Sludge Eliminator For Manure Pits

Sludge Eliminator For Manure Pits MANURE HANDLING Equipment 5-3-15 "It's light enough so one man can handle it," says Kim Brokaw, designer-manufacturer of a new "sludge eliminator" for manure pits. The complete unit is narrow enough (6 5/8 in. outside dia.) to slip into the pump-out portholes of manure pits. The sludge-busting auger is powered by a hydraulic piston motor. "It's more durable than a gear type motor or an orbit hydraulic motor," explains Brokow. "Although it normally is operated at 1800 rpm's for de-sludging solidified manure pits, it can be revved to 3,000 rpms and will develop up to 10 1/2 hp. A comparable size electric motor would weigh considerably more, making the unit awkward and too heavy for one man to handle. Our complete unit ùmotor and all ù weighs only 130 lbs. Another reason we went with the hydraulic piston motor is that it can run submerged in liquid, which means we get by with a much shorter drive shaft than we would need if we had gone with an electric motor." The auger is designed with inlets that have 3 times more area than the discharge outlets. This restraint forms a pressure which agitates, loosens and homogenizes liquid and solidified manure, turning it all into a combined slurry which a vacuum pump can suck out of the pit. Brokaw hasn't tried his "sludge eliminator" in slurry tanks that have solidified with sludge but plans to test this particular application. "We've had a lot of inquiries from owners of slurry tanks who have been looking for an easy, economical way to break up the accumulation of solids which, in many cases, has forced operators to close down complete systems. We're not making any promises that our sledge eliminator will solve the problem until we test it for this application, but we're hopeful that it can solve the problem, based on what the sludge eliminator has been able to do to break up the accumulation of solids in manure pits." The sludge eliminator sells for $1,640. It will operate off the hydraulic system of a small utility tractor and will homogenize accumulated solids and liquid manure within a radius up to about 40 ft., according to Brokaw. If the auger should happen to slug, it can be reversed to free the slug without hurting or damaging the motor. For more details, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, KC Brokaw Co., 701 North Birch Street, Monticello, Iowa 52310 fnh 319 465-51711.

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