SLUDGE COLLECTOR METHOD AND DRIVE WITH SHARED REEL FOR TAKING UP AND PAYING OUT CABLES

摘要

Apparatus for simultaneously taking up and paying out first and second ends of respective first and second cables is provided for traversing a carriage in a clarifier basin. Each of the cables has the same active length. A reel has a cylindrical drum, opposite ends, and a pair of cable retainers. One of the retainers is adjacent to one of the opposite ends and on a first diametric side of the drum. The other of the retainers is adjacent to the other of the opposite ends and on a second or opposite diametric side of the drum. The second diametric side is opposite to the first diametric side. In a method of the invention, the first end of the first cable is secured to the one retainer. the drum is adapted to receive all of the active length of the first cable in one layer thereon or all of said active length of the second cable in one layer thereon or a wound portion of the active length of each of the cables in one layer thereon, with the wound one layer portions sharing the drum in side-by-side relation. The method winds the active length of the first cable completely onto the drum and then the second cable is secured to the other retainer. The drum is then rotated to pay out the first cable and take up the second cable and traverse the carriage in the basin.