Drives

Heavy-Duty Precision Cage Drives

Cage drives are mounted atop a center column within the clarifier or thickener. The bridge and walkway are mounted directly to the drive housing, while the cage assembly suspends the sludge collection mechanism and skimmers.

Key Features:

• Four-point Gothic arch precision main bearing

• Oil bath lubricated main gear

• Parallel helical gearmotor with shear pin protection

• Secondary planetary speed reducer

• No lower pinion bearing required (except extreme torque applications)

Ideal Applications:

• Municipal clarifiers

• Industrial wastewater treatment

• Power plant basins

• Mining thickeners

Cage Drives with Lift Mechanism

For heavy sludge and high torque applications, ClearStream cage drives can include a torque-actuated lift system that automatically raises the rake assembly during high torque events.

• Automatic lift during overload

• Manual push-button lowering

• Ideal for mining and thickening

Multi-Pinion Cage Drives

For extremely high torque requirements, multi-pinion cage drives utilize 2, 3, or 4 pinion stacks to distribute load evenly and provide long-term durability.

• High torque capacity

• Low maintenance operation

• Long operational lifespan

Dual Cage Drives

Used when an additional rotating component is required, such as:

• Solids contact clarifiers

• Flocculating clarifiers

Includes a secondary high-speed drive to power impellers or flocculation mixers.

Heavy-Duty Shaft Drives

Shaft drives are bridge-mounted and suspend the shaft, skimmers, and sludge collection mechanisms from above.

Benefits:

• Ideal for full-span bridge clarifiers

• Accessible via half or full bridge walkway

• Side or top influent configurations

Shaft Drives with Lift

• Torque-actuated automatic rake lifting

• Manual lowering system

• Ideal for mining and thickening

Dual Shaft Drives

When an application requires an additional rotating component—such as an impeller in a solids contact clarifier or a flocculating mixer in a flocculating clarifier—a dual shaft drive is utilized. This configuration incorporates a secondary high-speed drive dedicated to powering the impeller or flocculator, ensuring efficient mixing and optimal process performance.

• Impellers

• Flocculators

• Solids contact clarifiers

Multi-Pinion Shaft Drives

For very high torque applications requiring distributed load across multiple gear stacks.

• 2–4 pinion configurations

• Enhanced durability

• Long maintenance intervals

Hydraulic drives utilize the same robust secondary reducer found in precision gear/bearing drives and include:

• Easy-to-read torque dial

• Optional 4–20 mA signal for control room monitoring

• Available in both cage and shaft configurations

Hydraulic systems offer enhanced control and flexibility for demanding industrial applications.

For light-duty mixing or small clarifiers (<25 ft diameter), direct drives provide a cost-effective alternative.

Advantages:

• Lower upfront cost

• Same upper reducer as precision drives

• Built-in torque measurement dial

• Optional 4–20 mA signal

• Available in cage or shaft mount

Direct drives can also be powered by hydraulic power units for additional flexibility.