse bar rigidly fixed between the arms.

  Furthermore, the flexible connection could be replaced by a cam disposed at a determined level in the tank and a cam follower disposed on the cross bar to cause the cross bar and the retaining member to come off when the cross bar reaches a predetermined level in the tank.

  An embodiment has been described with two lateral floats 10 allowing symmetry of the applied forces. Of course, one could provide a float, or more than two floats. One could also provide floats with fixing means in the tank different from the articulated arms.

  Thanks to the invention, an automatic flush is obtained comprising floats and a dissociated hose and a removable hooking device allowing a precise detachment of the hose to perform emptying when the liquid level reaches a precise level in the tank. The removable hanging device can be reliably and securely removed. The emptying begins quickly and reliably.

Claims (10)

  1. Automatic flush, for the draining of a liquid contained in a tank (2), comprising a drain pipe (3) provided with a movable free end (4) opening into the tank (2) and at least one float (12), characterized in that the float (12) is separate from the pipe (3), the flush comprising a removable hooking device (17, 19) for fixing the float (12) on the pipe (3 ), the removable hanging device is released when the liquid reaches a determined level in the tank in order to trigger a drain.   2. Flush according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one triggering element (22) establishing a level and able to unhook the float (12) from the pipe (3) automatically when the liquid exceeds a determined level 15 in the tank (2).   3. Flush according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the removable attachment device comprises a latching member (17) and a retaining member (19) arranged on the float (12) and the pipe (3), and said members being able to cooperate to hook the float to the pipe automatically when the liquid falls below a determined level in the tank.   4. Hunting according to claim 3 characterized in that the latching member (17) is movable against a return element.   5. Hunting according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises a flexible connection (22) of determined length connecting the latching member (17) at a fixed point.   6. Flush according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pipe comprises a rigid portion (3) and a flexible connector (7).   7. Hunting according to any one of the preceding claims 5, characterized in that a float (12) is arranged on an arm (13) articulated around a horizontal axis.   8. Hunting according to claim 7, characterized in that the pipe (3) is articulated substantially around the same horizontal axis as the float (12).   9. Hunting according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pipe is provided with a ballast (10).   10. Water purification station comprising a tank (2) provided with a water inlet and a water discharge, and comprising an automatic flush according to any one of claims 1 to 8.