US3753492A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Separating apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-06-19
•
Granted: 1973-08-21
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Expires: 1990-06-19
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for separating two non-miscible liquids of different densities from a mixture thereof, including a vertical cylindrical tank with an inlet at one side and an outlet at the opposite side. External means produces a flow of the mixture into the inlet and of the heavier liquid through the outlet. The tank extends above and below the liquid-air interface to provide a free liquid surface inside the tank. A rotating impeller at the center of the bottom of the tank swirls the liquid in the tank and creates a vortex. The lighter liquid collects in a thick layer at the center of the vortex and is substantially absent from the periphery of the vortex. The lateral outlet carries away the heavier liquid. An outlet for the lighter liquid has an opening submerged in the liquid at the center of the vortex. A pump removes the lighter liquid through this outlet. The separating apparatus may be mounted on a twin hulled vessel and propelled through the water, for the purpose of removing an oil slick from the surface. The inlet for the oil and water mixture is at the bow end of the tank, with the water outlet at the stern end. The oil outlet is provided with a pump for transferring the oil into suitable storage tanks, which may be in the hull or in separate vessels. Means are provided for coordinating the operation of the impeller and the oil pump.
Inventors
- 👤 J Albanese
- 👤 R Anderson
- 👤 F Platt
- 👤 V Aiello
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 10:51
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/0208; B01D17/0214; B01D17/0217; E; E02; E02B; E02B15/00; E02B15/04; E02B15/10; E02B15/106; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S210/00; Y10S210/918; Y10S210/922; Y10S210/923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
Apparatus for separating two liquids of different densities from a mixture therEof, including: a. a vertical, generally cylindrical separator tank having an inlet in a side wall of the tank for said mixture of two liquids; b. lateral discharge outlet means for the heavier liquid in a side wall of the tank opposite the inlet and having sufficient capacity to maintain the liquid level below the top of the tank; c. an impeller at the center of the bottom of the tank; d. means for rotating said impeller to create a vortex at the surface of the liquid in the tank, said vortex being spaced vertically above the impeller; e. an outlet for the lighter of said two liquids having an opening submerged in the liquid at the center of the vortex, said outlet for the lighter liquid comprising: 1. a float within the tank and having a contour symmetrical about a vertical axis and aligned with the axis of the impeller; and 2. a conduit fixed to the float and extending along the vertical axis thereof and communicating with said submerged opening, said float being effective to centralize in the vortex the outlet for the lighter liquid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
Apparatus for separating two liquids of different densities from a mixture therEof, including: a. a vertical, generally cylindrical separator tank having an inlet in a side wall of the tank for said mixture of two liquids; b. lateral discharge outlet means for the heavier liquid in a side wall of the tank opposite the inlet and having sufficient capacity to maintain the liquid level below the top of the tank; c. an impeller at the center of the bottom of the tank; d. means for rotating said impeller to create a vortex at the surface of the liquid in the tank, said vortex being spaced vertically above the impeller; e. an outlet for the lighter of said two liquids having an opening submerged in the liquid at the center of the vortex, said outlet for the lighter liquid comprising: 1. a float within the tank and having a contour symmetrical about a vertical axis and aligned with the axis of the impeller; and 2. a conduit fixed to the float and extending along the vertical axis thereof and communicating with said submerged opening, said float being effective to centralize in the vortex the outlet for the lighter liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
a conduit fixed to the top of the tank and connected to the upper end of said flexible conduit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
a conduit fixed to the top of the tank and connected to the upper end of said flexible conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, in which: a. said conduit fixed to the float extends upwardly from said submerged opening; b. said outlet for the lighter liquid further comprises:
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
a conduit fixed to the float and extending along the vertical axis thereof and communicating with said submerged opening, said float being effective to centralize in the vortex the outlet for the lighter liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
a conduit fixed to the float and extending along the vertical axis thereof and communicating with said submerged opening, said float being effective to centralize in the vortex the outlet for the lighter liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
a vertically extending stern wall of part-cylindrical form having a different radius of curvature than the bow wall, said stern wall having outlet openings therein, said outlet openings being at least partly below the water level, through which outlet openings water may flow from the tank without substantial change in level;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
a vertically extending stern wall of part-cylindrical form having a different radius of curvature than the bow wall, said stern wall having outlet openings therein, said outlet openings being at least partly below the water level, through which outlet openings water may flow from the tank without substantial change in level;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
an outlet in the stern wall of the tank and at least partly below the water level;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
an outlet in the stern wall of the tank and at least partly below the water level;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
an outlet at the stern end of the tank and at least partly below the water level;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
an outlet at the stern end of the tank and at least partly below the water level;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
means for creating a vortex at the surface of the liquid in said tank;
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
means for creating a vortex at the surface of the liquid in said tank;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
means for creating a vortex at the surface of the liquid in said tank;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
means for creating a vortex at the surface of the liquid in said tank;
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said float has a toroidal contour.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
means within the tank and spaced from the bow and stern walls for creating a vortex at the surface of the liquid in said tank;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
means within the tank and spaced from the bow and stern walls for creating a vortex at the surface of the liquid in said tank;
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
light liquid outlet means having an opening submerged in the liquid at the center of said vortex; and d. skimmer means floating on the liquid between the vortex and the stern outlet and effective to deflect floating masses of the lighter liquid away from the stern outlet and toward the vortex.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
light liquid outlet means having an opening submerged in the liquid at the center of said vortex; and d. skimmer means floating on the liquid between the vortex and the stern outlet and effective to deflect floating masses of the lighter liquid away from the stern outlet and toward the vortex.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
outlet means for the lighter liquid only having an opening submerged in the liquid at the center of said vortex.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
outlet means for the lighter liquid only having an opening submerged in the liquid at the center of said vortex.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said float has a spherical contour.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
81 words
light liquid outlet means having an opening submerged in the liquid at the center of said vortex; d. a pump connected to said light liquid outlet means; e. a motor for driving said pump; and f. sensing means located at the opening of said light liquid outlet means and effective to distinguish between said light liquid and water; and g. means controlled by said sensing means preventing energization of the motor unless the light liquid is present at the outlet opening.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
81 words
light liquid outlet means having an opening submerged in the liquid at the center of said vortex; d. a pump connected to said light liquid outlet means; e. a motor for driving said pump; and f. sensing means located at the opening of said light liquid outlet means and effective to distinguish between said light liquid and water; and g. means controlled by said sensing means preventing energization of the motor unless the light liquid is present at the outlet opening.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for separating two liquids of different densities from a mixture thereof, including: a. a vertical, generally cylindrical separator tank having an inlet in a side wall of the tank for said mixture of two liquids; b. lateral discharge outlet means for the heavier liquid in a side wall of the tank opposite the inlet and having sufficient capacity to maintain the liquid level below the top of the tank; c. an impeller at the center of the bottom of the tank; d. means for rotating said impeller to create a vortex at the surface of the liquid in the tank, said vortex being spaced vertically above the impeller; e. an outlet for the lighter of said two liquids having an opening submerged in the liquid at the center of the vortex; and f. skimmer means floating on the liquid between the vortex and the lateral discharge outlet means, and effective to deflect floating masses of the lighter liquid away from the lateral discharge outlet means and toward the
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for separating two liquids of different densities from a mixture thereof, including: a. a vertical, generally cylindrical separator tank having an inlet in a side wall of the tank for said mixture of two liquids; b. lateral discharge outlet means for the heavier liquid in a side wall of the tank opposite the inlet and having sufficient capacity to maintain the liquid level below the top of the tank; c. an impeller at the center of the bottom of the tank; d. means for rotating said impeller to create a vortex at the surface of the liquid in the tank, said vortex being spaced vertically above the impeller; e. an outlet for the lighter of said two liquids having an opening submerged in the liquid at the center of the vortex; and f. skimmer means floating on the liquid between the vortex and the lateral discharge outlet means, and effective to deflect floating masses of the lighter liquid away from the lateral discharge outlet means and toward the
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
56 words
A vessel for for skimming a light, non-water-miscible liquid from a surface of a body of water, including: a. hull means; b. propulsion means for advancing the hull means through the body of water; c. a vertical cylindrical separator tank supported by said hull means and extending above and below the water level, said tank including:
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
56 words
A vessel for for skimming a light, non-water-miscible liquid from a surface of a body of water, including: a. hull means; b. propulsion means for advancing the hull means through the body of water; c. a vertical cylindrical separator tank supported by said hull means and extending above and below the water level, said tank including:
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
56 words
A vessel for skimming a light, non-water-miscible liquid from a surface of a body of water, including: a. hull means; b. propulsion means for advancing the hull means through the body of water; c. a vertical, generally cylindrical separator tank supported by said hull means and extending above and below the water level, said tank including:
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
56 words
A vessel for skimming a light, non-water-miscible liquid from a surface of a body of water, including: a. hull means; b. propulsion means for advancing the hull means through the body of water; c. a vertical, generally cylindrical separator tank supported by said hull means and extending above and below the water level, said tank including:
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
56 words
A vessel for skimming a lighter-than-water, non-water-miscible liquid from a surface of a body of water, including: a. hull means; b. propulsion means for advancing the hull means through the body of water; c. a vertical generally cylindrical separator tank supported by said hull means and extending above and below the water level, said tank including:
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
56 words
A vessel for skimming a lighter-than-water, non-water-miscible liquid from a surface of a body of water, including: a. hull means; b. propulsion means for advancing the hull means through the body of water; c. a vertical generally cylindrical separator tank supported by said hull means and extending above and below the water level, said tank including:
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
70 words
A vessel as in claim 8, in which said bow and stern walls have a common vertical axis, and including: a. an impeller in said vortex creating means rotatable about said axis; and b. a baffle within the tank and concentric with said axis, said baffle being aligned with said inlet openings and the vortex creating means, and effective to shield the vortex from disturbance by liquid entering the tank.
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) | 1976-08-20 | 1977-02-19 | 1977-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-20 | 1981-02-19 | 1981-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-20 | 1985-02-19 | 1985-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |