Fluid separation device

Claim 1

A device for separating liquids of differing physical properties comprising: a hollow nonrotatable axle, at least one end of which is open, a plurality of flat, circular discs rotatably secured to said axle at substantially right angles thereto, at least one opening in the upper surface of said axle extending under each of said discs, a plurality of wipers secured to said axle and impinging against at least one side of each of said discs, said wipers being displaced so that the lower portions thereof are substantially vertically aligned with said opening, whereby materials scraped from the surface of said discs will fall through said openings and into the hollow portion of said axle, drum means secured to said axle and adapted to rotate in conjunction with said discs, said drum means including a plurality of vanes extending parallel to and equidistantly from said axle.

Claim 2

A device for separating liquids of differing physical properties comprising: a hollow nonrotatable axle, at least one end of which is open, a plurality of flat, circular discs rotatably secured to said axle at substantially right angles thereto, at least one opening in the upper surface of said axle extending under each of said discs, a plurality of wipers secured to said axle and impinging against at least one side of each of said discs, said wipers being displaced so that the lower portions thereof are substantially vertically aligned with said opening, whereby materials scraped from the surface of said discs will fall through said openings and into the hollow portion of said axle, drum means secured to said axle and adapted to rotate in conjunction with said discs, said drum means including a plurality of vanes extending parallel to and equidistantly from said axle.

Claim 6

A device for separating fluids of differing physical properties comprising: a support frame, means attached to said frame and adapted to provide support in fluid media, a channel member suspended from the underportion of said frame having a flared, scoop portion on at least one end thereof, said channel member and said scoop portion being adapted to be positioned beneath the surface of the fluids in which said frame is suspended, a hollow, nonrotative axle having a longitudinal opening in the upper surface thereof extending transversely across said channel, a pair of end plates rotatably mounted on said axle, a plurality of vanes attached to said end plates equidistantly from said axle and adapted to rotate thereabout in conjunction with said end plates, a series of discs interlockingly secured to each of said vanes and extending inwardly and within the drum formed by said vanes, said discs and said drum assembly being adapted to extend into and beneath the surface of the fluid on which said assembly is floated, wiper blades mounted upon said axle and flexibly biased into scraping engagement wIth the surface of said discs, the bottom ends of said wiper blades being positioned above the longitudinal opening in said axle, a reservoir sump system for receiving fluid as it exits from said hollow axle, and pump means associated with said reservoir sump for removing fluids from said sump.

Claim 7

A device for separating fluids of differing physical properties comprising: a support frame, means attached to said frame and adapted to provide support in fluid media, a channel member suspended from the underportion of said frame having a flared, scoop portion on at least one end thereof, said channel member and said scoop portion being adapted to be positioned beneath the surface of the fluids in which said frame is suspended, a hollow, nonrotative axle having a longitudinal opening in the upper surface thereof extending transversely across said channel, a pair of end plates rotatably mounted on said axle, a plurality of vanes attached to said end plates equidistantly from said axle and adapted to rotate thereabout in conjunction with said end plates, a series of discs interlockingly secured to each of said vanes and extending inwardly and within the drum formed by said vanes, said discs and said drum assembly being adapted to extend into and beneath the surface of the fluid on which said assembly is floated, wiper blades mounted upon said axle and flexibly biased into scraping engagement wIth the surface of said discs, the bottom ends of said wiper blades being positioned above the longitudinal opening in said axle, a reservoir sump system for receiving fluid as it exits from said hollow axle, and pump means associated with said reservoir sump for removing fluids from said sump.

Claim 10

A device for separating fluids of differing physical properties comprising: receptacle means of such shape as to allow fluid flow in a substantially circular manner, a hub substantially in the center of said receptacle means, a hollow axle substantially traversing the distance between the hub and the outer periphery of said receptacle, said axle having an opening in the upper portion thereof, a plurality of discs journaled upon and adapted to rotate about said hollow axle, wiper means associated with said discs for scraping fluid therefrom as the discs rotate therepast, drum means surrounding said disc and wiper assemblies, said drum means comprising a series of separated, overlapping vanes equidistantly journaled on said axle and adapted to rotate in conjunction with said discs, a sump associated with the outer periphery of said receptacle means, an aperture leading from the hollow axle into said sump, a passageway positioned substantially at the base of the wall separating said sump from said receptacle, means to remove fluid from said sump, and an overflow outlet weir associated with said receptacle, said weir having an aperture in communication of the interior of said receptacle which aperture is positioned near the operating level of the heavier of the fluids to be separated.

Claim 11

A device for separating fluids of differing physical properties comprising: receptacle means of such shape as to allow fluid flow in a substantially circular manner, a hub substantially in the center of said receptacle means, a hollow axle substantially traversing the distance between the hub and the outer periphery of said receptacle, said axle having an opening in the upper portion thereof, a plurality of discs journaled upon and adapted to rotate about said hollow axle, wiper means associated with said discs for scraping fluid therefrom as the discs rotate therepast, drum means surrounding said disc and wiper assemblies, said drum means comprising a series of separated, overlapping vanes equidistantly journaled on said axle and adapted to rotate in conjunction with said discs, a sump associated with the outer periphery of said receptacle means, an aperture leading from the hollow axle into said sump, a passageway positioned substantially at the base of the wall separating said sump from said receptacle, means to remove fluid from said sump, and an overflow outlet weir associated with said receptacle, said weir having an aperture in communication of the interior of said receptacle which aperture is positioned near the operating level of the heavier of the fluids to be separated.

Claim 12

A device for separating fluids of differing physical properties comprising: axle means constituting a hollow cylinder, at least one end of which is open, at least one disc rotatably secured to said axle means and adapted to be partially immersed in the fluids to be separated, wiper means associated with said disc for removing fluids from the disc as it rotates therepast, an opening in the upper portion of said axle located substantially beneath said wiper means and adapted to receive fluids as it is removed from said disc by said wiper means, and drum means surrounding said disc and wiper assemblies.

Claim 13

A device for separating fluids of differing physical properties comprising: axle means constituting a hollow cylinder, at least one end of which is open, at least one disc rotatably secured to said axle means and adapted to be partially immersed in the fluids to be separated, wiper means associated with said disc for removing fluids from the disc as it rotates therepast, an opening in the upper portion of said axle located substantially beneath said wiper means and adapted to receive fluids as it is removed from said disc by said wiper means, and drum means surrounding said disc and wiper assemblies.

Claim 14

A device for separating fluids of differing physical properties comprising: axle means, at least one disc rotatably secured to said axle means and adapted to be partially immersed in the fluids to be separated, wiper means associated with said disc for removing fluids from the disc as it rotates therepast, and drum means surrounding said disc and wiper assemblies, said drum means including a plurality of separated, overlapping, vanes equidistantly journaled on said axle and adapted to rotate in conjunction with said disc, the distance between said vanes being such as to allow ingress into the interior of the drum of the fluids to be separated.

Claim 15

A device for separating fluids of differing physical properties comprising: axle means, at least one disc rotatably secured to said axle means and adapted to be partially immersed in the fluids to be separated, wiper means associated with said disc for removing fluids from the disc as it rotates therepast, and drum means surrounding said disc and wiper assemblies, said drum means including a plurality of separated, overlapping, vanes equidistantly journaled on said axle and adapted to rotate in conjunction with said disc, the distance between said vanes being such as to allow ingress into the interior of the drum of the fluids to be separated.