Importance

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Abstract

A wastewater treatment apparatus comprising a generally circular tank having a wall; a rotatable driven bridge having one end positioned above the center of the tank and an opposite end supported above the tank wall; a sludge moving member supported by the bridge and movable in response to movement of the opposite end of the bridge along the tank wall; and a drive apparatus for moving the opposite end of the bridge along the tank wall. The drive apparatus includes a rail extending along the top of the wall, a frame supporting an end of the bridge, an idler wheel supporting the frame for movement along the top of the wall, a drive wheel rotatably supported on the frame, means for urging the drive wheel into frictional engagement with the surface of the rail, and a drive motor operably connected to the drive wheel for driving the drive wheel along the rail. Preferably, the means for urging the drive wheel is adjustable for controlling the frictional engagement of the drive wheel with the surface of the rail. The apparatus preferably further includes heating apparatus for heating one of the rail and drive wheel to prevent accumulation of ice and snow, and, more preferably, the heating apparatus includes the rail being a hollow member for containing heated fluid. Also, the surface of the rail and the drive wheel preferably are curved to provide a large surface area for frictional engagement of the rail and the drive wheel.

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First Claim