Device for separating two liquids of different densities in a tank containing these two liquids

Claim 1

A device for separating two liquids of different densities in a tank containing these two liquid one above the other, comprising a separating element of a density less than the density of the lower liquid and greater than the density of the upper liquid floating between these two liquids, said separating element being displaceable with some peripheral clearance along the wall of the tank and being prOvided at its periphery with a sealing skirt of a radial length exceeding the distance between the separating element and the wall of the tank, wherein said sealing skirt is of small thickness and great flexibility and is constituted of a material having a specific gravity intermediate between those of said liquids so as to be self-sustained at the interface of said liquids and to tangentially engage without substantial frictional force the lateral wall of the tank, being capable of turning upwardly or downwardly along the tank wall without the mixing of the two liquids and also without any substantial force, when the tank is switched from a filling to an emptying operation or vice-versa.

Claim 2

A device for separating two liquids of different densities in a tank containing these two liquid one above the other, comprising a separating element of a density less than the density of the lower liquid and greater than the density of the upper liquid floating between these two liquids, said separating element being displaceable with some peripheral clearance along the wall of the tank and being prOvided at its periphery with a sealing skirt of a radial length exceeding the distance between the separating element and the wall of the tank, wherein said sealing skirt is of small thickness and great flexibility and is constituted of a material having a specific gravity intermediate between those of said liquids so as to be self-sustained at the interface of said liquids and to tangentially engage without substantial frictional force the lateral wall of the tank, being capable of turning upwardly or downwardly along the tank wall without the mixing of the two liquids and also without any substantial force, when the tank is switched from a filling to an emptying operation or vice-versa.

Claim 7

A device for separating two liquids of different densities in a tank containing these two liquids one above the other, at least one of which constitutes a stored product, including a separating element of a density less than the density of the lower liquid and greater than the density of the upper liquid floating between these liquids, said separating element being displaceable with some peripheral clearance along the vertical wall of the tank, wherein said separating element is provided at its periphery with a very flexible sealing self-sustained skirt of reduced thickness and a specific gravity between those of said liquids capable of applying itself tightly against the vertical wall of the tank and of turning upwardly or downwardly along the tank wall without mixing of the two liquids, when there is proceeded from a filling to an emptying period of the tank and vice versa, said sealing skirt having a thickness at most equal to the value given by the formula: wherein E represents the average value of the modulus of elasticity for the bending of the material constituting said sealing skirt expressed in Newtons/m2, R is the radius of curvature of the tank wall and r the maximum radius of the skirt at the place where this skirt provides for sealing, the radii R and r being both expressed in centimeters and k is a coefficient equal to d2 - dm, d2 being the density of the heaviest of the two liquids separated by said flexible sealing skirt and dm being the average density of this skirt.

Claim 8

A device for separating two liquids of different densities in a tank containing these two liquids one above the other, at least one of which constitutes a stored product, including a separating element of a density less than the density of the lower liquid and greater than the density of the upper liquid floating between these liquids, said separating element being displaceable with some peripheral clearance along the vertical wall of the tank, wherein said separating element is provided at its periphery with a very flexible sealing self-sustained skirt of reduced thickness and a specific gravity between those of said liquids capable of applying itself tightly against the vertical wall of the tank and of turning upwardly or downwardly along the tank wall without mixing of the two liquids, when there is proceeded from a filling to an emptying period of the tank and vice versa, said sealing skirt having a thickness at most equal to the value given by the formula: wherein E represents the average value of the modulus of elasticity for the bending of the material constituting said sealing skirt expressed in Newtons/m2, R is the radius of curvature of the tank wall and r the maximum radius of the skirt at the place where this skirt provides for sealing, the radii R and r being both expressed in centimeters and k is a coefficient equal to d2 - dm, d2 being the density of the heaviest of the two liquids separated by said flexible sealing skirt and dm being the average density of this skirt.