Skimming device

Claim 2

Skimming apparatus for removing a top immiscible liquid layer from a bottom liquid on which it floats, comprising an endless belt formed of a material preferentially wettable by said top liquid, a channel shaped trough having a pair of sidewalls and an inclined bottom wall. drive means including a driven roller and a second roller journaled in said sidewalls, said belt extending through said trough and being disposed between said rollers, releasable spring means carried by said trough for urging said rollers toward one another against said belt whereby liquid carried by said belt is removed therefrom by said rollers, and belt guide means mounted to said trough for guiding said belt through the interface between said liquids.

Claim 3

Skimming apparatus for removing a top immiscible liquid layer from a bottom liquid on which it floats, comprising a channel-shaped trough open at opposite ends and formed by a pair of upstanding sidewalls and a bottom interconnected between said sidewalls, said bottom of said trough being inclined at a substantial angle relative to the horizontal plane, an inlet roller journaled in said sidewalls and disposed in said trough with a portion of said roller overhanging the upper end of said bottom, first and second liquid removal drive rollers, first and second bearing block assemblies removably mounted respectively in said sidewalls, each of said bearing block assemblies including a pair of bearing blocks mounted one on top of the other, said drive rollers being respectively journaled between said assemblies in corresponding ones of said bearing blocks, latch means carried by said trough for latching said bearing block assemblies in said sidewalls, spring means interconnected between said latch means and the upper ones of said bearing blocks for resiliently urging said drive rollers together, tensioning means mounted in said trough by said sidewalls intermediate said inlet roller and said drive rollers, an endless flexible belt having a portion extending over said inlet roller, through said tensioning means and between said drive rollers and a portion hanging a substantial distance below said trough for disposition in said liquids, motor means mounted to said trough and drivingly connected to both said drive rollers for driving said rollers in opposite directions at equal speeds, a lower belt guide unit mounted to said trough for vertical adjustment relative thereto and including a pair of guide rollers under which said belt extends for guiding said belt through the interface between said liquid layers, and means for adjusting the horizontal spacing between said guide rollers.

Claim 4

Skimming apparatus for removing a top immiscible liquid layer from a bottom liquid on which it floats, comprising a channel-shaped trough open at opposite ends and formed by a pair of upstanding sidewalls and a bottom interconnected between said sidewalls, said bottom of said trough being inclined at a substantial angle relative to the horizontal plane, an inlet roller journaled in said sidewalls and disposed in said trough with a portion of said roller overhanging the upper end of said bottom, first and second liquid removal drive rollers, first and second bearing block assemblies removably mounted respectively in said sidewalls, each of said bearing block assemblies including a pair of bearing blocks mounted one on top of the other, said drive rollers being respectively journaled between said assemblies in corresponding ones of said bearing blocks, latch means carried by said trough for latching said bearing block assemblies in said sidewalls, spring means interconnected between said latch means and the upper ones of said bearing blocks for resiliently urging said drive rollers together, tensioning means mounted in said trough by said sidewalls intermediate said inlet roller and said drive rollers, an endless flexible belt having a portion extending over said inlet roller, through said tensioning means and between said drive rollers and a portion hanging a substantial distance below said trough for disposition in said liquids, motor means mounted to said trough and drivingly connected to both said drive rollers for driving said rollers in opposite directions at equal speeds, a lower belt guide unit mounted to said trough for vertical adjustment relative thereto and including a pair of guide rollers under which said belt extends for guiding said belt through the interface between said liquid layers, and means for adjusting the horizontal spacing between said guide rollers.

Claim 5

Skimming apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said lower belt guide unit comprises another guide roller mounted intermediate said pair of guide rollers, and means for adjusting the height of said another guide roller relative to said pair of rollers, said belt extending under said pair of guide rollers and over said another guide roller.

Claim 6

Skimming apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said bearing blocks are slidably mounted in slots in said sidewalls, the bottom ones of said blocks having an upper surface inclined downwardly toward the center of said trough, and the upper ones of said blocks having a lower surface inclined downwardly toward the center of said trough.