Continuous skimmer apparatus

Claim 2

A self-skimming apparatus comprising: a housing having a bottom and at least one sidewall; weir means within said housing including one pair of overflow weir members permitting fluid flow only over the tops thereof, of which the top of the first weir member is above the top of the second weir member, said first and second weir members being positioned within said housing and with respect to each other such that the zone formed by said weir members in said housing is unobstructed, so as to permit free fluid flow between said weir members; a first and second outlet within said housing wherein said first outlet is in the upper region of said housing and said second outlet is in the lower region of said housing, and disposed such that said second weir member is between said first weir member and both of said first and second outlets;

Claim 3

The self-skimming apparatus of claim 1 having a third outlet in the lower region of the housing in the zone formed between said pair of overflow weir members, and wherein said first inlet and said first outlet are interconnected through conduits with the following: filtering means, pumping means, heating means and reservoir means; and wherein said second inlet and said second and third outlets are interconnected through conduits with the following: filtering means, pumping means, heating means and reservoir means.

Claim 4

The self-skimming apparatus of claim 2 having within the housing a weir means which permits fluid flow over at least the top or the bottom thereof but not past the ends thereof, disposed between said first outlet and said second weir member.

Claim 5

The self-skimming apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing is rectangular having a bottom and four sidewalls.

Claim 6

The self-skimming apparatus of claim 3 wherein said housing is rectangular having a bottom and four sidewalls.

Claim 7

A self-skimming apparatus comprising: a rectangular housing having a bottom and four sidewalls; weir means within said housing including (1) one pair of overflow weir members of which the top of the first weir member is above the top of the second weir member, (2) a first overflow weir means having a top of equal height with said second weir member and disposed between said first weir member and said second weir member, (3) a second overflow weir means having a top above the top of said second weir member and disposed such that said second weir member is between said first weir means and said second weir means, and (4) an underflow weir means having a bottom extending downward to a point below the top of said second weir member and disposed between said first weir means and said second weir member; a first outlet within said housing disposed in the lower region of said housing in the zone between said first weir member and said first weir means; a second outlet within said housing disposed in the lower region of said housing in the zone between said second weir member and said second weir means; a first inlet within said housing disposed in the lower region of said housing in the zone between said first weir means and said second weir member; a third outlet disposed in the upper region of said housing and a second inlet within said housing disposed in a first zone formed by said underflow weir means and a sidewall; and a fourth outlet in the upper region of said housing and a third inlet within said housing disposed in a second zone formed by said underflow weir means and a sidewall.

Claim 8

A self-skimming apparatus comprising: a rectangular housing having a bottom and four sidewalls; weir means within said housing including (1) one pair of overflow weir members of which the top of the first weir member is above the top of the second weir member, (2) a first overflow weir means having a top of equal height with said second weir member and disposed between said first weir member and said second weir member, (3) a second overflow weir means having a top above the top of said second weir member and disposed such that said second weir member is between said first weir means and said second weir means, and (4) an underflow weir means having a bottom extending downward to a point below the top of said second weir member and disposed between said first weir means and said second weir member; a first outlet within said housing disposed in the lower region of said housing in the zone between said first weir member and said first weir means; a second outlet within said housing disposed in the lower region of said housing in the zone between said second weir member and said second weir means; a first inlet within said housing disposed in the lower region of said housing in the zone between said first weir means and said second weir member; a third outlet disposed in the upper region of said housing and a second inlet within said housing disposed in a first zone formed by said underflow weir means and a sidewall; and a fourth outlet in the upper region of said housing and a third inlet within said housing disposed in a second zone formed by said underflow weir means and a sidewall.

Claim 9

The self-skimming apparatus of claim 6 wherein said third outlet is disposed in said first zone within a subzone defined by said first weir member and said sidewall, and wherein said fourth outlet is disposed in said second zone within a subzone defined by said second weir means and said sidewall.

Claim 10

The self-skimming apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first inlet and said first and second outlets are interconnected through conduits with the following: filtering means, pumping means, heating means and reservoir means; and wherein said second inlet and said third outlet are interconnected through conduits with the following: filtering means, pumping means, heating means and reservoir means; and wherein said third inlet and said fourth outlet are interconnected through conduits with the following: filtering means, pumping means, heating means and reservoir means.