US2851162A - Fish saving apparatus for traveling screens - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 9, 1958 L. G. BLEYER 2,851,162

- FISH SAVING APPARATUS FOR TRAVELING SCREENS Filed oct. 16. 1952 2 shetssneet 1 Sept. 9, 1958 L. G. BLEYER 2,851,162

FISH SAVING APPARATUS FOR TRAVELING SCREENS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 16, 1952 INVENTOR Lloyd Gleyer',

ATTORNEY United States Patent FISH SAVING APPARATUS FOR TRAVELING SCREENS Application October 16, 1952, Serial No. 315,109

7 Claims. (Cl. 210--158) The invention relates to apparatus for screening water whereby to condition it for industrial use 0r other purposes, and more especially to traveling water screens of v the type shown, for example, in prior U. S. Patents No. 1,781,223 granted November 11, 1930; No. 1,815,137 granted July 21, 1931, and No. 1,856,381 granted May 3, 1932.

Briefly, such screens comprise Ia series of adjoining screen elements or baskets carried by a pair .of transversely spaced endless strands of long-pitch chain which are trained about head and boot sprockets journaled in a framework that includes transversely spaced vertical members providing guides for at least the forward or upwardly moving run of the screen. The apparatus is mounted in a substantially vertical position across the ume or conduit through which the water is withdrawn from the river, lake or other source, and extends from the bottom of such ilume to above the highest level the water may attain therein so that all of the Water must pass through the screen. When the solids carried by the water accumulate on the screening elements of the forward run to such an lextent as to materially reduce the ilow of screened water, the apparatus is moved by appropriate power means to raise the fouled elements from the ume and bring clean baskets from the rearward run into screening position. Such movements usually are made only once or twice a day, although of course they may take place at more frequent intervals if the quantity of solids carried by the water so dictates. As indicated in said Patent No. 1,781,223 and also in prior Patent No. 1,942,381, the solids usually are removed from the elevated baskets by means .of jets or sprays of water at relatively high pressure, projected against and through the screening elements from the rear thereof.

The individual screen baskets comprise an open rectangular metallic frame which supports a wire mesh or similar screening member, and the transverse members of said frame are formed to provide seals between adjacent baskets which effectively prevent trash from escaping through the joint between Ithe baskets, not only when they are disposed in the straight forward run of the screen but also when they are traveling about the submerged boot sprockets. The trailing transverse frame member of each basket usually is also formed to provide a trash-lifting lip which serves to elevate twigs and other relatively large solids when the screening elements are raised to the cleaning position, and the above mentioned jets or sprays of -cleaning water also sweep these lips to remove the solids therefrom. t

In the use of screens of the character above described to effect removal of solids from water taken from rivers, lakes or other natural bodies in which fish are present, it has been found that many small vish pressed against the screen elements by the water current are carried up by the trash lips when the baskets are withdrawn from the ume for cleaning, and that if such fish are subjected to the action of the high pressure cleaning jets or sprays Patented Sept. 9, 1958 HCC they are frequently killed or seriously injured. From the `standpoint of the conservation of wild life it is desirable that this. be avoided, and therefore it is the principalobject of the present invention to provide simple` and ef. fective means whereby any fish which may be elevated by the screening apparatus will be returned `to. the body of unscreened water` without substantial harm. lOne form of apparatus constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specif-` ication, in whichlike reference characters `design'ate'like parts throughout the views, and in'which: .f Figure l is a side elevational View, partly in section, of the upper portion of a water screen of the character above described and equipped with the present fish-Savin devices; A `1 Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the parts shown inFig.1; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View, `onan enlarged scale and partly broken away, taken approximately'on the planes indicated by the line 3--3 in Fig. 2, looking down, and with the piping for supplying Alow pressure water to the apparatus omitted; f" Fig. 4 is a front elevational view, partly broken away and in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 lis a vertical sectional-elevational'View onf-ap'- proximately the planes indicated 'by the line 5-5 in Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows. t

Referring to said drawings in greater detail, the cori-vk ventional traveling water screen shown comprises a frame: work which includes a pair of transversely spaced vertical members 11 and 12 that extend fromthe bottomof the flume or raw water conduit to above the door 13 of the screen house and are provided lat theirupper ends with upwardly extended guide members 14'betwe`en which are slidably mounted the adjustable bearing blocks 15 which journal the head shaft 16. The said shaft rigidly carries the head sprockets 17, and is driven by a motor 18 through .a speed reducing mechanism 19 and a chain drive 20. N

The screening mechanism proper comprises a long ii tudinally alined series of screenelements or basketsl 21, each of which includes a rectangular metal vframe cm-v prising segmental end plates 22 and 23 joined by trans# verse rails or members 24 and 25 which, as best shown in Fig. 5, are formed to provide trash-excluding seals b'etween adjacent baskets. The members 24 also provide 4the forwardly projecting trash lifting lips mentioned above. A sheet of wire mesh or similar screening material 26 is secured within the basket frame, and the respective end plates 22 and Z3 of each such frame are rigidly attached to complemental links of the transversely spaced endless strands of long-pitch roller chain 27 which are ktrained over the head sprockets 17. The upright members 11 and 12 of the stationary framework of the apparatus are p rovided along their forward edges with inturned anges 28 and 29 respectively which, in conjunction with the ver: tical angle irons 30 and 31 secured to the members 11 and 12 in rearwardly spaced relation to said flanges, provide guide channels in which the forward runs of the chains'27 travel, as will be clear from Fig. 3.

The conventional screening apparatus also includes: a header 32 supplied with waterunder considerablepressure from any suitable source, which header is equipped" with a plurality of nozzles 33 arranged to project sprays of said water against the rearward surfaces of the screening elements when they are elevated to the cleaning posi-V tion, whereby to dislodge the debris accumulated onsaid elements and Hush it into a refuse trough 34, all as in said prior `Patents Nos. 1,781,223 and 1,942,381. p

The fish-saving devices constituting the gist of the present invention comprise the following:

Each screen basket 21 is provided with a trough 35 adjacent and paralleling'the trash-lifting lip 24 and extending from one end plate of the basket to the other; and an opening 36 is cut through the end plate 22 to provide a discharge port for said trough. To the forward face of the ange 28 of the vertical frame member 11 there is rigidly secured a wooden or equivalent rubbing strip 37 which extends downwardly from the floor level 13 to at least below the lowest water level contemplated in the ume. A similar `strip 38 is secured to the flange 29 of the frame member 12, which strip however is mounted for limited lateral movement relative to. the ange and is backed by a plurality of leaf springs 39 carried by brackets 40 secured to the flange, which springs continuously press the strip 38 against the end plates 23 of the baskets and in turn press the other end plates 22 against the strip 37. When viewed as in Figs. 1 and 5, the strip 37 is alined with openings 36 in the basket end plates 22 and is of suicient width to close said openings and thereby prevent discharge from the troughs 35 so long as the openings adjoin the strip.

An open topped receptacle 41 is secured to the flange 28 of frame member 11 above the rubbing strip 37 and the inward wall of said receptacle is provided with an elongated opening 42 disposed for registration with the discharge ports 36 of the troughs 35 after the screen baskets are elevated above the upper end of the strip 37. A discharge conduit 43 leads from the lower portion of the Opposite wall of said receptacle 41, somewhat above the bottom of the latter whereby a well 44 is provided in which some water will always be present. The conduit 43 discharges into a channel 45 which extends to the river, lake or other body from which the water is being withdrawn for screening.

With the screening apparatus equipped with the elements just described, it will be readily understood that when the screen is moved to elevate the trash-loaded baskets to the cleaning position, the troughs 35 of the baskets will carry up any sh which may be trapped against the screen, along with the larger debris which heretofore has been raised by the trash lips 24, and also some of the flume Water. While the running joint between the basket end plates 22 and the rubbing strip 37 is not necessarily liquid tight, most of said water will be retained in the troughs until they reach the point of registration of their discharge ports 36 with the opening 42 in the receptacle 41. At this time the water will escape from the troughs into said receptacle, carrying with it any tish that may be present and perhaps some of the smaller debris, and will return to the source of the nume water through the conduit 43 andl channel 45. Twigs and other large trash carried up by the troughs will continue upward until dislodged by the high pressure sprays from the nozzles 33 and discharged into the refuse trough 34, as heretofore. The sh however, are not subjected to these high pressure sprays and therefore are not harmed as in the past.

As best shown in Figs. l and 2, a low pressure water system is provided for supplying water to the iish-saving apparatus at several points, whereby to further insure preservation of the fish and their return to the flume water source. A pipe leading from any appropriate source of supply discharges water into the channel 45 to maintain a continuous ow therein, at least when the screen is being moved; and a pipe 51 branching from said pipe 50 conducts water to a spray pipe 52 located in front of the screen between the oor level 13 and the level of the water in the flume. During the periods between movements of the screen one or more of the basket troughs 35 will have stopped above the said water level but below the point of discharge into the receptacle 41, and since as previously indicated the joint between the end plates 22 and the rubbing strip 37 is not wholly liquid tight, the ume water carried by such troughs will gradually leak out. The spray pipe 52 replenishes the water in such troughs during the time they are stationary and thus prevents any sh caught in the troughs from dying for lack of water.

A pipe 53 branching from pipe 51 discharges low pres sure water into the upper portion of the receptacle 41; and a pipe 54 also branching from pipe 51 discharges a jet of such water into the troughs 35 adjacent the closed ends thereof as they reach their discharge position opposite the said receptacle, whereby to flush the troughs and assist in transfer of the iish to the receptacle. If desired the several pipes may be provided with appropriate valves whereby the various low pressure water discharges may be regulated or cut olf as necessary.

The upper edge of the front wall of the troughs 35 preferably is serrated as at 55, the notches thus provided serving, especially when a trough is stationary and receiving water from the spray pipe 52, to permit escape of excess water over said front wall while at the same time the teeth between the notches prevent the sh from being carried out of the trough with such water.

While one form of the invention has been illustrated and described it is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of constructions as well as the precise arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore it is not wished to be limited to the above disclosure except as may be required by thc appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In water screening apparatus, the combination with an endless series of screen elements mounted for serial rectilinear movement upward from a screening position in a channel for containing a owing body of water, and means for so moving said elements, of water-retaining fish-receiving troughs carried by said screen elements, each such trough having an end discharge port; and means controlling said ports to prevent discharge of the trough contents until the troughs reach a determined point above the body of water in said channel.

2. In water screening apparatus, the combination of an endless series of screen elements mounted for serial rectilinear upward movement from a screening position in a channel for containing a tlowing body of water; means for so moving said elements; water-retaining fshreceiving troughs carried by said screen elements, each such trough having a discharge port at one of its ends; and a fixed member disposed above the water level in said channel and slidably engaged by the ported ends of said troughs to prevent discharge of the trough contents through said ports until the troughs reach a determined point above said water level.

3. In water screening apparatus, the combination with an endless series of screen elements mounted for serial rectilinear movement upward from a screening position in a channel for containing a flowing body of water, and means for so moving said elements, of water-retaining fish-receiving troughs carried by said screen elements, each such trough having a discharge port at one of its ends; a fixed member extending upwardly in said channel and slidably engaged by the ported ends of said troughs to prevent discharge of the trough contents until the troughs reach a determined point above the water level; and resilient means acting on the screen elements to maintain contact between said ported trough ends and said fixed member.

4. In Water screening apparatus, the combination with an endless series of screen elements mounted for serial rectilinear upward movement from a screening position in a channel for containing a flowing body of water, and means for so moving said elements, of water-retaining fish-receiving troughs carried by said screen elements, each such trough having a discharge port; a receptacle for receiving the sh from said troughs, mounted adjacent the path thereof and above the water level in said channel; and means controlling said trough ports to prevent discharge of the trough contents therethrough until the troughs reach said receptacle.

5. In Water screening apparatus, the combination with an endless series of screen elements mounted for serial rectilinear upward travel from a screening position in a channel for containing a flowing body of water, and means for so moving said elements, of water-retaining sh-receiving troughs carried by said screen elements, each such trough having a discharge port at one of its ends; a ported receptacle for receiving the sh from said troughs, mounted adjacent the path thereof above the water level in said channel; and a iXed member extending from said Water level to said receptacle and slidably engaged by the ported ends of the troughs to prevent discharge of the trough contents until the trough ports register with the receptacle port.

6. In water screening apparatus, the combination of an endless series of screen elements mounted for serial rectilinear upward movement from a screening position in a channel for containing a flowing body of water, each such element including a pair of end plates one of which is provided with a port; means for moving said screen elements; a horizontal water-retaining fish-receiving trough carried by each screen element between the end plates thereof with one of its ends registering with said plate port; a ported receptacle for receiving the sh from said troughs, mounted adjacent the path thereof above the water level in said channel; and a fixed rubbing strip extending from said water level to said receptacle and slidably engaged by the ported end plates of the screen elements to prevent discharge of the trough contents until the plate ports register with the port of said receptacle.

7. A screening element for traveling water screens, comprising a rectangular frame including spaced end plates, one of which is provided with a port; a reticulate screen member carried by said frame; and a waterretaining fish-receiving trough extending between said end plates and communicating with said port.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 264,395 Wilson Sept. 12, 1882 1,208,655 Reynolds Dec. 12, 1916 1,522,772 Fearnow et al. Jan. 13, 1925 1,590,688 Honeyman June 29, 1926 1,593,169 Geiger July 20, 1926 1,606,546 Wallene Nov. 9, 1926 1,640,653l Geiger Aug. 30, 1927 1,781,223 Gary Nov. 11, 1930 1,815,137 Bleyer July 21, 1931 1,856,381 Gary May 3, 1932 1,910,860 Sayers May 23, 1933 1,942,381 Benish Jan. 2, 1934 2,071,670 Warner Feb. 23, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 530,791 Great Britain Dec. 20, 1940

Images