US3623609A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Skimmer for separating flowing liquids from water
Assignee: JOHN A AINLAY
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Filing: 1969-12-02
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Granted: 1971-11-30
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Expires: 1989-12-02
Abstract
Abstract A floating, seagoing skimmer has a separating chamber communicating at its lower end with the body of water into which it is placed, a weir at the front of the chamber having a forwardly extending curved surface which terminates in a skimming edge and a rotating vaned impeller whose path of movement is disposed relatively closely to the curved surface of the weir so as to carry the combined floating liquid and water over the weir and into the separating chamber. The top of the weir is substantially above the water surface so as to create a hydrostatic head for causing waterflow out of the bottom of the chamber and the number of vanes in the impeller, its speed of rotation and its depth of penetration are such as to move the combined floating liquid and water with a minimum of turbulence. The skimming edge ahead of the weir is adapted to be held somewhat below the interface of the floating liquid and water surface.
Inventors
- 👤 John A Ainlay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:12
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/10; E02B15/104
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
38 words
The invention according to claim 1 characterized in that the angle of the line from the top of the said weir and the axis of said impeller is less than 90* from the vertical diameter of the impeller.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention according to claim 1 characterized in that the vanes on said impeller are separated from each other by about 24* and the angle of the line from the top of the said weir and the axis of said impeller is about 72*.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention according to claim 1 characterized in that attached to the forward end of said curved weir there is a skimming plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention according to claim 4 characterized in that the forward end of said skimming plane is adjustable in height relative to the forward end of the curved weir.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention according to claim 1 characterized in that each end of said vanes includes an extension directed toward the direction of impeller rotation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention according to claim 1 characterized in that said separating apparatus includes two pontoon members, one on each side of said apparatus, for supporting the said apparatus at the predetermined level in said body of water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The invention according to claim 7 characterized in that each one of said pontoon members includes separate forward and rearward sections for controlling the fore-and-aft trim of said apparatus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention according to claim 8 characterized in that said pontoon members include means for controlling the water level therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to claim 8 characterized in that each pontoon section includes an opening to the body of water and means for controlling the ingress and egress of air.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
The invention accoRding to claim 1 characterized in that the separating chamber includes a primary chamber, a secondary chamber, and means permitting liquid flow between said primary and secondary chambers at the lower extremity thereof, and in that the communication from the separating chamber to the body of water is from said secondary chamber at a point remote from said flow-permitting means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention according to claim 11 characterized in that there is included a baffle in said secondary chamber between the flow-permitting means and the communication from said secondary chamber to the body of water.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention according to claim 1 characterized in that said impeller includes a cylindrical drum which is substantially concentric with the curved forward surface of said weir and said vanes extend from the surface of said drum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
360 words
Apparatus for separating liquid floating on the surface of a body of water from the water and returning the separated water to the body of water, comprising a separating chamber for disposition in such body of water and having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion being adapted to be above the surface of the body of water by a predetermined amount and said lower portion being adapted to be maintained below the surface of said body of water by a predetermined amount, a wall terminating the rear of said chamber and having an opening at its lower portion for communication with said body of water, a weir terminating the front of said chamber, a baffle member between said wall and said weir and having an opening at its lower end for permitting flow therethrough, said weir having an upper edge which is adapted to be disposed a predetermined distance above the surface of said body of water to provide a hydrostatic head in said chamber for causing flow of water through the opening in said baffle member and through the opening in said rear wall, said chamber and at least a portion of said body of water being movable relative to each other whereby the direction of relative water movement is over the upper edge of said weir and into said chamber, a rotatable impeller having transverse radial vanes thereon and having an axis transversely of said direction of movement attached to said chamber forwardly of said weir for impelling said floating liquid and water over said weir and into said chamber, means for relatively nonturbulently rotating said impeller, said weir having a forward surface which is curved with a radius approximating the radius of said impeller and which extends to the point where the lowermost vane of said impeller is essentially in the vertical position, the axis of said impeller being located such that said vanes just easily clear the said curved forward surface of said weir, and the forward edge of said weir being adapted to be disposed an effective minimum distance below the interface of said floating liquid and said body of water.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention according to claim 14 characterized in that there is included a low-level flow control baffle between the opening at the lower end of said baffle member and the opening in said rear wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention according to claim 14 characterized in that there is attached to the baffle member on the rotatable impeller side and below the liquid level in said chamber a trough for collecting said floating liquid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention according to claim 14 characterized in that there is included means for removing floating liquid from said trough.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-29 | 1975-05-31 | 1975-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-29 | 1979-05-31 | 1979-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-29 | 1983-05-31 | 1983-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |