Converging vortex apparatus for separating oil from water

Claim 1

Apparatus for skimming oil films and other water-borne fluids from water surfaces comprising: a vortex generator suspension means supporting said generator in a substantially submerged disposition with its upper end near to and substantially parallel with said water surface, said generator being formed as a downwardly tapering funnel with its upper end open and of enlarged diameter throughout its circumference to admit the surrounding fluids and a lower end of reduced diameter throughout its circumference provided with an outlet opening, said upper end being formed with radially spaced inner and outer circumferentially arranged structural members and with a plurality of spoke-like braces connected therebetween and rigidly supporting said structural members and dividing said upper end of enlarged diameter into a plurality of sections arranged between said outer circumferentially arranged structural member and said inner circumferentially arranged structural member, a plurality of vanes carried by the generator and extending radially in a spiral direction across said upper end for inducing a rotary motion in fluids as said fluids flow into said upper end, the rotary motion having the axis of the funnel as its axis of rotation, each of said vanes being a horizontal member supported by said spoke-like braces and with a first end portion extending from a portion of one of said spoke-like braces near said inner circumferentially arranged structural member, the length of eaCh horizontal member extending arcuately through at least one of said plurality of sections, and with a second end portion connected to said outer circumferentially arranged structural member, suction means for drawing fluids through said outlet opening, said opening having its axis disposed substantially in alignment with said axis of rotation whereby said suction force evacuates fluids from the generator axially of said vortical flow, and conduit means for transporting evacuated fluids to a remote location, said generator funneling said fluids into said outlet opening and said suction means being adapted to constantly draw funnelled fluids from the lower end of the generator whereupon additional fluids are drawn into said upper end.