Apparatus for separating paint or the like from water

Claim 2

A plant for separating paint or the like from water comprising a substantially cylindrical coagulator having a coagulating chamber and mixing means for forming an intimate mixture of a liquid containing paint and water with a coagulant in said coagulating chamber so as to form a foaming mixture; a separating container for separating the foamy solids from the liquid, said coagulator being arranged substantially above, along a common axis of axis with and radially inside of said separating container and being provided with an annular slot near its upper end and adapted to form an overflow for the passage of the foaming mixture formed in said coagulator to said separating container; adjusting means for varying the width of said annular slot and comprising a cover closing the upper end of said coagulating chamber and adapted to be screwed upon said coagulating chamber at different distances from said upper end; means for removing the solids from the surface of the liquid in said separating container; and means for discharging water from said separating container.

Claim 3

A plant for separating paint or the like from water comprising a coagulator having a coagulating chamber having an upright axis and mixing means for forming an intimate mixture of a liquid containing paint and water with a coagulant in said coagulating chamber so as to form a foamy mixture; discharge means for discharging said mixture from said coagulating chamber; a separating apparatus connected to said discharge means and comprising separating container means substantially coaxial with said axis, radially outside of said coagulator and forming a unit therewith, said separating container means comprising radially from the inside to the outside first a mixing chamber, then an annular settling chamber and then an annular overflow chamber, said settling chamber being separated from said overflow chamber by a wall having an upper impermeable wall portion and a lower annular filter wall portion so that the upper more solid parts of the contents of said settling chamber will be retained therein, while the more liquid lower parts of said contents can penetrate through said filter wall portion to said overflow chamber.

Claim 4

A plant for separating paint or the like from water comprising a coagulator having a coagulating chamber defined by a housing having an upright axis, a peripheral wall about said axis, a lower and an upper end, and mixing means for forming an intimate mixture of a liquid containing paint and water with a coagulant in said coagulating chamber so as to form a foaming mixture, said mixing means comprising first conduit means for conducting a liquid containing paint and water at high velocity into said housing and having an end part terminating in said housing substantially in the direction of said axis, inner wall means within and spaced from said peripheral wall of said housing and from said upper and said lower ends thereof, second and third conduit means adjacent to said first conduit means for respectively conducting a coagulant and air into said housing, whereby said mixture is circulated repeatedly around said inner wall means; discharge means for discharging said mixture from said coagulating chamber; a separating apparatus connected to said discharge means and comprising at least one separating container for separating the foamy solids of said mixture from said liquid by floating said solids to the surface of said liquid, said separating container having a substantially annular shape and being arranged substantially co-axial with said axis, said coagulator being disposed radially inside of said separating container anD at least a substantial part of said coagulator being disposed on and above said separating container; means for removing said foamy solids from the surface of the liquid so as to purify the water thereof; and means for discharging the purified water from the separating container.

Claim 5

A plant for separating paint or the like from water comprising a coagulator; first conduit means for conducting a liquid containing paint and water into said coagulator; second and third conduit means for conducting a coagulant and a gaseous medium, respectively into said coagulator; mixing means in said coagulator for forming an intimate foamy mixture of said liquid, said coagulant and said gaseous medium; discharge means for discharging the mixture from the coagulator; a substantially annular separating container following said coagulator in the direction of flow of liquid for receiving the mixture from said discharge means and for separating the foamy solids from the liquid, said coagulator being arranged substantially along a common axis with, above, and radially inside of said separating container so as to define below said coagulator and inwardly of said annular separating container a free space, and said conduit means bbeing disposed substantially within said free space.

Claim 6

A plant as defined in claim 5, wherein said discharge means comprise an annular slot near the upper end of said coagulator adapted to form an overflow for the passage of the foamy mixture formed in said coagulator to said separating container.

Claim 7

A plant as defined in claim 5, wherein said substantially annular separating container defines below said coagulator a free space, said first, second and third conduit means passing upwardly through said free space.

Claim 8

A plant as defined in claim 5, wherein said separating container comprises radially from the inside to the outside first a mixing chamber, then an annular settling chamber and then an annular overflow chamber, said settling chamber having an outer peripheral wall separating said settling chamber from said overflow chamber, at least part of said wall forming an annular filter wall.

Claim 9

A plant as defined in claim 9, further comprising an annular discharge chamber surrounding said overflow chamber and separated therefrom by a wall having a serrated upper edge, and conduit means for discharging the purified water from said discharge chamber.