An apparatus for recovering fluid substances floating on a water surface or the like

Claim 1

An apparatus for the recovery of fluid substances floating on water surfaces or the like, characterized by the fact that it consists of two floating bodies or hulls (1) having a symmetrical configuration with respect to the longitudinal, vertical center plane of the apparatus and which are spaced apart from one another and are connected to longitudinal and transversal vertical walls as well as to inclined and horizontal walls (3, 4, 4a, 5, 5a) which form a longitudinal channel (2, 2a), which begins at its front part with a weir sill (6) and, which is closed at the bottom and at its rear part, the rear portion of the- channel (2, 2a) being deeper (than the preceding one), so as to form a calm basin closed at the rear and by a transversal wall (4), behind which a chamber (11) is arranged which leads to the calm basin (2a) through a conduit (34) having an orifice (10) arranged in the lowest portion of the wall (4), while in the bottom (31) of the chamber (11) a counduit (12), opens in which operates a propeller (13) driven by a motor (20) of an adjustable speed, the outlet end of the conduit (12) being connected to a discharge conduit (17), the outlet orifice (17a) of which is so positioned as to be spaced apart from the liquid surface, inside of the basin (2a) an apparatus (9 or 25) being mounted adapted to collect the floating fluid, the apparatus being so constructed that the center of gravity of its empty weight be placed before the center of gravity of the water mass which can be contained in the channel (2, 2a) and in the chamber (11), when the propeller is stationary, and the floating bodies have their buoyancy centers placed in the transversal plane passing through the center of gravity of the empty apparatus, and wherein the configuration of the channel (2, 2a) is such that as the pump (13) becomes operative the center of gravity of the water layer which is removed, in order to create a difference in level between the outer water head and the inner head, is displaced or will be displaced quickly behind the center of gravity of the apparatus at its maximum weight, so that the removal of the water layer can cause a rotation of the apparatus about its pitching axis in order to lower the sill (6) until the desired depth.

Claim 2

An apparatus for the recovery of fluid substances floating on water surfaces or the like, characterized by the fact that it consists of two floating bodies or hulls (1) having a symmetrical configuration with respect to the longitudinal, vertical center plane of the apparatus and which are spaced apart from one another and are connected to longitudinal and transversal vertical walls as well as to inclined and horizontal walls (3, 4, 4a, 5, 5a) which form a longitudinal channel (2, 2a), which begins at its front part with a weir sill (6) and, which is closed at the bottom and at its rear part, the rear portion of the- channel (2, 2a) being deeper (than the preceding one), so as to form a calm basin closed at the rear and by a transversal wall (4), behind which a chamber (11) is arranged which leads to the calm basin (2a) through a conduit (34) having an orifice (10) arranged in the lowest portion of the wall (4), while in the bottom (31) of the chamber (11) a counduit (12), opens in which operates a propeller (13) driven by a motor (20) of an adjustable speed, the outlet end of the conduit (12) being connected to a discharge conduit (17), the outlet orifice (17a) of which is so positioned as to be spaced apart from the liquid surface, inside of the basin (2a) an apparatus (9 or 25) being mounted adapted to collect the floating fluid, the apparatus being so constructed that the center of gravity of its empty weight be placed before the center of gravity of the water mass which can be contained in the channel (2, 2a) and in the chamber (11), when the propeller is stationary, and the floating bodies have their buoyancy centers placed in the transversal plane passing through the center of gravity of the empty apparatus, and wherein the configuration of the channel (2, 2a) is such that as the pump (13) becomes operative the center of gravity of the water layer which is removed, in order to create a difference in level between the outer water head and the inner head, is displaced or will be displaced quickly behind the center of gravity of the apparatus at its maximum weight, so that the removal of the water layer can cause a rotation of the apparatus about its pitching axis in order to lower the sill (6) until the desired depth.