Sludge removal system

Abstract

A sludge removal system for removing contaminants from a fluid storage tank. The sludge removal system includes a contaminant intake for receiving contaminants within the tank and a removal member for transporting the contaminants from the contaminant intake to the outside of the tank. The contaminant intake prevents the layer of contaminants or sludge from reaching a predetermined level within the tank. The contaminant intake is formed to define a plurality of perforations that can receive contaminants from the storage tank. Portions of the contaminant intake are in communication with the removal member via joint members, such as flexible or swivel joints. The joint members permit the portions of the contaminant intake to rotationally move between a first position distal to the bottom of the tank and a second position proximate to the bottom of the tank.

1 . A contaminant removal device for a tank with fluid, the tank having a bottom, the contaminant removal device comprising: 
 a contaminant intake adapted to receive contaminants within a fluid tank; and    a removal member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the removal member is in communication with the contaminant intake and the second end of the removal member is in communication with an outside of the tank, and wherein the removal member is adapted for transporting contaminants between the contaminant intake and the outside of the tank.    
     
     
         2 . The contaminant removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the contaminant intake is further adapted to prevent a top level of contaminants at the bottom of the tank from reaching a predetermined level within the tank.  
     
     
         3 . The contaminant removal device of  claim 2 , wherein the contaminant intake is formed to define a plurality of perforations adapted to receive contaminants within the fluid tank.  
     
     
         4 . The contaminant removal device of  claim 3 , wherein the contaminant intake further comprises at least one joint member in communication with the removal member and at least one portion of the contaminant intake, wherein the at least one joint member is adapted to allow the at least one portion of the contaminant intake to rotationally move between a first position distal to the bottom of the tank and a second position proximate to the bottom of the tank.  
     
     
         5 . The contaminant removal device of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one joint member is further adapted to allow the at least one portion of the contaminant intake to extend along a contour of the bottom of the tank.  
     
     
         6 . The contaminant removal device of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one joint member is a flexible joint.  
     
     
         7 . The contaminant removal device of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one joint member is a swivel joint.  
     
     
         8 . The contaminant removal device of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one portion of the contaminant intake is generally parallel to the removal member when in the first position and generally perpendicular to the removal member when in the second position.  
     
     
         9 . The contaminant removal device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one portion of the contaminant intake is in the first position when inserted into an opening on top of the tank and wherein the at least one portion of the contaminant intake is in the second position when located near the bottom of the tank.  
     
     
         10 . The contaminant removal device of  claim 8 , wherein the removal member is further adapted to pivot between a third position proximate to a first side of the tank, a fourth position proximate to the middle of the tank, and a fifth position proximate to a second side of the tank opposite the first side, thereby moving the contaminant intake between the first side of the tank, the middle of the tank, and the second side of the tank.  
     
     
         11 . The contaminant removal device of  claim 8 , wherein the removal member is further adapted to rotate about a central axis, wherein the central axis of the removal member is generally perpendicular to the bottom of the tank, thereby spinning the contaminant intake in a circular pattern along the bottom of the tank.  
     
     
         12 . The contaminant removal device of  claim 8 , wherein the contaminant intake further comprises a plurality of contaminant extensions adapted to receive contaminants within the fluid tank, wherein the plurality of contaminant extensions are generally perpendicular to the contaminant intake.  
     
     
         13 . The contaminant removal device of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one portion of the contaminant intake comprises: 
 an outer tube having a proximal first end and a distal second end, and having a hollow interior; and    an inner tube having a proximal first end and a distal second end, the inner tube being telescopingly disposed within the outer tube, wherein the proximal first end of the inner tube slides from the proximal first end of the outer tube to the distal second end of the outer tube.    
     
     
         14 . The contaminant removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the removal member comprises a coupling member adapted to connect a suction device to the removal member.  
     
     
         15 . The contaminant removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the contaminant intake further comprises a plurality of scrapers adapted to scrape contaminants from the bottom of the tank.  
     
     
         16 . A sludge removal device for a fluid tank, the tank having a bottom, the sludge removal device comprising: 
 a sludge intake having a form to define a plurality of perforations adapted to receive sludge within a fluid tank;    a stand pipe having a first end in communication with a middle of the sludge intake and a second end in communication with an outside of the tank,    wherein the sludge intake is adapted to prevent a top level of sludge at the bottom of the tank from reaching a predetermined level within the tank and wherein the stand pipe is adapted for transporting sludge between the sludge intake and the outside of the tank.    
     
     
         17 . The sludge removal device of  claim 16 , wherein the sludge intake further comprises: 
 a first flexible joint in communication with the stand pipe and a first portion of the sludge intake; and    a second flexible joint in communication with the stand pipe and a second portion of the sludge intake,    wherein the first flexible joint is adapted to allow the first portion of the sludge intake to rotationally move between a first position generally perpendicular to the bottom of the tank and a second position generally parallel to the bottom of the tank and wherein the second flexible joint is adapted to allow the second portion of the sludge intake to rotationally move between a third position generally perpendicular to the bottom of the tank and a fourth position generally parallel to the bottom of the tank.    
     
     
         18 . The sludge removal device of  claim 17 , wherein the first portion of the sludge intake is in the first position and the second portion of the sludge intake is in the third position when the sludge intake is inserted into an opening on top of the tank and wherein the first portion of the sludge intake is in the second position and the second portion of the sludge intake is in the fourth position when the sludge intake nears the bottom of the tank.  
     
     
         19 . The sludge removal device of  claim 16 , wherein the second end of the stand pipe includes a quick connection coupling for attaching a pump.  
     
     
         20 . A sludge removal device for a fluid tank, the tank having a bottom, the sludge removal device comprising: 
 a sludge intake having a form to define a plurality of perforations adapted to receive sludge within a fluid tank, wherein the sludge intake is adapted to prevent a top level of sludge at the bottom of the tank from reaching a predetermined level within the tank;    a stand pipe having a first end in communication with a middle of the sludge intake and a second end in communication with an outside of the tank, wherein the stand pipe is adapted for transporting sludge between the sludge intake and the outside of the tank;    at least one flexible joint in communication with the stand pipe and at least one portion of the sludge intake, wherein the at least one flexible joint is adapted to allow the at least one portion of the sludge intake to rotationally move between a first position generally perpendicular to the bottom of the tank and a second position generally parallel to the bottom of the tank; and    a pump in communication with the second end of the stand pipe, wherein the pump is adapted to provide suction for the removal of sludge from within the tank.